There are many ways to die.
Drowning.
Burning.
A bullet to the head.
A heart attack from a crappy manga ending.
But dying by accident… because of a dumb prank?
Yeah, that's how it happened.
Let me show you how my cursed story with that sadistic system began.
---
I was in my room. Nothing unusual. Just me and my favorite novel — one I've read so many times I could recite it in my sleep.
Then... a glowing holographic screen popped up outta nowhere:
> [ You have been selected to correct the timeline. ]
[ System loading... ]
[ Transferring consciousness to Marcus Gravelyn... ]
WHAT THE FUUUUUU—
Ugh… my head… What the hell happened? Where am I?
Knock knock knock
Who the hell is knocking…?
Wait—where am I?!
Crap. Think, think, THINK!
Right… the message said something about transferring to M-M-M-M—
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!
No way! I'm inside the novel! I'm in Marcus Gravelyn's body!
The arrogant dumbass who dies in chapter three from a poisoned drink!
He stole it from his friend as a joke, then died instead!
Okay... okay, breathe. Deep breaths. Calm down.
Alright. Feeling slightly better. Time to open the door and see which devil is knocking.
---
I stepped to the door, grabbed the handle, opened it, and—
Oh f**k.
There stood a ridiculously hot woman. My brain instantly went full 18+ mode.
Léviana Gravelyn looked at me with her chin held slightly high.
> "Come on, sweetheart. You wrecked the ballroom last night.
You'll be cleaning it up as punishment."
And then—SHE GRABBED ME BY THE EAR and started DRAGGING me down the hallway.
I—Marcus Gravelyn—was now being pulled like a disobedient puppy through the fancy-ass corridors of a noble estate.
> "AAAA!!"
"OUCH!!"
"HANDS OFF, WOMEN!!"
Suddenly, she stopped.
Turned to me… very slowly.
Veins popping from her forehead.
That eerie smile on her lips...
Léviana Gravelyn raised her fist. Calmly.
Then smashed it into my head with terrifying force.
> "YOU CALL YOUR MOM 'WOMEN'?!"
(Translation: You ungrateful worm. I birthed you.)
As I clutched my head in pain, eyes wide and eyebrows twitching, I screamed internally:
WHAT THE FUCK?!
She said she's my mom?!
Wait—right. I'm Marcus Gravelyn now. That means she's...
She's Léviana Gravelyn!
Great. I was just thinking naughty thoughts about my own mother.
All my current dreams? Crushed.
---
I looked up and quickly blurted:
> "Sorry! I'm so sorry, Mom! I didn't mean it—I got carried away! Please forgive me?"
She blinked. Tilted her head.
> "You're apologizing? Marcus… apologizing? Are you drunk?"
Oh. Right. The original Marcus was a certified brat.
I straightened up fast.
> "No! Not drunk! Totally sober!
I'll just go clean that mess right away, haha. So... where's the ballroom again?"
She walked over, cupped my face, turned it side to side like a confused cat, then checked my temperature.
> "Are you sick? Or drunk? Something's definitely wrong.
You're not okay. Come with me, sweetie."
And then—YEP, she grabbed my arm, hiked up her dress slightly (like some fantasy movie queen), and started dragging me through the golden carpeted halls.
Paintings of the family lined the walls… and yep, I was in most of them.
Then... it appeared.
That cursed holographic screen from earlier—floating in front of me.
A cold, robotic female voice rang out:
> [ Welcome to the System. ]
[ Level One. ]
[ First Mission: Learn about the noble family and obey their commands until sunset. ]
My right eye twitched violently.
> "Screw you! Where am I?! And who the hell do you think you are ordering me around?!"
Léviana snapped her head toward me, concern all over her face.
> "Darling… who are you talking to?"
I laughed nervously, scratching the back of my head like some cringey protagonist.
> "Ha ha… ha… nobody, Mom! Just yelling at a super annoying fly.
Anyway! Onward! To the ballroom, yeah?"
> "Mm-hmm. No. I don't think you're okay. Go back to your room and rest, honey.
You clearly need sleep or… a brain scan."
> "Ahaha… thank you, Mom! Going now! Bye!!"
I spun around and bolted like a cartoon character, slammed into three servants—including the head butler, some old dude in his fifties—but didn't stop.
I flung open the bedroom door, slammed it shut behind me, dropped to the floor, clutched my head and muttered:
> "What the hell is going on?!
I'm literally inside my favorite novel, but as the dumbest character in the entire fictional universe!"
Breathe… just breathe...
> "It's fine. I know this story. I know what's coming.
That means I've got the upper hand here."
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
> "Alright. I'm good now.
Let's make this story one hell of a ride."
---
TO BE CONTINUED...
Wait—
I'm the one who says when the chapter ends!
Okay. It's over.
See you next episode.
Wink 😉