Prologue: Reincarnation
Kim Seok-woo, 27 years old. Fashion major grad from a third-rate college. He knew how to make clothes, but couldn't stitch together his own life.
No specs. No money. No connections. Dating...
"...Ha."
He'd tried. Three times. All three got read and ghosted.
"Does this even make sense...?"
He muttered at the ceiling of his one-room apartment.
"Am I really that bad?"
No answer. Instead, his laptop screen glowed quietly. His one and only conversation partner.
Chat XPT.
"...Hey."
He tapped the keyboard.
"...So that's why it doesn't work? Then where does it...?"
He dragged a hand down his face—
Thud!
His heart plummeted.
"Wha...?"
His breath caught, chest tightening.
"...Wait."
His body tilted. He slipped from the chair. Even the impact of hitting the floor felt distant. Vision blurring, the last thing that surfaced was the laptop screen.
And the line floating above it.
Chat XPT: Possibilities may differ in other environments.
"...What?"
That was the end.
##
He opened his eyes.
"...Huh?"
The ceiling was different. No fluorescent lights. Instead, countless candles, red silk drapes, wooden beams, faint incense.
"Where the hell...?"
"Kyaaak!"
A scream. He turned his head.
"...What the hell is this."
The room was filled with women kneeling. Beauties in thin silk garments, heads bowed low, trembling.
"L-Leader...!"
One spoke up, voice quivering.
"You suddenly collapsed... We... "
"...Leader?"
His head throbbed like it might split.
Crack!
Memories flooded in.
This was the Central Plains Martial World.
And this body's identity...
"...Bliss Cult Leader."
The words slipped out.
The room's air froze. The women bowed even deeper.
"...Forgive us."
"...Today... which of us will you...?"
"...Hold up."
Wait, wait;;
His brain stalled. He looked again.
All of them stunning. Faces he'd never even approached in reality.
And their gazes fixed on him. Mixed with fear... and anticipation.
"...For real?"
His heart pounded wildly.
Was this... isekai reincarnation?
He scanned their faces again.
This... was a harem, right?
Then reality crashed in.
Martial arts? No clue.
Internal energy? None.
Fighting? Yeah, no.
Come on, if you're gonna reincarnate me, give me powers and start from the beginning! Not drop me powerless into a wuxia world;;
"Leader."
The devotees' voices, laced with worry.
If they found out...
That was the moment.
Ting!
A familiar chime, and a window popped up before his eyes.
"...Huh?"
AI Cheat System Online
"...What is this."
His breath nearly stopped. Trembling fingers swiped at the air.
The window responded.
"You... no way."
He typed frantically.
> How to play the cult leader without getting caught in a wuxia world?
Chat XPT:
1. Maintain an air of mysticism to hide your lack of knowledge.
2. Answer questions vaguely, letting them interpret.
3. Use authoritative tone and strategic silence.
4. Compensate for physical weakness by leveraging those around you.
"...Insane."
His lips curled up.
"This actually works."
Even if this body's memories applied, they had limits.
But in his head? An answer key.
"...Everyone."
He spoke slowly. The women flinched.
"Today... is a historic day."
"...Pardon?"
A beat of silence.
He paused deliberately. Mysticism. Mysticism.
Silence. Gazes. Pressure.
The room's air grew heavy.
And slowly...
"...The divine has descended upon my body."
The devotees' eyes shook as they stared.
Faith and fear spread like wildfire.
Cheering erupted.
Conviction hit him.
How to survive this world.
Not by fighting, but by deceiving.
And this body's original owner? He had a knack for that.
"After deep contemplation, I shall select who receives the blessing."
"...!"
Gasp-like breaths.
"Those who wait shall surely get their chance."
Perfectly plausible words. Empty content, endless interpretations.
Their eyes changed. Anticipation. Tension. Excitement.
He smirked inwardly.
It works.
Really works.
Life reset.
No martial arts. No powers.
But AI? Check.
As he rose, the cheering devotees knelt again.
Looking down at the scene, he smiled slowly.
"...Yeah."
This was just the beginning.
World's strongest without effort? Jury's out.
But... here, at least, he was the protagonist.
He scanned the devotees watching him—especially the women.
The harem begins.