Episode 1
The brightest gem shining in the midst of mud.
That was both my favorite line from a book and the kind of person I wanted to be.
But of all things, I ended up possessed not in my favorite book, but in the one I hated the most.
The book I got possessed into was a bleak, 19+ BL novel called *And Then Everyone Was Silent*.
Wouldn’t it have been better if I had quietly possessed an extra or a researcher, something inconspicuous? If I had possessed a researcher, I would have just swiped my access card on the first day, left, and never come back.
But what I got possessed into was a sickly, tragic character destined to be cruelly toyed with and killed.
And then there was the Sura.
“Wait… I’m a girl…?”
For some reason, when I removed the silver-white crystal necklace I was wearing, I reverted to being female. With it on, I was male; without it, female.
Since my original body was female, this was somewhat of a relief.
The problem, however, was that this place was a research facility that gathered only male espers.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My short platinum hair, red eyes, and pale skin made me look frail to anyone who saw me.
The Arsen Research Institute, where I now was, was a covert facility near the capital of the Bestia Empire. In this novel, espers—humans with supernatural abilities—were born through experiments conducted here.
The reason why espers were born, or what caused their powers, was unknown. But all espers came through this research institute.
Since they had been sold to the Arsen Institute as children, it was unclear whether their emotional dryness was a result of that or of awakening as espers.
Once awakened as an esper here, they could leave. The ridiculous promise that they could “live like a proper human being under the royal family’s protection” was believed by no one.
I knew the ending of this horrible novel.
That was why I had to find a way to survive before Calisten—the insane, explosive protagonist of *And Then Everyone Was Silent*—awakened and ran rampant.
Calisten was another main character of this novel.
After destroying the Arsen Institute, he would drag the sickly Aselia along. Among the corpses littering the institute, Calisten personally killed Aselia, unlike the other test subjects. He wanted to do it himself.
Why, you ask?
Because he wanted to.
Because Aselia had brought him food.
Because he was irritated that she didn’t smile at him.
“Smile. Then I won’t kill you.”
Aselia, who had endured tremendous suffering, couldn’t possibly smile. She didn’t, and begged Calisten to spare her life.
But Calisten, displeased with Aselia’s reaction, eventually killed her.
Then, overwhelmed with the loss of her death, he killed himself like a madman.
And I ended up possessing a character in a book with no hope, no dreams.
—Beep.
Hearing the door open, I hurriedly adjusted my clothes and stood at attention.
“Test Subject A-702.”
“A-702 awake.”
Researchers came in to check my status, writing things down as usual.
“The medication?”
“Taken yesterday. Sleep duration unchanged.”
A researcher standing behind the mid-level administrator who was checking my status reported. This was the routine every morning. I was also one of the test subjects.
Unlike the other esper candidates, however, I was a low-probability “discard” class.
So after minor checks, I mostly performed menial tasks.
“Move to the next room.”
“Yes.”
With a beep, the door closed again.
Completely alone, the tension was unbearable, and my legs gave out.
At least the institute gave individual rooms since it was creating espers.
They couldn’t be allowed to become friendly and rebel.
Those of us considered “discard” were tasked with giving them food and monitoring them.
Though it was sad to be discard-class, I thought it was fortunate that I wasn’t someone who could awaken as an esper.
Espers had supernatural abilities—they could transcend human limits.
But that power came with terrible consequences. They could never escape the institute’s control.
The institute administered stabilizers.
Without them, espers would lose control, and their hearts would explode.
So they could never leave until death. If their abilities manifested, they were forced to do the royal family’s dirty work; if their abilities failed to manifest, or manifested partially, they died upon awakening.
Being classified as discard from the start and doing menial tasks was almost preferable.
Because awakening as an esper required *stimulation*.
—Beeeeeep!
At 9 a.m., all the doors opened. It was time for discard-class subjects to work.
Following the set schedule, I quickly put on my shoes and went to the area where I distributed meals for the espers I was assigned.
Around me were people in the same drab outfit, completely devoid of life. Even if our eyes met, there was nothing behind them.
I lowered my gaze and lined up to receive the food.
This was the most humiliating thing about being discard-class.
“Next.”
“A-702, designated meal received.”
“Next.”
“A-508, designated meal received.”
“Next…”
Logically, the ones delivering the food should eat first. But discard-class had to share whatever leftovers high-potential subjects left behind.
At first, it felt unfair.
But once I realized this world was exactly like the novel, meals seemed trivial.
Looking at the trays, I wasn’t even that envious of the espers. The food was for survival, barely edible, and most nutrients were supplied via pills anyway.
Cold porridge, sweet potato salad, dry bread, and shriveled bacon—nothing more.
I glanced at it indifferently, then remembered I had to deliver it on time and went upstairs.
The esper I was assigned was Z-999.
I was A; he was Z.
Lower letters indicated greater power potential; the number indicated the scale of power when awakened.
Even among espers, the type of ability was critical. The number confirmed the ability would be useful.
I hurried to the door. Other discard-class A-ranked subjects were lined up with trays, waiting for the door to open.
—Beep!
The door opened, and we entered the rooms of the espers we were assigned.
Z-999.
He would awaken as an esper of fire, capable of destroying the institute without a trace.
Calisten Eldras.
“Hello?”
I needed to remove my dead flag first.
He would kill me because I didn’t smile.
Then maybe I just had to smile until he got tired of it.
