A boy sat alone in his room, staring at his mobile. On the screen, an anime character was about to die. He felt a deep sadness and an overwhelming desire to protect them. His emotions surged, and suddenly, he awakened. A portal opened before him, and he fell into it.
The next thing he knew, he was in a world identical to the anime he had been watching. Confused but excited, he took in the surroundings. He immediately set out to save the girl—the main character of this world. Soon, he realized something incredible: he could use any power he wanted, just like a world creator.
When people asked him who he was, he simply replied, "I am a traveler, just passing by." He did not interfere unnecessarily, observing the world unfold, stepping in only when needed to save the day—and then vanishing again.
A month passed like this. He wondered if he could return to his own world. Remembering the feeling of excitement and longing, he tried to open a portal. It worked. He was overjoyed to see it open and stepped through. Back in reality, he realized only a few minutes had passed.
After some days, he tried again. But this time, something was different. The portal took him to an entirely new dimension. There, a girl stood before him: small, with long ears, black hair, and blue eyes—like a fairy from a dream.
She spoke, "Hello, Creator. I am Bell from the Fairy Realm. I need to make a contract with you because you have awakened and become one of the chosen creators in the Imagery World."
He, confused, asked, "What contract? And who are the creators?"
She replied, "You are from the Human Realm, and I am from the Fairy Realm. But right now, we are both in the in-between realm. This place is called the Imagery World, where humans like you enter through awakening and create a world of their own. You can also make a contract with other fairies. But heed my warning—it may seem like godly power, but the more worlds you create, the more soul fragments and parts of yourself you lose. You must exercise restraint for your own safety."
He: So… there are more people like me who came into this world?
Fairy: Yes. Right now, there are six creators in the Imagery World. But whether you become the seventh creator or not… that will be decided by me after testing you. And if you fail, I will banish you from this world for good. We cannot have more psychos.
He: Ahh… a test? What kind of test? And why do I have to do something like that if I am the one doing the creation?
Fairy: We are observers of this world. We guide creators and enforce rules that cannot be broken. If someone breaks the rules, they must face the consequences. As for you, I have been chosen to test you and form a contract. If you pass, we will make the contract. If you fail, you will not be able to enter the Imagery World again.
He: …Okay then. What do I have to do?
Bell: …First, let me introduce myself properly. I am Bell, from the Fairy Realm. And you?
Zaraf: Ahh… Fairy Realm? So it's real… Anyway, I'm Zaraf. And I guess I'm from the Human Realm, if what you're saying is true. Because I'm really confused about reality right now. Wait… is this some kind of dream?
Bell: No. It may feel like a dream for a normal human, but this is reality. You just need to get used to it. Now, about your test…
Zaraf: …