As the sun begins to rise, signaling another day of forced perfection, Baekseung plugs a thumb drive into the main server. They aren't planning a riot with fire; they’re planning a riot with truth.
The "21st Century Boys"—eight students at the elite Zenith Academy—are the pride of the nation. To the public, they are the perfect products of a high-pressure society: flawless grades, disciplined minds, and unwavering smiles. But behind the reinforced glass of their dorms, the "Prelude of Anxiety" has already begun. As the sun begins to rise, signaling another
Keum, the unofficial leader, sits at his desk. The blue light of his tablet reflects in his tired eyes. He isn't studying. He’s looking at a digital map of the school’s ventilation system. Beside him, Mu stares at a blank notebook, the pressure to "be someone" paralyzing his hands. They aren't just students; they are the test subjects of the "Great Optimization," an algorithm designed to predict and prune human failure. To the public, they are the perfect products
The year is 2024, but the city of Neo-Seoul feels like it’s living a century ahead—and a century behind all at once. The blue light of his tablet reflects in his tired eyes
