1 – Episode 1. How a Lunatic Regains Trust (1)
The ceiling is unfamiliar.
I’ve been staring at the ceiling painted with symbolic patterns I’ve never before seen.
“Where am I….?”
Slowly, I get up and start looking at my surroundings.
The room with symbolic patterns engraved on the ceiling and walls was much larger than the studio apartment I used to live in. All the furniture in the room was also something I’ve never seen before.
Each piece was unique and refined, which naturally drew my attention. However, the furniture’s shapes were rare to see in modern life, contributing to the alienation I felt.
“Was I kidnapped?”
I was puzzled while touching the bedding of the bed.
It had an entirely different softness and resilience compared to the hard mattress I was used to.
“What is this…?”
Knock, knock.
A knock came from the double doors.
“Are you up, Mr. Abel?”
A strange woman’s voice came from outside.
I had no choice but to get up hastily from the bed.
If you open your eyes in an unfamiliar space, it would be natural for anyone to tense up and be afraid. I was no exception.
“Who are you?”
“…Abel?”
A curious voice comes from beyond the door.
Abel…?
Whose name is that?
I approached the door slowly and almost screamed when I saw the full-length mirror hung on the wall.
The person reflected in the mirror was not the person I knew. My oriental features were gone, replaced only by the look of a Westerner.
My hair was still black as before, but my pupils were blood-red. There was a strange feeling of restlessness as I stared blankly at the red eyeballs.
“Abel, may I come in?”
A seemingly impatient voice came from outside.
“Come in.”
I didn’t know who it was, but I needed to confront the person. At least to understand the situation.
“Abel. You, you’re awake, aren’t you?”
The person who opened the door and came in was none other than, a maid.
She was not wearing the popular modern maid costume, but a more traditional one without exposure. Much like a real servant.
“Abel?”
“Ah, yes?”
“You didn’t answer when I spoke……”
“Ah, yes.”
Abel….
It seemed to be the name of the man who had this appearance.
But somehow, the name didn’t seem unfamiliar.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes. Please, speak, Abel.”
“Who am I?”
“Excuse me?”
The maid repeated my question in confusion. I was quietly watching her tilt her head, and she flinched, trembling a little.
I just wanted to ask a name, but why is she so scared? What did I do wrong?
“Lord Abel Sirius!”
A maid shouted out with all her might.
Abel Sirius?
It doesn’t sound like an unfamiliar name, but somehow, I can’t remember.
“……Is that all?”
When I stared back and asked, the maid awkwardly stuttered, straightened her waist, and loudly reiterated.
“That…! He is the third son of the Sirius noble family, the most distinguished family among the aristocrats ever brought forth throughout the vast history of the Ferator Empire! Lord Abel Sirius is famously known within the Empire as a righteous and diligent person!”
As I watched the maid who spoke with her eyes tightly shut, I stroked my chin and considered in deep thought.
Abel Sirius.
Third son of the noble Sirius family.
The Ferator Empire.
They all sound familiar.
Where did I hear them? Where…
“!”
As a sliver of a memory surged in amidst the annoying sense of half-recollection, I found myself gasping in surprise.
No way…
Could this be… ‘the setting’ from the web novel I read last night, ‘How the Sword Master Becomes an Emperor’?
I clearly remember getting chewed out by my boss and reading the web novel after work. I recall leaving a comment saying that I would quit when my stepmother’s nagging overtook the plot’s development.
Afterward, I remembered receiving a reply from the author.
[Yes. You, my dear reader, should quit life too.]
“……sh*t?”
“Huh, what?!”
As I recalled the author’s reply, an unconscious curse slipped out. The maid seemed frightened as if she had suffered a seizure from my swearing.
A place I’ve never seen before.
A handsome face, with black hair and red eyes, bearing the name Abel Sirius.
And a physical body that I could control as if it were my own.
Considering everything, it seems like I’m experiencing in real-time one of the common developments in web novels: ‘Transmigration.’
Damn it.
* * *
But as far as I can remember, I didn’t do anything that would warrant transmigration, right?
Isn’t it just right for readers to point out errors in a novel’s development or setting errors?
It’s not exactly a huge favor I’m asking for. I didn’t write 5,700 characters, nor did I send a malicious email. I was merely making rational and reasonable criticisms, something that’s I should be doing as a reader.
I can say it with a clear conscience. Of course, I didn’t include any abusive language in my criticism. As a human being with intellect.
So, why do I have to go through a possession?
No, is this something that can possibly happen in reality?
“Damn it.”
For a long while, I sat on the edge of my bed, my fingers pressed to my forehead. Meanwhile, why is this mattress so soft? Pleasantly so.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes, yes! Lord Abel…!”
The maid answered each time I opened my mouth, obviously tense. She even appeared to be frightened.
That makes sense. According to the settings of this world I’m possessed in, Abel Sirius is the worst of the worst.
“I am a righteous and diligent person, isn’t that a lie?”
“Yes……?”
“Isn’t deceiving a noble a wrong behavior?”
The maid couldn’t close her mouth.
The abashed maid hurriedly knelt down and started apologizing to me, her forehead touching the ground.
“I, I apologize, Lord Abel! I’ve committed a sin deserving of death!”
“No. Well… it’s not that severe……”
Saying that I guess confirms that Abel Sirius is as horrible as I thought. Damn it.
“Please, whatever it is, don’t kill me……! If you command me to hug you, I will do it……!”
What had Abel done to make the maid react this way?
Although I knew that the human rights level is low given the medieval setting, the reaction was too extreme for a mere misstep in conversation. I could hardly believe that Abel had lived a normal life.
“Get up.”
“Are you… serious?”
“Yes.”
The maid cautiously got up, watching my facial expression.
“What is your name?”
“It’s, it’s Dana!”
Dana. Just as I thought, it was a name I hadn’t heard before.
“So, why did you come here?”
“That is… it’s breakfast time so I came to wake you.”
“It’s okay. You can leave.”
“Ah, understood.”
The maid politely bowed and left, closing the door silently. As he watched her go, he let out a deep sigh.
“Damn… what to do?”
If I really have become a ‘possession,’ what happened to my body in the other world? Am I dead?
“Is there no way to return?”
When I sleep and wake up, can I return to my original world?
If you pinch your cheek and it hurts, it’s reality… should I try it?
“…This hurts.”
I mumbled, pinching my cheek. I released my grip.
From the moment I opened my eyes here, it was too vivid to be a dream, but I didn’t realize it was real.
“This is absurd… So, it seems I’ve become Abel Sirius…”
For some reason, I’m not as flustered as I thought.
Maybe it’s because there’s no one waiting for me in the other world.
Both of my parents passed away early and since I stepped into society earlier than others, every day was the same.
I led a pitiful life, failing to make a single friend and just working.
“…let’s stop these useless thoughts.”
I shook my head lightly.
If I was living a worthless life, being a ‘possession’ and receiving a new life isn’t a bad thing.
Moreover, that maid said I’m the third son of a Duke’s family.
So what does being a Duke mean?
In terms of status, aside from the royal family, it’s a house that has overwhelming power over everyone.
In other words, I can be considered a lucky one, born with a diamond spoon in my mouth. I don’t have to be pitiful. Though, being Abel is a bit annoying.
Alright. This life, I will live happily.
As I clenched my fist and determined, a ‘pop-up’ appeared in my ears along with a familiar bell sound effect.
[You have received a quest.]
[Would you like to view it? Y/N]
“… Quest?”
Suddenly, blue characters were written in the air along with a blue window.
I found myself laughing at the strange spectacle in front of me. As if a modern person wouldn’t understand what a quest is.
I instantly understood my situation.
“Open.”
Upon my command, the scattered letters in the void reformed.
[Serial Murders in the City of Frang #1]
Category: Main (Sirius Ga, Clara)
Deadline: 7 days
『There have been serial murders recently in Frang City, closest to the Sirius Castle. Even Hueston Sirius, the lord of the Sirius Estate, is wracking his brain over this issue, but despite employing knights for investigation, no significant results have been yielded.
We have confirmed that information about the serial killer is circulating in the slums. Seek out a person named ‘Jiby’ in the slums. Jiby holds crucial information to solve the serial murder case.
However, Jiby lost an arm in a war decades ago between Pila kingdoms. He gained the glory of victory but received no compensation after being betrayed by the nobility. He is now settled in Frang City after roaming around for years. As such, he despises any nobleman.
To convince him, it’s necessary to approach him with humility, a drink called ‘Makgeolli,’ and some money.
Thanking him for being a war hero during the conversation will win his favor. Conversely, if you try to intimidate or force him, he will completely shut up. Please be cautious.』
Reward: Weak interest from Hueston Sirius
Failure consequence: Death
Though the quest kindly tells me how to solve it, what’s with the death penalty for failure?
Apparently, the god of this world has no intention of letting me live a peaceful and relaxed life.
So, another person from noblemtl orphanage?
Mc puppet?