*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
Snapping me back to reality, I felt a gust of wind brush against my face, forcing my eyes open.
Am I dreaming?
Shouldn't I be seeing my best memories before I die?
So...where am I?
Looking around, I found myself in a small one-bedroom apartment with just enough space for a twin bed, a dresser, and a small desk.
There were no decorations...just plain white walls.
Did someone rescue me?
No...the impact should have surely killed me.
Getting off the neatly made bed, not a single wrinkle on the sheets, I frantically walked around until stumbling forward through an open door.
No...
Gazing at the reflection in the bathroom mirror, I instinctively rubbed my forehead in shock.
The figure in the reflection did the same.
T-that's not me!?
The figure seemed young...16 to 17 years old, much younger than my 22 years.
He had ungroomed spiky black hair, pale skin, and a relatively skinny frame, showing some signs of training, but nothing compared to an average gym goer.
The person in the mirror was... a completely average teenager, with no recognizable or distinguishing features.
That was...except for one thing.
Surging my hands upward, I instinctively covered my two eyes and fell backward, feeling my head bang against the shower glass.
Those eyes.
The reflection-, no, I had two ocean-blue eyes.
However...exactly like blue lake below the train, the eyes seemed to dazzle under the sunlight leaking in from the bathroom window.
Slumping down on the ground, I slowly opened my eyes and rubbed my head, panting heavily while drops of sweat dripped down my face onto my naked chest.
This new body...was mine.
At that moment, as reality set in, I suddenly recalled something.
MY BOOK!
Even if I were in a new body, my book had already been published.
Was it a success? Did I make it?
As long as I can see it...enjoyed by at least one person, I can end this life with this new body peacefully.
Leaping up, my heart practically beating out of my chest, I sprinted back into the bedroom and scanned the area.
After examining the room, I quickly found a tablet lying face-up on the desk and ran.
*BANG*
"Huh?"
As I tripped over a bed leg and landed softly on the carpet, I confusedly glanced around at my two new arms in front of me.
Even throughout the rush, I was sure I had placed my leg to the right.
Perhaps...my brain isn't used to this new body? I mean, this one is more athletic, so it could be that?
Sighing, I jumped forward and grasped the tablet, momentarily flinching upon seeing myself in the black screen's reflection, before rapidly clicking the screen.
*BAM*
However, the black screen never powered on.
Instead, a three-dimensional holographic screen popped out of the tablet.
The interface was familiar, featuring a search engine browser; however, in the middle of the blue menu, a huge icon with my new face stood out.
I-it can't be.
Pushing past my shock, I rapidly clicked a familiar icon...that I somehow knew was a search engine despite not being from Earth.
Then, on the holographic keyboard before me, I desperately typed, my eyes burning with pain.
Perhaps...that was because I already knew the truth at that time.
"Land Stand Hero."
Nothing popped up.
Not a single review, news article, or even publishing date.
There was nothing.
Not a single mention or trace of the book anywhere.
In fact, if I hadn't remembered it, there wouldn't have been a single person in this world who would have.
It was all gone.
Everything.
My legs involuntarily buckled as I fell to the floor, my finger accidentally tapping the icon of my new face on the way down.
And there, as I looked up, was a new screen.
=======
Student: Athen Dee
Age: 17
Student Picture: [Image]
Student ID: 124513
Dorm: [TBD]
School: Axis Academy First-Year
Class Rank: [1667/2000]
Weapon Type: Swordsman
Estimated Level Of Growth: D rank
Timer: Approximately [7:08:01]
=======
Axis Academy...that's from my book.
But...who is Athen Dee!?
Sprawling back-first on carpet, I lifelessly gazed up at the white ceiling.
My novel hadn't been forgotten.
No...actually the complete opposite.
It had been used as a blueprint to create this world.
And I, the author of that book, had been transmigrated into this world.
Not as the protagonist, a side character, or even an antagonist.
Just as an unknown character, I don't even remember mentioning once.
It must be some random background character.
Still, a sense of sorrow lingered in my heart.
My novel will never be read... will it?
Slowly standing back up, I sighed and muttered.
"I'll settle."
Perhaps my novel won't be read...but it's become vastly more important.
The history book for this world is my novel.
If real readers couldn't enjoy my book, then...at the very least, the people in this world could.
Just like any demon versus hero book, the end of the book was a happy one, where everyone was revived and lived happily ever after.
Maybe...this is enough.
The people in this world would...enjoy and prosper from words I had spent my teenage and early-adult years writing.
At the very least, I could live knowing that billions would survive because of me.
A bitter smile on my face, I walked toward the open window by the bed, gazing at my creation.
The capital city, also known as New Sparta City, lay before me.
With glass skyscrapers towering to the sky and bustling roads, full of various cars, it perfectly matched what I had described in my book.
My hometown of New York City.
Of course, that was just the surface.
Mana powered the cars, skyscrapers were reinforced with Earth magic, and the pedestrians on the streets were casually holding weapons they would have been arrested for back on Earth.
Looking back into the room, I tapped my arm and waited.
Based on my Academy's predicted rank, I didn't expect much from my system menu, but I should at least check.