The soft glow of a computer screen was the only source of light in Jake Garcia's small, neatly-cleaned room. Posters of various anime and manga adorned the walls, and stacks of books and notes were organized across his desk.
The clock on the wall ticked closer to midnight, but Jake was too engrossed in the final chapters of "Solo Leveling" to notice the passing of time.
His eyes, though tired from a long day of classes, were wide with anticipation as he read the thrilling conclusion. Sung Jin-Woo, the protagonist, was more powerful than ever, but Jake's thoughts were elsewhere.
As much as he admired the strong and resolute Cha Hae-In, his heart had always leaned towards the gentle and caring Lee Joo-Hee. It was her quiet strength, her unwavering support, and her healing touch that captivated him.
Jake sighed deeply as he closed the final chapter. "If only Lee Joo-Hee ended up with Sung Jin-Woo," he muttered to himself, the thought lingering in his mind. "If I were Lee Joo-Hee, I'd make sure to pursue him, no matter what, considering that I was there for him when he was at his lowest."
A soft chuckle escaped his lips at the absurdity of the idea. But, somewhere deep inside, he couldn't shake the feeling that she deserved a happier ending.
He glanced at the clock—11:59 PM. As the minute hand ticked closer to twelve, Jake stretched his arms, feeling the fatigue of the day settling in.
"I wish… it was Lee Joo-Hee who ended up with him. If I was her, then I would have done my best to..." he murmured, half-joking, half-serious. It was a fleeting thought, a wish made in the silence of his room, with no expectation of it ever coming true.
And then, it happened.
As the clock struck midnight, a sudden, blinding white light filled the room. Jake's heart raced as he was engulfed in the brilliance, his surroundings fading into nothingness.
Panic set in as he tried to comprehend what was happening, but the light was too intense, too overwhelming. He tried to move, to scream, but his body felt like it was being pulled apart, piece by piece.
The last thing he remembered was the sensation of falling—falling endlessly into the white void—before everything went black.
When Jake opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the ceiling. It wasn't his ceiling. The white, sterile tiles were unfamiliar, as was the soft beeping of medical equipment in the background. He blinked, trying to clear the fog in his mind, but the disorientation only grew.
His body felt… different. There was a strange heaviness on his chest, and when he tried to move, he realized with a shock that something was missing—his intimate part. Panic flared in his chest as he looked down and saw the truth: his body was no longer his own.
A slender hand, delicate and smooth, reached up to touch his face. Jake gasped, his breath catching in his throat as he felt the unfamiliar contours of soft skin and delicate features.
He bolted upright, only to be greeted by the sight of a hospital room, with machines monitoring his—or rather, her—vitals.
"No… no, this can't be real," he whispered, his voice trembling. But the sound that came out was higher-pitched, softer—definitely not his voice.
He scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over the unfamiliar legs that felt weak and shaky. A mirror hung on the wall opposite the bed, and with a sense of dread, Jake forced himself to look.
Lee Joo-Hee's face stared back at him.
"No… this is impossible," he muttered, his voice—her voice—barely above a whisper. He touched his—her—face, feeling the smooth skin, delicate nose, and soft lips. It was all real, all too real. He—or she—felt a strange familiarity, as if perfectly embodying someone.
Then, Jake remembered: orange hair that shimmered like a sunset, framing a heart-shaped face, and striking blue eyes that sparkled with kindness and determination. Her complexion was fair, almost porcelain, accentuating the vibrant colors of her hair and eyes. It was Lee Joohee's appearance as described in the light novel.
Somehow, Jake had become the very character he had wished for.
But how? Why?
In just a while, memories flooded his mind, memories that weren't his. They were of battles, of healing, of fear—fear of dungeons, of the monsters within, of losing those she cared about. He staggered back, clutching his head as the memories mixed with his own, overwhelming him with their intensity.
"Lee Joohee… she died," he whispered, the realization sinking in. He remembered the hospital scene from the novel, how she had been gravely injured, and how Sung Jin-Woo had tried to save her. But in this reality, it seemed she hadn't survived just like in the light novel. Her soul had departed, leaving an empty vessel for Jake to inhabit.
"But why me?" he asked aloud, though there was no one to answer. "Why am I here? Who did this?"
A soft chime echoed in his mind, interrupting his thoughts. A translucent screen appeared before his eyes, filled with text that seemed to float in the air.
_______________________
[Sage Enlightenment System Activated]
Class: Sage of Eternal Leaf
Welcome, Jake Garcia! You have been chosen to become the first Sage of Earth. Complete your trials, master your abilities, and you may return to your world… or create a new destiny here.
_______________________
Jake stared at the screen, his mind racing. The words were both familiar and alien, echoing the systems he had read about in countless novels and games. But this wasn't a game. This was his new reality.
He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "Okay… okay, this is real. I'm really here, in Lee Joo-Hee's body, with some kind of… Sage system," he muttered, trying to process everything. "And if I want to survive—if I want to go home—I need to play by these rules."
His thoughts turned to Sung Jin-Woo, the protagonist of "Solo Leveling," and the plan he had jokingly considered back in his world. "To use of the MC and make him indebted to me… even though I'm not his friend inside," he murmured with a wry smile. It sounded ridiculous, but now, it was his best shot at navigating this new life.
"I need to see Sung Jin-Woo," Jake—now Lee Joo-Hee—decided, determination settling in. "I'll tell him I lost my memories… except for him. That should buy me some time to figure this all out."
As she—he—prepared to leave the hospital room, a mix of fear and excitement filled her heart. This was a new beginning, a chance to rewrite Lee Joo-Hee's story. But it was also a dangerous world, filled with dungeons, monsters, and the unknown.
But Jake wasn't someone who backed down from a challenge. Not when there was so much at stake.
And so, with a deep breath and a determined heart, Lee Joo-Hee stepped into the world of "Solo Leveling," ready to face whatever trials awaited her.