[so loud]
Countless voices—indescribable, shouting, pained—blurred together. The world seemed hazy to Lee Si-won. The grey ceiling above him was familiar, if a bit distorted.
[ah lab… i was doing a lab… i still have to prepare for the end of semester tests… shouldn't have go..n clubbing so much… am so tired… i waan.. sleep… i don't want to move]
{REQUEST CONFIRMED}
{acquisition of the unique skill: stagnation successful}
[ah my head hurts so bad… i overworked myself man… i just want to go back… back when i was a kid… grandma's pies… i miss them… huh? what's happening, why is it so hot all of a sudden?]
{REQUEST CONFIRMED}
{acquisition of the unique skill: regresser successful}
[ah it's cold but i feel like i am burning up… is this maybe me dying? am i going to hell? huh… kinda expected that's where I'd end up anyway… a bit sad I can't see dad tho… maybe if i was a good person i'd be at least able to see him]
{REQUEST CONFIRMED}
{acquisition of the skill: sinner successful}
{REQUEST CONFIRMED}
{acquisition of the skill: soul gazer successful}
[so dark ….]
The world had grown dark—darker than darkness itself. Was this death? Was he dead? Yes, in fact, he believed he was.
Lee Si-won accepted his circumstances and prepared himself to meet whatever his ultimate end would be—hell, heaven, reincarnation, or oblivion.
Within the darkness, he felt an odd sensation. He had the urge to cough.
Cough
Cough
He coughed violently, the pain forcing his closed eyes open—yet the world around him remained nothing but darkness.
[why am i coughing? i am dead… come on, at least let me have good health in the afterlife]
"Move out the way, kid!" a voice shouted, followed by the sound of wheels grinding over paved stone roads.
Lee Si-won turned toward the voice in surprise, yet still saw nothing but darkness.
Then a sudden tug pulled him backward.
"You okay, man? Trying to get yourself hurt?" another voice said—gentler, though still rough around the edges.
Frowning in confusion, Lee Si-won tried to focus on the source.
Again, there was nothing but absolute darkness.
He reached a hand out toward the voice.
His fingers brushed against something its texture hard, coarse, like tanned leather.
"Ah… I'm sorry. I'm a bit… well, unable to discern where I am. It's dark—really dark," Lee Si-won said, bewildered.
"Oh, I see. Ah, sorry, I didn't mean it like that… Don't you have anyone to help you move around? Any family?"
"Sorry, no… I don't recall such a thing. My recollections seem a bit hazy. It's… odd."
Lee Si-won answered, not fully understanding his situation—but well aware not to reveal too much.
"Ah, I see. Well, I've got free time. I can help you look around. Seems your mind's under some confusion—maybe some effect of a spell? A friend of mine can heal, and I was on my way to meet them. Don't think they'll mind. What do you think—wanna try getting your mind looked at?" the voice suggested.
[spells? wait… could it be i am not dead… but instead I got iseakied into another world? but why is it so dark… don't tell me i am blind?!]
"Ah… yeah, anything helps, I suppose. Thank you, Mr…?" Lee Si-won said, confused.
"My name's Nakamura Shun. You can just call me Shun," the voice replied, the grin obvious in the cadence of his speech.
[Nakamura Shun? That's a Japanese name, no? Wait, is he also someone from earth? no… it could be that this world is closely reminiscent of japan… I mean most iseaki tend to come from Japanese media anyway so maybe there's a correlation?]