AILGML 1

Prologue

Possession in a game. Fine. That much is fine.
There are romance simulation games where you can die of happiness between an emperor and a duke, and lately, horror game possessions are trending.
Even zombie games are acceptable. After all, you can fight against a common enemy while fostering love and friendship, right?

“But a gangster? Was there ever a game with a gangster male lead?”

There was. The very R-19 romance simulation game she had played before falling asleep!
It was rated that way because of its brutality, not just its explicit content! And of all games, she had to possess this one?

“F**k.”

At the low curse she muttered, a male student looking out the window flinched and turned his head.
His black bangs hung low, almost covering his eyes, making him look gloomy. But she knew.
She knew just how handsome the face hidden beneath those bangs was.

And she knew just how terrifyingly ruthless that male student would grow up to be.

“Of all people, I ended up as seatmates with a future gangster?!”

If she got on his bad side, wouldn’t she end up getting shanked in some back alley?
Letting out a silent scream, she slammed her face onto the desk. The impact was loud enough that she could feel the male student flinch.
She also knew that, though he was quiet now, he was being ignored by the other students. Of course, she also knew that deep down, he secretly sneered at them, considering them insignificant.

“At this rate, he’s going to fall for the female lead who transfers in later, and when she gets bullied, he’ll reveal his true nature.”

Back when she played the game, she had been too clueless, squealing over how cool that scene was. But now, realizing it in retrospect, it was nothing short of terrifying.

Burying her face deeper, she clenched and unclenched her fists. This was her feeble attempt at regaining composure.

“Is this a dream? If I wait a bit, I’ll wake up, right? But what if I don’t? Judging by the situation, I seem to have possessed a side character. Did I really play that game so obsessively that I’m even dreaming about it?”

Well, the characters were ridiculously handsome, and she had certainly enjoyed playing it with a grin.
Despite its brutality, there had been some twisted enjoyment in extracting every ounce of romance from it.

At that thought, she sniffled.

“Extracting romance from a brutal R-19 game?! I should’ve realized something was wrong from the start, damn it!”

She should have come to her senses when her friends asked why she liked such a niche game!

“Hey, are you okay?”

“I’m not okay, f**k.”

She blurted out an honest response without thinking when someone bothered to ask.
Then, realizing something was off, she jerked her head up.

The future gangster was still watching her.

“…Did you just talk to me?”

“Yeah.”

Was he insane? Who told him to randomly start a conversation and get cursed at in return?!

She was doomed. Definitely doomed.

Would she get kidnapped tonight and sold to an organ trafficking ring? Or would it be a torture chamber?
Gangsters were notoriously brutal, so the torture would probably be beyond imagination.

Her face paled, then turned ghostly white, repeatedly. The male student, silently watching her, said nothing.

Then—Bling!

A sound effect chimed, and something appeared in front of her.

[Baby Gangster, ‘???’ has taken an interest in you.]

“Oh, f**k.”

Not only had she possessed a game character, but now a game system window had popped up.
What kind of absurd, mixed-up situation was this?

Completely flustered by the imposing presence of the status window, she failed to realize—

That she had just looked a Baby Gangster straight in the face and cursed.

*****

Chapter 1
01. First Year, Baek Ihae

The storyline of the romance simulation game she had possessed was fairly typical.
The female protagonist transfers to a new school, where the male protagonist hides his true identity. Without realizing it, she ends up doing something meaningful for him, and as a result, he falls for her.

Being born into a gangster family, the way he expressed love was naturally different from others.
His approach was forceful, never considering the other person’s will. If the female protagonist rejected his affections, he would resort to extreme measures—kidnapping and confinement.

“The so-called happy ending was where he killed the female protagonist’s entire family, and, unaware of this, she lived locked up with him.”

At that point, it seemed the scenario writer had no real understanding of what “happy” meant.

There was even a secondary male lead, but if the female protagonist showed interest in him, the main male lead would respond with torture and murder.
With his dark, twisted intentions, he thoroughly dragged the female protagonist into ruin, turning the lives of those around her into a living nightmare.

“In the sad endings, he would make her watch as he killed her family or the secondary male lead in front of her. Then, he would force her to say she loved him.”

Honestly, wouldn’t dying be a better option? Most of the endings were just pitiful for the female protagonist.

The way her once-calm, considerate, and gentle expression slowly died out was heartbreaking. Maybe she had been too emotionally invested.

“Still, I was able to tolerate it because it was just a game. And because the illustrations were insanely handsome.”

Of course, even the deskmate she had just glimpsed had a well-defined lower face.
She couldn’t see his eyes properly because of his bangs, but she knew.

She knew just how devastatingly attractive that face underneath was—her exact type.

“Damn it, damn it.”

She muttered under her breath. She could feel someone’s gaze on her again, but she ignored it.

Hopefully, he’d just assume she was a little mentally unwell and lose interest.

She felt bad for the female protagonist, but she had no desire to get involved with the male lead—not even a single strand of hair’s worth of involvement.

She—no, correction. She looked down at the name tag on her uniform.

“Baek Ihae.”

That was her name in this world. At least the name was pretty. Feeling empty, she clutched the name tag tightly.

The female protagonist would transfer in when the male lead was in his second year. The textbooks on her desk were for first-year students.

“I have to survive for a year? Should I transfer schools? Or maybe take a leave of absence?”

…As if that would work. Baek Ihae scoffed at herself. What was this, a workplace? She smacked her forehead with her palm a few times.

Cursing to herself, wallowing in self-pity—she was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice her deskmate propping his chin up, watching her intently.

“Come on, status window. Baby gangster or whatever, just tell me about myself first!”

As if responding to her thoughts, a blue window popped up above her notebook.

[Name: Baek Ihae]
[Age: 17]
[Traits: Recently lost both parents in an accident and is moving into the home of a family friend starting today.]
[Personality: Introverted]

“Introverted? Fine, since I have no information to work with, I’ll just keep my mouth shut.”

More importantly— She had just possessed this body, and she was already an orphan?

She felt tears welling up. She had been an orphan in her previous life, too. And now, even here? Damn it.

And to make things worse, she didn’t even know where she was supposed to go!

Baek Ihae collapsed onto her desk, overwhelmed by the oh-so-helpful information from the status window.

There were no quests to complete, and the status window didn’t even bother explaining her role in this world.

Come to think of it, she couldn’t recall her past life clearly. What if her previous life had been a dream, and this was reality?

“But if that were the case, why do I remember every little detail of this romance simulation game? I even remember the names of the male and female leads perfectly.”

Baek Ihae turned her head to look at her deskmate. He was still staring at her. Their eyes met.

Seo Dogyeom. Baek Ihae’s name was pretty, but the male protagonist’s name was just as beautiful.

No matter what his personality or background was like.

[Baby Gangster, Seo Dogyeom, is now intrigued by the quiet supporting character’s reaction.]

“Oh, great. So I’m officially just a supporting character now? You won’t even show my name?”

Fine, you two have fun together. Screw this. Baek Ihae grumbled internally.

Sure, she was in the same class as the male lead. Sure, they were seatmates. But that didn’t mean she had to get involved with him.

The introverted Baek Ihae had no intention of speaking first. And even if spoken to, she would just pretend not to hear.

She had already started daydreaming about seducing a decently handsome secondary male lead and living happily ever after.

But that dream shattered completely on her way home from school.

“Why the hell is he following me?!”

She didn’t know where her new home was, but thankfully, the status window provided her with a map.

It even appeared like a mini-map on the right side of her vision—just like in a game.

So she simply followed it……but Seo Dogyeom was following her.

Always at a fixed distance. She wanted to ignore him, but the consistency of his movements was driving her insane.

‘Could it be because I cursed at him earlier? Is he planning to kidnap and torture me?’…But I’m still a minor? Then again, if he had that kind of conscience, he wouldn’t be a gangster in the first place.

Baek Ihae’s pupils trembled uncontrollably. She had no intention of dying here.

Without a second thought, she pushed off the ground and bolted. She sprinted toward her destination, making sure he couldn’t catch up.

Fortunately, Seo Dogyeom didn’t pursue her. Relieved, she took a detour and followed the mini-map to her destination.

‘…This place is way fancier than I expected.’

She was shocked by how extravagant the mansion was. But…Why were two terrifying-looking men standing guard at the entrance?

They kept glancing at Baek Ihae, their faces full of curiosity—wondering why a student was loitering around such a place.

‘No way. No, come on. There’s no way, right?’

As unease crept in, she instinctively stepped backward—only to collide with someone.

Her head snapped up, and there it was—a familiar face. From this angle, she could see a glimpse of Seo Dogyeom’s face beneath his bangs—just a little.

His strikingly handsome features. And his unexpectedly cold eyes.

“Figures. So the guest coming to our house today was you.”

Something was wrong. A handsome guy was spouting nonsense.

Baek Ihae rubbed her ears. She was desperate to deny reality.

“No, I must be mistaken! I must’ve come to the wrong place! Let me double-check and—”

As she tried to retreat, Seo Dogyeom grabbed her by the back of the neck.

Like a predator casually snatching up prey attempting to escape.

“Baek Ihae. That’s your name, right? It’s unique, so I remember it. There’s only one Baek Ihae enrolled at our school—so it has to be you.”

Baek Ihae struggled, but why was this lean guy so ridiculously strong?!

Or… was she just pathetically weak?! Her face crumpled in distress, but Seo Dogyeom didn’t care.

The grand mansion doors swung open. Seo Dogyeom dragged Baek Ihae inside.

She was being hauled straight into a tiger’s den.

Why? Why, of all possible friends, did she have to end up with a gangster friend who would put her through this kind of hell?!

Was this some kind of punishment for possessing their daughter’s body without permission?

If so, couldn’t they have given her a slightly sweeter fate?!

Seo Dogyeom continued dragging her deeper into the mansion.

Along the way, several burly men in black suits gave Baek Ihae side-eyes. Their expressions were clear. Why is this tiny, insignificant thing here?

Baek Ihae glared right back at them.

‘Screw you all, I don’t know why I’m here either! Stop looking at me like that! It’s making me nervous!’

Finally, they arrived in front of a study. Seo Dogyeom knocked and entered.

Only then did he release Baek Ihae’s scruff.

He clasped his hands behind his back and faced forward. He looked like a disciplined soldier. Baek Ihae also turned to face forward.

A middle-aged man sat behind an office desk, resting his chin on his hand.

‘Oh, damn. That face is insane.’

A father she had never known. A mother she had never seen. She didn’t even know their blood type.

But at least when making friends, they had definitely paid attention to appearances.

“…So you’re Baek Ihae?”

Baek Ihae was in awe. Just moments ago, she had been grumbling about her parents, but now she felt guilty.

‘I take it back! I’m sorry for complaining about my fate! This isn’t just sweet—it’s so sugary I might ascend from diabetes!’

 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───