Chapter 0: Prologue

ㅡFind you! Stand! OEO!

“Ugh, sh****t.”

Another day has begun.

It feels like I’ve come back from the dead. How do these zombie bastards get up after falling down? I forced my immobile arm to move, turned off the alarm, and barely managed to sit up.

This isn’t a bed, it’s a damn coffin.

“Ah.”

I’m so tired I could drop dead, seriously.

Until my military service ended, I vowed to live diligently, waking up early every day. But after being discharged, getting up and going to bed like in the military is not an easy task.

I don’t have insomnia, so why am I so tired? Come to think of it, it’s been a year since I was discharged.

Either way, I have to go to work later. Then study a bit after I come back, play games, and go to sleep. A day in the life of a man in his early twenties who’s completed military service is extremely busy.

Anyway.

I habitually grab my phone and log into the community site I visit every day. DC Inside. First thing after waking up, I need to browse the gallery, check out the posts, and it helps me fully wake up.

Without doing this, I can’t get out of bed.

What posts have been uploaded overnight?

With that thought, the moment I clicked on the post window of the gallery I visit daily.

-★Has the War Hero of the Academy DLC dropped??? (388)

What the hell? 300 comments first thing in the morning? It’s such an overwhelming post that it immediately catches my eye. Even the upvotes have surpassed a thousand.

I clicked to enter immediately.

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-It’s out, you motherf*ckers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A crazy muscular frog GIF, magnified to a large size, with red fiery eyes and rampaging about, welcomed me.

The comments were also all praises.

“War Hero of the Academy?”

I know it’s a game that came out a while ago.

2 years?

That makes it an old game. It was released when I was in the military.

It seems popular, but I haven’t been playing it because I’m not particularly interested in this genre. But seeing everyone losing their minds over the DLC release, it must have been a masterpiece.

“Is it fun? I’ve asked seven times now.”

I let out a meaningless comment and got out of bed. Then I turned on the computer immediately.

I haven’t had a game to play after getting off work these days, should I give it a try?

“It’s gone viral.”

I’ll download it and take a shower.

After immediate payment, I clicked the download button and headed for the bathroom. While brushing my teeth, I searched the game’s name on Wiki and checked out some information.

ㅡChika Chika.

—Pokapoka.

It was a game in which superhuman minors, newly admitted to the academy, battle with monstrous entities.

Leveling up characters. Living the academy life. Watching the story unfold. Gathering friends and eventually staving off a massive invasion of otherworldly species.

That was the genre of the game.

In other words, the game allows the enrolled protagonist to raise their character and hone their control skills until the end of their third year in game time, then to see the ending after slaughtering the final boss that barges in.

Upon seeing it in detail, it seemed there’s a hell of a lot to do, so the gameplay time is freaking long. It was also said to have multiple branches, so once I start, I would probably be hooked until I see all types of endings.

“Damn, why are these kids living so passionately these days?”

It could be said to be a truly Korean game. Unconditionally doing a lot, growing, and breaking things is just the style. Even kids live so fiercely, so what the hell am I?

After skimming through the rough profiles of the characters, I turned off my phone.

Now I need to wash my hair and rinse my face.

When I play games, I usually skim through about 5% of the information and play the rest by navigating myself without any cheats or guides.

Just that much is fun in a light-hearted way.

I didn’t even check what the DLC, which was the reason for downloading this game, was. Of course, it would just be a spoiler if I looked at it now. Let’s save it for later enjoyment.

“Ugh.”

After taking a shower and going to the computer.

“It’s done.”

The game download is complete.

Now let’s try it out and then get dressed and go out. I can do the rest after coming back from my part-time job, study a bit, and then play before bed.

The thought of playing a new game after a long time is somehow exciting.

—Thud.

That’s when I had just sat down and finished the installation and turned the game on.

Suddenly.

“Hmm?”

—Stagger.

“What?”

I felt very dizzy. Like I was being pressed by a scissor… what the hell is this? I tried to move, but I can’t control myself, damn it!

“Uh, what?!”

What’s this?!

—Ahhhhhhh!

There was a bright white flash spewing out in front of the monitor! I couldn’t escape…!

“Oh.”

Could it be that I’m having some kind of acute seizure!

“Oh…!”

I need to let someone know…!

I, I can’t die like this!

Living alone like this, if I collapse, it would really be the end!

“OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

Hoping someone would notice, I screamed with all my might.

Feeling the strength draining from my entire body.

I closed my eyes.