NOVEL WEB Chapter 2: Chapter 1
The sound of screeching tires and the flash of headlights were the last things Alen remembered.
Pain had been sudden—a brief, sharp impact before everything faded to black.
But now, there was light.
Warm sunlight streamed through a window, casting a soft glow across the room. The air smelled faintly of wood, flowers, and something old—like parchment left to rest for centuries.
Alen's eyes flickered open. His head felt heavy, thoughts swimming sluggishly as if he had just emerged from deep water.
"What…?"
He sat up abruptly, heart racing.
The bed beneath him shifted softly, sheets unfamiliar against his skin. This wasn't the cold pavement he had expected. His hands brushed over a smooth, well-worn cloak draped around his shoulders.
Alen's gaze darted across the room—modest wooden furniture, a sword propped neatly against the wall, and a tall mirror atop a dresser. The polished blade reflected the warm light pouring in through the window.
"Where the hell…?"
He stumbled out of bed, his steps feeling strange, as if his legs were slightly longer than they should be.
Then he saw it.
A man stood in the mirror.
Blue hair, light blue eyes, and a faint mole under his left eye. His features were sharp, familiar, and unmistakably handsome. Draped over his shoulders was a beige cloak that brushed against his ankles, paired with a fitted blue tunic and white belt.
Alen's breath caught in his throat.
He stepped closer, hand trembling as it hovered near his reflection.
"No way…"
It wasn't his face.
It was Himmel's.
Alen staggered back, gripping the edge of the dresser to steady himself.
"What the hell is going on?"
The last thing he remembered was dying. There was no logical explanation for why he was now staring at the face of Himmel the Hero—a fictional character from an anime.
"This… this has to be a dream."
His pulse quickened, but the room didn't fade. The cool wood beneath his feet, the faint creak of the floor, the warmth of the sunlight—it was all too vivid.
Alen touched his face again, fingers tracing the mole beneath his left eye.
"I reincarnated as Himmel?"
The realization sank in slowly, like a heavy weight pressing down on him.
This wasn't the beginning of Himmel's journey either.
His eyes flicked to the sword against the wall. The polished blade was well-maintained, but there were faint nicks along the edge. This was the weapon of a man who had already fought and survived countless battles.
"If this is post-Demon King… does that mean I'm Himmel after the war?"
His thoughts spiraled until a soft knock at the door startled him.
"Himmel?"
Alen's breath caught.
That voice—calm and measured, yet distant.
"Frieren."
The door creaked open, and there she stood.
Frieren. The legendary elven mage.
Her long, white hair was tied into two high pigtails that flowed down her back. Her green eyes, framed by thick eyebrows, regarded him with quiet curiosity. Her pointed ears twitched slightly as she stepped inside, moving with her usual graceful detachment.
Alen froze. Seeing her in person felt surreal—like watching an anime character step out of the screen.
Her gaze lingered, sharp and observant.
"You're usually up first," Frieren said simply, tilting her head.
Alen struggled to respond. "I guess I… overslept."
A faint frown crossed her face.
"That's rare."
Her eyes flicked over him once more, as if searching for something amiss.
"We're leaving after breakfast. Eisen and Heiter are waiting downstairs."
She turned toward the window, arms loosely folded as she gazed out at the village below.
Alen's hands tightened at his sides.
"Eisen and Heiter…"
The names felt oddly comforting and yet distant, like fragments of a half-forgotten dream resurfacing. But these weren't his memories. They belonged to Himmel.
Frieren glanced at him briefly, her expression unreadable.
"You're acting strange."
Alen forced a small smile. "Just… still waking up."
Her green eyes lingered for a moment longer before she nodded slightly.
"I'll let them know you're coming."
With that, she left, the soft click of the door grounding him back in silence.
Alen exhaled sharply, hands bracing against the dresser.
His reflection stared back at him—the reflection of a hero long past his prime but still alive and well.
"Okay… this is real."
---
The wooden stairs creaked softly as Alen made his way down to the inn's main hall. His hands remained tucked into the folds of Himmel's beige cloak, the sensation still alien to him.
The smell of roasted meat and fresh bread wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the low murmur of voices.
Seated near the hearth were two familiar figures.
Eisen sat rigidly at the table, his broad frame unmistakable even though he barely reached the height of the table itself. His thick brown hair flowed past his shoulders, blending seamlessly into a beard of equal length that obscured most of his face. A horned helmet rested atop his head, the nose guard casting a shadow over his sharp eyes.
A sturdy red cape draped over his shoulders, contrasting with the brown tunic and armor plates beneath it. His powerful arms rested on the table, though the gleaming double-headed axe beside him was a clear reminder that this dwarf was a warrior through and through.
Beside him, Heiter reclined in his chair, tall and relaxed, swirling the contents of his tankard absentmindedly. His slicked-back green hair gleamed faintly in the sunlight streaming through the window, though two loose strands hung over his forehead.
He wore a long black robe, trimmed with gold, that cascaded down his legs. Beneath it, the faint outlines of a black shirt with a white collar and gold belt peeked through. A well-worn book of scriptures sat beside him, its pages frayed at the edges from years of use.
The two looked exactly as Alen remembered from the anime.
"Himmel!"
Heiter's voice echoed warmly across the room the moment he saw him. "You're finally awake. I thought Frieren would have to drag you down."
Alen chuckled awkwardly, slipping into the seat across from them.
"Guess I overslept."
Eisen's sharp gaze settled on him from beneath the helmet.
"You look different."
Alen stiffened.
"Different how?"
Eisen's eyes narrowed slightly, his thick beard shifting as he frowned. "Can't explain it. Just a feeling."
Heiter smirked and leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. "Eisen thinks everyone's suspicious, even his own reflection."
"That's because I know what I'm looking at," Eisen grunted, though his gaze lingered longer than Alen was comfortable with.
Alen smiled faintly, though his heart raced beneath the surface.
"I need to be careful. Eisen's not the type to miss small details."
Before Alen could dwell on it further, a soft chime echoed in his mind.
[Congratulations to the Host for Awakening the Mage System.]
His eyes widened slightly.
"Wait… what?"
---