REINCARNATED IN "THE NOVEL´S EXTRA-REMAKE"

[At around 1pm today, a group of monsters appeared in Seoul, but luckily no one was hurt].

A new anchor was reporting today's incident. With a deep sigh, Chae Shinhyuk stroked the bedridden patient. His pale skin seemed to stab his father's heart. 

Although Nayun was an adult who would soon become a hero, she was still like a little girl to Chae Shinhyuk.

[According to the investigation, the group of monsters was led by the intermediate grade 1 monster, "Inciting Beast". With the size of a man and the shape of a badger, this monster had never appeared in Korea before. The Association believes that the monster was brought in by a third party and is conducting a search].

"Hmm."

At that moment, Chae Nayun opened his eyes. Chae Shinhyuk immediately called for a doctor.

"You've woken up. How are you feeling?"

"Fine."

Chae Nayun lifted her weak body. A doctor came running to check her pulse, but she pushed him away with a smile.

"I'm fine, Dad."

"Really?"

"Of course. I'm not hurt. Didn't the doctor tell you? It was just mana exhaustion."

"Yes, I did."

Said the doctor, speaking inadvertently. Chae Shinhyuk was a powerful figure who had control of the country's economy in the palm of his hand. He knew that provoking this man's bad side would only make his life more difficult.

"She looks fine, so you can go now.

"Yes, sir."

The doctor rushed out. Looking at the closing door, Chae Nayun said briefly:

"P-father!"

"Yes, daughter!"

"Did you meet someone called Theo?"

"Yes, I did. He's the one who brought you to the hospital."

Chae Nayun's eyes shone for a moment.

"He brought me?"

"Yes, he carried you in his arms to the ambulance and then stayed with you until I arrived."

Chae Shinhyuk answered neutrally, but his expression didn't hide his curiosity.

He still didn't know what to think about Theo Sagan. However, the fact that his daughter seemed so interested in him... It set off a little alarm inside him.

"Did he stay with me until you arrived?"

"Yes. He even told you to text him when you woke up."

Chae Shinhyuk continued, watching Nayun's reaction carefully. And, as he suspected, the mention of Theo's name made Chae Nayun look away.

'My daughter... Interested in a boy?'

Chae Shinhyuk didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. Since his wife's death and his son's coma, his daughter had closed herself off completely, preventing herself from even making friends for fear that they might take advantage of her.

"Do you want me to call him to visit you?"

He asked, feigning disinterest.

"What?! You don't have to!

She replied quickly, raising her hands in protest.

'So that's how it is...'

Chae Shinhyuk crossed his arms and thought. This Theo Sagan... He definitely deserved further investigation.

...

Yun Seung-Ah could fool the public, but not me. That facade of exemplary heroine, the friendly smile, the impeccable posture, it was all just a well-constructed mask.

Behind that image was a pragmatic woman, someone who would discard anyone when they were no longer useful. She was the kind of person who would throw away a piece that was no longer valuable; for her, the survival of the fittest was what mattered.

'Pretty she is... But too bad, looks aren't everything. Sigh!'

I turned the contact card over in my hand, looking at her name engraved in elegant letters. Yun Seung-Ah. Deputy leader of the Association's Team of Heroes.

"Tsk. As expected, she wants something from me."

It wasn't hard to understand why. After what happened at the museum, my name was probably already circulating among the association's superiors.

You ask me: how? Simple, someone with a bit of insight must have already put the pieces together and deduced that I was responsible for eliminating the monsters.

Ah, but weren't you using invisibility magic?

Yes, I was using it, but the bolt of lightning I threw inside the museum, as a way of stunning the Djinn, came from the same direction as I left shortly afterwards. If they looked at the security camera footage, they could see me.

I don't care if they find out anyway. It doesn't matter to me.

If the Association wanted to investigate, let them. In the end, there was nothing they could do but watch me from afar and try to recruit me, as Yun Seung-Ah was clearly trying to do.

This card, by the way, was given to me by Suho after we all returned to Cube.

I sighed and put it away in a drawer of my computer desk.

"Hmm! I wonder if she's awake yet."

My mind went back to Nayun. After all that chaos in the museum, she had fainted from magical exhaustion. It was normal for someone who had used up so much mana in one go, but that didn't change the fact that I was a little worried.

I took out my smartphone and opened the contact list. Her name was already saved there.

'Should I send her a message?'

I hesitated for a moment, but before I could decide, I felt my smartwatch vibrate and a notification pop up on the screen.

[Nayun: WHY DID YOU BRING ME TO THE HOSPITAL?]

After sleeping all afternoon, this is the first message you've sent me?

[Theo: I don't understand! Please explain...]

[Nayun: You said yourself that it was just magical exhaustion! That can be solved with a few hours' rest! So why on earth did you take me to hospital?!]

[Theo: Ah! There was no particular reason. I only did it to avoid problems with your father. I've heard rumors that he's very clingy towards his daughter, so to avoid acting out against my future father-in-law, I chose the best option.]

[Nayun: Dru*! Because of you, I got a warning here!]

[Theo: Your fault. Prove it.]

[Nayun: You made me lose my temper and I cursed too loudly...The nurse lectured me for my offenses.]

[Theo: Hahaha! So it's your fault. I'm innocent.]

[Nayun: You shameless bastard!]

[Theo: None.]

[Nayun: Argh! I'm really going to hit you one day...]

[Theo: Try... But for now, let me do it.]

[Nayun: Idiot...]

I smiled as I looked at the holographic screen in front of me.

[Nayun: Wait... You still haven't told me how you carried me to the ambulance.]

[Theo: Huh? In my arms, obviously.]

[Nayun: AS A PRINCESS?!]

[Theo: Yes.]

[Nayun: YOU EVIL!!!]

[Theo: Wow, what an overreaction. Did you want me to drag you by your feet?"]

"Nayun: You're lucky I'm stuck with this serum."]

"Theo: So I've got a good few hours to live."]

"Nayun: When I get out of here, you're dead."]

"Theo: Good. I've already chosen my coffin. Can you bury me in style?"]

"Nayun: Aff... F!*# you!"]

I laughed out loud this time, closing my eyes for a moment. She was definitely fine.

[Theo: You're coming to Cube tomorrow, right?]

[Nayun: Yes, I only didn't come back today because of my dad...]

[Theo: Owl dad...]

[Nayun: You have no idea. Even though the doctor said I was fine and that I was free, my father wouldn't let me. My father made a point of leaving me here for observation].

[Theo: He must have been very scared to hear that you fought a Djinn, his concern is normal].

[Nayun: Yes, I know... But you didn't have to exaggerate so much. If I hadn't sent him away, I'm sure he'd still be here now].

Chae Shinhyuk had always been a man of unshakeable principles in the business world. His name carried weight, his word moved entire corporations, and his presence alone was capable of making men tremble. However, when it came to his daughter, Chae Nayun, he was just a father carrying invisible wounds.

The loss of his wife devastated him. His son's coma was another deep scar. Now, Nayun was his only remaining light. If something happened to her... He knew he wouldn't be able to bear such a loss.

Nayun understood this, even though she grumbled about his overprotectiveness. He knew it was his way of holding her close and preventing another piece of his family from being lost.

The conversation continued for a few more minutes, with light comments and subtle teasing, until they both noticed that it was late at night.

[Theo: You should rest.]

[Nayun: I should say the same to you.]

[Theo: I'm made of steel, I can stay up all night.]

[Nayun: Humn.]

[Theo: I know it might be a bit impossible for you, but try to sleep. I'm sure you don't want to get there groggy from sleep].

[Nayun: Yes, I know... Thanks to you, I'm less anxious now.]

Tomorrow is Sunday, the day I would eliminate the "Devil Seed" from Chae Jinyoon's body.

I let out a sigh, staring at the holographic screen floating in front of me. This was one of the biggest events in the original story, an event that would change Chae Nayun's life forever.

In the original timeline, Kim Hajin had to kill him to stop the "Devil Seed" from sprouting.

But now things would be different.

I got up and went to the window of my dormitory, looking out at Cube's night sky. The artificial lights of the academy illuminated the horizon, and the night breeze was cool on my face.

Tomorrow will be a day of rebirth for Chae Jinyoon.

And a great blessing for Chae Nayun.

I closed my eyes for a moment and, with one last glance at the smartwatch screen, typed in the last message of the night.

[Theo: Sleep well and dream of me]

The reply came quickly.

[Nayun: You too, asshole.]

I let out a silent laugh before closing the screen.

...