Do you ever feel like you're not fully living your life? Like peering through a warped mirror, life flowing by and its reflection never as it should be. Only wrong to you, it's quiet onlooker.
A normal life. A loving family. A bed to sleep in. A warm home. What more could there be? But still, the emptiness inside lingers.
Turn off the blaring alarm, brush your teeth, go to school, lunch time, home, repeat. Friends are made, connections established by shared experiences. Only to strain and splinter from backhanded compliments and shared whispers under their breath. Looking at them closer, maybe those connections had always been superficial. Nonetheless, those comments are met with silence, a strained smile at best.
Disheartening, isn't it?
Other lives flow naturally past, smoothly even. Looking at them makes the isolation all the clearer. What caused this numbness? Is it karma or just life's fickleness striking again? Barely hanging by a thread, fingertips still cling onto the semblance of normalcy, torn between the fear of letting go and the bliss of slowly fading away.
But there must be something wrong here.
It's these thoughts, they're the problem.
The only choice is to hide them away, leaving an empty body to mold into whatever will be accepted. Open arms will welcome an empty husk, as long as its veneer is agreeable enough in their eyes.
However, a mere husk cannot contain an ego, and thus the self is lost to time.
No matter, they've plastered together a new identity, just for you. The group's healer, the dependable friend who can mend the fractures breaking everyone apart . But holding onto ripped bonds will only tear you in the end. So, a choice is made. Let go of newer bonds to cherish the ones that have endured with time.
It doesn't matter anyway. Even when bonds are fixed, scars will always be there to taint the mended cracks. Even the most beautiful painting can never be restored to its former glory once ripped to shreds. It's a reality that must be accepted, a truth that was learned quickly.
Other empty shells were encountered as the years went by. Empty husks in their own right, but different all the same. Some adorn with shining jewels only to hide the spikes that lay beneath, awaiting their next victim. You hate it. Hate constantly looking upon the gilded veneer of everyone else. It isn't hypocrisy if you hate yourself just as much as everyone else for hiding yourself away.
That isn't to say there isn't a desire. To present yourself bleeding and raw on a platter to the world to finally see. Maybe they would say you were pitiful, vile even. But at least it would be real. But without this husk that you've made, you are not nearly strong enough to face their words, the worst of what you think they may say. You can't possibly hold a match to anyone else, and no one will hold back their words. So you continue to hide away.
But then, a story sparks into existence.
The self that you've hidden away for so long has revealed itself at long last. And it made a lifeline that breathed vitality into your existence.
S■■■i■an■e Af■■c■■■n
"E■i■■ym■■x"; A random mish mash of elements put together, but just like that, it became your identity to thousands of strangers.
For the first time that you could remember for a long while, you started to feel happy.
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A pair of eyes open, greeted by a waiting area. It's filled with black and green hues and would look rather meager if not for the numerous stairs, and machines filling up its space.
It's hard to breathe in this outfit. That being a purple silk gown, covered in blood stains, holes, and slashes from earlier. It's a bit of a shame. The outfit would've been beautiful. Though the corset was beginning to be a headache to deal with. No worries though. In the snap, it changes to the regular uniform—a white button-up with a chest ribbon, gray skirt, and black shoes.
Scanning the area, there was no sign of the certain someone who'd said he'd be here. A sigh of frustration is released.
Whatever. Nothing else to do but to sit back down the stairs and wait for him.
He'd get here soon, he was never one to break his promises, after all.
----
The ceremony just concluded. It's a controlled frenzy, the crowd a mixture of students bawling their eyes out in relief, some sharing pictures and elated jeers with their friends, and others just running around from their sheer excitement. Our section is called up on stage for the photos, all of us adorned in togas for the occasion.
There's a shove, my hat falling to the ground. Bending to pick it up, the flash of the camera goes off, a familiar and unpleasant face taking my spot. Whether it was on purpose or not is a useless conjecture. Who knows if I'm even in the picture.
There's an invitation to am after party, but it's swiftly declined with a solid excuse. Why be surrounded any longer by these people? There's been enough time spent dealing with their judgmental stares and scathing words.
Eager to get out of this place, I opened the door. Only for the surroundings to screech to a resounding halt, as if time itself had halted.
[System 8612 has been activated]
There's a sudden burst of light, hand instinctively coming up to shield my eyes from the brightness. Before I could open my eyes to see what it was, a grating voice accompanied it.
"Greetings peon! Be humbled for the mighty Bihyung has graced your pitiful life with his holy presence!"
Lowering my hands, a peculiar figure stood before me, sporting two small horns. The strange, fluffy creature hovered in the air, its red eyes peering enthusiastically over the blue message box still hovering distractingly in front of my face.
"What the heck?" I exclaim, trying to swat away the glowing blue text box. Try as I might, it stays stubbornly in place. "What are you, what do you want from me?"
The strange creature blinked blankly down at the human, before his expression morphed into that of disappointment. An oddly cute pout took over the being's face.
"Sheesh, no hello or anything? You humans are getting way too apathetic, always straight to the point and no screaming anymore! C'mon, can't I get a few seconds of anyone begging for their life nowadays?" It bemoaned to itself, only to be welcomed by continued confused silence. Huffing at the lacking response, the creature took a second to compose itself before getting on with the conversation.
"Hmph, well whatever, even if you are a buzzkill at least you're an efficient one. Anyways, to answer your question, this here dokkeabi is here to be your companion for this new adventure, my dear host!"
…?
Companion? Adventure? Host?
"…what in the world are you talking about?"
The…dokkeabi, was it(?)… released a frustrated sigh, tired of all the questions. Closing his eyes, he tried his best to come up with a succinct way to describe the situation. Scrunching up his eyebrows, Bihyung tapped his chin a few times before his eyes shot open again, snapping his fingers with a little victorious "Aha!" leaving his mouth.
"Okay, how about this…do you want to live?"
I blink several times, contemplating the question. Living… was I even living at all until now? The years spent wading through the dull reality that had presented itself. If that was living then…
"I don't know."
"Then do you want to die?" Bihyung questioned, his gaze searching for a response.
"…I don't know..."
Bihyung kept his eyes fixated on me, as if trying to piece apart the answers syllable by syllable. The silence continued on for a while, on the verge of becoming unbearable. The stillness was unnerving, my skin prickling from nerves.
"If you want to truly have a fulfilling life, to find out what it means to live, then I can provide you with a reason to do so," Bihyung stated solemnly.
A reason to live... no longer just staring emptily ahead watching as the days pass meaninglessly, just hoping that there something will show up to make the endless days something worth looking forward to again. Something to give this sterile but listless life just a bit of color.
Honestly, it sounds too good to be true. It HAS to be too good to be true. But standing here, having a strange creature appear out of nowhere at the world pauses in its tracks. Maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be too bad to have a little bit of hope.
Seeing the slight change in my demeanor, Bihyung encourages me further, "I promise, I'll give that and more, but only if you accept the mission I am about to give you."
"…fine, let me hear it."
Bihyung clapped his hands together excitedly, a satisfied look on his face. "Wonderful choice, you won't regret this!" Without any warning, his horns began emitting a glow, and the surroundings shifted to a new location. It was a relatively dark area with small spaces lit up in green light. For some reason numerous stairs leading to nowhere were scattered throughout the room.
"Where are we?" I asked, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Waiting room," Bihyung answered promptly as a screen materialized. After typing something into it, another screen projected in front of my face.
"Read that and sign the bottom if you agree to the requirements, please and thank you," he instructed.
-----
[Star Stream Contract]
This binding agreement, commencing upon the date of mutual acceptance, solidifies M■■■■■'s prestigious position as a distinguished host within the illustrious Star Stream system 8612. Entrusted with the pivotal role of her devoted manager, Bihyung shall meticulously oversee and coordinate all facets of her account with unwavering dedication.
In the spirit of collaboration and shared success, both parties shall equitably divide the earnings derived from M■■■■■'s courageous and visionary endeavors across the boundless cosmos. This partnership signifies a harmonious union, embarking on a journey of exploration and discovery that transcends the confines of time and space.
Signature:
________________________________________________________
----
"Hey, what does 'host' mean? Host of what?"
Bihyung rested his hand on his chin as he explained, "Well, across the cosmos there are an untold billions of stories being born into existence each day. Your mission, if you accept, would be to enter those stories and ensure that they arrive at their proper conclusions. I believe you humans have labelled such a phenomenon as 'transmigration'."
"…I…you…is this all really true…?" I looked at Bihyung in wonder, my jaw nearly dropping from my face. This was a dream, it had to be. It's the only way this could be true. There was no rhyme or reason why someone like me would be bestowed with an opportunity like this.
"Yes, trust me. Everything you've experienced up to this moment is reality, and it can continue if you so choose for it to." he affirmed with a smile, and I returned to reading the contract, only for my eyebrows to raise at a particular line of the contract.
" A fifty-fifty income split? Geez, I guess otherworldly creatures are stingy with their money too…" I muttered under my breath.
Bihyung set his lips challengingly, crossing his arms over his chest. "Excuse me, I'm a dokkeabi, thank you very much! And this dokkeabi is going to be your diligent manager, getting all the missions and stories you're going to be assigned to. It is clearly stated in the contract, in case you missed it," he hissed haughtily at me.
I glared at Bihyung, suspicious, "Why do I need a manager? You're not trying to scam me or something, are you?"
"Just sign the contract already!"
Maintaining my glare, the two of us had ourselves a bit of a staring contest, neither willing to back down. But curiosity and eagerness were my downfall, wanting to see what exactly the contract entailed. Reluctantly looking away from Bihyung, I quickly signed the contract before returning my stare to him. "There... now what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Thank you very much," Bihyung said pointedly.
"Phew, that took you ages. If I knew you'd be like this I'd bring a few snacks along the way," The screen disappeared before a new one popped up in front of the dokkeabi, the creature typing in a few new inputs into it before turning towards me to see. "Now the, here's our first mission, be sure to read everything carefully!"
---
[First Mission]
Your preliminary task entails transmigrating into the persona of a relentless and power-hungry queen willing to go to extreme lengths to fulfill her insatiable ambitions. Prepare to navigate the intricate web of court politics as you embody this formidable ruler in pursuit of her goals.
Name: Kang Seojin
Role: Antagonist
Origin: Survivance Affection
Background: In the world of the web novel "The Survival for the Crown", the main villain, Kim Dokja, has his body taken over by an ordinary wage worker by the same name who has knowledge of the story's plot..
Over the course of the story, he attempts to prevent his demise and alter the course of his character. But besides his own fate, he attempts to ensure the world's stability by impeding the queen's efforts to take down the crown prince.
Character: Kang Seojin starts as the mistress of the emperor, eventually ascending to the position of queen. Unsatisfied with her status, she plots to eliminate the crown prince, the son of the deceased empress and the main love interest of the protagonist, in order to secure the position for her own son. Her ambition drives her to dabble in dark magic, which she manipulates to benefit her son's ascent to power.
[Tasks]
- Ensure that the protagonist, Kim Dokja, and the main love interest, Yoo Joonghyuk, despise you completely. (100%)
- Facilitate the development of a romantic relationship between Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk.
- Guarantee that the body you transmigrate into meets its demise by the story's conclusion. You may choose to remain in that world, but the contract will be terminated along with your existence as a host of the system and your memories of originating from another world.
----
"Bihyung...this story…" I uttered, still unable to tear my gaze away from the screen before me.
"Yes?" he responded nonchalantly.
"I was the one who wrote this…"
"....."
"...."
"Well... at least you're familiar with the intricacies of the story now, right?"
I glared at him in frustration and asked, "Why is it necessary for me to die at the end!?"
"Well, that's the only method to ensure your return here for your subsequent mission," he explains.
"But still..." I mutter as I gaze at the screen, contemplating the situation.
"So, would you accept this mission? I can find an alternative if you prefer," Bihyung inquires, his gaze fixed on me.
I looked at the large blue 'ACCEPT' button on the screen in front of me, my fingers twitching. "... where did you even come across this, and why? It's a story of another story, how can it be considered its own narrative?"
"Well... that may be so, but that doesn't mean they don't constitute a world in their own right," Bihyung explains.
"Which means?" I prompt.
"It's still a distinct world of its own, existing similarly to you humans," he clarifies.
Does this mean that every story written and read depict real individuals in another universe? All their tragedies, the highest highs and lowest lows those characters have ever experienced for our viewing pleasure. Did the action of touching pencil to paper or typing a few words onto a computer really have the ability of birthing entire worlds in the blink of an eye? Just the thought of it hurt my head.
I clenched my hand into a fist, my nails digging into the palm of my hand. Then, tossing all the caution I had left to the wind, I brought my hand up to accept the mission.
"Okay, when do I begin this mission?" I asked, scanning my surroundings.
"Now."
"Now?"
[The system will now transfer your soul into the new world.]
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[The new world is now prepared to receive your soul]
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[Commencing transferal of conscious into the vessel Kang Seojin]
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[Transferal of consciousness, 10% complete]
Fingertips and toes begin to dissipate, the same thing quickly making its way to the elbows and knees.
[Transferal of consciousness, 30% complete]
Arms and legs have completely disappeared
[Transferal of consciousness, 50% complete]
Half of the torso has dissipated.
[Transferal of consciousness, 70% complete]
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[Transferal of consciousness, 90% complete]
Only a sliver of the face remains, eyes taking in the last of the room it will see in a long time before closing, disappearing off just as the rest of the body had.
[Transferal of consciousness, 100% complete]
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[Your soul has been transferred to the world of Survivance Affection.]
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[The transfer of Kang Seojin's memories to the new host is now complete]
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[The process is finalized, you are now Kang Seojin, antagonist of Survivance Affection]
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The 'queen's' eyes blinked open to a room too opulent to call her own. The room itself had to be at least twice the size of her house. The bed she was laying on was the softest material she'd ever felt in her life. Running a hand through the silk sheets, the cloth slipped between her fingers like water.
The bed beckoned her to lay back onto it, the pillows calling out to her. With a dreamy sigh, she almost gave in, but then Bihyung's words rang through her head again. Right, this was a mission! Bolting up, the 'queen 'hurriedly walked towards the mirror, her heels almost tripping over the absurdly long gown she was wearing. She looked at her reflection, and there she was – the queen, her long purple hair and red eyes glaring back.
She smiles with satisfaction.
The abuse hurled towards the palace staff was unfortunate but a necessity, evoking their animosity towards would not only contribute to the queen's less than pleasant reputation, but would also raise Joonghyuk's anger. Though that task in itself wouldn't be much of a challenge either, as indicated by the status window that popped up not long after she'd shown up into the world:
[Yoo Joonghyuk hates you: 60%]
The queen's character had already done a good job at establishing Joonghyuk's hatred for her, all she needed to do now was maintain and foster it to reach that 100% needed. As for the task of facilitating his relationship with Kim Dokja, not much action would be needed on her end for that particular requirement. Knowing those two, their affection will naturally blossom as long as she refrains from interference.
There was a sort of contentment in playing the irredeemable villainess, despite being hated by all the protagonists.
The emperor is easily dealt with, even if he is a headache and a nuisance to talk to. Slowly administering poison to him over the course of the story, ensured his demise by the conclusion of the novel. As for the prince…he truly was a pitiful boy. By the time she'd arrived to take over the queen's body, the original queen had already brainwashed him to a point of no return. He truly reviled Yoo Joonghyuk, his desperation for the throne just as deep as his mothers. Though subtle nudges to change the path of his character and give him a more merciful ending had been made, all were in vain. A swift death is the best conclusion he could hope for.
Other subtle alterations to the story were made, the overall narrative being somewhat maintained.
Seeing Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk become closer together was sweet, the 'queen' had to stop herself from gushing over them in public, lamenting over the fact that she couldn't get any of the characters autographs.
Before she knew it, her own conclusion had arrived.
Perhaps being stabbed by Kim Dokja could be considered a kind of autograph? A painful one at that.
----
A flicker of light materializes before me, revealing Bihyung in his true form, not the human guise he had assumed for the mission. "Hey, congratulations on completing your first mission!"
"Hey, I've been waiting for you for 30 minutes! Where were you?"
"Geesh, you really can't wait? And for your information. I was watching the beautiful wedding ceremony that was only possible by you and yours truly..."
My lips quirked down into a confused frown. "But I just finished my mission. How is that possible?"
"Well, as beings that are no longer a part of that world, time progresses forward for them but not for us. Only we and a few individuals in the other universe can witness their story," he explains. A screen materializes before him, and he starts typing something. "Anyway, aren't you curious about what people think about your performance?" he didn't bother glancing in my direction as he typed away.
I shrugged. "Sure, why not." A screen materialized before my face.
----
@reader01: "Finally, that woman has met her end!"
@iloveorange: "HAHAHAHAHAHA! FINALLY, THE WITCH IS DEAD!"
@Chuchibi: "The long-awaited day has dawned!"
@Iwanttosleep: "Hope she burns with her son in hell!"
@ihateschool: "That's right, perish, you wretch!"
@GiveSigmaacookie: I hope she burns in hell, Joongdok always wins, bitch.
@Fyodorisarat: That bitch just had to pull something like that...anyways Dokja please adopt me!!!
-----
I gaze at the comments and can't help but smile. Considering the role I had to play, it felt good to be hated. I lightly elbowed Bihyung, "C'mon, show me what happened at the end."
He furrows his brow and responds, "Hmph, how arrogant of you. You're the writer, you already know what happens don't you." However, a new screen materializes before my face. "But here, you can take a look if you want."
---
The emperor's demise was on the same night as the empress and the crown prince. To the public's astonishment and horror, it was unveiled that the empress was responsible for murdering the emperor by the palace staff themselves. As the citizens of the empire were still reeling from the revelation, the Underworld Duchy came out to reveal that the empress and her son had attempted to kill them all off, the empress a practitioner of dark magic who had puppeteered her son into becoming the infamous Raven Veil.
Even the citizens already defiant to the royal family were skeptical of their accusations, not wanting to believe that the empire's citizens had allowed a person capable of such atrocities to ascend to power. Though others held doubts for a different reason, speculating that the Duchy already had a vendetta against the queen with their close relation to Yoo Joonghyuk and murdered her to satisfy it and get the attention off of Kim Dokja.
But in response to the public's doubts, the palace staff themselves came out to confirm the accusations as being true, all the attendants, maids, and servants that had previously been abused by the empress not hesitating to finally tell the dark truth of what happened behind the palace doors each day after years of being forced to keep silent.
Not bothering to hold back as the royal palace's secrets were aired out to the public Sir Dokja took the chance to disclose the crimes of the Kang Duchy, implicating the Archduke and the empress in their direct involvement in the circulation of the 'White Kill'. With the empress already deceased, the Archduke was given a life sentence to rot away in the dungeons as the sole remaining culprit.
With that left the problem of who to become the next emperor. Of course, all eyes naturally turned to Yoo Joonghyuk, with the man being the only royal blood remaining. But he just wouldn't accept, persistent in wanting to keep the life he already had. He'd already dealt with the stress of running an empire for his whole life and wanted no part in the place that had tormented him for so long. He simply wanted to be with Kim Dokja and take care of his sister, all the while maintaining the Duchy that his true mother had originated from.
So, after rigorous discussions between nobles across the empire, a compromise was reached. Yoo Joonghyuk would keep his title as the Duke of Kaizenix, but still closely assist the next emperor and empress in acclimating to their duties to the empire and its citizens. The newly announced emperor and empress being none other than Hades and Persephone themselves. The couple had already built up a duchy whose power rivaled that of the palace and had contributed greatly in their efforts to help the poor and destitute populaces of the empire.
Of course, with any decision as large as this, it came with its fair share of detractors. Most of them were leftover supporters of the empress, or fanatics that still claim that Kim Dokja was associated with dark magic. But when it came to those people, it was best to just let the overwhelming amount of supporting voices drown them out and allow time to quell their skepticisms.
On the day of the coronation, the Seoul Empire welcomed a new emperor and empress. The empire rejoiced as it witnessed a rare occurrence - an emperor and empress who genuinely loved each other, marking a departure from the usual arranged marriages of the past century.
All the while, the Kaizenix Duchy is also witness to its first duchess after decades of the position being empty. The joy surrounding the Kaizenix Duchy's newly united duke and duchess is palpable, and discussions about the heir are swiftly resolved. Several months later, Dokja gives birth to a baby boy named Yoo Hajin, solidifying the future of the lineage.
From that moment onwards, they embark on a journey of happiness and harmony, living out their days in blissful contentment.
The end
-----
The familiar words bounced off the surface of my eyes, a smile gracing my lips. "It's the happy ending they all deserve, isn't it?" I remark, glancing up at Bihyung.
"My my, the writer herself patting her own back," he teased with a smile before posing the question, "Are you prepared for your next mission?" My smile falters slightly at the prospect.
"Really, right now? We can't get a break after letting a whole world get its happy ending?" I retort, a bit exasperated. I just let myself get stabbed through the chest for god's sake!
"Nope!" Bihyung brushes off the question causally, much to my displeasure, but his countenance brightened up much more as he started typing away on his screen. "Anyway, here's our new mission!" he announces.
As I read the contents on the screen, my worry fades, giving way to satisfaction. "Huh, I must be lucky or something…"
Bihyung furrows his brow, puzzled by my statement. "Why?"
"Well... it's another one of my stories!" I smile back at him widely before focusing back on the screen in front of me. "Forget my complaints from earlier, let's do this. I'm ready!" I declare, pressing the accept button and placing my hands on my waist confidently.
"Right on!"
[The system will now transfer your soul into the new world.]
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[The new world is now prepared to receive your soul]
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[Commencing transmigration into the ■■■]
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[Transferal of consciousness, 10% complete]
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[Transferal of consciousness, 30% complete]
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[Transferal of consciousness, 50% complete]
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[Transferal of consciousness, 70% complete]
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[Transferal of consciousness, 90% complete]
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[Transferal of consciousness, 100% complete]
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"I can't wait to meet you, N-----"
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[Your soul has been transferred to the world of Abandoned Reminiscence.]
The end