Chapter 1: The Side Character's Dilemma
Yoon Minji felt the familiar ache of frustration still lingering in her chest, even as the glittering golden light faded, leaving a strange, humid air pressing in on her. The polished mahogany desk, the comforting scent of old paper—all gone. Now, she stood on rough, cold cobblestones, surrounded by high walls of ancient grey stone draped with ivy. The scent of pine and distant woodsmoke replaced the familiar mustiness of her bedroom.
“Where have I ended up?” she whispered, her voice sounding thin and unfamiliar in the open air. She spun around, her confusion mounting to panic. Everything was too real, too vivid. This wasn't a dream.
“Minji! Yoon Minji, is that you?”
The call was bright, cheerful, and achingly familiar. Minji's blood ran cold. She slowly turned toward the voice.
Standing a few feet away, her head tilted in question, was a girl with hair the color of spun moonlight and eyes like warm honey. She wore a simple, elegant gown of forest green, and her smile held the gentle, radiant quality that had charmed everyone in the book.
It was Evelyn, the flawless, frustrating heroine of The Obsidian Crown.
Minji’s breath hitched. This is impossible.
Evelyn, the heroine, walked closer, her expression shifting from confusion to mild concern. “Are you alright, Minji? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Minji could only stare. The realization hit her with the force of a physical blow. The foolish hero, the tragic ending, her passionate rant—and now, standing here, facing the heroine.
She had entered the novel.
Then, a cold, specific memory surfaced in her mind, a sudden flash of character information that wasn't hers. Yoon Minji. Age 19. A minor acquaintance of the heroine, Evelyn. A baker’s daughter. Dies tragically in a carriage accident in Chapter 12, just after a happy scene sharing tea and cookies with Evelyn.
Her name. Her name was Yoon Minji here, too. A side character. A temporary footnote destined for a quick, pointless death.
“A side character who dies after a brief, happy scene...” she murmured, the words of the book’s description echoing in her head.
A sudden, fierce determination sparked in her eyes, banishing the fear. She had railed against the writer for his choices. She had sworn she would never let the Second Hero die. But first, she had to ensure she didn't die in Chapter 12!
She looked at Evelyn, the beautiful, clueless heroine, then glanced at the rough, winding road that likely led to the capital where the Second Hero was currently residing, unwittingly walking towards his fate.
Minji straightened her shoulders. The story had just started. And the author's plot was about to meet a very disgruntled, very knowledgeable reader.
“No, Evelyn,” she said, her voice surprisingly steady, a new resolve ringing in it. “I am perfectly fine. I just… realized something important. Something that needs to be fixed.”
Evelyn tilted her head, her honey eyes reflecting genuine puzzlement. “Fixed? What do you mean, Minji? Did you forget something at the market? You looked completely disoriented.”
Minji snapped back to the immediate present. Evelyn was kind, perhaps too kind, and utterly oblivious to the dark undercurrents of the novel’s plot, much less Minji’s sudden, dramatic transmigration. Minji realized she needed to act—and quickly.
"It's about my father's order, Evelyn," Minji said, inventing a plausible excuse on the spot. Her mind raced, sifting through the limited information she had about her character’s life. "We are low on the specialty spice—the Silverleaf Fennel. It’s only sold at the Royal Market on the other side of the city. I was just remembering the urgency of it."
Evelyn's face cleared. "Oh, the fennel! I remember your father saying it’s essential for the Empress’s favourite petit-fours. Well, don’t rush too much. I was just heading towards the town square to meet Sir Kael. Would you like to walk with me for a bit before you head to the market?"
Sir Kael. The name struck Minji like a small bell tolling for doom. Sir Kael was the First Hero, the male lead who would eventually win Evelyn's heart and, in his arrogance, indirectly contribute to the tragic end of the Second Hero, Lord Tristan.
No, absolutely not, Minji thought fiercely. I need to find Tristan before Kael’s toxic influence takes root, and before I reach Chapter 12.
She forced a bright, apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, Evelyn, but my father will be furious if I delay! I must take the fastest route—the East Road. Please, say hello to Sir Kael for me. We'll catch up later, perhaps for tea tomorrow?"
"Of course," Evelyn said sweetly, seemingly mollified. "Be safe, Minji. The city streets can be crowded."
Minji gave a quick nod—her exit secured—and without another word, she turned and headed down the cobbled path, walking briskly. As soon as she rounded the corner of the ancient stone wall, out of Evelyn's sight, she broke into a frantic run.
Evelyn's name is now Chae A-Ri, and Sir Kael is Rion Kai. The "Royal Market" is now the "Financial District."
Minji managed to shake off A-Ri and the impending meeting with the detestable Rion Kai. She leaned against a polished skyscraper wall, adjusting the simple, ill-fitting intern uniform she now wore. The fantasy kingdom's cobblestones were replaced by the glittering, cold marble of Seoul's Financial District.
She inhaled deeply, the smell of expensive coffee and new money filling her lungs. The sheer scale of the buildings felt overwhelming, but the plot points were her anchor.
🗺️ The Strategy Board
Minji's mind, previously filled with fantasy settings, now processed corporate espionage and tragic celebrity news:
Her Death (The Side Character): Chapter 12. Her character, a minor marketing intern named Yoon Minji, meets her end in a suspicious "traffic accident" on the way to deliver a sensitive document. Deadline: A few weeks. Mission: Avoid the document delivery route and the impending crash.
The Second Hero (Jungkook): Jeong Jungkook, the CEO of the rival tech/fashion giant, Dusk Industries. He's the "Gucci Hero," known for his sharp suits, charisma, and solitary nature. In the novel, he enters around Chapter 5, becoming A-Ri's confidante and silent protector.
Jungkook’s Crisis: His tragic downfall (Chapter 35) is orchestrated by Rion Kai, who frames him for insider trading, leading to Jungkook's ultimate public humiliation and self-imposed exile (or worse).
I need to get to him before Chapter 5, Minji thought fiercely, pushing off the wall. And before I die.
The Aetherial Clock Tower is now the iconic Dusk Industries Headquarters—a modern architectural marvel mentioned frequently in the book as Jungkook's sanctuary.
She checked the digital map on the nearest interactive billboard. The main office of the hero, Rion Kai, was South. The Dusk HQ was a 15-minute subway ride North-West.
A fierce, protective energy surged through her. She was no longer just a reader. She was the only person with the full script, and she was here to change the genre from tragedy to a well-deserved happily-ever-after.
"North-West," she whispered, pulling her phone out to hail a ride-share service. "I'm coming, CEO Jeong Jungkook. Your ending is officially under new management."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Is he really her 'second' hero, or her true one? If you are enjoying this love triangle, please show your support with a Power Stone! Every single vote helps 'my favourite second hero' reach new readers! Thank you for choosing this story!