Ding!
The familiar beeping sound echoed again.
> [Basic Information]
Name: Seven Hart (Yoon Seojin)
Gender: Male
Age: 14 (21)
Race: Human
> [Skills]
[Self-proclaimed Genius] While other larvae crawled in circles, you are already a pupa in a chrysalis, undergoing metamorphosis.
> [Inactive Traits]
Skibidi | Sigma | Rizz | Sus | Gyatt | Ohio | NPC
Seojin's eyes narrowed in disbelief.
"Haha. A status window…"
That was an embarrassing thing to say.
He had always hated stories with a system. It did nothing but gave the characters dozens of plot armors.
But looking at the [Inactive Traits], Seojin had that same look of a man reading his own autobiography.
That drawback actually took effect, and there was no description of them.
"Seriously. Even Einstein would be tweaking trying to understand this."
Minutes passed in silence, thinking.
Later that same hour, Seojin realized that merely thinking and complaining about it would not change a thing.
That much was clear.
Rather, what he should dwell on should be the fact that this character, as cliche as it was, is destined to die by the 7th day of Bruma.
Seven Hart.
The youngest of the 7 children of the House Hart, and the first failure throughout the family history where everyone is considered a genius.
The novel only mentioned the name [Seven Hart] for exactly 7 times, including the scene of his demise.
"'A chance to live as a new character,' as if. This character isn't new at all."
Recalling the post of the author, Seojin scowled.
Though this character matched his comment, it didn't mean he had appeared out of thin air but an existing character that fit the criteria.
"But the label of him being a failure makes no sense. I mean, I wouldn't be here otherwise if he weren't a genius."
Seojin dried his face again and again as he looked at the vanity mirror, but nothing changed.
After doing that, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Hah. This is damn troublesome."
Truth be told, he didn't entirely hate the idea of him being here.
But first.
"I should better wash up."
Taking a cold shower to rinse himself, he hopped inside a noble bathtub big enough to fit three of him all at once.
The water was warm, but just the mere fact that he was standing on the death's doorstep, a chill ran down his bones.
"I… don't want to die."
Nobody does.
Dying was the end of everything a person had ever known. Standing before that end, fearing it was only natural.
"I need to survive. No. I must survive this death flag. At the very least, I still have six days to prepare."
This character's body was frail and pale, but the notion of surviving didn't seem as something that is impossible.
> [Self-proclaimed Genius]
"While other larvae crawled in circles, you are already a pupa in a chrysalis, undergoing metamorphosis."
Seojin read the description.
The status window was speaking in riddles, but it still gave him something that could be useful.
"All'at fancy words just to say I possess a passive skill that is able to make me progress faster than the norm. How cute."
Before he knew it, Seojin fell asleep in the bathtub.
He hadn't shown much excitement earlier, but in his sleep, his heart pounded so violently as if it wanted to break his ribs and escape.
Then, the memories of [Seven Hart] came crashing into him all at once. Along with them came searing pain.
"Kgh…!!"
Seojin jolted awake and clutched his head.
The pain felt as though countless needles were being driven into his brain. It took a while for the agony to subside and for his breathing to steady.
But his eyes were dazed and unfocused. Black scribbles writhed within his irises like restless worms.
Half an hour passed.
The black scribbles disappeared, and his eyes returned to normal. His consciousness had also settled after processing the influx of memories.
"Hah."
Seojin let out a bitter laugh.
"The pain was a lot easier to endure than watching that pathetic life unfold before my eyes."
In short, Seojin had experienced all 14 years of Seven Hart's life in just half an hour. But the memories were so vivid that they felt no different from his own.
After rinsing himself off, Seojin draped a towel over his shoulder and stepped out of the bathroom.
As he stepped out, the girl from earlier entered the room at the same time with a tray of breakfast in her hands.
"..."
"..."
The two stared at each other awkwardly for a moment.
"Please forgive me for seeing something so shameful, my lord. I only came to deliver the breakfast, as I said earlier."
"...?!"
The girl remained calm and placed the tray on the desk.
After that, the girl looked at him straight in the eye before finally making her way out.
Seojin's already red cheeks turned even more red. He was frozen in the same position as if caught in surprise.
A lifetime worth of virginity had not prepared him for this.
Creak.
The door closed shut.
It took him a while to escape the daze, making his way towards the closet and grabbing a set of clothes.
Inside, there were only high-waisted pairs of dark taupe trousers and many sets of snow-white poet shirts.
He left the top two buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
Looking past the leather boots, he wore a pair of leather lounge sandals and buckled a dark taupe leather corset belt on his waist.
He then walked toward the desk and helped himself to the breakfast meal the girl had prepared for him.
The tray consisted of a freshly baked butter croissant served with honey, a silver tray bearing a bowl of potato stew, and a couple of soft-boiled eggs in matching silver egg cups with a dash of pepper.
Munch, munch.
"I couldn't see her basic stats or information. I mean, didn't status windows like this have that kind of ability?"
Seojin muttered between bites.
To wash it all down, he grabbed the cup of what looked like herbal tea.
Gulp.
"Grah. It tastes nasty"
Thankfully, the girl was not there to hear it but he still felt a prick of guilt for complaining about free food.
After all, this was the first decent meal he had eaten in about three months. Before ending up here, he had simply settled for instant ramen and sodas.
Still, the taste of the herbal tea was as terrible as it could get.
Seojin poured the remaining tea out the window.
A short moment after that, the girl came back, probably to tidy up the breakfast tray and utensils.
Looking at the empty cup still in his hands, she paused.
"Did… you finish it all today, my lord?"
"...Yeah."
The girl smiled.
Seojin recalled the sudden influx of memories from earlier to remember her name.
"Iria."
He called out.
According to those memories, this girl—or rather, Iria—was the sole attendant of this manor. The two of them were the only ones living under this roof.
Iria was an ascendant mage, or specifically, she used to be a priestess.
She was capable of casting basic protection buffs and a variety of healing magic of an ascendant level.
"You called, my lord? Is there something that I can help you with, perhaps?"
"That's… I've made up my mind."
"Pardon?"
"The healing spell you mentioned earlier. Can you cast it on me?"
Iria paused momentarily, looking down at his foot before letting out a soft sigh.
"You really do seem a little different today, my lord. It is quite a strange feeling. You could just ask me like the usual, so please don't force yourself."
Iria gently set the tray back down and crouched before him. She lifted Seojin's foot, resting it gently on her lap to begin the treatment.
As she cast the spell [Basic Healing], a soft green light began to glow from her palms, and she had a gentle smile.
It didn't take long for the spell to finish, and the faint tingling pain in his toe vanished.
Iria stood up, brushing off her apron.
"That should be all better now. Are you still feeling any discomfort—"
"Iria."
"Mm?"
"Do I really seem that strange today?"
Seojin let out a bitter and a self-deprecating laugh, perfectly mimicking the tone of the real Seven Hart.
Iria blinked.
"Ah. I offer my apologies if I disrespected you in any way, my lord. You just seem a bit more bolder than usual."
"I see."
He squeezed his hands together.
"This is a strange thing to admit, but… I wanted to try and change. My coming-of-age ceremony is approaching, and I can't bear the thought of living in anxiety anymore."
He forced a slight tremor to run into his fingers.
"I don't want to face Father as his pathetic child. With that thought, I am terrified that he might finally lose his patience and disown me."
"..."
"So. I wanted to practice acting like a proper Hart, starting with you. But I suppose I just look ridiculous."
Inwardly, he was disgusted at his own performance.
Acting like that wasn't exactly his cup of tea, but damn, he was a good actor. For a split second, he almost pitied himself.
But it had to be done.
If he suddenly started acting confident and demanding out of nowhere, that would arouse even more suspicion.
Iria remained silent for a long moment, looking at Seojin's trembling hands.
"I apologize for my thoughtless words. You do not look ridiculous at all. I should have realized how much pressure you have been under."
Iria bowed slightly.
"I was foolish to mistake your resolve for strangeness."
'Hook, line, and sinker.'
Seojin thought, trying hard not to show his joy that his plan worked.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Iria straightened back up.
"If it is to practice being a proper lord, then please, use me as much as you need. I will be at your disposal."
"I… aight."
"Pardon?"
"Ah. I mean, alright."
After a moment, Iria gave a respectful bow.
"Mm. Please rest for now, my lord. I shall go and accomplish my duties for the day. Please call me if you need anything."
Iria stepped out of the room, carrying the tray with her.
"What a pain. That was exhausting, but the maid is now handled."
He rubbed the ache from his wrists to shake off the fake tremor.
"Still, no matter where I look at this scenario, all I see is that I have to start from scratch. But it's not like I have any other choice."
He sighed, and sat in the center of the room.
Placing his hands on his knees, he mirrored the exact action based on what the memories had shown him.
"If I want to live, that is."