As Ju Won's consciousness slowly returned, he was met with a sense of disorientation. Groggily opening his eyes, he found himself in a lavish bedroom, surrounded by opulent furnishings that seemed to belong to someone else. The four-poster bed with velvet curtains, the crystal chandelier refracting morning light, and the polished mahogany furniture all seemed to be waiting for him, but he had no memory of how he got there. He sat up, and a gasp escaped his lips as he took in his new surroundings. His hands, once plump and soft, were now lean and strong. His skin, once a dull brown, was now pale with a warm undertone. Ju Won rushed to the mirror, his heart racing with anticipation and fear. And then, he stumbled back, shocked. Chiseled features replaced his round face, piercing red eyes stared back instead of his brown, and raven-black hair fell across his forehead.
"What madness is this?" He stared at his reflection, shocked by his newfound transformation. He frantically touched his face, making sure he wasn't dreaming. He slapped himself as a last hope. "Come on, Ju Won, what was the last thing I remember?" He hit his head, turning to recall any information. 'Last thing I remember' the words still lingered in his mind like an unsolved puzzle. Car accident. Embezzlement. White light. A few words came flashing into his mind along with a headache. Trying to slap his brain to get the meaning of the words. "I got it!" He exclaimed. His boss, Mr. Kim called him into his office. The auditing team discovered his illegal transactions of the recent months. Remembered, he was escorted out by the security. And embezzlement charges. The next thing he recalls is driving, and everything went black for a little while... Then, the light! No, the man made of light. "Wait! Does this mean I'm dead? Is this heaven?" He questioned.
A light laugh rang throughout the spacious room. "You truly amuse me." Ju Won looked around the room, searching for the owner of the voice, but to no luck. There was no one other than himself here. Ju Won stood in the empty room, facing the mysterious voice. The Voice spoke, "Your tale was a tragedy. I offer a twisted encore – play your part wisely." Ju Won looked around, still unable to locate the voice's source. Ju Won asked cautiously. "What do you mean? What encore?" The Voice replied, "Awaken, Ju Won. Your new story begins..." Ju Won's consciousness faded to black again..."
~◇~
Ju Won opened his eyes and found himself standing in a void of darkness. He frantically looked around, but all he could see was a tiny spot of light in the distance. He remembered that last he was in a lavish bedroom in body that wasn't his own. He looked at his hands, still lean and strong and not his own.
"Who am I?" He shouted, but only his echo replied.
He clenched his fist and took one step, then jogged until he was running towards the small light. The more he ran, the bigger the light became.
Ju Won's heart was racing as he sprinted towards the light. Memories of the face he now owns flashed before him; childhood in a grand estate, family struggles, magic, and his own sense of inadequacy. Ju Won's past life as a software developer in Seoul was also rushed by his mundane routine, his embezzlement, and his desperate attempt to escape the consequences leading to his death.
As he ran, the memories swirled together, creating a dizzying kaleidoscope of emotions. Ju Won felt like he was losing himself in the chaos, but he refused to give up.
The light grew bigger, illuminating his part. He memories slowed, and Ju Won's focus narrowed to the tiny spot of light.
Suddenly, the light enveloped him, and he felt himself being pulled into a new reality. As the light faded, Ju Won found himself standing in a vast, open plain. The sky above was a brilliant blue, with not a cloud in sight. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the sound of birds singing in the distance. He looked around, trying to take it all in, but everything seemed to be shifting and changing before his eyes.
A figure appeared before him, shrouded in a halo of light. Ju Won's heart skipped a beat as the figure spoke, "Welcome, Ju Won. You have been given a second chance. A chance to rewrite your past, to change the course of your destiny."
Ju Won's mind reeled as he tried to process what was happening. "What do you mean?" He asked, his voice shaking with emotion.
The figure smiled, "You will be reincarnated into a new life. A life that is not your own. As Alistair Rowley Coastillon, the villain, in a story you once read."
Ju Won's eyes widened in shock. He remembered the book, a fantasy novel he had once read to try and impress Ruoxi. Alistair, a weak F-ranked mage who sold his soul for power, but in the end, he is brutally killed by his half-brother.
"What...what does that mean?" Ju Won stuttered, trying to wrap his head around the concept. Ju Won's mind was spinning. He was going to be reincarnated as a villain, a character he had once judged and pitied. He wasn't sure if he was ready for this...