Episode 1

Darkness.

That was the first thing Ren Hoshizuki registered when he opened his eyes.

No, not just darkness—code.

Strange, glitching text flickered in the void, twisting and reshaping itself as if reality itself were struggling to define him. A low, distorted voice echoed through the emptiness, broken and fragmented, like a corrupted game file trying—and failing—to load properly.

[ERROR: UNRECOGNIZED ENTITY DETECTED.]

[SYSTEM ATTEMPTING TO REASSIGN ROLE…]

[ROLE: NPC ASSIGNED.]

The words sank into Ren’s consciousness like a brand, cold and absolute.

And then—

The void shattered.

A sharp gasp tore from his throat as he stumbled forward, his vision assaulted by a sudden explosion of color and light. Gone was the empty blackness; in its place, a golden sunset stretched across the horizon, painting the sky in hues of amber and crimson. A warm breeze brushed against his skin, carrying the distant scent of baked bread, lantern oil, and something sweet—perhaps candied nuts being sold at a market stall.

His head throbbed. His heartbeat pounded unevenly in his ears. His breath came in ragged bursts as he tried to process the sudden shift.

What… just happened?

He blinked hard, willing the dizziness to pass, then lowered his gaze to examine himself. Plain brown boots, a simple tunic, and a dull, nondescript cloak draped loosely over his shoulders. His fingers brushed over the rough fabric, taking in its texture—real. Tangible. Nothing like a dream.

And yet, everything around him was impossibly familiar.

The towering spires of white stone stretching toward the heavens. The fluttering banners adorned with the golden crest of the Astra Empire. The rhythmic clanking of knights in silver armor patrolling the streets. In the distance, the grand silhouette of a magic academy stood tall, its stained-glass windows catching the light of the setting sun and casting colorful patterns onto the cobblestone roads.

Ren’s breath hitched.

He knew this place.

Not just vaguely, not just as a passing memory—he knew it down to its finest details, as intimately as one would know the layout of their own home. He had seen it countless times before. In anime episodes. In light novel pages. In fan discussions online.

But now, he wasn’t watching from behind a screen.

He was here.

The realization struck him like a thunderbolt.

His fingers trembled as he pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the rapid rise and fall of his breathing.

“Okay… stay calm,” he muttered to himself. His voice was quieter than he expected, slightly hoarse, as if his body was still adjusting. “If this is Celestial Chronicles, then that means…”

He trailed off, his thoughts spiraling into chaos. How? Why? Was this a dream? A hallucination? Or—

His eyes caught something reflective in a nearby shop window.

A sudden, irrational fear gripped him. Slowly, hesitantly, he turned his head toward the glass—

And froze.

The face staring back at him was not his own.

It was unfamiliar. Bland. Forgettable.

Dark brown hair. Dull gray eyes. An average face with no defining features, no striking presence—nothing that would stand out in a crowd.

An NPC.

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