The Story is Told to the Protagonist.

“The philosopher Nietzsche left this quote…”

I scribbled on my notebook while listening to the lecture with one ear.

It was a novel I wrote when I was young. A failure that I ended with a bad ending.

It’s already a finished story. But with lingering attachment, ideas for a better ending kept coming to mind.

‘… It’s not like I wanted to write a bad ending either.’

Who am I making excuses to?

Other authors might be different, but in my case, the characters came to life. I merely transcribed their stories into words.

So even when they suffered, I had no choice but to write it as is.

But I didn’t know it would be a bad ending.

Filled with regret, I keep adding ‘what ifs’.

‘What if the protagonist’s team had a proper close-range DPS tank…’

I always felt they were one person short.

So I often have this delusion. If I entered the story and traveled with the protagonist.

‘Abilities…’

I scrawled on my notebook as thoughts came.

Reversed Heavenly Body. The potential to become the strongest close-range damage dealer.

‘Reverse mana flows through the body, nullifying all magic attacks and defenses.’

Wow, such an elementary school level what-if.

Literally scribble level. Perfect for writing in the corner of a notebook during a lecture.

Still, I let the pen flow with my stream of consciousness.

It’s a trait the protagonist’s party needs, but it’s unbalanced. You can’t have such an endgame trait from the start.

‘There should be penalties too.’

-The power is so immense that using the trait causes damage to accumulate in the body.

-Mana Disability. Unable to use mana that everyone else uses in normal ways.

After writing this, I couldn’t help but laugh. What are you doing, adding set-up to a novel that’s already finished?

‘But if there really was a character with this ability…’

The story might have flowed a bit more rightly…

“Hey.”

I looked up. I saw a big belly—well, buttons on a striped shirt about to burst off the person’s belly.

I looked up more. A professor who had approached unnoticed was looking down at me and my doodles.

“Ah, sorry…”

Smack!

Something hit my head.

“What are you doing?”

I couldn’t immediately grasp the situation.

What? Did he just hit me? For doodling during the lecture?

Not even in elementary school, but university?

I looked at the professor again. He was holding a stack of printouts in his hand.

‘He hit me with that?’

It’s a situation I’ve never faced before. Dumbfounded, no words of protest come out.

“Student Kang Noah. What are you doing, not paying attention in class?”

Professor Hong-guk. I knew he was someone who abused his power and went too far. Still, this is too unreasonable.

‘…I feel like I’m missing something.’

Looking around, dozens of students’ gazes are focused this way. Their eyes are also wide, as if they can’t understand the situation.

I hear someone whispering.

“See? I told you that jerk was acting up because he’s backed by that person…”

“What are you talking about? He’s doing this because of Yoon Sung-bin? Why? What does he gain from defending a criminal like the professor?”

Professor Hong-guk’s face also reddens as if he remembered shame. But he juts his belly out even more and now pokes me with a finger instead of the notebook.

“Yeah. I’m the supervising professor. So what? Are you arguing for guilt by association? Or is your violent nature whispering to beat me down too? What do you want to say? Huh?”

He’s speaking in a trembling voice, pretending to be calm but filled with agitation.

My older brother, the student sitting next to me, tapped my arm. I glanced at him, and he shook his head worriedly.

I know what he means.

He’s a professor with immense power within the school.
He concurrently holds a position in a related academic society, and his students are scattered throughout famous middle and high schools nationwide. As such, he can influence teaching jobs even after graduation.

He frequently and openly acts out, to the point there are rumors he has connections to the university president.

Especially now, right before teaching practice assignments. I’m also starting my teaching practicum at Hansung High School soon.

As always, since I was young, my brother has always been right. Getting on Professor Hong-guk’s bad side is burdensome in many ways.

I’m not totally lacking in reason either. I could endure this level of harassment.

But not this time.

“You were his accomplice.”

“This, this…”

“It all came out after he got beat up a bit. The microcameras were purchased with your research funds. You always made the plans. And…”

“Without any evidence! You dare accuse me-”

“This wasn’t the first time.”

The professor’s words halted.

“I wonder how many you collected over the past few months.”

From somewhere, a female student let out a small voice.

“No way… Is that true…?”

The professor whipped his head in that direction, but flinched instead. All the students were glaring at him.

“The evidence will be on your laptop or cloud.”

My brother grabbed my arm. I shook off his hand.

“What.”

It’s right to expose this now with everyone watching. That way, he can’t do it again, even to save face.

“Th-this, you, you…”

The professor shakes with rage. From his neck to his exposed bald head, he turns red as a tomato.

“You, you crazy son of a bitch!!”

He starts wildly swinging the notebook now. I quietly let him hit me while looking into his eyes.

Smack, smack!

“You, who only know violence, you insect! How dare you! Mock me! With one word from me, a piece of trash like you-”

The sound of a video recording came from somewhere.

Ding-a-ling!

Startled, he stops his hand and quickly surveys the surroundings.

“Who was that!”

But even looking around, there are only dozens of glaring eyes, no one openly holding up a cell phone.

After glancing around a few times, the professor glared at me again, the culprit. Now, even his eyes are bloodshot.

“You violent thug-like bastard! Someone like you will definitely cause problems even after being dispatched as a student teacher! You’ll beat your students just like you were beaten by your father growing up!”

I can’t listen anymore. I shot up from my seat.

Crash!

My brother also stood up at the professor’s words just now. My chair and the one next to me fell over together.

Now, my brother and I look down at the professor. A shadow falls over the professor’s body.

As if realizing something went wrong now that we’re facing each other, he tucks his head in and steps back.

“Th-this…”

After alternating between turning red and blue for a moment, he runs to the lecture hall door as if fleeing.

And he yells while grabbing the door handle.

“Y-you bastard, I’ll see you at the Hansung High graduation ceremony tomorrow! I have many students there since it’s a prestigious school. I’ll make your teaching practicum a living hell! I will definitely! I’ll go see you at the graduation ceremony tomorrow!”

What?

“See tomorrow if it’s the world ending or your life ruined!”

I frowned. Is he already planning revenge for tomorrow?

Before I can say anything, he slams the door and leaves.

“Whew…”

My brother sighs. I give my brother a thumbs up.

“Nice assist.”

“Dude.”

“Oh, why, you looked ready to throw a punch yourself.”

“Why are you sticking your neck out and taking a loss.”

“The teaching assistant thing was buried too. If rumors spread, he won’t be able to do it again.”

“…Still, you need to look after yourself first. He says he’ll follow you to school tomorrow. What will you do.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

I give a casual reply, but my brother raises an eyebrow.

“Huh? Ah…”

What’s this about, I thought, but he’s not mad at me. My brother is turning his head and glaring at the people in the lecture hall.

Everyone is going about their business as if asking what happened.

Taking notes even though class is over or hurriedly preparing to leave.

They deliberately avoid looking this way.

Just as I hesitated to stand up to him directly, they were afraid of getting on the professor’s bad side.
They probably don’t want to get involved with me now.

“Let it go.”

“You see? There’s no point in being a pushover for others. This is bullshit.”

He openly scolds them in a voice the whole lecture hall can hear. I’m the one getting embarrassed.

“Whoa… Why are you like this.”

Look, the speed they’re leaving is getting faster.

My brother has an overbearing side to everyone except family. He may not resort to violence like me anymore, but he occasionally becomes just as eccentric as me.

‘He’s such a kind brother to family, though.’

I brush it off and crouch to gather my scattered notes and handouts.

Suddenly, a faint shampoo scent tickles my nose, and long, straight hair appears in the corner of my vision.

‘Huh?’

My classmate Yang Soo-yeon brushes by my side and helps pick up my notes.

“Here!”

“Thanks.”

That’s unexpected. What if the professor finds out she helped me.

“Don’t mention it. We should be thanking you, Noah.”

“I figured as much.”

I shrug in agreement.

I’m not showing off that I exposed his crimes.
The department atmosphere will probably change starting tomorrow.

“Thanks to you, it might become a bit more livable around here.”

“If they have any sense, they’ll smarten up on their own.”

Professor Hong-guk committed wrongdoings against the students and is frequently power-tripping.
He always stiffened the department atmosphere, and everyone was constantly anxious watching his mood.

But it’ll be a bit different now.

Yang Soo-yeon checks her phone and giggles.

“Wow, look at the speed of posts going up on the school community.”

“What?”

Ah shit, being the center of gossip is tiring. Rumors spreading about me standing up to the professor…

“”

“Pft!”

Wh-what did it say?

“The likes already passed 80. With this many, isn’t it basically everyone who was in the lecture hall? The rumors will spread super fast.”

I guess that’s one relief. If public opinion is at that level, I don’t need to worry about future issues arising from rumors.

Yang Soo-yeon, who was giggling together with me, suddenly stares intently into my eyes.

“What? Spit it out.”

“You know, I think what your brother said is right too.”

“Mm.”

“You did that to help us, but in the end, you’re the one who’ll get in trouble. On top of that, you could’ve faced huge consequences for the teaching assistant incident. It’s violence after all. What if he pressed charges.”

She’s quite honest to say this to my face. A bit meddlesome too.

‘But, well… It does seem like she’s saying it for my sake.’

Should I be honest with her too?

“I didn’t step up to help you guys?”

“Huh?”

“Am I a pushover?”

“Th-then?”

“I wanted to beat him up. So I did.”

Yang Soo-yeon makes a dumbfounded expression with her mouth open. Then she burst out laughing.

“Then there’s no helping it!”

Then she laughs and playfully hits my chest. What’s with her?

I put aside thoughts about Professor Hong-guk’s revenge or rumors.
I already acted according to my personality, and worrying about it now won’t solve anything.

‘Let’s focus on tomorrow’s teaching practicum.’

Fretting over things like this doesn’t suit my personality.

“Thanks for the notebook.”

“Sure. Good luck with your teaching practicum! If the professor really says anything, just beat him up!”

With that, I ended my conversation with her and left the lecture hall.

It was the last ordinary moment granted to me.

***

Ooh, cold.

“Please take our picture!”

“Yes?”

Before I know it, a cell phone is forcibly handed to me. The case is plastered with stickers.
Female students in uniforms and parkas rush to a spot and strike a pose.

‘It’s an iPhone…’

I’m so tech illiterate that my mind blanks whenever I touch an iPhone. I guess I take the photo like this?

Click!

“Thank you!”

“You’re welcome. Congratulations on graduating.”

“You’re so handsome!”

Cackling for some reason, they run off.

‘What a nice sight.’

The auditorium is filled with male and female students and spectators.

Fresh uniforms, bright faces, excitement showing without concealment.

‘Everyone is holding a bouquet of flowers.’

Standing at the auditorium entrance and looking around at the pleasant scene, I turn around and frown.

My brother enters the auditorium with a grin.

“What the.”

Why did he buy a bouquet?

No, why did he come in the first place? He’s not doing his teaching practicum like me.

“Isn’t this a special event? I came to see.”

“Ah, why do you remember…”

He’s talking about my novel, since my brother is the only person who’s read my writing, although only the beginning.

My brother, Professor Hong Guk, and the students in yesterday’s classroom. Only the two of us know that this graduation ceremony is the starting point of the original work.

“A Field suddenly appears here. The parents die, and a sinkhole opens up. All the kids here enter the Tower. Right?”

“What are you saying such embarrassing things for? Be quiet.”

So, he’s making fun of me now.

Instead of answering, he holds out the bouquet to me.

“Argh. What’s with the flowers?”

“Go give this to a girl who resembles the protagonist… Was her name Seol Ga-ram? See how it goes.”

“What are you suddenly saying? How can I do that to a stranger? Are you crazy?”

“Why, I think it’d be fun. As a way to let go of that poor protagonist you’re still holding onto.”

“Huh?”

That was unexpected.

“Why are you so obsessed with that novel? Mom and I don’t get it… But stop tormenting yourself and let it go. It’s been many years since you finished it. So what if it was a bad ending?”

“Ah. Hmm…”

“Unlike the story, Seol Ga-ram receives flowers here and goes home safely. Not entering the Tower and getting ruined… Ah shit, this is so corny. Anyway!”

My brother forcibly hands me the bouquet.

“Do this corny thing to shake it off. Give her the flowers, and if she asks what it’s about, just run away.”

Dumbfounded, I looked down at the flowers. A subtle floral scent wafted up.

‘…It is pretty corny.’

I must have been worrying my family more than I realized.
Come to think of it, what’s with that lousy novel. After finishing it, I wailed like a madman.

Why am I so obsessed with that story?
I don’t know either.

Rustle rustle, I pondered for a while, holding the bouquet. Then, as if I couldn’t resist, I looked around. Thinking of Seol Ga-ram’s face.

While searching for her lookalike, I chatted with my brother.

“How’s the novel? I tried to read it again after a long time but couldn’t find it.”

…Urk. A bit of an awkward topic came up.

“I burned it.”

“What!? Are you crazy!? Why!”

“I thought the professor had a point.”

I suddenly felt pathetic.

It’s a story I wrote when I was young.
I felt pathetic, still scribbling with a pen, going, ‘If only this happened there…’

It’s already a finished story, anyway. Revising it is pointless, and the characters’ lives can’t change any further.

So I burned it all. Since it was all handwritten, it’s really gone now.

‘Still, the contents won’t disappear from my head.’

My brother cracks a joke, perhaps feeling awkward.

“If the apocalypse begins, we need to look at your writing to survive. Now, no one can read it.”

“You read up to chapter 30. That’s enough to not have issues surviving the beginning. Just evacuate to a safe zone with our parents.”

“What about you, dude.”

“Me, well, haha.”

“Who are we kidding?”

We laughed at each other pointlessly. I guess laughter comes easily in a place like this.

“Oh. A broadcast station van.”

“Huh? Really?”

At my brother’s words, I turned my head.

“Wow, what a coincidence. Didn’t they do a live broadcast in your story too?”

No way. There really is one.

“Hello, this is KBM News’… Ah-ah. Hey camera, is my voice okay?”

Just like in my novel, a morning news reporter was doing a rehearsal in front of the camera.

‘But…’

Something… is strange.
I can’t take my eyes off the reporter.

‘He looks similar.’

Is it a coincidence? He greatly resembles the character description I wrote in the original work.

Brown coat. Clean 5:5 part in his hair. Soft features, black horn-rimmed glasses.

‘No, it’s not just similar.’

My brother probably skimmed over the description after reading it once, but I remembered all the details.

There’s no doubt. His appearance perfectly matches the description.

“Mm… About time…”

The reporter took out a pocket watch from his breast pocket.

Tick, tock.

He was a character modeled after the Clock Rabbit from .

Gentlemanly suit, monocle, pocket watch. It’s definitely the Transcendent Jayden Tempus.

He checks the time with a bored expression.

“Tsk!”

Then he furrowed his brow.

“But why is it so noisy?”

Unlike the rabbit who is kind to Alice, he is a character who sees normal humans like insects.

Jayden irritably looks down below. There, I could sense his murderous intent.

I could also tell what would happen soon.

There’s no doubt anymore. It’s reality.

Everyone imagines it at least once.
If the world were to end today.

But it’s not imagination anymore.

“…Bro. Take our parents and go to a safe zone.”

“Huh?”

The world is ending today.

“What did you say? I didn’t hear… Hey, hey, Professor! Professor Hong-guk is over there! Come here, let’s hide for a bit.”

My brother calls out in a fluster. But I had no time to pay attention to my brother’s words.

My eyes were only darting back and forth between the Transcendent and Seol Ga-ram.

Tick, tock.

The sound of the clock gets louder and louder.

“Anchor script coming up. 3, 2, 1…”

“Yes, that’s right. The graduation ceremony is in full swing here at Hansung High School. The smiles on the students’ faces are endless…”

The Transcendent Jayden speaks irritably into the air as if the noise is unpleasant.

“Tsk! Control room, it’s time.”

-

I put a hand on my chest. My heartbeat is fast. Only then did I feel my rough breathing.
My neck and shoulders are so stiff they won’t move well.

“Haa… haa…”

“What are you doing, hurry and come!”

“I found you, you thug!”

“Hey, you son of a, I’m coming…!”

Tick.

Tock.

The clock sound stops.

–

The Transcendent put away his pocket watch. He gets up from where he was sitting in midair.

“Ha, haha Professor, seeing you here again…”

“Come here! I’ll have the principal stamp your face…”

And then, a barrier was drawn between the approaching professor and us.

Zzzing-

“Aaargh!”

Professor Hong-guk crashed into the translucent yellow barrier and fell. His large belly jiggled.

My brother took startled steps back.

“Wh-what? This is just like your novel… Uh…?”

The space we were in was severed from the world.

The fate of the characters, including Seol Ga-ram, has been decided.

Translator’s Corner

Hello everyone. I’ll upload free chapters every other day, and coin locked ones whenever I can.

-Ruminas