Chapter 1: 1. What the hell
English is not my native language. This fanfic and everything in it was translated by Google translate, so there may be several errors that I won't be able to correct. So, if you can, I would like you to comment on the location of this error and tell me what is wrong so I can edit and correct it.
If you'd like to support the production of this fanfic with a donation or tip, visit my Ko-fi page: https://ko-fi.com/nilloen
================●●●===============
"Some paths open to us not by chance, but because curiosity guides us to places we never thought to go."
—Nilloen
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Something was wrong.
I woke up in a completely unfamiliar environment. The first sensation was a whirlwind of confusion and disorientation. Around me, a colossal auditorium was filled with a vibrant crowd.
"Military Academy of the Seoul Hero Association. Graduation of the Class of 2024. Rank 1 Cadet: Kim Suho." The speaker's voice echoed with impressive clarity, and the announced name sent a shiver down my spine.
"Kim Suho?" I whispered, an odd chill running through my body. The name sounded disturbingly familiar.
My eyes fixed on a young man with an imposing stature, athletic build, and bright blue hair. He was under the spotlight, and something about his presence triggered an overwhelming sense of déjà vu.
It was him.
Kim Suho, the "protagonist" of the web novel I knew so well, even though I hadn't finished it.
But how was this possible?
I remembered what happened before all this. I was in my room, reading a web novel. My vision was blurring, and I felt myself falling asleep. When I woke up, I was here.
I looked around once more. The auditorium was filled with unfamiliar faces, and the ceremony continued undisturbed, ignoring the turmoil in my mind. I needed to understand what was happening.
"Calm down. Analyze the situation. There's no point in panicking," I tried to convince myself, seeking logic amid the chaos.
"Is he Kim Suho? Wow."
"He's so handsome."
"I want him to be the father of my children."
I heard some women murmuring about one of the protagonists of this world with admiration and adoration. And others... well, there was no need for me to comment on that.
"That's why people say talent is all that matters. Who cares if you work hard? People like him end up at the top anyway."
"Tch. That guy was so lucky to get a talent like that. If I had that talent or one of the same level, I'd be amazing too."
Clearly, he received envy and hatred from the younger male audience.
"In talent, because in looks you'd have to undergo dozens of surgeries to have even a fraction of his appearance. Besides, his grades have been among the best since he was ten, unlike yours, which are among the worst, hahaha."
I could hear their voices. They had to be at least a kilometer away, but as I looked at them, I could hear their words clearly.
"It seems I got the same initial talent as Kim Hajin. If that's the case, then..." I began searching for the author of this world, Kim Hajin, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is he? He should be in the stands. Can I not use this on him? Or is his face not showing as a question mark? Maybe I only see the face of the body he possessed, Kim Chundong." I let out a heavy sigh. "There's nothing I can do; I can only hope to find him after his synchronization."
Seeing that this would lead nowhere, I decided to stop looking for him.
Accepting this limitation, I began to observe the others around me. Shin Jonghak arrived, and my extra partners admired him with interest. I looked at the other characters: Yun Seung-Ah was discussing inviting Kim Suho to her guild, Rachel maintained her usual calm, Chae Nayun showed anger towards Kim Suho, Yo-.
"Chisato-chan!"
I heard someone's name and felt a hand on my shoulder.
Turning around with a slight start, I found a chubby boy with a round, friendly face.
"??" Confused, I raised my hand, indicating I was asking if he was speaking to me.
"Who else? Haha."
Recovering from the slight shock, I kept my expression neutral and replied directly, "Speak."
Smiling, he said, "What was your rank? I was 2900."
"He's... Kim Hosup, I believe. Why is he talking to me?"
I stopped thinking about it and answered distractedly but with a hint of interest, "I don't remember."
"You're a bit forgetful, Chisato-chan."
"I know, no need to remind me," I responded with a slightly sarcastic tone.
With a drop of sweat, Hosup said, "Forget that, shall we go to Grandma's restaurant later? To celebrate your entry into Cubo, I'll pay this time."
I noticed that Kim Hosup seemed to be close to this body, so I decided to accept his invitation. I wouldn't lose anything by agreeing.
After the seemingly endless ceremony, we got up and went to the restaurant.
On the way, I chatted and asked Hosup a few things.
What I discovered and my assumptions are: Kim Chundong (or Kim Hajin) might not exist in this world, which is quite concerning. Secondly, my face is a damn question mark. Damn. My relatively good-looking face is gone. I hope to get it back after my awakening and synchronization.
Arriving at Grandma's restaurant, we sat at one of the small tables. The owner, a short woman about 1.53 meters tall, with white straight hair down to her neck and a kind expression marked by wrinkles, approached us with a warm smile.
"Hello, boys, long time no see! What can I do for you?" Her voice was soft and welcoming.
Hosup responded, looking at me. "Yes, it's been a while since we last came. We were busy with military school."
"Yes, yes, young people like you should focus on that while you're young and have the opportunity. So, what would you like?" she asked, jotting down notes in a small notebook.
I looked at the menu, indecision clear on my face. "Hmmmm. I'll leave it to fate today."
With a casual motion, I swiped my finger quickly and randomly across the menu, as if rolling an invisible dice. I pointed randomly at an option without even looking properly.
"Tteokbokki, the spiciest."
Hosup and the lady's expressions shifted slightly. "Y-your tastes are still strange, Chisato," Hosup commented, still surprised by my choice.
Recovering from the initial shock at my order, Hosup decided to order a ******.
"Your orders, please wait a moment."
After the lady made her notes and went to the kitchen, I decided to observe the restaurant. The atmosphere was modest, with few tables, fresh and calm air. A TV was quietly playing something, and the space was occupied by some families and teenagers. It was a pleasant place for a meal.
When the lady returned with our orders, she handed the food over with a smile. "Here you go, enjoy."
"Thank you, ma'am," Hosup and I said in unison.
"It's a good thing I'm somewhat practiced with chopsticks."
I took my chopsticks and took a bite of the tteokbokki. The explosion of spiciness and flavor was intense, something I wouldn't find in my old world. It was a common delight, but with an irresistible twist.
"The food here is really the best," I commented.
"Definitely," Hosup agreed, laughing.
The meal was a new and delicious experience for me. The lightness of the environment and the relaxed conversation helped alleviate the anxiety I felt.
"Man, you're really enjoying this, huh?" Hosup said, laughing as he watched me. I gave a slight smile in response, still trying to maintain my calm facade.
"It's hard to find food like this," I replied sincerely. It wasn't a lie; the food here had a unique taste I wasn't used to.
After the meal, we thanked the lady and left the restaurant. Hosup talked about his future expectations, but my mind was focused on understanding my new situation. "If I'm really stuck in this world, I need to adapt quickly and understand the rules and dangers here. I can't just rely on luck."
Hosup interrupted my thoughts with a comment: "You should be more excited about going to Cubo."
We reached a quiet street where we said our goodbyes. I noticed the sadness on Hosup's face, probably because his physique limited his options for becoming a hero.
The possibly useful talent of Observation and Reading allowed me to notice the subtle details in his expression. His gaze carried a melancholy that a normal view wouldn't capture, showing how he struggled to hide his frustration.
"It's not like we'll never see each other again. Communication might be more difficult, but we can still meet," I tried to cheer him up.
"I know, but still, you're one of my few friends. I'll really miss you," Hosup replied, visibly sad. My talent highlighted how his voice trembled and how he tried to maintain a weak smile, revealing the depth of his sadness.
Not knowing what to say, I just sighed. Hosup continued, "Well, I guess this is where we part ways. If you need help with information, count on me. But if it's something more serious, don't involve me."
Trying to lighten the mood, I joked, "So, can I pick a fight with the Jonghak clan?"
"Please don't," Hosup replied, slightly shocked but with a small smile.
"Haha, I won't. See you around," I said, turning and raising my hand for a farewell wave.
"See you, Chisato-chan," Hosup replied as he walked away. He mentioned he needed to work because his talent required electronic tools, so he joined an information guild.
As I walked away, a thought crossed my mind.
"Wait, how do I get to 'my' house?"
Anxiety increased. I began searching my pockets for something that would indicate my residence. "Found it!" In my hand was the student ID of the body. It was very fortunate that it included the address.
With a long sigh of relief, I read the information on the card: [Nariyuki Chisato]. An appropriate name.
With the discovery of the full name of the former owner of this body and the street where he lives, I asked a few people on the street for directions to 'my' house. With the new information, I started heading towards 'my' apartment.
As I walked, I began to admire the area, which was really beautiful. I had never visited Korea, so I didn't know if this was normal or if it was due to the changes in the world, but it was truly lovely.
The air here was fresher, and the breeze was slightly cool.
As I admired the streets and enjoyed the light breeze, I ended up reaching the building without noticing.
Upon arriving at the building, I decided to use my skill again to test it further. Through this skill, I tried to capture any additional details about the area and the building itself. However, the skill failed to reveal any useful information beyond what was already evident to the naked eye. The building seemed plain, without notable features.
"If I didn't pull a Zoro, then this must be the right place," I thought, looking at the unremarkable building. The skill, which had been useful before, now seemed limited, not providing the additional information I had hoped for.
It seemed like a normal apartment; I couldn't tell if it was because of my family or because I was a student at the military academy for agents. While thinking about this, I began to enter the building.
At the door of his apartment, "Chisato" inserts the identification key to unlock the door, which emits a low beep. Looking inside, he sees it's dark, but still possible to make out some details.
"I've arrived," I announced, letting out a brief shout that was swallowed by the emptiness of the modest space. The dim light revealed a tidy environment with minimal furniture. Entering and turning on the light by the switch next to the door, I saw more clearly that the apartment is quite humble and normal, with few furnishings, and neatly arranged. The living room and kitchen are adjacent to each other.
"A small place, but livable. The owner of this body seems to like having his home organized. I deduce he's an orphan, as I received no response upon my arrival." As I walked through the apartment, I noticed the simplicity and order of the space. It reflected a meticulous and self-sufficient personality.
After a brief look at the living room and kitchen, I decided to search for the bedroom for more information. I got the door wrong the first time and ended up entering the bathroom. Correcting to the bedroom on my second attempt, I entered and took a look.
There weren't many items—a somewhat messy bed, a small wardrobe for clothes. What stood out most was the bookshelf.
Approaching the bookshelf and reading the titles, I realized that the owner of this body was someone who enjoyed reading a variety of things, from light novels to philosophical books.
"A cultured person," I thought. With such a range of books, he either likes these genres or reads anything that catches his interest. If it's the latter, he's somewhat like me. This kind of habit could be an advantage here, where knowledge seems to be a valuable currency.
Exploring the apartment further to see if there was food and other things that might help me learn more about this body, I found nothing besides the abundant food. Noticing the time on the wall clock, I saw it was already 5:25 PM. I decided to stop searching and prepare something to eat since it was late. I opted for something simple.
After preparing the meal, I set the table and started eating. As I chewed and savored the incredible taste of the food, which was many times better than what I had in my old world, I grabbed the cellphone I had found earlier while rummaging through my clothes and began to check the news and research other things that might be different in this world.
I began researching Cube Academy and its students. Fortunately, there was an abundance of information available. I spent the next few minutes reading profiles, analyzing rankings, and absorbing as much information as possible.
"Knowledge is power," I reminded myself. "The more I know about this world, the better my chances of surviving and finding a way back."
I finished my meal and felt satisfied. It was as if part of my initial anxiety had been relieved. The relaxed atmosphere and casual conversation helped calm me down a bit. The food here had a unique taste, a welcome relief amidst the confusion.
I went to the fruit bowl and grabbed some fruit for dessert. After bringing the bowl to the sink and finishing washing it, I decided to brush my teeth and properly organize everything I had discovered and about the knowledge from the web novel I'm in.
"Sigh, okay, let's do this. I've eaten and done everything I needed to, now I have two weeks to sort everything out and see if this is a dream or not, which I highly doubt since all my senses are functioning normally and if it were a dream, it wouldn't be this long."
"I've been transmigrated to this world. The reason? I don't know. It could have been the co-author or some other higher being. Secondly, this confirms that there are indeed other worlds. If I'm in the world of 'The Novel's Extra,' it means there are other worlds formed through light novels, anime, books, and other things. Thirdly, I haven't found Kim Hajin, which is very concerning since he's an extremely important piece for this world. I hope to find him at Cube."
"Fourth, either I appeared in this world due to a divine mistake or I was sent here for some reason."
"Fifth, I need to learn more about this body. I can't make the same mistake as Kim Hajin. This body might be involved in something significant, and if I don't figure it out, I might regret it. I can ask Kim Hosup for help under the pretense of wanting to analyze my past."
"Sixth, the story itself might have changed, might change, or I could be in an alternate universe from the original story. I don't have much trouble remembering the key events of the story; the problem is that I haven't read everything and other things I discovered randomly due to spoilers."
As I lost myself in thought, I began to feel the effects of mental fatigue and stress from overthinking the major events that had abruptly entered my life. I forced myself to get up and use the bathroom. After finishing, I went straight to bed. The moment my body hit the bed, I gave in completely to its softness.
Before falling asleep, one last reflection crossed my mind.
"If this is a dream, it's one of the most vivid I've ever had. If not... well, tomorrow is a new day to find out."
The apartment fell into silence, the darkness embracing my senses, leading me into a deep sleep, as if the story of my own life were being written in the stars.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone