'Sorrow-erasing heroes.'
Shortened to Seuljiyong (T/N: In Korean).
It was the title of the novel I possessed.
A typical academy novel, the story is about the protagonist overcoming hardships and trials as he grows.
It was a novel with nothing particularly unique about it.
If I had to point out something, it would be that the story gets a bit darker as it progresses towards the latter half.
When I read it, I thought it was a soft and gentle healing story.
I did tilt my head at the sudden shift to a bleak atmosphere.
However, that aspect captivated me even more.
I shed tears countless times watching the protagonist save the wounded world and overcome pain.
It felt as if each sentence was comforting me.
I relied on that book whenever I was struggling.
But now, I'm inside that story.
"It's fascinating..."
I muttered as I looked at my reflection in the water.
A thin, boyish figure was reflected on the surface of the transparent mirror.
Jet black eyes and hair, as if night had descended upon them.
A cold impression emanating from his sharp gaze.
He was a boy who looked like he had a terrible personality.
I furrowed my brow slightly and examined every part of my body.
"This isn't my body, after all."
Naturally, there were no scars on this new body.
The bruises and wounds I received from my father's beatings in the past.
The dark circles that remained dark due to fatigue and despair were also completely gone.
Only pure white skin remained on my body.
Moreover, there wasn't even a trace of muscle on this slender frame.
It was a body completely unlike my previous life.
"No, actually, the face resembles my original appearance a bit..."
I picked up the white shirt I had taken off and put it back on.
"Raiden Lishite, was it?"
The person I possessed, Raiden Lishite.
Of course, I knew the name.
How could I not remember, considering how many times I've read 'Seuljiyong'?
The troublemaker eldest son of the Duke Lishite family.
The disgrace of the nobles.
A villain who harassed commoners for fun, even resorting to physical assault in severe cases.
He was the character who played the fake villain in the early part of the story.
He was a minor character who flirted with the protagonist's heroines and then got beaten up and disappeared.
In the story, he disappeared after being defeated in a duel with the protagonist.
"Did he appear for about 10 chapters...?"
He was a character who wasn't even mentioned until the ending after that.
The national team senior who recommended this novel to me said that he was a sacrificial lamb for a one-time refreshing development.
"He's certainly suitable for possession."
As you know, villain extras are the standard in possession stories.
...Of course, I've never read a possession story.
I heard my senior say that once.
"Anyway, that aside..."
What should I do now?
No, more importantly, why is he lying in the middle of this forest?
Where did he sell that nice mansion and end up collapsing on the side of the road?
As these questions tangled and occupied my mind, a clear mechanical sound rang in my ears.
-Ding!
[Main Quest Occurred!]
Title: Towards a New Story
Content: Head to the Duke Lishite family mansion.
[Reward: None]
[Penalty for Failure: None]
"Oh..."
How kind.
To think it would tell me right away as I started to wander.
I heard it's customary to make you suffer a lot in the beginning.
It seems our status window is quite kind-hearted.
'...What is its true identity?'
As I glanced at the blue screen, that question suddenly arose in my mind.
However, I shook my head and brushed it off.
It's unnecessary thinking.
The important thing is that this being can grant my wish.
Whether the being watching me from beyond that window is human, monster, or god.
It's none of my concern.
'Since I've decided to trust it, doubting it will only tire me out...'
I organized my thoughts and started walking.
The map displayed on the status window guided me in the direction I needed to go.
Fortunately, it seemed I wouldn't have to keep wandering in this forest.
However, the problem was.
"...This is too far?"
The destination was ridiculously far.
Once I got out of the forest, a hellish march comparable to the distance from Seoul to Busan awaited me.
What the...?
Is this all a lie, a betrayal, a trick?
This is torture.
As I looked at the status window with eyes filled with betrayal and resentment, the blue screen blinked once more.
-Ding!
[Walking is not the only way.]
[In this era, there is an excellent means of transportation called a carriage.]
"Ah, right, carriages."
[There's a saying that if your head is bad, your body suffers.]
"..."
I'm sorry for doubting you. I'm sorry.
But I'm not that stupid, you know?
My mom said I was the smartest in the world.
[Parents often have the misconception that their child is a genius...]
Shut up.
.
.
.
It took me about two hours to get out of the forest.
Since the road was rough and the forest was quite large, it took longer than expected.
As I walked for a while, removing the leaves stuck to my clothes, I arrived at the city the status window had guided me to.
A medieval city that you would only see in a fantasy world.
Carriages rolled by.
Knights guarded the city.
Shopping districts lined the streets, creating a bustling atmosphere.
I stared blankly at the scenery.
"I really have entered a novel..."
It was a new feeling to face the story I had longed for as reality.
Calming my trembling heart, I looked around for a long time.
The strange excitement transformed into fragments of anticipation.
Those small pieces, like puzzle pieces, filled the void in my heart one by one.
I brushed back my hair that was ruffled by the wind and took a deep breath.
It was a comfortable feeling.
"...It's wonderful here."
A languidness I felt for the first time in a long time.
For me, who had always lived with obsession and depression, this kind of leisure was quite unfamiliar.
Still, I thought it wasn't bad.
-Ding!
[Would you like to look around more?]
"No, I'm good. I need to go now."
Even as I said that, my gaze remained fixed on the peaceful scenery.
But I forced myself to turn my head.
It wasn't time yet.
Since I had received a second chance from the status window, my first priority was to fulfill my contract with it.
After that's over...
Yes, maybe I too can become a part of that picture, like a single drop of paint.
I pondered that thought as I started walking.
"Let's see... where can I find a carriage..."
After looking around for a while, I was able to find a decent carriage to ride.
I was a little flustered when the coachman bowed deeply with wide eyes after I handed him a few gold coins from my pocket as a token of appreciation...
Anyway, I was able to head towards the mansion more comfortably.
"Hmm..."
The carriage sped along the road.
In the space where only the rattling sound existed, I was gradually learning about the status window.
-Ding!
[The user can directly summon the status window using the keyword 'status window'.]
[In the summoned window, the user can access information about their status, quest progress, etc.]
"Status window."
-Ding!
[User: Raiden Lishite]
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Race: Human
[Stat Information]
Strength: E
Stamina: E+
Agility: D-
Total Mana: 31
[Skill Information]
1. Imperial Common Language (Automatically Activated)
2. Iron Will (Automatically Activated)
3. Short-Range Teleportation (Blink)
4. Empty Slot
5. Empty Slot
.
.
.
[Titles]
1. Eldest Son of the Lishite Family
2. Troublemaker
3. Lonely Boy
"The format is similar to what I saw in novels."
I checked the information by fiddling with the blue screen.
A sigh naturally escaped my lips.
"...The stats are truly abysmal."
Raiden's average physical stat was E+.
Considering that the average stat of academy students is C rank, you could see how terrible his abilities were.
Strength at E rank?
"No wonder his body is like this..."
I glanced at my emaciated body, where even the bones were visible, and sighed.
Well, it wasn't a big problem.
Stats can be raised.
If I train like I did in my previous life, wouldn't I be able to reach an average of C- rank in about two months?
"The biggest problem is..."
The total mana being 31.
How can a person's mana be 31?
"What the hell is 31... an ice cream parlor?"
To show how ridiculous this number is, the average total mana of people with magic-based bodies is 300.
Raiden's total amount was only about 10% of that.
Even the lowest-ranked monster, a goblin, has about 15 mana.
In theory, Raiden's body was like combining two goblins, making it a fragile body.
"And he dared to challenge the protagonist with this?"
He must have had guts.
Or was he just stupid?
I scrolled down the status window with trivial thoughts.
Then, a number caught my eye.
"What the...?"
[Current Date: 8/3]
"The date is August...?"
I couldn't help but be flustered.
If it's August, then the second semester of the academy is already underway.
Considering that Raiden disappeared after being defeated in a duel with the protagonist right after the entrance ceremony.
It meant that half a year had already passed since Raiden was written out of the story.
"This is quite surprising."
Usually, in possession stories, another standard is to be sent back in time before these events occur.
That way, the possessor can at least try hard to avoid being eliminated from the story.
To be possessed by a villain who has already gone through all the defeat events and retired.
I've never even heard of it.
"Should I say it's unorthodox... or unique..."
-Ding!
[Actually, doesn't it matter much?]
"That's true."
The protagonist is the most important, after all.
It wouldn't matter much to the world what happens to my possession, which is just a villain extra.
As I gradually learned about this world through light conversations with the status window.
A week had passed.
...Well, it feels like I skipped over a lot.
But what can I do?
There were no special events because I was just in the carriage the whole time.
-Ding!
[Arrived at the destination.]
[Main quest 'Towards a New Story' has ended.]
As the status window's notification rang, the carriage came to a stop.
The coachman, who had been calming the horses for a moment, approached the back and opened the door.
"We have arrived, My Lord."
"Ah, thank you."
"P-Please speak casually... You seem to be from a noble family."
The coachman looked bewildered by my formal speech.
I tilted my head for a moment and then realized.
Oh right, this is a society with a class system.
My way of speaking might seem strange to others.
But... I couldn't bring myself to speak informally to an elderly gentleman.
So I just gave an awkward smile.
"Then, I'll be on my way, My Lord. Thank you for your generosity."
"...?"
"Actually, my granddaughter is starving at home... Thanks to your kindness, I don't think we'll have to worry about going hungry ever again. We'll have enough for her academy tuition..."
The coachman's eyes welled up with tears, as if overcome with emotion.
I couldn't help but be flustered by that sight.
Generosity? What generosity?
I don't remember making any donations.
Is he talking about the gold coins I gave him as a token of appreciation earlier?
Did I give him that much?
"I will never forget this kindness!"
"..."
A voice filled with deep gratitude.
I watched the departing carriage with a complicated gaze.
But I soon shook it off and turned around to take in the mansion in front of me.
The Duke Lishite family mansion.
It was a building so grand that it felt more than just huge.
It was about the size of a university campus.
I swallowed, feeling overwhelmed by the pressure, and slowly approached the mansion.
As I stood in front of the mansion's gate.
"Young Master...?"
Someone's voice came from behind me.
I glanced back and saw a young girl standing there.
She looked to be about Raiden's age.
She had beautiful brown hair and eyes.
She was dressed in a neat maid uniform.
Her smooth body lines were visible beneath her clothes, and she had cute pigtails.
She stared at me with blank eyes, calling me Young Master.
Then she burst into tears and ran towards me.
"Young Master!!!"