[Leo's POV]
"…Do you really mean it?"
I stared at Lyra. Her emerald-green eyes were searching mine, desperate to find a truth she hadn't seen in years. I didn't look away. I couldn't.
My voice came out softer than I expected. "I do."
For a second, the world seemed to shrink to just the two of us. The weight of my promise hung in the air like a held breath. Then, her shoulders began to tremble. Her lips quivered, and then the dam broke. Tears started streaming down her face—thick, silent drops that quickly turned into a full-blown sob.
W-what?! Why is she crying?
Seeing her break down, I suddenly panicked. My hands hovered in the air, useless and clumsy. I mean, come on—I never faced anything like this before! I never even dated in my past life! How the hell was I supposed to know what to do when a girl starts sobbing right in front of me?
Damn it!
I quickly moved, fumbling with the blankets as I guided her to sit on the edge of the bed. "Wait—hey! Stop that! Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?"
Seeing me so flustered and completely clueless, a small chuckle actually broke through her tears. She looked a total mess, her face red and eyes puffy, but she was smiling.
Has she finally gone mad? Is she broken?
I sighed, the tension leaving my shoulders. I reached out and gently brushed a stray tear from her cheek.
We sat there in silence for a while, the only sound being the rhythmic ticking of the mana-clock on the wall. She kept crying—letting out all those jagged, painful emotions she'd been holding back for years.
That bastard Leo. He really hurt people, didn't he? And now, I'm the one who has to clean up his mess. Just thinking about the mountain of guilt I inherited gave me a serious headache.
After what felt like half an hour, her breathing finally steadied. She wiped her face with the back of her hand, smearing the wet trails across her cheeks. I looked at her, trying to keep my face neutral.
"Did you finally stop crying~?" I asked, my voice slightly teasing.
As if realization suddenly struck her, she gasped and pushed me away, scrambling to her feet. She was embarrassed—I could see it in the dark flush of her neck and the way her eyes darted toward the floorboards.
"Hey!" I rubbed my shoulder where she'd shoved me. Thud. "At least don't hit me that hard. I'm still a patient, you know."
She realized she'd pushed me harder than she meant to. Her already red face deepened in color until she looked like a ripe tomato.
"O-oh… sorry, Y-Young Master."
Haaa…
She'll be the death of me one day.
I looked at her and asked softly, "So, have you calmed down now?"
She still refused to meet my eyes, her head bowed low, but she whispered a small, "Y-yes."
"I see," I muttered.
Then, as if she suddenly remembered something important, Lyra perked up. "…Ah."
She looked at me, her expression turning serious.
"I forgot to mention. I should inform the Duchess that you have finally woken up. The Duchess hasn't left your side since you lost consciousness. She was so worried that she refused to eat. If it weren't for the Duke forcing her, she wouldn't have left the room at all."
…Right. Family.
With Leo's body, I hadn't just inherited his memories and his shitty reputation—I inherited his parents, too.
Honestly? I was terrified.
I knew I couldn't escape forever, and I knew this day would come, but I would have preferred a few more days to prepare my heart.
Even if Leo was a "scum" child, he was still their child. They watched him grow up. They loved him. And now, some guy from another world was living inside their only son's skin.
I clenched my jaw. My stomach churned. I hate this feeling of being an imposter.
Lyra's voice brought me back. "Young Master? I should go and inform them now."
She turned to leave, but my voice stopped her. "Hey, Lyra. Wait."
She paused and asked, "What is the matter, Young Master?"
I looked at her and muttered, "Don't bring them he—"
Before I could finish, Lyra cut me off, her tone defensive. "How could I not tell them? The Duchess was especially worried about you!"
I sighed softly, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Don't get me wrong. I didn't mean it like that. I just mean… you don't need to bring them here. I'll go to them. I'll meet them myself."
I couldn't run from this responsibility my whole life. I had already decided to stop running. I wanted to face this head-on.
Hearing me say that, a bright, genuine smile appeared on her face. "Yes, Young Master!"
I told her to leave me alone for a few minutes so I could freshen up. She turned to leave, but at the door, she paused.
She met my eyes one last time and softly muttered, "Thank you."
Hearing that, a small smile appeared on my face. I guess this feeling—the feeling of someone being truly grateful—isn't so bad.
After she left, silence filled the room. I leaned back against the silk pillows and sat there, collecting my thoughts. So many things had happened in just a few days.
In my previous life, I had tried to meet someone's expectations for the first time. I tried to be a hero, to be "hope" for someone... and what did it cost me? My death.
And now, I was transmigrated into a game world I had spent four years playing. The Hero Chronicles. A world famous for its brutal difficulty. A world where almost every character dies and the entire world is destined to destroyed. There were villains, secret organizations, the Abyss King… the list went on.
"Haaa…"
And then, there was my Path Awakening. In the game, Leo died during that trial. But this time, I was Leo. And I didn't want to die again. Especially not now, when I was finally starting to actually live.
I have to survive at any cost.
A look of determination appeared in my dull eyes. "Hey, System. How can I see my status screen?"
It was time to see just how pathetic this body really was.
[You just have to say or think the words: 'Status Screen'.]
"Status screen"" I muttered.
Suddenly, the air in front of me shimmered. Blue and black panels began to snap into place, forming a glowing window before my eyes.
I scanned the numbers, the ranks, and the skills. After a long silence, the first thought that entered my mind was:
"What the actual fuck is this?"