The Persistent Serialization and Beastly Dreams

Web novel serialization. It was the one activity he'd faithfully continued right up until his regression.

Web novels held a particularly special meaning for Seo Joo-hwan, who had zero human connections. Whenever he grew weary of his lonely life, he'd read novels, finding solace in those fictional worlds, even if they were just make-believe. An escape that could make one forget the harsh realities of daily life was a pretty important element for a person.

That's why, in this life too, Seo Joo-hwan wrote novels. Even if they were dismissed as mere time-killers, he hoped someone out there could briefly turn away from their exhausting reality through his words.

That was the reason he kept writing novels, even after earning enough from Bitcoin to live off forever without working.

Thanks to that, his average sleep time didn't even reach four hours.

Balancing college life and serialization. On top of that, nonstop sex every day to maintain the stacking effects for a while. Even factoring in items, blessings, and skills, it was a grueling routine.

Maybe that's why, after keeping it up so long and finally crashing early for once...

"Ugh... I'm gonna die of sleepiness..."

Seo Joo-hwan barely dragged his drooping body upright.

He'd woken up late for afternoon classes, but his body felt as heavy as if he'd been dunked in water.

"Ugh. Yawwwn~."

A groan escaped his lips involuntarily. Like a tightly pulled string suddenly going slack and sagging endlessly, his body—having tasted rest after so long—now demanded even more.

"Don't wanna go to school..."

He wanted nothing more than to flop back down and sleep. But he couldn't actually do that. Skipping school right after breaking up with Jeong Ha-yeon would definitely spark rumors that he was avoiding her.

"Time to draw some items. Lucy, you said I can pull two a day now, right?"

"Then pull 'em for me."

With Lucy's reply, a message appeared.

Ding.

The item descriptions popped up.

"Oh, a sleep aid right when I need it—luck's on point. But Intercourse Dream? Pfft haha."

He burst out laughing at the naming that evoked Zhuangzi's Butterfly Dream. Though the actual meaning of the hanja was totally different.

"Guess it's time to head out."

Time to go to school.

*

Why were people so nosy about others?

It had only been a day, but word that Seo Joo-hwan and Jeong Ha-yeon had broken up had spread through the department like wildfire—no one was in the dark.

Before class started, Yoo Ji-kyeong glanced around cautiously and whispered, "Hey, Joo-hwan oppa, you guys really broke up?"

"Yeah. But how the hell do you all already know?"

"Dunno? By the time I heard, everyone already knew."

"Tch. Must be 'cause I took down my profile pic?"

Or maybe someone saw what went down in the smoking booth. Seo Joo-hwan gave up thinking about it. The rumors were out there anyway—what could he do? Let 'em talk.

His head had been pounding since morning; he didn't feel like thinking at all. Instead, he slumped over his desk and dozed until class began.

Then someone smacked his back.

Smack!

"Ack!"

"Yo, Joo-hwan. Let's grab a smoke before it starts."

"Ow! Dude, your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hands are bricks—go easy!"

"What'd you say?"

Jeong Ha-yeon flipped him the bird like eat shit. She'd said she'd treat him like a friend starting today, and her attitude had flipped completely from before. Hard to believe someone could change so fast in a day.

'Not changed—back to normal, huh?'

Seo Joo-hwan let out a hollow chuckle. Yeah, this was her original self. He'd gotten so used to her submissive side lately that he'd forgotten for a sec.

He smirked and said, "What, no boyfriend anymore so straight to violence and birds?"

"Jealous?"

"Whoa, no ma'am. Here's a bird for you too."

Seo Joo-hwan flipped her off right back and bolted for the smoking area.

"Wait, you two really broke up?"

Yoo Ji-kyeong stared in bewilderment. The other students nodded in agreement.

Only Lee Seok-chan, who knew the full story, chuckled and shrugged.

"Good's good, right? Ji-kyeong, wanna grab a smoke with me too?"

"Eww, feels weird when you lump us together like that, Seok-chan oppa."

"Hing. So mean."

"Eek! Gross!"

Yoo Ji-kyeong fled to the smoking area like she was escaping. Jang Deok-hoon, already there, gave Lee Seok-chan a pitiful look.

As time passed, respect for Lee Seok-chan was vanishing from Jang Deok-hoon's speech.

"Hyung, you do this on purpose? You enjoy getting chewed out or something?"

"Yo, Fext was fun. The one you told me to watch."

Jang Deok-hoon's face lit up.

"Knew you were the best, hyung. You started from Stay? Heavens too? Fun, right?"

"Look at this kid switching gears."

"...No way you didn't watch?"

The 187cm musclebound otaku Jang Deok-hoon's biceps twitched.

Lee Seok-chan smiled awkwardly. "Just watched ep 1, man. Not sure about Zero or whatever."

"Hmph. Allow me to explain in detail. Let's go—you're heading for a smoke anyway?"

"You're coming? You don't smoke."

"It's fine. For proselytizing."

"...A cult?"

Lee Seok-chan grimaced. He'd dropped it after one episode 'cause it sucked—big mistake.

*

During the first break, Jeong Ha-yeon eyed Seo Joo-hwan. "You sick or something? You look pale."

"Whoa, you worried?"

"Shut up. You really look bad."

"Oppa, I think so too. Tilt your head."

Yoo Ji-kyeong pressed her hand to his forehead. No need to hold it long—the heat hit her palm immediately.

"Eek! Oppa, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠your forehead's on fire!"

"Joo-hwan, you..."

Jeong Ha-yeon's brow furrowed. She had a hunch. The image of him last night, soaked to the bone in the rain, flashed in her mind.

She watched him with a complicated expression before saying, "Go to the hospital."

Seo Joo-hwan gave a wry smile, then nodded. He'd tried not to show it so she wouldn't blame herself, but his body was too wrecked to tough it out.

'First time since regressing.'

Actually, feeling crappy was familiar to him. In his miserable past life, he'd been plagued by every minor illness under the sun. Even summer colds that dogs don't get—he caught 'em yearly.

"Cough. Hiss. Now the cough's kicking in."

Seeing that, Jeong Ha-yeon hesitated before offering, "...Want me to go with?"

"Pfft. Nah, you think I can't go alone? Overkill."

"Fuck. Worry about you and you bitch."

"Just study. I'll tell the prof."

Yoo Ji-kyeong watched them with an odd look. After Seo Joo-hwan grabbed his stuff and left, she grinned. "Wanna visit Joo-hwan oppa after class?"

"Visit?"

"Ooh, I'm all for Ji-kyeong's idea."

"Me too then."

"Eww, sounds annoying. It's just a cold—why the fuss?"

"Seok-chan oppa."

"Yeah?"

"No arguing—visit with us."

"...Yeah."

Lee Seok-chan nodded reluctantly. He could see the daggers in her eyes.

He sighed inwardly. 'I'm not this character usually.'

How'd he end up like this?

*

After the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hospital, Seo Joo-hwan stripped and collapsed onto the bed.

"Ughhh... gonna die for real."

Why were hospitals so packed? Over an hour wait for one shot. Should've just come home and slept from the start.

"Oh, meds before bed."

Luckily, he always kept water handy—a bottle sat on the bedside shelf. Grateful for his habit, he gulped down the cold meds. Post-meal or whatever—close enough.

Might as well pop the Sweet Sleep Aid too.

'Effect's killer.'

As advertised, drowsiness hit instantly. His exhausted body gave out, and he fell asleep right away.

*

- Aow? A beautiful fox circled nearby.

The seductive fox yipped at him with an annoying expression, then settled to one side.

- Hop! Next, a rabbit. A round-glasses bunny hopped in place, kicking at the air like something pissed it off.

- Splash! A blue fish leaped gracefully from the nearby lake, spraying water droplets.

- Tap tap. Something nudged his leg. Looking down, a cute raccoon was thwacking his ankle with its tail.

- Meow~. A cat's cry. A classy white cat let out a long, sad mewl.

- Yip. A sound from his chest. A Pomeranian, like it'd been there all along, whimpered pitifully in his arms.

Plus three more shadowy beasts.

- Coo.

- Munch, munch.

- Slither.

Their forms were blurry, only bits visible: a tail curled in a circle, stubby hands gripping a long stick, something swaying side to side in curves.

'What, Animal Kingdom?'

No sooner had he thought it than all the animals vanished. Except one—the raccoon.

The lone raccoon reached out its short paws like it wanted a hug.

For some reason, Seo Joo-hwan felt like teasing it. Instead of the paws, he grabbed the tail smacking the ground.

Squish.

The raccoon's tail, a first for him, had a familiar feel.

'Raccoon tails feel like this?'

Soft and squishy, like glutinous rice cake. The kind you wanna knead forever.

Squish, squish.

'This texture is just like...'

Suddenly, the raccoon vanished.

Seo Joo-hwan opened his eyes.

*

"Boobs?"

"Ah! You crazy oppa."

"...Ji-kyeong?"

Squish.