"Dammit! What is this?! Why am I in this strange place?!"
A voice shattered the silence, causing people nearby to turn their heads.
"What's his deal?" an old man whispered, his tone laced with suspicion.
"Beats me. Maybe his shop's been empty, and now he's stressed out," another replied, shaking his head in resignation.
I am someone from Earth. My life used to be normal—like most people, I had my own quirky habits: reading online novels. One of my absolute favorites was Warrior Destiny, a fantasy masterpiece renowned for its captivating storyline.
The novel follows the journey of Rainer, a failed hero, initially buried in despair and defeat. Over time, however, he rises again, facing relentless challenges and gradually becoming the last hope for a crumbling world. Why was it so popular? The plot was filled with pivotal moments that enthralled readers, from epic battles to heart-wrenching betrayals.
I was so immersed in the story that I joined a Discord community to discuss it with other fans. Often, I would lose track of time, diving into fan theories late into the night until I finally passed out with my laptop still open.
But when I opened my eyes this time, I was no longer in my room. Instead, a bright blue sky stretched overhead, unmarred by power lines. The fresh scent of grass tickled my nose, and medieval-style buildings surrounded me, leaving me dumbfounded.
And somehow, I realized the impossible: I was in the world of Warrior Destiny.
The name of the body I now inhabited? I had no idea. But one thing was clear—I was just an extra character.
"Oy, Arkan!"
A gruff voice suddenly called from behind, snapping me out of my daze.
I turned instinctively to see a burly old man with a face weathered by age. He was holding a basket overflowing with freshly picked plants. Judging by his annoyed expression, he'd probably been calling me more than once.
"Didn't you hear me? Hurry up and carry this into the shop! Stop standing in front of the door like an idiot!" he barked, shoving the basket in my direction.
I raised my hands, trying to calm myself after the initial shock. "Uh… yeah, sorry. I'll—"
Wait. Arkan? That's the name he called. Was that the name of the body I now inhabited? If so, it sounded familiar.
Arkan… That's right! I remember now! He was just a minor character in Warrior Destiny, a humble herbal shop owner in a small village on the outskirts of the world. In the story, he appeared only once when the protagonist stopped by to buy medicine for a minor injury after losing to a dragon.
This character… was insignificant. Almost entirely forgettable. And now, I was him?
"Are you going to stand there all day?! This basket is heavy, you know!"
"Ah, right! Sorry!" I quickly grabbed the basket, the fragrant smell of leaves and flowers filling my nostrils. The unfamiliar scents only added to the strangeness of the situation.
"Lazy as always. Don't think you can slack off just because I'm old!" the old man grumbled, stomping into the shop.
I sighed and followed him inside, my mind racing as I tried to make sense of everything. Me, an ordinary reader from Earth, now trapped in the body of an insignificant extra in a novel I loved.
And worse, I already knew the fate of this character—utterly boring.
"Kids these days have no drive! If you'd lived in my era, you'd know what real hardship means!" The old man, who I recognized from the novel as Oldan, started rambling while arranging herbs on the shelves. His tone reminded me of those "boomer" types back on Earth who loved blaming the younger generation for everything.
"Yeah, yeah," I replied half-heartedly, placing the heavy basket on the wooden counter with a sigh.
"Don't 'yeah, yeah' me, Arkan! Back in my day, I hunted wild beasts with my bare hands! And now? You're whining over carrying a tiny basket!" He pointed accusingly at the basket, which, for the record, was anything but "tiny."
I rolled my eyes internally. If I were truly Arkan, I might have snapped back at him. But in my head, I was still processing my bizarre predicament. How had I ended up in this novel's world? And why did it have to be in the body of such an irrelevant character?
Oldan, as relentless as ever, kept ranting. "And another thing! This shop won't survive if you keep slacking off. When I'm gone—"
"Okay, okay! I get it! I'll work harder, so can we stop talking about that, please?" I cut him off before he could finish his lecture.
Oldan let out a loud snort but seemed satisfied to have made me concede. "That's more like it. Now, start organizing the herbal shelves and don't forget to clean the counter!"
I nodded quietly, turning toward the wooden shelves lined with jars and pouches filled with various herbal remedies. My hands moved automatically as I began tidying up, but my thoughts were elsewhere.
If I was truly in the world of Warrior Destiny, and if I was now Arkan… did that mean I would meet Rainer, the protagonist? And if so, when would he show up at this shop?
Or was I really doomed to live out a dull life as an irrelevant extra forever?