The Deal Beyond Death

✨ Chapter 1: The Deal Beyond Death

The story begins with an old man sitting alone in his room, quietly reading a novel.

The room was silent, except for the faint rustling of pages as he turned them slowly. His aged eyes were fixed on the story, but his expression gradually darkened with every passing line.

In the novel, the so-called “villain” was Jungkook—a man deeply connected to the mafia world. Ruthless, feared, and powerful… at least, that’s how the story described him.

But to the old man, that wasn’t the whole truth.

Because Jungkook was also a father.

He had two children.

And in the end, he didn’t die like a villain.

He died protecting them.

Yet even after his sacrifice, the main character—kei —took everything from him. His empire. His wealth. His legacy.

An unfair ending.

A cruel ending.

The old man clenched his fists, anger rising in his chest.

“That’s not right…” he muttered under his breath. “Jungkook didn’t deserve that.”

To him, Jungkook wasn’t evil. He was just a man trying to survive… trying to protect his children.

Frustrated, the old man went online and poured his anger into the comment section. He criticized the author harshly, questioning the logic, the morality, and the ending itself.

“How can someone like him be treated as the villain?”

“He deserved better!”

After venting his frustration, exhaustion finally took over, and he fell asleep.

…

When he opened his eyes again, something felt… different.

He was still in his room—but the atmosphere had changed.

A strange presence lingered in the air.

Then, a voice echoed around him.

“If you want to save them… Jungkook and his children…”

The old man froze.

“I can give you that chance.”

His heart started pounding.

“But in return, you must live my life.”

The voice continued, calm yet overwhelming.

“In your previous world, you lived as a soldier… a secret spy… an assassin working in the shadows. All the good deeds, sacrifices, and merits you earned through that life—those will belong to me.”

A pause.

“And I will ascend to heaven.”

The old man’s breath grew heavy.

“If you agree, I will send you into that novel.”

Silence filled the room.

For a moment, the old man said nothing.

Then he smiled faintly.

“I’m already at the end of my life anyway…” he murmured. “If I die like this, I’ll only carry regret.”

His eyes hardened with determination.

“…At least this way, I can change something.”

“I accept.”

The moment he agreed, everything went black.

…

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a soft, luxurious bed.

The room was grand—far beyond anything he had ever seen.

Before he could process anything, a voice suddenly rang in his head.

[System Activated]

He flinched.

“What…?”

[Welcome, Host.]

The voice was mechanical, emotionless.

As he tried to sit up, a strange sensation passed through his body—as if something was leaving him.

A soul… departing.

Just before it completely disappeared, a faint whisper echoed:

“A small gift… to help you survive.”

And then—

Silence.

End of Chapter 1

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