Episode 1: A Strange Love Comedy
‘Neo Planet.’
The world’s largest game development company, known for producing consecutive hits across various genres such as MMORPGs, dating simulations, and virtual reality (VR) games.
Drawing inspiration from the global craze for Korean culture, including K-dramas and K-pop, Neo Planet decided to develop a Korean-style romantic comedy game.
When the company announced the game’s launch date, countless otakus in Korea erupted in excitement, celebrating with cheers.
*
After finishing my workout, the first thing I did when I got home was turn on my computer.
December 31st.
It was the launch day of ‘Love is War!’, a game created by Neo Planet.
Romantic comedy games like this were typically set in Japan, but this one was set in Korea.
As an otaku, it was impossible not to be excited.
After quickly showering, I completed the purchase and eagerly awaited the game’s launch.
9 PM sharp.
The moment the game went live, I logged onto the server, greeted by a dazzling opening sequence and the game logo.
『Love Is War!』
The cute pink font was accompanied by a grandiose soundtrack, and scenes in the game—seemingly lifted straight out of a K-drama—flashed by rapidly.
“This is seriously impressive.”
From the graphics to the direction, it was phenomenal.
The familiar yet vivid backgrounds.
The attractive, multidimensional characters.
The opening scene was a testament to the world-class standards of the game’s developers.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Leaning back into my gaming chair, I clapped like a seal before diving into the game.
【All characters in this game are adults, and this work is entirely fictional….】
I shook my head as I read the familiar warning message.
“Even Neo Planet can’t escape K-regulations, huh?”
I quickly skipped past the warning screen, and a choice menu appeared on the screen.
1. K-Academy, where I’m the only male.
2. Co-ed K-Academy.
‘Ah, Neo Planet, I worship you. My light, my salt, my… pee.’
Option 1 was the obvious answer.
It was every man’s dream, the epitome of a harem story.
The kind of scenario every guy has fantasized about at least once.
Walking into school and being swarmed by girls saying good morning, packing you lunch, and doting on you.
A paradise full of daily lucky pervert situations and naked dogeza apologies.
‘Definitely Option 1.’
Without a moment’s hesitation, my finger moved instinctively toward Option 1.
Click.
The screen changed, revealing a four-story modern building with white bricks and glass windows blending harmoniously.
Two cherry blossom trees on either side of the front gate shed their petals, creating a breathtaking view.
At first glance, it was an ordinary yet beautiful school exterior.
But.
“Uh…?”
There was something odd.
The meticulously maintained field and track.
And on that field, students were lined up, staring at me as if they had been waiting for me.
“Wow, it’s a guy?”
“He’s actually here?”
“Isn’t this against the rules? I thought guys weren’t allowed to enroll!”
At that moment, a sinking feeling hit me, and my heart dropped.
“What the hell is this…?”
Simultaneously, a system message appeared in the center of the screen.
[Warning: Admission Condition Error Detected.]
Penalties will be applied for violating school regulations.
Then the screen turned black, and a single message appeared.
【Bad Ending: Protest Movement】
I thought it must be a dream, rubbed my face, and stared back at the monitor. But the unchanging system window confirmed that this was indeed the ending.
“Seriously? It’s so realistic it’s absurd.”
I chose the co-ed K-Academy option and continued the game.
*
For days, I was glued to my computer, trying to clear the game.
But this game was like a hellscape perfectly disguised as a romantic comedy.
Constantly walking on eggshells around the heroines, losing intimacy points with a single dialogue choice, and seeing trust plummet due to one misstep.
Not to mention the traps everywhere, which sent you hurtling toward a bad ending like a direct train.
“This isn’t a sweet romantic comedy; it’s closer to a dark fantasy!”
I made up my mind.
I was going to delete this cursed game.
But before that, there was one thing I absolutely had to do.
Leave a heartfelt review for the developers who created this abomination.
To prevent more victims like myself.
“Wait, these reviews can’t be real….”
★★★★★ – “The game of my life. The realistic romance simulation keeps you on edge. I’ve never sweated playing Dark Souls, but my mouse and controller were drenched.”
★★★★★ – “Perfectly reflects how one conversation can change your life. Great for learning about relationships.”
★★★★★ – “Absolutely infuriating. Why was this even made? But I can’t stop playing.”
★★★★★ – “Highly recommend for nerds. Great for overcoming high school PTSD.”
The suspiciously high ratings.
I stared at the reviews, dumbfounded, then smacked my forehead in amazement.
“These devilish bastards, they just couldn’t suffer alone, could they?”
The review section was full of what people call “bait reviews.”
Purposefully positive reviews and ratings designed to lure others into playing the game.
You usually see this kind of thing for trash games or impossibly difficult dark fantasy titles.
But seeing this phenomenon in a romantic comedy game? That was something else.
Well, one thing was certain: this game was destined to leave its mark on history, albeit for all the wrong reasons.
I grabbed my keyboard.
‘If I write a review like that, I’d be no different from those baiters.’
The thought of more innocent victims piling up consumed my mind.
Yes, I would write honestly.
Brutally honest.
★☆☆☆☆
[“This game is not a romantic comedy. It’s emotional labor far worse than real life. The AI heroines emotionally manipulate the player. One wrong choice and the relationship collapses, sometimes leading straight to a bad ending. If you’re not prepared to endure the stress and confusion, don’t start this game.”]
I moved my mouse over the game icon.
『Love is War!』
“I didn’t think they’d take the ‘war’ part literally. Goodbye.”
With all my might, I clicked the delete button.
Then I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
I thought it would take just one day to finish the visual novel, but after more than a week of sleepless nights, I still hadn’t reached the ending.
To make matters worse, not a single review claimed to have seen the ending either.
“Ah, I should’ve just worked out instead.”
Though I felt uneasy about it…
“No, no. Deleting it was the right choice. Who cares about the ending anyway.”
I convinced myself and forced my eyes shut.
But the voices of the heroines still echoed in my head.
“Damn it…”
Unable to escape the lingering voices, I buried my face under the pillow and curled up.
*
A heavy weight pressed down on me.
Then, a familiar female voice spoke.
“It’s time to wake up, Brother.”
The cringeworthy tone, straight out of a romantic comedy, tickled my ears.
“This has to be from Love is War!…”
I shot up in a panic.
“What, what the hell?!”
My vision was blurry.
Just then, someone placed a pair of glasses on my face.
As the focus sharpened, I saw a cute girl with short brown hair tied with a ribbon sitting on my stomach.
A small face, well-defined features, and lips curved into a faint smirk.
It was a face I had seen countless times in the game.
Kim Harin.
One of the heroines from 『Love is War!』And the younger sister of the protagonist, Kim Dohyun.
The problem was her backstory—she wasn’t a biological sister but a stepsister.
Yeah, the moment I saw this opening, I thought this was going to be one of those cliché-filled romantic comedy worlds.
“You’re still lying in bed? What am I going to do with you, Brother?”
Harin pouted, folding her arms, as she looked down at me while still perched on my stomach.
‘Wait a second, isn’t this the opening scene of the game?’
I frantically scanned my surroundings: the desk, the wardrobe, the cherry blossoms falling beyond the window.
Everything matched the opening scene of the game perfectly.
‘Don’t tell me… I’ve actually been transported into the game?’
Harin tilted her head and spoke again.
“You’re not acting like yourself today, brother.”
She narrowed her eyes, giving me a suspicious look.
Her hand lightly tugged at the collar of my shirt.
My heart sank instantly.
“Are you… hiding something from me?”
It could’ve sounded like a playful question, but there was a chilling undertone beneath her voice.
Kim Harin’s character setting.
A yandere.
If her affection dropped to zero, she would mercilessly kill the protagonist.
Having experienced her hidden route once, I understood better than anyone just how dangerous this situation was.
My heart pounded wildly in my chest.
‘If she finds out I’ve possessed this body…?’
Harin, who had been watching me in silence, suddenly smirked.
“No matter how I look at it, this is strange. Strange. This isn’t how you usually react, Brother. It’s strange. So strange.”
God, she’s terrifying.
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