Adaptation Complete
Demonic Incheon 2077. It's an open-world game set against the backdrop of Korea after they've seized vast Manchuria and the Shandong Peninsula following World War III. As the title hints, it's a near-future cyberpunk tale unfolding in 2077. There's this insanely massive, nation-state-level megacorp that dominates every damn thing in the world.... In simple terms, money rules it all.
And they've dumped a full shot of national pride into the mix—that's Demonic Incheon 2077. In the story, Korea's the biggest winner of WW3, which kicked off in 2027. They've annexed not just North Korea but the Northeast Three Provinces, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and the Shandong Peninsula into a colossal empire. Population? A solid 400 million. Sure, most are Chinese, but whatever....
Players pick a male or female protagonist for total freedom. You can fight the megacorps to bring justice, or flip sides and become their thug, wreaking havoc everywhere. Or join government agencies to rein in the corps, purge corruption, and restore national order. If that's not your vibe, accept a pact from the demon realm eyeing the human world and become a Great Demon ruling demonkind—or play as an anti-demon hunter safeguarding humanity. Point is, it looked fire. Tons of gamers got hooked and cracked open their wallets. I was one of them.
The problem? They crammed in everything, turning it into a total shitshow. Optimization was straight-up fucked—I barely scraped the ending before rage-quitting. Then I dropped a review. Pretty sure that's why I ended up possessing into this game. They must've figured, "Punish this asshole for shitting on our game by dumping him in this trash world." But they half-assed the possession target, apparently.
'Even better.' Real-life me was a shut-in orphan loser dickhead. Woke up as a chaebol third-gen. In a world where corporate power's hit its peak, no less!
"Huu...."
I stared blankly at the curling cigarette smoke.
"Today's date...."
"August 24, 2076, Young Master."
A sharp-suited man replied to my mutter. Clean black hair slicked back, black sunglasses—he stood ramrod straight beside my sprawled-out ass. Han Kyung-baek, the guy handling every move I make.
'Act natural. Be Ko Mu-yeol.' I fought to hide my pounding heart. New life hype was intense, but dredging up Ko Mu-yeol's personality and memories let me clamp it down.
"August 24.... Yesterday was Victory Day, right?"
"You remembered."
This prick? I shot him a glare, and Han Kyung-baek—Han Secretary—immediately bowed his head. Just staring got him to bow. That's power, huh.
"My apologies, Young Master."
The Ko Mu-yeol I possessed was an orphan like me. Not originally—lost both parents young in an accident. The trauma turned him into Goryeo Group's biggest headache, a total fuckup. Korea's biggest holiday, Victory Day yesterday? He spent it balls-deep in whores. Case closed. No wonder four passed-out chicks littered the bed around me, reeking of cum.
'Sex-crazed maniac.'
I had all the memories. Kinda weird, though. More like "knowledge" from "studying" his life than real memories? Like acquired data, not feelings. I knew he'd fucked like a beast yesterday, but no sensory recall. Good thing, honestly. Possession or not, I needed to be me—no lingering Ko Mu-yeol emotions screwing that up. This setup was perfect.
'Still.... Even for a sex fiend, skipping Victory Day? Brain-dead move.'
Victory Day's huge for Goryeo Group. Not just celebrating the win—it's where they invite top biz and pol figures, flex their dominance worldwide, carve up national interests internally, and whisper into key domestic issues. Basically, the key puzzle piece for Goryeo Group puppeteering the country.
And this idiot spent it fucking whores....
'Per the setup, this incident blows up all his accumulated bullshit, kicking him out of succession. Ends up inheriting some no-name like Goryeo Entertain? Yeah.' Once the main game story kicks off, Ko Mu-yeol vanishes from the narrative.
"Young Master. The Chairman summons you to Geumsu Mountain."
"...."
I crushed the half-smoked cig into the bed and stood. Head throbbed a bit.
"Geumsu Mountain...."
"He's quite angry."
"Figured."
Threw on some clothes and left the room. Han Secretary trailed. The girls? Cleanup crew'd handle it.
Outside, five young guys and gals bowed sharp. One dude bolted ahead to hold the elevator; the rest formed a guard formation around me. Left-diagonal front: ponytail girl with a swinging, plump ass that jiggled like crazy.
'...'
Chaebol life killing self-control? My hand shot out anyway.
'Shit.'
In pre-possession Korea, cuffs on sight. Heart skipped. But she just kept walking, stone-faced. In 2076 Korea, ruled by megacorps, defying a chaebol's will? Near impossible. No matter what.
Possession sinking in for real.
'Right.... I'm a chaebol now.' In peak-corp-power 2076 Korea, too.
Geumsu Mountain's the Goryeo Sun Palace on Pyongyang's Geumsu Mountain. Back when North Korea existed, it was Geumsu Mountain Sun Palace or Residence of the Leader. Post-unification, repurposed as Victory Memorial Hall. Around 2050, current Chairman bought it as the owner family's main residence. Buying a national memorial for a house? Shows how obsessed Goryeo Group is with Victory Day. National ceremonies still happen there. President, PM—everyone probably showed yesterday.
"Tsk tsk tsk tsk."
Goryeo Group Chairman Goyeongman clicked his tongue the second he saw me. Over 70, but looked mid-30s thanks to advanced anti-aging tech.
"My apologies, Chairman."
I bowed deep, but he turned away like he'd given up hope. Not a word.
"Young Master."
His secretary approached with a paper bag.
"A gift from the Chairman."
"Gift?"
Grabbed the bag. Probably the docs gifting that Goryeo Enter whatever.
Rustle. Pulled out papers while tossing the bag on the floor like a chaebol asshole. Secretary snatched it up, bowing, and explained.
"Goryeo Enter, an entertainment agency. No big stars yet, but capital's around 100 billion won."
"Whoa. 100 billion."
2076, but won value matches pre-possession Korea's—post-inflation, redenominated. 100 billion's massive. Buy a few Gangnam mansions easy.
But 'Chump change for a chaebol.' This era's Korean chaebols, especially Goryeo Group's Go family? Official assets: 13 quintillion won. 1.3e19! Even split among members, each holds trillions minimum. That's official. And I get 100 billion?
'Fucking moron. How much shit did he pull?'
Human greed's endless. Becoming third-gen was a killer start, but his fuckups left me with pocket change(?). Blood boiled.
"Young Master, lunch is ready. Shall we?"
Secretary's polite nudge: we're done here. Anyone not a retard gets it.
'Sigh. Guess I gotta build it myself.' Snatched the bag back, pocketed papers, bowed to the Chairman's back.
"I'll take my leave.... Sorry, Chairman."
No reply.
Once a palace, then Victory Memorial, now chaebol owner family home—the Sun Palace dripped luxury. Corridors alone: world-famous paintings every foot, modern sculptures dotted around. Ceiling murals wove endless tales in intricate detail.
'These paintings alone worth over 100 billion.'
How much did he piss everyone off? Digging memories.... Yeah, fair.
'Retarded little shit.'
"Retarded. Little shit."
"?"
What? Who? Nailed my thoughts perfectly.
A woman dead ahead. Flowing long straight hair, sharp eyes, teardrop mole right-side. Stunner that grabbed your gaze.
I stopped; she feigned surprise, hand to mouth all dainty.
"Oh? You heard? Sorry~."
Anyone sees she said it loud. Fake-ass acting.
'...Gohayan. Ko Mu-yeol's half-sister.' Unlike ultimate fuckup Ko Mu-yeol, she's competent. Later heads Goryeo Card or something? Details fuzzy.
"Always stumbling drunk, didn't know your ears were that sharp~. Thought you were on drugs or something~."
"You think so too, Sis? I think Ko Mu-yeol's a retard. Great minds."
"What?"
"Later."
Bowed to stunned her and brushed past. Behind: "What the fuck? Eat something weird?"
'Not weird—possessed. Your bro's body's prime.' In the worst way.