1 A Journey of Conformity, Passion, and Redemption

VOLUME 1 : PART ONE

My name is... No, my name doesn't matter. Lost in an ocean of graying office workers, I wake up every morning with heaviness in my heart, accompanied by a hint of regret.

My story goes back to my childhood.

I grew up in a small town, surrounded by ancient traditions and customs. I was fascinated by the thrilling tales of samurais, legendary warriors embarking on extraordinary adventures.

But as I grew older, my veins filled with conformity, as if my destiny was to be crushed in the drudgery of adult life.

In search of stability and social framework, I followed the path of conformity, joining a university to study business.

My father, a stern businessman, hoped I would become a respected man in the business world.

That's how I traded my imaginary sword for a suit and tie, sinking deeper into the ocean of office workers.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into years. I became an invisible cog in this relentless machine.

I learned to live with this monotonous routine, conscientiously filling out files, attending endless meetings; any spark of imagination suffocated by pragmatic reality.

But sometimes, nostalgia overwhelms me. I think back to my childhood dreams, to the epic stories that filled me with excitement. I think of the divergent paths I could have taken, the adventures I could have lived. Is it a crime to dream, to want to escape the confines of my daily existence?

Yet deep down, I know I made choices, and I bear the responsibility for them. I chose stability, security, social acceptance.

But at what cost? Did I sacrifice my dreams on the altar of conformity? Did I give up my own identity, that spark that once shone in my child eyes?

The day had been long, marked by the boredom and monotony of work. I looked forward to going home, to immerse myself in my passions and forget the troubles of daily life.

I was tired, but there was a glimmer of excitement in my eyes as I headed towards the subway station.

Sitting on a bench, I watched the passersby go about their business, each immersed in their own bubble.

I wondered what they thought of me, of my mundane appearance and insignificant job. But deep down, I didn't care.

I was the kind of person who went unnoticed, the one who blended into the crowd. And that suited me just fine.

But behind this ordinary appearance, I hid a secret, a passion that made me come alive. Fantasy novels were my escape, my refuge.

I had grown up fascinated by these fictional worlds, inhabited by brave heroes and thrilling adventures. And even as an adult, my passion for these stories had not diminished.

As I waited for my train, I pulled out a book from my bag. It was a novel that a friend had recommended to me, and since then, I couldn't get enough of it. I was currently reading its 92nd volume, which was supposed to be the last in the series.

I opened it to the first page.

The illustrations instantly washed away the fatigue of my workday, carrying me into another world. The words intertwined to form a captivating story, in which I could lose myself indefinitely.

'So he was the real villain all along... I wonder how they'll manage to win this time... Oh, they want to seal him, indeed that's the only alternative...'

Finally, my train arrived.

I got up from the bench, carefully folding my book.

I left behind the worries of the day, ready to return to the comfort of my home.

The subway was crowded, bodies packed like sardines in a too-small box.

Eyes were glued to phone screens, lost in their thoughts or, like me, engrossed in reading a book.

I became lost in the fictional story unfolding in my hands, totally unaware of what was happening around me.

'Wow, incredible... I never thought he would join them. Now things are going to get interesting... Darn, I don't want this to be the last volume, at worst, let the author write until their death...'

The subway car abruptly stopped, bringing me back to reality.

I looked up and realized it was my stop. I hurriedly got up, almost forgetting my precious manga on the seat.

I quickly grabbed it and made my way through the crowd, heading towards the subway station exit.

The sun was slowly setting on the horizon, bathing the city in an orange glow. The streets came alive as the last rays of light disappeared, giving way to an electric and mysterious atmosphere.

As I walked along a street, a loud clamor erupted.

Intrigued, I looked up, pausing my reading.

'What could be causing all this commotion...'

My thought stopped as my eyes met those of a man, apparently blocking his path.

"Hey, move out of the way! You're blocking me!" shouted the hooded man, chased away by others shouting "Thief!"

Thinking I had intentionally blocked his path, he pulled out a knife and stabbed me mercilessly.

Pain shot through my body like lightning, leaving me speechless.

The novel slipped from my bloody hand as I collapsed to the ground, watching the night sky swirl above me.

Panic-filled cries filled the air, bystanders fleeing from the horror unfolding beside them. Some rushed towards me, panicked, trying to help me while others called for help.

I struggled to catch my breath, feeling my life slipping away slowly.

Fragments of thoughts and reflections invaded my mind. Why me? What had I done to deserve this?

My eyes landed on the abandoned novel inches away from my lifeless hand.

'Darn it, I only had three pages left...' I thought as blood continued to flow from my wound.

I would never know the end of the novel whose chapters I had followed so closely. What irony!

But despite the pain and confusion, a thought came to my mind – would this be the end of the story of my own novel? Would this be my sad conclusion?

The pages of life turned rapidly, leaving me with a sense of unfinished business, like an abandoned story.

The world around me became blurry, voices growing more distant.

It was over for me.

My eyes closed slowly, bringing eternal darkness to my sight.

And as I sank into the abyss of the unknown, I wished so much for a second chance. This time I would ensure that my story would not be forgotten, but would leave an eternal imprint on the hearts of those around me.

Little did I know that the sky had heard me, and with this end, I would be reborn again...