Still recovering from the shock, Ray raised his eyes from the mirror. However, he had another thought: How powerful is this body?
He had only ever been a gamer sitting in a chair in his previous life, never a warrior. This world was different now, though. His body was foreign, his appearance was odd, and he needed to know what it was capable of.
He tested his muscles by tightening them and clenching his fists. It was as if the strength had been drained from his arms. He attempted to squat a little by bending his knees, but as soon as he placed weight on his legs, he felt a rush of fatigue. His breathing became erratic.
But he was not going to give up. Grasping a wooden stool nearby, he attempted to raise it. It lifted an inch off the ground for a moment—and then fell dullly out of his grasp. His chest heaved as though he had run a long distance, and his arms shook violently.
His heart fell. This body is brittle. It's ruined by poison. Right now, even a child could be stronger than me.
Step by step, unsteady and drained, Ray returned to the large bed. Despite his minimal exertion, he flopped onto the plush sheets, perspiration trickling down his brow.
His fists clenched feebly against the blanket as he gazed up at the ceiling.
"Damn it…" he whispered hoarsely. I passed away so unexpectedly in my previous life that I had no time to defend myself. I've been given another chance at life, but my body isn't strong enough to even stand tall.
His chest tightened with bitterness. Lying helplessly, caught between the cruel bonds of weakness that bound him and the hope of this second life, he cursed his fate.
Ray was lying on the bed, his chest burning with frustration and his breath coming in short gasps. He was thinking about his weak body, his new face, and his previous life.
Then, out of nowhere, a sound reverberated within his head.
A sharp ding.
His gaze expanded. There was silence in the room, but a chilly, robotic voice spoke right into his mind.
[Initializing…]
Ray tensed. "W-What?" His mouth dropped open in shock.
[Quantum Hack System detected.]
[Host confirmed: Ray.]
[Process of bonding initiated… please remain still.]
As if invisible threads were woven into his very soul, a chill ran through his body. He saw strange lines of glowing code that overlapped the ceiling above him like holograms and flickered before his eyes.
[System Core: Binding 23%...]
[Binding 47%...]
Sweat trickled down Ray's temple as his body shook. When he attempted to move, a large weight forced him against the bed. His mind was flooded with streams of data that weren't his own, and his veins tingled.
[Warning: Host's physical condition is weak. Bonding may cause temporary pain.]
He gritted his teeth as a sharp shock swept through him. The voice went on, mechanical and calm, even though his heart was racing.
[Binding 76%...]
[Binding 100%. Successful.]
His eyes were met with a fresh panel of cold, clear light that resembled the user interface of a game he had streamed in a previous life:
----------------------------------------------------------
Quantum Hack System– STATUS WINDOW
Host: Ray
Age : 16
Condition: Poison weakened body
Magic : 00.1%
Strength: Very Low
Skill : Spiritual Eyes.
Abilities: Locked (Under Initialization)
Special Note: System fully bonded. Functions will unlock step by step.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ray gazed at the floating words that only he could see, and his eyes grew wide. Incredulous, his feeble chest rose and fell. A system? A system for hackers?
The voice rang out again, final and certain:
[Bonding complete. Welcome, Host]
Ray fixed his gaze on the bright panel in front of him. He willed the interface to reveal more, and his fingers twitched a little on the bed. He was shocked to see how smoothly the words changed, revealing a new tab of data.
[Additional Host Details Loading…]
Lines of text scrolled across his vision, sharp and cold.
—Physical Condition: Severe damage caused by poison.
—Status: Technically blind.
—Note: Host should be unable to see the world.
Ray stopped. His heart thumping against his ribs, his breath caught in his throat. Is it blind? Is this body blind?
He glanced at the mirror where he had seen his strange new face, the swaying curtains, and the dim light on the marble floor. Everything was visible to him. Then how?
The system's voice answered before he could ask:
[Correction: Upon merging with this body, the Hacker System granted the host an initial gift—Artificial Visual Interface.]
[Through system projection, you can perceive the world around you as though you can see. This ability will remain active permanently.]
Under the sheets, Ray lay stunned and rigid. "So," he whispered, his lips quivering, "I'm actually blind. However, I can see because of this system.
He felt a chill go down his back. It was miraculous, but terrifying. His weakness had been concealed from the world by the gift. He would have been lost in the never-ending darkness without it.
He buried his hands deep in the blanket. This system is more than just a random power source. I can only function normally in this body because of it.
Overwhelmed by the revelation he had just discovered, he stared blankly at the ceiling as the glowing text gradually faded.
A woman sat at a broad desk covered in scrolls and ink in a different wing of the luxurious residence, behind a set of polished wooden doors. A sign of graceful maturity, her long, flowing hair was tied neatly behind her, with strands of silver glinting faintly among the black. Her features had a timeless beauty despite her mid-aged appearance, gentle yet sharp, as if she were used to both responsibility and style.
She was carefully going over documents, signing them and sealing them with a wax stamp while her quill moved with practiced ease. With the exception of the occasional flicker of the lamp flame, the quiet study was filled with the gentle rustle of parchment.
The door creaked open abruptly. Both the healer and the servant entered and bowed deeply.
With a respectful but uneasy tone, the servant said, "Madam, we have urgent news regarding young master Ray."
The quill stopped in the middle of its stroke as the woman hesitated. She looked up, her eyes keen but with a hint of concern. "What is it? How is he doing?
Clasping his hands together, the healer took a step forward." Even though he survived the poisoning, his body is still very weak. But there's something more concerning. There are indications of memory loss in the young master. As if he couldn't even remember his own name, he asked us who he was."
The room was silent for a while. Before gently setting the quill down, the woman's face tensed and a glimmer of emotion passed across her eyes.
Her voice was calm, but there was a subtle tremor beneath it. "Memory loss? He was saved by the heavens after everything, but his past was taken away from him.
The servant's head went down. "What should we do, Madam?"
Leaning back a little in her chair, the woman gazed at the papers in front of her without really seeing them, her graceful fingers interlacing. All three of them felt the pressure of the news, which hung in the air.
The woman's face was softly shadowed by the lamplight as she leaned back in her chair and looked away. She didn't respond right away. Rather, she let out a long, tired sigh and then spoke.
"His parents..." Her voice was low, bitter and sorrowful at the same time." He was never liked by them. He was sent here, to this estate in the country, far from their sight, for that reason. Ray was merely a burden to them."
With his fists clenched tightly at his sides, the servant lowered his head even further. The healer's expression was heavy as his lips formed a thin line.
She slowly got up from her seat and moved in the direction of the tall window. She pulled the curtains aside, causing them to sway and spill the silver glow of the moonlight across the room. Her gaze ascended to the night sky, which was full of distant stars.
She went on quietly, almost as if talking to herself, "He was blind from birth." Nevertheless, he went through a lot. Neglect, loneliness, and the hurt of being unwelcome. After a heartbeat of hesitation, she took a deep breath.
"Perhaps it is a blessing, after all, that he has forgotten," she whispered, her eyes glimmering faintly in the moonlight. Losing his memories could be the most considerate thing the heavens have ever done for him if they were nothing more than scars.
With sorrow on their faces, the healer and servant looked at each other, their heads bowed lower. The silence in the room was heavy with unspoken grief, and neither dared to speak.
Despite the heaviness in her eyes, the woman's expression returned to a calm, composed state as she turned away from the window. From the desk, she took a small brass bell and gently rang it. There was a faint echo of the clear chime in the silent room.
Footsteps came briskly a few moments later. A tall guard in dark leather armor entered, standing erect and bowing respectfully with his right hand over his sword's hilt.
"You called, Madam?"
Her commanding, steady gaze remained fixed on him. "Yes. Tell me, how far along is the investigation?"
The guard's jaw tightened and his eyes changed momentarily, as if he was hesitant to respond. At last he spoke in a low, firm voice.
"We're doing everything we can, My Lady. The men have been sent out into the countryside. We have investigated the forests, spoken to the locals, and pursued every lead. However," His fist at his side was clenched. "The trail is not very clear. Whoever was responsible for this was skilled at hiding their identity."
Both of them listened in silence as the servant's lips quivered a little and the doctor's brows furrowed further.
Although the woman's expression stayed composed, her calm tone was betrayed by the slight flicker of anger in her eyes. "Doing your best..." Slowly, she walked back toward her desk and repeated the words. She leaned forward slightly and laid both hands flat on the surface. "Captain, I don't want an excuse. I'm looking for outcomes."
Sweat gathered at the guard's temples as he instantly lowered his head." I get it, Madam. Until we find the truth, I won't stop. You have my word."
The rustle of the night breeze against the window curtains was the only sound in the room for a brief moment. After closing her eyes for a moment, the woman straightened her posture again and spoke in a softer but colder tone.
"See that you keep it."
The guard put his hand to his chest and bowed deeply. "Yes, ma'am." There was a tense silence as he left the room, turning abruptly on his heel.
The doctor and servant looked at each other uneasily but were afraid to talk.