The first thing I saw was mist. I didn't know where I was. I thought I was in my room.
Then i rolled across the ground, glittering faintly under moonlight. For a second, I thought my apartment was on fire. Then I blinked, and the sky was suddenly filled with floating lanterns and stone pagodas glowing with spirit light.
"What the…?" I muttered, sitting up.
The ground beneath me wasn't my bed — it was grass. Cold, damp, and definitely not from Seoul.
That's when a voice shouted, "Intruder!"
A blade gleamed inches from my face. I froze, staring up at a man in silver robes, holding a sword that hummed with energy. His eyes glowed faintly blue.
"Who are you?" he demanded. "How did you enter Songrim?"
Songrim.
The word hit me like lightning.
Songrim.
The mage academy from Alchemy of Souls.
The fictional world I had binge-watched for two months straight.
There was only one logical conclusion: either I was dreaming… or I had somehow fallen into my favorite K-drama.
"Um…" I squeaked, forcing a smile. "A fan?"
The sword moved closer.
Okay, not a dream. Not really a dream, oh holy goodness.
Before I could panic, a metallic chime echoed in my head.
> [System Booting…]
[Welcome, Host.]
[Initializing Adored Soul System…]
[Main Objective: Become the most loved soul in Daeho.]
[Failure Condition: Soul disintegration.]
I blinked. "Excuse me, what?"
The guard frowned. "Are you speaking to me?"
> [Tutorial Mission: Smile charmingly at the first person you meet.]
[Reward: +10 Affinity Points.]
[Time Limit: 10 seconds.]
"Wait—what?!" I hissed, glancing around. "You can't just—"
> [9… 8… 7…]
"Fine!" I forced my lips into what I hoped looked like a cute smile.
"Hi… handsome?"
The man looked alarmed. "She's possessed," he muttered. "Call the soul priest!"
> [Mission Complete. Reward Granted.]
[Affinity Points: +10.]
[Host survived the first minute in Daeho.]
"Ha!"I whispered, victorious — then promptly passed out.
---
When I woke again, I was in a small wooden room. Candles flickered. The air smelled like herbs and soul stones.
A woman in white robes sat by my side, tracing runes in the air.
"You're awake," she said softly. "You're lucky. Your soul almost separated."
"Separated?" I asked. "You mean—like alchemy of—"
I stopped. She was staring at me strangely.
Great. I was about to die in my favorite show because I couldn't keep my mouth shut. Oh holy ghost come please down for me I'm about to die in my favorite kdrama.
> [New Mission: Gain Favor from the Healer of Songrim.]
[Hint: Compliment her magic.]
[Reward: +20 Soul Energy.]
I cleared my throat. "Your spellwork is… uh… flawless! Like art. If I had a camera, I'd—"
She smiled faintly. "You speak strangely, but thank you."
> [Mission Complete.]
[Soul Energy +20.]
[Unlocked: Basic Spell — Soul Flicker.]
My hands glowed faintly blue. "Whoa! I have magic?!"
> [Congratulations, Host. You have obtained your first skill.]
[Caution: Overuse may cause fainting, dizziness, or accidental explosions.]
"Explosions?!"
"Did you just say explosions?" another voice cut in — smooth, deep, and immediately familiar.
I turned.
Standing in the doorway was him — tall, composed, wearing the faintest smirk that could melt an iceberg. Oh holy god come down upon me.
Jang Uk.
My jaw dropped. "No. Way."
He tilted his head, studying me. "You seem… different."
Different? Oh, you have no idea.
"Where exactly did you come from?" he asked.
I blinked. "Um… Seoul?"
"Is that north of Jeongjingak?"
The System chimed again before I could answer.
> [Side Quest: Impress Jang Uk.]
[Reward: +100 Affinity Points.]
[Penalty: Eternal embarrassment if failed.]
"Impress him?!" I whispered. "I barely impressed my math teacher in school!"
> [Tip: Compliments are effective on emotionally repressed targets.]
"Uh, your… face," I blurted. "It's… majestic."
Silence.
Even the candles seemed to stop flickering.
Jang Uk blinked. Slowly. "Majestic?"
"I mean… powerful. Heroic. Sort of like… a tragic poem with abs."
He stared at me, long enough for me to want the ground to swallow me whole. Then, unbelievably, his lips twitched.
A laugh — quiet, brief — escaped him. "A tragic poem with abs," he repeated, shaking his head. "You might survive here after all."
> [Mission Complete!]
[Affinity Points +100.]
[Congratulations, Host. Jang Uk's Interest +5%.]
The System's voice sounded smug.
And for the first time, I realized something dangerous.
Maybe this wasn't a dream.
Maybe I really was inside the world of Alchemy of Souls.
And if that was true—
Then I had one mission:
To survive, rewrite fate, and maybe… fall in love with the man who was never meant to notice me.
Oh holy me, I wonder what will happen in the next chapter. If you want to read more of my silly dream and imagination about my favorite kdrama Alchemy Of Souls, then what are you waiting for click to see what will happen to me. Thank you.
End of Chapter 1
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