Towards a New Story

"Heroes Who Erase Sorrow." Shortened to Sljiyong. That was the title of the novel I had possessed.

It was a typical academy story—the kind where the protagonist overcomes hardships and trials to grow stronger. Nothing particularly unique about its plot. If I had to point out anything, the tone grew slightly darker toward the latter half. When I first read ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it, I thought it was a soft, gentle healing story, but the sudden shift to a more desolate atmosphere had made me tilt my head in confusion. Still, that very aspect had drawn me in even more. I had shed tears more than once watching the protagonist save a wounded world and overcome pain. It felt as though every single line was comforting me. Whenever things got difficult, I would always turn to that book.

And now, somehow, I was inside that very story.

"How strange......"

I muttered as I gazed at my reflection on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠water's surface. A boy with a gaunt frame stared back at me from the transparent mirror. Jet-black hair and eyes, as if darkness had settled into them. A cold impression that followed from his sharp gaze. He looked like the sort of boy whose personality would be absolutely insufferable.

I furrowed my brow slightly and examined every corner of my body.

"This isn't my body after all."

As expected, the new body bore no scars. The bruises and wounds I had once received from my father's beatings were gone. Even the dark circles that had been deeply etched from fatigue and obsession had been cleanly erased. Only pristine white skin remained. Moreover, the slender frame showed not a trace of muscle. It was a physique completely unlike my previous life.

"No, actually... the face looks a bit similar to my original one......"

I picked up the shirt I had taken off and put it back on.

"Raiden Lisite, was it."

The person I had possessed—Raiden Lisite. Of course I knew the name. I had read Sljiyong so many times; there was no way I wouldn't remember this much. The eldest son of the Lisite ducal house. The disgrace of the nobility. A villain who tormented commoners for fun and, in severe cases, even resorted to violence. A disposable fake villain character who appeared in the early parts of the story. He would pester the protagonist's heroines only to get soundly beaten and disappear. After losing a duel against the protagonist, he vanished from the story entirely.

"He appeared for about ten chapters, I think...?"

After that, he was never even mentioned again until the ending. The national team senior who had recommended this novel to me had called him a sacrificial lamb for a one-time cider moment.

"He's actually a pretty fitting target for possession."

As everyone knows, in possession stories, possessing a villainous extra is the standard. ...Though I had never actually read a possession story myself. I had only heard my senior say something like that once.

"Anyway, that's beside the point......"

What was I supposed to do now? No, more importantly, why was this guy lying in the middle of a forest? Where had he sold off that perfectly good mansion, and why was he collapsed on the roadside like this?

Just as these various questions began to crowd my mind, a transparent mechanical sound rang in my ears.

"Oh..."

How considerate. It gave me directions the moment I started wandering. I had heard that these things usually made you struggle a lot in the beginning. Our status window seemed to have quite a kind disposition.

'......Just what exactly is that thing.'

As I stared at the blue screen, the question rose in my mind. But I soon shook my head and dismissed it. There was no need for unnecessary thoughts. What mattered was that this thing could grant my wish. Whether the existence watching me from beyond that window was human, monster, or god—it was none of my concern.

'Besides, now that I've decided to trust it, doubting it will only tire me out......'

I organized my thoughts and began walking sluggishly. The map displayed on the status window guided me in the direction I needed to go. Fortunately, it seemed I wouldn't have to wander endlessly through this forest. The only problem was—

"......This is way too far."

The destination was absurdly distant. Once I left the forest path, a hellish march comparable to traveling from Seoul to Busan awaited me.

What...? Was the contract and everything else a lie, and it was actually planning to stab me in the back...? This was just harassment.

As I looked at the status window with eyes full of betrayal and indignation, the blue screen flickered once more.

"Ah, right. Carriages."

"......"

Sorry for doubting you. My bad. Still, I'm not actually that dumb, you know? My mom always said I was the smartest person in the world.

Shut up.

...

It took me roughly two hours to escape the forest. The path was rough and the forest was quite large, so it took longer than expected. After walking a bit while brushing off the leaves stuck to my clothes, I was able to reach the city the status window had guided me to.

A medieval city straight out of a fantasy world. Carriages rolled through the streets. Knights guarded the city. Shops lined every corner of the streets, creating a lively atmosphere. I blankly took in the entire scene.

"I really did enter a novel......"

Facing the story I had once admired as reality filled me with new emotions. Calming my trembling heart, I looked around for a long while. The strange excitement transformed into fragments of anticipation. Those small pieces filled the empty spaces in my heart one by one, like a puzzle. I swept back my hair tousled by the wind and took a deep breath. It felt comfortable.

"......This place is amazing."

A languidness I hadn't felt in a very long time. For someone who had always lived tormented by obsession and depression, this kind of leisure was quite unfamiliar. Still, it didn't feel bad.

"No, that's enough. I should get going now."

Even as I said that, my gaze remained fixed on the peaceful scenery. But I forced myself to turn my head. The time wasn't right yet. Since I had received a second chance from the status window, fulfilling my contract with it came first. After that was over...... Yes, maybe then I could become a single stroke of paint in that painting as well.

Chewing over that thought, I moved my feet.

"Let's see... where can I catch a carriage......"

After looking around here and there for a moment, I was able to secure a decent carriage. When I handed over a few gold coins from my pocket as payment, the coachman widened his eyes and prostrated himself, which was a bit embarrassing... but anyway, I was able to head toward the mansion in greater comfort.

"Hmm......"

Inside the carriage rattling along the road, where only the sound of shaking existed, I gradually learned more about the status window.

"Status window."

"Just as I thought, the format is similar to what appeared in the novel."

I fiddled with the blue screen here and there, checking the information. Naturally, a sigh escaped my lips.

"......His stats really are pathetic."

Raiden's average stat for strength, stamina, and agility was E+. Considering that the average stat for academy students was C-rank, one could understand just how miserable these numbers were. Strength at E-rank, of all things.

"No wonder his body is in this state......"

I sighed as I glanced over my skeletal frame, visible through the excessive thinness. Well, it wasn't a big problem. Stats could be raised. If I trained the way I had in my previous life, I could probably reach an average of C- rank in about two months, right?

"The biggest issue is......"

The total mana being 31. No, how could a person's total mana be 31?

"Seriously, what kind of number is 31... an ice cream shop?"

To put into perspective how absurd this number was, the average total mana for people with mana-based physiques was 300. Raiden's total was only about one-tenth of that. Even goblins, the lowest-tier monsters, possessed around 15 mana. Theoretically, Raiden's body was as fragile as two goblins combined.

"And he still had the nerve to act up against the protagonist."

He must have had some serious guts. Or maybe he was just stupid. I scrolled down the status window with such trivial thoughts. Then, a number caught my eye.

"What...?"

Current Date: 8/3

"It's August...?"

I couldn't hide my bewilderment. August meant the academy's second semester was already in progress. Recalling that Raiden had lost his duel against the protagonist and disappeared right after the entrance ceremony, it meant half a year had already passed since Raiden was written out of the story.

"......This is pretty novel."

Usually in possession stories, they send you back before these events begin. That way, the possessor can at least try their best not to be eliminated from the story. Possessing a retired villain after the defeat event was already over—I had never even heard of such a thing.

"Should I call it lacking fundamentals... or should I call it distinctive......"

"I guess not."

After all, the protagonist was the most important. No matter what happened to my possession as a mere villainous extra, the world wouldn't care much.

While having light conversations with the status window and gradually learning about this world, a week had already passed before I knew it.

......Hmm, it feels like a lot was skipped, but what could I do? I had been in the carriage the entire journey, so there weren't any special incidents to speak of.

Just as the status window's notification rang out, the carriage came to a stop. The coachman, who had been calming the horses for a moment, soon approached the back and opened the door.

"We have arrived, my lord."

"Ah, thank you."

"P-Please speak more casually... You appear to be from a noble house."

The coachman looked flustered at my polite speech. I tilted my head for a moment before realizing. Come to think of it, this was a society with a class system. From someone else's perspective, my manner of speaking might seem strange. However... I couldn't bring myself to speak informally to an elderly man who looked quite aged. I simply let out an awkward laugh.

"Then, I shall take my leave, my lord. Thank you for your generosity."

"......?"

"In truth, my granddaughter has been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠starving at home... Thanks to you, my lord, she won't have to worry about going hungry for the rest of her life. There will also be more than enough for the academy tuition......"

Whether overcome with emotion, the coachman's eyes grew moist. I could only feel flustered at the sight. Generosity? What generosity? I didn't remember making any donations. Was he talking about the gold coins I had given as payment earlier? Had I given that many?

"I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life!"

"......"

His voice was thick with gratitude. I watched the carriage recede with a complicated gaze. But soon I shook it off and turned my body, taking in the mansion before my eyes.

The Lisite ducal residence. A building so massive it gave the impression of grandeur. It was about the size of a university campus. Swallowing at the oppressive feeling that seemed to press down on my entire body, I slowly approached the mansion.

Just as I stood before the mansion's door—

"Young master...?"

A voice called out from behind. When I glanced back, a girl stood there. She was about Raiden's age. Light brown hair and eyes with a subtle, beautiful color. A neatly dressed maid uniform. The smooth curves of her body drawn over the clothes and her twin tails that gave off a cute impression. The girl who had called me "young master" stared at me with dazed eyes before bursting into tears and rushing toward me.

"Young master!!!"