I controlled my emotions.
Not because I'm a master of inner peace or anything. Just… habit. Or survival instinct.
In my life, I always saw people like characters in a story. Not in a poetic, "everyone's special" way.
Funny twist, though—I ended up becoming a character myself.
Trapped in a ruined story with rules and expectations I never agreed to.
Everyone around me? Characters too. Literal ones this time.
I tried to focus. Let's see what this shiny new "reward" skill actually does.
---
[Stage 2: Thought Reflection (Active)]
> Condition 1: Depends on how well you understand the target. The deeper your understanding of their character, the easier it becomes to read their mind.
Condition 2: If the target is stronger than you, it gets tricky. If they're weaker, just fulfill a basic trigger—you can read their thoughts without breaking a sweat.
Effect: Unlocks real-time mind-reading, but only thoughts related to you. ]]
---
The first condition? Easy enough.
The second? Might just kill me.
I couldn't help thinking about it again—that moment.
Kneeling. Before that damned constellation.
To get a sliver of power, I bowed.
And I've hated myself for it ever since.
I never begged. Not once in my life.
Everything I had, I earned. Scraped together. Fought for.
Self-reliance wasn't just a mantra—it was my only religion.
But here?
Here, ideals are just pretty corpses.
In this place, even dreaming is a crime if you're powerless.
Hah. Life's a bitch—it only kneels to those who make it kneel.
One day, I'll kill every constellation that treats humanity like entertainment.
Not that I care about humanity.
But after reading that ruined novel… I know exactly how disgusting those bastards can be.
I remember—there was a "Constellation War" across mythologies in the final volume of "No Happy Ending in the 999th Regression".
No one ever explained the cause of the war.
Makes sense. The original author died before she could finish the story.
The publisher brought in a puppet. A hack.
The kind who butchers plots and calls it innovation.
I do have theories, of course. I was a loyal reader—stuck with it till the bitter end.
Ironically, both authors?
Dead by my hands.
The original?
An accident.
The puppet?
Not so much.
Thirty stabs. One for every ruined volume.
Yeah. I counted.
There were thirty volumes.
Three thousand chapters.
I read that series thousands of times. Lived it, breathed it.
But now? I only remember fragments. Moments. The rest's a blur.
My memory's a joke. A cruel one.
I snapped back.
Reality hit like a shovel to the face.
I'd spaced out in the middle of a conversation.
With her.
Sana Althea.
And she was staring at me like I was an idiot.
Shit. Was I just... staring at her?
What's she thinking right now?
Should I try the skill?
Wait. First let's see her status window.
I think I finally understand how this ability works.
I've noticed a pattern—when I stop seeing people as people and start seeing them as characters, that's when the window opens.
So, I can see anyone's status window if I consider that person a character from my point of view.
Acceptance is the trigger.
"Character Profile."
That's the keyword.
---
[[ STATUS WINDOW ]]
Title: Princess of the Althea Empire
Name: Sana Althea
Age: 18
Race: Human / Angel
Rank: E
Supporting Constellation: None
Stigma: None
Personal Attribute: Chain of Calamity, Wings of Althea [Dormant]
Statistics:
Strength: 18 | Stamina: 16 | Speed: 19
Perception: 23 | Health: 20 | Magic Power: 18
Perseverance: 48 | Luck: 49 | Charm: 86
> Remarks: A seeker of light who wants to live peacefully. ]]
---
Half-angel, huh?
Yeah, I remember now. That gets revealed later in the novel—when the empire is destroyed by the demon from outside.
She awakens her bloodline and gains her second personal attribute.
Her mother's legacy.
Makes sense her Charm stat's off the charts.
She really does look like an angel.
Or maybe I'm just projecting again.
Her stats? Balanced. Way better than that emo bastard.
Why am I comparing them again?
Am I going insane?
Every time I see someone else's profile, it reminds me how pathetically weak I am.
"Hey, you okay? Why are you staring at me like that?"
Sana's voice broke through the haze.
She tried to hide the irritation. She's a princess—losing her cool's not allowed.
Probably thinking helping me was a mistake.
"Sorry, Your Highness. I spaced out."
Right. Royalty.
Even though the Academy claims everyone's equal here.
I activated the next ability.
"Eye of Tsukuyomi."
---
[[ Your understanding of the character 'Sana Althea' meets Condition 1 for Stage 2: Thought Reflection ]]
[[ Your deep understanding slightly reduces the difficulty of Condition 2 ]]
[[ Condition 2 – Compliment Sana Althea on her beauty ]]
---
…You've got to be kidding me.
Is my own skill trying to kill me?
I'm supposed to compliment her beauty. In front of the whole class.
Great. This won't look weird at all.
I took a breath.
Hands trembling. Heart racing like it was trying to escape my chest.
No turning back.
"…Your Highness, you're beautiful."
I said it.
Silence.
The whole damn armory froze.
Some cadets looked like they'd swallowed a dagger. Others smirked. A few just blinked in confusion.
Sana's reaction?
Pure gold.
She looked at me like I'd just confessed to being a serial killer.
Poker face intact—except for a tiny blush creeping up her cheek.
"…Yes, I know. Thanks for the compliment, though."
Nailed the royal grace thing. Must be exhausting.
[[ You have fulfilled the second condition. Stage 2: Thought Reflection is now activated. ]]
{{ Is he an idiot? Do I know him? Yes—the cadet who came late. How embarrassing. How could he say something like that… to my face? Is he insane? Should I kill him? No. Don't think like that, Sana. Focus. Brother's coming for the Constellation Ceremony… I don't want to meet him. What should I do? }}
---
"..."
Her thoughts hit me like an uncomfortable truth I wasn't ready for.
So she is stressed.
And her brother's coming?
That can't be good.
Because that guy—
That thing—
Calling him "human" is an insult to the species.
If I had to pick a word to describe him: abomination.
But whatever. That's a future problem.
For now, just processing this skill is enough.
She's more hot-headed than I expected?
And now I realize something:
Sometimes, ignorance is a blessing.
---
[[ Author's Note:
If you enjoyed the chapter, please leave a comment and a Power Stone! Your support means a lot to me.]]