Vol. 1: Chapter 1: A Story That Wasn't Mine
"You might not believe but I've become a character in a webnovel."
The realization settled in as Damian studied the pale, gaunt body now his own. Kaelen Mordric. That was the name of the person he had become. It was only after the disorienting haze of the accident cleared that he understood what had happened. The infamous Truck-kun incident had done its job. He had transmigrated.
"Kaelen Mordric? Sounds strangely familiar, but nope. Never heard of that name," Damian muttered, frowning. "Definitely not in any novel I've come across."
He quickly dismissed the idea of it being one of those typical Reincarnated as an Extra or Transmigrated as a Side Character stories. This wasn't a world he recognized from any novel he knew. In fact, nothing about it felt familiar. It didn't seem like the kind of world he'd been reading about at all.
Yet, one thing was clear—he had definitely transmigrated. And that, in itself, meant one thing: he wasn't just some extra. He had to be the main character.
A sly grin tugged at Damian's lips.
"Some noob author must've picked up their pen—or should I say, their laptop—and typed a few lines about me getting reincarnated..."
The grin softened into a subtle smile.
I'm not complaining - he thought, his heart racing with excitement. In fact, I should thank them. My lifelong dream of getting isekai'd has finally come true.
He pulled himself away from the mirror where he had been scrutinizing his new features. The deep black hair, as dark as the night sky, framed a pale, frail face. His obsidian eyes gleamed like an abyss, stark against his brownish-white skin, giving him an almost otherworldly appearance.
For a commoner, he looked decent, maybe even better than most—but certainly not extraordinary. Ordinary at best.
If this is a novel and I'm the protagonist, Damian mused, narrowing his eyes, I should probably start exploring. Gotta keep the readers hooked. They always complain about too little world-building or the MC dragging on with endless internal monologues.
He smirked. "Right. No more overthinking—time to act!"
With a pivot, Damian stepped out into the hallway. The corridors of the Great Maverick Academy bustled with life. Students streamed out of classrooms for short breaks, while others darted through the halls, clearly late for their next lecture. Among the noise and chaos, Damian had one clear goal: explore.
It had barely been a minute since he had become Kaelen. Moving in the new body felt surprisingly natural—no stiffness, no pain. Perhaps it was because this body wasn't so different from the one he'd had in his previous life.
Not that he cared. His excitement to explore this seemingly new world completely drowned out any concerns.
Wait… can the readers hear my thoughts? Or is this all internal narration?
The question stopped him in his tracks. If he started talking out loud, people might think he was a lunatic. A moron. A complete maniac.
"Yeah, no thanks," he muttered, shaking his head.
But even that fleeting worry didn't last long. The thrill of exploration quickly swept it aside, and with a grin, he dove headfirst into the unknown.
Damian sprinted down the stone corridor like a child set loose in a candy store. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he skidded to a stop near a towering stained-glass window. The vibrant hues of red, blue, and gold cast shimmering patterns across the polished floor.
"Wow! Look at this craftsmanship!" he exclaimed, leaning so close his breath fogged up the glass. "Clearly, the author spent their budget on the aesthetics. Nice touch."
A group of students walking by paused to stare. One whispered, "Who's that weirdo?"
"Probably another scholarship case," another muttered, giving Damian a pitying glance.
Damian ignored them, too busy darting across the hall to inspect an ornate suit of armor propped against the wall. The polished steel gleamed, its intricate engravings hinting at a long-forgotten history.
"Imagine being the guy who wore this! Bet he had a tragic backstory." Damian smirked, striking a dramatic pose in front of the armor. "Fear not, readers! Your MC is here to uncover all the mysteries of this place!"
A passing girl gave him a wide berth. "That guy's… definitely lost it."
Unbothered, Damian shot off again, taking a sharp left and stumbling into what appeared to be the academy's central courtyard. His jaw dropped.
The open space was vast, bordered by towering spires and ivy-covered walls. Cobblestone paths crisscrossed the lush greenery, leading to fountains and statues of long-dead heroes. Students sat under shade trees, some chatting animatedly, others nose-deep in books.
"Holy—this place is straight out of a fantasy RPG! Is this Hogwarts' fancier cousin?" Damian gawked, spinning in a slow circle. "Bet the author is patting themselves on the back for this one."
He dashed toward the nearest fountain, dipping his hand into the crystal-clear water. "Oh, come on! Magic water? This is way too over the top!"
"Uh… is he okay?" someone whispered nearby.
"Definitely not," another replied.
Unfazed by the judgmental stares, Damian pressed onward, determined to explore every nook and cranny of the academy. He darted through hallways, peeked into classrooms, and even tried opening a door labeled "Staff Only" before a stern professor chased him off.
Finally, he stumbled upon another hallway, its walls lined with elegant lanterns glowing softly. A polished wooden door caught his attention.
"Ah, another unexplored area!" he said, grinning. "Could this be… a secret treasure room?"
He pushed the door open, only to freeze as a chorus of shrieks filled the air.
"GIRLS' BATHROOM!" a student yelled.
Damian's eyes widened. "Oh crap, nope, nope, NOPE!" He spun on his heel and bolted, red-faced and stammering.
"Wait! It's not what it looks like!" he shouted as the angry mob of girls poked their heads out, glaring daggers at him. "I-I swear, I'm not a pervert! I'm just—uh—exploring! For plot reasons!"
One girl hurled a slipper at him. It missed by an inch.
"Smooth move, genius," Damian muttered to himself, diving behind a column to catch his breath. "Great. First day, and I'm already the weirdo-slash-almost-pervert MC. Classic isekai vibes right here."
He slumped against the column, still catching his breath after his narrow escape from the girls' bathroom fiasco. He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Alright, Damian, pull it together. You're supposed to be the MC, not the comic relief."
As if the universe wanted to mock him, a distant bell rang, its chime echoing softly through the stone corridors. He perked up, curiosity replacing his embarrassment.
What's that sound?
Guided by the melody, Damian followed the ringing, his footsteps quickening as another sound joined the mix. A harmonica, its soft notes weaving through the air, accompanied by the mournful hum of a violin. The music was hauntingly beautiful, pulling him in like a siren's call.
He turned a corner and stumbled into an open hall. Dozens of students were gathered, their eyes fixed on a small stage at the far end. A group of girls stood there, instruments in hand, their fingers moving with practiced grace. The harmonica's melody blended with the violin, supported by the subtle strum of a harp.
Damian's breath hitched. The scene was mesmerizing.
In the center of the stage, a blonde girl twirled to the rhythm, her golden hair catching the sunlight streaming through the high windows. She moved with effortless elegance, her light green dress swaying as she spun. Her laughter, soft and musical, added to the enchantment of the moment.
Damian edged closer, unable to tear his gaze away. The music enveloped him, and for a fleeting moment, he felt weightless, as if the world had faded away, leaving only the melody and her dance.
The girl's eyes met his, and she smiled warmly, stepping down from the stage. Before he could react, she reached out, taking his hand and pulling him into the center of the gathering.
"W-Wait, I'm not exactly a dancer—" he stammered, but she only laughed, her movements light and carefree.
Her hands guided him, and soon enough, Damian found himself twirling awkwardly beside her. The crowd chuckled softly, but Damian didn't care. The music, the girl's infectious energy—it all felt surreal.
She pulled a delicate flower garland from her neck and raised it toward him. Her smile widened as she motioned for him to bow.
"For me?" Damian asked, playing along with a sheepish grin.
She nodded, her eyes sparkling.
"Well, how can I say no?" He dipped his head, letting her place the ornate band around his neck.
For a brief moment, everything seemed perfect.
Then it hit him.
A chilling sensation crawled up his spine. His body tensed, and a sharp ding rang in his ears.
Ding!
[??? fights back.]
[You have snapped out of hypnosis.]
[You are now resistant to Hypnosis Lv.6]
His vision blurred, and the once-lively music twisted into a distorted hum. The soft laughter of the crowd warped into eerie murmurs.
Damian's eyes darted to the garland around his neck. His heart sank.
It wasn't a delicate flower band anymore.
It was a rotting length of intestine, dripping blood and oozing filth down his chest. The feces matter had spread everywhere and the blood puddle formed down, tainted them red. The nauseating stench hit him like a punch to the gut.
And when he looked down, there was a hole in his abdomen… the continuation of the intestine clearly visible.
Mine…?
His eyeballs started shaking vigorously as confusion claimed his mind.
What's going on? This is an academy… isn't it? Wha-
And finally he noticed, or rather, the screen became visible to him:
[Act (1) Scene (1): The Lost Girl]
[Missions:
Find 'The Lost Girl' [incomplete] Fulfill 'The Promise' [incomplete] Kill a Wicth [incomplete] Survive Scene (1) [incomplete]
]
Damian fell to the ground as the music continued to play.
His vision barely remained attached, making him notice one last thing.
It's wasn't a garden…
There were grass, flowers, trees, and paths to walk on... but it was all inside a closed room. Damian's excitement had blinded him to the bizarre nature of the place. Now, as his senses began to slip away, he realized his mistake a bit too late.
He chuckled internally, as if the situation itself was amusing, but he couldn't feel the burn, the sting, or any sign of pain.
Shouldn't this be hurting?
His body lay sprawled on the ground, yet not a single muscle screamed in agony. No sharp sensations, no heat. Just a strange, detached calm, as if his body had forgotten how to hurt.
His mind was spinning, but there was no frantic panic or overwhelming discomfort—only confusion. He should have been in pain, but there was nothing. Just a bizarre, eerie silence.
His eyes, wide and unblinking, were filled with a mix of wonder and dread.
And then, just like that... it happened again.
He died.
For the 40,089th time.
[You have died.
Survive [incomplete] -> [failed]
]
Ding!
[You have failed.]
[Another player will be chos-]
D-dring….
Ding!
[You are immune to death.]
[You will be resurrected immediately.]
[... Failed.]
[You will be resurrected im-]
[??? halted the operation.]
[??? decided to rewind time.]
[…]
And once again, the beautiful world appeared before Damian. For the 40,090th time, he muttered, "You might not believe but I've become a character in a webnovel."