My name is Reigh Asteion. I was born into a family that owned a rapidly growing trading company. But everything collapsed overnight. When I was only ten years old, my parents were murdered by their own assistant. I was left alive… but with no wealth, no home, and no way to survive.
Since then, I spent seven years on the streets. I felt the scorching heat, the bone-piercing rain, and the constant hunger haunting me. I didn't even know why I was still alive.
Then, something happened.
Suddenly, foreign memories forced their way into my head.
"Arghh!" I groaned, clutching my head that felt like it was about to explode. The pain stabbed so sharply it almost made me scream. When it finally began to fade, I gasped for breath, opening my eyes in confusion.
"Memories… from Earth? What does this mean?!" I thought in disbelief. But before I could process it, a voice spoke inside my head.
"Ugh… where am I?" the voice sounded confused.
I frowned. Why was he the one confused? Shouldn't I be the one asking that question?
Then the voice suddenly panicked, "HAAA! Why can't I move my body?! Where am I?!" His screams made my head hurt again.
"Shut up!" I yelled in frustration.
People around me stared with puzzled looks, probably thinking I'd lost my mind.
The voice spoke again, echoing in my head. "Who are you?"
"I should be the one asking you that!" I snapped back.
Silence for a moment. It seemed like he was trying to understand the situation. Then he spoke in a flat tone, "Oh… so that's how it is. I died, and now I'm in your body. Like… reincarnation in the novels I used to read."
"Reincarnation?" I repeated, confused.
"Yes," he replied briefly.
Suddenly, memories about reincarnation—about a soul moving into a new body—flashed in my mind. It had to be from him.
"But… why can't I control this body?" he muttered. "Why are you the one moving freely?"
I just stared at my hands. What was really happening?
Then he chuckled softly. Somehow, even without seeing his face, I could feel it.
"Hey, kid," he said quietly. "How about we work together? Find a better life?"
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Your parents were murdered by their own assistant, right?" he asked calmly.
His words made my blood boil, but I lowered my head. "Yes."
"I was a scientist in my previous life," he continued. "I can help you… get revenge."
A scientist? Suddenly, more foreign memories flowed into my head—about him, a man who died while trying to create something called 'Nuclear.' I sighed. "What do you want?"
"Not much," he said. "I just don't want to see you living like this. You have your world, I have my knowledge."
Then he chuckled again. "Oh, and I can see your memories too, you know."
I fell silent. So he knew everything about me… but I couldn't see his thoughts.
He suddenly went quiet, probably thinking about something I couldn't see. Maybe a grand dream whispering inside his head. This world… swords and magic, huh? If he could rebuild civilization here, wouldn't that be interesting? Every scientist dreamed of becoming the center of progress. Of course… without repeating the same mistakes of creating mass destruction weapons.
Even though I couldn't read his thoughts, I could feel him grinning in my head. "What are you thinking? Something weird, right?" I asked. His emotions, even though unseen, were strangely clear to me. Maybe because our souls were connected?
"Don't mind it," he said. But I was still confused.
"All I know is, I won't let you suffer like this," he said. "I saw your memories when I was a scientist with ambition. So? Do we have a deal?"
While I was deep in thought, a beautiful young woman suddenly crouched in front of me. She looked at me, her face stunningly pretty. I looked up, speechless at her beauty.
"Are you hungry and thirsty?" she asked softly, offering a piece of bread and a cup of water.
I just stared at her, unable to blink.
"Here, take it," she said gently. Lately, she had always been giving me bread and water. It made me feel embarrassed as a man because I was always on the receiving end.
Then the voice inside my head suddenly shouted, "Hey! Do you like her?" His tone made me annoyed. I didn't want to reply; otherwise, the girl would think I was crazy.
I took the bread and water. "Th-thank you so much," I stammered, lowering my head stiffly.
She smiled warmly. "You're welcome. Enjoy it," she said before turning to leave.
The silver-haired girl walked away. She looked about two years younger than me… maybe fifteen.
I watched her back slowly fade into the distance and muttered softly, "Thank you…" But she was too far to hear it.
I was about to eat the bread when the scientist spoke again. "Don't eat too fast. Your stomach has been empty for too long," he said calmly.
I hesitated.
"If you eat too quickly, your stomach might react badly. Nausea… even vomiting. Eat slowly. Let your body adjust first."
I nodded and followed his advice, eating slowly.
While I ate, I asked, "Hey, what's your name?"
"You can see my memories, right? Why ask such a silly thing?" he said.
"That's true, but I still want you to tell me yourself," I insisted firmly.
After a pause, he introduced himself. "My name is Guiver Smith. I was 29 when I died," he said quietly.
I smiled faintly while chewing slowly. "Nice to meet you. My name is Reigh Asteion. I'm 17 now."
He smiled too, at least, I could feel that he did. "So, what about my offer?" he asked again.
When I finished the bread, I lowered my head slightly and asked, "You don't have bad intentions, do you?"
He stayed silent.
"Why are you quiet? Do you really have bad intentions?"
Then he laughed loudly. "Bad intentions? I can't even control your body!"
He laughed so hard in my head I quickly lowered my head again. "Shut up!" I yelled at him.
"Hey, keep your voice down! People will think you're crazy!" he scolded.
He was right. People were staring at me again.
"You can talk to me in your mind. That way, no one will hear you," he said softly.
A bit unsure, I tried it. "E-hem! Hello, my name is Reigh," I said in my mind.
He laughed again. "Hahaha! Why are you so stiff? What's with the formal greeting?"
His voice echoed in my head, making it spin, but slowly I started to adapt. At first, when he entered my body, it felt like my skull would explode. But now, the pain was fading.
"I accept your offer. But on one condition," I said firmly.
"What is it?" he asked.
I stared straight ahead, ignoring the people passing by. As the girl's back disappeared, I made a silent vow. One day, I would repay her kindness.
Meanwhile, on the girl's side…
"Where have you been?" my older brother asked.
"I saw a starving boy. I gave him bread," I replied.
He got angry. "And what's that got to do with you? Stop wasting money!"
I was already tired of him. "I'm the one earning the money!" I snapped back, walking away.
He followed me. "What did you say?!"
I turned my face away from his glare. "It's true, isn't it? You just guide me, but I do the work!" I said sharply.
He sighed. He knew I was right. "Fine," he said, walking alongside me. "The next client is in that big house," he pointed. I nodded and got back to work.
Back to Reigh's side.
I kept staring ahead. "That girl… she always gives me bread and water," I said in my mind.
Guiver chuckled. "So?"
"I want to repay her kindness… and… I've also fallen in love with her."
Ah… saying it out loud felt so embarrassing. Would he laugh at me?
But he didn't. "I see. You want to use my knowledge to earn money… and then win her heart?"
He was sharp. He knew my goal right away.
"Yes. Can you help me?" I asked.
He smiled faintly. I could feel it wasn't a mocking smile this time. "Of course. Because we're partners," he said softly, his tone strangely comforting.
I smiled back. "Thank you. I'll be counting on you."
Then he suddenly shouted in my head, "Alright! First, we need to leave this place!"
I grabbed my head. "Stop yelling in my head!"
He ignored me. "We need to head to the nearest forest first to find food," he continued.
I sighed heavily. "The forest? But I don't know what's edible. Hunting is hard. I have no skills."
"Don't worry. I've read plenty of fiction in my world. Leave it to me," he said confidently.
I was still uneasy but reluctantly stood up. "Alright," I muttered, starting to walk toward the forest.
I was willing to listen to him… for the sake of revenge on the one who killed my parents… and to repay the kindness of that girl.