Chapter 01
The Era of Mass Possession
[(Disaster Response Headquarters) Reports of missing and deceased individuals rising sharply! ▲Avoid being alone ▲Exercise caution near subway stations, building rooftops, and riversides]
It was a familiar disaster alert. I shrugged it off and hurried home from work.
Just one more turn down this alley, and I’d be home. After dealing with all those unreasonable complaints today, a chicken reward seemed perfect.
I was excited at the thought of tearing into a drumstick while bingeing the latest webtoons and web novels.
Rrrr…!
[▲Caution: Dark alleys during late hours! Avoid areas with broken streetlights!]
“…Huh?”
Of course, just as I passed, a flickering streetlight above me went out.
Better get home fast.
Believe it or not, the disaster alerts were real. Deaths and disappearances were surging across the country.
Online, a wild theory had spread that “possession” was the cause. It sounded like nonsense from someone obsessed with webtoons, web novels, and games—but there was some logic to it.
Records from the victims’ phones revealed a pattern.
It was like a precursor to the tragedy:
Rrrr…!
[◈Possession Life Insurance Announcement◈
Forget retirement plans—prepare for afterlife survival! A full package to help you survive possession is on special today! With just a studio apartment deposit, you could live like royalty even in an S-rank survival novel!
Limited to 3 packages! Would you like to subscribe now?
(Yes / No / Unsubscribe)]
…the pattern? They had all received spam messages offering life insurance.
“What… what is this?”
BANG!
A truck barreled toward me without any warning or reason.
‘Mom… Dad… Big brother… I’ll see you soon…’
And just like that, I died—hit by a truck in a dark alley.
Beep!
[You are now subscribed!]
…right after I hit “Yes.”
✠
“Wake up, Reader Code 1****5617.”
“Huh? Where… am I?”
The voice sounded almost like a prison guard calling a name. I blinked and looked around.
I was in a place that looked like an airport check-in area.
People were standing at counters, receiving some kind of passes, and moving toward gates where light poured out. I found myself at one of the counters too.
I glanced to the side. A schoolgirl in uniform smiled, apparently satisfied with the result she received, and a screen above her head flickered.
Possession Assessment for Reader Code 1****5613:
Original Work: The Princess Imprints the Traitor
Genre: Adult Romance Fantasy, Reincarnation Story
Survival Difficulty: F
A certain phrase caught my eye.
“Wait… Possession Assessment?”
“Yes. That’s correct, Reader Code 1****5617. Now it’s your turn.”
“Mom! The dog… it’s talking!”
A Welsh Corgi with tiny wings on its back panted, and surprisingly, it spoke human words.
“Haha, I’m not a dog. I am the assessor in charge here at the Possession Administration Bureau.”
“Possession… Administration Bureau?”
“You must have slept through the orientation. Let me explain briefly. You are dead. This is the afterlife.”
“Oh.”
I remembered now. Right after experiencing the so-called “precursor symptoms” that had gone viral online, I’d been hit by a truck.
“…Sigh.”
Life was cruel.
My mother died giving birth to me. My father and older brother were killed by a car going the wrong way, joining her in the afterlife.
After that, I was treated like a burden by my wealthy relatives who had swindled the life insurance, and I barely scraped by until adulthood. I finally moved out, working part-time jobs, and eventually managed to pass the civil service exam. Life was finally looking up.
And yet, at such a young age, I died in a nationwide disaster.
‘So my little apartment deposit will just get stolen by the big house again… sigh…’
The Corgi panted adorably in front of me.
“The gods in charge of public affairs in the afterlife have a strong interest in content these days. Popular web novels are adapted into webtoons, games, and movies, right? With the gods’ power, a world can be fully realized—a ‘dimensionalization.’ Currently, souls who die on Earth can be sent into these dimensionally-realized worlds.”
I realized the final form of a hit web novel was now being “dimensionalized.”
“Of course, not just anyone can be possessed. Since you arrived in the afterlife earlier than your natural lifespan, it’s clear you have excellent potential for possession!”
“Oh… okay…”
I wanted to argue, but what could I do against a cute, powerless dog?
Actually, there was no time to argue. The assessment began immediately.
“Now, we will review Reader Code 1****5617’s reading history. Hoo… you’ve covered an impressive range of genres: Romance, Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy, Martial Arts, GL, BL, Adult… quite the eclectic taste.”
“Ahem, ahem.”
Not embarrassed—just proud of my well-rounded reading habits.
“Do you have a preferred genre?”
“Romantic fantasy with childcare!”
Yes, romantic fantasy childcare stories. Perfect: low survival difficulty, minimal suffering, a guaranteed path to wealth and happiness. The ideal genre for possession!
I explained my attachment to the genre.
“Having lost my parents and brother early, and being mistreated by relatives, I never experienced proper family love. So I want to possess a protagonist in a childcare story to finally enjoy family affection.”
“Understood. Noted.”
The Corgi typed away diligently.
A moment later…
“The assessment results are ready. Please view the screen, Reader.”
“Yes!”
I folded my hands and looked up.
Possession Assessment for Reader Code 1****5617:
Original Work: Reincarnate Until the World is Saved
Genre: Fantasy Raid, Infinite Reincarnation
Survival Difficulty: S
“….”
I froze.
Meanwhile, the Corgi panted earnestly in celebration.
“Oh! An S-rank! One in a hundred thousand—congratulations! I knew your potential as a possessor was exceptional!”
Excuse me… S-rank? This isn’t something to celebrate. S-rank survival difficulty means near-impossible.
The Corgi wagged its tail enthusiastically—it was seeing an S-rank for the first time.
I tried to recall the original work. Reincarnate Until the World is Saved.
I had read it in middle school, a mind-numbing, repetitive reincarnation story.
The protagonist belonged to a guild and kept repeating death-and-return cycles to save a world ravaged by demonic dungeons. The story was painfully slow—just look at the online comments from back then:
“Who recommended this masterpiece?!”
“The protagonist is so frustrating. Waste of time.”
“If you want to choke on a million metaphorical sweet potatoes, go ahead.”
Of course, there were kind readers defending the protagonist:
“Our protagonist is just slow to grow, okay?”
“Those who want instant gratification, tsk tsk.”
But the majority?
“Reader wanting instant gratification? No. The protagonist suffers the most.”
“Protagonist suffers, LOL. The only relief is when they die.”
And thus, the protagonist earned the nickname “Sweet Potato Pass.”
‘Ahhh… I’m doomed.’
People around me started whispering.
“My goodness, S-rank…”
“Oh no…”
“The original work is ‘Reincarnate Until the World is Saved’? That’s a brutal story…”
“Poor thing.”
The Corgi returned to its work.
“S-rank, you seem to like childcare stories, so we’ll possess you into a cute little girl. Pink hair, no less.”
“What kind of character?”
“Daughter of a commoner servant, constantly bullied by a tyrannical noble family who mistreats the protagonist.”
Honestly, a more insignificant role than a random tree on the street. I already felt doomed.
“It’s okay. Once you’re possessed, the bureau’s support system will help you… Wait, S-rank!”
“What? Another problem?”
“Upon checking, you were the first purchaser of the Possession Life Insurance Full Package. Nothing to worry about!”
“Possession Life Insurance Full Package? What’s that?”
Suddenly, the envious looks from people around me replaced the pity from moments ago.
“You’ll understand soon. Don’t delay your turn—please proceed through the gate.”
“Uh, wait a moment…”
“Then may the blessings of the Possession God be with you!”
“Eek!”
And just like that, I was pulled into the world of the painfully slow reincarnation fantasy novel, Reincarnate Until the World is Saved.
