The boy hesitated at the threshold, his thoughts tangled in confusion and doubt. The gate creaked softly as he pushed it open, the sound resonating. "Maybe there was a change in story for me since I am a transmigrator," he said.
The washroom was sparse, almost stark in its simplicity. The only piece of furniture was the toilet, a basic need, that stood against one wall. Next to it, a medium-sized wooden tub, the kind that felt more rustic than refined, was filled with still, murky water. Beside the toilet, a full-length mirror was mounted on the wall. It was framed in simple wood, the varnish on it faintly faded from years of use. The glass, although not cracked, held a strange quality.
The mirror was only three steps away, yet with each move he made, the distance between him and it seemed to grow. The excitement that had once pulsed through him, the thrill of curiosity - none of it was there now. Instead, an unsettling weight pressed down on his chest, growing heavier with every step. His feet felt as though they were dragging through thick mud, his body reluctant to move forward.
STEP!
STEP!
The boy stood directly in front of the mirror now, his body rigid, his head facing downwards in silence. His eyes were fixated on the floor, avoiding the reflection in the mirror that seemed to pull at him with an invisible force.
"Just how bad will it be? I'm sure with my knowledge, I can somehow manage… even if I'm not a main character, but a side character."
The boy clenched his fist, the tightness in his grip a brief spark of defiance. With a sudden, forceful motion, he jerked his head upward, his eyes locking onto the mirror. As soon as his gaze locked with the gaze reflected inside the mirror, a strange stillness washed over him, freezing him in place.
SILENCE
In the mirror, the boy saw an image that was both his own and yet, so foreign. It was a face that could hardly be called striking, let alone beautiful, especially not in a fantasy world filled with mythical heroes and gods. There was nothing about the face that screamed strength or elegance. No chiseled jawline, no high cheekbones, the face before him was an ordinary one, a face that could be easily lost in a crowd, forgotten the moment someone looked away.
The black hair was simple, falling in untamed waves, framing the boy's face with its mundane nature. His skin was fair, neither too pale nor tanned, but just… average. His physique mirrored the same mediocrity, neither lean nor muscular, lacking the grace of a swordsman or the build of a warrior. The only striking parts were the eyes, like burning embers smoldering in the dark, they held an intensity that everything else about the boy's appearance lacked.
The boy came to a standstill, his body frozen in place, as his eyes locked onto his own reflection. A single question echoed through his entire being:
"Who in the fucking hell is this?" The boy's voice spilled out, thick with confusion, as his gaze remained locked on the reflection in the mirror.
This face was something he had never seen before, not even after all the countless times he had cleared the game. It was almost absurd to think about, considering how many times he had navigated through its worlds, met its characters, and explored its depths. It was exaggerated to say that he clearly remembered every single face inside the game: the faces of the main characters, the side characters, including the NPCs or can he even call them NPCs now? When this world is now a reality.
"Even if I somehow don't remember a single face, I do remember the ones of those who are related to the Academy."
The Academy was the heart of the entire story. It was where everything converged—the heroes, the villains, the hidden factions, the secret alliances, the twists, and the betrayals. For someone who had played the game for years, it was impossible to forget any character, who was tied to the Academy.
He could give a guarantee of 200% that this character was not once related to the Academy or any other significant event outside of it.
[It looks like your excitement is gone. HOST.] A mechanical voice spoke in his head, its tone flat and emotionless, cutting through the silence.
"Who?" asked the boy, as he nearly jumped a foot. The sudden robotic voice had pierced through his deep thoughts, causing his heart to race.
[Why ask that? You should be able to guess since you have read those novels that you were proclaiming before. But since it's my job, I will introduce myself. I am the 'System' that will help your future endeavors in this world. Let's get along, Host.] The mechanical voice echoed again, dripping with an almost smug tone as if it knew something the boy hadn't quite figured out yet.
The boy, his mind still reeling from the shock of the situation, couldn't quite focus on the System's words. And yet, the System spoke to him as if it were simply a part of the scenery. "Fine," he muttered, his voice flat. He rubbed his temples, trying to shake off the tension that had built up over the last few minutes. "I'll play along for now."
"What is the name of this body?" asked the boy.
[Adlet]
He waited in silence, staring at his reflection as if expecting some additional explanation. But there was nothing. The mechanical voice had fallen silent, and the tension in the room grew thicker by the second.
"What's the deal?" he muttered, shifting uncomfortably. "That's it? Just the name?"
[You just asked for the name] The boy's eyes narrowed as the System's voice echoed in his mind, its mechanical tone flat and emotionless as usual, but somehow, this time, there was an undertone that felt… off. Almost as if it was mocking him, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why.
"Give me some background info on this body," he demanded, frustration creeping into his voice.
[Long one or Short one]
"Long one." Said the boy.
[Not Applicable. Only Short One is currently available right now.]
"SO, WHY EVEN GIVE A CHOICE?" he shouted angrily. His voice echoed off the walls, but no one answered. "You know what, just give me the short one. My mind is not in the statement of argument right now."
[This body belongs to the exiled heir of the CINDERGARDE Family.]
.........
My apologies to my dear readers for not uploading yesterday, I will make sure to cover for the missing chapter very soon.