Like everyone that the mc knows is also in the novel. He said that he read the story, right? So like if you're reading a novel, the author will only describe the characteristics of the characters through words which is not the case in this story, the "characters" that he see rn is the same faces that he knows in his real world. So it would look like the ML is bound by some rule like he cannot reveal who he really is. That's probably he's shock that he saw his "real" face in the mirror instead of the said character.
It’s just that there’s alot of familiar things to Huimin in the story! Also apparently Doctor Eungyeong is also Huimin’s auntie. Huimin’s and Iheon’s face and names are apparently the exact same in the novel and apparently the Novel Iheon said something the same thing as the real Iheon? “Walk next to me” if I’m right, also the uniform of the novel in Huimin’s memory in the hypnotizing scene also look very similar to their actual uniform. So I’m thinking it’s either the ACTUAL Iheon who wrote it or there could be others, I’m not sure if you can understand this lol but I hope it gets through

I’m not the only one who suspects that the author of “Silence” is actually the ACTUAL Iheon(ML) right??