Sang-hoon could still feel the exact moment when everything changed.
It was late at night in his small apartment.
He was midway through his twenty-third playthrough of Realm of Taming, meticulously exploring the game's opening missions with an obsession bordering on ritual.
The glow of his computer monitor cast dancing shadows on the walls, and the game's ambient sounds—rustling wind, chirping birds, soft footfalls on grass—were a comforting backdrop to his monotonous life.
Everything seemed normal until his monitor flickered, the screen flooding his vision with a blinding light.
He tried to shield his eyes, but it felt like something was pulling him in.
Suddenly, a crushing pressure engulfed him, accompanied by a deafening roar of wind.
His consciousness wavered, and before he could scream, it was as though the world had been ripped away.
Then, silence.
When he opened his eyes, he wasn't in his cramped bedroom anymore.
He was lying in a green meadow beneath an endless blue sky—a place he recognized all too well: the world of Realm of Taming.
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The soft light of dawn filtered through the stained-glass windows of the academy dormitory.
Sang-hoon woke from a restless sleep, the events of the previous day weighing heavily on his mind.
Beside him, the small black dragon purred softly, curled up like a contented cat.
For a fleeting moment, he thought it had all been a dream.
But reality was undeniable: he wasn't home anymore.
He sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing his temples as he tried to process everything.
The sensation of waking up in a body that wasn't his own was still unsettling.
He glanced at the mirror in the corner and saw Elyska Grayson's face staring back at him.
"This doesn't make any sense…" he muttered.
"How did I end up here? Why?"
The answers eluded him. All he knew was that he was stuck—trapped in the body of a forgotten NPC in a game that had inexplicably become real.
"If this is real," he thought, looking at the sleeping dragon, "then I'll have to survive. I can't be just another background character."
Even so, the fear of doing something that could upset the world's delicate balance made him decide to lie low.
For now, it was better to stay quiet, learn everything he could, and avoid the major characters—especially the protagonists who could complicate his precarious situation.
He knew better than anyone that trouble always seemed to follow those d*mn protagonists.
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After a quick, silent breakfast in the academy's grand dining hall, Sang-hoon was summoned to join the other students in the vast auditorium.
This was where they would be assigned to their theoretical classes.
He hung back, avoiding attention, but couldn't resist glancing at the familiar faces around him.
Seraphina Valen stood tall and composed, her aura of superiority undeniable.
Arden VanHan was further ahead, surrounded by a crowd of admirers, already boasting about some trivial accomplishment.
Mira Treadlight sat alone, her nose buried in a book, seemingly indifferent to the noise around her.
Sang-hoon's stomach churned.
It was like walking through a story he knew by heart, except he no longer had control over the narrative.
"Elyska Grayson!" called a voice.
He froze.
The instructor overseeing the assignments was looking at him with impatience.
With a hesitant wave, he stepped forward and was directed to the Gold Class—the same class as the game's main characters.
Sang-hoon was left confused wondering how a nobody like Elyska Grayson could even be at Gold Class.
Before taking his body, Elyska wasn't even accepted in the academy.
However, after being able to take the previous creature proved sufficient to give him access to such prestigious class.
"Of course it had to be like this," he thought, a mix of resignation and irritation welling up inside him.
He had planned to remain unnoticed, but the universe—or perhaps the game's administrator—seemed to have other ideas.
The classroom was arranged with rows of neatly aligned desks.
Sang-hoon chose a seat in the far corner, away from the protagonists.
The dragon, hidden in a makeshift pouch, remained silent, though its presence was a constant reminder of how far he was from normalcy.
The door opened, and the teacher entered—a stern-looking woman with graying hair tied in a tight bun.
It was Lady Orthea, a figure Sang-hoon recognized from the game.
She was known for her strict demeanor and unwavering dedication to students who showed potential.
"Welcome to the Royal Academy of Beast Taming," she began, her sharp gaze sweeping across the room.
"You are here because you possess a rare talent, but remember: talent without hard work is meaningless. Let us begin with the basics of beast taming."
Sang-hoon tried to focus, but his plan to blend in quickly fell apart.
Midway through the lecture, Seraphina turned to him, her piercing blue eyes locking onto his.
"You," she said, pointing directly at him. "I heard you tamed that creature during the initiation. Is that true?"
The room fell silent as every pair of eyes turned to him. Sang-hoon's throat went dry.
He knew denying it would only invite more scrutiny.
"I… got lucky," he replied, trying to downplay the event.
Arden snorted, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Lucky? What a joke."
Sang-hoon felt his face heat up, but before he could respond, Lady Orthea cut in.
"That's enough, Arden. Here, everyone starts on equal footing. Each student's potential will reveal itself in due time."
Despite her intervention, Sang-hoon knew the attention was now squarely on him, whether he liked it or not.
After class, Sang-hoon tried to make a quick escape, but Mira intercepted him.
The game's prodigy regarded him with a curious expression, her sharp eyes studying him as though he were a puzzle.
"You're… different," she said bluntly.
"Something about you feels out of place."
He froze, his pulse quickening.
It was as if she could see right through him.
"Really?? Right now??"
He thought to himself.
Before he could think of a response, the dragon in his pouch let out a low, rumbling growl.
Mira's eyes widened. "That sound… it's him, isn't it? The dragon no one could tame."
"I…" Sang-hoon began, but he had no idea what to say. How could he explain something he didn't even understand?
Mira stepped back, her expression a mixture of fascination and caution.
"If I were you, I'd be careful. Something like that won't go unnoticed for long."
With that, she walked away, leaving Sang-hoon more unsettled than ever.
As night fell, Sang-hoon found himself alone in his dorm room again.
The dragon was awake now, its glowing red eyes watching him intently.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Whatever's going on," he muttered, "it looks like keeping a low profile isn't going to work."
The dragon let out a soft, almost approving growl. Sang-hoon managed a faint smile, a spark of determination igniting within him.
"If I'm going to be here," he said, looking at the dragon, "I'm not going to let this world dictate my fate. I'm not just going to be Elyska Grayson, the forgotten NPC."
The dragon tilted its head, as if understanding his resolve.
"I'll make my own path," Sang-hoon whispered. "And this world won't be ready for it."