AEPOB 02

Chapter 02

I reached out into the air and pressed the dialogue window.

The moment I pressed it,

[Welcome to this place.]

Along with that message, splendid fireworks filled the dialogue window.

*Bang! Kaboom!*

After a moment, the dialogue window refreshed and the first mission appeared!

**[Mission!]**

**’Preserve the Original Story!’**

Maintain the original story until the day you reach your 10th year here. If you succeed, you will be granted a ‘Final Reward’ that can grant you anything you desire, Possessor. (More details)

Wait, 10 years?

The mission deadline is way too long.

And that phrase about the ‘Final Reward’ granting anything you desire was also somewhat vague.

Wait, isn’t the first mission supposed to be easy so you can get used to the system?

I chewed on my lips restlessly.

As if responding to my troubled heart, the dialogue window opened a new window below the mission window.

[Do you perhaps want to return to your original world?]

“Wh-what?”

Startled that it had read my mind, I spoke aloud without realizing.

[You can speak mentally from now on.]

Is it sharing my thoughts with the dialogue window?

As I eyed the dialogue window suspiciously, it once again answered first.

[I can only read words you intend to convey to me or strong desires at best.]

Well, I had wanted to go back ever since the moment I was possessed.

Because I had no intention whatsoever of abandoning the career I had built through all sorts of hardships.

I pulled my slightly pushed-back chair closer and asked.

‘So you’re saying I can choose to return to my original world as the Final Reward?’

[Yes. That is correct.]

Then preserving the original story was essential.

‘Hey, to do the mission, I need to know what the original story is, right?’

But what’s the use of asking so cautiously?

As if the diligent responses from before were a lie, the dialogue window suddenly disappeared.

Now, no matter how many times I called for it, the dialogue window wouldn’t appear.

Oh-ho, so you won’t teach me about the original story?

Getting information about the original story from the already fled dialogue window was on hold for now.

If I were to data-fy all the web novels I’d read so far, the probability of being possessed into a completely unknown work was zero.

‘The original must be a work I’ve read.’

One thing is certain, even if nothing else is.

Although I’m an omnivorous reader who devours everything, my taste was so solid that I had never once missed a story with an obsession keyword.

I dangled my legs slightly in the air, then stopped.

‘…Damn! 10 years in an obsession story.’

I could feel with my skin that it wouldn’t be easy.

They go through the trouble of possessing me and then send me back to my original world peacefully?

No. That will absolutely never happen. I don’t know what it’ll be, but there will definitely be variables.

I examined the mission window closely. I had to check every bit of information available.

More details?

I found the ‘More details’ button at the bottom and pressed it firmly. The folded mission window expanded, revealing hidden information.

—

[This mission is a renewal type. Once you reach the target time, the details may change.]

—

I knew it wouldn’t be easy.

Seeing ‘renewal type,’ it seemed the mission content would change when a certain period or condition was met.

Sighs of despair poured out at the future that had gone completely awry.

At least the fact that there was something I could reasonably predict was somewhat comforting.

The mission given to me, ‘Preserve the Original Story!’

This meant that whatever my role, I would eventually encounter the original protagonists.

Then what was my role in the original?

I got down from the chair and dashed over to the window.

I didn’t even have a mirror, which most people had at least one of.

But what could I do?

I had to check my appearance even through the window.

My light green eyes, which drooped at the corners like my father’s, were quite bright and large.

But overall, my features were round and cute, closer to adorable than a memorable beauty.

In conclusion, Abeli was close to an extra, both in appearance and status.

‘Without any hidden birth secrets, she’s definitely an extra.’

It was too early to feel relieved just yet.

Because I couldn’t ignore the common possessor buff of getting entangled with the main characters.

Obsession story male leads are mostly cold and handsome.

So shouldn’t I first eliminate the ones most likely to get entangled with me?

—

[Avoid ‘cold and handsome men’ above all else!]

—

I took a piece of paper lying nearby and wrote down my future plans, pressing hard as if engraving them.

I especially drew infinite stars around ‘cold and handsome men’ and ‘avoid,’ tapping them with my pen.

For now, I’d just be careful about this and see how things go.

Once I got information about the original story and narrowed down the scope, I felt I’d gradually find clues.

Fortunately, I was confident in legwork.

And for the record, my specialty is information gathering.

And so far, I had never lost a confrontation with anyone.

Today was the day my father was making a delivery to the medicinal herb dealer.

After learning from yesterday’s conversation with my father that the medicinal herb dealer was in the market, I pestered him to let me come along.

The market was a great place to gather information.

My father, who had initially opposed it firmly, eventually broke under my persuasion disguised as aegyo and headed to the medicinal herb dealer with me.

As I patted my sore bottom from riding the carriage, the door to the medicinal herb dealer opened.

The bearded man who came out greeted us warmly.

“Welcome, Holtz. Oh! Who’s this? Abeli, are you feeling okay? I heard you were really sick.”

“Hello, mister! I’m fine now.”

I gave the man a nearly 90-degree bow, bending at the waist.

A person should always have a bright greeting.

Especially to people from business partners—absolutely!

The man stared at me in surprise.

Huh, was this not right?

Soon, a hearty laugh erupted.

“Hahaha! Abeli, it’s good to see you seem brighter than before!”

So it worked after all.

I smiled brightly. As if pleased, the man patted my back and led us inside.

The medicinal herb dealer we followed him into was quite large.

Wall-to-wall wooden cabinets, commonly seen in herb shops, filled the space, and the variety of medicines, from processed ones to raw herbs, was diverse.

After flipping through the herb bundles we brought a few times, the man looked satisfied.

“The herbs are in great condition again this time. I don’t even need to check the ointment you made. That’s why I trust you, Holtz.”

“The credit for these herbs goes to Kiki.”

“Come to think of it, I ran into him at the grocery store earlier. For his looks, he’s got quite nimble fingers.”

Kiki?

At the unfamiliar name, I held my breath and eavesdropped on the conversation between my father and the man.

“Bell was sick for the past few days, so he must have had a hard time filling the quota alone.”

“It’s impressive seeing the young lad living so bravely by himself. Come to think of it, it’s already been a few years since Kiki started gathering herbs.”

It seemed Kiki was a young boy who was the head of his household and had excellent knowledge of herbs.

Besides, since he seemed close to my father, I’d probably see him before long.

In preparation for the upcoming meeting with Kiki, I stored the information in my head.

*Jingle—*

Just then, the door opened and a burly middle-aged man entered the store.

“Today’s the day, right? When Mr. Holtz comes… Oh! You’re already here.”

The man, who seemed like a regular, easily blended in with my father and the herb dealer. I overheard he was the owner of the grocery store up ahead.

“Yesterday, my wife hurt herself moving something and can’t move properly now. Would you mind coming to our store to take a look?”

“Ah, well…”

“No way! My wife isn’t here today, and Mr. Holtz already agreed to watch the store while I make a delivery to the new bakery.”

“Th-then I’ll make the delivery!”

I raised my hand to get their attention.

The three men’s gazes focused on me, who had suddenly butted in.

For a moment, I felt like an uninvited guest.

I couldn’t help it. I happened to need an excuse to go outside.

The herb dealer broke the silence and asked.

“The delivery isn’t too far, but do you think you can do it alone?”

“Yes! You said it was the new bakery earlier, sir. And coming back is no problem either. I even memorized the name correctly—Balam Medicinal Herb Dealer?”

At my clear-cut answer, the men burst into laughter and praised me.

“Apothecary, you’ve raised your daughter well.”

Behind me, my father looked like he had a lot to say, but because of the men backing me up, he couldn’t stop me.

Instead, he meticulously drew a map of the market for me and made sure I knew what to be careful about.

I took the map my father had drawn and stepped outside.

The destination was the new bakery.

He said it was just two alleys down and a right turn.

But… how long had I been walking?

I blankly looked around.

Just a short while ago, the atmosphere was bright…

Before I knew it, the market had transformed into a desolate space.

Where on earth am I?