Chapter Seven: Paranormal Realm 7
It's been a week since I came to this world.
A whole week.
And somehow, I'm still alive, I'd believed I wouldn't last long before I'm found out to being a strange soul that possessed Rowan's body.
Not only alive, but… comfortable. Too comfortable, honestly. Ever since I arrived, I've been surrounded by warmth and care,so much of it that sometimes it makes me uneasy. Especially from my parents. They hover, they check in, they fuss over me like I might disappear if they blink for too long.
It's strange.
No, it's suspicious
Because from everything I know about the original storyline, this isn't how things were supposed to be.
From Evelyn's perspective, Rowan's parents were cold, strict, and deeply traditional. They were staunch believers that being an Omega, especially in a family dominated by Alphas and Betas, was nothing to be proud of. According to the story, they believed strength was everything, and Omegas were fragile liabilities.
And yet…
Rowan.
Me.
I'm an Omega.
And I've never once been treated as lesser.
Not even subtly.
They don't talk down to me. They don't look disappointed when I walk into a room. My mother doesn't sigh like she's regretting my existence, and my father doesn't avoid me like I'm some shameful secret.
If anything, they treat me like I'm made of glass.
Which means one thing.
Something is wrong with the original plotline.
Very wrong.
"There has to be a reason," I mutter, staring at the ceiling of my bedroom. The sunlight filters in through the large windows, warm and soft, nothing like the harsh mornings I was used to back in my old life. "They couldn't have just… randomly hated her."
"The original plotline was told from Evelyn's point of view," the Goddess says calmly, her voice echoing in my head. "So it's possible her parents were portrayed that way because that was how she perceived them."
I blink.
"…That actually makes sense."
She hums, sounding pleased with herself. "Perception shapes reality. Especially in emotionally biased narratives."
I let out a short laugh. "You know, one can never fully understand the worldview of a twisted individual."
"I'm surprised you're capable of that level of insight," she replies dryly.
I click my tongue. "And I'm surprised a system can be this unreliable. In which system story does the system argue with the protagonist this much?"
There's a pause.
Then she says casually, "I had a dream last night that someone wished to return as a mute."
My body stiffens.
"…And it will remain a dream," I hurry to say, twisting on the bed and pulling the blanket tighter around myself like it'll protect me from divine punishment.
She chuckles.
I glance toward the window again. The sky is a clear pale blue, the sun just high enough to tell me it's still early. Based on the angle of the light, it should be around 8:00 a.m.
Which means I have time.
In this family, waking up at 10 a.m. is considered rare for me.
I smile faintly.
"I can live like this forever," I sigh.
Back in my original world, mornings were torture. At the orphanage, I had to be awake by 4:30 a.m. sharp, chores didn't care if you were tired or sick. When I finally got my own place and a job, it wasn't much better. I woke up at 5:30 every morning, rushed through getting ready, then endured a one-hour-and-thirty-minute commute from my tiny one-room apartment to the office.
Those days were… complicated.
Fulfilling in some ways. Nightmarish in others.
"Don't get too comfortable," the Goddess warns lightly. "You're still here on a mission."
"I know," I reply. "But let me enjoy this peace while it lasts, moreover I don't have any mission assigned yet."
I roll onto my side, staring at the faint reflection of myself in the mirror across the room. Even after a week, it still feels unreal.
My face.
My body.
This body.
At first, it was jarring, seeing a familiar face with subtle enhancements. The system didn't completely change my appearance, but it refined it. Sharper features. Clearer skin. Softer lines. Enough that people pause when they look at me.
Technically, I wasn't ugly in my old life. Just… forgettable.
If I had looked like this back then, maybe things would've been different. Maybe I wouldn't have been treated like background noise at the orphanage. Maybe my seniors at work wouldn't have pushed all the "newbie tasks" onto me.
Some people still did double takes back then.
But here?
They stare.
"You've been quiet," the Goddess says. "That's usually when you're plotting something."
I snort. "You should be thankful. Silence means I'm not about to curse you."
"Or praise me," she adds smugly.
That reminds me.
"Hey," I say suddenly. "You know, ever since we met, I never got your name."
There's a pause.
"And?"
"And I believe we'll be spending years together," I continue. "It'll get weird if I keep calling you Goddess or System. Plus… you don't act like a system at all."
She scoffs. "I'm still new to this."
Then, with clear pride, she adds, "Also, how many stories have you seen where the system is as beautiful and sexy as me?"
I choke.
"Fuck. Your level of narcissism is insane."
"This isn't narcissism," she says calmly. "It's honesty."
"…Do you dare to disagree?"
There's a dangerous silence.
Even a fool knows that the situation now is dangerous, better not say anything that'll cause chaos.
"Of course you're gorgeous," I say quickly. "More gorgeous than anyone I've ever seen. And obviously, that's why you were matched with someone as beautiful as I am."
I lift my chin in mock pride.
She laughs, clearly pleased.
"Flattery will not save you," she says. "But it helps."
I grin faintly, eyes drifting to nowhere in particular.
Yeah.
This world may be dangerous.
The plotline very unstable.
My system always unreliable.
But for now?
I'm alive.
And that's enough for me.