Chapter 11:
Leon slowly opened his eyes, finding himself in a strange place, unlike any cave or pit he had been in before. The area resembled a small wooden house, with a worn wooden chair and a small table beside it, holding scattered written pages and two books. To the right, there was a bed and several shelves, while to the left, there seemed to be a simple kitchen setup. At the back, wooden training dummies stood alongside a sword, a bow, and a spear.
"Did this man master all these weapons?" Leon muttered to himself, puzzled.
His eyes were drawn to one of the books on the table. He picked it up and read the title: Kim Suho.
"What a strange name," he murmured as he carefully opened the book. The first page caught his attention with its bold heading: My Life in This World. As he turned the pages, the story grew more intriguing.
"I am Kim Suho. I don't know who I am, where I am, or how I ended up here. This world is strange to me, yet it didn't stop me from exploring it..."
The story recounted Kim Suho's journey of becoming strong and defeating countless monsters. It told of the fateful day he was saved by a golden-haired princess with golden eyes and how he fell in love with her, only to be met with a brutal betrayal by the princess and a noble named Alfred. The tale concluded with Kim's suffering, his loss, and his retreat to this secluded place.
As Leon closed the book, a heavy feeling settled in his chest. The story wasn't just words; it was like a mirror reflecting fragments of his own pain.
"I'm not the only one who's suffered..." he muttered softly, his eyes fixed on the table. For the first time, he felt the weight of shared anguish.
After a moment, Leon's attention shifted to the second book. Its title was etched in strange, bold letters: Legacy.
"Legacy?" Leon said, puzzled. Slowly, he reached out and opened the book.
As soon as his eyes met the first page, memories of Kim Suho's betrayal flooded into his mind. He saw the moment the princess, Lianna, drove her sword through Kim's body, the cruel words she uttered, and the mocking laughter of Alfred. Leon felt as though he were living those moments himself. The pain and betrayal seeped into his soul, making it hard to distinguish his own emotions from Kim's.
"Stop! Stop!" Leon screamed, clutching his head with both hands. The scenes didn't stop, relentlessly crashing into his mind like an unending storm.
Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably. He didn't even realize it, consumed by the emotions of anguish, rage, and despair that weren't entirely his own.
"I don't want to see this anymore!" he shouted again, trying to push the book away. But his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
Suddenly, the flood of images ceased. Leon sat on the ground, breathing heavily, his hands trembling. His eyes were red from crying, but deep within him, something had changed. It was as if Kim Suho's soul had left an indelible mark on his own.
"Kim Suho... You endured all of this... Despite the pain... Despite everything..." Leon whispered faintly before losing consciousness, collapsing beside the table.
The room fell silent once more, save for the sound of his labored breathing as his exhausted body sought rest from the overwhelming experience he had just endured