Awakening
"Loyalty! Corporal Kim Seonwoo has been honorably discharged as of 20XX, month X, day X. Reporting this. Loyalty."
"Yeah, loyalty. You've worked hard all this time. You sure you don't want to go for sergeant?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you for taking care of me."
The company commander had already left somewhere. After a brief salute with the admin officer, the reality finally sank in—his military life was over. His steps leaving the guard post felt strangely light. A mix of emptiness and liberation swirled inside him, impossible to untangle.
It had been nearly two years here, but he didn't feel even a twinge of nostalgia as he walked away without looking back.
Kim Seonwoo was twenty-three. An orphan with no friends. The only place waiting for him was his dingy studio apartment—$400 deposit, $250 a month rent. At least he'd scraped together enough after high school to front six million won, so he had somewhere to crash. That was something.
"Ha..."
A short sigh escaped as he entered the familiar neighborhood. Nothing had changed. Crumbling villas, tangled utility poles, the faint stench of rotting food waste. The only alien thing was his own reflection: camo uniform, digital-pattern duffel from the PX slung over his shoulder.
Opening the studio door unleashed a musty cloud of dust straight up his nose. A tiny one-room with no windows. It felt like this was his entire world now.
"What the hell am I gonna do to survive?"
He tossed the digital camo backpack into a corner and collapsed onto the floor. Futility washed over him. No skills, no degree, no cash. A few million won from the army—that was it. Rent and living expenses would burn through it in no time.
The more he thought, the more he craved a drink. Seonwoo headed to the convenience store, grabbing four bottles of soju and some snack bags. Back home, he chugged the cheap booze straight, no chaser. The bitter burn sharpened his mind even as it dulled his senses.
No answers.
One bottle, two. Reality blurred with each empty one. Stumbling to the bathroom, he plopped on the toilet and drained the rest. Full blackout drunk. The room spun wildly.
That's when it happened. Something caught his hazy eye. A small hole in the corner of the tiled wall. He couldn't remember it ever being there.
What the hell is that?
Just big enough for a finger. His pickled brain spat out a stupid idea.
This... gotta stick something in or I'm no man.
A pointless surge of bravado. Giggling like an idiot, he jabbed his index finger in.
"Huh?"
Deeper than expected. As the first knuckle slid in, something hard and sharp pricked the tip.
Sting!
"Fuck! That shit hurts!"
Pain yanked a curse from him as he yanked his finger out. Blood beaded on the tip. Peering into the dark hole revealed nothing.
"What a random-ass thing."
The booze numbed the ache quick. Eh, time to crash. He staggered back to the room and passed out on the floor.
"Ugh... fuck. My head's splitting."
Next morning, hangover pounding like a hammer, he cracked his eyes. As his blurry vision focused, Seonwoo doubted his own sight.
"What... the fuck is this?"
A translucent game interface floated before his eyes. Rubbing them didn't make it vanish. Pinch test—no dream. Real.
Stats like Strength, Stamina, Intelligence made sense intuitively. Korean male average around 10, probably. But Appearance 3? Brutal. He knew he wasn't a looker, but seeing it quantified stung.
Seonwoo focused on Skills and Customization.
Thinking Skills expanded it with a description.
10-Min Preview
View the desired future 10 minutes from now.
10 minutes into the future? No lotto numbers, but endless potential uses.
Next, Customization.
Customization
Customize your body.
Simple explanation. Monumental implications. Change his body. Seonwoo's heart raced. Hangover forgotten.
If this is real...?
Height first. 170cm—barely scraping the Korean male average. He marked his height on the wall, then focused on Customization.
Height: 170cm
Weight: 65kg
Muscle Mass: ...
Body Fat: ...
...
Penis Length: 12cm
Penis Girth: ...
Dozens of options, each with a point investment button. 10 points left.
Height first.
2 points into height: 172cm. The instant he confirmed, bone-shattering agony ripped through him.
"Gahhh!"
Writhing on the floor, time blurred. Then, gone like a lie. Panting, he stood. Felt different. Measured against the mark—head higher by more than hair thickness.
"...It grew."
No doubt now. Real. Eyes drifted to the obvious. Penis Length: 12cm. His lifelong complex. No hesitation—he dumped the rest.
6 to dick, 2 more to height.
18cm length. 174cm height. Confirm.
Infernal torment exploded in his lower body, worse than before.
"Kaaaaah!"
No scream possible. Flesh tearing, stretching forcibly. Unimaginable dick pain—better to die. He thrashed to stay conscious. Eons later, it stopped. Soaked in sweat, gasping on the floor.
Fuck... dick upgrades... pure hell.
He'd think twice next time. Trembling hands pulled down his pants. Impressively transformed. Satisfied grin.
Body done. Now skills. He booted the PC, hit his usual community gallery. Activated 10-Min Preview.
Exactly 10 minutes from now, show this gallery's post list.
[10 Minutes Later, OO Gallery]
Crystal-clear post list ten minutes ahead. Seonwoo set a 10-min timer on his phone. Anxious wait.
Exactly 10 minutes—ding! He refreshed the gallery page.
(Info) New Event Reward List.jpg
No but isn't this new character design kinda trash? lmao
Where's the guy who said he'd buy chicken tonight?
(Question) Newbie here, what should I level up first?
"Identical..."
Posts matched the preview word-for-word. Goosebumps everywhere.
All points spent, Status Window updated.
Remaining Points: 0
Points require payment to recharge.
[Point Recharge]
"......Ten million?"
Rubbed his eyes. Stats at 10 cost 10 mil per point. Appearance at 3? Just 1 mil.
Higher stats cost more.
Still insane. 1 mil okay, but 10 mil a point? But this window was his life-changer. Hollow laugh. Godlike power, but money-gated. Heavily. World still revolved around cash.
But Seonwoo didn't despair. Not like before. He had the skill to see 10 minutes ahead.