[Congratulations, you have unlocked Forbidden Knowledge.]
[Gift Acquired: Keeper of the Forbidden Knowledge.]
"Huh?"
'Forbidden Knowledge? Ah, the novel.'
My mind was eerily calm, I had just gotten a grip on the reality of the situation–this world isn't real. My friends, family, and life. All of it meant nothing.
"Hah..."
I looked up towards the night sky, the moon peered over the dark clouds as if it was a witness to the reality I had found.
The alleyway was still dark, damp, and trash cluttered all around the edges and on the floor.
It felt like the cold; heavy darkness was creeping up around me as the cold air of the night brushed across my body sheltered by ruined clothes.
"Status."
'Surely, something changed.'
–Status–
Name: Lumen Kalov
Rank: F-
Strength: F -
Agility: F
Endurance: F
Stamina: F-
Mana: F-
Gifts:
[Keeper of The Forbidden Knowledge] - Mental endurance and Will are significantly boosted - Access to "The Lifeless Hero of Light" novel - Access to [True Knowledge]
Skills:
[True Knowledge] - Information cannot hide from you or be forcefully taken from you.
[???] ➨ [Plot Armor] - As the Main Character, the plot revolves around you.
Abilities:
[Swordsmanship - Novice III]
"Ah..."
'That's right I am the main character. Does that mean I can't die? Should I test it? No, no I shouldn't test my luck.'
I scrolled across the cold air as I touched an invisible blue screen in front of me taking in my newfound abilities.
'Information cannot hide from me? What does that even mean, is it just like good luck or like a lie detector? Ugh, this is too much to think about. The answers will come to me eventually. I mean it can't hide from me.'
I began skimming through the pages of "The Lifeless Hero of Light." To me, the name was well irritating, but it was relatively true for the novel.
'After this event, I'm supposed to be severely depressed. I hide in the slum, sleeping and wasting away. What happened? I went from desperately clutching my hair and breaking down to this.'
My eyes snapped back to my Status Screen, the bright blue screen, and I looked at a specific description. [Mental endurance and Will are significantly boosted]
'I need to get out of here.'
I brushed my hand through my dirty, wet golden blonde hair as I picked myself up.
My steps were slow and steady, a stark contrast to the desperate running I had showcased before.
'Two months from now, I had run out of money I saved up and I was kicked out the of inn. After that, I saw no point in living any longer.'
In the novel, I, Lumen with no sense of life headed to the forest to hang myself with a rope I bought with money I had borrowed. Though, of course, I found The Fruit of Purity instead.
'I should head home, I have [Plot Armor]. It'll be fine.'
After a while, the night had long since set as it was reaching late.
I pulled out my phone from my utterly ruined pants, and the small bright screen illuminated in front of me.
'It's already 4 am, but I'm here.'
The walk felt lighter than before. The pain in my legs and arms seemed to be negligible as if I had grown numb to it.
[Plot Armor has Activated]
As I looked up to my window on the fourth floor, a bright, deep blue light dimly lit the ceiling of my room.
'Magic?'
I walked in and settled in the elevator, this place was just before the border between the slums and the city. I had managed to get it for a steal due to that.
The door of my room was completely open, and the box containing–
"Reyna..."
I longingly looked towards the floor where the box used to be, I remembered her lifeless dead eyes and well-kept flesh.
However, my eyes only slightly watered, I couldn't cry even if my heart was screaming at me too–I just couldn't.
I slightly bit my bottom lip and made my way inside my room.
Traces of mana were evident, they were sloppy, the entire room was ransacked, and my things were scattered all across the floor.
I closed and locked my door, carefully dodging the mess of items on my floor, I made my way to my shower.
I slowly washed off the dirt and filthy, brown water that clung to my figure and golden hair.
I looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes–they seemed cold, distant. They were red just like Reyna's, yet they were nothing like hers.
A soft chuckle escaped my mouth, a mix of self-deprecation and my stark reality.
My skin was porcelain white like a doll, it was unscathed and untouched by the world even after all I had been through.
My face was well chiseled, and every part of it worked together in a beautiful harmony as if it was carefully decorated by the gods.
'I really am the protagonist. How didn't I notice I was so handsome? I'm prettier than most girls.'
My deep red eyes slightly narrowed, and I could see it, a small smirk blooming on my face.
"Heh, I really am a heavenly beauty."
With my handsomely, gorgeous, golden brows and a jawli–Okay, maybe I should just shut up.
I grabbed a cheap sword that I had bought a while ago, and I began heading out the door.
'I shouldn't stay and rest for too long'
The moment I stepped out the door.
Bang–the boom of a gunshot rang in my ears as a bullet whizzed past me.
"It seems you came back. Maybe, you're not as smart as they say, detective."
A sneer laced with mockery and scorn; the man quickly adjusted his black velvety gloves as he spoke.
"Looks like I'm gonna have to get my hands dirty."
[The Plot Has Shifted]
[Plot Armor Has Weakened]
My foot skidded across the ground, launching myself towards him. In a blur, my sword met his bullets as shots rang out.
"Your shots are predictable, even someone as weak as me could probably defeat you."
His face slightly disgruntled, his finger began slamming on the trigger, and I scurried across the floor dodging the few bullets he had shot.
"You know, the harder you hit it, the slower the bullets come out. Though definitely not as slow as your reaction time."
The butt of my sword landed square on his chin, and I slashed down at his leg in quick succession.
Blood oozed, dripping from the now stub as I planted my sword dead in his chest.
"Hhah... Haahh... Haghh..."
My breath was heavy, gasping for air, I had slightly overexerted myself.
'I need to get out of here. I'm lucky that guy was a dumbass, but I might not be so lucky if the plot keeps shifting.'
[Plot Armor] had weakened, but I can still see it, my luck is still relatively good, but it might not be for very much longer.
I began dashing out of the apartment, bolting it down the stairs, the elevator was simply too slow.
'The forest west of the slums, I need to get there. The gate isn't too far from me.'
I ran across the roads, not even worried about any cars that might run me over.
'What the fuck even is this world; there's a medieval slum right next to a goddamn modern city. You damn shitty author.'
All my life, this seemed incredibly normal as if it was the status quo, novels depicting entirely modern worlds seemed like sci-fi.
'The technology here is completely fucked.'
My steps were heavy yet steady as I ran, my golden hair brushing through the cold, damp air.
'The gate'
There it was a black, metal fence with a locked gate at the forefront. Behind it sat a forest of green, the trees softly swaying in the wind, unseen movement of all kinds hushing between the trees.
My hand launched up hanging onto the top of the metal fence, I yanked myself up in an instant landing squarely on my feet.
The animals around me scurried away as I began running towards my destination once more.
'Eventually, they'll find the body or notice he's gone. My apartment most likely won't be safe for a while.'
I'd imagine they'd notice he left without coming back, and they'd camp in my house waiting for me.
I slid across the floor anchoring my hand on a nearby tree as I looked at the place.
Lumen's head hung low; in his mind, he couldn't help but think this place was ethereal. The moonlight highlighted the glistening water as it shined. Misty water crashed as the light poured on it encasing it in a shimmering light. 'This was the place,' he thought to himself. The place his story will end.
"It truly is beautiful, absolutely beautiful..."
'That bastard author truly did describe it well.
My voice trailed off; my mouth was slightly agape at the sight of the moonlight basking against the water. In a life full of blood and sacrifice, I thought to myself,
'I wouldn't mind dying here.'
It was by far the most beautiful sight I had seen in my life.
And in the middle sat a small island, it seemed like the moonlight purposely shined on the ethereal fruit. A soft green glow resonated from it as the moon highlighted its most prominent features.
'This was the tree he wanted... to hang himself on, well before eating that fruit.'
The fruit when eaten made you instantaneously pass out as it removed the impurities and enhanced your body. When the impurities oozed out of his body, it had washed away the rope as well.
'[Plot Armor] a truly busted skill, sadly I don't think I can use it. Because I don't plan to sit here and have my fate chosen for me.'
To me, [Plot Armor], was the most infuriating skill ever. A reminder of my fate, a reminder of the reality of this world.