Well. Shit.
I didn't expect to open my eyes and find myself sitting shoulder to shoulder with the Almighty Yoo Joonghyuk.
His profile was carved in stone and sharpened with fury, the kind of face that made you think: ah, yes, this man could gut me with a look and still complain I was too slow at dying.
The stench of smoke and rot clung to the air. Broken buildings leaned against each other like drunks at their last party. I knew this place. I'd read this place a thousand times before.
And yet—
This wasn't right.
"Who are you?" His voice cut the silence, low and dangerous. His sword was already out, gleaming despite the blood caked along its edge.
I laughed. Because what else could I do, except laugh at my own funeral?
"Kim Dokja."
His eyes narrowed. "You shouldn't be here."
Tell me something I don't know.
I wasn't the Reader. I wasn't some omniscient narrator laughing behind the fourth wall. I was just… me.
The pathetic idiot who thought binging 3,000 chapters at 3AM was a good life decision. I know it saved me, but... Now, here I was, standing in front of the man who'd murdered gods, demons, and his own sanity, and he looked ready to add me to the list. Apparently, I've Transmigrated into my favorite novel.
I know I should be freaking out now but... Yoo Joonghyuk is right here with me. In the flesh.
"Relax," I said, hands raised, though my voice cracked. "I'm not here to stab you. Not unless you want me to, in which case—fine, I guess?"
Is it a kinky list, tho?
I shook my head with sheer force. Of course not!
His silence was worse than any threat.
Then the air rippled, a faint shimmer flashed in the sky.
A system message appeared, glowing above his shoulder like a death sentence:
[Main Scenario Updated.]
[Kill the anomaly within 10 minutes.]
[Failure to comply will result in both entities being erased.]
Oh. So I was the anomaly.
Fantastic. Totally nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all.
Notice how y'all are smiling like deranged idiots?
But oh well, what can I do?
My stomach dropped, but I forced a grin. "See? Even the universe doesn't want me here. Great, huh? You can just—"
Another line appeared.
[Alternative Option Unlocked.]
[Protect the anomaly. Progression will depend on cooperation.]
Joonghyuk's grip on his sword tightened. His expression didn't change, but the weight of his gaze pinned me harder than any blade.
"What are you," he said, voice razor-sharp, "and why do you know my name?"
I swallowed. My throat was dry. The truth? The truth was insane. The truth was I knew every single step he was going to take because I'd been reading about his misery for years.
But when your executioner is staring you down, maybe "I'm your number-one fan" isn't the smartest opening line.
So I smiled instead, every muscle in my face screaming betrayal.
"Would you believe me if I said… I'm your biggest mistake?"
The silence stretched.
Then another message popped above my head.
[The Constellations are silent.]
[The Constellations are watching.]
I gulped slowly as soon as I realized, with a sick twist in my gut, that this wasn't just Yoo Joonghyuk's regression.
This was something else. Something hungrier.
And I was the bait.
But why does he look so hot right now?