Ouch!
It hurts!
Within the darkness, my consciousness returned alongside a violent throbbing in my head. It felt as if a nail was being driven slowly into my skull until it pierced my brain.
Why does my head suddenly hurt so much?
My body's reflex was to rub the source of the pain, hoping to soothe it or at least discover the cause.
Unfortunately, I couldn't even do that because I couldn't even feel my hands. Forget that—I couldn't even open my eyelids.
This condition was clearly beyond my control. So, rather than remaining passive, I tried to remember anything that happened before this.
As I recall, I was skipping school because of some formal ceremony, and my apartment was the hideout. I wasn't alone; my friend Ji-hoon was there. Inside, we just engaged in the usual small talk. Then, we went back to our own business—Ji-hoon with his phone, I don't know what he was looking at and I didn't care either. Meanwhile, I was reading a light novel.
I'm pretty sure that's all I was doing. Man, then why is this happening?
Hmm, could this be what people call Sleep Paralysis? Some say it happens because a ghost is sitting on you, others say it's because the brain is startled. However, no one ever mentioned that you'd feel pain when experiencing it for the first time. Hehe, I guess this is a new type? If so, researchers should take note of it later.
Since Sleep Paralysis was the closest thing to this, I clung to that thought. I mean, there's no way I'd say 'I'm on the brink of death,' right? Oh no, I just said it, that just made the situation worse!
No matter how hard I tried, not a single part of my body obeyed my brain, as if I didn't have a body at all.
Most likely it's true, I'm dying. Ugh, stop saying that!
In that state of despair, a faint light appeared from a distance. It drew closer, or perhaps it exploded and expanded to form something more structured. Eh? Turns out it was a Hologram screen, and as quickly as it appeared, information surged forth in succession—
===
[Welcome to the world of Chronicle of the Cursed Blood!]
[Soul synchronization to body: 50...70...100%]
[Memory inheritance: failed]
[The midbrain is experiencing severe damage!]
[You have Constructive Healing 1×]
[Would you like to use it?]
[OK] > or < [NO]
===
Spontaneously, I pressed [OK]. Actually, I didn't press it with a finger; I just thought about wanting to choose it and it happened. Some kind of telepathy? Just forget it. At this point, I'd do any kind of nonsense as long as I could escape this sensation of pain.
[Regeneration starting]
[Please refrain from strenuous activity for the time being]
[Memories will be inherited gradually. The amount of inherited memory depends on how many brain cells are successfully salvaged from the host body]
Miraculously, a few moments later, the throbbing in my head began to subside. It was still very painful, but not as agonizing as before.
Then I felt something soft beneath my body. I guessed it was a mattress, but I dared to say this wasn't mine; it was far too soft and fragrant for the apartment mattress that always left me a bit stiff when I woke up.
Not long after, the scent of flowers and a slight metallic tang of blood hit my nose.
With an effort as if lifting a mountain, I managed to open my eyelids.
My vision was blurred. My left eye was covered by something. A bandage, perhaps?
At first, I thought I'd see the white ceiling of a hospital, but I didn't. The first thing I caught was the ceiling of this room, shaped like a dome arching upward with sides adorned with many artistic paintings. In the center hung a large chandelier, but its light was now extinguished. The room was dim. The only lighting came from a large window to my right. The light was strange, a blend of silver and a dull purple.
Where am I? Whose room is this?
I still couldn't move my body.
Curious about that strange light, I forced my head to tilt.
My eyes widened when I saw what lay behind the window that took up half the wall.
It turned out the light came from two moons sitting side by side. Seriously, that's what I saw. On the right was a normal silver moon, and beside it was a moon with a dull purple hue.
What... where am I, exactly?
For some reason, those two moons immediately made my brain link them to something. The novel I read. The world setting was exactly the same—two moons, silver and purple.
It didn't take long for me to connect this with the System that appeared before me earlier, which displayed the information:
[Welcome to Chronicle Of The Cursed Blood!]
Eh, is that for real? I thought that system was just my illusion.
So, I've entered a novel?
Haha, no way, right? Man, I guess I've been reading too many Transmigration novels lately. To the point where I can memorize exactly what an MC would do in this position. First, they'll be in Denial, then the system or the situation will make them realize that it's the reality. It's such a damn cliché.
But what if that's exactly what's happening to me?
It would be kind of funny. Usually, at the very least, MCs can move their bodies so they can plan their next move in the new world. But me? Total paralysis plus a lethal headache. Oh my, I just hope this doesn't get any worse with a Plot Twist revealing I've entered the body of someone who is permanently disabled.
The sound of a door creaking suddenly echoed. Then, the door slammed hard against the wall with a loud—Crash!
Someone was here.
The sound of footsteps came from the door; the gait was irregular, like someone dancing or perhaps drunk.
W-who is coming in?
I tried to move my body until I was struggling. Then I realized it was just my imagination; my body wasn't moving at all.
With all my might, I straightened my head.
In the corner of my eye, I saw a woman wearing a red dress who was having trouble walking, grabbing onto anything around her to steady herself. The woman had very pale skin and her hair was a color that probably doesn't exist on Earth—a natural-looking metallic silver.
Hah! Is that a ghost?
Then the woman climbed onto the bed and crawled toward me. Eh, she's coming toward me? Hey, don't, please stay away from me!
The scent of wine began to fill my senses as the woman approached. With that, I guessed this woman was drunk.
Suddenly, the woman climbed onto my waist. Her light weight pressed down on me, but strangely, it made my head hurt more.
The aroma of wine began to grow thicker.
Miss, I've had enough of this headache. Please don't make it worse.
At this close range, I could see her face clearly and strangely, I felt like I had seen this woman somewhere. Her face was now drenched in sweat, with several strands of hair sticking to her skin. Her cheeks were somehow flushed like pomegranates, probably the effect of the alcohol. I think the word beautiful isn't enough to describe this woman; she was more like a porcelain statue carved directly by the goddess of beauty.
I'm not exaggerating, I'm serious. Just look at her eyes...?
Eh, looking closer, the woman's red eyes were filled with tears. She was crying... yet her lips were smiling and her gaze... it was like someone who was completely broken.
"You know, they came here and told me that I'm going to be married off! Hooray!"
After saying it with a nasal tone, she burst into laughter and then went back to crying; it was clearly not a happy cry.
Then the woman brought her face closer...
"Hmm... so you're awake, huh? How is your head?"
The woman traced my head gently, then my jaw, and finally my eyes. She forced my eyes wide open...
I didn't answer. I couldn't.
Then she smiled. A different smile. This was a smile of satisfaction...
"That's good... at least I managed to save you. But I'm sorry, I'm so tired. So, so tired... I'm sorry—"
The woman brought her face closer very slowly; I could count her long, curled eyelashes. Something soft touched my lips. It was her lips. Wait, is she kissing me? Why?
My eyes bugged out as the woman pressed her lips harder, then something wet slipped in between my lips. It was her tongue. The woman's tongue explored my mouth with an intensity that made me want to gag. I could taste the wine she had been drinking. Her tears dripped onto my face, wetting it, or maybe they were my own tears...
The pressure of her lips on me made the already aching lower part of my head hurt even more. This was the peak of the headache since I woke up...
It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!
I wanted to push the woman away, but my hands wouldn't move.
"Mmmp!!"
I moved my neck left and right, but the woman didn't budge at all. Her kiss only became more lingering; she held my head with both hands.
Then, whether it was because I was too tired to think and tired of enduring the pain... or perhaps because I was lacking oxygen... my body suddenly became relaxed and all that pain vanished instantly. However, my consciousness began to drift as if being pulled from my body; the sensation felt like flying.
My eyes began to close slowly... I tried to hold them open, but I couldn't.
No, no, I don't want to die!
Please, at least give me an explanation before that...
In the final seconds before I lost consciousness again, I felt something enter my head. This was—
A memory...