Chapter 1. Welcome, Aerum-ssi!

I woke up at the sound of an annoying alarm, which I am confused about. I don't do alarms. It hurts my head. I prefer being fashionably late.

I opened my heavy eyes, the usually white ceiling on my room not welcoming me. Instead, i was met by a gray one. Definitely not my bedroom's ceiling.

"What the...?"

Of course. I did what any normal person would do. Wake up. Observe and Digest. Well... as much as one can.

I looked around me and got the fact that I'm in a modern styled bedroom so different from my really messy bedroom. A little bigger and more aesthetically pleasing than mine. I clenched my hands and caught the soft texture of the bed I'm on.

"Where am I?"

I don't really know why I asked that when no one was really gonna answer it but I was confused on where I am. I don't have any recollection on being in this kind of room for once in my life. All I remember was sleeping after reading 'The Novel's Extra' for the second time.

I stood up from the black aesthetic bed as my feet met with the soft tingly carpet. I sighed at the comfortable feeling and rubbed my feet at the carpet. Completely relaxed. Whoever owns this kind of room is blessed.

I opened my once closed eyes and walked towards the door that looks like the bathroom door. I opened the dark oak door. My eyes landing at the clean bathroom and Comfort Room. All in one?

I roamed my eyes around the said bathroom and landed it at the object that I've been looking for. A big oval mirror. I looked into the mirror and watched my reflection, more importantly my face. I don't want to go around and find some answers with my haggard and messy face. I was shocked to see a glimpse of my eye color changing. The usually dark brown eyes turning red before it disappeared. My whole face disappearing into a question mark.

My whole freaking face disappearing!

Into a freaking question mark!

WTF?!

"Wait! Wait! My face! What the hell! Give me back my face!"

Slapping my hands on the mirror as if it was broken and will eventually bring back my face, which annoyingly didn't.

I slammed into it again and again. The very familiar feeling of wet tears rolling down my face, yet my reflection on the mirror showing nothing but the ominous question mark.

I touched my face and felt my nose, lips and tears but at the same time, I could see my hands that's touching my face disappear behind the question mark.

Not gonna lie, It gave me the chills.

I was scared and it took me a while to calm down and stop slapping the still fine but poor mirror as a thought got into my head.

This wasn't a dream. I could feel my face. I could feel everything I touched. My senses are still on. I could feel the small stinging pain on slamming my hands on the mirror and the question mark on my face feels too familiar.

A realization then suddenly struck me. The novel that I read before I slept. The webnovel that I loved and at the same time, resented.

The main character also had the same moment and question mark on his face!

" ...I'm in The Novel's Extra "

I couldn't believe it... Is this really not a dream?

"Indeed. You are."

I jumped. Startled at the deep voice coming from behind me. I glanced at the mirror, a looming figure right at my back. I turned around swiftly, swatting the figure's approaching hands before it could do anything.

" Oh~ What a surprise. Agile, I see~ "

I looked at the figure's face and saw something quite unbelievable. He isn't ugly perse. He isn't handsome too. He's unbelievably plain... except for his eyes that are definitely the most gorgeous pair I've ever seen. Plain and ordinary with an extraordinary air. Just like the...

" ... Co-author of TNE! You're the co-author dimensional being or something! "

"Correct again, Aerum-ssi~"

The dimensional being or whatsoever smiled at me as a chilling sensation ran through my spine.

Dam. Plain my ass. Why can't Hajin say charming instead? Someone with those eyes and heavy aura is definitely not plain. Not a single bit of plainess.

"Why am I here?"

The being smiled eerily at my question.

"Yu Aerum-ssi. Do you want to change the ending of this story? Will you help me make this world more interesting and enjoyable?"

I was dumbfounded at the dimensional beings question and offer but I didn't answer immediately. First digesting what the man just said carefully.

I am definitely and rightfully wary of the co-author's intentions cause really. Who wouldn't be? He just freaking kidnapped me into a another World!

"... As far as I know. You already made this World's story complete. Hajin made this World complete. He completed it."

The man merely smiled at me and chuckled like he was amused. Which kind of irritated me because his eyes shone at the same time.

"That can be solved easily, Aerum-ssi~ I am a being of power. Creating World's and Dimensions are my domain. Reversing time would be just an easy flick and done. The real question is Will you be willing to?"

I am someone not easily swayed by suspicious people with money in my original world and I would like to stay the same but... If it's changing this World's.

No, this Novel's quite crappy ending. And the self-satisfaction that I'll feel after making the just right ending. Then...

"Okay. I am willing to."

I looked at the beaming man in front of me. His smile radiating with no cover. I reluctantly smiled back. Not really knowing what to do. I'm no social butterfly but I'm social enough to get some friends. Dimensional beings though, is a different matter.

"Why me though?"

The man smiled at me again. Amusement clear in his face.

"Aerum-ssi is clearly dissatisfied with the ending and as far as I've known, you have a great potential as a writer AND an editor. Although you always just end up reading and reading."

"That's it?"

"Hmmmm... Almost all of it~"

"Why do you even want to change an already complete story who only have me dissatisfied about its ending? it's clearly a doubtful reason. I'm unconvinced."

"To be very honest, It's not only Aerum-ssi who's dissatisfied with the ending. Actually, there are tons of you. Except their reasons are not as likeable and not as detailed as yours. Let's just also say that you and I were at a right place and time. Me hearing your complaints and you telling your complaints. And Aerum-ssi, I'm not giving this World another chance just because of you and their dissatisfaction. I'm also quite curious on what outcome an experienced writer like Hajin-ssi and an exceptional reader like Aerum-ssi can do."

"Oh... ok. I'm convinced and also not convinced but I'll take that answer."

It's like Han Sooyoung and Kim Dokja. Author and Reader.*(1)

I followed the co-author out of the cramp bathroom as he gestured us to exit the bedroom. Letting me see the beauty of the living room. Very modern, neat and homie. The big and comfortable-looking gray couches. The big screen TV and some designs that are definitely pleasing for my eyes.

We sat at one of the gray couches and guess what? It is very comfortable! Definitely a high-quality fabric. Probably expensive. The co-author or dimensional being just sat beside me making himself comfortable. Leaning at the couch and slumping back with me copying him. It would've been really an awkward situation if I wasn't to relaxed. Just sitting here and not standing at that cramp bathroom.

"... So. Is there anything else I need to know? Like who's body am I residing and borrowing? How much time do I have left before I enter CUBE and all? Also, why are you still here? I mean, I don't mind just chilling here but I also would really like my questions answered right now. "

The man only glanced at me from my peripheral view and continued on staring at black screen of the big screen TV. An amused smile playing on his lips.

"The original owner of that body your residing is Yu Taehyung. The only child of the late Hunter and Huntress, Yu Taeyeon and Yu Baekhyun. Just a few hours ago, Yu Taehyung died. You're two weeks earlier before you enter CUBE just like Kim Hajin. And I'm still here cause while Kim Hajin have the laptop, you'll have me."

"What?! Aren't you some kind of busy being or something?! Why don't you just give me a laptop too or maybe some other gadgets like a phone, a watch or something?"

The bastard just laughed at my reaction before smiling amusedly again. Seriously, this guy probably thinks everything is amusing.

" The me you're seeing right now is only a fragment or a part of me. My real body and full consciousness is out there doing my job so you really don't have to worry about that. And if you really want me to become an object you can just tell me through your mind. I just created a link between us before you entered this World. Just like Kim Hajin's laptop, I'm invisible, but I can be visible if you want to~ "

I nodded at his explanation as response of understanding. I'm not that dumb to understand something a bit normal in the novels I read in everyday basis.

"But why do you need to be specifically here? Hajin didn't really have you with him in the novel."

The man suddenly wore a serious expression. His amused smile gone.

"I'm here in case you cause you cause too much changes in the plot. Although, you are brought here to make some changes, it is not advisable to change too many things. Your original purpose is to make a worthy ending for every readers. The events that are about to happen should have a steady pace. Not too fast and not too slow. That's one of the reasons."

"Acceptable. And any other reasons?..."

The man looked at me. Clear interest swirling in those galactic eyes.

"You have some unique power or in other words gift in you, Aerum-ssi. Even before I could give you a gift to help you in combat or battle in the future, your unique power stopped me from doing so. I could only give you 2 gifts and 1 wasn't even directly made by me. It was created by your subconsciousness."

I was confused at his statement. I never have any powers in me. As embarrassing as it is, in all those times that I pretended to have some powers, nothing really magical came out.

"...Power?"

The man just chuckled before he turned on the TV with the remote that suddenly appeared on his hands.

"Yes, power. You'll learn it eventually. For now, let's start the synchronization."

"Will it be painful?"

The man in question merely smiled.

With that, the fragment of the co-author turned into a black phone. His body materialising in the phone's screen. The man smiling at me as our eyes met.

"Shall we begin our story, dear reader?~"

"I'm not prepared!"