The car pulled up to a traditional-looking building that seemed at odds with the modern, neon-soaked skyline of Gangbuk. It was a modest place.
Taehoon was limping heavily, supported by the steady shoulders of Seojun and Dowoon. Behind them, Seohee and I walked in silence, our eyes scanning the entrance. As we stepped into the dojo's courtyard, the sight that met us was not what we had expected.
An older man sat on a matted floor, his sharp features softened by a pair of wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. He wasn't practicing high kicks or breaking boards. Instead, he was surrounded by a group of five- and six-year-olds, patiently teaching them basic mathematics. He looked like any other neighborhood grandfather—until he looked up.
I muttered ' sneak peak ' , soon a system window shown above his head showing his stats .
[ Hansu Seong ]
Strength : UNMEASURABLE
Speed : UNMEASURABLE
Potential : SS
Intelligence : S+
Endurance : UNMEASURABLE
He's the first person I saw with unmeasurable stats , he's already peak of this world .
The moment Hansu Seong's eyes landed on his son, the air in the courtyard seemed to solidify. It was a physical pressure, a sudden, suffocating weight that radiated from him in invisible waves. He didn't move, yet every instinct in my body screamed for me to take a defensive stance. This was the Legendary Father of the PTJ universe. Even in a relaxed state, his presence was a jagged blade.
He slowly removed his glasses, his gaze locking onto the blood staining Taehoon's clothes and the bruises blooming across his face. The aura intensified, turning cold and predatory. He didn't look at his son first. His eyes swept over me and Seohee, evaluating us with terrifying, clinical precision.
"Who did this?" Hansu asked. His voice was quiet, but it carried the rumble of an approaching storm.
Taehoon stiffened. I could see the struggle in his eyes. He was prideful, and admitting he had been dismantled by someone his own age was a bitter pill. Worse, he had just agreed to join my crew. If he blamed me now, that fragile thread would snap.
"They… they came to learn Taekwondo, Dad," Taehoon muttered, turning his head away. "I just got reckless during sparring. It's nothing. I'll be fine."
Hansu's eyes lingered on me for several long seconds. I didn't flinch. He didn't fully believe it—Taehoon was a prodigy, and sparring injuries didn't usually cause internal bleeding—but eventually Hansu sighed and put his glasses back on. The pressure vanished instantly.
"Go inside and apply some medicine," he said, waving toward the back of the dojo. "And don't get blood on the mats."
As Taehoon limped away, grumbling, Hansu turned to us. "So," he said calmly, "why do you want to learn Taekwondo? It's a difficult path."
Seojun stepped forward first. "To become strong."
"And why do you need strength?"
"To protect my sister ."
Seohee scoffed softly. "Stupid… who needs your protection?" Despite her words, her hand twitched toward his sleeve.
Hansu turned to her. "And you?"
"The same," she said. "To protect my brother. We're done being the ones who get hurt."
Finally, his gaze settled on me. "And you?"
I thought of last night—my mother, Seohee, and Seojun laughing together.
"I think Taekwondo is the best," I said
' that's what Taehoon said in original maybe this old man accept me after hearing it '.
"And I want to protect the people who care about me. I won't let anyone take what I've built."
Hansu studied me, then chuckled. "Honest. But you already know Taekwondo. Why come to me?"
' this old man have very sharp eyes ' internally thinking.
"Because Taehoon said you're the best teacher in the world."
Behind us, Taehoon froze, ears turning red as he stared at the wall.
Hansu laughed. "Well, if my son is finally showing respect, I suppose I can't refuse. However…" His eyes narrowed at Seohee. "I can't allow this girl to train here. She has blood on her hands."
Seohee flinched.
"She did what she had to survive," I said and told him her past in short
When he heard her father's name .
Hansu's eyes widened slightly. He looked at the siblings again, nostalgia softening his expression.
"So they were his children…"
"Fine," Hansu said, standing. "I'll teach you all. But I don't teach for free."
I pulled out a credit card. "No problem."
Taehoon clicked his tongue. "Hmph. Rich bastard."
[ QUEST COMPLETED]
The training began immediately. Hansu didn't start with flashy kicks. He started with the basics—the foundation of the taekwondo, the breathing, and the exact angle of the hip. As I moved through the forms, my B-level Taekwondo skill felt like it was being refined under a master's chisel. Hansu complimented my current form, noting that I had a solid grasp of the mechanics, but he pushed me to make it more perfect.
Seojun copied every move almost instantly. Dowoon mirrored them with robotic precision.
Only Seohee struggled. She didn't have the Copy talent, and she had never trained in Taekwondo before. She looked frustrated, her brow furrowed as she tried to coordinate her movements, but she didn't quit. She kept kicking, her eyes fixed on her brother, refusing to be the one left behind.
By the time the sun began to set, my muscles were screaming, but a notification flashed in the corner of my eye.
[SKILL UPGRADE: TAEKWONDO]
Rank: B → A
We said our goodbyes to Hansu and a still-grumpy Taehoon. The ride back was quiet. We dropped Dowoon off at his home first.
When we finally reached our house, I spent some time with my mother and the siblings, the lively atmosphere of the dinner table. But as I eventually lay down in my room, the silence of the night brought back my focus.
I need to check the reward I got.
[ PLATINUM CARD : ATTACK CARD ]
[ GUARD FIST ]
The Individual will be able to fully block Any One Attack
* This card can only be used once per day
Damn… that's an overpowered card.
With this, I could probably block even a Golden Superman Punch.
I let out a chuckle.
Jokes aside… it says it can block any attack once.
Does that include bullets?
…That can only be tested
Right now, my priority is clear—find elite members with high potential, complete the quest, and obtain the Master Card.
With that thought, I opened the quest window.
The purple interface flickered into view, displaying the updated objective.
Elite Ten – 4/10
Dowoon Lee (SS+ Potential)
Seohee (SS+ Intelligence)
Seojun (SSS- Potential)
Taehoon Seong (SS- Potential)
Six more.
Thinking that I closed my eyes.