Asad typed the final line on his laptop screen and paused the cursor for a moment.
"…It's finally complete."
There was exhaustion in his eyes, but a faint sense of relief on his face.
Seven months… staying up every night… building his own world—
And today, that story was finally finished.
He opened the title page of his novel and slowly scrolled.
"The story of the Demon Lord… and the Hero who would kill him."
Asad smiled faintly.
"People will call this a villain story… but… I know what's hidden inside it."
He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and thought:
"If I were inside this world… I'd just enjoy it. I wouldn't change the story… I'd just watch…"
The room was silent except for the ticking of the clock.
Tick… tick… tick…
Asad opened his eyes.
"Alright… let me read the full story once."
He reopened his novel and began scrolling from the first page.
As he read… his expressions started changing.
"Hmm… this scene is a bit slow… but…"
"This dialogue… is strong…"
"Good… this part is emotional…"
Suddenly—
The screen flickered slightly.
Asad raised an eyebrow.
"Is the internet—?"
But in the very next moment—
POOF.
The screen's light intensified… and Asad's eyes widened.
"—WHAT—?!"
His laptop nearly slipped from his hands… but his body froze.
Everything in the room began to blur.
Walls… bed… chair… everything started dissolving.
Asad shouted,
"What is happening—?!"
But there was no answer.
A strange feeling… as if he was being pulled into something else.
Darkness…
Silence…
And then—
A sudden jolt.
Asad hit the ground.
"Ugh…"
He opened his eyes… and slowly looked at his hands.
"…What…?"
He moved his fingers.
"…This is… my body…?"
He slowly stood up.
And when he looked around—
His breath stopped.
"…This… this is…"
Dark castle walls.
Red glowing torches.
A throne… right in front of him.
And behind that throne…
A giant demon emblem.
Asad's heart began to pound.
"This… this is my novel's world…"
He spoke slowly:
"Impossible…"
He trembled as he walked forward and stopped in front of a mirror.
And when he saw his reflection—
Shock froze in his eyes.
"…?"
He was looking at himself…
But—
That face…
Was not his.
It was someone else's face…
Powerful… cold… dangerous.
Asad whispered:
"…Demon Lord…"
At that exact moment—
A name flashed in his mind.
"…the villain of my novel…"
He stepped back.
"Wait… wait…"
His breathing became faster.
"I… I'm in his body?!"
For a moment… silence.
Then—
A strange expression appeared on his face.
After the shock…
A faint smile.
"…So… I've entered my own story…"
He looked at his hands… then at the world around him.
And said slowly:
"Interesting…"
"Let's see…"
"What happens in this story…"
He took a step forward—
And from outside the door—
A sound echoed.
KNOCK… KNOCK…
A warrior's voice called out:
"Lord Demon… the Hero has appeared."
A dangerous glow appeared in Asad's eyes.
"…Hero…?"
He smiled slightly.
"Finally…"
[Chapter 1 End]