Seongcheon was quiet on Sunday mornings. The market was closed, the village slower than usual, and even the dogs seemed to bark in low tones.
But Joon's mind wasn't resting.
With ₩156,300 in capital and only 40 XP left to reach Level 6, he wasn't looking for flashy trades or long-shot gains.
He was looking for fluctuations.
Not growth. Not crash.
Just the rhythmic pulse of stocks caught between support and resistance—a trader's heartbeat.
New Quest Available: The Fluctuation Gambit
Objective: Identify a stock with a price range-bound pattern and buy at the low, sell at the high. Must gain at least 5% within a 2-day swing.
Reward: +40 XP
Bonus: +₩10,000 if return exceeds 8%
Perfect.
Joon smiled. If done right, this quest would take him exactly to Level 6.
He launched into his research, this time with a different filter.
Instead of news or speculation, he hunted for patterns—repetitions.
Eventually, he found one: Daebo Systems, a mid-sized IT infrastructure firm.
Its price had been oscillating between ₩1,460 and ₩1,600 for nearly two weeks. Volume spikes lined up with earnings rumors and investor rotation.
Current price? ₩1,470.
He didn't hesitate.
Buy Order Placed: 100 shares of Daebo Systems @ ₩1,470
Total: ₩147,000
Remaining Capital: ₩9,300
Day 1
Price rose gently to ₩1,505 by midday.
Then, after market close, the company dropped a PR statement:
"Daebo Systems to supply servers for new education ministry data project."
It wasn't huge news.
But it was enough.
Day 2
Opening surge: ₩1,560
Joon waited.
By 1 p.m., price touched ₩1,590. It hovered at the upper boundary.
Sell Order Executed: 100 shares @ ₩1,590+₩12,000 profit
Quest Completed: The Fluctuation Gambit
+40 XP
Bonus Achieved: +₩10,000 (Return = 8.2%)
XP: 360 → 400 / 400
LEVEL UP! → Level 6
+3 Stat Points Awarded
A quiet chime echoed in his mind as the system window opened.
You have reached Level 6
Capital, XP, and stat records updated. Continue your journey.
[Status Window]
Level: 6
XP: 0 / 500
Capital: ₩9,300 (leftover) + ₩159,000 (sale) + ₩10,000 bonus = ₩178,300
Stat Points Available: 3
Market Insight: 8
Negotiation: 2
Stamina: 2
Research: 2
He thought for a moment, then distributed the points:
+2 to Market Insight → 10+1 to Research → 3
He didn't feel stronger.
Not like a warrior leveling up.
But he felt clearer.
Like he was moving faster through fog that had once seemed endless.
Market Insight: 10.
A milestone. Double digits.
He could now anticipate sentiment before it was spoken. See setups forming before indicators confirmed. It was no longer just data—it was feeling.
Money Tracker:
Bought 100 Daebo Systems @ ₩1,470 = ₩147,000
Sold @ ₩1,590 = ₩159,000
Remaining before trade: ₩9,300
Bonus: ₩10,000
Total Capital: ₩178,300
XP Tracker:
The next day, the system surprised him.
New Title Unlocked: "Pattern Seeker"
You've completed three technical quests through chart patterns and trend reading.
Effect: Slight increase to pattern recognition. 5% faster insight on candlestick setups.
A title?
He hadn't seen one since his first—"Beginner Trader".
But this felt different.
Not just symbolic—practical.
Joon leaned back and smiled.
He didn't need explosive growth every day.
Sometimes, the best traders weren't gamblers. They were surfers—waiting for the next clean wave. Watching tides rise, sensing the market's breath.
He closed his laptop.
Tomorrow would bring a new challenge.
Joon is now:
Level 6
Capital: ₩178,300
XP: 0 / 500
Market Insight: 10
New Title: Pattern Seeker