Kim Seojun was born alone—not because the world abandoned him, but because he found no sufficient reason to cling to it. He did not hate life, nor did he love it. He looked at it as a reader looks at a blank page: nothing pushed him to write, and nothing prevented him from closing it.
Since his childhood, novels held an unrivaled position. Pages were more honest than humans, and stories were more merciful than reality. Over the years, Kim Seojun read thousands of novels—adventures, tragedies, and victories born of despair. Every time, he wished for the same thing: If only I were the hero... I would have chosen better.
But wishing was easier than changing. He was lazy by nature; he did not exercise, rarely went out, and his room was his only world. He didn't want power; he wanted to live a story—any story other than his own.
At the university, Kim Seojun sat in his seat, staring out the window, while his inner voice spoke: "If this were a novel, something would happen now."
"Kim Seojun?!"
He startled slightly. "Yes, ma'am!"
"Why are you absent from university so often?"
His inner voice began to work: Hmm... an excuse... a convincing excuse... no, don't exaggerate...
"In fact... I was sick." A soft lie; it wasn't the first, and it wouldn't be the last.
The teacher looked at him for a long time, then she said, "Fine, but do not be absent much; the midterm exams are approaching."
"Yes, ma'am."
What she didn't know was that the reason for his absence wasn't illness, but that the new volume of his favorite novel was released last week. This novel was the closest one to his heart; its story was the closest thing to the actual life he lived, and for that reason, he loved it dearly.
"Kim Seojun?!"
Time stopped for a moment. That voice... He turned around.
Han Joon-woo, his old friend from high school.
"Joon-woo?!"
"You're here! You joined the same university?" Joon-woo laughed, a smile full of nostalgia. "We are in the first year now." He sat beside him without permission. "Do you remember? We used to talk and laugh during classes... those were days full of fun."
Kim Seojun smiled a faint smile. "Yes." Memories made the past seem warmer than it actually was. A short silence followed.
"Now we are in the same university, we can spend more time together, right?"
Kim Seojun looked at him, then looked away. There was something missing; he felt it clearly. Joon-woo had changed, or perhaps... I am the one who stayed the same.
After the school day at the university, Joon-woo asked, "Kim Seojun, what do you think about playing football or watching anime?"
Kim Seojun hesitated. "No, I have a lot of studying today. Maybe later... tomorrow."
Joon-woo looked at him a moment longer than necessary. "Fine... as you wish."
Kim Seojun returned home after an ordinary school day. "Where is everyone?" No answer… perhaps they went out. "I'll rest for a bit."
Kim Seojun was an example of the lazy genius student; he obtained the highest grades with the least effort. Just by reading books and novels, he understood and memorized everything, even the words between the lines.
After his mother passed away when he was in the first year of high school—due to a terminal illness that stayed with her for nearly ten years—Seojun began to isolate himself more and more from the outside world. It wasn't sudden… but gradual, until silence became a part of him.
Kim Seojun's father was a soldier in the Special Air Forces in South Korea, in the city of Seoul. He was one of the most skilled combat pilots, carrying out many airstrikes that seemed impossible. Despite that, he didn't spend much time with Seojun; the nature of his work forced that upon him. Even when he takes a leave, he spent most of his time with his friends at home.
As for Seojun… he spent most of his day in his room, between books and novels. Only there did he feel some pleasure and excitement. When he read about a hero emerging from under the rubble of the impossible and despair, those stories were another world to him, filling the void within him… and escaping the pain of reality.
His mother named him Seojun because he excelled in everything he did. When he participates in a school competition for reading or writing, he would take first place, always years ahead of his peers. His mother was the person who understood and supported him the most; she was everything to him. But when Seojun discovered that his mother was afflicted with a serious illness whose end was death, he felt as if his mind exploded—a strange feeling that tore everything inside him apart.
He stood before her, seeing the change in her features, in her eyes, in her smile that was no longer as it used to be. His whole life collapsed before him. Her looks were sad, but she tried to keep him away from the pain… yet she couldn't. Seojun felt shocked, as if all the illusions he built about his life—safety, dreams, hope—were suddenly broken.
His neck grew heavy, his heart contracted, and his inner voice screamed… but no one heard him. Everything became silent; even the world seemed to have stopped.
Kim Seojun lay on his bed and opened his favorite novel. The pages slid before his eyes.. then drowsiness began to creep into him.
A strange voice began to whisper. It was like a dream. He opened his eyes. "What is this voice?!"
He stood up. The lights—he was sure he had turned them off—but a strange light began to seep into the dark, cerulean room.
A window appeared from the void: It is time… You have reached a point of no return.
Do you wish to become an influential character within this story?
[ Yes ]
[ No ]
[Processing….]
Selected: Yes
[System Update]
Eligibility confirmed.
Initializing consciousness for transition….
⚠ Warning: You cannot go back after this step.
Do you agree to transition to the world of the novel?
[ Agree ]
[ No ]
[Processing…]
Selected: Agree
[System Activation Complete]
Welcome… Player.
Kim Seojun realized there was no choice in the first place; the system was the one deciding. He didn't agree to enter the novel in the first place, and he didn't refuse either.
He opened his eyes. The sky was not his sky. "What is this place?!"
He stood. "No.... is it possible?" He looked around. "Am I... inside the novel!"
Monsters, wizards—the childhood dream had come true.
Then... memory hit him. "No... no, no, no." He looked at his reflection. "I am in the body of Duke Leonard von Reichen... the mad Duke, the hated one, soon to be exiled. If I cannot change the exile sentence, I will be exiled outside the continent, and then I will never return to my world."
He didn't spend much time thinking about this new reality, due to his reading of thousands of novels similar to this story. In the middle of his thoughts, a voice came from behind him:
"Who are you?! Who might you be?!"
Kim Seojun turned around slowly....