Han Taewon. That is his name. Any child in the world likes movies with lots of flashy fights. So did he.
When it came down to studies, he wasn't much of a bright student, but that was not the case when it came to fighting.
One could as well call him a freak when it came down to getting in trouble. He would get in all sorts of troubles, even when he was in elementary school.
His father–Han Taegu was a small businessman, because of the problems Han would create, he admitted him to a Taekwondo club.
Just so that he could be busy and create less troubles.
But to his surprise, Han actually became really diligent after that, and would avoid conflict from then on.
As time passes, his mastery increases and he also starts to win trophies from different tournaments.
Finally the time. At the mere age of 18, he was a national champion in martial arts.
With it, he was about to become one of the youngest people ever to debut at the international level.
—***—
Han is 21. It's already been 3 years since then.
Still dawn, the sun barely started to rise. As he wakes up. He feels a chill in his body. It's winter right now.
After waking up, he gets off the bed and heads toward the bathroom. Brushes his teeth, and ties up his hair, which is already past his neck and shoulders.
Wearing a simple winter jacket, he steps out of his apartment. Leaving the building, he heads toward the silent road.
He starts to run, it's a jog. As he runs, he sees the same, silent neighborhood he always saw. Convenience stores, small buildings, some trees beside the footpath. He keeps on going.
As it is still just dawn, no one has even woken up. While jogging, he looks around and sees the only high school around this place.
Ignoring it, he keeps on running until he reaches a small park. Only after reaching it, does he stop. The park doesn't have much other than multiple trees here and there, some benches to sit, and a footpath. He walks around there for a while and decides sits on a bench.
Suddenly, he feels something in his forehead– a dewdrop just fell from the tree above him. The usual environment that stays on a winter morning, there isn't much to see because of the misty environment.
Even then, it is refreshing. The serene environment of it, that is what he loves about them.
After a while, he stands up and starts to head toward his apartment building. Instead of running, he walks back.
The same buildings, same stores, same everything. The same scenery he always saw, and might always see.
When he finally gets back to his apartment building. A middle aged person calls him out. Just by judging from his uniform, it can be discerned that he is the security guard.
"Are you still doing it? Young people like you really have a lot of energy in them." He says.
"Ah. Uncle Hwan, don't you feel cold not wearing any jacket?" Han asks.
"Haha… an old man like me has already adapted to these. Just this much won't do anything to me." He replies.
Han strides towards him and gives him his own jacket. "You should say that after you stop shivering like that. This year, the temperature dropped by 6 degrees more than usual."
As he heads back to his apartment. He heads towards the kitchen and ponders on what to make for a while, but ends up deciding to just make some instant noodles.
He sits down on the couch and starts the television, then changes to some kind of news channel. He watches the news as he slurps the noodles down.
— Recently, the average global temperature of the entire world has started to drop.
— Because of it the winter has become more severe in many countries. The government is–
Before the reporter could finish his documentary, Han switches the chanell.
"What is the point in saying something obvious?" He finishes his noodles and continues.
"Isn't it better if global warming decreases? Dumbasses."
He watches different channels for a while, then turns the television off. He sits leaning his back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.
"Everything seems boring."
He checks the time on his mobile. It's still only 8:21 AM. After staring at the ceiling for a while, he heads towards his computer.
"What should I play… some kind of multiplayer game?" He ponders.
Pondering for a while, he decides on a game. The new era.
"I downloaded it quite a long time ago because of his suggestion. Let's see how good it is."
After some time of playing it, he feels like something is out of place. Something he doesn't really like.
"Ugh… It's a harem."
He particularly does not like harem tropes, since it just doesn't mesh well with him. Nevertheless he keeps the game, as even with harem, the game was genuinely good.
When he checks the time, it's already 10:37 AM.
He thinks about starting his stream, as today is a holiday. So many people should be free, so it won't be a problem if he starts earlier than usual.
He starts the stream. There was no immediate response to his stream, but after a while. Viewers start to join.
— Hey, is this the last day of poison grinding? This shit is getting really boring.
— I think it is the last day. His goal is to get level 30, and last time I saw him having level 27 or so.
— Really?! Thank god this grind is coming to an end after one godforsaken week.
— Seems like he's still waiting for more viewers to come. Considering he is just doing nothing while the main screen for KON is open.
After a while, Han finally starts speaking.
"Hi guys, as you know that my name is Han Taewon."
"I don't think I have to introduce myself, as everyone should know who I am. So let's get into the game shall we?"
— Here this guy goes again, is he really Han Taewon?
— Well, we can only wait and see. He said he's going to post a picture of himself once he reaches 50k subscribers.
— Kind of frustrating to know that this guy could be just pretending to be Han Taewon just to get more fame.
— We will see it soon as he already has about 40k subscribers in less than a week after he said that he is Han Taewon.
He starts the game. But all he does is go into a poison zone filled with poisonous gas, then comes out of it, heals, and repeats.
That is his way of grinding poison resistance. All for the hope of getting an easter egg that is supposedly in that region.
— Does anyone know what kind of easter egg he's looking for?
— Apparently there's some kind of skill or trait you would get in this region. But it's hard to wander around here because of the poisonous gas here.
— If I remember correctly, it's supposed to be a trait that allows you to pick two different classes at once. But nobody does this one just because of how hard it is to get.
— Though many people did get that thing… after a few weeks I think.
Han checks on his poison resistance skill to see his progress.
[Poison resistance] (Lvl.29)
Exp: 796/800
Description: Every level is just how much less poisons will affect you. Currently, you will be immune to 29% of the damage from poison.
"...As always. Their descriptions feel like they are trying to roast me."
— Everyone loves it because of how casual it is, no?
— Their casualness is one of the reasons KON got popular anyway.
— Finally!!! Finally this hell is going to end soon.
— I just don't understand how the hell is he going to find the easter egg with just 30% resistance?
Han, seeing the comment, responds.
"Let me explain a bit. If I have 30% natural resistance, then I can use a poison resistance potion and raise it up by 20%, making it 50%. Then I get a few of them and also tons of healing potion, go to that place, and find it. Each potion gives 1 hour, then 10 of them will be enough. And I can recover the health bar with a few heal, then continue searching for it again."
— This guy… literally stole words from my mouth.(technically I just couldn't write fast enough)
— That was… a hell ton of explanation in one go.
— Where is that one guy who always says that Han is extremely relatable? I don't think this is relatable at all.
[Poison resistance] (Lvl.30)
Exp: 0/880
Description: Congratulations on having your suffering doubled again!
The comment section starts flooding again.
— Pffft. These guys are just trolling Han's suffering.
— These guys… I hate them, yet I love them.
— Man. You just made me remember the line from that one song. "Oh I love it and I hate it at the same time"... And some other lines along it.
— Ah that song? Fun fact, apparently the singer himself doesn't like his actual voice.
"Anyway guys, you can say goodbye to the old days of suffering. We can finally go search for the treasure!"
— Is it really happening?! Am I dreaming?
— Brother, I know how it feels, but we have to hold this excitement for the sake of nothing.
— Uh… did he mean to say that we have to hold it in until Han finds the trait?
— Eh. Maybe. I'm really excited, but can't express it in words, and I also can't post memes here.
—***—
[Dual mind] (Trait)
Description: A trait that allows the user to choose a second class. It does not matter even if the second class contradicts your original class. It's your fault if your class exclusive skills stop working all together. (By the way, this trait gives your character a second personality. So it can retaliate if it doesn't like something you do.)
"Yes! Yes! Finally! This hell is over!"
He stood up from excitement, so much so that he felt like punching the desk.
— Oh god! I feel like I'm starting to tear up. This was hell.
— What do you mean you are tearing up? I'm crying right now.
— What do you mean it was hell? This shit is just so peak!
As the banter from the comment section keeps going on, Han sits down.
"Guys, It's already past 4 PM. I have been streaming since around 10 AM, and also haven't eaten anything. It has been a long day, so we can see the next thing tomorrow. So, bye."
The stream is finally turned off.
He lies down on his bed, which was just beside his computer set-up. He sighs and starts to think about what to do now, as he can't think of anything to do. He keeps on thinking as his eyelids slowly start to close.
Suddenly his doorbell rang, forcing him to get up. When he opens the door, to his surprise, it was none other than uncle Hwan. He came to give Han's jacket back.
Apparently he bought a new one for himself today after realizing that this year will be colder than any other, and he couldn't keep someone else's jacket to himself anyway.
Before going back, he snarks on how he never had to wear anything other than his designated clothes for duty up until now, but the cold this year forced him to buy a winter jacket.
Han stood there in a daze before closing the door and heading straight towards the bathroom. He hadn't taken a shower the whole day because of how busy he was streaming, which made him feel a sort of dry discomfort.
While taking a shower, he felt like the warm water wasn't getting to his skin. It wasn't anything new to him, considering all the burns on his neck, chest, belly, arms and such, his nerves were damaged enough that his sense of touch became really bad.
He came out of the bathroom while drying his hair with a towel. For a moment, he considered cutting them down because of how much they get in the way before heading to the kitchen.
He takes out some sandwiches from the fridge, which he made to eat later as snacks. As he waits for them to get warm enough in the microwave, he goes to the living room and starts the television.
Then he goes back to the kitchen, takes the sandwiches out and comes to the living room again, sits on the couch, and starts to watch a documentary on the dropping temperature of the whole world. He doesn't find it that interesting as it is all over the internet, as he changes the channel again.