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Location: Class 2-B Homeroom
Time: Monday, 8:03 AM
Kang Joon-Ho walked into school, holding his usual plain lunch box and looking like a regular guy with no secrets.
Except, of course, for the fact that he owned a gold-covered planet, drank banana milk from a vending machine in space, and could now hover for seven minutes straight if he ate onion-flavored space chips.
But today, he wanted peace. Just quiet classes. Maybe a nap during history.
Too bad fate had other plans.
"Class 2-B!" the teacher beamed. "Guess what time of year it is?"
"Time for midterms?" someone guessed.
"Time to cry?" someone else muttered.
"No, silly!" the teacher clapped. "It's… Annual School Talent Day!"
Everyone groaned like a choir of tortured zombies.
"We're doing it this Friday, so sign up now! Singing, dancing, magic tricks—whatever shows off your hidden talents!"
Joon-Ho chuckled softly to himself.
Hidden talents?
Ha! What hidden talents?
Unless "secret space gold extraction" counted as a magic trick.
He leaned back in his seat and prepared to ignore the whole thing.
That's when disaster struck.
"OH, TEACHER!" Class President So-Ra waved excitedly. "You forgot to sign up Kang Joon-Ho!"
Joon-Ho froze mid-chew on a piece of gum.
"I never signed up—!"
"Exactly! That's why I did it for you," she said sweetly. "You're too quiet, so this is your moment to shine!"
"SHINE WHERE?!"
So-Ra ignored him. "I put you down for… interpretive dance."
"WHAT?!"
"Yup. You'll close the show. Last act. Big finale!"
The class erupted in laughter.
One guy yelled, "Dance, vending machine boy, dance!"
Another shouted, "Is he going to levitate again?!"
So-Ra winked. "Don't worry, Joon-Ho. I believe in your mysterious aura."
Joon-Ho faceplanted onto his desk.
---
System: How About We Help?
> [New Side Quest: Win the Talent Show Accidentally]
Reward: 1 Extra Gold Extraction for the Week
Bonus: +1 Confidence Stat
Suggestion: Let the System choose your performance outfit.
"…No."
> Too late. Auto-selected: Galactic Swan Outfit (Silver Variant)
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Talent Day: Friday, 4:59 PM
Backstage, Joon-Ho stared at himself in the mirror.
He was dressed in a tight, shimmering silver costume with glowing ankle cuffs, fingerless gloves, and a light-up feathered collar that made him look like a backup dancer from an alien musical.
"System, I swear if I survive this, I'm uninstalling you with a hammer."
> Confidence Stat: +1
You are now slightly less terrified of public speaking.
Good luck, dancing swan!
"...I hate you."
---
On Stage: The Moment of Truth
"And now," the announcer declared, "the final performance of the day… interpretive dance… by Kang Joon-Ho!"
The curtain lifted.
Spotlights hit him.
Silence.
The entire school was watching.
He took a deep breath.
One step forward.
Then—his foot hit a loose cord.
He slipped.
Spun.
Accidentally backflipped.
His shoe flew off.
Landed on the class president's head.
She screamed.
The crowd laughed.
Then—it happened.
> [Emergency System Buff Activated!]
Gravity Stabilizer: On
Airborne Agility: +50%
Charisma Boost: +10
Cosmic Ballet Mode: Engaged
Music blared from the speakers.
Not the usual school show music — but something epic.
Orchestral.
Galactic.
Joon-Ho's body began to move on its own.
He twirled.
He glided.
He spun midair like a slow-motion majestic space flamingo.
Confetti rained from nowhere.
Lights dimmed and pulsed in sync with his glowing costume.
Someone in the front row fainted.
Another screamed, "HE'S ASCENDING!"
A student whispered, "He's not just vending machine boy… he's vending god."
---
Aftermath: The Legend Begins
The performance ended with Joon-Ho striking a dramatic pose mid-air, softly landing on one foot like a K-pop finale trained by aliens.
The crowd went wild.
Even the principal stood and clapped.
People cried.
Teachers took selfies.
One boy vowed to become a dancer and dropped out of cram school on the spot.
So-Ra, covered in shoeprint, whispered, "I created a monster…"
---
Backstage
Joon-Ho collapsed onto a chair, panting.
"System… what the heck did you just do to me?"
> [Talent Show Victory: COMPLETE]
Bonus Gold Extraction Unlocked
Confidence +2
New Title Earned: Intergalactic Dancer of Light™
Would you like to auto-sign up for next year?
"IF YOU EVEN TRY, I WILL DELETE YOU WITH CHOPSTICKS."
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To Be Continued…