1 – Regression.

5 years ago.

Just moments ago, I had been reading a novel.

I had fallen asleep in the middle of it, and when I woke up, everything around me had changed.

I locked myself in my room, refusing to believe in reality.

And after a few days, I realized.

That this place wasn’t just a dream of Han Sako.

‘Because my senses are too clear.’

If it was just a dream, I should have woken up long ago, right?

However, even after a few days have passed, I am still not waking up.

I caught a glimpse of myself reflected in the mirror.

“Damn, I do look good.”

My features were as clear-cut as if carved from stone.

Even my proportions were perfect, putting ordinary models to shame.

“Phew… let’s think positively.”

If there was one thing I had discovered over the last few days, it was that this place was none other than the world of the novel I had just been reading.

In a way, that could be considered advantageous for me.

Although I hadn’t finished the book, I knew enough.

For all intents and purposes,

‘I’ve literally possessed the body of an extra.’

Ellick Von Bandesar.

He was a minor character in the novel I had read, the eccentric nobleman professor.

Well, being an eccentric noble meant he played the villain, but it was undeniable that things could have been worse.

After all, he was the first son of a ducal house of the empire.

‘Though my physique leaves something to be desired.’

But that could quickly be remedied with Ellick’s wealth.

‘That doesn’t sound so bad when I think about it. Even empowering.’

Back on Earth, I had neither close friends nor family.

The only contact saved in my phone was my part-time job boss.

Essentially, I didn’t have anyone close.

“Yes. Since I’m in a novel, let’s start anew.”

***

There was a time when I thought that way.

Approximately five years have passed since then.

During those five years, I’ve done some incredibly foolish things.

Trusting my naive knowledge back then, I acted recklessly in this world.

For instance,

‘The protagonist uses a legendary sword. Surely, I can make a weapon just as remarkable.’

And yet, the heroine’s of our protagonist are being trained with ‘that’ weapon.

Suddenly, I found myself drawn to them through this training.

“This far is acceptable.”

The problem lies in the fact that those who were drawn to me became obsessively clingy.

It’s to the point where it makes me think of a character from an anime who gets completely infatuated and turns into a stalker.

“Wow. Just thinking about it makes my heart race.”

In truth, for one year out of the last five years, I did not advance the story.

Instead, I avoided the clingy heroines.

But there was another one who pressed herself upon me, insisting on her s*xual inclinations.

A heroine who has undergone education from me and transformed into a devotee M.

She continues to approach me with a madness in her eyes, demanding to be touched by me.

“Who among you would dare dance with me while wielding a knife?”

Normally, I would run, but the one brandishing that knife is none other than the Grand Master.

Renowned as a sword master and currently known as a swordsman, she insists on dancing with me.

How do I escape from this?

“There are still a few more.”

The story goes on and on…

“You’re a hero too,”

At that moment, a woman, looking at me intently.

Judging by the horn on her forehead and the unusual magic, undoubtedly, she must be the Demon King.

‘Who would have thought that the Demon King would be a woman.’

She had a face that was mesmerizing enough to entrance anyone who looked at her. With curves in just the right places. Moreover, her bosom held an outstanding power.

“Well, you can consider us similar.”

“Hmm. But I remember the hero being quite young…”

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t aged.”

It wasn’t a lie.

Excluding my past life, I’m currently in my mid-twenties.

By Earth’s standards, I would certainly be considered young.

“Right. Well, be that as it may, what’s with that spear?”

“Hmm?”

At that moment, the Demon King asked a question about the legendary holy sword I was holding.

In response to her questioning, I confidently said,

“Obviously, this is the legendary holy sword!”

“That? This is the legendary holy sword?”

She looked at me as if I was saying total nonsense.

Soon after, she opened her mouth with a confused expression.

“It looks like a regular spear to anyone…. And how did you get here with that weapon?”

“Of course, I fought my way in.”

Of course, prior to entering the castle, I did sneak in.

While I was thinking of how to respond,

“Kwa-Boom!”

There was an explosive sound in my ear.

Not sure whether I was the only one who heard it, she narrowed her eyes while folding her arms.

“Perhaps your colleague…”

“Shut up. Let’s fight now!”

She seemed to have a lot to say, but now was not the time.

I needed to defeat the Demon King in front of me and return to Earth right away.

‘Otherwise, I might be exploited by the pursuing heroines!’

Thus, I rushed towards her without a moment of hesitation, holding a spear.

***

Having interrupted my reverie, I looked at the collapsed Demon King, my eyes rolling back, and let out a hollow laugh.

‘No way. How is the Demon King so weak?’

I had expected him to be incredibly strong, but even he fell unconscious after a few hits from the equally challenging spear.

If I had known this, I would have defeated her and returned to Earth a long time ago.

As I was bewildered internally…

“I found you, Professor Ellick…”

“Don’t run away, Professor.”

“I was looking for you, My Lord.”

“Dance with me, Officer Ellick.”

“Professor. You’ll be happy with me.”

Suddenly, the heroines who had seemingly cleared out all the monsters outside the fortress broke into the Demon King’s castle.

‘Damn it. What’s going on?’

It is a fact that their power is unarguably overwhelming.

However, there weren’t just one or two demon tribes outside.

A whopping 50,000!

Nearly 50,000 in number!

And in this situation, only five of them broke through here, overpowering such a large number.

‘No. Aren’t they actually the protagonists?!’

What should I do?

In fact, the reason I believed I could defeat the Demon King and return is due to the message that appeared on the first day.

From what I remember vividly,

[A reward selection will be given upon defeating the Demon King.]

Such a message appeared.

And the reward mentioned was nothing but the choice between return or stay.

Originally, I had intended to surely choose to stay, however, upon witnessing the madness of the heroines, I changed my mind.

If I were to stay here, undoubtedly, I may get caught by them.

Therefore, I must flee from here unconditionally!

‘No! Why isn’t the message appearing!’

I meanly defeated the Demon King according to the message, but contrary to expectations, nothing appeared.

That’s when it happened.

“Please, don’t run away.”

“There’s a wall behind you, isn’t there?”

“Come over here. You just need to hit me. Teacher.”

“Let’s dance. Sir Ellic.”

“Teacher. It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”

The girls stealthily approaching me.

Seeing their eyes filled with madness, the moment I get caught, I can foresee nothing but doom.

‘Dammit. Is this the end?!’

At the moment of despair within me.

-Ding!

A beautiful notification sound rang in my ear.

The next moment.

[Due to the author’s imperfect conclusion, a remake begins.]

An unexpected message crossed my vision.

‘What? A remake?’

Interpreting that sentence, it meant starting from the beginning.

In other words, it signifies regression.

‘No. What the hell is this all about?’

Didn’t they say they’d let me return if I conquered the Devil King?

But contrary to expectation, the author is starting a remake from the beginning.

The moment I cursed the author inside my head.

-Whoosh!

A bright white light suddenly erupted from the message.

Soon after, it enveloped not only me but all the heroines as well!

Following which, my vision completely darkened.

***

A sudden bright white light covered me.

In a little while, the moment I slowly opened my eyes.

“It’s a familiar ceiling… it’s not strange…”

A familiar ceiling reflected in my eyes.

Seeing the ceiling I had seen five years ago, it seemed I had indeed regressed.

As evidence.

[The remake has begun.]

A system message suddenly appeared before my eyes.

“Haa. Damn it. You said you’d send me back. That bastard of an author.”

I found myself swearing involuntarily as I read the message.

Then,

[Apologies. The readers have been leaving quite a lot of bad comments.]

An apologetic message from the author.

What? Bad comments, you say… What nonsense.

There are lunatics trying to catch me, and he has the audacity to regress me using these damn comments. It’s clear as day he has no conscience.

“Wait, could you always send me messages like this?!”

[Yes, I’ve been able to do this since the beginning. I just preferred to observe quietly. And please remember, we can communicate even if you just talk in your mind.]

Such kind consideration! This damned author!

Swearing at the author in my mind, I let out a deep sigh.

Then, I asked the author,

‘So, what exactly did the readers say?’

[They made comments like “Why is the Demon King suddenly killed?”, “What’s with this rushed development?”, “The story hasn’t been even quite long, how could the Demon King be captured?” and so on.]

‘Hmm…’

Somehow, I felt like I was being targeted.

I had no idea why the author decided to possess me in the first place, but it was his own doing, right?

‘So why did you possess me in the first place?’

[Well, possession stories are quite the trend…]

“The reason is so petty!”

The fact that the reason is a trend, renders me speechless.

Sure, I believed taking possession had its benefits.

“But did you have to do a remake? Couldn’t you have just revised it a bit?”

[Being a writer doesn’t mean you can interfere with everything in this world.]

“Hmm, I see.”

In fact, there wouldn’t have been any reason to start regression from the beginning if it were possible.

In other words, even as a writer, it seems you can’t do anything like an omnipotent god.

“If this goes well, I could probably make a return on my own, right?”

Moreover, it might even be possible to hit the writer on the back of the head.

[Did I just feel a sudden chill up my spine, or is it my imagination?]

“Of course, it’s your imagination!”

Guess they can’t read all thoughts.

It seems only possible with a firm intention to convey.

[Yes. Anyway, as I said before, being a writer doesn’t mean you can interfere with everything. The same applies to ‘other writers’.]

“Hmm. But why do you emphasize it?”

From Noble mtl dot com

[Hmm. About that…]

“Why? Is there something wrong?”

I’ve regressed anyway.

So, there should be no yandere heroines chasing after me now.

“I won’t act thoughtlessly again!”

At that moment, when I made such a determination and smirked in satisfaction.

[Due to the remake side effects, your heroines have also regressed with their memories intact.]

An unexpected message appears in my sight.

It seems that I am destined to be constantly pursued by heroines in this return as well.

Damn it.

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