CHAPTER 1

Al stared out the window, captivated by the twinkling stars scattered across the vast night sky. Each tiny light felt like a distant whisper, holding secrets of the world he was in.

To this day, he was still grappling with the strange events that had unfolded. One moment he had been in a deep, dreamless sleep, and the next, he awakened to an unfamiliar presence, an invisible voice echoing in his mind.

Confusion clouded his thoughts as he wrestled with the unsettling realization that he was not alone in his mind. Panic surged through him; he wondered if he had truly lost his grip on reality. Yet, as the days went on, he had to confront the undeniable: this was not mere imagination. It was real. Someone—or something—had been communicating with him while he lay unconscious.

At first, the voice had been just a murmur, barely distinguishable, layered beneath his thoughts. There were fragments he could grasp: words that felt like the laughter of children, the weight of expectation, and the faintest hints of a story unfolding around him.

"Protagonist?" he found himself pondering, the term echoing in his mind. Was he somehow reincarnated inside the novel? He questioned the nature of his existence. Was he trapped within the pages of a book? If so, which book could it possibly be?

His real name wasn't in there anymore, he's now Cyll Dreiz Reiger, the owner of the body he's currently using, and he doesn't know what happened to the real Cyll and why he became him.

And the voice hinted at something more: about him having kids.

Doubt crept in again. Was this just the result of his mind unraveling under stress about the past? A figment of his imagination, perhaps? Speculation twisted around him like a fog. And what about the father? Who could it be?

With a shake of his head, he tried to ignore the whirlwind of questions. He would not allow himself to be further ensnared by uncertainties that threatened to consume him. Yet, deep down, he knew he could not escape the strange reality that had enveloped him. No matter what he does.

A week had slipped by since he first stepped inside the mansion, yet it felt like an eternity. Al longed to venture beyond its high walls and explore the outside what it's like, but a relentless warning echoed in his mind, holding him captive by the system.

He realized he needed to finish the storyline that seemed to bind him to this place, but six years? The weight of that revelation crashed over him like a cold wave. Six years—an unfathomable amount of time spent in solitude, without a hint of companionship. He had been completely alone, bereft of any form of assistance. Each day was a challenge, and he was his sole support, gradually learning to fend for himself, but the isolation was suffocating.

Strange sensations coursed through him, further amplifying his unease. It felt as if he were somehow sharing the anguish usually reserved for pregnant women. Why was this happening? How could he navigate these unfamiliar feelings? A gnawing desperation filled his heart—who would be there to help him through this turmoil?

His mind raced with a multitude of questions, each one more pressing than the last. Once, he had fervently prayed for a child to come into his and Red's lives, dreaming of the joy and fulfillment it would bring. But now, in the face of his current reality, he felt an overwhelming dread wash over him. The desire had shifted to a sense of reluctance, and an undying doubt.

With each day that passed, time stretched in a way that felt both infinite and crushing. Weeks turned into months, and Al found himself spiraling deeper into this labyrinth of isolation and uncertainty, where every heartbeat echoed the burden of his thoughts.

Al felt overwhelmed by the weight of his circumstances, unable to bear the thought of the future facing his children. The world around him had become a dark and oppressive place, one where their innocence was at constant risk. He often pictured them living in a distorted reality, a game where the rules were cruel and unforgiving.

In his mind, he envisioned them trapped in a never-ending loop, waiting for something—anything—to happen, knowing that if the world outside remained stagnant, their own lives would follow suit. It tormented him to think of them growing up in such a stifling environment, devoid of joy and freedom.

In a moment of desperation, Al considered a drastic solution. He thought that by ending himself, he might spare his children from the suffering he believed they would inevitably endure. The thought consumed him, leading him down a path of despair as he wrestled with the painful idea that his departure could somehow free them from a fate he feared was worse than death itself.

Al found himself ensnared in a cycle of disappointment, an unending spiral where each attempt led him deeper into despair. Despite the self-destructive paths he wandered, his body persisted—a stubborn reminder that he was still alive, still breathing, even as his spirit weakened. In a moment of quiet giving up, Al made a difficult decision to embrace life, to carry the weight of existence, and to nurture the children growing within him, despite their father remaining a mystery.

The question loomed in his mind, haunting him like a whisper in the dark: Who is their father?

With a deep breath, he reached for his cell phone, the device lying forgotten beside him since the moment he had awoken in this world. It felt heavy in his hand, the screen dimmed from disuse, yet he knew he needed to confront the reality on the other side of the screen.

As he flicked through the contacts, a sense of hopelessness washed over him. There were only two names listed—Jin Linran and Jin Weilan.

What ties did he share with them? How were they linked to the children who now resided within him? He felt a swell of questions, a mix of curiosity and dread. Were they the father of his children inside his belly?

Al's heart raced with uncertainty as he sat in silence, grappling with the implications of their presence in his life. Each unanswered question felt like a knot tightening in his chest, leaving him to wonder what the future would hold for him and the lives he was carrying.

Al pushed his thoughts aside once more, determination sparking within him as he began texting his contacts. Each message felt like a lifeline, a connection to the world he desperately craved.

He meticulously crafted a diary filled with the numbers of his contacts, each entry a testament to his growing concern, as he navigated through the ups and downs of his days.

Though their silence weighed heavily on him, it was the thrill of reaching out that kept him going. Deep down, a flicker of hope ignited—he longed for a reply, for someone to break the silence and remind him that he wasn't alone in this kind of cruel world.