Side Story 3: The Original World (3)

“Twenty-two…?”

Minji’s face went pale for a moment.

Two reasons explained her reaction.

First, the realization that the “possessed” person, who the so-called Creator had claimed was “a good match,” was mentally her equal but physically five years younger.

“You were young. I felt bad for taking over the body so easily,” Henry confessed.

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Minji reassured him gently. “He’s doing fine in another world, just like you are.”

“Really? That’s a relief. I was worried he might have died or disappeared,” Henry admitted, looking genuinely concerned.

The kindhearted soul seemed to have been deeply worried about the original owner of his body. Minji shook her head gently, hoping to ease his concern, and then fell back into her own thoughts.

‘So I was fighting with a kid five years younger than me this whole time.’

It was bad enough to have a competitive streak with someone over fictional content. But to find out that her so-called “rival” in fandom was just a college kid—and that she had taken things so far that they’d practically been at each other’s throats in the other world?

Minji sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose as she tried to calm the swirl of thoughts in her head.

‘What kind of pathetic adult picks fights with a kid?’

She had assumed Owen and, by extension, the person who had taken over his body, was around her age—twenty-seven—because Owen himself was twenty-four.

It had seemed like a logical conclusion, one she had never even thought to question.

But it wasn’t logical. She had just never doubted it because Woo-hyun, like Owen, carried himself with the maturity and composure of someone far older.

“You seem young, but it sounds like you’ve lived quite a life,” she remarked.

“Lived intensely,” Henry corrected with a shy chuckle.

Her exasperation deepened.

“He’s a student at Korea University. I didn’t really understand what a university was at first, but now I know—it’s a higher education institution. And Korea University is apparently the top school in this country,” Henry explained, his tone full of genuine admiration.

Minji froze.

‘Korea University?’

She stared at Henry in disbelief.

Handsome looks, tall stature, long legs, elegant hands, exceptional artistic talent, and now a brilliant mind?

‘Smart and hardworking too. Is this guy even real?’

At this point, she felt like questioning reality itself.

What could have possibly driven Woo-hyun to give up everything he had, leave it all behind, and choose to remain in that other world? Why would he willingly become Owen, choosing Lucia and that life over the one he had here?

“You must’ve had a hard time adjusting,” Minji said, pulling her thoughts back to the conversation. “Living in a completely different world from the one you came from.”

“It wasn’t easy,” Henry admitted, nodding slightly. “It took me a while to adapt and act normal.”

“Didn’t you miss your original world?” Minji asked, her voice calm and measured.

Henry blinked at her question before a faint, warm smile spread across his face.

“I think about it sometimes. I even dream about it. But I’m satisfied with the life I’ve been given here.”

It was a beautiful smile, radiant like sunlight.

“I’ve been given a second chance, after all. I can’t stay trapped in the past.”

His voice was full of hope and determination as he spoke of the future, and Minji found herself captivated by his optimism.

“I did leave some things behind,” Henry admitted, “but I can find new meaning here—meet new people, create new memories, and make new connections.”

“New meaning…” Minji echoed softly.

“Yeah, new meaning. Like meeting you,” Henry added, his tone bright and sincere.

Minji blinked, caught off guard by his candidness. She realized that perhaps she had been in a similar position. While she had left everything behind—family, career, wealth—none of it had ever truly held her heart.

There was nothing left in her original world that had given her joy or meaning. Maybe that was why she had escaped into her fantasies, clinging to the stories and characters that had made her feel alive.

Looking at Henry now, Minji thought that perhaps, for the first time, she might be on the verge of forming a meaningful connection in this world.

Smiling softly, she reached into her handbag and pulled out her phone. Handing it to Henry, she asked, “Do you know how to use this? If not, I can show you. Put in your number.”

It was a small gesture, but the thought of forming a genuine bond with someone in this empty world filled her with quiet hope.

* * *

“Owen.”

Kyle’s voice drew Owen’s attention.

Ever since becoming close friends, Kyle and Owen had started meeting frequently—so often that even the aristocracy had taken notice of their bond. Visits like today, with Owen stopping by the Mage Tower, were now a regular occurrence.

“What?” Owen’s dark eyes reflected mild curiosity as he turned to his friend.

“You said once that you’re ‘possessed,’ right?” Kyle asked casually.

“…I did.”

Owen’s response was slow and measured, wary of where this line of questioning was headed.

The truth about his possession had come to light by accident. Kyle had been surprisingly understanding, dismissing the matter with the reassurance that Owen hadn’t taken the body by force.

But to bring it up again now…?

“Then, who were you before? In your original world?”

“What?”

“You know, where you lived, what you did… that sort of thing,” Kyle elaborated, clearly grappling with how to phrase the question.

Owen hesitated at first, caught off guard by the question, but soon composed himself.

Before he was Owen, he had been Woo-hyun. A student at Korea University, juggling part-time jobs with a rigorous academic life, yet always finding time for his love of *The Flower of the Empire* and its heroine, Lucia.

“…I was a student,” Owen said simply.

“A student? Like, at an academy?”

“Something like that. It’s called a university where I’m from.”

Kyle nodded, trying to piece together the concept. Noble families often hired private tutors, but lesser nobles and commoners sometimes sent their children to academies. It was the closest equivalent he could think of.

“And what were you studying?” Kyle asked.

“A subject that didn’t really suit me,” Owen admitted with a faint smile. “But I got by. Even when life was hectic, I found ways to make time for the things I loved.”

“You’re a workaholic, aren’t you?” Kyle quipped, eyeing his friend critically.

Owen laughed softly at the accusation.

“And you’re not?”

Their banter carried on, filling the quiet corners of the Mage Tower with the warmth of friendship.

Owen didn’t bother to refute the statement.

Kyle’s words were reasonable.

Even he had to admit that he might be a workaholic.

Of course, it was largely due to Owen’s obsessive perfectionism and his strong sense of responsibility toward his work and family.

Even after cleaning up the mess his household had originally left behind, he had taken on new projects to fulfill Lucia’s wishes. Calling it anything but work addiction would be difficult.

“I’m still manageable.”

Unlike Owen, who admitted it readily, Kyle was firm in his stance.

He displayed an unwavering confidence in his own innocence.

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“I wonder if the Saintess would agree with that.”

At Owen’s teasing remark, Kyle flinched visibly.

‘Look at that obvious reaction.’

Kyle was terrible at hiding his emotions.

When Bella first returned, Kyle had fallen for her at first sight.

Just as the original story described, he maintained his unwavering affection for Bella from that moment on.

Anyone could tell it was the behavior of someone deeply in love.

The man who cared for nothing but magic had begun making time to meet Bella. Even to an outsider, his intentions were glaringly obvious.

‘Though it seems he’s the only one who doesn’t realize it.’

Owen regarded Kyle with a faintly exasperated look.

Noticing this, Kyle flinched again.

“Why—why is the Saintess being brought up here?” Kyle yelled, his voice laced with frustration.

The more he acted like this, the more obvious it became.

Perhaps it was because he was unaware of his own feelings.

Owen wondered how long it would take for Kyle to recognize his emotions, then let out a short sigh.

“She probably thinks of you as the busy Mage Tower Lord buried in work.”

“What…?”

Kyle’s expression showed faint shock as Owen shrugged nonchalantly.

“You’ve always been cooped up in the tower, in your own space, avoiding people.”

Kyle was a man indifferent to everything except magic. His interactions with others were limited to the bare minimum required for work.

Though he had changed a lot since then, it hadn’t been that long ago.

“…Why are you bringing up ancient history?”

“It’s not ancient history.”

Owen replied curtly, picking up his teacup again.

The tea had gone cold, but it was still drinkable—appropriate for the end of summer, as the sweltering heat began to fade.

“Was that all you wanted to ask?”

After teasing Kyle for a while, Owen finally brought up the original topic.

It seemed Kyle was curious about the world Owen came from and his life there.

“Well, yeah. But could you tell me more in detail?”

“Are you curious about the other world?”

Owen wanted to know why Kyle was suddenly asking about this.

Kyle knew Owen wasn’t from this world, and it shouldn’t have been particularly surprising. So why was he only asking now?

“No. I’m not really interested. I’m not going there, after all.”

Kyle dismissed the idea outright, as usual.

He was someone who said no when he meant no.

“Then?”

“You.”

The unexpected answer made Owen pause.

“Me?”

“Yes, you. I was wondering what made you decide to stay here without any regrets.”

Kyle spoke his thoughts plainly, staring intently at Owen.

Avoiding his gaze, Owen glanced elsewhere.

Not that it helped much.

“Well, that’s….”

Owen hesitated. Should he tell the truth or sugarcoat it a little?

It wasn’t exactly a pleasant story, so he pondered for a moment.

“…I had nothing to hold on to.”

Finally, he chose his words carefully.

“There was nothing to protect, nothing left behind. I was always alone in that world.”

 

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