29-97

EP.97 The Protagonist of the World 

“Ah, ah. Hm. Mmm.” 

When the boy of about ten reflected in the mirror opened his mouth, a clear voice that sounded awkward even to my own ears came out. 

The broad, firm muscles I’d gotten used to were gone, and the familiar bathroom sink looked just a little higher than usual. 

It was a strange sensation, as if the world had been recalibrated around me. 

【Spoiled Child】 

[Active] 

When activated, reverts the body’s age to 8–10 years old. 

Bonus effect: increases favorability with older women. 

The effect of the trait I tested immediately after returning to reality was a success. 

To think I’d reunite with my distant childhood self in this way. 

“The dark circles are still there.” 

The dark shadows under my eyes looked absurd on such a young, innocent face, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the incongruity. 

Other than that, the reflection in the mirror was unmistakably me, from a time before I’d been worn down by society. 

Bzzz  

Suddenly, static like a broken TV ran over my reflection in the mirror. 

A corner of my vision crumbled, and beyond it I saw a sparkling stream under the blazing sun, with ‘sisters’ waving at me. 

The sound of cicadas buzzing rang in my head like an auditory hallucination, then faded back to the familiar tiled wall. 

I accepted this phenomenon with calm it wasn’t even surprising anymore. 

[Immersion: 70%] 

The only things that had changed since returning from the possession were the new trait and the immersion stat. 

Maybe I’d gotten used to it, or maybe for some other reason, but I no longer felt the splitting headaches I used to. 

‘Should I be grateful for that, or not?’ 

If the rise in immersion was connected to the incidents in the city, then surely something crazy had happened again. 

I’d have to get answers from Child about that soon. 

Speaking of which, why was he so quiet after I’d been back for a while? 

“Master.” 

As I rubbed my eyes and stepped into the living room, the familiar face of Lizetta, in her neat maid uniform, greeted me after what felt like a month. 

But  

“…Master?” 

I echoed, and she nodded with her usual expressionless face. 

“I thought that title suited your current appearance better. If you don’t like it, I’ll change it.” 

Hmm. That unflappable attitude really made me feel like I was back in reality. 

“No, it’s refreshing.” 

After acting like a cringy kid in the other world, being called “Master” was nothing. 

“Do you have any plans today? If not, I’ll prepare lunch.” 

I had no plans. 

The sun was still up, and now that I knew the trait worked fine, I wanted to test it on Seung-ah or someone else. 

But  

“Yaaawn ” 

I couldn’t help but let out a huge yawn. 

I was tired. 

The third possession had lasted the longest so far, so the fatigue was considerable. 

No matter how much I’d played, eaten, and slept over there, the fatigue in my real body hadn’t gone away. 

The fact that I was thinking about food as soon as I returned showed just how much I’d pushed myself. 

If not for the 【Beast】 trait maintaining my body, I might have starved to death. 

“Are you alright, Master? You don’t look well.” 

Suddenly, Lizetta approached and asked with concern. 

If she was saying that, I really must have looked exhausted. 

“Yeah… I guess I was over there too long.” 

“It’s still daytime, but you should rest and not overdo it.” 

“I think I will.” 

After hearing my weak answer, Lizetta suddenly sat on the sofa and patted her lap. 

As if it were the most natural thing in the world. 

I didn’t object, and trudged over to lay my head on her lap. 

The soft feeling and faint scent of fabric softener tickled my nose. 

As I stared up at the ceiling and relaxed, Lizetta gently stroked my hair. 

I felt drowsy, but before I could fall asleep, I pulled my phone from my pocket. 

When I turned it on, dozens of missed alarms from the past three days flooded in. 

Two names stood out among them. 

“Hmm?” 

As I was about to tap the messenger app, my finger hesitated on another notification further down. 

[New feature unlocked in Hypnosis App.] 

[Check the app for details.] 

A new hypnosis app feature? 

What was this about? 

“Hmmm…” 

It was on my mind, but I decided to check the messages from the two people first. 

Opening the messenger, I saw the messages from the past three days stacked up in order. 

At first, they were normal: “Lee, are you free today?” “Sunbae, please reply…” 

But as a day, then two passed, the tone changed. 

[Kang Juyoung: Hyunseong, is something wrong? I’m worried since I can’t reach you… My husband’s out late tomorrow, so if you’re free, want to have dinner? I miss you.] 

[Park Mina: Sunbae, you’re not dead, right? Not that I’m worried or anything… Just text me ASAP, okay?] 

“Pfft.” 

A phone that used to only get spam and work messages was now full of women’s anxious texts. 

What a time to be alive. 

‘It’s a hassle to meet them separately maybe I should invite them both over again.’ 

But then Seung-ah might come up and make things complicated. 

And after last time, I realized my place was too small for multiple guests. 

‘Maybe it’s time to seriously consider moving.’ 

I’d been feeling bad about Lizetta sleeping on the floor for a while, too. 

[Heh heh. Must be tough being so popular.] 

As I was mulling over these “luxurious” worries, Child’s voice echoed in my head. 

“Child.” 

He always picked the most random times to speak up. 

[How was this possession? Satisfied?] 

“Well, yeah.” 

Of course I was. 

I’d gotten to be pampered by older sisters and live carefree. 

“But a month really was a long time.” 

[If it had gone much longer, I might’ve had to forcibly pull you out, you know?] 

“Haha. Anyway, this is good timing. We have a lot to talk about, right?” 

[Still, after so long, you get right to business? That’s cold.] 

“Don’t dodge. You promised before the possession you’d tell me a bit of what you’ve been hiding.” 

At my firm tone, he paused, then replied in his usual mocking voice. 

[Heh heh. I thought you’d forgotten, busy playing with pretty sisters. But a promise is a promise. What do you want to know?] 

So he’d only answer what I asked. 

In that case  

“All those hallucinations and the tree in the city are they all connected to immersion?” 

[Yes.] 

He answered more directly than I expected. 

I was momentarily at a loss for words. 

“Why did you lie when I first asked?” 

[I didn’t think you needed to know. And I wasn’t sure you were ready.] 

“You didn’t trust me, even after all this?” 

[I trust your talent. But for someone indecisive like you, half-truths can backfire. You know that, right?] 

“Hmm…” 

I couldn’t argue with that. 

It was exactly how I’d acted before the third possession. 

“So why tell me the truth now?” 

[Because you showed me you wouldn’t be shaken so easily. You’ve grown, as a person. Heh heh.] 

His condescending tone was annoying, but there was no point arguing. 

“Then tell me what exactly is immersion? What happens if it hits 100%?” 

[Want to know?] 

“Don’t stall. Like you said, even if you reveal something shocking, I won’t give up on possession.” 

He laughed again. 

[Alright, I’ll tell you. Immersion measures how much this world has ‘assimilated’ to you.] 

“The world assimilates to me?” 

[Right. The higher the immersion, the more hallucinations and changes you see, because the world’s structure is being rebuilt around your perception.] 

It was hard to grasp, but somehow, his words resonated deep inside me. 

[What’s the difference between this world and all the ones you’ve possessed before?] 

“…There’s no protagonist?” 

[Correct. People say ‘I’m the main character of my life,’ but in reality, there are no protagonists here. That’s the law of this world. But your trait, 【Protagonist’s Wish】, ignores that law.] 

[With each possession, the world assimilates to your perception and is redesigned for your convenience as if it’s natural.] 

If Child was right, then when immersion hits 100%  

[Yes. When immersion reaches 100%, you become the world’s only ‘protagonist.’] 

The hallucinations and changes were just natural steps toward that. 

He added this so casually. 

“…” 

It was absurd. 

I’d just learned something incredible. 

I’d become the protagonist of the world? 

[How’s that? Wide awake now, aren’t you?] 

He was right. 

My mind was so clear, I couldn’t even feel sleepy anymore. 

But one question remained. 

“What do you get out of making me the protagonist?” 

It was the same question I’d asked the very first night I heard his voice. 

“Obviously.” 

He answered without hesitation, just like that first night. 

“Because it’s fun.” 

After hearing Child’s shocking revelation, I lay wordlessly on Lizetta’s lap, staring at the ceiling. 

Juyoung, Mina, even Seung-ah downstairs all thoughts of them vanished from my mind. 

I thought I was used to possession, that nothing could surprise me anymore. 

But now I was supposed to be the protagonist of reality. 

It was like a never-ending series of surprises a matryoshka doll of revelations. 

“Lizetta, did you know what Child just told me?” 

Her eyes wavered slightly, then she shook her head. 

“No. I haven’t been told such details. I was simply ordered to stay by your side, Master.” 

Was that true? Or was she just pretending not to know? 

And she was still calling me Master. 

“You seem deep in thought.” 

“Yeah, well… It’s all so big, it doesn’t feel real.” 

I gave a wry smile, and after a moment’s silence, Lizetta suddenly sat me up. 

“In that case, I will now serve you to relieve your fatigue.” 

“…All of a sudden?” 

I asked, flustered, and she replied with a perfectly serious face. 

“It is said that men relieve stress from complicated thoughts through physical pleasure. Therefore, I judged this to be the optimal timing for service.” 

She must have picked up something weird from the internet again. 

I hurriedly waved my hands to stop her. 

“No, it’s fine. I’m tired, and I’m not in the mood.” 

At my refusal, her shoulders drooped ever so slightly. 

Huh? Did I say something wrong? 

She hesitated, then nodded. 

“…That was a joke.” 

“Huh?” 

“That was a joke, Master.” 

But her eyes weren’t smiling. 

She just stared straight at me. 

Clutching her maid skirt, she spoke again, her voice more weighted than before. 

“Hyunseong. Everything I do, I do because I want to.” 

“…Lizetta?” 

“Housework, and serving you, Hyunseong not just out of duty as a maid, but because I enjoy it.” 

Her words tumbled out so quickly, I couldn’t even interrupt. 

Had she been holding onto what I said last time all this time? 

“So… you don’t have to treat me differently from other women. In fact, please treat me the same.” 

Her emotionless voice now carried a different feeling something not quite anger, but… was it jealousy? 

Lizetta, jealous? 

That Lizetta? 

“…Okay.” 

The odd pressure left me with nothing to do but nod at her. 

“Then, I’ll proceed with service…” 

She immediately returned to her usual self and reached for my waistband. 

“No, really, that’s not necessary. I’m really tired… Lizetta? Please, hands off my pants ah?!” 

Even as an adult, I’d struggled with her strength. In a child’s body, I had no chance. 

If anyone saw me struggling, I’d look just like a boy being babied by his mother. 

[You two have fun.] 

I ignored Child’s teasing voice in my head and thus began my noisy first day back in reality.