Looking back, I could see Seo Dawon standing there.

His summer uniform shirt, which had been white before, was stained dark red, and he carried a bat that he scrounged from who knows wherewhat had happened? Furthermore, the baseball bat was drenched in dark red liquid, roughly illuminating all that he must have suffered to get here.

However, coincidentally, he arrived right after [Seo Dawon] had turned into a monster; the delight at his appearance was overshadowed by tension. I stepped in front of [Seo Dawon], hoping that Seo Dawon wouldnt come any closer.

[This place has some fun things, huh?]

However, [Seo Dawon] was already staring at the others location with an interested look on his face. As soon as the monster finished speaking; I could hear Seo Dawons footsteps running up behind my back.

Wait! I hastily turned around, trying to warn Seo Dawon to not come closer, but Seo Dawon was much faster than I had expected. Without slowing down, he swung the bat my way. Surprised, I dodged to the sideI thought I might have been hit if I hadnt avoided the swing.

However, it didnt seem like Seo Dawon was aiming for me directly and, instead, was aiming for the [Seo Dawon] behind me. The bat swung hard enough to create a whooshing, windy sound and stopped right before [Seo Dawon]s right cheek.

The problem was It didnt seem like Seo Dawon had stopped his bats momentum and merely attempted to intimidate the other. I dont think most people could have stopped inertia right at that position. [Seo Dawon]s powers must have intervened.

Seo Dawon held his bat, nervous; the veins in the back of his hands popped. [Seo Dawon]s eyes glowed with fascination as he observed the boy who looked exactly like him. The tug-of-war between them ended when Seo Dawon fell backwards from a sudden gust of wind.

Dawon-ah! I cried.

[Who are you calling Dawon?]

Ngh!

I wanted to help the fallen Seo Dawon, but the other was faster in grabbing my arm from behind.

Meanwhile, Seo Dawon righted himself. Just as I felt relieved that he wasnt hurt too badlySomething zipped past his cheek, scratching it and slicing it open; the younger man fell to his feet.

[Will this help to distinguish between us?]

Dont do that!

[Seo Dawon] had inflicted that wound.

Seo Dawon had also perceived who caused him that injury. Holding a hand against his bloody cheek, he glared at the other with a fierce expression.

[I dont think Ive ever worn a cute uniform like that?] [Seo Dawon] mockingly whispered from behind.

Dont touch himPlease.

[Why? Because he looks like me?]

At the monsters question, I looked at the Seo Dawon that had fallen some distance away. An appearance and voice that fit what I imagined of the young mageFurthermore, the same name

However, even before this [Seo Dawon] had appeared, the other had numerous differences from the real Seo Dawon.

First, he couldnt use skills. Second, the real Seo Dawon and I were never high school classmates. This, I was certain.

Still, I was only half-confident until I saw the cross-shaped scar on his palm. After seeing that scar, I had already mentally processed that the Seo Dawon, here, wasnt real.

However

Dont scoff at him You also merely resemble Seo Dawon.

However, this monster that suddenly appeared and, like a demon king, began destroying the world couldnt have been Seo Dawon either. Like Seo Dawon, he was simply another person that looked like the original.

[Seo Dawon] must not have expected my response; he was struck speechless. I turned around to look at him, matching [Seo Dawon]s gaze with a firm expression. Youre also not the Seo Dawon I know. HeEven though that person died, he waited around for 3 years in the dungeon.

[What?]

He waited for me to arrive.

[What are you]

Hes not someone who would fall into ruin just because Im gone, like you did. As soon as I spat those words out, the world around us grew silent. And, confidence growing at the monsters reaction, I unleashed [Seo Dawon]s grip on my arm and ran towards the other Seo Dawon.

As I expected, [Seo Dawon] didnt hold onto me. Rather, it was more accurate to say that he froze in place and didnt move.

The monsters that disgustingly crawled out of the pit didnt move either. The soaring sulfuric smoke, the ringing sound of sirens, the burning city Suddenly everything stopped, as if time was frozen. All that my eyes could see remained still.

Like that, I was able to reach Seo Dawons side without any interference. There, in front of Seo Dawon, I raised his facelooking like he would cry at any momentto meet my gaze.

Lee-kyung-ah.

Yeah.

Are you returning?

As expectedMy assumptions were correct; this Seo Dawon was fake.

He tried to deceive mehe succeeded in making me doubt my own memories, something crucial went wrong. That was probably why so many strange events that went against the laws of this world had manifested, breaking down this illusion of a peaceful daily life and causing this sweet dream to fly away.

Perhaps that was why I could feel some hasty impatience in this Seo Dawons tone. The bug can be fixed quickly.

I can also modify it to match anything you want.

Fine. Lets stop this high school first love scenario How about becoming lovers before Seo Dawon dies? You can return to three years before, when Bae Jaemin betrays him, and save him.

Seo Dawon dangled tempting bait before me, enticing me to stay. I looked at him quietly as he continued to speak.

My high school first love did not work out. His name was still foggy to me right now, but, nevertheless, this Seo Dawon must have utilized those memories. This place that instilled so much deja-vu within me was crafted through Seo Dawons imitation.

However, I had also imagined what it would have been like to have met Seo Dawon in high school. What he would have been like back then, if we had attended school together. Those kinds of thoughts.

As Seo Dawon had proposed, I had also entertained the idea of going back in time to save Seo Dawon in my dreams. As I grew to like him, I wanted to let him forget the wounds he had received. If that were possible, I wouldve done anything for that goal. Return to the past and persuade you It would have been nice if it had been Bae Jaemin, not you, that was roughly shoved onto that sandy dungeon floor

However, none of that was real. Even if I saved Seo Dawon hundreds of times here, I wouldnt be able to save him back in reality. Rather, the longer I stay in this world, the more difficult it will become for him.

After steeling my resolve, I walked closer and grabbed Seo Dawons hand. I held both hands together, covering the cross-shaped scar on his palms with my own.

Seo Dawon stopped talking and looked at me desperatelybegging. I burst into laughter at the sight of such a pleading expression on the face of someone I liked.

Will there ever be a day where Seo Dawon will plead to me with that kind of face?

So, I wasnt upset. Also, I roughly perceived the real identity of this Seo Dawon.

I rejected his offer with a gentle tone. I wanted to do that before.

Lee-kyung-ah

If it were back when we released Koo Hui-seo I would probably have lost myself, deeply, here.

Sorry. I have to return.

There are people waiting for me. Then, without a chance for me to react, Seo Dawons visage shattered, starting from the hands I held.

Subsequently, it felt as if small windows were encapsulating my view; as Seo Dawon shattered into small pieces, the real space beyond was soon revealed.

A thin, feeble ray of light shone down from the ceiling into this dark, black space. The light illuminated a butterfly with black wings.

Because I had experienced this kind of space and its strange air a couple of times, I was able to retain some calmness. This was the space where the real Vengeful Ghost Memory would unfold. And, probably, the butterfly with palm-sized black wings was Woo Ragi.

Woo Ragi lightly flew around as if he were swimming midair. His first words, after he landed lightly on my chest, was

Youre homo?

That.

TL: Not gonna lie, it was mega confusing, when translating, to distinguish between the two Seo Dawons. But, I think the novel did something interesting. Now that Lee-kyung knew Seo Dawon became a monster, all of his dialogue showed up in brackets, like other boss monsters within the game. His name was perpetually in brackets as well!

As for theoriesI wonder what you all think?

For me, Seo Dawon probably was the system (guided by Woo Ragi?? Unguided?) testing Choi Lee-kyung. [Seo Dawon], the monster, though, was an anomaly the system definitely didnt expect. Does that mean that this possibility of a [Seo Dawon] is realsomewhere out there? In parallel worlds? Who knows. Youll also probably get explanations for why this happened in a few chaps as well.

: Woo Ragi. Whew. Hesinteresting.