god of baduk

By 류벼리

A room in a dilapidated high school on the outskirts of Seoul. Twenty-three-year-old Junyeol stared at the ceiling at night and tried to sleep: a ten-hour-a-day job, the smell of stale ramen noodles, and a forgotten talent. In elementary school, he had won a broadcast with an IQ of 173, but now he was stocking chocolate bars at a convenience store. His parents' bankruptcy, divorce, and welfare blind spots made him “just a kid,” not a “genius.” That day, he was taking out the trash, exhausted. He was taking out the trash one day when he saw an old man on a park bench with a checkerboard. “Do you want to play?” Suddenly, Junyeol's brain went strangely quiet. The moment he grabbed the stone, thousands of possible outcomes raced through his mind. It was more sophisticated than math, deeper than organs. A game over in a matter of minutes. The old man said without a smile. “You have a talent.” From that day forward, he played Go every night. He bought second-hand go books, read them, and registered on an online go site under the name “Black Heaven”. At night, he threw stones at the world with his mouse from his study room. The nameless user was racking up wins at a frightening rate. “Isn't this guy a pro?” “Isn't he an AI?” Speculation and rumors abounded, and eventually, an invitation to the International Go Championship arrived. Anonymity allowed. No identity. But proven to be skilled. His final opponent was Ren Arakawa, a young Japanese prodigy. Ranked number one in the world. A 19x19 universe of black and white stones. In it, Junyeol forgot the damp ceiling of the high school and the pain of his part-time job. A number no one had ever imagined, a shape no one had ever read. The narrator lowered his voice. “That's... not a number humanly conceivable.” Forty-five minutes later, Ren set the stone down. “I admit defeat.” Even at that moment, Jun's name was not revealed. Reporters asked: “Who is Black Heaven?” But he was still sitting in his study, quietly reviewing his kibo. The world didn't know him, but no one ignored him on the board. And today, he thought of another move. “Now, my life begins.” 🧠 1. Main Character - 'Lee Joon-Yeol' (Nickname: Black Cheon) Item Setting Age 23 years old Gender Male Height / Body type 177cm / skinny, slightly hunched shoulders Appearance Sharp forehead, dark circles under eyes, dark eyebrows and clear eyes. Few words, few facial expressions, but eyes say it all. Hairstyle Dark hair, naturally disheveled with a stop-start look. Forehead is barely visible. Clothing style Old hooded zip-ups, convenience store uniforms, gray jumpers from thrift stores. Black long coat and hat for Go tournaments (to remain anonymous) Personality Genius but modest. A man of few words, but sharp in observation and concentration. Socially cynical, but has a warm sense of justice inside. A strong mind, not easily swayed by anything. Habits When reading numbers, he moves his fingers in a hollow motion. Bites his lips absentmindedly. Characteristics Genius with an IQ of 173. Quick reasoning and intuition. Exceptional spatial awareness and ability to analyze patterns. 📌 Tip: Jun-yeol is like a “black lotus flower growing where the light doesn't reach” character. Portraying him as a quiet genius who blooms out of a dark reality will make the emotional lines of the drama come alive. 🧓 2. Old man in the park - 'Jung Young-gu' (as a go master) Item Setting Age Early 70s Gender Male Height/body type 165cm / thin, back curved Appearance Wrinkled face, raised eyebrows but gentle expression. Gray beard bushy, eyes deep and calm like an old checkerboard. Hairstyle Neat all-back with graying hair. Always wears a brimmed hat. Clothing style Navy blue vest and baggy beige pants. Always carries an old checkerboard. Personality Slow to speak, contemplative. Not easily angered and patient. However, his insight is sharp and precise when he is in the right hands. Characteristics He once played a position in the Go world, but retired for some reason. Jun-yeol reintroduced him to the world of Go. A teacher, the only one who understands. 📌 Tip: This character plays the role of “mentor + helper”. Depicting him as a human warmth and a mental stepping stone for Jun-yeol creates depth. 🎴 3. Rival - Arakawa Ren Item Setting Age 21 years old Gender Male Height/body type 181cm/balanced body type, straight posture Appearance Pale skin, sharp jawline. Brown eyes with a reddish tinge, smooth facial lines. A deadly, cold look. Hairstyle Neat black-brown short hair, bangs cut above the eyebrows. The epitome of neatness. Clothing Style Uniform modified from the traditional kimono style to a modern go suit. Styled with a black shirt and slim hakama pants. White gloves are always worn during tournaments. Personality A perfectionist. Does not show emotion, but has a great deal of anger and pride over defeat. Although his style is cold and calculating, he has a pure competitive spirit inside. Characteristics Known as “Japan's Genius Knight,” Junryeol's only rival and mirror. The first person to fail to “read” Junyeol's number, and in that moment, he recognized Junyeol. Translated with DeepL.com (free version) 🏚️ 1. Gosiwon “Dawn Jar” Item Description Location On the outskirts of Seoul, in an old redevelopment area Appearance Hallways narrow, drab wallpaper, fluorescent lights flicker frequently. Wind leaks in through doorways, no soundproofing at all. Interior Room is about 1.5 square meters. A mattress as a bed, a small folding desk, and a single wall fan. Low ceilings and dingy wallpaper. Few windows. Functional meaning Symbolizes ‘the fall of genius’ and ‘the pain of reality’. The isolated space is the starting point for Jun-yeol's rediscovery of Go and his talent. Emotional Tone Dark, subdued atmosphere, full of silence instead of noise. 📌 Tip: Use this barely lit space as a **‘mirror of psychological darkness’** to create a more dramatic contrast with the light on the checkerboard. 🌳 2. Neighborhood Park - ‘Teal Park’ Item Description Location Small low-lying park, 5 minutes walk from the high school Appearance A few benches, one dead tree, a grassy area and an old playground. Only one streetlight flickers on at night. Feature The place where an elderly man, Jung Young-gu, plays Go every day. The place where Jun-yeol first fell in love with Go. Functional meaning A place where ‘fateful encounters’ take place. This quiet, secluded space acts as a small time and space portal that shifts the story. Emotional tone Analog, old, peaceful, and nostalgic. 📌 Tip: The park can be described like a **‘secret dojo’** of a master and disciple. Emphasize the feeling of disconnection from the outside world! 🖥️ 3. Online Go Community - ‘Go Constellation’ Items Description Platform Personality Global Go site. No real names required. Rankings are based on skill and real-time analysis AI. Visual Features Ranking map like a constellation on a black background. Each user uses the name of a star. Junyeol plays as ‘Black Heaven’. Functional meaning A space where talent explodes in anonymity. The first ‘real competition’ with the world. The stage where Junyeol's real growth begins. Emotional Tone A futuristic, colorless, emotionless world of information, but the heat of a fierce battle flows through it.

Story Content

god of baduk

By 류벼리

Title Page

Junyeol, once a child genius, rekindles his forgotten talent for Go after a chance encounter with an old man. Under the alias 'Black Heaven,' he begins to win games online, eventually receiving an invitation to the International Go Championship.

In a tense match, Ren Arakawa concedes defeat to Junyeol, the mysterious 'Black Heaven'. Despite the victory, Junyeol remains anonymous, contemplating his future moves in solitude.

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Jun-yeol reads numbers, moving his fingers in a hollow motion and biting his lips absentmindedly. Jung Young-gu observes, contemplatively holding his checkerboard, while Arakawa Ren stands nearby, poised and attentive.

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Lee Joon-Yeol stands alone in the cramped Gosiwon, surrounded by the dark, subdued atmosphere. His perfectionist nature is evident in his immaculate appearance and the cold, calculating demeanor he maintains.

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In the dimly lit park, Jung Young-gu and Lee Joon-Yeol sit quietly, absorbed in their Go game. The flickering streetlight casts a nostalgic glow, emphasizing their deep connection to the game and to each other.

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