"Sigh."
I was reborn.
You think I'm kidding? Look here, mister — have you ever been born and had nightmares through your entire childhood? Well, I had those for a long time.
I got these memories after falling down the stairs. Funny, right?
Yeah. Ask my head.
It had been three weeks since I regained the memories of my previous life. I was from a place called "Earth." Frail body from childhood. Peaceful country. Very normal life — until the breathing problems started. Metallic taste in my mouth. Doctors poking and prodding.
Diagnosed with cancer.
Well, watching the white room, the doctors, the nurses, reading dirty novels to hide my wandering gaze, watching anime — life was fun for a few days.
Misfortune struck later.
Late-stage. They left me to die.
I wasn't too keen on ""whether"" I'd live or die, honestly. But on top of everything else, the novel I was reading wasn't finished yet.
Do you know what it's like to die not knowing what happens next?
I cried. Not because I was going to die.
I cried because that ""freaking"" author always left the chapter on a cliffhanger. How I wish I could hang him too — oops, my personal feelings are coming out.
Anyway, that was stupid of me to cry over. I should have cried for the pain that was coming later.
Only the painkillers kept me sane.
I'm telling you — if you do drugs, leave them, bro. Painkillers are the way.
Anyway. The last surgery. Low chance of success.
I died.
Now, it would have been fine if that was the end of it. But no.
Here I am, in ""The Continent of Ruin."" A place that's literally going to be in ruin. And — more importantly — there are no painkillers here.
As many of you may have guessed: yes, it's the cliffhanger novel I was reading. Some god wrote a web novel, apparently. Unemployed? Do gods even have hobbies? And why reincarnate ""me"" of all
—
Anyway. Getting sidetracked.
I was reborn as the youngest son of a count — a character so irrelevant to the story that he didn't exist. Or at least, wasn't important enough to be mentioned.
Great.
---
"Rumia."
"Yes, young master."
"Stop calling me that. I feel like a perverted otaku every time I hear it. I've evolved into a higher being now."
"""Othakhu?"" You had a breakthrough, young master?"
"...Sigh. Oh, my solitude. Where is Father?"
"In his study room, young master."
Walking through the hallway, I noticed the maids chattering more than usual. Outside Father's study, I spotted the head butler.
"Yo, Sebastian — you've got a ""very"" generic name, I must say. So, Father's calling?"
"Yes, young master."
I knocked on the door.
""""""
Outside, the maids were discussing Naive among themselves.
"The young master has been acting weird for some time now."
"I know — he used to be so timid."
"I must say, though, this ""is"" how he should behave for his age."
"Hey, Rumia."
Rumia was about to head back to her work when she heard the maids calling her over.
"You're closest to the young master. Do you know anything about it?"
"I... don't know. But I don't think he's changed much."
"What do you mean?""I think he just came out of his shell. Because of his responsibilities."
Naive would have very much liked to retort here — he was ""not"" the turtle in this scenario. He had ""her"" and his cute sister handling half his responsibilities for him.
""""""
As soon as I entered the room, I felt it.
The mana was heavy. Oppressive. Like a natural disaster was about to descend upon the mortal world, and it was all pouring out of one man sitting behind a desk.
"Come in."
"Yes, Father. You called?"
"Yes. I've thought long and hard, but I think it's finally time to tell you the truth, Naive."
"Is this about the princess's birthday banquet?"
Silence.
"...For how long have you known?"
"I mean, it was kind of obvious. Why else would you be free enough to call me to your room personally, Father?"
"You've changed. You used to be timid around me. Did something happen while I was away?"
"I simply didn't understand you, Father. It was a fear of the unknown that made me scared of you."
"So now you know me?"
"Not really. But I think every father loves their child — unless there are exceptions, of course. But you're not that kind of person, Father. You're kind to us."
""After all, my father was like that too.""
"Why do you think so?"
He asked as if he were genuinely curious about it himself.
"Just a feeling."
""I mean, my previous life's father didn't cut people down with a sword. He wasn't feared by every powerhouse on the continent. He wasn't hailed as the "Rider of the 13th Seat."""
""Of course I was scared of him. But yes — he was kind.""
""At least he won't cut me... probably.""
"Hahaha! You really have changed. Did you hit your head somewhere?"
"Maybe?"
I reached for the glass of water on the table and took a mouthful.
"Try to hit it a few more times to straighten things out. Then get ready — you're going to be engaged to the Princess at the banquet tomorrow."
"""Pfffft—"""
Water everywhere.
Coming out of the room, I heard murmurs. Rumia was among them.
I didn't think of her as the talkative type. I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover. She had friends. Surprising.
"Way to go, Rumia."
Oh, I wasn't being insensitive — it was just that big of a surprise for me. I silently cheered for her as I headed to my room to sort out my thoughts.