Seeing all that information left Henry stunned. His hands trembled slightly as he looked at his reflection in the nearby glass surface—then back at the profile image displayed in the academy system.
The face was the same.
Not his old one… but the one he saw in the mirror now.
He muttered under his breath, voice barely above a whisper, "If everything I'm seeing is real… then I'm inside a novel world."
He stepped back, mind reeling, breath shaky.
"There's only one way left to be absolutely sure," he said quietly, gathering himself. Then after a long pause, he took in a deep breath and softly spoke,
"Status window."
The moment the words left his lips, a screen suddenly appeared in front of his eyes—just like a computer monitor, except this one floated midair, translucent and glowing. It wasn't projected like the smartwatch's hologram—it existed purely within his vision. A system interface visible only to him.
---
User: Daniel Johnson
[Class: N/A]
[Level: 1]
[Stats]
→ Rating: E-
→ Strength: G
→ Agility: E
→ Stamina: E-
→ Magic Power: E+
→ Luck: G-S (Conditional)
→ Intelligence: G+
→ Charm: G+
[Traits]
→ N/A
[Skills]
→ N/A
Taking a slow, measured step back, Daniel muttered under his breath, "I should've realized it earlier… this isn't my body. I mean—who gains weight while in a coma? And even their face changes completely?"
His eyes drifted down to the uniform he was wearing.
The smart watch.
The unfamiliar reflection in the glass.
"All of this… it was right in front of me. I should've known from the start—I'm inside a novel."
He exhaled, frustrated at his own slow realization, then tapped his smartwatch again. As the display lit up, he scanned the name on the profile once more: Daniel Johnson.
"And right now," he said quietly, voice thick with disbelief, "I'm inside the body of a side character named Daniel Johnson."
He closed his eyes and tried to recall what he knew.
"Daniel Johnson… he was mentioned at the very beginning of the novel. A minor character who picks a fight with the protagonist—and gets completely beaten down. After that, he vanishes. No further mention. No arc. No development. His only purpose in the story was to give the protagonist a flashy, powerful introduction and to help kick-start the main plot."
A sad smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Poor Daniel… only created to be crushed."
He sighed heavily and rubbed the back of his neck, unease creeping in.
"So now I'm him… the guy who's destined to get humiliated for the hero's big moment. Great."
Just then, a small pop-up on his smartwatch caught his eye. It was a news update from the academy.
"Next week: Class C2 Study Tour to the National Museum."
Daniel's eyes narrowed as he read the line. Then, suddenly, it clicked.
"This tour… it happens one week after Daniel gets beaten up by Justin, the protagonist. Which means… that fight already happened. That's why I'm in the hospital."
His face went pale.
"So… my role in the story is already over."
He stared at the ceiling blankly for a moment, then sat down, deep in thought. Possibilities ran through his mind like a chaotic storm.
"What now?"
He furrowed his brows.
"As far as I remember, Daniel Johnson comes from the powerful and wealthy Johnson family. But he's practically invisible within it. His distant cousin, the heir to the family, is the one everyone cares about. That guy is the second lead in the novel—powerful, handsome, and a close rival and best friend of the protagonist, Justin. But no matter what, he never defeats him."
He paused.
"I know about Daniel's family… but I don't really know much about Daniel himself. Like—who are his parents? What's his standing in the family? What kind of life did he live? I have no idea."
Daniel looked out the window once more, mind racing.
"Alright. First step… I need to gather as much information as I can about Daniel Johnson. If I'm going to live this life, I need to know who I'm pretending to be."
He gave a half-smirk and muttered,
"Maybe I should pretend I've lost my memory. Wouldn't be hard. After all… I really don't remember anyone."
After changing into a clean set of clothes, Daniel sat quietly on the edge of the hospital bed, his mind still clouded with questions. He turned his attention to the smartwatch once again, carefully exploring all of its features—everything from holographic projections to biometric scans, system notifications, and a few locked apps that required higher clearance.
A short while later, a nurse entered the room, carrying a digital clipboard. Her tone was polite but efficient.
"Sir, all the procedures have been completed. You just need to settle the hospital bill, and then you're free to leave."
Daniel looked up at her, eyes wide with uncertainty.
He hesitated for a moment, then asked, voice filled with genuine confusion,
"Can you tell me… who I am? And… why I'm here?"
The nurse blinked, taken aback by the question. Before she could respond, the door opened and a doctor stepped in, having already been briefed.
He walked over to Daniel and began asking him a series of questions—his name, the current date, his family's name, and what he remembered last. Daniel, sticking to his decision, answered them all with a puzzled expression, pretending to struggle with every response.
The doctor turned away briefly and muttered under his breath, "It seems some of Mr. Daniel's memories may have been lost… We should inform the Academy."
A few minutes later, the situation took another turn.
A man in a sleek black uniform stepped into the room—one of the Johnson family's private guards. Without saying much, he completed the discharge formalities with the staff, signed a few digital forms, and then turned to Daniel.
"It's time to go, young master," he said respectfully, though his voice lacked any warmth.
Daniel stood up slowly, glancing once at the hospital room that had sheltered him after the incident. He followed the guard out, a quiet storm of thoughts swirling in his head.
So it begins, he thought.
A new life… in someone else's story.