However, as I read these hovering translucent screens in front of me, it suddenly started changing and glitching. As if someone had hacked the system, but that couldn’t be true, right?

Umbra. It meant shadow in Latin. Did this Constellation have the power of the attribute shadow, I wondered.

I whistled, shocked as I read the Mission hovering in front of me. “An SSS-Rank mission right from the start.” I couldn’t help but wonder why this Umbra had chosen me for this mission. An SSS-Rank mission was nothing to be taken lightly, meaning this ‘Yu Daewon’ is a danger I need to be aware of.

Wait, somehow, this name Yu-Daewon seems familiar, like I’ve heard it somewhere before.

As I was deep in thought, I felt a strange sensation behind my eyes. And without me realizing my eye pupils had narrowed into slits like cats. I blinked and blinked again, as I found it unbelievable that I could see colors. Not the void, but real colors!

“Has your [Night Vision] skill activated? It took some time, didn’t it?” the familiar voice chimed in. However, when I looked at the source, I couldn’t help but suck a cold breath in, a formless smoky creature swirled around me.

I remained still, keeping my cool. “What specific creature are you?”.

The creature, puffing its chest, proudly stated, “Since now you can see me, it doesn’t hurt to tell you. I’m Jinn #7623, the manager who handles the missions to the new players of the Tower”.

I nodded. So, there were several other Jinn’s that were assigned to other assignments.

“Then, I have assigned you a mission,” the Jinn continued with a sly grin. “I will see you in the future…if you survive, that is”, his voice echoed as he vanished into thin air, leaving behind a whiff of smoke. However, a metal clang sound was heard as if something had hit the floor.

I looked down to find a golden key that had ‘Tower’ scribbled in the corner of it. Grabbing the key, I stood still, processing the amount of information I had learned overnight. Why did I even have to climb the Tower? There was no purpose, but now there is the damn SSS-Rank mission. Was it that easy to get? And why did this Umbra have to hand it to him?

I just thought I had to survive as a blind courtesan, but now this. This world, this absurd situation…just what kind of twisted game had I become a part of.  As I glanced at the golden key placed in my hands, it dawned on me that now I could see the object I was holding.

I quickly looked up from the key, glancing around the room. Taking in everything as if it were for the first time. Because, well, I was. I noticed how the room was spacious and had various furniture within. The room had vases, expensive-looking ones, and a large sofa comfortably in the corner to entertain guests.

In the center of the room was a wooden table and chair for tea and food. But what caught my attention was the beautiful cherry blossom partition screen a few inches away. I then walked toward it, admiring the art on the screen. And there, behind the screen, was a full-body mirror.

My reflection. For the first, I could see it. This Jun, the courtesan. I could finally see what I looked like.

“Is this…me?” I murmured, standing before the mirror. The reflection was of someone who was undeniably graceful with delicate features. My skin was flawless, almost like a doll. My eyes were sharp and carried a softness. I noticed the sharp jawline and the full lips that were too pretty to belong to someone like me. I could feel the long, dark black hair cascading down to my waist.

I chuckled; this body surely was the body of a courtesan. The body’s beauty was so eye-catching that even men could sleep with it. Now, I was sure that someone had slept with this body, and that was the reason how the blind courtesan rose to the ranks.

I felt incredibly free at the moment and walked to the window to see what this new world looked like. I pushed open the window, bracing myself for whatever was on the other side.

As the window creaked open, the first thing that caught my attention was the structure towering before me. It wasn’t just a building—it was a monolith, a Tower so colossal that it pierced through the clouds. My eyes widened with a rare sense of surprise.

“This is the Tower...” I muttered. It seemed as if I had been underestimating what I had read and heard about the Tower, but seeing it in reality was another story. The structure was something that was swallowing this world up alone. I traced the Tower with my eyes and noticed that this structure was endless.

Just then, as I was peeking outside the window, I heard rustling from the bushes as if something was there waiting for me. “What is it?”. I leaned closer, wanting to know what the source of the noise was, but before I could, I felt a sudden pull from the back.

Surprised, I turned to look back to find a woman who had chestnut brown hair and brown eyes. She seemed to have the kind of face you might pass by on the street without a second thought. Her eyes met mine, and I could see the urgency and fear within them. But I had found out who she was.

“Master…please close the window”, my maid said, trembling in fear. I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly she was afraid of.

“Speak. If there is something out there, I need to know what it is”, I urged.

“Ah, you seem to even have forgotten this, Master,” the maid replied, coming back to her senses. “No one is allowed to go outside at night…especially during these times. The Shades…they roam the night we can’t go out there”.

“The Shades, what are they?” I asked.

“They’re horrifying creatures born from pure shadow. They have no face, and if they hear even the slightest sound, they’ll kill you without any hesitation. At least this is what I’ve heard from the official when they come around here”, the maid continued explaining. “The reason no one tries to go out during the night is only because some Players can kill them, not all, but it is never enough since they keep coming back. That’s why the Players have stopped trying to kill them”.

The Shades…The Tower and Yu Daewon.

These pieces of information seemed a bit too familiar, and my mind raced to connect these pieces. “This world…this scenario…it’s exactly like that novel”.

I exhaled slowly, trying to make sense of yet another detrimental piece of information. “It’s not just a coincidence. I’m in the novel my sister had forced me to read before she killed me”, I muttered.

‘The Regressor’s War’. I thought, glancing at the Tower through my window.

I’m shocked. The words Reina spoke before she lunged a dagger in my throat flashed within my mind. I scoffed, realizing that Reina had made sure I had read the novel, which meant she knew that I would end in this world. But how?

That was a question that would remain unanswered.

“Jun-sama, please remember to rest well. You have a performance scheduled for tomorrow”, the maid said, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I almost laughed at my predicament. Jinn had sent me back in time, forcing me to relive the cursed dancing routine. It did sting my pride at the thought of doing that performance again, but there was nothing I could do about it. I had to play the part.

I reached my bed and slipped into the covers.

“Jun-sama, it’s impressive how you find your way through the room despite your condition,” the maid commented, her voice laced with pity.

“I’ve gotten used to it. I feel like I remember a few things”, I said with a sweet, forced smile. Making sure that the maid didn’t find out about my night vision.

“Jun-sama, are your memories returning?” the maid asked in surprise, her face blossomed with joy.

I nodded. “It’s all coming back to me,” I said, lying smoothly. But it wasn’t. I truly had no idea of the life this body had led. However, I had to adapt to living in this body and become the previous Jun. A perfect Jun that even the maid recognized.

“Oh, thank goodness,” she said, sighing in relief.

I returned her smile.

“I will leave you to rest now, Jun-sama,” the maid said, backing out of the room and leaving.