Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: The Story of Getting TS'd into an S-Rank Silver-Haired Character
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"O-gon-gon, left-o-gon-gon... Please, please... Pull!"
The thumb hovering over the screen trembled faintly.
At the same moment, the smartphone screen flashed brilliantly.
"Gacha God! Please!"
A cascade of flashy effects poured down.
It was a trap designed by elites from top universities pooling their heads together.
How to more efficiently empty players' wallets? You could feel the ruthless results of their deliberations lurking behind the dopamine-triggering vibrant colors.
The door swung open, and countless beams of light burst forth.
Blue, blue, blue again... and gold. No, rainbow.
It pulled...!
"Uwaaaaaah!"
A beastly scream tore from his throat.
Thumping protests came from beyond the wall, but he couldn't care less.
"Please!!"
He'd burned every penny earned grinding overtime and special shifts, pouring his very soul into it.
It'd be weirder if he stayed sane.
If this failed too—
Guess I'll go check the Han River water temperature.
He rubbed the card on the screen gingerly.
The card pack tore open, and an illustration filled the display.
'No way...'
Silver hair cascading down to her waist.
A petite frame that stirred protective instincts.
Yet her eyes gleamed with an eerie golden light—a beautiful girl.
[★5 Han Seo-ah (Support) Acquired!]
[This is your first copy of this character.]
[Registered in the codex.]
"She pulled...! She pulled! Fuck, finally!"
He rolled around on the bed. Punched the air.
His pounding heart hammered his ribs.
His brain soaked in dopamine, mind hazy.
His palms slick with cold sweat.
[Gate Override].
Shortened to 'Geora'.
The mobile collectible RPG into which he'd poured his life—and his sole joy.
This chapter's new character was named 'Han Seo-ah'.
The devs nailed the illustrations.
From the teaser drop, forums overflowed with praise for her.
Of course, if she were just pretty trash, players would've spat on her.
Performance is top-tier too. A must-pull.
No combat prowess whatsoever.
But slot her in the party, and she skyrockets clear reward odds—a so-called 'essential' character.
'Guaranteed reward probability boost.'
Japan server vets said no Han Seo-ah meant crippled high-end dungeon farming.
In other words, non-negotiable.
With trembling hands, he screenshotted the results.
Proof was mandatory.
Thrill only completes when captured.
Normies snap pics at tourist spots or eateries; gacha gamers pour their souls into this one shot.
But the high was fleeting.
Gulp.
Dopamine ebbed, reality crashed in.
He fired up the banking app.
[Balance: 94,500 won]
"......"
Cold sweat trickled down his spine.
No, two lines.
No...
Drip, drip—sweat pouring off him.
What a madman.
Payday was just three days ago.
Gas, electric, phone... basic bills.
No calculator needed.
This month: triangle kimbap and ramen survival.
But no regrets.
No, couldn't regret.
Money was already ash.
Backing down now just made him the fool.
"Right...?"
Han Seon-woo, late 20s.
Average looks, average job.
Hobby: beautiful girl collector RPGs.
No savings. Balance under 100k won.
Yeah, total loser.
What was that about no regrets making him less of one?
He knew his addiction best.
Nauseous, but he racked his brain anyway.
Positive spin.
Firing up that garbage self-justification engine.
"Ramen's fine, who cares...! Lose weight too, win-win."
He muttered, hypnotizing himself.
Back to the game screen.
Clicked the icon of 'Han Seo-ah', enshrined in his character list.
She glistened.
Just a pixel clump.
A handful of intangible data.
But in this scene, it was law and truth.
Worth his entire month's survival budget.
Worth it... right...?
Joy was short-lived.
Reality spoke up.
Beyond just the cash sink—a gameplay issue.
"When the hell am I gonna level this...?"
Pulling wasn't the end.
Notorious growth system.
To make real use, feed massive mana stones or spin dungeons thousands, tens of thousands of times.
Working man's plight.
Post-work homework grinding was tough enough; now lowbie training too?
He rubbed his dry face, habitually opening the community app.
The gallery was already in festival mode.
Or a funeral parlor.
Posts regenerating in real-time.
How much did the devs rake in on one character?
Proof posts alone screamed billions easy.
Crazy bastards... Money to burn.
Of course, he was one too—attached his fresh screenshot and posted.
F2P feedstocks, one-shot pull. Big win?
Tap, tap.
A thrill zinged through his fingertips hitting enter.
Content was bullshit, of course.
F2P my ass.
Life savings torched, pity pity pulled right before pity timer.
No need to broadcast his misery.
Refresh, and ups/replies flooded in.
Han Seo-ah pulls were concept post cheat codes right now.
Abuse and hate. Highest praise.
This is why I gallery.
Lips twitched up.
Confirming twisted envy eased the empty-bank sting a bit.
"Jealous? Cough it up then."
Snickering, scrolling—his finger froze.
Pinned at the top of concept tab.
Ups crushed the rest.
Nickname ominous from the jump.
He clicked, mesmerized.
"......Hah."
Wind escaped his lips.
The screenshot was leagues beyond his.
Not even two hours since release.
Already max level, full transcendence?
"Fuck! You call this fair?!"
Game out two years now.
Patiently farmed for today?
Nah.
That nickname.
A named whale user.
Opened replies.
└About 2 bil? Mana stones were a hassle, auction house swept.
└└└Someone actually maxed with stones...
"2... billion...?"
Several times his annual salary—torched on one mobile char?
In two hours flat?
The phone in his hand felt like a brick.
His petty triumph, fake superiority from lying—gone in a puff.
He was rocking ramen-stained 5k-won trackies.
Stared at [Jealous? Whaleshark] again.
Envy boiling to death.
"What jealous, whaleshark...! More and people die!"
Stomach acid reflux burn.
Jealousy? Nah.
This wasn't some cute word.
Deprivation.
Powerlessness from the gulf.
He shivered over pocket change, fretting lunch tomorrow; that guy crumpled 2 bil like tissue.
Fingers hovered over keys.
Craved toxic comments.
'Money bonfire king', 'Mommy daddy's boy', 'Game dies, paper trash lol'.
But no send.
Too pathetic.
"I'm such a loser."
He knew those whales paid server bills, letting him play this shit game.
"Ha... Life."
Irritably closed the app.
Flung phone by pillow.
Stared at ceiling.
Moldy wallpaper spots looked like mocking faces.
Should've ceiling-papered with whaleshark cash.
At least helped his life a tad...?
"Shitty world."
Spit curses.
Eyes shut, gallery proofs burned as afterimages.
"Wish I had money too...."
Or luck.
SSR every gacha tap, that impossible fortune.
Eyes closed, indulged the nonsense.
No sweat-up bootstraps delusions.
He knew his limits best.
Diligence on his talent? Slow suicide.
He needed a miracle, not effort.
"This life's fucked....... Next one, please."
Lotto jackpot, or gacha god blessings.
Staring at ceiling blot, he muttered.
"A miracle... Can't I get just one...?"
No answer. Consciousness faded.
Bed too comfy—sole luxury in overtime hell.
Sleep... Gotta wake early tomorrow too...
Fatigue crushed eyelids like lead.
Clock hands at 3 AM.
Work in hours.
Boss nagging, paperwork piles, sardine subway.
Daily grind choking already.
Dove into sleep fleeing it.
Praying for jackpot dreams.
Sunlight spilled over window sills.
Definitely drew blackout curtains...?
Couldn't open eyes, swiped air.
Nothing there.
Usually something snagged.
"......"
Senses off.
Not just no curtain—deeper wrongness.
What?
Cheap studio always had bike rumble, neighbor noise.
Fridge hum too.
Now, dead silent.
And the smell—different.
Not his musty mold funk.
Nice vibe...
Faint freesia? Fancy fabric softener.
Tickling nose with soft scent, he slowly opened eyes.
"......?"
Unfamiliar ceiling.
"Ae...?"
Unfamiliar voice.
"Aaaah!"
Panicked, raised hands.
Not his callused paws.
Small.
Incredibly soft.
Bolted upright.
"Wha... what the hell!!!"
Bowed head—silver waterfall hair tumbled.
No blackout curtains.
Direct sun scattered off strands.
Touch unreal-soft.
Creaking body up, to bed-opposite wall.
Plain full-length mirror, like an add-on.
"..."
No yesterday's him.
Instead, morning sun-kissed silver hair glowed translucent past shoulders to waist.
Flour-dusted pale smooth skin.
Big eyes housing golden irises.
[Gate Override]'s top supporter—the one that ate his month's living.
'Han Seo-ah' stared back from the mirror.
Trembling hands groped glass forever.
Cool pane touch proved no dream.
"......Impossible."
TS'd into an S-rank silver-haired character.