My whole plan had just gone up in smoke thanks to the sudden appearance of this guy.

"Are you out of your mind?" he shouted, clearly appalled by what I was doing. But I wasn’t paying attention to him anymore. My eyes were locked on something else entirely.

Wait a sec… That ashy gray hair that was almost invisible, those striking golden eyes that contrasted sharply with it, the upward-tilted cat-like eyes, those long and delicate lashes, and even the faint scar drawn beneath his left eye—

Ian?

He looked exactly like Ian from Arcadia Academy, the webnovel I read a few years ago. Or more precisely—exactly like the character illustration from the novel. Just my luck. Out of all the fantasy novels out there, it had to be this one.

The story had started off light and warm, your typical school life fluff—childhood friends, first loves, club activities, tests, festivals…

Then, the tone twisted.

It spiraled into a pit of despair and destruction that smacked readers right in the face. So much so that the author eventually had to post an apology on the reader board: "It was supposed to be a peaceful school story, but my hands kept writing pain and angst… I couldn’t stop them…"

The drama was massive, but the plot was so insanely gripping that even readers who wanted to drop it couldn’t tear themselves away.

It ended up smashing a hundred million views in record time.

And now here I was, inside that very world.

Not as the heroine.

Not even the villainess.

Just… someone. A nobody.

"Hahahaha…" I laughed emptily, because what else was I supposed to do? I mean, what is this situation?

It’s real.

This is really the novel.

Which means—I have one objective: escape this world. ASAP.

The blade was already lightly pressed against my chest. All I had to do was push a little harder. But the problem? The guy in front of me was gripping the sword hilt tight and wasn’t letting go.

Ian was holding on with both hands, eyes locked with mine, refusing to budge.

Fine. If brute force doesn’t work… maybe a little trickery will.

"Oh, Felix-sunbae!"

I shouted over Ian’s shoulder in the loudest voice I could muster. And unbelievably—he actually turned.

"…Sunbae!"

Ian spun around and gave a perfect ninety-degree bow.

Seriously? He actually fell for that?

Felix. A nearly nameless background character in the swordsmanship club. Known only for being the worst kind of senior—one who obsessed over being called “sunbae” and made life hell for the underclassmen.

Nobles ignored him, but kids like Ian, born without status, had no choice but to play along.

As Ian turned and let go of the sword to salute, I didn’t hesitate. I pushed the blade deeper.

It hurt like hell.

Please… just let this work. Let me die already!

Time crawled. Every second felt like an eternity.

Why wasn't it over yet?

I didn’t just poke myself—I aimed properly, right at the chest. It should have worked!

And yet… my mind was weirdly clear. But my body wasn’t.

My vision blurred, tilting sideways.

In the haze, I could still clearly see one thing: those golden eyes.

Ian.

He was laying me down and trying to stop the bleeding.

His mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear him. His voice was muffled and far away.

Oh… wait. He didn’t pull the sword out.

He left it in. Trying to prevent shock from blood loss.

Which was just great for him—

But terrible for me.

I needed to die to escape this world!

And now Ian was accidentally increasing my survival chances.

I sensed someone else rushing over.

A medic?

Someone in a white coat approached and poured something on the wound.

It stung.

A lot.

Healing potion.

No! That’s basically sabotage!

This entire plan is ruined.

No escape. No gain. Just… the pain of getting stabbed.

Ugh.