Park Noah’s fear, however, subdued when Muell clasped her trembling fingers while his other hand kindled a tiny flame, his red round eyes looking at her with reassurance. With a deep breath, she composed herself. Park Noah gazed at the child on her lap, a smile creeping in her lips. 

Yeah, I’m holding the world’s number one munchkin, what the hell am I afraid of? Also, beside me is an unpitying investigator who is capable of crushing his opponent’s head like a potato…

At that moment, though Park Noah was frightened by her opponents, she was more intimidated by her current companions. 

“Put out the flame, Mu. So, Miss Noah, will you tell me your secrets or not?” Kyle Leonard said, pulling out his journal out of his uniform.

Park Noah sighed. I guess it’s already time. 

“I’ll tell you. Instead, promise me you won’t dismiss everything I say as crazy crap.”

“I promise.”

It was an immediate answer. Park Noah gathered her thoughts briefly and prepared herself to speak. “I’ve only been here for two years, and you asked me how I knew Lenia Valtalere… I read it in a book.”

“A book. What kind of book is it?” There was an expected frown on the investigator’s face.

“The book that tells the story of this world. Everything here was written there. Lenia Valtalere, Eleonora Asil, the dragon, and you, Kyle Leonard. In that book, Lenia is the original master of the dragon. Eleonora got lost in the palace, and accidentally touched the dragon’s egg. That’s when the dragon hatched.”

“Are you saying that this world was born from someone else’s hand?”

“At least as far as I know.” When the truth spilled from Park Noah’s lips, even she felt it was a myth. 

“When did you know that?” 

“A week after I transmigrated into the body of Eleonora? At first, I was dubious, and then I realized everything was identical to the book — Lenia, you, and this country.” She explained slowly, ensuring Kyle Leonard understood every word she spoke.

“I see. If it were a story, it would be a long one. If the intended master of the dragon was Lenia Valtalere, what are the other highlights in the book?”

“It’s a story about Lenia, who became the heroine, and after some time, you became involved.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Well, you are the male lead in the book. Oh, don’t make that face. I already sound like a madman, but if you react like that, I will seem like a real psychopath!” 

Kyle Leonard grimaced at every word that came out from Park Noah’s mouth. Attempting to digest the absurd truth, he joked, “I’ve heard all sorts of wonderful stories in my life. Anyway, what happened then?”

“Until the end, it’s a classic story of moral decency. Just and honorable main characters defeat the villains who enable evil. They even succeeded in defeating Eleonora Asil, who tormented them the most. After their triumph, the protagonists ask for each other’s hearts….yeah, well, that’s it.” 

“Until the end? What’s the ending, then?”

“Uh… Mu, no, the dragon kidnapped Lenia and left without a trace. That’s the ending.”

“What kind of novel is that?”

“Right? But don’t ask me, I’m not a writer.”

It was no wonder that Kyle Leonard was caught in bewilderment upon discovering that his life sprung from the ink of a pen; even more so when their destinies were twisted. He gazed into space for a brief moment, collecting his thoughts. Then, with a deep sigh, he nodded.

“I never expected that and it’s completely baffling, but I understand. The people in Miss Noah’s world are odd, writing a flimsy novel about someone else’s life.”

At the investigator’s remark, Park Noah had a strange realization. She stared at him, in deep thought. Kyle Leonard frowned at her and said, “Don’t look at me like that. I don’t know what else you’re going to say.”

“No, I just thought you are worth the title of a genius investigator.”

“Did you read it in the book, too?” His voice was sharp. It seemed the truth was unpleasant to his ears.

Park Noah pondered — what Kyle Leonard said was plausible. Maybe, the author of the novel wrote the story according to actual events. The world appeared too precise and realistic to be a person’s mere imagination that one might assume that someone had lived in this world, traveled to South Korea in the 21st century, and wrote a novel based on the world’s reality. However, it was a world not written in history.