Reborn As An Extra In My Own Novel

The light streaming through the room was painfully bright as my groggily shut eyes fluttered open.

My head was still dizzy, but aside from that, I felt fine; as though someone had extracted the injuries from my body.

"Is this some kind of magic?" I muttered, confused by how rejuvenated I felt. Not even healers could eliminate all the pain.

"Darling... good morning." A sweet, gentle, and soothing voice rang in my ear like the chorus of a church hymn.

By my bedside was Frieren, whose eyes screamed of exhaustion. Blood was marked all over her hand, not someone else’s blood, but her own.

"What happened to...?" I tried to jolt up to check her condition, only to discover I was tied up.

The grip of the rope was tight but I felt no discomfort at the same time. The room smelt like rain, blood and a bit of freshly plucked fruit.

"I think you should rest first, darling," she pleaded, rising from the chair next to my hospital bed.

This was the second time I had awakened in a hospital, and both times I woke to the sight of a pretty young lady. This time, though, she was tired and bloody.

"What?... No, why did you do it?"

Frieren smiled at me as she picked up a tray of apples with a knife.

The room was cool, bathed in a warm glow from the sunlight. The four white walls were somewhat comforting, but Frieren’s condition still concerned me.

After she sat back on the seat and used her head to check my forehead’s temperature, she answered, "Do you know? I was a bit jealous when I heard that you ran out because of Cordelia..."

I frowned slightly at her words. Hari was my cousin and my family, of course I would run off to find her. But she didn’t need to know that.

Even though she noticed my expression, she continued. "But then I remembered, you and Cordelia don’t have that kind of relationship... Well, even if I didn’t know, I could have still helped you, but for a price, that is."

"That can’t be the only reason you did it." I said bluntly.

She shook her head, then grimaced. "You’re the fool who fought until his body broke, how were you planning to save her if you can’t even stand?"

Her words hit hard, mainly because they were true. I was too caught up in the fight with Matt to consider that I would still have to battle countless dangerous beings to save Hari.

But Frieren didn’t just think ahead of me, she also took all the pain from me, so I could save someone dear to me.

I looked at the gracious figure of the princess, a bandage wrapped around her head, peeling apples happily. "Why did you do it if it hurt so much?" fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

It was still shocking for Frieren, whom I had written as a ruthless princess who hated both men and women alike and never allowed anyone to get close—to act the way she did now.

’Did something change due to my appearance? Or was it something else?’

She smiled as she absorbed my words. "Well, I told you I loved you, didn’t I?"

She placed the apple on the table beside me and rested her palm on her cheek, tilting her head slightly. "So, as my lover, isn’t it my duty to protect both you and the people you love?"

’What? Is this really the princess of the empire?’

She was different. The bright smile she wore on her lips. The slightly provocative posture she held. And her obsessive characteristics.

They were never in my novel.

"Are you really Frieren Hohenzollern?"

She raised her finger as though taking an oath. "The one and only... But I did know from day one that you were my soulmate, and that you would die, too."

I raised a brow. "Is that why you wanted to expel me?"

Frieren shook her head. "No. It wasn’t like I would marry a guy weaker than me... But."

"But?"

She sighed deeply. "I saw a vision where you were flirting with many girls."

My face contorted slightly. "Is that the reason you wanted to expel me? And why is this rope so damn tight?"

She chuckled softly, then burst into laughter. "Darling, you are too funny."

"Stop with the ’darling’ thing and untie me."

She grinned mischievously. "Then call me darling—or better yet, a nickname." She placed her hand on her jaw. "Hmmm... What about Reni?"

"No."

She pouted slightly, turning her head to the left. "Then I won’t let you go. What about staying in my closet? No one will stop me, since I’m a princess."

"Tch."

"Oh ho, have you given in?"

I sighed. It was best to play along with her for now. Though my face was burning red, I still said it.

Since it was either I say it and leave—or don’t, and stay here forever. "Reni." I said hesitantly, my tone a bit shy.

She smiled: a soft, comforting smile that looked even prettier in the contrast of the sunlight. "Yes, darling?"

’Did my heart just skip a beat?’

My heart was pounding like a war drum. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t divert my gaze from the beautiful woman in front of me. Her smile felt warm.

It was something even her father had never seen before.

I quickly turned my red face away from her. "Whatever. Now, can you let me go?"

------

I sighed deeply, my gaze fixed on the view from the hospital window.

After my meeting with Frieren, Neko-sensei, Amy, Anica, and some of our classmates came to visit me, as if I were some kind of ill patient, not the boy who had destroyed their school building.

Well, some students were pleased about the destruction of the school building since we wouldn’t have to attend classes for three days, which was more than enough time to go find Hari.

But before that, I had to go meet with the student council and the teachers, because there was no way I was barging into a villain’s lab thinking this was some kind of show where kids could defeat a freaking dragon that appeared in their school, with the power of love, friendship or pure wit.

"What am I going to do with her?" Frieren had freed me from the rope, but now I was obliged to watch over her as she slept at my bedside.

Well, it wasn’t as though anyone had forced me to do it.

The wind carried the fresh scent of spring, I took in a deep breath, then turned to Frieren.

The wind grazed her flawlessly smooth skin, her black hair swaying gently.

"Cute." I quickly shut my mouth, as something I had never intended to say escaped my lips. "Damn, think of something else, you idiot."

It was a new sensation for me. I didn’t understand what it was.

For me, most things except family were replaceable. Even then, I had never felt this way.

I covered my face with my arm, unable to hide how red it had become.

"How am I going to call her Reni from now on?" I turned to her once more.

Her lips were pink and appeared soft. Without realizing it, my body moved and touched her lips slightly—"It’s soft..."

As if the gods wished to punish me, the door swung open, and Matt entered the room.

I nearly shrieked but restrained myself. ’The best thing to do is to act nonchalantly.’

Yes, indifference was the key.

But I failed to consider one minor detail: Matt took most things at face value.

"Hey, Matt," I greeted.

He smiled faintly. "I see. Sorry for intruding."

He slammed back the door that slid to the side.

’What? What?!!!’

My face was burning red as I opened the door again. Both he and I were in a blue and white checked two-piece.

I was still gasping slightly as Matt looked at me and gave his signature smile.

"It wasn’t what it looked like," I quickly attempted to defend myself.

Matt patted me on the shoulder. "I understand, Kai. I do. All men have desires." He paused, then turned back. "Well, we single guys will take our leave."

I stepped in front of him without wasting a second. "Wait, man. Don’t do this to me. We’re friends, right?"

Matt nodded. "Yes. That’s why, as your best friend, I should give you space and support you." His gaze was dark and somewhat somber. "Fighting," he said, clenching his fist.

’Fighting? Fighting? Don’t "fighting" me.’ I mused, slightly frustrated. ’Calm down, Jin-sung.’

"You’re jealous, right?"

Matt, who was about to turn his head, faced me again with fury burning in his eyes. "Kai," he said, gripping my shoulder tightly. "One thing a bro must never do is call his brother jealous."

"What?" I could have sworn I saw Matt’s right eye turn deep red for a moment as he dragged me back into the room.