The air around Seo Joonwoo shifted.
[Romanticism System Activated.]
"The stronger your conviction... the stronger your punch."
Joonwoo's eyes widened.
(What the… Is this the so-called gift every reincarnator gets?)
Before he could process it fully, Kang Daejin stepped in front of him—cocky, confident, and ready to pounce.
"What are you spacing out for?" Daejin sneered, sliding into a loose stance.
"Mesmerized by my pose?"
But in that very moment, Joonwoo felt it.
[Conviction: 60%]
[Beginner's Pack: Unlocked]
A soft burst of light surged around Joonwoo's fists and legs. His chest tightened—not with fear, but with rising anticipation.
His body moved before thought could catch up. As if his courage was being given form.
고백권 (Go-baek Gwon / Confession Fist):
A straight punch that grows stronger the more emotionally courageous the user becomes.
파도차기 (Pa-do Chagi / Wave Kick):
"Let my feelings reach you." A sweeping kick that rises like an emotional tide. When conviction is high, it emits a shockwave even through a block.
Joonwoo stared at his glowing fists.
(This… isn't fantasy. It's real. My courage my feelings can become strength?)
But Kang Daejin wasn't waiting.
He rushed in.
"Try smiling now, pretty boy!"
A vicious hook came flying toward Joonwoo's jaw.
But this time
Joonwoo moved.
With perfect timing, he twisted his hips and
BOOM.
Joonwoo used 고백권 – Confession Fist.
A clean shot to Kang Daejin's gut.
The thug's breath caught mid-swing.
THUD.
Kang dropped to his knees, eyes wide with disbelief. His hands clutched his stomach as pain bloomed across his core.
(What the hell... How is it that strong? What kind of martial art was that?) he thought.
The class froze.
Gasps and whispers flew.
A bald guy near the back stammered, "Did he just... beat Kang Daejin?"
The pink-haired boy leaned forward, eyebrows raised.
(That's unexpected. Kang's a trained boxer.)
A tall boy with long black hair crossed his arms, watching silently, his gaze sharp with interest.
Even the red-haired guy chuckled to himself, lips curling in amusement.
And finally
Park Jihoon, the quiet class president, stood with authority in his posture.
His voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Stop this right now."
"You both," Jihoon said, calm but firm, "Stop it"
But behind the calm, a flicker of annoyance danced in his eyes.
He wore the face of a model student but something underneath twitched.
(Tch... first day and someone already broke the order.)
Park Jihoon adjusted his neatly ironed collar.
"I don't care who started it," he added, tone colder now, "but if you keep swinging fists in my class, you'll regret it."
His words weren't loud but they carried weight. Even Kang Daejin, hot-blooded as he was, flinched a little.
As Jihoon turned around, someone muttered near the back
"Damn... Class Prez's pissed."
The red-haired guy snickered under his breath.
The tall, long-haired one raised an eyebrow.
And the pink-haired student leaned closer, whispering
"This year's already interesting."
Joonwoo just smiled lightly, walking past Daejin.
Not cocky. Not mocking.
Just… calm.
Ding!
📟 Romanticism System Activated.
[Congratulations! You won your first official confrontation.]
➤ Romantic Points Gained: +500
➤ Upgrade Points Gained: +20
A gentle glow surrounded Joonwoo for a split second—soft, almost invisible to others.
But to him… it felt like warmth. Like his courage had been seen.
[System Notice: Your actions moved the hearts of those around you.]
➤ +100 bonus points – for standing up without hate.
➤ +100 bonus points – for protecting your dignity without losing your smile.
A small translucent menu hovered at the corner of his vision.
🕊️ [Romanticism Points: 600]
🛠️ [Upgrade Points: 20]
Romanticism isn't just love, it's belief, beauty, and bravery in the face of cruelty.
Joonwoo blinked.
(So I really do have a system… and this isn't a dream.)
He looked around Kang Daejin still kneeling, classmates whispering, Park Jihoon silently fuming.
But Joonwoo?
He smiled again warm, disarming.
"Thank you," he whispered not to anyone in the room, but to the second chance itself.
The Legend of Seo Joonwoo had just begun.
To be continue