Yulia stood frozen at the front gates, her breath caught in her throat.
Before her rose a building so grand it didn't feel real.
Tall ivory towers stretched toward the sky, their windows gleaming under the morning sun. Gold-trimmed arches framed the entrance, and beyond them lay a vast courtyard filled with students in pristine uniforms—laughing, chatting, belonging.
This wasn't just a school.
It was a world.
"…Wow."
The word slipped out before she could stop
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her worn bag. Compared to everything around her, she felt small… out of place. Like a stain on a perfect painting.
"A boarding house too…" she murmured, staring at the elegant dormitory wing visible behind the main building. "So this is where I'll be living…"
For a moment, something warm bloomed in her chest.
Maybe—just maybe—this could be a new beginning.
Then—
—Ding.
Yulia flinched.
A translucent window flickered into existence in front of her eyes.
"W-What…?"
The words weren't hers.
They floated.
Scrolling.
Alive.
[Ahhh it's starting!!]
[Our girl Julia is finally here!]
[She's going to meet Tristan today ]
[And Hunter will notice her too ]
[Iconic first arc incoming!!!]
Yulia's face drained of color.
"…What is this?"
Her hand shot up, swiping through the air.
Nothing.
The words remained.
She swatted again—harder this time.
Still there.
"…Go away."
More lines appeared, overlapping each other.
[LOL who's that girl??]
[Background extra 💀]
[Why is she swinging at the air???]
[Is she okay???]
Yulia froze.
Slowly… painfully… she became aware of the silence around her.
Students nearby had stopped talking.
They were staring.
"…Ah."
Heat rushed to her face.
"I—I just… um…"
She forced a stiff smile, lowering her hand as if nothing had happened.
No one looked convinced.
A girl whispered behind her.
"Is she… crazy?"
"I heard they let in scholarship students this year…"
Yulia's grip tightened on her bag.
The floating comments kept coming.
[Second-hand embarrassment ]
[She really is a country pumpkin ??]
[Definitely not important lol]
"…Enough."
Her voice came out small.
She dropped her hand.
Ignored it.
If she couldn't get rid of it… then she would pretend it didn't exist.
Turning away from the stares, Yulia walked quickly through the gates, her head lowered.
The comments followed her for a while—
Then gradually…
They stopped.
They were gone.
"…Room 214."
She pushed the door open.
And froze.
"…This is huge."
The room looked like something out of a dream—two beds, soft curtains, polished furniture, even a sitting area.
"…For two people?"
Slowly, she stepped inside and placed her bag down.
The silence was almost comforting
No strange screens.
No whispers.
"…See? Nothing's there anymore."
She let out a breath, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Just my imagination…"
—Ding.
Yulia jolted upright.
"…No way."
A new screen appeared.
This one was different.
Clean.
Bright.
Unavoidable.
[System Initializing…]
[Welcome, Host: Yulia]
"…Host?"
Her voice shook.
"…No, no—this is a dream."
She stood up abruptly and began swatting at it again.
"Go away—!"
Her hand passed straight through.
The screen flickered—but didn't disappear.
"…Why won't you leave?!"
She waved both hands this time, panic rising.
"Disappear!"
Suddenly—
Something popped into existence.
Right in front of her face.
"…Huh?"
A tiny floating creature hovered there
It was small, round, and slightly translucent—like a mini slime. It glowed faintly, bobbing in the air.
It blinked.
Then frowned.
"…Oi."
Yulia stared.
"…What."
The slime crossed its tiny stubby arms.
"You're really annoying, you know that?"
"…Excuse me?"
Before she could react—
TUG.
"OW—!"
Yulia yelped as the slime grabbed a strand of her hair and pulled.
"W-What are you doing?!"
"Stopping you from flailing like an idiot," it snapped. "You're embarrassing me."
"…Me?! You just—YOU PULLED MY HAIR!"
"And I'll do it again," the slime said flatly. "So calm down."
Yulia clutched her head, staring at it in disbelief.
"…What even are you?"
The slime puffed up slightly, looking offended.
"I'm your system."
"…My what?"
"Your. System." It spoke slowly, like she was the problem. "Honestly, did they send me a defective host?"
"I'm not defective!"
"You were slapping the air five seconds ago."
"…That's because of YOU!"
The slime rolled—yes, rolled—its nonexistent eyes.
"Unbelievable."
Yulia took a step back, heart pounding.
"…This isn't real."
"It is."
"…No."
"It is."
"…No."
"IT IS."
"…!"
She froze.
The slime sighed.
"…Listen carefully, because I'm only explaining this once."
It floated closer, expression turning serious.
"You're not in your normal world anymore."
Yulia's breath hitched.
"…What?"
The slime pointed upward.
"Those 'comments' you saw earlier? They weren't random."
"…Then what were they?"
A pause.
Then—
"You're inside a story."
Silence.
Yulia blinked.
"…A what?"
"A story," the slime repeated. "A novel, to be exact."
"…That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
"…Then prove it!"
The slime smirked.
"Gladly."
It snapped its tiny limb—
And the screen expanded.
[Main Quest Unlocked]
→ Conquer All Male Leads
Yulia stared at it.
"…Male… leads?"
Her mind raced.
"…Julia…"
Those comments.
"Our girl Julia…"
Her expression slowly changed.
"…So that means…"
The slime grinned.
"Yep."
"You're not the heroine."
"…!"
"And if you don't play your role right…"
The screen flickered.
[Penalty:] Erasure
Yulia's heart dropped.
"…Erased?"
"Gone," the slime said casually. "Like you were never here."
Silence filled the room.
Yulia's hands trembled slightly.
"…You've got to be kidding me…"
The slime tilted its head.
"So," it said, voice turning smug again, "ready to start your new life?"
Yulia looked at the glowing screen.
At the impossible creature in front of her.
At the life she no longer recognized.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"…I don't have a choice, do I?"
The slime smiled.
"Not really."