My consciousness slowly returned as someone tapped my upper cheek.

Blinking open my eyes, I found the same child who I saw before I blacked out. "What happened?" I managed to ask while I get up.

"Nothing much. Just a truck hit your car, that's all," he replied casually.

His words left me speechless, and I stared at him in disbelief.

"You mean I'm dead? Is this heaven?" I asked, my mind reeling at the revelation.

He chuckled, clearly amused. "No and no. Your body isn't deceased; it's resting somewhere in your world. And no, this isn't heaven. You know you're not qualified for that, right?" His laughter filled the room, echoing around us.

"Really?" I shot him a skeptical glance. "So, who are you?" I inquired.

"Don’t have any name. They just call me whatever they want to call me or you can just call me the creator." he responded with a nonchalant shrug.

"I'm guessing you're not here for idle chitchat, right? So, cut to the chase. What's going on?" I pressed, not in the mood for childish banter.

"Quite impatient, aren't we?" He scowled.

I raised an eyebrow in response, silently urging him to continue.

"Allow me to tell you a story first," he proclaimed.

"Please don’t," I interjected, anticipating a lengthy narrative. However, he proceeded to tell it anyway, disregarding my objection.

In an ancient realm where destiny wove the threads of life, two souls were born, their arrival marked by celestial alignment. One emerged as the embodiment of life and hope, radiating with an effervescent energy that breathed vitality into the world. The other bore the heavy mantle of death and suffering, a somber figure that cast shadows wherever it treads.

From their simultaneous births, a prophecy whispered, foretelling a fate entwined with sorrow. It spoke of an inevitable destiny—that the bringer of life and hope was destined to bring an end to the bearer of death and suffering that will bring the world to ruins, while the latter's sole purpose was to embrace its own demise for the sake of this world.

"The one who embodies life and hope has disappeared. Precisely, her soul has vanished, leaving behind a mere empty shell of her body," he paused, fixing his gaze upon the depths of my being.

"This world is intricately woven with threads of destiny. The prophecy must be fulfilled, or all that exists will unravel into nothingness. The people here, their very existence hangs upon the order of destiny's thread. If it frays, they will fade into the void," he uttered in a melancholic tone.

"Wait a moment. The things you're saying... I feel like I've read them somewhere," I mused, striking a thoughtful pose as I delved into the recesses of my memory.

"Isn't this from a novel? I'm sure I've read this before!" I exclaimed, a surge of excitement coursing through me.

 "A novel! So, this world is like a novel? Wow," I breathed, exhilarated by the idea of experiencing something out of novel.

"Um, maybe," he replied nonchalantly, trying to downplay the significance.

"You'll be the one who brings life and hope. The beacon of warmth and light in this 'novel.' The protagonist—the kind, loving, and patient soul driving this story," he proclaimed with a bright smile

I gazed at him, taking a moment to allow the weight of his words to settle within me.

"So, you expect me to play the role of a kind, loving, and patient protagonist in this world?" I inquired.

The 'world creator,' resembling a 12-year-old boy nodded while flashing the most innocent smile I had ever witnessed.

"I think something's gone wrong, kid," I pondered, striking a thoughtful pose as he looked at me with curiosity.

"What do you mean, something's gone wrong?" he asked.

"Well, you see, I am not inherently kind, loving, and, most crucially, I am not known for my patience!" I confessed.

"You're not particularly good at casting, are you? Tsk," I remarked, brimming with sympathy.

The corners of his lips curled into a smirk, and his face betrayed signs of annoyance.

"Well, it's not like you have a choice. You're already here," he declared, brimming with pride.

I scoffed at him and redirected my attention to my surroundings. I noticed the room was filled with books, and behind the kid, there stood a sculpture of a woman and a man holding a sword together, piercing another woman's heart.

I admired the statue for a moment, appreciating the craftsmanship of the artist, fully immersed in my respect for the skill involved. Art, after all, comes at a price, and I do have a penchant for expensive things.

"You simply have to defeat the novel's villain and marry your prince to live happily ever after," he said, now standing beside me, also admiring the statue.

"Wow, you articulated that so seamlessly, as if you're sending me on a casual errand to the nearest convenience store," I remarked, dripping with sarcasm.

“This world revolves around the protagonist and that who would you be playing as.” He added.

"I don't really want to play as the protagonist in your novel, though," I asserted.

He paused for a moment.

"A novel, huh. Well, for people here, it's their reality. If this world loses its purpose, everything else will be lost too. They will lose their lives, their families, and everything else they value," he stated, his voice penetrating the heart.

I shot him a disbelieving look.

"Haha. As if I care about those people I don't even know. I just want to get out of here. I have a lot of things to do. I will go back to my world!"

 I smirked at him, feeling a sense of pride.

I was determined to get back at that old man who tried to blame me for his problems. How dare he! I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth, seething with anger.

But my thoughts were interrupted by a loud sigh.

"You can't return to your world until the main characters here find their 'happily ever after,'" he stated firmly.

I was shocked and deflated. "What do you mean I can't go back?! I still haven't..." I paced back and forth, listing everything I hadn't done yet—foods I hadn't tasted, places I hadn't seen.

"I still need to make that old man pay for what he did!"

"I haven't even had a chance to date a person I like! If I knew this was going to happen, I should have at least loss the V card!" I exclaimed in defeat, feeling resigned. But then, a sudden idea struck me.

"Oh! I just have to defeat the villain and marry the prince, right? Then I can finally leave this world, right, right?" I said it with a nonchalant air, as if completing a quick errand to the nearest convenience store.

“That’s what I said” the kid said while nodding.

"So, it doesn't matter how I do it. There's no specific storyline or every chapter of the novel to follow, right?" I asked to make sure.

"Well, there are certain routes that need to be followed, but it's the method you use those matters. Just make sure it doesn't lead to a Bad Ending Route," came the response.

I flashed a knowing smile at him. This would be a piece of cake for a 21st-century woman like me, Kim Aera.

"Never back down, never what?" I spoke

"Never give up," I continued in a much deeper voice, reminded of a video from social media.

The kid smiled, but I could sense a hint of regret in the depths of his eyes, as if he now second-guessed his decision to cast me as the protagonist.

"Okay, I’ll take the role in exchange to bring me back to my world." I declared full of hope and determination to go back home.

“I’m going to rock this world!” I added as I give him a smile full of assurance.

I glanced at him, waiting for him to do his thing so I could switch to the protagonist's body.

He nodded, ready to snap his fingers, when I suddenly shouted, "Wait!" He paused.

"I need this agreement written down and signed by both of us. I want to be sure you won't break your promise," I said, giving him a suspicious look.

"Pen and paper," I gestured with my hand.

In an instant, a pen and paper appeared in my hand with a snap of his fingers.

I scanned the area for a table, but there was none in sight. Suddenly, with a snap of his fingers, a table and two chairs appeared instantly.

Impressed, I gave him a thumbs up before taking a seat beside him. I wasted no time and began dictating the terms that needed to be written on the paper. I was determined to ensure there was no chance for him to twist his words or break the contract.

We proceeded to made and sign the contract, each keeping a copy for ourselves.

Satisfied, I nodded, glancing his way. "Okay, this will do. Let's get this over with," I said, clutching the contract tightly.

He nodded back and snapped his fingers. Soon, shimmering lights enveloped my body.

"Remember, avoid the Bad Ending Route. It's crucial," he instructed, just as a notification screen unexpectedly appeared. "If it appears, immediately dismiss the thoughts and actions you had during that time."

"Got it? Leading this world to a bad ending means death for you too," he firmly reminded.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to return to my own world," I assured him with a confident smile.