Page by page, chapter by chapter, volume by volume, until I reached the side story. I've been reading this book for about 14 days since Leon gave it to me. Every word, sentence, and image made me feel certain that I truly can't live without stories.
This book tells the tale of a man named Kaito Deluxe and his friends as they adventure to solve mysteries scattered across various worlds. All the issues occurring in the real world are depicted here, from slavery, gender inequality, bullying, human trafficking, racism, to human rights.
This book doesn't just narrate these issues—it explains them in detail, making them one of the most captivating elements for readers.
Even the main character, the protagonist, often experiences the loss of loved ones, starting with his parents, his sibling, and his friends. I felt so sorry for him because he was the only one who survived until the final chapter, only to die and be replaced by another version of himself from a different timeline.
This story truly makes readers feel what Kaito feels. And I finally understood why the plot loops and has so many twists—it's because Kaito himself initiated his own destiny.
But I'm still curious: who created this repeating fate?
And who is the mysterious figure, the "Demon King of Chrono Abyss"?
"This book may look worn, but I never get tired of reading it becauseb… it holds memories. It's the first story I read when I was 8, and only now have I discovered its ending."
This story has no true end because it resets everything back to the beginning.
"Haaah … Alright, time to sleep. It seems I need to return this book tomorrow since the extended borrowing time is up."
I closed the book and placed it on the shelf next to my favorite book, Secret of Space (SOS).
"Oh, where's my favorite teddy bear, Pando?"
I searched for the teddy bear until I found it on my study desk.
"Goodness, why are you here?"
"Ting!"
"Huh? A message?"
I grabbed my phone and checked the message.
[-Leon: Don't forget, tomorrow we'll return the book.]
"Alright, I won't forget …"
"Ting!"
"Huh? Another message? Who's it from this time?"
This message didn't come from a chat app but from an email, and I opened it.
A message sent by someone I didn't know.
[-TWS: Hi, I'm the author of the novel Mystery of the World.]
"The author of this book? Someone like me getting a message from the novel's author? Is this real?"
For the first time, my feelings were a mix of joy, embarrassment, and pride—this was the first time an author had messaged me.
[-TWS: I want you to be my first reader to meet me at a certain place.]
"Meet? No way, right?"
[-TWS: Meet me at these coordinates.]
[-TWS: Good night, my reader.]
"OH MY GOSH! I can't wait for tomorrow!"
I was genuinely thrilled because this was the first time I'd get to meet an author of a novel I'd read.
Among all the novels I've read, not a single author has wanted to meet their fans, nor have they hidden their identity like… TWS.
"Huaah … Alright, time to sleep."
I returned to my bed, closed my eyes to rest, and prepared for tomorrow.
I slept soundly as seconds, minutes, and hours passed. Unbeknownst to me, both books began to glow as if something was happening.
[Two different books are now merging.]
[Uniting two different stories into one vessel.]
The books' light continued to glow until sunlight streamed onto my body, and my alarm started ringing.
"Beep! Beep! Beep!"
"Okay … Okay, I'm up …"
"Tik!"
"Stupid alarm! Always interrupting my sleep."
I rubbed my eyes, cleaned the gunk from my eyelids, fixed my messy hair, and glanced at the clock.
[(7:00 PM)]
"Huh? It's already 7? Oh no!"
I grabbed my towel and rushed to the bathroom.
"Don't tell me I'm late again!"
In the museum's hall, someone was waiting for it to open. They seemed impatient to explore the art inside until a staff member approached.
"Hey, young man! What are you doing here? Waiting for the museum to open?"
"Yes, sir … I can't wait to see what's inside."
"Alright, please be patient …"
The staff member left, and in their mind, the person thought:
"As long as I'm here, nothing's interesting, and my time's running out … I should place this artifact in the museum before that person finds it."
The man looked at a necklace in a jewelry box he was carrying, gazing at it with great conviction.
After showering, I fixed my hair, put on my clothes, and got ready.
"What outfit suits today?"
I wore a black undershirt paired with my white blazer, black pants, and sprayed on some perfume.
I looked at myself in the mirror, feeling neat and ready to meet the author of Mystery of the World (MOTM, the title I shortened for convenience).
I packed my belongings—phone, mirror, teddy bear, and some money. Without realizing it, I forgot to put the book in my bag.
"I haven't packed the book yet, have I?"
I grabbed the book from the shelf and felt something strange about it.
"Isn't this book thinner than before? And where's the Secret of Space book my brother gave me? Did I accidentally drop it?"
I searched the room for the SOS book but couldn't find it anywhere.
"Where did it go? Oh no, I'll get in trouble if I lost it. But … this book feels different from before. Could it be …"
I opened the first page and noticed a difference. The prologue, which should have described the protagonist's origins, was now a confusing text.
[Prologue: This book has lost its main character, weakening the foundation of its story. Are you interested in becoming the new main character, replacing the old one?]
"What does this mean?"
I threw the book down as strange words began appearing on its pages. It was as if the book was trying to pull me into the story within it.
"Ding!"
"A message?"
I grabbed my phone and saw a message from Leon, who was on his way to my apartment unit.
[-Leon: Don't forget, we're returning the book to the library, and I'm on my way to pick you up!]
[-Someone?: O-okay, I'll wait for you.]
I approached the book and noticed it was undergoing a transformation in its text. The words appearing now were unfamiliar to me.
[Don't you want to explore this world? If so, I will make it easy for you to enter it.]
[Don't worry, we will guide you well, and our main character will help you adapt to this world.]
[Meet us in our world!]
"This story … It's really …"
"Ting!"
"No! I can't think too much about this book. I'd better take it and return it to its place. After that, I'll look for my SOS book!"
I put the book in my bag and hurried downstairs to see if Leon had arrived.
I took the elevator to get to the ground floor faster, but I didn't notice my phone chiming, signaling a new message.
"Ting!"
"Don't tell me it's another message!"
I pulled my phone from my bag and checked the new message. It was another email, and I was certain it came from the author of the book.
"Another message from TWS? Does he really want this book?"
[-TWS: I'm near the museum close to the library where the book will be returned.]
[-TWS: Meet me first because I have an important message for you.]
"This person … Alright, if you want to meet me, I'll fulfill your request!"
The elevator reached the ground floor, and I hurried to the exit, heading toward the outermost courtyard of the apartment complex.
"Beep-Beep!"
"No mistake … It must be him."
A black car approached me, and its window rolled down.
"I thought you forgot our plan to return the book. Come on, get in!"
"You think I'm forgetful?!"
"N-no, I was just joking."
I opened the car door and got in. Leon floored the gas, and we left the area. Unbeknownst to me, another car carrying Garfield's group was slowly following us.
"Come on, Peter, don't be too slow! We'll lose their trail!"
"Be patient, Luis!"
"At least we can't lose track of them."
During the drive in Leon's car, he asked me something.
"How did you feel reading the book you brought?"
"It's … weird … Ever since earlier, this book has been acting strange."
"Weird? Why is it weird?"
I took the book out and tried to show him what was strange about it. But when I opened it, the oddities had vanished, replaced by paragraphs that seemed normal, though different from before.
"Why? The book's different again!"
"Huh? What's so strange about it?"
"Look at this! The story in this book is different from when you first gave it to me."
Leon glanced at the book and didn't see anything unusual.
"Nothing's changed or strange, Zira."
"You! … Fine, I'll check the novel on the web instead."
I opened the webnovel app and searched for the title Mystery of the World, but I couldn't find it.
"W-why? It's not in the search results!"
"Maybe it's just your imagination. Sit back and forget my question!"
"You … Alright."
I put the book and phone back in my bag. I focused forward again and noticed something odd in the car's side mirror.
"Someone's following us?"
"Zira, what are you thinking?"
"T-that …"
"Alright, answer my question honestly because I want to know more about you."
"Huh? So sudden?"
Leon's car stopped briefly at a red traffic light. He took a deep breath and started asking me.
"Where did your brother go? And why haven't you been to campus for the past two weeks?"
"First, my brother lives far from England. Second, I've been busy reading and researching this book. Plus, I've submitted all my assignments, so I had plenty of time to finish this novel and my favorite one."
"I knew you'd answer like that! But where do you get your money?"
"I earn money from painting, writing, and sometimes my brother gives me a bit of cash."
"And doesn't your brother visit you if he works in the same area?"
"Enough with the unimportant questions about my brother!"
Leon paused and resumed driving. I realized my tone was too harsh for someone older than me.
"Leon? I'm sorry if my words were too harsh …"
"It's okay. It's your privacy, and I'm the one who should apologize."
Unbeknownst to me, Leon's car had arrived in front of the library.
"Come on, get out. I've parked the car here."
"Alright, but before that, I want you to come with me to meet someone …"
"Who?"
Leon and I got out of the car. I took my phone and showed him the message TWS sent me.
"Look at this message."
[-TWS: Meet me at the museum near the library where the book is to be returned.]
[-TWS: I'm waiting for you!]
"Alright, if you want to meet this person, I'll go with you. Come on, Zira!"
"You don't mind, do you?"
"Not at all."
"Okay."
Leon and I started searching for the museum near the library. Unbeknownst to us, Garfield's group was secretly following us.
I didn't know whether meeting this novel's author would be a good start or just an ordinary encounter. But I felt like I was about to reunite with someone I once knew. That person was just waiting for my arrival.
"I'll give you this necklace if the museum doesn't accept my request. 'Devil Goddess of Crimson Flame,' it's been a while."
Leon and I successfully located the coordinates provided by TWS, which led us to the British Museum.
"Isn't this a paid-entry place?"
"If it's paid, I'll cover it."
"Are you sure, Leon? I actually brought enough money."
"It's fine, Zira."
"Alright then."
We both entered the museum. At the entrance, we encountered a security guard and asked him about something.
"Excuse me, sir! Can we go in? How much is the entry fee?"
"No charge … You can just go in. It's free, but there are some exhibitions that require payment if you want to see them."
"Alright, thank you, sir."
"You're welcome."
Before I stepped inside, Leon held my arm and asked me something.
"Don't be in such a rush, Zira. It feels like someone's watching us."
"Someone? Who do you mean?"
"A group, but I'm pretty sure it's them."
We both scanned the surroundings and felt something off about the place.
"Let it be. Our task now is to meet the author of this book and return it."
"Hmph … Alright then. Let's go in."
We entered the museum's interior.
Garfield's group also sneaked into the museum, quietly trailing us.
As Leon and I walked around and looked at various paintings, I came across some captivating artworks.
The first painting depicted a tree of life, sustaining the energy of life for various beings across the universe. The image was aesthetic and beautiful, with intricate details and high-quality coloring.
The second painting portrayed the goddess Athena holding a golden flame, symbolizing the spirit of glory. She was surrounded by five warriors who appeared ready to protect her.
The third painting was divided into three parts. The first showed a small demon girl being saved by a man. The second depicted the man caring for the demon girl. In the final part, the girl had evolved into a goddess-like figure, protecting the man.
"The first and second paintings are impressive, but this one?"
"Are you looking around, Zira?"
"Yeah, and Leon, maybe we should split up. You go left, and I'll go right to find the author faster and return his book."
"Alright then."
We parted ways—Leon headed to the left side of the room, and I went to the right. As I wandered around looking for the author, I noticed someone acting strangely.
I ignored them and stayed focused on finding TWS in this place.
Unbeknownst to me, that person approached me.
"Excuse me, miss! What are you doing here?"
"I … I'm looking for something."
"You seem to be lying, miss."
"I-it's … because …"
The man took out a box-shaped object from his pocket and showed it to me.
"I'll ask you a question, and you have to answer it."
"Why should I answer it?!"
"If you answer, I'll give you a gift from this box."
"A gift?"
The man gave me a faint smile, and I felt something odd. It seemed like he was planning something strange, and it was directed at me.