Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Ooh~ Instant Possession?
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Just like any other day, I was browsing a novel site.
『Roel's Chronicle』
No cover art, no tags. And a title that wouldn't draw in even a single reader.
This novel had exactly zero views on both its first and latest chapters. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, I felt a fateful pull toward it.
I had a hunch.
This was definitely a masterpiece.
Think about it.
Even the crappiest trash novel gets at least one view. The author themselves checks it out at least once. All chapters sitting at zero views? That's unnatural.
I took it as the author's 'confidence.'
The arrogance of a genius who penned a hidden gem no one knew about, thinking, 'No need to check it again.'
And so, I decided to give this utterly unappealing novel a shot.
"......"
It took a whopping two minutes.
Two minutes to realize every ounce of hope I'd pinned on it was for nothing.
"What the hell kind of novel is this?"
It looked like a novel on the surface, but calling it one stretched the definition.
Nah, this was more like a 'word salad.'
The prose was awful, the descriptions overly verbose, and every cliché it borrowed was botched.
I even forced myself through ten more chapters just in case, but my opinion didn't budge.
If anything, the sheer incompetence soured my mood.
Especially that scene in chapter three where the 'Inner Evil' starts talking.
"Ah, I can't take this anymore."
I snapped.
The chapter's view count had just ticked from zero to one, and I unleashed a wall of 'feedback' in the comments.
[Hello, author. Just a reader who stumbled on this by chance. I see you've posted on the platform, so you must have some writing drive. Here's some feedback to help—please give it a read.]
Tap.
Tap tap tap.
My blue-black keyboard clacked away without pause.
[First off, your writing doesn't just fail as webnovel material—it's straight-up bad. Better to crack open a craft book and study up.]
I poured my heart into it, fingers flying with genuine intent to help. Crammed 5,700 characters full of tough love for the author.
[The Inner Evil stuff takes up way too much space. You plastered several chapters with it, but Roel is the protagonist, right?]
[What growth did Roel get after facing the Inner Evil? That's supposed to be character development fodder...]
[And shouldn't the tone and speech be distinct at minimum? This Inner Evil comes off way too nice.]
It'd definitely help.
[Author, if you're gonna use something, research it first, please.]
[Characters have zero appeal overall? Might as well scrap and rewrite.]
[Hmm.]
Click.
Enter.
Comment posted. A wave of smug satisfaction washed over me as I let out a refreshing sigh.
"Another solid contribution to the webnovel scene..."
Work done—time to chill.
I lingered a bit longer before heading to bed.
The glorious tangle of blankets and mattress. I dove right in.
Thud.
"?"
Then I felt it.
Not blanket or mattress—a rough, gritty texture.
Followed by a throbbing pain in my head.
"......???"
A dry, dusty smell assaulted my nose.
I knew it instantly. Dry dirt.
"What the..."
Sure enough, the ground before me was packed earth.
Drip. A few drops of liquid fell with the sound.
Nosebleed.
Before I could even process, someone loomed in front of me.
"Told you to forfeit."
"Pardon?"
Wham.
I looked up, and a sturdy shoe slammed into my face.
My head snapped back, blood spraying like a fountain.
"Gahk..."
Three minutes after posting that feedback comment.
I'd possessed into the novel's world.
Once everything settled, one fact hit home.
Shoes are way tougher than they look.
"Huff."
I must've blacked out.
Right after the face-kick, my vision blurred—definitely passed out.
No pain now, so probably out for a while.
Damn, what'd that bastard look like?
"......First things first."
Let's sort this out.
I found a godawful novel, left harsh feedback.
The pissed-off author tossed me into this world...
"Hm?"
Possession...?
Hold up.
"Huh."
The novel I possessed into, 『Roel's Chronicle』, is a fantasy tale.
Fantasy means mana, aura, medieval backdrop, right?
No place for modern gadgets in that setting.
"Why the hell is that there?"
But there was a computer in plain view.
Wait, hold on—where even is this...?
"This is my room."
The bed I last saw before possessing.
Desk and computer in the left corner.
Blackout curtains over the window...... Yep.
This wasn't some fantasy world. It was just my house.
"......It was all a dream."
Tension drained out of me.
I almost pitied myself for agonizing over 'how to survive this world' moments ago.
"Yeah, no way something like that happens in reality."
A sigh slipped out like a mutter. I chuckled and leaned against the wall.
Thank goodness.
I barely knew the novel anyway.
If it was a dangerous world, I'd be dead in days.
Just chalk it up to a bad dream.
"Guess I'll grab some food."
Not really hungry, but nothing beats a good meal for a mood boost.
Leftover chicken from yesterday—perfect.
Whistling happily, I flung open the door.
"Ah, fuck."
The curse flew out on reflex.
Beyond the door: nothing.
Not just the living room gone.
An endless expanse of pure white void.
You are the Inner Evil.
The system popped up like it was waiting.
I stared blankly, then bolted to the window.
Yanked back the blackout curtains.
Same endless white as the door.
"This can't be real......"
The surreal sight made my earlier words flash by like a life review.
—Yeah, no way something like that happens in reality.
"Ha, haha......"
You are the Inner Evil.
Stark reality, but 'that impossible thing' happened.
This wasn't a dream.
.
.
.
Denial doesn't stop until acceptance sinks in.
In this timeless white void, I rejected reality for ages.
Tried escaping too.
Figured running forever might lead out eventually.
Luckily, no fatigue here—I sprinted nonstop for what felt like hours.
Of course, no dice.
Run wildly, and I'd loop right back.
You are the Inner Evil.
Had to face facts eventually.
"Sigh......"
Cooled my head and confronted the system.
As the 'Inner Evil' label hinted, I wasn't the protagonist—but the evil inside her.
Didn't read far, so details fuzzy, but...
This system ought to explain.
I tapped the system window.
Felt like prodding a hologram. Next message appeared.
Become the protagonist's trial and make her grow.
"Right, next."
Tap again.
"Hm?"
No new message.
Tapped repeatedly—same result.
Stuck.
"No, wait."
Poke. Poke.
Become the protagonist's trial and make her grow.
"Quit screwing around for real."
Poke poke poke poke poke poke.
Become the protagonist's trial and make her grow.
"What the actual fu—"
End of line.
No tutorial, no status screen.
Nothing.
"Hey, you fucking piece of—!!"
Finally steeled myself, and it trolls me?
I started yelling at the system.
"At least tell me what I can do!!"
No sore throat no matter how much I screamed—just like the endless running.
After my tirade, the system finally budged with a new message.
"There we go."
Gonna give some info? Status screen maybe?
For other matters, please use the computer!
"......Computer?"
Fzzzt.
Right on cue, the desktop computer whirred to life.
Wary of the sudden glitch, I peeked at the monitor.
"......It hurts."
A voice emanated from the speakers.
On screen: a lone girl, cradling her nose with a pained grimace. Maybe some blood......?
"......She looks exactly like that."
Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Gentle features.
I recognized her instantly, despite never meeting. That was Roel.
『Roel's Chronicle』 is an academy story.
A girl aiming to become the Hero strives, grows stronger—a classic academy tale.
The novel opens with the fragile protagonist suffering a crushing defeat.
"I won't survive the Academy like this."
"Can't become a Hero either."
"I need power......"
So, this scene: the defeated protagonist realizing her need for strength.
......Huh?
Then the ass-kicking I took was the opening?
"No, why'd I get hit? Shouldn't she be the one?"
I'm strictly an inner entity for the protagonist.
No reason to pop out and eat boots in a scene where I don't even appear, right?
......Looks like the author hates my guts good.
"But how......"
Irritation surged, but what could I do?
I shrugged it off and focused on the screen.
Possession from a novel—only a bit intriguing in person.
If it wasn't this trash novel, I'd be thrilled.
"......Not the time to dwell."
Roel pondered deeply on screen.
Even an idiot could connect the dots now.
My comment. My role.
This mess was the author's challenge.
「If you're so smart, prove it.」
Tried every escape method—none worked.
Author never planned to let me out.
One option left.
Prove I was right.
Grabbed the mic beside the computer.
Bought it ages ago for streaming someday.
Never used, but if the monitor works like this, mic should too.
Steeled myself.
Then spoke to Roel through the mic.
I'll be the ultimate trial.
I'd heard something like that once before.
"Roel, you'll surely become a Hero someday."
Hero.
The beacon of hope for all.
The one to slay the Demon King and bring peace.
「Someday, a legendary Hero will emerge among the 'Blessed Ones.'」
Ten years ago, a revelation came from the Church, foretelling the death of the Demon King who'd ruled for centuries.
The kingdom swiftly founded an Academy and gathered every confirmed Blessed One.
To raise a Hero directly.
And Roel was the Griffith family's sole Blessed One.
Griffith. A fallen noble house.
Desperate to reclaim long-lost glory.
Clinging to empty prestige after losing all power, they pinned reckless hopes on a young girl.
"You can do it, right?"
"Yes, Mother."
The Church identifies Blessed Ones.
All possess a power beyond mana—innately mighty, without exception.
The problem was Roel.
Weighed down by family expectations, even after Blessed One confirmation at fifteen, she couldn't awaken her power.
One year, two, three.
Five years flew by. Time to enroll in the Academy.
"Why not just forfeit?"
First day: a match for grade placement.
Result: utter rout.
An unawakened Blessed One might as well be a normal human—barely walking upright.
Roel couldn't muster a single decent stance, just took a one-sided beating.
"......It hurts."
Throbbing wounds. Especially her nose—not broken, but the blood wouldn't stop.
Thoughts swirled.
About the family.
Betray their hopes, and it'd twist into scolding.
Only grim futures loomed.
"I need power."
A murmur laced with desperate wish.
No one to hear it. Even if they did, no help coming.
That's what I'd thought.
—Do you desire power?
Until that voice rang out.