CROWNWELL

Minjae is just another otaku — a quiet seventeen-year-old who finds comfort in anime, manga, and the safety of his small circle of friends. His days are filled with school, gaming marathons, and avoiding reality. But when his mother’s hidden debts catch up to them, Minjae’s peaceful world shatters overnight.

With loan sharks closing in and threats piling up, Minjae is forced into a brutal world of street fights, school gang wars, and underground politics — a world he’s painfully unprepared for.

Surrounded by danger, Minjae is never truly alone. His best friend Hyunwoo, a loyal gym rat with dreams of becoming a street wrestling legend, and Jisoo Han, a lazy but sharp-witted fighter known for her deadly kicks, stand by his side. Later, they’re joined by Tuah, a charming and unpredictable Malaysian senior whose elegant Silat flow hides his lethal potential.

But the streets aren’t forgiving. The four regional school representatives — Seok Jinwoo, Ryu Jaeho, Kang Dohyeon, and the legendary Choi Gyuhwan — dominate the city’s fight scene, and Minjae’s name is barely a whisper among giants.

As Minjae fights his way up from the bottom, he discovers his family’s buried legacy: Subaekgyeon, a forgotten martial art that could change everything.

Driven by guilt, friendship, and a desire to break free from his crushing fate, Minjae must rise — not as an anime hero, but as a street legend forged in real pain.

But in a city where debts, betrayal, and power rule, can Minjae survive long enough to write his own story?

Restart: Press Start to Fight

Minjae's name wasn't just a rumor anymore.It was a problem.

And problems don't get ignored forever.

A week passed.The bruises on Minjae's ribs were still healing.The sharp pain in his jaw reminded him daily of the fight he barely survived.

But he was stronger now. His punches were tighter, his footwork more solid. Hyunwoo's training was paying off.

And Jisoo?Jisoo had her own way of collecting information. Quiet. Sharp. Efficient. She always knew when something was coming — but this time, even she was late to the warning.

Because this wasn't a random street fight.

Minjae, Hyunwoo, and Jisoo were on their way to the ramen shop when a crowd suddenly gathered near the front gates.

Whispers rippled through the students.

Minjae's chest tightened as he pushed through the circle.

Three boys stood there — but they weren't like the errand runners Minjae had fought before.These guys were different. Their uniforms were crisp. Their eyes cold. Their movements sharp.

And leading them was a boy with jet-black hair slicked back, a faint scar running across his eyebrow.

He wasn't just some street thug. His posture, his stare — he was trained.

The boy's gaze locked onto Minjae instantly.

"So you're Minjae." His voice was calm. Almost polite.

Minjae's fists clenched. "Who's asking?"

The boy smiled faintly. "Nam Jungho. West Gangbuk's mid-tier collector. I've been sent to clean up your mess."

Jisoo's eyes narrowed. "Mid-tier? They're not sending errand boys anymore."

Hyunwoo stepped forward, his stance firm. "What, you think three of you can take us?"

Jungho shook his head with a cold smile. "We're not here to fight. Not yet. I just wanted to introduce myself. You've been making noise, Minjae. Too much noise."

His voice dropped, low and serious.

"The higher-ups don't like noise. You're starting to cost them money. So they're going to send real collectors soon. Guys who won't just rough you up. Guys who finish jobs."

Minjae's throat tightened, but he didn't back down. "Let them come. I'll fight them all."

Jungho actually chuckled. "I like that. Makes it more fun."

He turned to leave but paused after a few steps. "Oh, and by the way… we know where you live now."

Jungho glanced over his shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't touch your house. But not everyone's as polite as me."

The threat lingered in the air as he and his crew disappeared into the crowd.

That night, Minjae sat in Hyunwoo's garage where they usually trained.

His hands trembled — not from fear, but from pressure. The pressure of knowing this was just the beginning.

"They know where I live," Minjae muttered. "What if they go after the neighbors? What if they go after you guys?"

Hyunwoo wrapped tape around his fists. "Then we fight harder."

Jisoo leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You picked this fight, Minjae. Now you finish it."

Minjae looked at his reflection in the cracked mirror on the wall. He didn't see the weak, awkward otaku anymore.

He saw someone in the middle of becoming something else.

Hyunwoo grinned. "Good. Because I heard Jungho's crew hangs out near the train station on weekends."

Jisoo smirked lazily. "Perfect. Let's go say hi."

Minjae's knuckles tightened as he stood. "Let's start with them."

The Debt Crew’s Counterattack