Chapter 1
Finally, after seeing the ending, I’ve returned.
‘…Is this really my home?’
As soon as I opened my eyes, the dazzling chandelier had vanished, replaced by the familiar floral-patterned wallpaper.
The world I had returned to after ten years seemed unchanged, as if no time had passed at all. The house, not a speck of dust in sight, looked just as it always had.
Even the reflection of Seoryeong in the mirror hadn’t aged; she was still exactly the same.
And then…
Sizz-
Because I had possessed the character while playing a game, the computer was still on.
The old monitor flickered for a while before displaying a line of narration.
[…Are you telling me that Katrina Abiche is dead?]
‘What is this?’
I didn’t touch it, but the screen moved on its own.
It was a scene that happened after Seoryeong—or rather, Katrina—had died.
[If I had known she would end up like this, I should have toyed with her more.]
Seoryeong found herself staring at the screen as if entranced.
The male protagonists had been informed of Katrina’s death. Each one of them had a different expression on their face.
[Damn it. I still haven’t repaid what she did to me!]
[I should have locked that Katrina up earlier.]
They were all people who had despised the villainess, Katrina.
So, when they heard the news of her death, their reactions were all similar. Regret over not being able to exact their revenge.
‘…What a scary bunch.’
Seoryeong was dumbfounded.
What were they even doing?
If I had failed to return… what would have happened?
Surely, something terrible would have occurred. A disaster, without a doubt.
The thought sent a cold sweat running down her back.
A long time ago, Seoryeong had possessed the villainess Katrina from a reverse harem game.
The system had promised that if she saw the ending, she would return home, so to go back, she had to play through Katrina’s ending as the villainess.
Despite receiving all kinds of hatred in the game world, it didn’t matter. After all, her true world was here in Korea.
‘Now, it’s finally goodbye.’
Seoryeong shut down the computer without a second thought.
She was sure she would never again find herself stuck in a game like that.
She had said goodbye to those cursed faces forever.
Three years passed.
[System]
It’s been a while, Han Seoryeong, Player.
You have once again been chosen as ‘Katrina Abiche.’
…Huh?
Seoryeong stared blankly at the rectangular window that had appeared before her.
What is this?
She wasn’t asking out of confusion.
This was that—the system window she had seen when she first possessed the character.
But why was it showing up again?
[An unknown error has been detected.]
Seoryeong wondered if she was dreaming.
It didn’t make sense otherwise.
She had definitely been sleeping in her own house. But now, when she woke up, there was no floral wallpaper, and instead, a grand chandelier hung in her room.
Something was terribly wrong from the moment she had opened her eyes.
But what was even worse was…
“Katrina Abiche.”
A familiar voice pierced her ears. A chill ran down her spine.
Something was definitely wrong.
The long, jet-black hair, and those cold, icy-blue eyes.
An all-too-familiar face stood before her.
Damian Abiche.
He was one of the male protagonists from the game she had played a long time ago.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
Why am I seeing that face again?
Am I dreaming?
The ominous feeling caused her to tremble as his long, jet-black hair cascaded down to his shoulders, much darker and longer than her own.
What the hell is going on…
Seoryeong nervously grabbed a strand of his hair in her trembling hand.
“I thought you’d never wake up.”
Damian spoke, observing her confusion with a glint of amusement.
“Perhaps it would have been better if you hadn’t woken up. Thinking about your future…”
His lips curled in a deep, regretful smile, as though he were pitying her.
But Seoryeong was too dazed to comprehend his biting remarks. Everything felt unreal.
“Why did you wake up?”
His piercing eyes stared into hers, and he held her chin with an unrelenting grip.
“…You should have stayed dead.”
His cool, emotionless eyes curved into a mocking smile.
“You’re quite stubborn when it comes to life.”
“…”
“Still, this is… nostalgic. How does it feel, waking up after three years?”
Three years?
What is he talking about?
Seoryeong stared at his face blankly, unable to make sense of anything.
This was all happening too suddenly.
“Have you been mute all this time, or have you just lost your ability to speak? You’ve been silent since earlier.”
Damian gestured, and another man, who had apparently been waiting outside, entered the room.
Seoryeong immediately recognized who it was.
The family physician of the Abiche family.
He had been the one to examine her a few times when she had been Katrina all those years ago.
Everyone here had believed they would never see Seoryeong again.
The physician calmly explained her condition to Damian.
“I’ve checked, but Miss Katrina’s health seems fine.”
“She’s fine? A woman who was on the brink of death has no problems now?”
“…It truly is miraculous that Miss Katrina has recovered.”
Seoryeong couldn’t focus on their conversation, her mind still foggy from confusion.
At that moment, Damian grabbed her chin more forcefully.
“Katrina.”
His cold, blue eyes bore into hers.
“You’re fine, right? Then open your mouth.”
Everything felt like chaos.
“Huh? Katrina?”
Damian’s hand tightened on her chin when she still didn’t respond.
“D-Damian, sir… Miss Katrina is still a patient. The doctor said she’s fine, but she’s still weak.”
“Hm.”
“Her strength is probably still very low. I recommend you refrain from such behavior…”
“Should I?”
Damian reluctantly let go of her chin, as per the doctor’s advice.
“Still, this is boring.”
His blue eyes never left her.
“Why did you wake up, Katrina?”
He scolded her relentlessly, his fingers running through her long, black hair again.
“Do you know what kind of trouble you’re in now?”
Seoryeong couldn’t hear his words. She just couldn’t understand the situation.
Was she dreaming?
She had clearly seen the ending…
How could this be happening again?
She had been back in her world, back in Korea…
But now… why? Why was she back here?
