So Hyun was thirty years old. He worked at a small office in the city. Every day, he woke up early, rode the train, and typed on his computer until sunset. He had no girlfriend, no friends, and no dreams left. His only joy was reading fantasy novels at night.
One novel became his favorite. It was called "Legend of the Sword King Arthur." The main character, Arthur, was strong, kind, and brave. So Hyun wished he could live in that world instead of his boring life.
One rainy morning, So Hyun was running late for work. He held his umbrella and crossed the street when suddenly—BAM!
A loud crash. Screams. Tires screeching.
A truck hit him.
His body flew into the air, then slammed to the ground. He couldn't move. He couldn't breathe. Blood ran down his face. His vision turned black.
"Am I... dying?" he thought.
In his last moment, he didn't cry. He didn't scream. He just smiled weakly and whispered, "I hope... I go to a better world."
So Hyun opened his eyes.
But something was wrong.
He was not lying on the road. He was in a soft bed, inside a fancy room with gold walls and velvet curtains. It looked like a room from a rich mansion.
He sat up, confused.
Then he saw a mirror on the wall.
His face... was not his own.
His black hair was gone. Now it was golden, like sunlight. His eyes were red like fire. His skin looked rich and smooth, not tired like before.
He stood and touched his face. "Whose body... is this?"
Suddenly, a wave of pain hit his head. He fell to the floor, holding his temples.
Memories—not his—rushed into his mind.
Bullying students. Laughing at poor people. Chasing a pink-haired girl in school. Fighting with teachers. Getting into trouble.
He gasped. "Wait... I know this guy!"
This wasn't just anyone.
This was Jin Haru—the rich and cruel villain from the novel Legend of the Sword King Arthur.
So Hyun sat on the floor, his heart beating fast.
He now remembered everything about Jin Haru.
In the novel, Jin Haru was a rich student from a powerful family. He always bullied weak classmates, laughed at poor people, and acted like he was better than everyone. People feared him, but they also hated him.
He chased the healer heroine, even though she hated him.
He hated Arthur, the hero, and always tried to beat him—but always failed.
And one day… Jin Haru died. He was walking alone on the school street. A strange man in black stabbed him from behind. No one saw his killer.
So Hyun looked down at his hands. They were clean now—but they used to hurt people.
"I... I'm inside the novel," he whispered. "I'm in Jin Haru's body… but Jin Haru is dead."
He held his head.
"I was just a normal man. I liked reading stories. I didn't ask for this…"
But deep inside, he knew: this was real. This was his new life.
So Hyun stood up slowly.
The room was quiet, but his heart was loud. He walked to the window and looked outside. A big school stood in the distance—it was the magic academy from the novel.
He saw students with swords and staffs. Some flew with magic. Some trained with monsters. This world was full of danger… but also power.
"This isn't Earth," So Hyun whispered. "This is the world from the novel I read."
He now lived in the body of Jin Haru.
But he was not Jin Haru.
"I can't live like him," he said. "I won't be a bully. I won't be a villain."
He touched his chest. His heart felt heavy—but also full of fire.
"If I want to survive… I must change everything."
That day, So Hyun made a promise:
"I will not follow the story. I will become stronger. I will live my own way."