Chapter 2
Just before I realized I had possessed someone in a book…
I was ten years old — but not really.
If I had grown up normally, I’d be tall enough to reach most shelves by standing on my toes.
But that only happens when a child eats well and plays freely.
In my case, I’d only ever eaten scraps and leftovers. My arms and legs were thin and weak — barely fitting for a ten-year-old. My arms and legs were pretty much the same size.
So yeah, I was feeling kind of sad.
While everyone in the mansion rushed to my mother’s room to cheer for the new baby’s birth…
“Ugh… uhhh…”
I couldn’t reach the shelf. A buttery baguette was sticking halfway out, and I wanted it so badly.
If only I were a little taller! Just a little!
“Almost there! Just one more push, Madam!”
“Lady Judith, just a bit more! Push! One last time!”
I heard the shouting from far away, but I didn’t understand what was happening.
Still, I could sense it — people would be back soon, and if I didn’t eat that baguette now, I’d never get another chance.
That buttery baguette was the most delicious thing in the world.
I usually ate two slices of dry oat bread with a leaf of salted lettuce.
But that one time, Boris left a half-eaten buttery baguette in my room, and it tasted so good I cried and begged him to bring more — even if it meant getting hit.
— “There’s no way I’m letting a bastard like you eat the same food as me. But if I get full and leave some, you can have it. Like the other servants.”
Strangely, Boris did bring me his leftovers after that.
I held on to that baguette, enduring all the cruel “games” he played with me.
But after that, he never left any leftovers again.
“AHHHHH—AAAAAAAH!”
I heard my mother’s scream echo through the mansion.
‘Hurry…’
I stretched my hand desperately toward the baguette.
I wasn’t supposed to be out of my room at this hour.
By the position of the moon through my window, it was between its center and the left — meaning it was dinner time at the Rohia mansion.
I could smell the rich food all the way in my dusty room on the second floor —
but of course, there was no place for me, Izana Rohia, at that dinner.
My room was the farthest and dustiest one upstairs.
Earlier, the maid who usually brought me meals had run off in a panic when she heard the duchess was in labor.
She left the door slightly open — and I slipped out.
Normally, even if my door were open, I wouldn’t dare go out.
Nobody cared if I left, and if Boris saw me, I’d be punished by scrubbing the mansion floors on my knees.
But today, the rotting smell in my room was just too strong to ignore.
The old nanny who had taken care of me — appointed by the duchess — had been frail from the start.
But she miraculously lasted ten years… until she passed away last week in our room.
Three days later, the smell of her body and my hunger made me cry nonstop.
Now, four days since her death, my room still smelled of death.
“Ugh… AHHHH!”
My mother’s screams grew louder.
I felt like crying too.
I still couldn’t reach the baguette.
Was I not even allowed a bite of buttery bread?
Just once. I didn’t want crumbs. I wanted one whole bite.
Just as I was about to give up and sit down—
“Waaah—waaah—!”
A newborn’s powerful cry echoed through the house.
And then—
Alone in the dark, I suddenly saw light fill the room. I looked up.
“Wow…”
Sunlight poured in through the kitchen window.
“Wh… what is that…”
But it was so bright, I had to shield my eyes and crouch down.
From the other side, I heard voices shouting with joy.
“It’s [Materia]! My lord, the star of [Materia] has appeared!”
“Congratulations, madam! The star of [Materia] is shining!”
The star of Materia.
I had heard Boris mention it a few times, but I never really knew what it meant.
But seeing it with my own eyes, I knew instantly —
It was something good.
It felt warm.
Even warmer than the smelly old blanket I owned.
Even though it burned my eyes, that light felt comforting.
So I opened my eyes again.
Even though I feared the light might hurt me —
I wanted to see it.
A star was falling.
The once-purple sky had turned pitch black, and in the center, a single star streaked across.
And just like that…
My world completely changed.
****
“Become the smallest god in the world.”
As my vision turned white from the blinding light, a familiar voice filled my head.
I murmured without thinking:
“Sh…shoot. Is this a dream?”
Nope. It wasn’t.
I let out a dry laugh.
“A Korean without kimchi or ramen… How’s that even possible?”
The answer came automatically: You’ll manage somehow.
That’s what “K-book possession” is all about!
****
Flashbacks flooded in:
“What’s the point of writing?”
“You think I paid for your classes so you could write fantasy?”
“Bring it here. Let’s see how great your writing is.”
“I heard web novelists make tons of money just sitting around. So, how much do you make?”
“Write something that actually sells. Mom looked it up — anything that doesn’t get promoted isn’t worth writing.”
I groaned, overwhelmed by the voices and blurry memories in my head.
Who am I? Or… who am I supposed to be?
***
“Ishia!”
Was I Ishia, who lived in South Korea?
Or Izana Rohia, a girl from this world?
Possessing a book character isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Unlike 25-year-old Ishia, the personality of “Izana” was like a freshly laid egg — soft and empty.
Everything felt tangled.
Like my head might explode at any moment.
***
“Hahaha! It was Yubel! Our Yubel is [Materia]!”
I started walking — unsteadily — toward the voices I heard.
I didn’t care what I found.
Even if Boris hit me again, anything was better than being stuck in my own head.
I ended up in front of a large door, where the mansion’s servants were all gathered and clapping with joy.
These were the same servants who always looked uncomfortable when they saw me.
I tried to slip through the crowd and enter the room.
“Huh? Who pushed me—oh!”
One of them spotted me.
One by one, they all turned to look at me.
The clapping stopped instantly — like magic.
“…What do we do…”
One person whispered.
They had clearly realized I was trying to enter the room.
They all looked at each other but said nothing.
Still, I pushed forward.
I had to see the truth with my own eyes.
“Ah!”
Someone stuck out a leg and tripped me.
I fell to the floor.
The servants flinched but didn’t move to help.
Of course not. In this house, I was invisible.
Duke Bern had ordered everyone:
Do not speak to Izana. Pretend she doesn’t exist.
Only the duchess is responsible for her.
Now, the servants formed a wall — blocking me from entering.
Some even pulled out cookies and placed them on the floor, trying to lure me away like Hansel and Gretel.
To be honest… I was tempted.
I was really hungry.
“Do they think I’m a dog!?”
The voice of modern-day Ishia roared in my head.
Fueled by that, I bent down and bit someone’s ankle — hard.
“Ouch! What the—!”
It was Lottie, the maid who had run off earlier and forgotten to bring me food.
Startled, she backed up and tripped over me.
“Seriously…”
I jumped to my feet and pushed through the gap.
“I’m here to join the family gathering!”
The maids hesitated, unsure if they should stop me.
In the end, they opened a path.
I stepped up to the door and listened.
“Father, can I hold him too? This is [Materia], right?”
“Boris, don’t be ridiculous. You’re too careless. What if you drop Yubel?”
“But Father, I’m strong! Don’t worry—”
“Stop arguing. He’s [Materia] — the continent’s savior. If something happens to him, even you won’t be forgiven.”
Suddenly, two maids grabbed my arms, trying to pull me back.
But I wasn’t going to give up!
I kicked the door.
BANG!
The door slammed open.
First, I saw Boris staring at Duke Bern with a frustrated face.
The duke himself stood with his back to me. Beside him was quiet little Josef.
And then…
“Who opened this door without permission?”
My mother — Judith Rohia.
Her hair was elegantly tied, and even though she was sweaty, her face still looked noble.
She had been smiling warmly at the duke, but now her face turned cold.
That’s when I shouted:
“Izana is here!”
My voice sounded bitter.
Yes — I am Izana Rohia.
Even though I just remembered my past life as Ishia from Korea…
I’m still Izana.
I’ve been reborn — right into the world of a novel!
And not just any novel…
“Wait… isn’t this from Chronicles of Libya?”
That ultra dark, gore-filled fantasy story —
even grimmer than Game of Thrones!
