“What… what system? Magic…?”

Alec stood in disbelief, his eyes fixed on the floating words before him.

The sight of glowing letters in midair was magical in itself, but what did they all mean?

Staggering backward, he took a shaky breath, his mouth agape as his surroundings slowly came into view.

He found himself in a room with unfamiliar decor, sleek and modern in black and white.

Portraits, painted in a highly realistic style, adorned the walls.

They felt strangely familiar. Almost entranced, Alec approached the framed paintings.

[Ian Jung]

There were three nameplates of varying sizes attached beneath the frame.

It was an unfamiliar language, yet somehow, he could read it without difficulty.

He examined the hyper-realistic portraits, astonished by the skill of the artist.

From the image of a boy around five years old to a teenager in his early and later years, the boy’s smile became more striking as he grew older. But what truly took Alec’s breath away was how much the boy looked like him.

“How… how is this possible?”

He stumbled backward in shock.

His gaze landed on a mirror, and his eyes met his own reflection.

He froze, startled by the sight of the stunning man in the mirror.

“That’s… me?”

No… was it the person in the portrait, Ian Jung?

Cautiously, Alec approached the mirror, studying his reflection.

His disheveled, dark black hair, piercing black eyes, sleek brows, straight nose, sharp jawline, and sensual lips… Everything about the reflection was eerily similar to his own.

“Sigh…”

Alec’ hand dropped limply.

It wasn’t a doppelgänger or an alternate world—what was this?

It felt like he had somehow become another person who looked 99% like him from another world.

Still in disbelief, Alec slowly wandered around the house.

Suddenly, a wall covered in newspaper clippings caught his eye.

Feeling a strange tension, he walked closer.

The bold headlines drew him in:

[Heir of Yuseong Electronics, Ian Jung, Awakens as a Hunter! Mana Outburst Kills Chairman Jung Yooshin and Entire Family—Shocking News!]

[17-Year-Old Ian Jung Becomes Youngest Chairman After Tragedy—Transfers Management of Yuseong Electronics to Carlos Gardel, Overseas CEO—Determined to Move Forward as a Hunter?]

[Ian Jung, Last Known SSS-Rank Mana Hunter, Missing for 3 Years—Search Underway by Hunter Association]

The articles were cut short there.

Just as Alec finished reading, another alert sound chimed.

*Ding!*

Once again, glowing words appeared in the air.

[Your title has been changed.]

[From ‘Doomed Duke Alec’ → ‘Returning Awakener Ian After 3 Years’]

“…?!”

[You will be transported to the beginner course in 10 seconds! Kill monsters and quickly level up!]

[Remaining time: 3 hours]

[Failure will result in transfer to the penalty zone.]

[10, 9, 8…]

What was happening?!

Alec could barely comprehend half of what was going on.

Time was ticking down faster than he could process.

Just as he wondered where he would be transported, the massive floor-to-ceiling windows offered one final view of the outside world.

“…!”

He gasped, overwhelmed by the sight.

A river stretched wide across the land, glittering under the sunlight, and towering skyscrapers soared into the sky, higher than he could count.

And of all those buildings, it seemed he was in the tallest one.

.

.

.

“Huff, huff… I did it this time.”

Panting heavily, Alec finally emerged from the beginner level-up course.

After falling into the penalty zone three times, he had barely managed to level up from 1 to 2.

There was no time to think about why those monsters existed or how this world operated.

If he didn’t kill them, they would kill him first.

How had it come to this?

Alec could still feel the turbulence within his body.

No, this wasn’t an illness.

He truly had magic powers.

Swallowing nervously, Alec headed to the kitchen and drank cold water.

Despite everything being beyond his understanding, one thought crossed his mind—maybe this was his one and only chance.

[Quickly become the perfect husband and return to your original world!]

Yeah.

He would return to Louise, stronger than ever before.

What he had wished for just before dying was truly becoming a reality, and it was pushing him to grow stronger.

He couldn’t waste this chance to take revenge on Aksen and protect Louise.

Clenching his fists, Alec firmly resolved to himself:

‘I’ll return completely perfect. So that no one can ever touch us again, and so Louise can live happily without any more misfortune…’

His will burned intensely.

He would keep the promise he made to her before he died.

At that moment—

Ding!

[Congratulations on your first level up!]

[From now on, your daily strength training quest (beginner level) will begin.]

[300 sit-ups]

[300 push-ups]

[20 km running]

[50 km cycling]

Huh?

The system whisked Alec away to another place again.

It was a place that forced him to do sit-ups without a moment’s rest.

Though he was flustered, he soon accepted this relentless, brutal training.

Once he realized his illness wasn’t really an illness, he no longer feared moving.

If he could move this well, why—

Why hadn’t he done something as simple as riding with her just once?

It was ridiculous and heartbreaking.

After finishing his daily quest, Alec went outside to explore the new world.

Buildings, cars, people, clothing, language—

Everything was completely different from the world he had come from.

Except for the fact that monsters would emerge and kill people, many things here were far more convenient than his original world.

He checked the system’s explanation of this place again.

[System background: This is a game fantasy novel set in the modern world. Since you are the protagonist here, you must save the world.]

A novel? Protagonist?

Either way, as long as he could return to his original world, it didn’t matter where he was or who he was.

‘Excuse me? Aren’t you Chairman Ian Jung?’

Suddenly, a voice called out, startling Alec.

When he turned around, a young man approached him cheerfully, as if recognizing him.

The man pulled something out of his jacket pocket and handed it to him—it was a business card.

‘I’m Park Su-Chan, a reporter from Uri Daily. You’re Chairman Ian Jung of Yuseong Electronics, right?’

‘What?’

‘There’s no other handsome man like you in our country! Where have you been all this time? People have been searching for you everywhere!’

The man grabbed Alec’ hand with tears of joy welling up in his eyes.

A startled Alec quickly pulled his hand away.

‘Ah, ah, no, excuse me. I’ll be going now.’

‘Chairman!’

Alec began walking away quickly to escape, but when the man chased after him, he used a speed skill.

Only after moving a good distance did he look back. The man, apparently not awakened, hadn’t been able to follow.

‘Phew.’

Alec sighed in exasperation and rubbed his face.

He wasn’t ready to meet anyone in this world just yet.

At that moment, a street food stall caught his eye.

More precisely, it was the menu that caught his attention.

[Tteokbokki 4,500 won]

Tteokbokki?!

Could it be the dish that Louise hadn’t been able to eat in over 20 years?

Shocked, Alec approached the food stall.

He had wondered what country this dish belonged to, but to think he’d find it here!

Could this really be the food Louise had been searching for?

He was so curious about what kind of dish it was and what it tasted like.

Finally, the dish was placed on his table—a delicious-looking plate with finger-sized white pieces in a red, runny sauce.

He speared one with a fork and took a bite, but after just a few chews, he had to cough repeatedly.

The spiciness stung his nostrils.

‘It’s so spicy!’

To think Louise liked something like this.

He could barely handle eating one, and yet it hit him again just how bold and amazing she was.

‘Louise…’

Tears welled up in his eyes.

He desperately wanted to return to her and see her.

Right now, eating this felt like the only way he could feel close to her, so Alec took another bite of the Tteokbokki.

It was incredibly spicy, but it didn’t matter—since she liked it, nothing else mattered.

‘How is this made?’

Could he bring it back with him when he returned?

And then, six months later, as if in a dream, Louise appeared before him.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories