Kim Suho, the righteous, honest, and hard-working main character. One with a secret he hasn't told anyone... one that explains his ridiculous strength and talent with the blade.
Shin Jonghak, the fourth generation descendant of the Jinsung Corp. Haughty, arrogant, elitist... as the heir of one of the greatest chaebol in Korea, he acts just as he's entitled to act.
And Kim Chundong- No. Kim Hajin. The man responsible for this entire world who had taken on the role of an extra. The author of the NovelBin named 'The Returnee Hero.' A man who would go on to rewrite the entire story that he had stopped with an indefinite hiatus by living within it.
This is a story belonging to none of those three main characters.
Lee Shin. First name, Lee. Family name, Shin. When read with the Hanja, Lee as in 'different,' and Shin as in 'belief.' Also notably, not in the traditional Korean name order, but instead in the Western name order... because he was Korean American.
But more than that...
He was a man who did not exist. A true extra within the novel.
If it was just that, then there would be no issue.
Kim Hajin was also an extra, after all. And so, if Lee Shin knew the story that Kim Hajin had written, it would be fine.
But there was a problem.
You see, Lee Shin did not actually know anything about 'The Returnee Hero.'
Because, unlike Kim Hajin, who was the author of 'The Returnee Hero' and understood its setting...
Lee Shin was a reader.
And not a reader of 'The Returnee Hero...'
No.
The story about Kim Hajin himself, rewriting 'The Returnee Hero' by entering it... That was the one that Lee Shin knew.
In other words, this story belonged to...
The Reader of the Novel's Extra.
===
A relatively handsome but unfamiliar face was reflected back in the mirror.
Lee Shin... or rather, the man who had become Lee Shin, reached up to touch his face and frowned. "...You are not me. But it seems like I have become you?"
Lee Shin... No.
'Lee.'
That was his given name, at least.
Lee stared at the face of the young man reflected back in the bathroom mirror and said, "How in the world did this happen?"
His memory was blank. The reason for why he could be in this world was a mystery. Moreover, he still didn't know what 'this world' even was, only that it couldn't be the Earth he was familiar with.
The reason for that was the fact that Lee... or, the 'Lee' before he arrived had a spear propped against the wall in his studio apartment.
And it was not just an ordinary spear either. No, if it had been a simple boar spear with a steel point and a wooden haft, it would have been more believable.
But the spear was a ridiculously overengineered piece of technology that folded into a small shaft with a click of a button and then expanded out with another click. Something that, even in the advent of 3D printing, didn't exist.
That wasn't the only sign that this world was different from the Earth that Lee knew, however.
No.
The main clue of that was in the letter on a desk nearby.
It was an acceptance letter. At least, judging from the fancy letterhead and general formatting.
Fine.
Lee could accept that.
But it was what was ON that letterhead that was bothering him.
Something that nudged at a small part of his brain, jogging old memories from years back.
As for what it was...
Lee walked out of the small bathroom in his studio apartment and back to his desk by the window. Picking up the acceptance letter, he properly read it this time.
[Cube Hero Academy Acceptance Letter]
Dear Lee Shin,
We are writing to inform you that, after reviewing your application as well as your performance records at the Agent Military Academy, you have been accepted at Cube as a cadet.
Your current placement is Rank 999.
Be aware that the mandatory entrance exam is soon. The finalized date for the exam will be transmitted via email.
We look forward to seeing you join, as well as your future as a shining Hero Alumni of Cube.
Best wishes,
Cube Hero Academy Admittance Department
"...Why does that sound familiar?"
Cube Hero Academy. The Agent Military Academy. Heroes...
For one moment, Lee wondered if he was in that anime. What was it again... My Academic Hero? No, My Hero Academia.
But it wasn't that.
To begin with, he was FAIRLY sure he would have realized it by now if he had a Quirk.
Not only that, but a quick look out the window showed a lot of hangul written all over the place. Korean, not Japanese or English.
So this wasn't an anime.
For one moment, he considered if it was a light novel or a random web novel.
That was possible...
But the word 'Cube' kept sticking out in Lee's head. Not only that, but the fact that it had rankings.
And then it hit him all at once.
Lee quickly grabbed the phone nearby and did a quick search.
If this world... if this 'story' that he was in was the one he THOUGHT it was.
Then the name he had in mind should get an immediate result.
Back on Earth, it was completely generic. Something that would pull up random results.
But here...
If this was the world he thought it was...
Then that 'generic' name wasn't generic at all.
As for what that name was...
> You searched for: Rachel Elizabeth Louise.
Rachel Elizabeth Louise - Princess of England. Heir to the royal throne. She has recently been admitted to Cube Hero Academy as part of the incoming class of cadets.
"Oh." Lee groaned. "So it's that then."
A novel that he had read once in one go after it was translated.
One where he was mildly annoyed- No. Truthfully, VERY annoyed at the main character.
And one that he dropped halfway through because he disliked the misunderstanding drama.
A fact that he was now GRAVELY regretting.
"...Fuck my life." Lee ran his hand through his hair and let out a helpless laugh. "I'm an extra in the Novel's Extra, aren't I?"