Chapter 1

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 1

Chapter Title: First Meeting with the Drug Lady

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Among all the drugs out there, the sweetest one's name is "maybe."

"Are you insane? Or do you just have money to burn?"

That was the first thing I said after checking the message and immediately calling my friend.

"You bought it, so what the hell are you complaining about?"

"No... if you're gonna do this, just give me the cash instead. This is like straight-up throwing money in the trash."

"Whatever, happy birthday anyway!"

Click. The call ended with that sound.

This guy is gonna drive me nuts. It's not even my money to begin with, but it still felt like 100,000 won had just vanished into thin air.

I'd heard lately that "gifting useless birthday presents" was trending among my friends. But I never thought it'd happen to me.

There was a good reason I was making such a fuss about it.

Lady Overdose, a game about rehabilitating drug-addicted noble ladies, had already earned a reputation as trash among trash games.

To be honest, I was a bit puzzled. Becoming the personal physician to beautiful drugged-out ladies? Sounded like prime material. How did it end up with such bad reviews?

Was it the outdated dot graphics? Or maybe because it was rated adult-only, it got too brutal? I had no idea since I'd never played it.

Well, since it's a gift, might as well check it out.

It didn't take long to dig through the game page with my mouse.

[ Lady Overdose Rating: 0.8 ]

"First time I've seen something under 1."

If 1 was the max, fine, but this was out of 10. 0.8? That's beyond trash; it's unpackageable garbage.

And sure enough, the comments section was a warzone.

[ Valcun: Fuck @ fast (Recommendations: 1,999) (Disrecommendations: 0) ]

A simple curse was the top comment? And zero disrecommendations? It was so absurd I could only laugh.

I scrolled through the others.

[ Deadrin: What a fucking waste of time. ]

How bad could it be? Grind-heavy or something?

I hovered my cursor over the nickname.

(Playtime: 8 minutes.)

"Only 8 minutes in and they're this pissed...?"

I muttered without thinking and checked more reactions. But they were all similar.

Impossible to clear. Aggressive DLC pushes. Insane DLC prices. That was the gist.

They say if three people shout "tiger," you'll believe there's one. But with reviews this bad, my curiosity outweighed the repulsion.

Guess I gotta try it myself.

It was a gift anyway. If it sucked, I'd quit in 7 minutes flat.

I installed it and hit launch. Pure curiosity.

*

"Ah, fuck!"

Bam! The desk under my monitor shook from the impact.

I couldn't hold back and slammed the keyboard.

Trash game. Yeah, total trash.

Even with dot graphics, the ladies looked great. That was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fine. Totally fine.

The problem was the protagonist doctor starting with stats like a total orphan. Story-wise, maybe he was one?

Fine, I get the others. But why does a doctor have bottom-tier medical knowledge? The dev must've dropped out of elementary school. Nah, even they wouldn't do that.

An adult game about rehabilitating drug-addicted ladies. Lady Overdose. Forget rehab—you couldn't even survive. Trash.

There were supposedly over ten ladies, but the first one, Dia, was nearly impossible without DLC.

Selling stat boosts as DLC? That's this game. Lady Overdose.

Screw it. I'm out.

I'd hoped for some sensual scenes since it was adult-rated, but with that difficulty, reaching them was a pipe dream.

I went to shut down the PC, but something flashed in my mind.

Game patcher? Would it work?

Game patcher: a cheat tool to tweak in-game values.

Doesn't work on modern games—only ancient ones.

This is a shitty dot game. Maybe?

I fired up the patcher and linked Lady Overdose.

Ding. The speakers chimed—linked successfully.

"Huh? It worked?"

Hands flew across the keys like a sewing machine, maxing stats.

Nice. Tedious finding exact values, but I'd already maxed two.

Alt-tab to check:

Stats maxed. Hold tight, ladies.

"Okay, left are finances, connections, affection."

As I tweaked the last three, a shrill beep blared from the speakers.

"Huh?"

"Oh shit."

I sighed deeply. Just wanted some fun, and this happens.

Lazily moved the mouse to close the game. But it wouldn't shut down.

"What the...?"

Every click on close just duplicated the warnings.

Let's see who wins. I mashed the mouse.

"What?"

Looking back, that was my last thought in the real world.

*

The carriage stopped.

For some reason, I knew I was in a carriage. I didn't question it—felt weird not to.

Then I knew to get out. So I did.

"You arrived quickly."

That was the first voice I heard. Not particularly friendly.

I glanced at the owner casually. Her face was unsettling.

What the?

Sharp suit, slicked-back hair, trimmed mustache. The dignified man before me was dressed like that.

I knew who he was: Alfred, butler to Dia de Menesil, the first heroine of Lady Overdose.

"...Alfred?"

"Yes. We've been waiting, sir. Just over an hour."

"Ah, uh, yeah. You know who I am?"

My face must've looked stunned as I asked.

Whose body had I possessed? Crucial info.

"Of course. However..."

He nodded indifferently and continued. I braced for bad news, but he just stared, cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Well... you're not what I expected. Far from the rumors... Anyway, we awaited Ganeghan, personal physician to Lady Dia."

Alfred's tone softened.

Not what I expected. Physique stat ties to perceived looks. Nearly maxed now—take it as a compliment.

What bugged me was different. Ganeghan? I tilted my head. Protagonist's name never appeared in-game.

"Ganeghan...?"

"Apologies if I mispronounced. Unusual name. Young Ganeghan...? Young Gang-aegan...? I'll note the proper pronunciation."

Shit. My nickname "Young Gang-aegan" carried over.

"Ganeghan is correct. Yes. Thank you."

"...Right. Please, come in."

Alfred eyed my face a few more times, looking dazed, then led the way. I followed, glancing around.

This is nuts.

I'd been isekai'd.

Into the protagonist doctor. No doubt.

Coat to mid-thigh, briefcase in hand by habit, leather gloves on.

Everything fit. Suspicions confirmed reality.

...Fine, but.

"Young Gang-aegan."

I muttered it unconsciously. Embarrassing even to me. What was I thinking?

"Whoa?!"

Then it happened. Saying it aloud triggered a window before my eyes.

Status window.

But beyond shock, joy surged.

Cheats intact in the game world.

...Nice?

"...Everything alright, sir?"

Alfred turned mid-corridor, puzzled.

"Ah, nothing."

"Before entering, a quick pat-down."

No sooner said than two maids rushed in, frisking me.

No notable items from coat or pants pockets. Not even a wallet.

They took the bag without opening it.

Made sense. Connections unmaxed. Maids lined up afar whispered about me.

Personal physician shouldn't be a total stranger, yet the gossip. Awkward eye contact with one—she blushed and bowed.

"The drugs are prepared as instructed. Here."

After two more maids blushed, Alfred handed a sleek black bag—fancier than my leather one.

I had no clue what drugs. Took it anyway.

"Ah. Yeah..."

"Yes, yes. Go on in. Wait—no. Lend me your ear."

Sure. I tilted without thinking.

"How long will it take?"

"Maybe even one day if it goes well."

One day? Could be instant. Max medical knowledge—total confidence.

Shocked him. Eyes widened.

"Today? Isn't that too fast?"

"Faster the better. Isn't that what you want?"

"True, but... Understood. We entrust her to you."

"No worries."

Alfred nodded stiffly, expression uneasy. Probably distrust of an unproven doctor.

Brushed it off. Knocked twice on the massive ornate door. No letters, but screamed "precious lady inside."

"Lady. The doctor's here."

No reply.

Waiting, Alfred nudged my back—hard.

Shoved me in like filing a drawer.

"Yes. In you go."

"Right now?"

Ignored, pushed further.

Crossed the threshold—maids slammed doors like tossing prey to beasts.

"Drugs."

The beast inside muttered. The lady's first word.

One syllable.

Chilling sarcasm in her voice. Yeah, maybe I was prey.

Choppy bangs. Beige hair to waist. Monotone black-and-white outfit swallowing light. Predatory contempt in her eyes.

Graveyard of torn teddy bears. Its mistress amid corpses, craving only drugs.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lady who quits players in 8 minutes.

Second lady of House Menesil.

Dia de Menesil.

"Drugs."

She muttered again.

Her aura was oppressively grim. Dot graphics to reality? Worlds apart.

Something grazed my cheek—hot sting. Clang. Knife hit floor.

She'd thrown it; I realized late.

"Drugs."

"Wait, hold on."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Fork this time. Dodged barely, rummaged the bag from Alfred.

"Drugs."

"Here. Right now!"

"Yeah. Drugs."

Stay calm. Fished out vial.

Info popped up helpfully. Content? Not so much.

Right— that's why Alfred asked about time!

Early game plot recalled vaguely.

Abandoned by all, expected to die—tragic second lady. Dia.

Alfred wanted euthanasia.

But killing her = bad end = doctor's death. I'm in the doctor's body.

Can't use this.

Impatient, she grabbed scissors.

"...Drugs."

Dia muttered once more.