Deciding on the Black Ball
Before stepping into the new game world, Han Seong-il reviewed the worldbuilding and strategy guides for Pocket Girls. After careful consideration, he decided to select the Black Ball.
The White Ball is the item you get for playing the standard good route, while the Black Ball is obtained through the evil route, right?
Of course Pocket Girls isn't the real world, but that doesn't mean I want to go along with the Hyper Group's insane bullshit.
From his experience actually playing Pocket Girls, the Hyper Group route had felt incredibly cruel. The main plot involved traveling the world, capturing every wild psychic they could find and turning them into slaves. They also sowed discord among the 'Last Survivors,' creating spies with a sense of superiority, then destroying the group from within before brutally crushing them.
In the text-only ending, the Hyper Group bastards ultimately classify humans according to eugenic principles, selectively breed them, and mass-produce perfect psychics to 'save' the world...
Even though it was just a game, Seong-il couldn't stomach the idea of doing anything that insane in a world that felt completely real.
If I acquire the Black Ball this time, I won't have to bother with the Hyper Group route in the future.
Having finished his deliberations, Seong-il glanced at the clock without thinking.
"Shit... It's already two? I need to haul ass to school right now."
Fortunately he made it to the lecture hall on time. Seong-il let out a sigh of relief, settled into a corner seat, and prepared for class.
The theory lecture was, as always, just barely tolerable. But like usual, Seong-il couldn't concentrate at all.
The next class was the one he feared most.
Fuck... The sparring class is coming up soon. This is bullshit.
Although his ability was the non-combat support psychic power called Induction, every psychic was required to complete basic combat training until their sophomore year of university. Skipping or postponing the class was impossible.
Non-combat psychics were frequently deployed to sites after battles ended and occasionally faced sudden crises there. That was why even non-psychics had to learn at least minimal combat skills.
Combat psychics took full advantage of this situation to show off their abilities. To demonstrate their power and rack up good grades, they would toy with the vulnerable non-combat psychics and beat them mercilessly.
That was why non-combat psychics like Seong-il couldn't help but tremble in fear whenever this class approached. On top of that, it was a mandatory, officially sanctioned course, so there was no way to avoid it. Refusal meant expulsion.
This was also why non-combat psychics like Seong-il had no choice but to endure being looked down on by their classmates. If they caused any trouble outside of class, they would get 'legally' beaten to a pulp during sparring.
Of course, if a combat psychic was caught brutally beating a non-combatant for personal reasons, even the bullies would face consequences, so they usually didn't go too far. Still, getting hit was humiliating and painful. There was no helping the mental toll it took on non-combat psychics.
Furthermore, among combat psychics, this behavior was openly encouraged so long as they didn't go overboard. In this barbaric apocalyptic world where strength ruled everything, it was a way to demonstrate who was superior and how status was determined.
"Hey, Han Seong-il. You been doing alright?"
Someone called his name. When Seong-il turned around, Go Yeong-tae was standing there.
Go Yeong-tae was Seong-il's classmate and possessed a body reinforcement ability. He could strengthen his body with psychic energy to exert tremendous physical power.
Although body reinforcement was a fairly powerful ability and one of the most common combat-type psychic powers, it was generally considered a half-assed combat ability that couldn't advance beyond C~B rank hunter. In fights between hunters it might be threatening, but it was useless beyond support when facing transcendent beings who were completely immune to normal physical attacks.
To even damage a transcendent, body reinforcement types absolutely needed assistance from hunters with mental attack, pure energy, or enchantment abilities. As a result, most body reinforcement psychics ended up supporting higher-ranked combatants inside dungeons created by transcendents, hunting their minions, or acting as security in collapsed urban areas.
Physically, body reinforcement types were no different from ordinary people aside from their superhuman strength. Normally they were supposed to be paired with support types like Seong-il's Induction on teams, but...
Instead of trying to befriend Seong-il, who might become his partner someday, Go Yeong-tae preferred to establish a clear hierarchy through violence and oppression, then use him like a subordinate. He tormented Seong-il constantly.
In combat terms, Seong-il's fighting ability was no different from a normal person's, so getting beaten by the guy during sparring class had become routine. Seong-il had learned various martial arts to escape the bullying, but the massive gap in physical ability only resulted in him getting beaten even worse.
"Uh... Hey, Yeong-tae."
"'Yeong-tae'? I told you to call me hyung since I'm older, you dumbass."
"But we're in the same year, so that kind of thing is a bit..."
At Seong-il's words, Go Yeong-tae's expression hardened. He continued in a menacing tone.
"Ha... Looks like the break from sparring has made you forget your place. I'll see you in front of everyone soon."
The threat sent a chill down Seong-il's spine.
Sure enough, a few hours later the combat sparring class began. Just as he had feared, Seong-il was brutally beaten in front of everyone before dragging himself back to his one-room apartment.
Inside his room, Seong-il sat there in a daze, drowning in helplessness and self-loathing.
Why does that bastard torment someone like me, a non-combat psychic, so much...? Fucking piece of shit. If I had any real power, I'd crush that asshole.
Feeling depressed, he flopped face-first onto his bed. That was when the Game Master ability suddenly came to mind.
Wait. Among the games on the Game Master list, isn't there a world where I could learn body enhancement techniques?
With that thought, Seong-il grabbed his phone with urgent hands and opened the app.
I got a free B-rank game purchase ticket as a bonus yesterday, so let's check out the B-rank games first!
As he frantically scrolled through the list, one game caught his eye.
"Pokso Muhyopjeon?"
It was a game whose name felt familiar. Seong-il enjoyed watching internet streams, and he remembered one of his favorite streamers playing it, calling it a hidden classic RPG. The memory stuck with him.
The story was something like...
Pokso Muhyopjeon Synopsis
The eldest disciple of the Sodang Sect, Handan, accompanies his master Cheongmyeong Jin'in and junior brother Muhak to Pokso Temple for a certain reason.
Upon arriving, Handan and Muhak encounter the monks Hyemyeong and Hyewon, who are discussing breaking their precepts through drinking and gluttony, and they quickly become friends.
Meanwhile, Cheongmyeong Jin'in meets with Pokso Temple's abbot, Wongang, and the two share a secret conversation...
While drinking the same liquor that first brought them together in their youth, remnants of the Demon Sect—who were thought to have been destroyed—appear and launch a massive ambush on the temple.
Abbot Wongang, poisoned by the liquor they had secretly tainted, fails to withstand the attack and dies. Cheongmyeong Jin'in, also poisoned, barely manages to escape the scene with his disciples.
Though heavily wounded by both poison and the ambush, Cheongmyeong Jin'in seems to escape while protecting his disciples from the Demon Sect remnants.
However, due to the relentless pursuit, he ultimately dies. Following their master's dying wish, the two disciples attempt to flee to the Martial Alliance with a mysterious box he gave them, but under attack from Saekma and the young sect mistress—who were manipulated by the Demon Sect—even Muhak ends up dying.
In that desperate moment, Handan, burning with vengeance, prepares to take his enemies down with him in mutual destruction. But miraculously, with the help of the two monks Hyewon and Hyemyeong—who escaped Pokso Temple seeking revenge for Abbot Wongang—he survives.
Handan then sets out on an adventure with them to achieve his revenge...
This game... Despite the heavy story, there were so many hilariously timed moments. The alcoholic Taoist protagonist, the monk who's obsessed with women, his senior brother who became obese from loving meat too much...
Recalling the cheerful parts of the game lifted Seong-il's gloomy mood, and a smile formed on his face.
If it's this game... I could learn internal energy cultivation methods and martial arts through gameplay. I might even be able to pick up medicinal herbs and elixirs everywhere to get stronger...
The idea sounded reasonable, and Seong-il suddenly grew extremely excited.
"Yes! This is exactly the kind of game I wanted! If I can learn abilities here and strengthen my body..."
But then one problem occurred to him.
Wait... I suck at fighting. What if I run into enemies over there and just die...?
Still, his desire for the martial arts and cultivation methods he might obtain wouldn't let him give up on Pokso Muhyopjeon.
Alright. I'll buy the game with the B-rank ticket. If it gets too dangerous, I can use the Black Ball to capture a boss and make them serve me or teach me martial arts. If it seems impossible, I can just quit midway, farm points in Pocket Girls, and buy a different game...
Having made up his mind, Seong-il selected Pokso Muhyopjeon with trembling hands.
The now-familiar blue light enveloped him and transported him into that world.
"Ugh..."
Seong-il opened his eyes, feeling a slight glare. Before him stretched a Chinese-style Taoist temple he had never seen before. He then realized he was holding a broom made of twigs in both hands.
What...? Was I in the middle of cleaning?
As he tried to assess the situation, a voice called out from behind him.
"Muhak! Our dear Muhak~ Have you finished sweeping the front yard?"
Seong-il naturally turned his head toward the voice. There stood a handsome young man with his bangs neatly tied up. He looked at Seong-il with a playful grin.
"Hey! I'm all done. Hurry up and finish so we can go into the village together, your senior brother and you!"
The moment he finished speaking, a stern voice rang out from beside them, scolding him.
"Talking about the village? It seems you still haven't come to your senses, Handan."
The handsome young man flinched and turned to the side.
"Aigoo, M-Master! When did you arrive? This disciple didn't mean anything by suggesting that to my junior brother..."
"Silence! Stop your nonsense. Finish what you were doing, both of you, and gather back here in half a shichen."
Even in that short time, Seong-il realized the current situation was the opening event where Handan and his master Cheongmyeong Jin'in were about to urgently depart for Pokso Temple.
Wait! But he's calling me Muhak, not Handan...? I wasn't the protagonist this time?
Having been the protagonist in the Pocket Girls world but now assigned as a minor NPC, Seong-il frowned and continued thinking.
Is the character I play randomized each time? And Muhak is...
Muhak is Handan's junior disciple. At the start of the game, he drinks the stolen alcohol that Handan gives him under the pretense of teaching him how to become a man, gets poisoned, and dies.
Whew... Good thing I know the story. If I didn't, I'd have been doomed to die from poison with no way out.
Having grasped the entire situation in a short time, Seong-il quickly answered Handan.
"Senior Brother! Master told us to finish within half a shichen, so I'll go organize the cleaning tools and be right back!"
Without giving Handan a chance to reply, Seong-il swiftly left the area and moved elsewhere. After looking around, he reached what appeared to be a storage shed, tossed the broom aside, and quickly pulled out his phone from his pocket. He began examining the Game Master app in detail.
※ Overall Assessment: Follow your master's guidance.
Huh? They don't know who I really am? Anyway, my stats have gone up?
Unlike in Pocket Girls, Seong-il had entered the game as Muhak.
So the stats can change depending on which character I'm playing as in the game? That's pretty useful information.
And the fact that no one suspects my identity is quite nice. I don't have to worry about seeming clumsy and raising suspicion...
Now that I think about it, no one suspected my identity in the Pocket Girls world either.
And the fact that my stats received a plus this time... does that mean a minus could be applied as well? That could be troublesome...
After sorting through his thoughts, Seong-il headed back to the front yard to meet with Cheongmyeong Jin'in. Handan was already waiting in a neat posture ahead of him.
Not long after Seong-il joined, their master Cheongmyeong Jin'in arrived and spoke to them.
"This morning, my close friend Abbot Wongang sent an urgent message asking me to come to Pokso Temple, saying there was something important we needed to discuss."
"..."
"Originally I planned to go alone... but after thinking about it today, I realized you two are no longer children. I intend to use this opportunity to let you gain experience interacting with other sects."
"Could it be..."
"It is exactly what you think. We will depart for Pokso Temple at noon today. Prepare accordingly."