Chapter 2: Skipping Classes Today, But Hello Taekwondo(this chapter was rewritten)

Hajun Gu's POV

After waking up, I had to face a painful truth: I'm really in Questism, or more specifically, in the PTJ Verse.

I'm seriously screwed.

[AI: !!! Announcement !!!]

[AI: Task to improve host's boxing style completed successfully.]

Thankfully, there's some light in the darkness surrounding me right now. The AI finished the task I gave it yesterday.

I'm really glad I didn't take things lightly and avoided doing something stupid, thinking this was all just a dream.

"Now that my boxing style's been greatly improved, I can walk around Gangbuk with a clear mind, for now."

[AI: Affirmative]

"Wait, you can read my thoughts?" I asked the AI directly. If that's true, it could've told me earlier.

[AI: Affirmative, I can read your thoughts passively, but only superficial thoughts or those directly addressed to me.]

"I'm not sure how I should feel about that…"

No one would like to find out an AI can read their thoughts. I feel… kinda exposed.

[AI: Should I start transferring the newly gathered information?]

"Yeah, go ahead," I nodded.

Within seconds, a flood of information hit me, pointing out errors in my movements and slightly incorrect posture. Even though some errors were minor, I couldn't deny the impact correcting them would have on my fighting style.

"I feel like I've had a revelation. It's like, all this time, I was just playing at boxing," I muttered, slightly dizzy.

I got out of bed and started shadowboxing to check if I'd really improved. I was mesmerized by each of my movements.

I ended up practicing for most of the morning without even realizing it.

I have to admit, even though nothing had physically changed, my technique had drastically improved.

If I were to compare, last night I was like a child; now I'm an adult. My strength is nothing like what it was before.

"I should stop hiding my new strength and go see the Taekwondo legend, Hansu Seong."

But before that, I need to stop by the local library to gather more data for the AI.

…

"Young man, do you really intend to read all of that?" asked an intellectual-looking guy, addressing me.

He seems to think I won't actually read all these books. He probably assumes someone like me can't be bothered to educate themselves.

It's annoying being judged like that. I understand now how Black people feel being judged based on appearance.

It's seriously frustrating, and I'm sure they've had it much worse than me.

"Yes, and please, don't bother me," I retorted, signaling for him to leave me alone.

I was using the AI to gather as much information as possible on all forms of martial arts.

Of course, that included boxing and Taekwondo.

"But man, all these stares people keep giving me are really annoying…"

To regular people, it looked like I was just flipping through the pages without really reading. But the AI only needed a few seconds to scan the information on each page.

After a while, I'd gathered a massive amount of information on Taekwondo and boxing. Now, I could finally go see the Taekwondo legend, Hansu Seong.

"I just hope the money I've saved up as the leader of West Gangbuk will be enough to pay him," I sighed as I walked.

On my way there, I asked the AI to run a new analysis. I wanted another improvement in my boxing style.

I figured the new data I'd gathered would be enough for a major upgrade. I also thought that, right now in Seoul, few people knew as much about theoretical boxing as I did.

After a long, admittedly expensive taxi ride, I arrived at the address I found online.

When I walked in, I saw kids doing various exercises under the supervision of a man in glasses, who seemed calm and kind.

"Excuse me, kids, I'll be right back," he said, stepping away from the children and heading towards me after we made eye contact.

"I really hope he doesn't think I'm some weirdo watching kids train," I thought.

"Hello, young man. Are you here to sign up for training or looking for someone?" he asked kindly.

If I didn't know this man had been involved in an attempted kidnapping of a head of state, I'd have thought he was just a regular Taekwondo teacher.

He seemed completely harmless, probably due to his experience working undercover.

"Hello, sir," I replied respectfully.

"I'm looking for a complete Taekwondo training, specifically in ITF Taekwondo," I said calmly.

As soon as I finished speaking, his kind smile and squinting eyes disappeared, replaced by a serious, unsmiling expression.

"Why do you want to learn that, young man?" he asked.

"In competitions, we use WTF Taekwondo. Learning ITF Taekwondo would be a waste of time if you have professional ambitions. Care to explain why you want to learn ITF Taekwondo?" he finished, staring at me seriously.

"Damn it, I should've asked the AI for some general knowledge about Taekwondo," I thought bitterly.

[AI: Starting transfer of basic historical knowledge on Taekwondo.]

What? It can take the initiative like that?

[AI: Transfer complete.]

"Answer me, young man," he said, a bit more insistent this time.

With the new information from the AI, I figured I'd better avoid giving too much detail.

"I just… no, I love Taekwondo, and I want to study the most complete version I know of," I said, remembering Taehoon Seong's dream, the son of this man.

I knew it was a low blow to use that against a father, but if I wanted a good teacher in this world, I had to use every trick in the book.

"You say you love Taekwondo, and that's why you're interested in learning ITF?" he asked, clearly skeptical.

He looked me up and down, frowning slightly.

"Looking at you, I can tell you're a boxer. So, why the sudden interest in Taekwondo?" he asked calmly, walking around me, examining me closely.

"Yes, I'm a boxer, but self-taught," I replied.

I emphasized the "self-taught" part, hoping Hansu Seong would understand that I was worth investing in.

"I learned boxing because I didn't have any other choice at the time, and I couldn't afford to learn anything else," I concluded.

I couldn't understand why I was being interrogated. I thought I could just pay and train.

Now I'm starting to see why there are only kids here and no teens or adults.

This guy must be really picky.

"I think you're not telling me everything, but fine. As long as you pay the enrollment fee and your talent meets my standards, you're welcome. For now, at least," he shrugged.

Seeing how he was acting now, it was like the interrogation I just went through had been a complete illusion.

Not long after, I received the training center's hours and my personal schedule, as I'd paid extra for private lessons.

"I need to make some money, fast," I muttered as I left the place.

…

POV of narrator (author)

After leaving Hansu Seong's Taekwondo club, Hajun Gu went into a small shop to buy a mask to hide his identity for some future activities.

"This might come in handy tonight," he thought with a slight smile that barely concealed his darker intentions.

He was about to use a method as old as humanity to get some money. He didn't really feel bad for his future victims.

"No thug is gonna call the cops to report a robbery, anyway," he thought.