Have I introduced myself?
Oh, I'm sorry. Let me try this again.
"I'm Du Gaein."
Du Gaein - meaning two individual. Two contradicting words combined.
Well, let me explain.
My father gave me that name so that I would never be alone, but as it was also a contradiction, it left me ostracized from almost everyone.
Although I wasn't entirely alone, my hobby was writing stories, not for anyone but myself. I envied those characters who deliberately sacrificed all they had for their companions. They fled from the pits of loneliness only for them to crawl right back in.
That is why with my hands, I vowed to create a story that would never end in a tragedy such as the main lead losing themselves for everyone.
The only issue was that the plot was all over the place!
There were no proper characters, no canon settings, and a messy theme.
I was only ever a reader until the last novel I read encouraged me to write my own. After a couple of unfinished stories, there has been only one successful one.
Fate Of the Indigenous Constellation
I would consider this one of my finest works. It was about one of the first constellations, Shen Haoyu, to discover a crack in the system. Therefore, he found himself back at the beginning of his story, giving him another chance to modify his miserable fate.
Back in my last year of middle school, stars became one of my favorite topics in school.
Instead of spending time on my homework, I found myself immersed in Shen Haoyu's story. Every obstacle, every adventure, every nemesis, every companion he reunited with—I treasured his story more than I could ever.
But I feared that if my pen continued to write, Shen Haoyu's fable would soon leave my grasp. Even if he would never receive the closure he dreamed of, at least his story could keep on dreaming.
————————————————————
[Please enter your valid alias…]
Was I really partaking in a novel? Or maybe a video game?
But I don't recall the last novel I read or game I played. Mostly, I was occupied with work and keeping my life together as I picked up scraps of my dignity.
Perhaps it could be my username in the app of the novel I read.
Let's see…
"Masked_Man24."
BZZZTT!
[Accepted!]
[1st Trial in Process…]
[Please Proceed.]
That would have taken longer if I didn't recognize the format of the system notification.
I used this format for most of my novels. But to think that they would install the outdated version made it a little easier to identify the genre of this novel.
I really hope this was not a game...
So for now, I just have to escape this liminal space.
But fate always has the perfect timing.
The ground beneath me trembled after the announcement, and the mass of the water began to rise rapidly, rotating harshly and forming what seemed to be a funnel.
Ah crap…
My first instinct was to drag myself from the constructing abyss, but each step proved the difficulty of this scenario. As my legs gave in to the desperation of the whirlpool, a cold sweat rolled down.
In the end, I was tangled in a hazardous situation.
Do you know the feeling in your lungs and throat after running a long distance?
The thought of knowing you should breathe, but you can't,
As your lungs are filled with water.
For a moment, I thought that I had finally been released from the shackles keeping me trapped on this planet.
It was so peaceful that I was convinced the burdens I've shouldered for so long would eventually drown me.
But as always, reality has to tease my dreams.
My whole body heaved itself out of the water as I violently started wheezing. Each cough felt like a sharp, stabbing sensation ripping through my chest. Breathing became a struggle, as the wheezing left little room for relief.
Eventually, I overcame my paroxysms of coughing and rested my body on the land with the cool blades of grass gently tickling my skin. My body, supported by the earth beneath me, gave me a profound sense of disbelief.
Huff… Huff….
I already missed the soft cushions of the bus.
A minute ago, I was stuck in a crowded bus—then I was standing on a body of water, and in the blink of an eye, I was barely alive on Mother Nature's land.
[Many Constellations have taken notice of your presence.]
[Beginning of the Scenario in production…]
[Blessings Of the Stars]
– Select an attribute from a constellation.
1. Ostensible Plea
2. Whisk of the War
3. Raging Breath
4. Imitative Mimicry
Constellation Blessing…
Conste—huh?!
My eyes could not believe the notification on my screen. But as much as I wanted to pull myself up, my body limped against the ground.
At least this was a reminder of the warped reality.
[Constellation Maiden of the Pigs Triad welcomes you to the story.]
[Constellation Minuscular Thief yawns in boredom.]
[Constellation ■■■■ opens their eyes to your story.]
The salty water still lingered on my tongue as I was flooded with messages from the gods of this universe.
It was as if I was in heaven...!