Chapter 1: The Forest Where Fate Begins
Haneul Kim's life had never been kind.
Crushing debt, a broken family, endless failures—no matter how hard he tried, things only seemed to fall apart. Every day felt heavier than the last, until even breathing became tiring. He wondered more than once if the world would be better off without him
.
Then came that unfortunate day.
The blaring horn.
The blinding headlights.
The moment his body was thrown into the air.
Pain flooded his senses—and then, darkness.
(So this is how it ends…)
As his consciousness faded, a faint ray of light appeared within the void. It shimmered softly, warm and gentle, unlike anything he had ever felt before. Instinctively, he reached out toward it.
The moment his fingers touched the light—
He opened his eyes.
A vast blue sky stretched endlessly above him. The sound of a river flowing nearby, the gentle breeze brushing against his skin, and the chirping of birds filled the air. The world felt… alive.
Haneul slowly pushed himself upright, his heart pounding.
"Where am I?" he muttered. "What is this place…?"
He looked down at his body. No wounds. No pain. Even his clothes were intact. His memories rushed back all at once.
"Wasn't I hit by a truck while crossing the road…?"
His voice trembled.
He scanned his surroundings—towering trees, thick bushes, and unfamiliar plants glowing faintly with magical hues.
"…Is this heaven?" he whispered to himself.
Suddenly—
Rustle.
The bushes nearby shook.
Haneul froze.
A man with black and white hair with golden eyes stepped out from the foliage. He looked human—tall, calm, and dignified—but protruding from his head were two curved horns, unmistakably resembling those of a dragon.
Fear gripped Haneul's chest.
The horned man approached and spoke in a steady voice.
"Why is a human like you in such a dangerous forest?"
Haneul flinched.
"I—I don't know, sir!" he stammered. "From what I remember, I was hit by a truck and then… I don't know where I am."
The man studied him for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
"I see. Unfortunate indeed."
He sat down on a large stone nearby, gesturing for Haneul to calm down.
"It appears you don't know where you are—or why you're here."
The man continued, "This place is known as the Forest of Hidden Beasts. It is a forest where wild monsters build their nests."
"B-Beasts?!" Haneul shouted, his face turning pale.
"Yes," the man replied calmly.
"T-Then what am I doing here?!" Haneul asked, panic creeping into his voice.
After a short pause, the man spoke again.
"It seems you were transmigrated."
"…Transmigrated?"
Haneul stared blankly.
The horned man explained that people who crossed over from another world were called Otherworlders. There were many ways such a phenomenon could occur—reincarnation through death, summoning rituals, or other unknown methods.
He also spoke of the System—a universal force that governed growth and power. Every living being possessed it, whether human, monster, or even items. The System had existed since the creation of the world itself.
"Transmigrated… Otherworlders… System…" Haneul murmured.
"This is too much to take in…"
The man stood up and smiled faintly.
"I suppose I should introduce myself properly."
"My name is Vale Kindspring—an Ice Dragon, and the head of the Kindspring Family."
He extended his hand.
Haneul hesitated for a moment before taking it and standing up.
"My name is Haneul Kim," he said quietly.
"It's… nice to meet you."
And so, within the most dangerous forest of an unknown world,
the journey of the Hero of the Otherworld began.