Don't Play That Adult Game

I was reincarnated into the world of an adult game. But even adult games have genres. Not the usual stuff like fantasy or whatever, but classifications based on their purpose. If we're talking from the perspective of Japan, where adult content has evolved to an insane degree, they broadly fall into two categories.

First, there's the nukige. The kind where the story doesn't matter and the whole point is to get you off as quickly as possible. Then there's the nakige. These have surprisingly moving narratives and immersive storytelling that can make you cry your eyes out, not just from below but from above as well. Considering that "nuki" means to pull out or extract, and "naki" means to cry, the names are pretty damn straightforward.

For people unfamiliar with otaku culture, think of nukige as the equivalent of AV, and nakige as a masterpiece melodrama film that happens to include some absolutely killer bed scenes.

“Sigh.”

Born Korean, the adult content I was familiar with consisted of shady illegal porn sites that would probably infect your computer with every virus known to man if you clicked the wrong thing, or illegal doujin translation websites. So the first shock I experienced with adult games during my study abroad was massive. Even more so than when I saw erotic manga magazines and adult gravure photos being sold openly in convenience stores.

Anyway, a senior from my university club gave me a game as a gift, calling it a masterpiece. It was from a company called Key that released in 1999, with a title taken from a music genre, or that pure white photo album—saying it completely changed my life in my twenties wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Yeah. Since the law follows the principle of territoriality, a Korean enjoying adult material abroad might not be a legal issue. But if it's a game released during the romantic era that features underage protagonists and heroines, and sometimes even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠throws in elementary schoolers as heroines, then it's a whole different story.

I was never punished for it in my previous life, but I still feel a twinge of guilt from time to time.

“Well, that's just how my life was.”

But even if it doesn't conflict with my personal conscience or the laws of South Korea and Japan, there's one thing I want to say to my comrades who are thinking about stepping into this forbidden territory.

Don't play that adult game.

Because I got reincarnated into a world with an even harsher setting than dark fantasy.

The moment I opened my eyes, a blue window that looked exactly like a system message from a game popped up in front of me. I stared at it blankly for a few seconds before letting out another sigh.

Of course. It had to be this kind of world.

I slowly sat up in bed and looked around. The room was small but tidy, with a faint scent of old wood and tatami. Sunlight streamed in through the slightly open sliding door, and I could hear the distant chatter of people and the sound of passing cars outside.

It was unmistakably Japan in the late 90s.

I brought my hand to my face. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠skin was smooth, without a single wrinkle. When I looked down, I saw the body of a boy who couldn't have been older than fifteen or sixteen.

“...At least I didn't reincarnate as a baby this time.”

That was the only silver lining I could find.

I had died in my previous life at the age of thirty-two. A completely ordinary death from overwork. I never imagined I'd get a second chance at life, let alone one in the world of an adult game I'd played before.

But of all the games out there, why did it have to be this one?

Don't Play That Adult Game.

It was a dark fantasy nukige released in 1999 by a company called Key. Despite the company's name, which was famous for emotional nakige, this particular title was infamous for being their one and only venture into extremely dark territory.

The story was set in a world where various races and supernatural beings existed in secret alongside humans. The protagonist was a young boy who discovered he possessed a special power, only to get dragged into a brutal conflict between factions. The heroines were all either tragic figures or dangerous women with twisted personalities, and the plot was filled with betrayal, despair, and extremely explicit scenes that made you question the creators' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sanity.

In short, it was the kind of game where if you let your guard down even for a second, you'd end up dead or worse.

And now I was the protagonist of that very game.

I let out a dry laugh.

“Yeah, no shit.”

The system seemed to have a sense of humor, at least. Or maybe it was just stating the obvious.

I got out of bed and walked over to the small mirror hanging on the wall. The face staring back at me was that of a fairly handsome Japanese boy. Black hair, sharp eyes, and features that would definitely make him popular with girls in a normal setting.

But this wasn't a normal setting.

This was a world where one wrong choice could lead to you being eaten alive by monsters, brainwashed by a yandere, or sacrificed in some ancient ritual.

I clenched my fists tightly.

“I won't play this game.”

Never again.

In my previous life, I had enjoyed it as entertainment. I had laughed at the bad ends, gotten excited by the erotic scenes, and felt moved by the occasional dramatic moments.

But now that I was actually living in it?

No thanks.

I'd live quietly. I'd avoid all the heroines, stay away from all the dangerous events, and just live an ordinary life. Study hard, get a normal job, maybe find ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a nice normal girl who wasn't batshit insane, and live peacefully until I died of old age.

That was my plan.

A very good plan.

Or so I thought.

“...You've got to be fucking kidding me.”

The blue window that appeared right in front of my face made my stomach drop.

Selection Ceremony.

It was one of the very first major events in the game. A brutal ritual where young people with special powers were forced to fight each other for the right to become 'Players' in this twisted world.

And the original protagonist was supposed to die horribly during it if you didn't make the right choices.

I stared at the quest window for a long time.

Then I slowly raised my middle finger at it.

“I told you. I'm not playing this damn game.”

But the system window didn't disappear. It just hovered there, glowing softly, as if waiting for my answer.

I let out a long, tired breath.

“Fine. I'll survive. But I'm not getting involved with any of the heroines. I'm not touching any of the main story routes. I'll find my own way to live in this shitty world.”

The moment those words left my mouth, the quest window flickered and changed slightly.

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

This world really wasn't going to make it easy for me.

But that was fine.

I had already decided.

I wouldn't play this adult game.

No matter what the system threw at me, no matter how many beautiful and dangerous girls appeared before me, I would live my own life.

Quietly.

Safely.

And hopefully, without getting my dick or my head chopped off in the process.

That was my resolve as I began my second life in this crazy world.