The Celestials [Taegyu]

Chapter 01 ; Miserable Life

song ; no surprises (radiohead) - instrumental

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My name is Choi Beomgyu.

I'm a mangaka, which means I both write and illustrate manga. To be honest, my life is a mess. I rely on Hueningkai to wake me up because I'm always too exhausted to do it myself. Every morning, the first thing I do is check my editor's messages to see if I've finished any manuscripts, but I never reply. For the past two years, I've been working on my comic, The Celestials.

I never felt any drive to finish it. It was my first big project, but over time, I came to despise it. One day, I decided to quit. When I shared my decision on X (Twitter), it caused quite the stir. My family, my assistant, and my team bombarded me with calls and messages, but I ignored them. I had made up my mind.

But seriously, how did I end up in this situation?!

Viken scanned the dining table, recognizing a few familiar faces while others were strangers. His eyes landed on a white-haired nun to his left: Sister Sasha. Beside her was a boy named Nathan. Viken let out a tired sigh, rubbing his temples.

Great. When I said I wanted out, I didn't mean to get stuck in my own creation!

"Viken, did you enjoy your meal?" a gentle voice asked.

Viken forced a smile and nodded. "Yes, Sister."

Sister Sasha chuckled softly before standing up. "I'll be in my room if anyone needs me."

"Where's Priest Kanae?" Viken's head snapped up at the name.

"He's outside with Roto, so please try not to disturb him too much," she replied, her warm smile never fading.

Once she left, Viken turned back to the porridge in front of him and sighed again. Noticing, Nathan leaned in closer.

"Brother Viken, why haven't you touched your meal?"

I can't even call this food.

Viken flashed a charming smile, hiding his true feelings. Nathan leaned into his touch as Viken gently caressed his cheek, and Viken's expression softened.

"I'm not very hungry. You can have my portion if you want. I'm heading back to my room."

Nathan blinked, surprised as Viken stood and walked away. The boy clapped his hands—more food for me! But despite the excitement, he couldn't shake the lingering thought.

Viken Allouette. The name of the protagonist from The Celestials.

For fuck's sake. At least let me be a side character.

He looked up slowly, almost as if accusing some higher power—though he knew who it was. Viken hurried upstairs to reach his room. Once inside, he closed and locked the door, the silence thick around him. He looked around at the small space, barely big enough for two. Dingy white walls, creaky floorboards, and a bed that groaned with every move. A full-length mirror stood against one wall.

"I don't remember creating this room so detailed."

He walked over to the open window, looking down at the statue of the Virgin Mary near the fountain, surrounded by flowers and sparkling water. The thought of falling made him shiver. He tried to close the window but gave up halfway- it seemed destined to stay open forever. After realizing there was nothing interesting outside, he flopped onto the bed. His mind began spinning again.

"Wait... how did I end up in my own manga? Of all places, I landed here?"

Disappointment washed over him as he sighed. The last thing I remember before waking up here was falling asleep after ignoring everyone. His brow furrowed as he clenched his teeth.