Everyone else was a fairy tale protagonist.
So why did my world look like a death sentence?
Lin Chen stared at the blue-black ghostly markings slowly crawling across his forearm. The cold lines twisted like veins beneath his skin, completing themselves bit by bit. A chill ran straight up his spine, and his scalp went numb.
Fragments of unfamiliar memories finished fusing in his mind.
This world—almost identical to Earth in culture, technology, and daily life—was fundamentally broken.
Ten years ago, the barrier between reality and the Paradox Realm shattered. Humans were dragged into that world against their will, vanishing without warning. The result was catastrophic. Entire cities mourned missing relatives, and survival rates were horrifyingly low.
But humans adapted.
Those who returned alive discovered something new—ghost energy. In the Paradox Realm, rules replaced logic. Ghosts obeyed taboos, and certain sacrifices could awaken abilities called ghost skills. After years of research and countless deaths, humanity finally stopped being helpless prey.
Then, three years ago, everything changed again.
A high-tier artifact known as the Boundary Stone was discovered.
Once a person was exposed to the Paradox Realm through the Boundary Stone, they would no longer be randomly dragged in later. But there was a price.
Before turning eighteen—the recognized age limit for forced entry—everyone had to enter the Paradox Realm at least once voluntarily.
Even though the Boundary Stone reduced difficulty, the first entry was still lethal.
The mortality rate hovered around 30%.
"I don't want to die in some other world before my real life even starts," Lin Chen thought bitterly.
And yet—
His class was scheduled for its first collective entry today.
As the final outline of the blue-faced ghost mark sealed itself on his arm, his vision abruptly darkened.
---
[Dungeon Loading…]
[Dungeon Name: Coffin View Community]
[Participants: 10]
[Difficulty: F Grade]
[Main Task:]
Assist the community management in completing daily duties.
Seven-day evaluation must reach qualified or above.
[Time Limit: 7 Days]
[Friendly Reminders:]
1. Do not leave the community area. Outside the Boundary Stone's protection, death is certain.
2. Do not leave your room at night.
3. In this place, residents are absolute authorities. Failure to meet their demands will result in severe consequences.
---
Coffin View Community was old—too old.
Trash piled up in corners, and the air smelled damp and rotten. At the entrance stood a rusted bulletin board layered with yellowed newspapers. Most had been torn away, revealing blood-red words beneath:
COFFIN VIEW COMMUNITY
Only two residential buildings stood inside, both six stories tall. Cracked walls, rusted pipes, and a permanently overcast sky gave the entire place a suffocating gloom.
In the center square, nine students suddenly appeared.
Panic spread instantly.
Two girls clung to each other, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I want to go home!"
"I don't want to die!"
One boy forced himself to step forward, his voice shaking but firm.
"Everyone, calm down. This is a beginner dungeon. As long as we follow the rules and don't trigger death conditions, we can survive."
Another student nodded desperately.
"He's right. He's our class monitor—he scored highest in Paranormal Theory."
Gradually, the crying softened.
But the class monitor frowned.
"…Wait. Weren't there ten of us?"
The square fell silent.
---
At the same time, in a public restroom nearby, Lin Chen felt his scalp explode with terror.
He was crouched inside a cramped stall, staring at the gap beneath the door.
A pale, distorted hand slowly reached through, holding three rolls of toilet paper—white, red, and yellow.
A trembling voice whispered:
"Which do you want~
White… red… or yellow?"
Lin Chen's pupils shrank.
Urban legends flooded his mind. Toilets. Ghosts. Choices.
Every version ended the same way.
You didn't choose whether you died—only how.
Just as panic threatened to overwhelm him, lines of text appeared before his eyes.
---
[Ghost Identified: Toilet Paper Giver]
Name: Zhang Wei
Level: Wandering Spirit
Friendliness: 0
[Background:]
Once a gifted pianist. Sabotaged by jealous rivals, his left hand was permanently ruined. Unable to play again, he committed suicide in a public restroom.
After death, he lured people by offering toilet paper.
Red paper: drains all blood
White paper: devours the brain
Yellow paper: 50% survival, 50% instant death
[Hint:]
At the moment of death, his arm was dislocated—and remains so even after becoming a ghost.
This flaw cannot be fixed by himself.
What he desires most is to feel his fingers move freely again—even for a moment.
---
Lin Chen froze.
"…This kind of prompt exists in a first dungeon?"
He swallowed.
"So I just pick yellow paper and gamble?"
His gaze drifted to the twisted forearm hovering in the air.
"…Or…"
"I gamble bigger."
Before fear could stop him, Lin Chen stood up, lunged forward—
And kicked the ghost's dislocated arm.
Crack!
Bone snapped back into place.
A stunned voice followed.
"…My hand?"
"My hand is normal again?"
The arm was yanked away violently.
Silence.
Long, suffocating silence.
Lin Chen didn't move for nearly a minute.
"…Did it work?"
---
[Hidden Task Completed: A Lingering Wish]
Rewards:
Ghost Energy +10
Ghost Skill: Grave Summon
Incense x3
Ghost Coins x500,000,000
[Toilet Paper Giver's Friendliness +40]
[Grave Summon:]
Spend 100,000,000 ghost coins to summon a ghost with friendliness 50 or higher.
Lin Chen stared, stunned.
"That's… way too generous."
Hidden missions were known to be rewarding—but few people survived long enough to complete them.
"…Is this my cheat ability?"
At his feet lay the three rolls of paper.
---
[Special Item Acquired: Tricky Toilet Paper]
White Paper: One-time kill against same-level ghosts (max: Evil Level)
Red Paper: One-time kill against ghosts one level higher (max: Evil Level)
Yellow Paper: Self-use only.
50% instant death / 50% negate one death.
Lin Chen exhaled slowly.
Then carefully opened the stall door.
Nothing waited outside.
He ran.
---
Back in the square, the remaining nine students stood rigid.
Before them stood a man in a suit—neatly dressed, except for the horrific wound across his neck. Blood poured freely, his throat bent at an impossible angle. Half his face was torn away, an eyeball dangling loosely.
A massive black dog sat obediently beside him.
The man scanned the group.
"…Ten participants were registered," he said coldly.
"Why are there only nine?"
The class monitor forced himself to speak.
"R-reporting to the supervisor—"
"Did I allow you to talk?"
The black dog lunged.
Half the boy's head was gone before anyone could scream.
Silence.
At that exact moment, Lin Chen jogged over.
"Sorry," he said casually. "Had diarrhea. Took a while."
The students stared at him in horror.
The supervisor's eyes darkened.
"Do you know the punishment for being late?"
Lin Chen stepped forward calmly and shook his hand.
"You must be Supervisor Wei, right? I've heard so much about you. First time meeting a real ghost—honored, truly."
The square went deathly still.
Then—
The supervisor froze.
His expression softened.
"…Just this once," he said with a forced smile, patting Lin Chen's shoulder.
"Don't make it a habit."
The others were speechless.
No one noticed the supervisor's clenched fist—or the roll of white toilet paper hidden inside.
---