Inside his room, Yashiro stood by the window.
His gaze was fixed outside, on a view he had never seen before. A vast courtyard, neatly arranged and beautifully organized.
Trees and flowers were placed in order, as if every corner had been designed with careful calculation. A pathway of smooth stone stretched between them, giving off a calm yet luxurious impression.
Slowly, his gaze shifted farther. In the distance, a range of mountains towered high, their peaks covered in white snow that glimmered under the light.
A view like this… had only ever existed in his memories of stories about other worlds. But now, it was truly spread out before him."So… this is what another world looks like in person…" he murmured softly.
His thoughts began to piece everything together, one by one. 'My name is Yashiro Naruma. A high school student who should have graduated in a few months and continued life as a college student.'
'But fate had other plans. A meteor struck my classroom… and yes, killed me.'
His gaze remained straight ahead.
'I never thought I would be transported to another world after death. And into the body of the Second Young Master of a noble family holding the title of Duke, Kaelvion de Virel.'
Slowly, Kael lowered his head and looked at his own hands.
Then clenched them.
(Note: We change from Yashiro to Kael)
"Such a shame… the owner of this body failed to awaken a Source and become a Bearer," he muttered softly.
His breathing sounded light, yet felt heavy at the same time. "And according to family rules… I will be ordered to manage a territory."
'Or more precisely… exiled for being a disgrace to the Virel family.'
Silence.
A few moments later, a knock on the door pulled him back to reality.
Knock… knock… knock…
Kael turned toward the door, his brow slightly furrowed. His thoughts moved quickly, trying to recall who might be visiting.
He remembered something. The previous owner of this body, or perhaps everyone of noble blood in the Virel family, was always attended to for matters of personal care.
Kael raised his hand and touched his chin. 'Could it be… all nobles are like this?' he thought quietly, then glanced back at the door.
"Come in."
*
An hour later, Kael stood in front of a very large mirror.
His appearance was now far better than before. His face was sharp and well-proportioned, with a firm jaw that gave a strong impression. His skin was pale and smooth, contrasting with his black hair.
His eyes were slightly narrow with a cold gaze. His irises leaned toward a dark shade with a faint hint of blue. His eyebrows were thin yet neat, slightly angled downward toward the center, adding to his serious look. His nose was straight and defined, while his lips were thin with a flat line.
His new body stood around 180 cm tall, with a firm and well-built posture, paired with black clothing and several accessories attached to his body. His appearance was nearly perfect, like an international model from his previous life.
'So this is what I look like now… far more handsome than I was on Earth. Maybe I could rival those oppas?' Kael thought a little narcissistically.
Behind him, the servants remained silent, watching Kael as he stood before the mirror. They simply waited until he finished.
After a while, a servant who looked older stepped forward. "Young Master, it is time to meet Lord Darius."
Kael did not respond immediately. His eyes were instead fixed on the servant's reflection in the mirror. 'Darius… that seems to be the name of this body's father.'
Memories surfaced at once. The disappointed gazes from many family members during the coming-of-age ceremony.
Mockery, contempt, even outright humiliation directed at the previous owner of this body. Including his grandfather, who still held the position of family head.
Only one person was different.
His father.
He showed neither disappointment nor disdain. He remained cold and silent as usual. Even when seeing his eldest daughter successfully awaken her Source, his reaction was nothing more than a brief nod.
'I'm curious about him. From all the stories I've read, people who seem cold and mysterious usually hide something.'
Kael smiled faintly, then turned to face the servant.
"Lead the way," he said coldly, following the habits of the previous owner.
*
A day passed just like that.
Kael left the Virel family mansion with a group of four carriages, escorted by soldiers surrounding him.
Inside the most luxurious carriage, he sat leaning back, supporting his chin as he looked outside.
Clouds drifted calmly across the sky, as if hypnotizing his gaze.
But his thoughts were far from calm.
The words of that middle-aged man, the one who was now his father in this world, kept echoing in his mind.
'Kael, this is already a family rule. I cannot treat you differently just because you are my son.'
'I have prepared several things to make it easier for you there. I hope you can live safely.'
Kael let out a quiet breath. Those words still felt cold.
But before the man left, he had said one last sentence.
'If you can reach Rank 8 within two years, come to me. I will tell you a secret.'
The faint smile at the corner of his father's lips… then it disappeared behind the door.
That surprised Kael. Because from his inherited memories, that should have been the first time the man had smiled, even if only briefly.
Kael lowered his head, falling silent for a long time, trying to find an answer. 'A secret… what kind of secret could make that cold man smile?'
But no matter how long he searched, there was not a single clue from the previous owner's memories.
'Forget it… I'll find out eventually,' he thought, turning his gaze back outside.
*
Night fell.
Kael's group stopped to rest.
Some servants began setting up tents, while others prepared dinner. Some soldiers stood guard to secure the area, and the rest fed the horses, making sure everything was ready for the next day's journey.
Inside the carriage, Kael sat casually while watching the moon slowly rise into the sky.
He was not alone.
This time, Edward was inside with him. But the atmosphere between them felt awkward.
"Young Master, how is your first journey?" Edward asked, trying to start a conversation.
Kael did not answer right away. His gaze was still directed outside. Not because he looked down on Edward, but simply because he was not good at small talk.
"Well… it's alright," he replied shortly.
Silence returned.
Edward's expression showed confusion, as if he did not know how to continue. He maintained his demeanor as a servant, keeping the proper distance.
But ever since his Young Master failed to awaken a Source, combined with what happened when he screamed in pain while clutching his head… something felt different.
Unfortunately, he did not know what it was.
And that made him uneasy. Especially with the responsibility he had to bear.
He had to protect Kael.
Meanwhile, Kael paid no attention to the awkwardness. His thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
'What do protagonists usually do after being exiled from their families?' he thought.
'Train? Build a foundation? Or gather and train a force?'
His thoughts kept turning, searching for direction.
Suddenly, a voice came from outside. "Young Master Kael, Lord Edward. The tent is ready."
Edward immediately responded. "Understood. We'll come out shortly."
He turned to Kael. "Young Master, would you like to rest now?"
Kael did not move right away. His gaze was still fixed on the moon, as if his thoughts had not fully returned yet.
A few seconds later, he let out a soft breath, then turned to Edward and nodded.
"Yes. Let's go."
He stood up and stepped out of the carriage.
The night air greeted him at once, cold yet fresh. In the distance, campfires began to burn, while the sounds of servants and soldiers carried faintly.
Kael walked, following the servant who had called them. Along the way, several servants and soldiers bowed when they saw him.
There was not the slightest reluctance in their eyes. Even though Kael was not a Bearer, which was the standard of strength within noble families, he was still respected, both for his status and the power attached to his name.
After all, even though he had been exiled from House Virel, he still carried noble blood and the name de Virel.
And that was not something to be taken lightly.
As he walked, Kael glanced at them briefly. 'It feels a bit uncomfortable being treated like this.'
Before long, they arrived at a large tent.
The servant stood beside the closed curtain, then opened it slowly while bowing, allowing Kael to enter.
Behind him, Edward did not go in. He signaled the servant to leave, then took position beside the curtain, standing guard.
Meanwhile, Kael stepped inside the tent. He was greeted by a neatly arranged interior. A large bed and a table with four chairs had already been prepared.
On the table, a teapot and several cups were set.
'This kind of treatment… feels like a luxury hotel with a wilderness theme,' he thought, then shook his head slightly.
He walked toward the table, sat down, and casually began pouring tea. As it turned out, his habits and the previous owner's were the same.
Both liked tea.
"Too bad there's no matcha here… looks like I'll have to make it myself in the future," he murmured softly before lifting the cup and taking a slow sip.
*
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