* * *
What the hell?
Raon tilted his head in confusion.
The system, with its annoying little emojis and tendency to constantly mess with him, had never ignored his call before.
Frowning, Raon called it a few more times, then gave up.
Maybe the system was down due to side effects from the time regression.
It would probably pop up soon.
Brushing it off, Raon got out of bed.
He was drenched in sweat and feeling gross.
Shaa—
After a shower, he glanced at the clock.
7:20 a.m.
Still a bit early, but by the time he got ready and went down, the cafeteria should be open.
Raon changed and strapped on the device issued by the organization—a bracelet-like gadget around his wrist.
A small screen lit up on the device, displaying:
[Alpha-1 Team Guide, Han Raon — S-Rank]
It briefly listed his details.
Only Raon could wear it; it recognized him as its registered user.
Staring down at it without much thought, Raon turned his gaze.
This was inside the building of the National Ability Users Association, managed by the state.
Meals and lodging were provided, and aside from missions, there was no need to leave.
That part, at least, was convenient.
The people here still hated Raon for being arrogant and self-centered.
Better to eat early and avoid running into anyone.
With that in mind, Raon headed to the cafeteria as it opened.
Even this early, the scent of food filled the air, thanks to the staff moving about.
“You’re here early today, Guide Raon.”
“Morning.”
The staff greeted him with recognition.
Raon replied flatly and grabbed a tray.
Breakfast was simple.
He picked toast, jam, and a few pieces of fruit, then sat down.
As he ate, Raon thought about what was coming.
Once the system returned, he’d have to resume his role as the secondary villain.
Three years left.
Only after that ending—where he died—could he return to his original world.
‘Three more years of this shit…’
He couldn’t understand how time regression was considered a reward.
It was obvious this was just another of the system’s cruel jokes.
Jabbing irritably at a slice of apple with his fork, Raon poked holes into the soft flesh.
“Ugh…”
He sighed and shook his head.
What’s done was done.
No changing it now.
He popped the mutilated apple into his mouth.
Just then, as the sweetness slightly lifted his mood—
“Gross. Even first thing in the morning, you’re disgusting. Fuck.”
“…”
Raon slowly lifted his head.
There stood a man glaring at him with furrowed brows.
Raon smirked, the corners of his lips curling up.
“What’s with the foul mouth this early, Nam Taegeon?”
“Tch. Of all the times to eat, you show up now?”
“Then maybe you should’ve come later.”
“Shut the fuck up!”
Nam Taegeon, an S-rank esper on Alpha Team 1, snapped at him.
With fiery red hair and reddish-brown eyes, people often mistook him for a fire-type elemental, but he was actually a psychic-type esper.
He just had a weird style.
Raon glanced with disinterest at the many piercings hanging from his ears.
“You’re energetic this morning. Just eat and zip it.”
“God, you two-faced bastard.”
Raon treated everyone the same.
Except for one person: the main character, Seo Dojin.
At first, he and Taegeon weren’t on such bad terms.
Naturally, Taegeon had been friendly with Raon, his assigned guide.
‘At first.’
But Raon’s increasingly arrogant behavior—and his overly submissive attitude toward Dojin—had made Taegeon snap.
Honestly, Raon understood why.
“We’ll be busting our asses again when the gate opens. Gotta eat while we can.”
“Fuck off.”
Still, Raon had no intention of changing his attitude.
His relationship with Taegeon was already beyond repair, and if he started acting out of character, the system would—
“…”
Right.
The system was still silent.
Raon glanced at Taegeon’s retreating back, muttering curses.
Did that mean he didn’t have to play Han Raon’s role for now?
With that thought, Raon abruptly stood.
He had to test it.
“Nam Taegeon.”
“What the fuck do you want now—”
“I’m sorry.”
“…What?”
“Enjoy your meal.”
“…?”
Raon never said things like that to Taegeon.
Not once.
A strange tingle ran down his spine.
It was the first time since being possessed that he’d spoken out of his own will.
“Are you out of your damn mind?”
Leaving behind a stunned Taegeon, Raon sighed and walked away.
It was the first freedom he’d felt in a long time.
The air was the same as always, but somehow, it felt different.
‘How long will this last…’
Once the system returned, it’d all be meaningless.
That damn thing obsessed over making sure every word and action matched the original Han Raon exactly.
Even if it was short-lived, Raon decided to enjoy it.
Maybe this small taste of freedom was his reward for being thrown back into this shitty life again.
With his heart pounding, Raon returned to his room.
Please, let the system never return.
With that desperate wish, Raon stepped out of his room in uniform and made his way to the meeting room.
Although he couldn’t recall exactly what he was doing on this day three years ago, the routine hadn’t changed much.
It was Monday, after all.
Unless something unusual had come up, the entire Alpha Team 1 would be gathered in the meeting room, facing each other’s unpleasant faces from the morning.
Click.
As he opened the door and entered, several eyes turned to him.
Even though he had arrived earlier than usual today, quite a few people were already there.
All of them were familiar faces.
“You’re early.”
Dojin said in a blunt tone.
Raon simply nodded in response.
Normally, if Dojin even slightly acknowledged him, Raon would’ve rushed over with a bright smile, acting sweet like a flower in bloom.
But today, he walked past him indifferently and sat down—at the farthest seat from Dojin.
For a moment, Dojin’s cool expression flickered.
But Raon didn’t care in the slightest.
‘As expected, nothing’s happening.’
If he ignored Dojin like this in the past, the system would have immediately popped up flashing red warnings with loud alerts.
But now, nothing happened.
That alone made Raon feel genuinely pleased and satisfied.
“Good morning, Raon-ssi.”
“……”
Raon turned toward the gentle voice next to him.
A man with a pale, delicate face was looking at him with an awkward smile.
The novel’s main bottom, Lee Hamin.
Even three years ago, he had that same pretty, youthful face.
He was noticeably younger than Raon—about twenty-two, if memory served.
Not the youngest in the team, but still quite young.
“Yes, good morning.”
“Ah…”
As if he hadn’t expected Raon to reply, Hamin parted his petal-like lips in surprise.
The real Raon had despised Hamin with a burning hatred, but that wasn’t true for this Raon.
From the very start, even while reading the novel, he had always preferred the main bottom over the semes.
If only the system hadn’t interfered, he might have gotten along with Hamin just fine.
As Raon gave a bittersweet smile, the door to the meeting room suddenly slammed open.
“Captain! Raon’s gone completely nuts—!”
Taegeon burst in, pale with shock.
Then he locked eyes with Raon.
Raon waved at him.
“You seriously lost your mind, didn’t you?!”
Taegeon shouted, his voice booming through the small room.
Dojin frowned.
“Sit down and be quiet.”
“But—”
“Sit.”
“Tch.”
Taegeon, a top-tier Esper and free spirit, only showed deference to one person—Dojin.
Team leader of Alpha Team 1.
Han Raon had admired him deeply—stronger and more beautiful than anyone.
Clear turquoise eyes paired with jet-black hair—his looks were striking enough to make even another man pause.
Even Raon, who had hated his awful personality, had been so stunned the first time he possessed the original Raon’s body that he couldn’t look away.
But after seeing that handsome face for over five years, Raon was already tired of it.
Without hiding his boredom, he turned away from the team.
“Apologies for being late.”
“…!”
At that moment, a calm voice sounded as someone entered the room.
Raon turned and his eyes widened.
Siwoo, wearing a stoic expression, scanned the room.
Since he had arrived last, only one seat was left—directly in front of Raon, the spot everyone tried to avoid.
Siwoo’s neatly composed face showed a flicker of displeasure.
* * *
