Ouch!
This hurts!
Why does my head suddenly hurt so much?
In the darkness, my consciousness returned along with a violent throbbing in my head that felt like a nail was being slowly hammered into my skull.
My primal instinct was to rub the source of the pain, hoping to relieve it or at least find out what 'caused it'.
But I couldn't feel where my hands were. Never mind that, I couldn't even open my eyelids.
This situation was clearly beyond my control. So, rather than being passive, I tried to remember anything before this happened to me.
As far as I remember, I was skipping school because there was going to be a formal ceremony and my apartment was the place. I wasn't alone, I had my friend Ji-hoon. Inside, we just made 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, nor did I care. Meanwhile, I was reading a light novel.
I think that's all I did. Ugh, so why is this happening?
Hmm, could this be what people call Sleep Paralysis? Some people say it happens because a ghost is pressing down on you, others say it's because the brain is startled. But no one said you would feel a violent throb in your head when you first experience it. Hehe, I guess this is a new type? In that case, researchers should take note later.
Since Sleep Paralysis is the closest possible thing to this, I'm clinging to it. Besides, how could I say that 'I'm on the verge of death'? Oh no, I just said it, that makes the situation worse!
No matter how hard I tried, not a single limb obeyed my brain as if I had no body at all.
Most likely, it's true, I'm dying. Ugh, don't say that!
In that despair, a dim light appeared in the distance. The light came closer, or perhaps it exploded and expanded, forming something more structured.
Huh? It turned out to be a Hologram screen and as quickly as it appeared, information appeared sequentially–
===
[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 one chance to regenerate]
[Do you want to use it?]
[OK] > or < [NO]
===
I spontaneously pressed [OK]. Actually, I didn't press it with a finger, I just thought about choosing it and it happened. Some kind of telepathy? Never mind. At this moment, I would do anything as long as I could escape this painful sensation, including pressing this unclear nonsense.
[Regeneration in progress]
[Please refrain from strenuous activities for now]
[Memory will be inherited slowly. The amount of memory inherited depends on how many brain cells were successfully saved from the host body]
Miraculously, a few moments later, the throbbing in my head began to subside, still painful, but not as painful as before.
Then I felt something soft beneath my body. I guessed it was a mattress, but I dare say this wasn't mine, it was too soft and fragrant for the mattress in the apartment that always made me feel a bit stiff when I woke up.
Not long after, the scent of flowers and a slight hint of blood invaded my nose.
And with an effort that felt like lifting a mountain–
–I finally managed to open my eyelids!
My vision was blurry and flickering. My left eye was covered by something. Perhaps it was a bandage?
At first I thought I would see the white ceiling of a hospital, but no. The first thing I caught was the ceiling of this room, which was a dome shape jutting upward, its sides decorated with artistic paintings. In the center hung a large chandelier, but now its light was off. The room was dim. The only lighting came from a large window to my right. That light was strange, having a mixture of silver and dim 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 turn.
My eyes widened when I saw what was beyond the window that was half wall.
It turned out that light came from two moons that were side by side. Seriously, that's what I saw. On the right side was a normal large silver moon, beside it was a moon that had a dim purple color.
What, where am I actually?
For some reason, those two moons immediately made my brain link them to something. I think the novel I was reading? The setting of that world is exactly the same, two moons, silver and purple.
It didn't take long, I immediately connected this to the System that had appeared before me showing information:
[Welcome to Chronicle Of The Cursed Blood!]
Eh, is that true? I thought that system earlier was just an illusion.
So, I've entered a novel or something?
Haha, that's impossible, right? Ugh, it seems I've been reading too many Transmigration novels lately. So much so that I can memorize what the MC would do if in this position. At first they would be in Denial, then the system or the situation would make them realize that is reality.
That's such a damn cliché.
But what if that's what happened to me?
It would be funny if so. Usually the MCs can at least move their bodies so they can plan the next steps in the new world. But me? Totally paralyzed and topped with a deadly headache. Oh my, hopefully this couldn't get any worse with a Plot Twist that I actually entered the body of a paralyzed person.
The creak of a door was suddenly heard. Then, the door slammed hard against the wall with a –Bang!
Someone opened the door.
The sound of footsteps came from that door, the steps were irregular as if dancing or perhaps drunk?
W-who came in?
I tried to move my body strongly, thrashing about. Then I realized that was just my imagination, in reality, my body didn't move at all.
With all my strength, I straightened my head.
In the corner of my eye, I saw a woman wearing a red dress struggling to walk, holding onto anything around her to keep herself from falling. The woman had very pale skin and her hair had a color that might not exist on Earth, it was metallic silver and looked natural. Her age was perhaps around twenty years or older.
Hah! Is that a ghost?
Then the woman climbed onto the bed and crawled closer. Eh, she's coming closer to me? Hey no, please stay away from me!
The smell of wine began to fill my senses when the woman reached my side. From that I guessed this woman was drunk.
Suddenly the woman straddled my waist, her light weight pressing down, but that made my headache worse.
The aroma of wine grew stronger.
Miss, I've had enough with the pain in my head, you know… Please don't make this worse!
At this close distance, I could see her face clearly and strangely, I felt like I had seen this woman somewhere before. Her face was now wet with sweat, some strands of hair sticking to her face. Her cheeks were somehow now red like pomegranates, perhaps the effect of alcohol. I think the word beautiful is not enough to describe this woman, she is more like a porcelain statue carved directly by a goddess of beauty.
I'm not exaggerating, I'm serious. Just look at her eyes...?
Eh, upon closer inspection, the woman's red eyes were actually filled with tears.
She was crying.
But her lips smiled, showing a bit of fangs and her deep gaze was like someone experiencing something heavy.
"You know, they came here and told me that I would be betrothed! Hooray!"
After saying it with a nasal tone, she laughed out loud then went back to crying, it was clearly not a happy laugh or cry.
Then the woman brought her face closer...
"Hmm... you're awake, it turns out? How's your head?"
The woman gently traced my head then my jaw and finally my eye. She forced my eye open wide.
"Eh, it's true after all…"
I didn't answer her. I couldn't.
Then she smiled. A different smile. This was a satisfied smile.
"Good... at least I managed to save you. But I'm sorry, I'm very tired. So very tired... Sorry–"
What's with this woman?
The woman brought her face closer very slowly, I could count her curled eyelashes. Then, something soft touched my lips. It was her lips.
Wait, she's kissing me? Why?
My eyes widened as the woman pressed her lips firmly, then something wet slipped in between. It was her tongue. The woman's tongue rolled against mine and explored my mouth with an intensity that made me want to vomit. I could taste the wine she had drunk. Her tears dripped onto my face, wetting it, or perhaps those were my own tears.
The pressure of her lips on mine made the lower part of my head hurt even more. This was the peak of the headache since I woke up!
It hurt!
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 became even more sticky and deep – both her hands held my head.
Then whether it was because I was tired of thinking and tired of enduring the pain... or perhaps because I was lacking oxygen... my body suddenly relaxed and all the pain disappeared instantly. But, my consciousness began to float 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 couldn't.
No, no, I don't want to die!
Please, at least give me an explanation before that...
In the last seconds before I lost consciousness again, I felt something enter my head. This was–
A memory...