BEFORE REBIRTH....
*******
After wasting half of his life flopping in the entertainment industry, Seo Yujin died in the most pathetic way possible.
He choked on a cupcake.
His fruitless years of struggling to make it in the entertainment industry as a mere male omega ended with his quick and silly death.
An industry where it is considered "a taboo" for male omegas to be part of, talk more of even making it big.
His miserable years of also struggling to survive in this unfair world system where male omegas were treated like trash all ended in his death.
And only after his death did Yujin figure out why his trashy status and life as a male omega were extra trashy (compared to some other male omegas).
---
Seo Yujin found himself in a strange scenery after his death.
Everywhere was plain white.
He was standing in a line. A line with other people also in it.
All were dressed in plain white attire, heading in a particular direction.
He looked around. "Where am I? Am I already in the afterlife?" he thought.
Everywhere did look like the afterlife, except there was a huge signboard ahead that read:
CHARACTER AFTERLIFE: [USELESS CHARACTER SECTION]
He didn't understand what that meant, neither did he understand why it was even there.
He also couldn't smell any pheromones from anyone there. Meaning that the people there probably weren't alphas or omegas or anything.
He didn't know if they were betas. He wasn't sure. But the fact was that he knew something was off.
Still, he followed the line until he got to the front. A man was casually sitting there, legs crossed on the white table.
He wore a golden shirt and pants. In his hands was a book which he was flipping through casually, a cup of drink resting on the table.
He didn't seem enthusiastic about the work he was doing.
"Where am I?" Yujin asked the expected question.
The man sighed. It was a common question he got from everyone who came in line here, so he casually replied:
"You already died from the previous novel you were in. Now you're in the character afterlife, ready to be sent off into another novel."
Yujin blinked. "What? What do you mean... What are you even talking about...?"
He didn't understand the revelation this man was making.
But the man was patient enough to explain further. He explained how Yujin was actually a cannon fodder character in the previous life he died in.
A cannon fodder in a novel called The Alphas Want Me Alone—an ongoing straight omegaverse novel.
"A cannon what...?" Yujin blinked. All he knew as reality was crumbling before his eyes at that moment.
At that moment, he realized that all he lived was a novel. He was someone's writing, and he wasn't even a lead character. Not even a supporting role, a side role, or a villain.
He was a freaking cannon fodder!! In a freaking straight novel?! A disposable character for a straight couple's love story?!
Now Yujin understood why his life was extra trashy as a male omega.
The life of a male omega in that universe was already terrible. In a world where female omegas were considered normal and male omegas were tagged "abnormal" and treated like trash, Yujin was expected to live trashy.
But the fact that he was only a cannon fodder in the novel throughout his entire life said a lot!
His failed career choices in the entertainment industry at large—from an idol, to an actor, to even a model.
His failed love life.
His failed financial and even social life.
His failed LIFE in general.
It was all clear now: the author didn't even care about him. The author probably didn't even notice him.
"... So sign here and take that door and you'll be assigned to another novel world." The man interrupted his thoughts and presented him with a paper.
Yujin stared at the paper.
It was like a document of details about his past life. His name, date of birth, status as a male omega, date of death, and a few non-detailed pieces of information...
And then, his role as a cannon fodder.
Yujin blinked while staring at the bio-data of his past novel life on the paper—it was pathetic and short.
He guessed the ones for the male leads or so would be more detailed and attractive.
"Sign it and let's get this done with. Other useless characters are also waiting in line to be signed off. I'm already getting tired." The man didn't look happy with his job.
"What novel do I enter into when I pass through that door? What role?" Yujin questioned.
The man blinked. "It throws you randomly into different works depending on when any author needs inspiration for a character that you might suit."
Yujin paused. "So I don't know what work I'm going in or what role I'll be taking??"
"Exactly. So sign and spare me some peace."
"What if I get another cannon fodder role...?" Yujin asked.
He shrugged. "You're most likely to. You do have the features of one. So they're likely going to picture you when they need inspiration for a cannon fodder."
Yujin looked at himself. He was still in his 30s. Not so young, not so good-looking to be tagged a main character personality.
He could say he was the perfect cannon fodder character picture any author would automatically pen down to dispose of.
Ordinary.
Yujin shook his head. "I can't go into another novel world. I might become another cannon fodder. And worse... I might not get the opportunity to even get near the entertainment industry."
Even though Yujin hated his previous life as a cannon fodder, he was still grateful for one thing:
That he was a cannon fodder who actually got into the entertainment industry.
It had always been his dream to be a part of it.
So he didn't know if this novel world would even give him the chance to join the industry. He might actually be a farm-oriented worker in the next book!
And he doubted he'd even remember any of this if he entered a new world. So he wouldn't know that he once dreamt of being in the entertainment industry.
"So what do you want? Do you want to go back to the same novel?" The man casually asked, exhausted.
"Can I?" Yujin's interest was piqued.
The man sighed. "Since the novel is still ongoing, yes. You can go back and still relive the same pathetic life for as long as you want."
"I can?" Yujin sounded excited. "Then I want to."
He would be glad to go back to a world he was sure of. One he was sure he could get a taste of the entertainment industry world at least.
At least he'd get the opportunity to do things differently. Or hopefully try.
The man stared at him. "You want that? Do you know you'll still be the same cannon fodder no matter how many times you go back? Going through the same pathetic cycle and coming back here. Is it worth it?"
"Yes. It is. I want to go back and relive it," Yujin said as he mumbled to himself: This time, live it better.
The man sighed as he closed the document before him. "Okay. Sure. Go through that other door." He pointed to another door at the side.
"But..." The man added. "It can come with some effects. Mostly negative. And you can never escape being the cannon fodder no matter how hard you try in multiple cycles..."
"Thanks a lot!!" Yujin was super excited about the second chance he was getting that he didn't bother with the details of what this man was saying.
To him, he was okay with anything as long as he got a second chance!
He happily grabbed the man by his hands, shaking him so excitedly that the drink on the table spilled and even splashed on Yujin's hands too.
"Ah... sorry," Seo Yujin smiled.
"Sure. Go already. Whatever," the man said.
Yujin didn't wait. He quickly turned and rushed off, heading for the yellow door at the other end.
He soon arrived at the portal-like door and ran into it, disappearing into yellowish dust.
The man sighed as he stared at his file. "He's probably gonna be back soon since the timeline for the novel is like some hours here..."
The man paused as he recalled something. "Oh well. He doesn't know that he won't remember his past, probably why he'll keep reliving through the cycle."
He sighed. "He didn't even listen to the rules of the negative side effects..."
Now the man paused as he stared at the drink that spilled—the one that also splashed on Yujin's hands.
He blinked, horrified. The man looked around as if someone was watching him. And then he muttered:
"Oh no..."
For this god's drink that touched Yujin did something grand for him.
It preserved his memory in his rebirth.
And did the ultimate deed of turning potential negative effects into an ultimate armor of aura and super irresistible pheromones.