Curiosity

He slowly stood up and made his way towards the T.V. screen before touching it. He immediately pulled his hand back due to the static shock, eyeing the device warily. After a couple of seconds, he cautiously reached out again, this time without incident.

"Strange. So this T.V. uses electricity? Like the rare thunder element back in the kingdom. But this is a very minor usage to run this device compared to those destructive spells," he murmured to himself, fascinated by the technology.

"This object is really amazing. I wish I could take it back to the kingdom. But... sigh, I'm already dead. I wonder how my little princess is keeping up." His thoughts turned nostalgic.

After watching the news program for a few more minutes, he finally tore his gaze away from the T.V. and looked around the room to get a proper sense of his surroundings. He first noticed a small sofa, enough for two people to sit comfortably, directly opposite the T.V. As he continued to look around, he saw various gadgets he had never seen before, slowly recalling their names and uses from Kim Joon-won's memories.

The apartment was very simple: one bedroom, a small living room, and an equally small kitchen. The bedroom was just big enough for a single bed and a wardrobe. The door led straight into the living room, with the kitchen immediately to the right and the bedroom in the top right corner of the living room.

"From a royal palace spanning vast lands to a small place only a few feet wide. I used to ride horses to move around the royal gardens. But now... sigh." He sighed deeply, reflecting on the drastic change in his circumstances.

"But this isn't bad either. My own small abode without anyone disturbing me too much. I guess every place has its own plus points. Just need to find and accept them wholeheartedly," he cheered himself up, standing in the living room.

He walked towards the small balcony at the end of the living room and opened the door. As he did, he suddenly coughed and quickly shut the door again. Although there was nothing visibly wrong outside, Zen Su felt otherwise.

"Oh my god. The air is so impure. It's like comparing a beautiful flower to cow dung. I guess my old world is better in at least one aspect compared to this one. Sigh, I need to get used to this," he lamented, trying to calm himself.

He opened the door again, this time slowly taking a few breaths to acclimate to the environment. Opening his eyes, he looked out and saw the various buildings lining the streets. He couldn't help but marvel at the sight as Kim Joon-won's memories filled in the gaps.

He looked down and saw numerous people walking by. Soon, his eyes caught sight of a car on the street, and they instantly sparkled.

"These cars are much better than the horses we used back home. They are more efficient, but it seems they contribute significantly to the impurities in the air," he remembered, sighing again, his old mentality on full display.

"It seems this new world has so much for me to personally experience. This is indeed more interesting compared to sitting on that large throne, only speaking a few words when necessary and listening to endless praises. The world has so much yet to reveal, and humans can discover so much more. A world without magic... I hope you don't disappoint me," he said with a smile, continuing to observe the outside world for a few more minutes.

After having his fill of the new world outside, he went back inside. Closing the door, Zen Su headed straight to the washroom and stood before the mirror to finally look at his new face.

"Hahaha, it seems I don't retain the only thing I was proud of in my old life—my looks. I look so plain compared to my old self," he laughed wryly, lamenting his new appearance.

Compared to his silky golden hair, handsome features, and chiselled body, Kim Joon-won's appearance was quite plain. His rough black hair and above-average face were unremarkable. The only striking feature was his eyes, mesmerizing enough to distract from his average looks. He was quite tall, reaching nearly 190cm, he was like a telephone pole, long and thin.

"This is considered above average in this world? This world has such low standards. A few of my royal guards looked better than this. And this body is so skinny. Did this kid even eat three times a day before he died? Now that I have taken over this body, things need to change. Even though I can't do anything about this face, the hair needs to be treated better, and the body needs to gain weight," he thought, shocked by Kim Joon-won's past habits.

He looked straight into his reflection and declared, "From this moment on, Zen Su is dead. I am Kim Joon-won. Not a king, but a student who studies acting. How convenient that I came into the body of someone who also wants to become an actor. I should take good care of this opportunity given to me." He made his resolve, determined to make the most of his new life. He needed to stop comparing this world to his old one and live fully in the present.