Chapter 1 – Gamemaster
“Haam~~”
Seong-il wakes up with a yawn and struggles to open his heavy eyes.
It was late, around 10 o’clock, but since all the lectures are in the afternoon, he gets up without thinking.
Hankuk University Psionics 1st year.
This is the name of the school and department Seong-il is currently attending.
One day, an ordinary high school sophomore. Thanks to the psychic power 『Emotion』, Which he luckily manifested, Seong-il was able to enter Korea University.
Although I was able to enter Korea’s only ‘Psionic Training School’ thanks to my ’emotion’ ability…
In fact, Seong-il’s psychic power ’emotion’ was just a support type ability.
The appraisal ability to read residual thoughts floating around in the field or artifacts, grasp what kind of situation it was in, what abilities it possesses, or determine what abilities a person possesses.
It is not an exaggeration to say that they do not have any ability in terms of power, but it was the best to use for grasping the situation at the scene of various incidents and accidents, so it was easy for people with this ‘reaction’ ability to get a job as a psionic civil servant.
Because of this, even though it is a half psychic ability that is impossible to fight, Seong-il’s parents were very happy with his ability to work without risk.
It’s a pity that Seong-il also doesn’t have strong abilities, but he was better than people who don’t even have these abilities.
“Ah… I have to prepare a report, but I’m dying to make it dirty…”
Hankuk University 『Psionic Ability Training Department』. Currently, it can be said that it is the most important department in Korea.
Due to the invasion of alien civilization that lasted for decades, it was because the only way to deal with the alien species in the current situation, where the subjugation of mankind is a crisis itself.
In addition, it is a department that exists only at Korean University, and if you do not have superpowers, you cannot enter even if you want to enter.
Because it is a department that only those who have developed their abilities or show signs of awakening can enter.
Why did this department appear?
Thirty years ago, aliens calling themselves ‘transcendents’ appeared on Earth and everything changed for mankind.
They are beings who developed a civilization different from ours, and one day they suddenly invaded the earth and massacred the earthlings based on their powerful psionic abilities.
As aliens are a mixture of reality and illusion, they are immune to all physical weapons possessed by humans, so the Earth’s army is unable to resist properly and begins to shatter helplessly.
When everyone was in despair, a sudden change appeared to mankind.
It is the so-called ‘Psionic Flowering’.
After contact with the aliens, for some reason, mankind’s latent psionic ability began to bloom, and based on this ability, mankind was able to counterattack the aliens, albeit weakly.
However, the psionic ability of mankind, which has just blossomed, is only at a primitive level, and it was impossible to change the direction of the game in the war against alien races.
Because of this, the majority of mankind was just waiting for half-destruction, mocking themselves for being our last outburst.
Strangely, after the enlightenment of human psychic powers, aliens begin to focus on defense rather than active attacks.
Since then, they have been stuck in their home base, and through unknown tricks, they have penetrated the bizarre space commonly referred to as ‘dungeon’, and only showed passive moves other than intermittently harassing mankind there.
Thanks to their unknown actions, mankind, who took a breather, was able to actively develop psionic abilities by all means to survive, and have the ability to threaten alien civilization to some extent.
In addition, the psychics with powerful abilities that awaken from time to time have even become pillars to defend the country from extraterrestrial civilizations.
Thanks to this, outstanding psionic users now enjoy popularity like celebrities.
In any case, in this situation, Seong-il developed the ability of 『Emotion』 Mentioned earlier, and was able to enter the Psionics Training Department at Hankuk University after being recognized for that ability.
‘Even though it’s a dog’s hair being ignored…’
In reality, 『Emotion』 Was a fairly good rare ability, but because it was a non-combat ability, it was a half-life ability or a government official who couldn’t move around the field and couldn’t rise to a high position. It was just that much.
Because of this, the motives who knew the reality to some extent ignored him or treated Seong-il pitifully, and severe people treated him as someone who did not exist.
The situation he was in at school made him an intimidated person.
‘Please, at least a second awakening or revenge ability blooming!!!!’
‘I heard that there is a singularity called secondary awakening, whereby an existing ability is mutated or a rare new ability is acquired when one uses one’s ability extremely or encounters a specific opportunity.
‘Well, sometimes it’s really unlucky to say that there are cases where I regress beyond my existing ability, but looking at my current situation, it’s okay to regress, so I wish I had it.’
In very rare cases, one or more new abilities may bloom.
However, in this case, the problem was that there were almost no discovery cases at the college student level unless the ability was highly developed like a pro hunter.
‘Huh… I want to stop being ignored. What is an iron rice bowl? An iron rice bowl..’
Iron rice bowl was a nickname one of his classmates called while quietly ignoring Seongil.
‘On the surface, they say that they can live a stable and risk-free life, and they say it with envy, but in the end, if you look at the hidden side, you have to do well with 『Emotion』 Ability to become a public servant, you bastard…’
Seong-il feels annoyance welling up when he recalls the words of his motivation, who was secretly sarcastic.
“Ah, I’m stressed out. Should I play a game… I guess I’ll have to watch the yagame ending that Jun-il gave me because he’s a masterpiece.”
Crazy night game called ‘Pocket Girl’. A dirty game parodying monster catching, which was popular half a century ago, before the human race was destroyed.
At the strong recommendation of his friend Jun-il, an otaku of anime and games that existed in the old world before mankind was destroyed, Seong-il a few days ago was absurd and received his data and started playing the game.
The game Seong-il played with a half-sneering mood was unexpectedly solid in its world view and a considerable system (?).
‘At least, it’s a night game subject that I’m not good at, but it’s surprisingly well organized…’
The moment I turned on the game while muttering to myself, the world of Seongil suddenly turned blue and a cry rang in my head.
‘Psionic traits begin to bloom. Game master skill transfer complete.’
A pain like a head bursting, incomparable to the time of the reaction. As a result, Seong-il loses his mind.
“Son! Get up. Son!!”
Someone woke Seong-il vigorously, and Seong-il opened his eyes to the fuss.
“Uh… Um… Uh…? Where is this?”
That time when I opened my eyes in a daze and muttered. Someone slams Seong-il on the back and shouts at him.
“Can’t you come to your senses? Today is the day to see Dr. Woo! Hurry up, wash up, and go to Dr. Woo’s laboratory!”
In an unexpected situation, when he looked at the place where the holy day sounded, a middle-aged woman was staring at him in front of him.
“Why don’t you wake up soon? I’ve prepared breakfast, so hurry up, wash up and eat, then go see Dr. Woo!”
She yelled at Seongil, who was staring blankly at her in embarrassment, and she immediately turned around, closed her door, and left her room.
‘What is this? How..?’
Thinking so, Seong-il raises her hands and examines himself.
He was wearing a thin pajama, covering his body with a half-covered blanket, and next to the pillow, a familiar cell phone could be seen.
“Huh? This…Isn’t it my phone?”
Seong-il turns on his familiar cell phone and examines his phone.
User: Seongil Han
1. Current World: Pocket Girls
2. Possessed Abilities: Sensation, Game Master
– Sensitivity LV.1: Use electronic products to quantify and understand the abilities of people and items.
– Game Master LV.1: You can enter the world in the game.
3. Ability:
– Agility: 1
– Strength: 1
– Intelligence: 2
– Stamina: 2
– Magic attribute: 1
4. Points: 0 points
5 Status: Normal
※ Overall Review: Oh! You’re new!
‘Emotion…? Is this my ability…? And the game master? Is this maybe Did I just have my duplicate abilities bloom?!’
Seong-il grabs his startled heart and begins to think.
‘Extreme mental agony felt before passing out. This definitely seems like a side effect of the blooming ability.’
‘And I know that usually the stronger the ability, the more violent the signs appear…’
‘Isn’t the game master that I’ve newly blossomed this time definitely a pretty powerful ability?’
Then, as soon as the situation is understood, Seong-il begins to look around calmly.
‘You said you’re a game master, so is it related to the game? Come to think of it, this situation… I’m sure it’s the situation when Pocket Girls just started, right? Dr. Woo was the tutorial guide. I don’t know what it is, but should I go see Dr. Woo first?’
So Seong-il puts on the clothes placed next to her, greets Lisa, who plays ‘Mother’, and moves to Dr. Woo’s lab.
“Seongil! Are you going to Dr. Woo?”
Hearing someone calling him in front of the house, he raises his head and looks ahead.
Then, a girl with a soft impression was seen wearing blue shorts and a white cotton tee.
‘At this timing… That guy. Is it one of the protagonist’s rivals?!’
Thinking so, Seong-il gathers up her courage and tries to talk to her by pretending to be calm.
“Ah… Hi. It’s Hana. You… Are you going to Dr. Woo too?”
“Of course! Today is the coming-of-age ceremony for the two of us. Of course we have to go!”
‘Whew… That’s right.’
Relieved that his guess was correct, Seong-il goes to Dr. Woo’s lab while chatting with Hana.
‘Phew. I didn’t even know the way, but I’m glad I got a guide.’
“Oh! Come on, children!”
A man with gray hair and a pleasant impression in a gown greets the two and speaks to them.
“Hello, Dr. Woo!”
“Yes, yes! Congratulations on your coming of age. Now, as of today, you guys have the qualifications to become one of the Hunters!”
“Thank you! Dr. Woo!”
“Thank you… Rather, we adults are grateful to you guys. It’s hard for Dr. Lee to think that the grown-ups don’t have enough hands and he has to share the burden right away with you young ones who have just become adults!”
“No!”
Saying so, Dr. Woo leads the two of them to the basement.
Shockingly, there were three naked men and women with only name tag necklaces on their bodies, entering the transparent cylinder and looking at the three people.
“Hello kids! These are the kids who will be your partners!”
Children with name tags were standing in front of the cylinder.
‘Red, black, blue…?’
Perhaps they were named based on their hair, Red was a glamor beautiful girl with red hair and a sharp impression, Black was a beautiful boy with dark hair and a soft impression, and Blue was a slender beautiful girl with blue hair and a clear impression.
‘Hey..They are so pretty..’
“Now choose your partner out of the three!”
Dr. Woo looked at us and said.
“I… I’ll take the red one.”
“I’m Black!!”
Seong-il, who usually likes a voluptuous body, instinctively chose red, and Hana, the only male, chose black.
Dr. Woo smiled at the two of them and passed a ball to them.
“Now this is a ball that gives you control over your partner! Get this.”
‘Isn’t this too openly plagiarism?’
Seong-il is dumbfounded inside and accepts the ball obediently.
When I accidentally pressed the button in the middle of the cheek, the red in front of me instantly changed into light into the cheek Seongil was holding.
Seong-il was amazed at the sight and stared blankly at the cheek, then kept it in his bosom.
“Okay. Now that I’ve got a partner, I’ll explain to you guys the hidden secrets of this world.”
Dr. Woo says so and takes the two to the lecture room.
While playing the video, Dr. Woo begins to explain the shocking world.
‘Are you sure. This is Pocket Girls.’
When Dr. Woo’s explanation matches the world view of the game he played, Seong-il is convinced that this is a virtual world based on the game.
“…While researching psychic powers, a psychic disease that was accidentally created ran out of control and spread rapidly all over the world. Virtually destroyed.”
“Hmm…”
“And it’s a situation where scientists, capitalists, and powerful people who managed to survive by controlling, sealing, or suppressing supernatural powers got together to build shelters and barely maintain human civilization.”
“Okay…”
“The problem is that the population is still too small, but due to inbreeding caused by a narrow social network, it has reached the point where genetic diseases are widespread.”
“Huh…!!”
“So, in order to solve this, we constantly wanted to bring in and socialize humans with degenerate intelligence from the outside, and suppress their psychic powers to turn them into normal people.”
“Aha…”
“For the past hundred years, we have been constantly trying to create shelters around the X-0 Shelter through great efforts.”
“Hmm…”
“Then, 30 years ago, I managed to subdue the external dangers and started building shelters bit by bit! Thanks to scarce resources, I’m barely regaining the old civilization!”
“Aha…”
“However, since older intellectuals who possess the intellectual heritage of mankind are the last bastion of future mankind… This is a situation where we have no choice but to train children like you from an early age and send them outside. I am really sorry.”
“No! Doctor! We are all grown up now, so we have to work as members of society!”
At one such reply, Dr. Woo smiled and continued her words with her pleasant voice.
“Uhohoho! Thank you for saying that! Your mission is none other than to capture the survivors spread out and bring them back to the shelter.”
“Aha!”
“The so-called ‘wild psychic’ you brought to the shelter, the adults of our shelter will do everything in their power to cure their psychic runaway, restore their intelligence to normal, conduct education, and ultimately try to revive human civilization again!”
“Oh! Great!”
“However, even though their intelligence is broken, outside humans have strong psychic powers, so they are non-awakening psychic… So, to protect you, they are trying to use a ‘psychic’ who has completed obedience and socialization training as a bodyguard as a partner. Yo!”
“Oh oh…!!”
“Remember, kids! Meet the leaders at the psionic gym to train your partner and get a good idea of their abilities! That way you won’t be in danger either! If you know your partner’s abilities well and deepen your bond, you’ll be able to protect your partner from outside psychic powers. It’s possible to overpower them! They only have power, but they can’t use their abilities in a high level!”
“Yes! Dr. Woo!”
When we answered, Dr. Woo smiled and gave us two small cell phones.
“Now! Let’s share this app!”
‘…I mean, it’s an app, so this is definitely an encyclopedia of x-Pokemon. It seems that these guys couldn’t even copy the encyclopedia because their conscience was stabbed up to that point?’
“Children! This encyclopedia app is a very good app that connects with the ball when you catch wild psychics to see what their abilities are and what their physical condition is! Let’s do it!”
Then he gave the two of them a bunch of catch balls as a gift.
The way to use it is, of course, to beat the psychic and subdue it, then throw a ball to capture it.
Since it’s such a famous system and he’s played the original game, Seong-il was able to understand how to use it right away.
