Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Possession? Me?
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"......Huh?"
His eyes blinked rapidly as he swiped back and forth across his phone screen.
He tapped it, even tried going back for no reason.
But no matter what he did, the result didn't change.
"Already over?"
There was no [Next Chapter] button.
The serialization of the novel he'd been reading, [My Goal is to Graduate as a Warrior from the Academy], had ended right here.
'Next chapter...... I need the next chapter.'
After habitually hitting the favorite and recommend buttons, he opened the chapter list to check the serialization time and spotted something shocking.
[Last Serialization Date: January 2, 202X]
Why was this shocking?
Today's date was May 19, 202X.
Over four months had passed since the latest chapter was uploaded.
'What the hell? Is this on indefinite hiatus?'
Only then did his eyes drift to the comments.
He usually skipped them since they broke immersion or were full of unnecessary gripes.
But a hiatus changed everything.
Especially if they mentioned future serialization plans.
Just as expected, the comment count had exploded.
He tapped the screen to peer into the abyss.
Wow, this is so freaking good
Great read, heading out ^^
Why did I only discover this now ㅠㅠ Please keep serializing!
Got tons of ammo, go premium and please keep it coming!
Was this what it meant for people to fall?
The early comments were all praise, but as the hiatus dragged on, they turned to concern for the author.
Author-nim, are you sick or something...?
What's this? Why no next chapter?
Author-nim, you're okay, right? Please come back ㅠㅠ
This novel's writing was killer.
Then rumors started flying, and the tone grew harsher.
Honestly, ghosting like this ain't cool ㅋ Busy serializing next door?
Author. If you. Come back. Now. We'll forgive you. This is. Your last. Warning!
This author's a habitual hiatus-er. Search pen name: HiatusKing. The timing, even dropping at around ch. 45, it's all the same.
The later parts were too brutal to even describe.
In an instant, his own resentment toward the author turned to pity.
'Well, it's not like this never happens.'
He could just move on and find another novel.
But as he went to close the app, his hand hesitated.
『Click-clack─ click-clack─
The sound of high heels echoed through the tense hallway.』
A snippet from the novel flashed through his mind.
『Even the terrorist about to slaughter the students couldn't help but stare blankly at her entrance.
A mere gesture of brushing her collar felt anything but ordinary.』
Just a string of words, yet they replayed vividly in his head.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
That was it.
The high from a good read didn't fade easily.
'Comments. I need to leave a comment.'
He had to vent these feelings somehow.
"......Among the academy stories I've read lately, this was the best. The pacing is killer, the writing's top-notch...... I'm dying to know how Chloe will shine next...... And it'd be great if the protagonist ends up with her......"
He considered a hate comment but saw there were plenty already, so he opted for encouragement instead. Recalling the story details, he poured out his support mixed with desires.
"......I don't know what happened to you, Author-nim, but there are readers waiting, so please come back soon. If you don't, I'll track you down, lock you up, and feed you nothing but dumplings. Ah, no threats. All we want is for you to come back...... There, done!"
He even erased the unconscious threat and finalized the long comment.
[Post comment?]
[Yes/No]
Nothing more to add, so he hit yes and uploaded it.
Even though the author had gone on hiatus, he felt oddly proud for not leaving hate.
"Yawwwn! Oh yeah, what time is it?"
Pride was fleeting; fatigue crashed in.
Getting lost in the book had made time fly.
The phone clock read 3 a.m.
Yeo Si-un sighed at the sight.
"Ah...... I don't wanna go to work......"
But no choice. The pitiful office worker had to sleep pronto for tomorrow's shift.
Yeo Si-un closed his eyes.
Imagining the novel he'd just read, he drifted off. Body and mind exhausted, it didn't take long.
Bzzzzt-!
Maybe he slept too deeply.
Even as his phone vibrated and emitted bright light,
Even as pitch-black arms emerged from the tiny screen,
Grab!
Even as something unscientific dragged him into the phone, Yeo Si-un didn't notice.
Clatter, thump-!
After the commotion,
The darkened room held nothing but his smartphone, abandoned on the bed.
My daily routine was set.
My mind woke unconsciously.
Then the alarm blared noisily.
Riiing-! Riiiing-!
Yeah, like this...... Wait, hold up?
His eyes snapped open.
The alarm?
Work?
An instinctive unease hit; he groped for his phone by the bed.
But.
'No phone?'
He'd definitely left it right here.
No matter how he flailed, not even a trace.
'Huh, the room's kinda bright. Did I forget to turn off the light? The ceiling looks higher too...... Wait, what?'
And was his bed always this plush?
Something was off. A chill ran down his spine.
Si-un hurriedly scanned his surroundings.
"......What is this place?"
His face went slack as he took it all in......
Hold on.
"Ah. Ahh?"
His voice...... it had changed?
"What the?"
Why was his voice like this? Ahh. Si-un tested it more. A stranger's voice flowed from his throat.
'Anyway......'
Si-un ignored the unfamiliar voice. That wasn't the priority now.
Distracted by his voice, he'd skimmed the room; now he looked properly.
This space he was in...... it looked kinda......
"What the hell is this place?"
It was like a painting from a history or art book brought to life in hyper-realism.
Did some rich nutjob go overboard on historical accuracy to build this?
'Money to burn, huh......'
The room was so opulent it hurt his eyes. Unfamiliar styles amplified the alienation. Definitely not Korea.
'No way I got kidnapped to some foreign country, right?'
But who keeps a kidnapping victim in a room this lavish? He couldn't make sense of it.
Thoughts swirling, Si-un shook his head.
Anyway......
His body felt different too. Lighter, maybe? How to put it—totally swapped out?
"No way that's possible."
Si-un let out a hollow laugh. Body swap? Like some webnovel......
......Webnovel?
Come to think of it, this felt just like the start of a webnovel where the protagonist gets possessed......
"Ha, haha."
Nah, no way. Too many webnovels fried his brain into paranoia. Si-un shook it off.
As he shook his head, his eyes caught a mirror in the corner. Chuckling, he approached it.
"Yeah, if it's really possession, the body should be different...... uh......?"
And in the mirror was a man utterly unlike Yeo Si-un—average Korean with black hair and brown eyes.
Blond hair like Hollywood stars, violet eyes he'd never seen, and a pale face like a parasitic twin.
"......A dream?"
Obsessed with webnovels, was he dreaming this up? Si-un blankly slapped his cheek.
"......Ow."
It hurt.
Not a dream.
"Ha, haha......"
Si-un clutched his reddened cheek and laughed dryly.
"What is this? For real? Did I...... get......"
Possessed or something?
Si-un stared blankly into the mirror, laughing hollowly.
Come to think of it, this face rang a bell. Not seen it, but...... imagined it?
『Elric stared quietly at his reflection. Water dripped from his gleaming golden locks. His cool violet eyes burned silently.』
"......Ah?"
This was exactly the villain Elric from that hiatus novel he'd read, [My Goal is to Graduate as a Warrior from the Academy],
......Identical.
"Haha......?"
He backed away unsteadily, locking eyes with the trembling violet gaze in the mirror. Was this a hyper-realistic dream or......
Rustle-
Then, retreating, Si-un's foot stepped on something. He looked down blankly.
"What? This...... a letter?"
A luxurious envelope matching the room lay underfoot. Si-un picked it up in his daze.
Gazing blankly at the wax seal, he tore it open. Nothing made sense so far, no clues on the situation—he needed any info he could get.
Suppressing the rising anxiety, he unfolded it. Elegant handwriting caught his eye.
And the words......
"Ha."
Shockingly—or not—unreadable characters.
Yet he read them fluently, like a native speaker.
'Even this......'
No, stop. No pointless thoughts.
Ignoring gut and brain's alarms, Si-un focused on the content. And it was explosive.
[Yeo Si-un. Congratulations on successfully becoming me. Ah, in your world's terms, it's possession, right?]
"......What the fuck?!"
The declarative words made Si-un's heart sink.