Chapter 1
The Reader Who Was Not Born a Hero
Kim Seojun was born
Kim Seojun (김서준)
alone… not because the world abandoned him,
but because he had not found a sufficient reason to hold on.
He did not hate life,
nor did he love it either.
He looked at it as a reader looks at a blank page:
nothing pushes him to write… and nothing stops him from closing it.
Since his childhood, books held an irreplaceable place in his life.
The pages were more honest than humans,
and novels were kinder than reality.
Over the years,
Kim Seojun read more than one hundred thousand novels.
Adventures.
Tragedies.
Victories born from despair.
And every time, he wished the same thing:
"If I were the hero… I would have chosen better."
But wishing was easier than changing.
He was lazy by nature.
He did not exercise,
he rarely went out,
and his room was his only world.
He did not want power…
He wanted to live a story.
Any story… other than his own.
School
Seojun sat in his seat,
looking out the window,
while his inner voice always preceded his body.
"If this were a novel… something would happen now."
— Kim Seojun?
He flinched slightly.
— Yes, teacher.
— Why do you skip school so often?
He opened his mouth… then closed it.
An inner voice started working:
"Hmm… an excuse… a convincing excuse… no, don't overdo it…"
— Actually… I was sick.
A soft lie.
Not the first lie… and not the last.
The teacher looked at him for a long moment, then said:
— Alright, but don't skip too much.
Midterm exams are coming.
— Yes, teacher.
What she didn't know,
was that the reason for his absence wasn't illness…
but a new chapter
of his favorite novel,
which was released last week.
An Unexpected Meeting
— Kim Seojun?
Time stopped for a moment.
"This voice…"
He turned.
— Han Jun‑woo (Han Junwoo / 한준우)
His old friend from high school.
— Jun‑woo?!
You're here?!
Did you enroll in the same university?!
Jun‑woo laughed, a smile full of nostalgia:
— We're in the first year…
and in the same class as well.
He sat beside him without asking.
— Do you remember?
We used to talk and laugh during classes…
and the teacher didn't know anything.
Seojun smiled lightly.
— Yes…
Memories made the past feel warmer than it really was.
A short silence fell.
— Now we are in the same university,
we can spend more time together, right?
Seojun looked at him…
then away.
— …
But something is missing.
— Missing? What do you mean?
— Nothing… don't worry.
He felt it clearly:
Jun‑woo had changed.
Or maybe… he remained the same.
— After university,
— How about we play football?
Or watch some anime?
Seojun hesitated.
— No… I have a lot of studying today.
Maybe later…
tomorrow.
Jun‑woo looked at him a moment longer than necessary.
— Alright… as you wish.
Returning to Emptiness
Seojun returned home.
— Where is everyone?
No reply.
"Maybe they went out… I'll rest a bit."
He lay on his bed,
opened his favorite novel.
The pages slid in front of his eyes…
then drowsiness began to creep in.
The Voice
Whispered…
He opened his eyes.
— What is this voice?
He stood up.
The lights?
He was sure he had turned them off.
But…
a strange light
was creeping from his room.
— What is this…?
A voice with no source:
— Kim Seojun…
He stiffened.
— Who's there?!
— Do you want to try?
— Try what?!
— To change your miserable life.
To be a hero…
or remain a lazy, kind-hearted failure,
easily deceived.
His chest ignited.
— Who are you?!
How dare you say this about me?!
— Just answer.
Do you want to try?
— …
And what do you mean by try?
— To move to another world…
for a limited time.
Then you choose:
to return…
or remain king.
He hesitated.
— And why should I trust you?
— Because you are the only one
who has read more than one hundred thousand novels.
The only one who knows how worlds work…
even when unable to change your own.
A long silence.
Then…
— …Alright.
I agree.
The light intensified.
— Look at that novel.
Your favorite novel.
— Yes…
— Close your eyes.
And imagine yourself… its hero.
The Fall
He flipped through the pages.
Closed his eyes.
Opened them.
— …Huh?
His room.
Everything as it was.
"Was I dreaming?"
He lay down again.
— Seojun…
— Seojun… wake up.
He opened his eyes.
The sky was not his sky.
— What is this place…?
He stood up.
— No…
Could it be…?
He looked around.
— Am I… inside the novel?!
Giants.
Monsters.
The system.
Wizards.
A childhood dream… fulfilled.
Then…
Memory hit him.
— No… no no no.
He looked at his reflection.
— I…
I am in the body of Duke Leonard von Reichen
Leonard von Reichen (레오나르트 폰 라이헨)
The mad duke.
The hated.
Soon to be exiled.
— I must change his reputation…
before he is exiled.
He shivered.
— Otherwise…
I will never return to my world.
A voice behind him:
— Who are you?!
— Who are you?!
He turned slowly.
To be continued…