I don’t know if it’s just the works under our publishing company, but I’m pretty sure that phenomenon is usually referred to as a “forbidden restriction.”
You know, when protagonists in possession or regression stories try to reveal some transcendental information they know, and because it would drastically affect the progression of the story, some higher being prevents them from speaking. That kind of mechanism.
If they try to force it out, they cough up blood, suffer excruciating pain, or violate some contract with a deity or celestial being and get hit with penalties.
It’s a kind of system that forcibly prevents them from speaking, because the information could influence those around them or interfere with future events—or even the opposite.
That’s why such mechanisms are used to stop them from talking.
So usually, because of this kind of event, the protagonist ends up clashing with another character who thinks they’re hiding something on purpose, leading to emotional rifts and misunderstandings that drive the plot.
If I weren’t someone who had seen a bit of everything because of my job, I probably wouldn’t have trusted those two—thinking they were hiding something on purpose.
And if I happened to learn something important, I might’ve ended up hiding it from them, too.
Sigh…
Kang Dohee let out a deep sigh, seemingly frustrated by the situation.
Kang Dojin, rather than being shocked or curious about why his sister suddenly fell silent, seemed more worried about how to explain things to me.
‘The way they both seem to know what’s going on… maybe they’re both possessed or regressed characters.’
Well, in a way, that’s actually a relief.
That calm demeanor, the stoic yet strong attitude, the confidence—those are all traits that perfectly match the “protagonist” archetype, the most common but also the ones who survive the longest!
And just the fact that they look after me and Hayul, despite us not being all that useful, suggests they could very well be righteous, lead-role protagonists!
So, have I really been possessed into a story?
But I don’t know any story that features siblings like them…
And that monster from earlier—I don’t know what that was either.
Wait, that’s not what matters right now. I keep getting sidetracked.
What’s important is:
Kang Dohee wants to tell me something but can’t.
Which at the very least means she wants to talk to me.
Then, my response should be this:
“Hmm, if you both have a reason you can’t say anything right now, you don’t have to.”
“…What?”
“Seriously?”
The siblings both stared at me like I was saying something crazy, but all I could do was shrug.
What else could I do? It’s obvious.
Better that than becoming that annoying side character who pesters others to talk and then sulks about it…
“Well, if it’s hard to talk now, just promise to tell me when you can. I’ll believe whatever you say, so just… please don’t lie.”
“……”
“……”
Their expressions changed.
Kang Dohee looked like she was thinking, What is with this person?
Kang Dojin looked like he was wondering, What’s this guy’s angle?
“For now, just like my sister said, it is hard to make sense of all this. Do you know where we are? Because I sure don’t. I don’t even know why we’re here. Do you guys?”
“…….”
“…….”
…Can’t answer that either?
If they can’t answer, then that probably means they do know where we are and why we’re here.
Which, in a way, is a relief. I’ll find out eventually too.
Okay, next question.
“So, does anyone know what we’re supposed to do now? Like, the plot—or more specifically, the method. Is there anything in your status windows? I have a quest. Something about finding a shelter… should I just read it out loud?”
“……”
“…….”
They didn’t answer, but both nodded as if to say, Go ahead.
“One of the quest conditions is finding two survivors—thanks to you two, that part’s done.”
“Hyung, I think our quests are the same. I have that part too,” Kang Dojin replied.
Kang Dohee seemed to agree as well.
“Yeah? Then this’ll be faster. Do you guys have ‘find supplies’ or ‘locate a safe place’ too?”
“Yep.”
“Me too.”
Good.
So it’s a shared quest!
Then I don’t have to explain everything—we can just proceed together!
“Okay, let’s do those tomorrow, then. But… do you know if there’s anything else we’re supposed to do? Because that’s the only quest I’ve got.”
While waiting for their response, I distributed my stat points like Kang Dojin had suggested earlier.
[Character Info]
Name: Lee Haje
Level: 1
Skills: Expand
Quest: Expand
Stats: Strength: 1 / Agility: 1 / Intelligence: 0 / Stamina: 0
Stat Points: 1
+View More Info
Maybe because I got my first point, the profile window had changed in the last few hours.
It was now condensed to be easier to read at a glance, and the sections for unavailable skills remained collapsed.
After I allocated my stat points and closed the window, Kang Dojin finally spoke.
“I don’t really know how to say this, but… I’ll just tell you what I think.”
Oh? This is usually the part where they speak in metaphors.
Maybe he’s trying to give me the truth in a roundabout way because of the restriction.
If I listen carefully here, we might actually build some trust.
So instead of being suspicious or skeptical, I made a point to show I was open and ready to hear anything.
“Go ahead.”
Kang Dojin gauged my reaction, then cautiously started to speak, clearly a little embarrassed.
“I think… it’s kind of like a game. Or something similar, maybe.”
“A game? Like, we’ve entered a game world? That kind of idea?”
“It’s just my guess. But seriously, just look at the system windows…”
“Hmm. That’s fair. Makes sense. But I’ve never played a game like this. With monsters and stuff…”
I deliberately emphasized how little I knew about games, basically begging for more explanation. Go on, I’ll listen to everything, was the message I tried to send.
“Do you play games like this often, Dojin?”
“Uh, yeah. A bunch of different ones.”
“Then how do these usually go? This feels real to me. In games, you can die and come back, but here… it feels like if we die, we’re really done. So I’d honestly like to know more, because I’m scared.”
And that wasn’t just a line. I meant every word.
The two of them could tell I was being honest—my hands were still visibly trembling.
“So, normally in games… you beat the boss and that’s the end, right? Do you think we have to beat something like that too?”
“Probably. Most games work that way.”
Kang Dojin still looked a little uncomfortable saying it, but I guess that much was okay.
Maybe because he didn’t give a specific example?
Anyway, at least he didn’t suddenly cough up blood.
Still, I better be careful not to press too hard.
By the way… the boss, huh.
Then, what we have to do now is…
“So in those kinds of games, you usually beat a mid-boss first, level up, gain skills, get stronger, gather allies, cooperate to survive, complete quests, then defeat the final boss and return to the original world—is that how this works?”
“…Not bad for someone who’s never played a game.”
“Ah, ahem. I mean, I kind of know the typical tropes. Even if I haven’t played them myself.”
I’ve never actually played those kinds of games, but I’ve read about them a lot.
I’ve even been in charge of editing game-fantasy web novels before.
“I think so too. Beat a few mid-bosses. Move from place to place, meet different people. Form a team, get betrayed, nearly kill each other—then finally, only those who defeat the final boss return home.”
“…….”
You keep saying it’s just your guess, but you’re being really specific…
Is it okay for you to say that much? Your body’s not going to freak out or something?
I couldn’t ask outright, so I just gave an awkward nod.
Still… haaa… I really didn’t want to admit it, but this probably is one of those possession-into-a-game situations.
The only silver lining is that there are already two people here who seem to be experienced players (?), and they seem… probably friendly toward me and Hayul.
“Is it okay if I tell Hayul about what we just talked about?”
“If I said no, would you not do it?”
“Mm. No, I think we should share it. We also need to check if Hayul can see a status window like us.”
I turned away from the two of them to glance over at Hayul.
Still sleeping soundly.
For a moment, I wondered if this was one of those clichés where the person is faking sleep and actually hears everything…
But he seemed completely unaware of the world around him. Totally Hayul.
“…….”
He was the kind of kid who could fall asleep anywhere, and you could probably carry him away and he wouldn’t notice.
Just thinking of him like that made my mouth taste bitter.
It was probably the stomach acid from earlier, but still—it was too bitter.
No, no. Focus. Now’s not the time to get lost in thought.
We need information. We need to talk.
“Um, first… Dojin. And you too, Noona. Honestly, I don’t really know what we’re supposed to do next, but… how about we just start with the quests? If I fail mine, I get a physical penalty.”
“Same here. The penalty says ‘permanent bodily harm,’ so we should probably knock that out first.”
“You too, Dojin?”
“Yeah, mine’s the same. And the map sucks, but let’s start by heading to the closest building marked on it tomorrow.”
The moment Kang Dojin dissed the system, I thought I saw the corner of the map window twitch.
Was that just my imagination?
I mean… maybe even UI elements can shiver.
Still, talking like this helped me relax.
If you asked me whether I trust those two 100%, I wouldn’t know how to answer.
But at least it seems like Hayul considers Kang Dojin a good friend,
And they’re trying to be honest with us.
At the very least, I don’t think they’re the kind of people who’d use us and then throw us away.
Well… I guess I can’t be sure of that.
But still…
They seem like good people.
And I want to believe they are.
And I hope they see me and Hayul as good people too.
If we can trust each other, work together, and survive this mess…
Then maybe, just maybe, we’ll make it out of here.
‘Yeah. Let’s think positively. Hayul’s right here next to me. That’s enough.’
I still don’t know where we are or what this place is.
But one thing became clear:
This time… I’m going to protect Hayul. No matter what.
If I can just do that, it’s enough.
And somehow, I’m going to get him back to where we came from.
Back to the world we were yanked out of, before this one swallows us whole.
“Hey.”
I glanced once more at Hayul and then moved closer to the other two.
Just in case—on the 1% chance Hayul was faking sleep with Oscar-worthy acting—I whispered softly:
“Even though the situation’s like this, I’ll do my best. I’m counting on you two. And… I know it’s a bit shameless to say this, but… I have a big favor to ask.”
My eyes kept drifting toward Hayul.
How should I say this?
The words were right there, but they wouldn’t come out.
How can I say it without sounding suspicious? Without being misunderstood?
I opened my mouth and closed it again, struggling to speak—
SMACK!
Kang Dohee slapped me hard on the back.
So hard it echoed.
“Guhhkk!”
I thought a freaking pot lid had hit me.
It hurt so bad I thought my spine might’ve cracked. I reached back just to check if something burst.
“Don’t be dramatic.”
“No, seriously, Noona—it hurts! I feel like a disc slipped that didn’t even exist before!”
I was completely serious, but Kang Dohee just laughed it off.
Was that the first time I saw her smile? Wait… was that a smirk?
She looked at me like I was the most pathetic creature in the universe.
Sure, I had just been assaulted and had no idea why, which was a bit shocking…
But thanks to it, the mood lightened up.
And I could finally say what I needed to.
“I mean, I’ll try not to be a burden, but… if something happens to me… if I—”
“I got it. I’ll take care of your brother.”
“!!”
“But honestly, I don’t think you need to worry too much about him. You should be more worried about yourself.”
“…Huh?”
Kang Dohee glanced at Hayul, then looked back at me.
What does she mean, I should be more worried about myself?
Usually when someone with those kinds of traits says something like that…
‘Is this foreshadowing? Like Hayul will awaken a power soon and get really strong? Or maybe he’s secretly stronger than me already?’
Maybe I’m reading into it like it’s a novel again, but still…
She must have some reason for saying that.
Maybe she’s expecting something from Hayul.
I must’ve looked confused, because Kang Dojin stepped in with a gentle voice:
“Hyung. Isn’t it better if we just make sure nothing happens to anyone?”
“O-oh. Yeah. You’re right. Let’s do that. Let’s all hang in there together.”
Even though I just told myself I couldn’t fully trust them…
That one line was enough to make me feel reassured.
We still don’t have any hard facts, but at least we’re starting to get a sense of the situation.
Maybe it was because I was finally relaxing—or maybe because of that back slap—
But exhaustion hit me all at once.
And Kang Dohee noticed.
She pushed a finger against my forehead and tipped me backward.
“Both of you, get some sleep. I’ll take the first watch.”
“…Thanks. Please wake me up later.”
“Sure. Rest up. You too, Dojin.”
Without complaint, Dojin lay down next to where Hayul had been sleeping earlier.
I slowly dragged my still-trembling limbs over to lie on her other side.
There was a lot to think about from our conversation… but my mind was too foggy to sort it all out now.
So I just closed my eyes.
Maybe it was because the day had been so intense—
But for the first time in years, I fell asleep without needing alcohol or medication.
wasnt hayul supposed to be the sister