Chapter 1: I’ll live as a scholar

Why the hell do I have to study the Analects during the college entrance exam period?

Covering the book with a groan, I glared at its cover again.

[The Analects – Wise Stories from Ancient Sages]

“Damn it.”

I cursed reflexively and clamped my mouth shut.

If I had to curse someone in my family, it should be my grandfather, not my mother.

Our family had been a prestigious one since the Joseon Dynasty.

And my grandfather was immensely proud of that lineage.

He had many things to say about that pride.

Several high-ranking officials came from our family. Your great-great-grandfather died honorably during the independence movement.

My grandfather spoke so proudly of our family that I too became proud of it.

That was until my grandfather thrust the Four Books and Five Classics in front of me.

Having no knowledge of Chinese characters, I had to study them.

As a teenager already struggling with Earth Science and Calculus, why should I read texts like the Analects or Mencius?

Time passed, and I became a senior in high school. My grandfather visited our home.

He asked me about passages from the Analects, and naturally, I couldn’t answer a single one.

That’s how I ended up having all my electronic devices confiscated and being locked in the attic with the Analects by a furious grandfather.

“Yeah. It’s my fault for not having read the Analects earlier.”

I blamed myself for telling my grandfather that I’d read the Analects just to get rid of him.

That’s what I decided.

If I had read the Analects earlier or had better conversations with my grandfather, I wouldn’t be in this situation with the college entrance exams just days away.

At least he didn’t bring me the original text of the Analects written only in Chinese characters but rather a commentary book.

Yeah. My grandfather made some concessions for my sake.

Thinking that, my anger seemed to subside a bit.

“Yeah. Jo Seonwoo. Calm down. The Master said, ‘It is only proper to follow the words of the sages. One must not stray from them and must value their guidance.’”

I stifled my anger, then suddenly got up and threw the book onto the floor.

I was furious.

Saying my name reminded me of being teased as a child with the nickname “Joseon.” My name was heavily influenced by my grandfather.

“I’m not doing this! Damn it! What use is studying the Analects in today’s world?”

I stomped over to the dusty mattress in the corner of the attic and threw myself onto it.

Dust billowed up, but I didn’t care.

Instead, I pulled out the hidden game console I had stashed nearby.

I had prepared the console in case I got locked in the attic after my grandfather arrived.

It was a bitter confirmation of my prediction, but at this moment, I felt my stress-laden mind clear with a rush of dopamine.

[Agora Academy]

I turned on the familiar game. Due to the strict family rules, I had never played any mainstream games.

But this game was the only one I could immerse myself in.

A fictional Earth where monsters and hunters exist.

A game set in Agora Academy, an institution for training hunters.

It was a single-player game, so I could enjoy it without any pressure.

After playing only this game for years, I had become quite the expert in it.

As I waited for the game to load, my frustration flared up again.

“I’d rather live in a world like this game.”

Then I wouldn’t have to deal with my grandfather nagging me to live like a scholar, right?

It was a spur-of-the-moment remark and not a serious wish.

On the game screen, a cat mascot of the game company blinked at me.

But why wasn’t that cat disappearing and why was it still blinking? It should disappear for the game to load.

“Damn it.”

And then, I was sucked into the game world.

Damn it.

***

[Name: Jo Seonwoo
<Attributes>
[Strength 19] [Dexterity 24] [Mana 16] [Perception 31]
<Unique Traits>
[The way of the Scholar]
[Apprentice Scholar’s Guide (Disappears after 7 days)]
<Skills>
[Archery: Beginner [v.7]
[Swordsmanship (Bladed Sword): Beginner [v.3]
[Mana Sensitivity: Beginner [v.1]
<Skills>
[Scholar’s Shot]
<Skills>
(None)]

I woke up in a strange room, groggy and disoriented. I thought I was dreaming.

That was until the status window, just like the one from “Agora Academy,” appeared before me.

After some wild thrashing about, I managed to accept the reality.

The academy uniform crumpled on the desk in front of me was just as it had appeared in the game.

“Scholar? Damn it? Scholar?”

“Scholarly Rate Change: -5% (Disgraceful Insult) (Current Scholarly Rate 0%)”

In fact, I couldn’t calm down.

The sight of my name clearly displayed on the status screen along with this unfamiliar characteristic was scratching at my insides.

And that system window that’s been popping up continuously since earlier.

‘Agora Academy’ has ten playable characters. Each character has their own unique traits.

And among them, there was no trait called ‘The Way of the Scholar.’ It seems that this must be a trait unique to me since I entered the game.

I pressed the status window to check the trait details.

<Unique Trait Details – The Way of the Scholar>
“Do not even cast a glance at what is not proper, do not listen to what is not proper, do not speak what is not proper, and do not act if it is not proper.”

You possess the unique status ‘Scholarly Rate.’ The higher the Scholarly Rate, the more beneficial effects occur.

The Scholarly Rate increases with scholarly-like words and actions.

<Unique Trait Details – Apprentice Scholar’s Guide>
“Act according to propriety after establishing virtue. It informs you of your actions that help increase the Scholarly Rate and those that do not, It shows the impact of actions on the Scholarly Rate before you act.”

The Scholarly Rate increases more easily.

Expires in 7 days.

「Current Scholarly Rate: 0% Current Status: Scholar (Current Change Rate: -10%/h)」

After reading the status window, veins popped on my forehead.

So, does this mean I’ve become a scholarly character in the academy game?

I was just trying to escape reality after reading the Analects, and now I have to live as a scholar even in the game?

「Scholarly Rate Change: 1% (Scholarly Insight) (Current Scholarly Rate: 1%)」

“Damn it, seriously.”

“Scholarly Rate Change: -5% (Disgraceful Insult) (Current Scholarly Rate: 0%)”

Once again, anger surged up, but I swallowed it down.

Checking the calendar and the time, I realized today was the entrance ceremony day at Agora Academy.

The situation in the game was exactly the same. I needed to head to the auditorium for the ceremony.

「<Apprentice Scholar’s Guide> Being late for the academic schedule is an unscholarly behavior. (Expected Scholarly Rate Change: -10%)」

Right. For now, I’ll play along with the system’s demands.

Just as I was about to change from my pajamas into my uniform, I noticed something.

The uniform was all crumpled!

It seemed I had tossed it carelessly into a corner the previous day, and it was now a wrinkled mess.

Although it wasn’t a problem to wear it, I had a feeling that the status screen would freak out about it.

「<Apprentice Scholar’s Guide> An unkempt uniform is unscholarly. (Expected Scholarly Rate Change: -20%)」

As expected.

This time, I cursed quietly without making a sound and looked around.

There was no strict rule at Agora Academy requiring everyone to wear a uniform.

But it was the entrance ceremony, after all. Shouldn’t I wear something proper?

Then, I discovered my fate.

It was a traditional robe hanging where the uniform should have been.

“Damn it.”

Unable to hold back, I cursed out loud. As expected, the system window popped up.

So, I was supposed to wear traditional clothing instead of the uniform?

The thought of attracting widespread attention from the entire student body made me feel hopeless.

Well, it’s my fault for playing such a messed-up game.

I resigned myself and picked up the traditional robe.

I had worn traditional clothing many times before, but it had been a while, and I wasn’t quite sure how to wear it properly.

I decided to head to the bathroom to adjust my appearance.

And then I noticed something strange.

“Did I…………… always look this good?”

It wasn’t just nonsense. The person in the mirror was definitely me, but I looked more handsome than usual.

I know myself well. My face isn’t unattractive, but I could never say it was handsome even as a compliment.

Yet, my face now looked a bit better. Even though I hadn’t washed up after waking up.

As I put on the traditional robe, my doubts deepened. I turned my head.

「Scholarly Rate Change: 15% (Wearing Traditional Robe for the Ceremony) (Current Scholarly Rate: 21%)」

「Current Scholarly Rate: 21% Current Status: Commoner (Current Change Rate: -8%/h)」

I took a picture of my reflection with my phone.

After putting on the hat and adjusting the robe, I checked the Scholarly Rate again.

「Current Scholarly Rate: 31% Current Status: Distinguished Person (Current Change Rate: -5%/h)」

Click. I took another photo and compared it with the previous one.

I was amazed by the result.

“I look more handsome…!”

More defined features. A higher nose bridge and newly formed faint double eyelids.

A sharper jawline and whiter, cleaner skin. I even seemed taller. My shoulders appeared a bit narrower, but overall, my frame seemed smaller.

After pondering why this change happened, I realized.

It was my mental image of a scholar. Tall stature. Slender build. White skin. The scholar’s image that was even more attractive than a woman’s.

You know, the kind of image of celebrities from historical dramas. Like Seo Jun or Park Seo Jun.

I realized I was transforming into such an appearance.

When you act like a scholar, the Scholarly Rate increases. The higher the Scholarly Rate, the more handsome you become.

Does it matter if my past was plagued by strict family traditions? Seo Jun is right in front of me!

Does it matter if my mindset and beliefs need to change to fit in with the old scholars? Park Seo Jun is right in front of me!

I made my decision.

From now on, I will live as a scholar for myself.