The air was cold, the sky gray, and the city below the building buzzed with the sounds of cars and police sirens.
He stood on the edge of the roof, staring into the void. People's voices overlapped:
· "Step back!"
· "Everything can be solved."
· "Don't do it."
But none of them understood.
I... wasn't going through debts, illness, or any ordinary personal tragedy.
I just... lost the only reason that made me endure this world.
That novel. The novel "Return 1101".
Since I was eleven, I had been following it without interruption. It wasn't just pages or images; it was my second world. Through it, Clyde, was more than just a character... he was the hero I wished I could be.
For 18 years, this novel had shielded me from the monotony of my life, from my narrowness, from the emptiness.
And now... it was over.
It ended without return.
I let out a short, empty laugh. Maybe the reason was silly... but for me? It was everything.
· "Goodbye, world."
I stepped forward. I felt my body falling, and the wind slapping my face.
---
The only sound was the beating of my heart, then... nothing.
...
I opened my eyes.
I wasn't on the asphalt. There was no screaming, no police sirens, no blood.
I was lying on a large, soft bed, covered with heavy white sheets.
I lifted my gaze and saw a high ceiling adorned with intricate golden moldings. The walls were paneled with polished dark wood, interspersed with huge paintings of feudal lords in ancient attire. Beside me, a large window overlooked a meticulously manicured garden with a fountain in the center.
The room was very clean, but cold, resembling the palace rooms I'd seen in novels.
A small nightstand near the bed held a silver tray and a crystal glass. A long wardrobe with doors carved with complex patterns stood against one wall, and above it, an old clock ticked softly.
Suddenly, the door opened.
A young girl wearing a white maid's uniform entered. She said in a soft voice:
· "Young Master, it's time for breakfast."
I was confused.
· "Me? Young Master?"
The maid looked puzzled.
· "Yes... You are Mr. Eugene Park."
The words froze in my throat.
Eugene Park...?
---
This name... This is the name of the villainous character in the novel "Return 1101". The final one.
How...?
I took a deep breath.
In the novel, this was the villain who killed Clyde in attempt number 1100. And... I am now in his body.
If this is real, then the current attempt is number 1101.
And Clyde... would definitely remember who killed him in the previous attempt.
I clenched my fists tightly:
· "God... what should I do now?"
The maid, Lulu, stared at me as if waiting for my reply.
I realized my silence had lasted too long, so I said quickly:
· "Alright... I'll come."
She turned towards the door. But before leaving, she stopped and said:
· "Young Master... after you finish your breakfast, the driver will be waiting downstairs to take you to school."
I raised an eyebrow. School?
· "Um... okay!"
She nodded her head and left quietly.
---
I remained sitting on the bed for a few moments, trying to comprehend the situation.
School... and a driver... and a luxurious room... and the body of Eugene Park, one of the worst characters in the novel.
But it didn't stop there.
The maid's words also triggered memories from the novel.
I remembered... the coming end.
This wasn't just an ordinary world.
In a few months, the Game begins.
A catastrophe would occur. A group of aliens would turn this world into their playground.
The rule was simple: If you win, you get what you want – anything, even fixing the world itself.
In the novel, the hero Clyde was the most prominent survivor, a strong, intelligent, and ruthless man. He knew every corner of this game, every weapon that could give him an advantage.
At this very moment... Clyde, somewhere, was gathering rare weapons and preparing for the confrontation.
I smiled sarcastically.
I had always admired Clyde. I saw him as a true hero, even if he was cruel.
But in the novel, I – or rather, Eugene Park – was the first enemy to stand in his way.
And if I don't do anything... he will kill me in the same way as in the novel: killed by his hand in attempt number 1101.
---
To win in the stages of that game, I must exploit everything I know about every scenario in the game.
---
I walked slowly down the wide staircase. The shiny marble floor reflected the light from the huge chandelier hanging in the middle of the hall.
I reached the dining room. The table was excessively long, covered with a white tablecloth. On it, plates were arranged meticulously, but all the seats were empty.
There was no one there.
I wasn't very surprised. In the novel, Eugene's parents were always absent, busy with their work or elite parties, and were rarely home.
I sat on the chair closest to the head of the table.
A moment later, another maid approached and placed a plate of scrambled eggs in front of me, next to it were slices of fried meat, golden toasted bread, and carefully cut fruit: kiwi, strawberries, and grapes.
A glass of fresh orange juice was beside the plate.
I picked up the fork and knife.
I tried to eat calmly, but I felt a strangeness. Here I am, a person on the verge of facing the end of the world... yet sitting in a luxurious palace, eating as if I were a spoiled young master.
But I didn't stop. I was hungry, and the new body needed energy.
I finished the eggs and meat, ate some fruit, and drank the juice to the last drop.
I wiped my mouth with the white cloth napkin, then pushed the chair back and stood up.
---
I left the dining room and headed to the upper floor. My room was as I had left it, clean, everything in its place.
I opened the spacious wardrobe. The first row of clothes was for the school uniform:
A clean white shirt, a dark blue tie with the school emblem, carefully ironed gray trousers, and a blue blazer with the same emblem.
I started getting dressed.
I put on the shirt first, buttoned it from top to bottom, then adjusted the tie in front of the mirror until it was perfectly straight.
After that, I put on the trousers, making sure the belt was tightened appropriately.
Finally, I put on the blazer and fastened its top buttons.
I stood in front of the mirror, contemplating myself.
The appearance was neat, elegant, exactly as one would expect from a scion of the Park family. But behind this image, I am not the original Eugene.
I am a person who knows that this comfortable life won't last... because the "Game" is coming.
I took a black backpack from the side of the desk. I only put a few books, one pen, and my phone inside. There was no need for many things, as I know that what will happen soon will make school the least of my concerns.
I left the room, went down the stairs, and headed towards the main door.
The driver was standing next to the luxurious black car, holding the rear door open, waiting for me.
I stepped inside and sat down.