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Chapter 2 …
As I walked for a while, I began to hear the sounds of people talking and children running around. Lights flickered in the distance.
“Cheap! Super cheap!”
“Move, move! Can’t you see people are walking here?”
“Oh my, this is really pretty.”
“It really is. Should I get one too? It’s not even that expensive.”
“Carriage coming through! Everyone get out of the way!”
The place I had arrived at was a marketplace, bustling so tightly with people that there was barely space to step.
Although I had found signs of civilization, I was still at a loss. First off, I knew absolutely nothing about the body I had possessed. Not my exact age, not my name, not even where I was supposed to live.
Let’s start by sorting things out.
Usually, in possession stories, the character ends up inside a novel or a favorite game, meaning they already know the plot inside and out. If not the characters’ names, then at least the unique worldbuilding should ring a bell.
But I’ve read over a hundred novels and played countless games — most of which didn’t even have real plots. They were just relaxing farming sims or town life games where you greeted neighbors. I’ve never touched an otome game with a rofan (romance fantasy) flavor, where you build affection points with NPCs.
And even if someone told me the main characters’ names now, what good would that do? There’s no internet here. I have zero chance of remembering the original story.
Sigh. I couldn’t help but sigh, but to survive, I had to keep thinking.
Let’s recall the common traits of the novels I’ve read. Maybe I can at least guess the genre.
Usually, people get possessed into adult characters just before their debutante balls. But since I’ve become a child, it’s likely to be a child-rearing story or a regretful family genre.
I tried to recall the ones I had read, but those genres weren’t really my taste — so I realized I hadn’t read many.
At that moment, I made a firm decision: I must avoid the plotlines of the original story.
Even if this world is based on a novel, the moment I entered, the plot would’ve changed. And I don’t even know what story it is.
In other words, I know nothing. So I’d better be wary of even the smallest things — it’s safest that way.
Avoid guys who are too handsome. Or too pretty. Or too ugly. Or too nice. Or too rude. Avoid them all.
Nothing good ever comes from anything excessive.
If only I could find some clue as to where this place was…
“Hey! What the hell! Move!”
A sudden shout snapped me out of my thoughts. With a loud creak, someone jumped down from a carriage and stomped toward me. Before I could react, a hand grabbed my collar and slammed me to the ground.
Stunned, I couldn’t even scream. I just stared at my scraped palms.
“Didn’t you hear them say move?! Do you know who’s in this carriage? A filthy beggar like you dares block their path?”
“……”
“If you understand, then get lost!”
Wait a minute… Beggar? On our first meeting? That’s a bit much, isn’t it?
Though honestly… I did look like a total beggar right now.
Still, that didn’t mean I had to take this quietly. Anger welled up inside me. I looked up, ready to argue — only to see a huge, rough-looking man glaring down at me.
I quickly lowered my gaze.
Nope. This wasn’t a fight I could win. Clearly, I was in the wrong.
“Ah… Yes. I’m sorry.”
The quicker the apology, the better. Since I had already assessed my dire situation when I got drenched in the rain earlier, this kind of soulless apology wasn’t hard.
“Enough. The child probably didn’t mean to jump out. Just let them go.”
A deep, refined voice came from inside the carriage. The man who had been holding me by the collar stepped back as the carriage door opened.
When I instinctively turned toward the voice, I found myself locking eyes with a man sitting inside.
His eyes widened in shock.
We stared at each other for about three seconds. Then a thought crossed my mind.
No way… Is this one of those clichés where I look like his dead wife or long-lost daughter?
His misty eyes screamed emotional turmoil.
If that guy takes me in, my life is over. Absolutely over.
If this is a regretful family story, I’ll surely be neglected, abused, and eventually accused by the real daughter who returns later — and then die.
“Um…”
“Thank you for letting me go!”
“W-wait!”
Before he could stop me, I turned away and ran.
I didn’t stop until I reached an empty alley, where I finally caught my breath.
I had successfully dodged one cliché. Time to regroup.
First, I’ve possessed a beggar child.
A villainess, a heroine, or at least a distant extra — that’s what people usually become. Did I ever read or see a character with green hair like mine? I couldn’t recall a single one.
Second, I’m lost.
I have no clue where I am. Whoever possessed me clearly didn’t consider the fact that I have no sense of direction. Couldn’t they have at least given me a map?
Third, I nearly died just now.
All those rofan novels I read must’ve triggered my genre survival instincts.
Now I had a dilemma: Should I follow the clichés to go home, or avoid them?
Probably best to stay open to both options.
Should I… have just gone with that guy and gotten adopted?
No. Child-rearing and regretful family genres are nothing like the peaceful life I want. If it’s a child-rearing one, everyone will obsessively try to control my life. If it’s a regretful family one, they’ll probably try to kill me. Either way, it’s a pain.
As I was trying to make my way back, I collided with someone running from the opposite direction.
“Ack!”
I fell flat on my butt, and a sharp pain shot through my shoulder.
I looked up with a frown — only to see the person glance at me and walk away without a word. He paused briefly, as if debating something, and then dashed off like he was being chased.
What a rude jerk.
He disappeared into a different alley, and soon, more people rushed into the alley I was in.
“He ran this way! After him!”
“Don’t let him get away!”
I brushed myself off and watched the group run past. Were they chasing the guy I ran into?
Did he steal something?
Then, the man who looked like their leader turned toward me and asked:
“Hey, kid. Did you see a guy in a robe come this way?”
That jerk… Should I tell them where he went?
These people looked rough. Probably not just a small crime. He might not make it out safe.
Should I snitch?
No — I possessed into this world without any information, so I should play it safe and live virtuously. In these worlds, even small actions often come back to bite you.
But still, how dare he bump into me and not apologize?
I didn’t know anything, didn’t own anything — and yet my thoughts were swinging wildly like Jekyll and Hyde.
Sigh… My life is more important. Let’s play nice.
Putting on my most innocent face, I told the man:
“I didn’t see clearly, but someone did run that way earlier.”
“If you’re lying, you won’t get away with it.”
Geez, even when I help…
“Of course, sir~”
“Everyone, move out!”
“Take care~”
Or don’t.
They all ran off in the direction I pointed.
Serves you right, jerk. Good luck.
Judging by how they treated me, I figured they were chasing that guy for the wrong reasons — so I intentionally sent them the wrong way. Not my problem if it was a wild goose chase.
As I dusted myself off and started to stand, a dark shadow suddenly loomed over me.
Something cold and metallic pressed against my neck — and my whole body froze.
Before I could fully grasp what was happening, I started to tremble.
A cold, sharp object… Is that a sword?
Once my brain processed it, panic set in. It felt like all the blood drained from my body.
Aren’t people who get possessed supposed to be calm and capable in any crisis?
No, wait — what am I saying? This isn’t normal. I lived in the 21st century! No one ever held a sword to my throat before! This only happens in movies!
Even Escape Room: Emergency Mode didn’t teach me what to do with a blade at my neck!
Still… I guess these kinds of things are common in rofan novels… NOT! This is insane!
I don’t want to die right after possessing someone!
I’m a 24-year-old student — I was just studying abroad! Who could possibly stay calm in this situation?
Mentally, I’m 24. But this body is what — 7? Are you out of your mind, author? How could you pull a knife on a kid?!
My brain was spinning. Thoughts tangled together, making rational judgment impossible.
“What are you?”
A cold voice snapped me out of my panic.
“I said — who are you?”
“Uh… Who… am I?”
“Do I look like I’m joking to you?”
No. But seriously — I have no idea who I am!
“I’ll ask again. Who are you? You’d better tell the truth. It’ll be better for you.”
“Uh, please… calm down. C-could you put the sword down…?”
I squirmed, trying to escape his grip, but my neck was locked in place. The only things I could move were a few trembling fingers.
As expected, my attempt to reason with him went nowhere.
“Shut up. Just answer. Why did you help me?”
…What?
Was this guy that rude jerk from earlier?
Did he track me down because I helped him?
“I-I don’t know. Those people just… didn’t seem nice, and… you looked like you were running away…”
“Who sent you?”
“……”
“I said — who sent you?”
I wish I knew. I’d like to ask that myself.
“So you’re staying silent, huh?”
After getting possessed, running around trying not to die, and dealing with this lunatic — all the stress and fatigue boiled over.
Screw it. What do you expect from me?
“Answer me! Who are you?! Who sent you?!”
“I… ugh! God, it was God! Are you happy now?! A person is trying to talk here, damn it!”
Swoosh—
Before I could even finish my sentence, my body crumpled to the ground.
And just like that… I met my first death.
