There is a novel called Blades of Eternity.
It's your typical academy novel.
It was not exactly ground-breaking.
While the writing was decent enough, it often suffered from sudden bursts of action and a plot that sacrificed coherence for spectacle, which prevented it from receiving glowing reviews. Still, it avoided a complete collapse of logic, and the appeal of its characters was just enough to scrape by as "readable."
A cliché I've seen countless times before.
Traits borrowed from here, quirks lifted from there—a story cobbled together from a dozen other tales.
Yes, no matter how you slice it, Blades of Eternity is a mediocre novel.
And yet, I enjoyed reading it.
Why? Should I say there was a certain malicious charm to it?
The author seemed to delight in putting the protagonist through unending challenges—a relentless barrage of adversity. The story was full of moments that felt like burying me under a mountain of thorny problems, each one pricking my patience.. But at the same time, there was an undeniable satisfaction when the protagonist clawed her way out of despair.
That blend of desolation and triumph hit just right for me.
So, despite its mediocrity, I remembered Blades of Eternity as an entertaining, if flawed, work.
"But this… this isn't how it's supposed to be."
What exactly did I do wrong?
Did I send a 5,700-character rant to the author, complaining about the pacing? No.
Did I leave nasty comments saying the characters lacked depth? Definitely not.
If anything, I left polite feedback—comments saying I enjoyed the novel despite its flaws.
"Wait… oh no."
Is that it?
Is this some twisted karmic punishment for enjoying the suffering of fictional characters?
In return for my schadenfreude, the author decided I should experience the world firsthand?
No! I enjoy reading about characters suffering—I don't want to live through it myself!
And why, of all people, did I have to become Leon?
Leon. Not a lead character. Not even close.
He's a minor character in Blades of Eternity—a background figure with peculiar tendencies.
A masochist.
A boy who feels euphoric pleasure from pain and injury. A side character whose twisted personality sets him apart from the rest of the cast.
"Oh… so that's why."
It's poetic justice, isn't it? Since I hate suffering, I've been placed in the body of someone who thrives on it. Wonderful.
Just as I finished lamenting my fate, the bell signaling the end of class rang. The muffled chatter of students filled the hallway outside.
I splashed cold water on my face and exhaled.
Stay calm. Think rationally.
I looked in the mirror. The face staring back at me wasn't mine—it was Leon's.
Red eyes, jet black hair, and a faint scar running across his cheek—the same details I remembered from the novel.
"Okay… I'm Leon."
I'd already confirmed that Leon's abilities were intact. Earlier, in a fit of morbid curiosity, I'd tested his regenerative powers. What began as a small cut spiraled into something… more.
I'd sliced off a finger.
And I'd enjoyed it.
The sensation of torn flesh, the sight of blood… it was all too satisfying. The rush was intoxicating.
"No, stop."
I shook my head, forcing the thoughts away. I couldn't let Leon's tendencies control me. I needed to focus.
Step one: Get out of the bathroom.
I cleaned up the bloodstains on the floor and stepped into the hallway. Leon's body felt unfamiliar, but I pushed through the discomfort and made my way toward the classroom.
Today was the day after the academy's entrance ceremony.
Based on the novel, the main events wouldn't start for another month. That gave me some breathing room—time to get my bearings and figure out what to do.
Leon didn't have any friends. He wasn't the type to form connections. Knowing his true nature, he kept his distance from others. It was only after the protagonist, Elsia, discovered Leon's secret that their relationship changed.
Speaking of Elsia…
The protagonist sat diagonally in front of me, completely unaware of my internal struggle.
Elsia was… annoyingly good-looking. The type of person who could charm others effortlessly, with sharp features and a disarming smile.
In the novel, Leon was one of Elsia's allies—a secondary character who played a supporting role in the protagonist's journey. If I stayed true to the story, I'd inevitably have to interact with her.
But the thought of befriending her made me uneasy. What if I got too close and… started seeing her through Leon's perspective?
No, I had to keep my distance.
Unfortunately, avoiding her entirely wasn't an option. Leon's role, while minor, was still crucial to the story. If I disappeared, it might disrupt the narrative—and who knows what consequences that could bring?
"Sigh…"
I gathered my belongings and left the classroom. My next destination was clear: the dormitory.
Finding the dorm wasn't difficult. Following a group of students, I eventually arrived at the right building. My dorm key had the room number etched into it, so locating my assigned room was simple.
The academy spared no expense. My room was modest but well-furnished, with polished wood furniture and neatly arranged decor. A private space just for Leon.
"Phew…"
I tossed my bag onto the desk and collapsed onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The day's events had left me mentally drained.
Though Leon's body craved physical pain, the mental toll of this situation was all mine. And it was exhausting.
A ceiling I don't recognize.
Well, of course. Even if Leon knows it, 'I' am seeing it for the first time.
As I lay there, the urge to sleep started to creep in, but I forced myself up.
Now isn't the time for a carefree nap. I need to think about what comes next.
I forced myself up and sat at the desk. Taking out a notebook, I began jotting down everything I remembered about the novel. Even small details could be crucial later.
Just in case, I'll write it in Korean so only I can understand... Huh? But I seem to read this world's language just fine? Even though it's not Korean, I understand it without any issue.
This was an important realization.
How did I just now notice this? I must not have been in my right mind.
But please understand.
Any sane person would struggle to keep their composure in a situation like this.
I scribbled down important information to remember.
If I forget something later, I can look back at this.
When I finished, I stretched my arms above my head, letting out a sigh of relief.
I raised both hands high and stretched my legs with all my might.
Then, something beneath my neck asserted its presence.
I groaned, realizing once again the fact I'd been trying to ignore.
But as I moved, I felt the faint sting of a scar near my wrist—a reminder of the earlier "experiment."
I turned toward the full-length mirror in the corner of the room.
A young man stared back at me. His sharp features and lithe frame made him stand out, but it was the subtle, unsettling grin—a trace of Leon's personality—that sent a shiver down my spine.
There was no trace of the girl that I remembered.
"…"
To be honest, he was beautiful.
Leon's beauty was breathtaking enough to make one think, "He deserves to be a hero!!"
This lovely boy… later on, he goes out for a nighttime stroll with Eugene, wearing only a coat over his bare body and a collar around his neck?
And that was only because Eugene insisted he wear the coat. Otherwise, he would have just gone out completely naked…
Wow, just imagining that paints quite the picture…
Delete! Delete!
Or… is there even a need to delete it?
After all, it's my body now, so isn't it safe to imagine things like that? No? Too bad.
I looked around.
This was Leon's room.
No one here but me.
The door was closed and the window was curtained, so it was impossible to peek from the outside.
That means.
No matter what I do here…
…
It means that no one will know, right?
Gulp.
I swallowed the saliva in my mouth and fiddled with the buttons on my uniform.
And with trembling hands, I undid the button.