The Failed Ending

Readers of world-ending webnovels usually envy the worlds within those stories. So they generally wouldn't refuse to possess a body in one. Experiencing a fantasy world firsthand. Meeting the main and supporting characters they'd admired. And on top of that, munchkin-level power and effortless success. Possessing a body in a novel's world is a happy event.

But what if the novel you're possessing is one with a bad ending? And one you don't know well, at that?

"The Countermeasure Committee brings an urgent report. The TF unit formed for Gangwon-do's defense plan, the Savior Alliance, has been completely wiped out."

I stared blankly at the emergency briefing from the Countermeasure Committee, like a soulless puppet. The government spokesperson's words barely registered.

"The specific list of casualties is as follows."

Names poured from his mouth—names that should never have been uttered.

"1st Grade Hero Choi Ji-seong, 1st Grade Hero Han Cheol-woo, 1st Grade Hero Yoo Seong-won, 1st Grade Hero Woo Yu-na, 1st Grade Hero Ha Yeon-si, 1st Grade Hero Mo Ye-ji, 1st Grade Hero Go Su-young…."

All people I knew. It couldn't be helped. They were the protagonists of this novel.

"In response, this committee will form an emergency defense task force with the Hero Association to explore solutions for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠future issues, while doing our utmost to defend Gangwon-do. Residents of Gangwon-do, please rest assured and continue with your daily lives…."

Those who couldn't die had died. No—those who shouldn't have died had died. It didn't make sense. The protagonists of the novel's world dying? How could that even be possible?

"…Fucking insane."

They were the core and the rallying point of the hero group meant to save this crumbling world. The only hopes holding up this precarious reality. The story hadn't even reached the mid-to-late game yet. Why had they all been annihilated? Why them…?

I clutched my forehead in confusion when—

Vrrr!

My smartwatch, set to vibrate mode, buzzed.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"…."

I was a hero too. Unlike the main and supporting characters of this world, I'd chosen an ordinary path, but that was an undeniable fact.

A mobilization order for Reserve Heroes? That only happened when the nation faced a dire threat. But why…?

"…."

I was double-checking the message when—

A deafening explosion ripped through the air outside my house.

"…What the hell?"

I rushed to the balcony and flung open the door. No need to search for the source—it was right there the moment I looked.

A massive spherical maw, like a giant black hole, was sucking everything in.

Ku-gu-gu-gung!

Even from this distance, the pressure prickled my skin.

"…Elder Hole."

The monster that had killed 70% of humanity during the Outbound Incident 150 years ago was opening its pitch-black mouth once more. Disaster-level, Cthulhu-grade. Over 10km in diameter. Named Elder Hole because its power rivaled the mythical Cthulhu. Buildings, civilians, even heroes were being dragged into that maw.

"This shit can't be real."

No time to stand around dazed. The Elder Hole had grown much larger than before. Proof it was getting closer to me. I hurriedly geared up and headed out.

Or tried to.

"…Insufficient combat power to stop the disaster?"

The world went black.

I remembered the moment I possessed this novel's world.

While preparing to return to school, I was skimming a novel that never charted on the bestseller lists, like always. On a whim, I bought the full series—like donating it away.

I didn't particularly like the novel. I'd gotten a massive amount of free cash from an event, with just over an hour left before it expired. Better to spend it on something than let it vanish. So I did.

After skimming it and giving it a 0.5-star rating, boom—possession.

That's why I didn't know the novel's content precisely. Just that it was an academy story. At least I'd paid attention through volume 1—that was lucky.

So when I first arrived here, giving up on returning home was only natural. Who'd risk blundering around and dying without knowing the plot?

After graduating the academy, I skipped becoming an official hero and scraped by as a mercenary. Like most people possessed into novel worlds, I was hooked on the fantasy elements, honing my talents enough to avoid starving.

I figured a plain but happy life would continue. That's what I thought, for sure….

"…15 years back."

I'd regressed to the past.

"Even the cadet notebook is right after general officer academy graduation."

Checking the date: Graduation ceremony for the general officer academy was three days ago. And academy entrance ceremony in seven days.

Most graduates from the general officer academy entered the hero academy to become heroes. Including Imir—that is, me.

"Why regress to the past?"

I didn't need to think hard. The absence of the novel's protagonists. The world-ending chain reaction that followed. My role in this world had apparently been more important than I thought.

I'd ignored it head-on and lived an ordinary life for 15 whole years.

"No. I thought it'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flow fine on its own if I stayed out of it."

That delusion must've triggered the power shortage judgment and reset the world.

So was this reset infinite? Would it reset again on failure?

…No way to know for sure.

Which meant I couldn't ignore the main story this time.

"Haa. Fuck."

My head hurt. Did this mean sacrificing my life to save the world? It didn't suit me, someone who'd lived ordinarily.

Sure, I'd gained experience here, but it wasn't enough to change my nature.

This sucks… for real.

As I wallowed in gloom, my heartbeat pounded unusually loud. Like the click of dress shoes.

I swallowed hard at the sound.

This seemed to be a perk just for me, the visitor to this world. Same as 15 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠years ago.

Still the same unusual name. Imir. But surprisingly, this guy was an extra. Was it okay for an extra to have such a unique name? Maybe he played a role in the later parts of the novel. But with only volume 1 properly read, who knows.

Anyway, time to check the real details.

"Hoo."

I took a deep breath and pulled up the stats.

"As expected, reset to zero. Tsk."

When I heard about the reset, I'd vaguely expected it. The stats I'd grown over 15 years, wiped clean. Total blank slate.

"I'd worked pretty hard on them… fucking sucks."

This world's average adult stats were 3 to 4. So this body was just a bit above average. I'd half-expected it, so no huge despair. After 15 years here, I knew how far I could push a body like this.

Painful to lose the progress, but… haa.

…Next, traits.

Just like before, no traits except the Character Perk effect. No talents, techniques, constitutions, engravings—nothing. Guess it wanted me to customize from scratch. This Character Perk let me acquire even talents via the system.

The Merit System was the upgraded version of the Contribution System. If Contribution was a general store, Merit was high-end. Locked, just like 15 years ago. It unlocked much later, after a major world event….

"Guess I should start with talents."

Racking my brain, I opened the Contribution System. First talent choice was crucial. It set your entire growth path.

But the shop window looked off.

"…?"

Compared to 15 years ago, I had 994,999 more starting points.