Chapter 2 – Change
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Chapter 2 – Change
Somewhere, a familiar ceiling.
In a room with a refined atmosphere that’d make one gape in awe.
I blinked my half-closed eyes and instinctively rose from my seat.
“Damn it.”
It’s been a week.
It’s time to admit it.
The place I was lying in until a moment ago wasn’t some dream; it was the reality right in front of me.
“… ”
Why am I trapped in this damned world again?
I’ve pondered countless times over the past week. And I’ve agonized over it.
The conclusion was always the same.
I failed to clear it.
Thus, I’ve been given another chance for the second round.
In reality, it’s a problem that doesn’t require much thought.
“…Shit.”
I shifted my gaze to the mirror in front of me.
In the mirror, a somewhat lethargic-looking young man’s face was reflected.
Jet-black hair that was disheveled.
Sharp eyes and a finely carved sharp nose.
A face so familiar that it has become tiresome.
Kyle Winfred.
The son of Duke Winfred, one of the three major guardian families protecting the Northern Continent.
And a bastard child.
There’s no heart-wrenching backstory, no memorable twist, no inevitable justification.
Kyle Winfred is simply the typical villain, meticulously crafted solely for the protagonist’s trials and tribulations.
“Hmm.”
I lightly clenched my fist, and the man in the mirror also made the same gesture.
Seeing Kyle Winfred from his youth again brings back some memories.
But now is not the time to get lost in sentimentality.
As with any villain, Kyle Winfred is also destined to inevitably meet a trashy end.
Of course, being from a Duke family extends his lifeline to some extent, but the important thing is that Kyle Winfred is a legitimate son, not an heir.
Even within the family, he has no significant standing, which means that the moment he crosses the line, he’ll meet his demise, and above all…
— 「Main Quest」 —
◆ Absolute Evil
: Because there is darkness, there is also light. Your death is inevitable for the salvation of the world. Embrace a villain’s death.
◆ Reward
: Return to the original world
◆ Scenario Progress
: 0%
Yes, that’s the problem.
Because of this insane quest.
Kyle Winfred must not die clumsily again due to this.
After filling the progress rate to 100%, I must face the most plausible ending.
This means that Kyle Winfred must intervene as one of the key characters in the narrative…
“Damn it.”
I eyed the system with suspicion.
“Am I going to be fooled once again?”
I remember it clearly.
The moment when I was on the brink of death after being poisoned by Isabel, a notification saying ‘Progress Rate 100%’ appeared in my blurry vision.
I surely fulfilled all the specified conditions.
However, I failed.
Suddenly, for some random reason like ‘synchronization rate below threshold’.
◆ Synchronization Rate
: ??
Synchronization rate.
A new indicator that emerged in the system window during the regression.
What principle this ‘synchronization rate’ operates on, I have no idea.
The only thing I can deduce is that this is also one of the essential conditions for clearing.
And the system deliberately deceived me.
That’s the only conclusion.
“I’ll destroy it.”
With my life at stake, I can no longer blindly trust such a system.
This time, I won’t fall into the trap of hastily concocted conditions that could reverse the clear.
However, there is one problem…
◆ Penalty
: □□□□□ □□□ □□□ □□□□□
…The penalty displayed in front of me right now.
It’s okay.
I’ll gradually figure out the penalties from now on.
I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, or rather, at Kyle Winfred.
Even though I’ve lived in this body for years, this body still feels… no, this world feels too unfamiliar.
The goal hasn’t changed.
To escape this world and return to my original world.
And…
“Lee Seung-jun.”
Lee Seung-jun.
Returning to my true body in South Korea.
“First, let’s get hold of a Holy Relic.”
Holy Relic, an artifact imbued with the power of the gods according to the setting.
Even in the official guidebook, it’s mentioned sporadically as an unidentified entity.
I’ve never seen the actual object myself.
I’ve only heard stories here and there that obtaining a Holy Relic can open the door to other dimensions.
Is it the system?
Or is it a Holy Relic?
In the previous round, I unquestionably chose the system, but now, I need to adjust the plan slightly.
Acquire a Holy Relic.
And use my own strength to open the door to other dimensions and return to my original world.
As I was organizing my thoughts in my mind…
Tap, tap—
A few knocks resounded through the air.
“Young master.”
As I opened the door, I was greeted by the sight of an elderly butler with gray hair.
He stood outside the door and explained the reason for his visit.
“A guest has arrived.”
I furrowed my brows.
“Guest? Who?”
“It’s Lady Isabel.”
“Ah, was that today?”
Isabel Yustia.
[Translator – Peptobismol]
It’s obvious why she, my fiance, has come here.
She must be here to somehow sabotage the upcoming engagement.
After all, she despises Kyle Winfred so intensely.
‘It would have been the right thing to push forward with the engagement as originally planned…’
The engagement with Isabel is a good choice in many ways.
By making full use of my status as her fiance, I could block Isabel’s path in various ways, and most importantly, I could intervene in the future main storyline.
There’s no better choice than building a relationship with Isabel.
But at the same time, it will tie my feet within the family.
It will inevitably interfere with obtaining a Holy Relic.
In that case, my conclusion is clear.
“Let’s go right now.”
First, break off the engagement.
****
“This way.”
I followed the butler’s lead and moved to the central staircase of the mansion.
Since the reception room is located on the first floor, it’s a natural choice.
“… ”
Noon at the mansion was quite bustling.
Numerous servants were systematically managing the mansion, going back and forth on each floor’s corridors.
Perhaps it was because it was my first time out of the room in a while.
As I passed by, my appearance attracted fleeting glances from quite a few people.
Contempt, disdain, hatred.
All I see are familiar looks, as if I’m back in my hometown.
Step by step.
After a while of walking, I arrived in front of a lavishly decorated door adorned with various ornaments and patterns.
It’s the entrance to the mansion’s reception room.
Entering the reception room, the pungent smell of black tea pricked my nose.
As I passed by the neatly arranged furniture, my eyes met Isabel, who was sitting on a chair.
“It’s been a while.”
She bowed her head first.
She’s always a beautiful woman whenever you see her.
Kyle Winfred, who is weak to beauty to such an extent, must have been so obsessed with marrying her.
But what can I do?
Among the numerous deaths of Kyle Winfred that have been revealed, more than 90% are related to Isabel.
I stood silently, staring at her without any expression on my face, already anticipating the words she would utter with a stern face.
It was the same in the first round.
Isabel greeted me first, and I completely ignored her greeting.
There was silence for a moment, and then she sighed heavily. She didn’t even expect me to respond, but soon she demanded a breakup in an angry voice…
“Kyle?”
…Huh?
Why is she like this?
“Kyle, is there something on my face?”
Crazy.
Is she really calling me Kyle right now?
Where did the usual titles like ‘Sir Kyle’ or ‘Kyle Winfred’ she uses to call me go?
Isabel’s state is strange.
Could it be that she hurt her head on the way here?
I tried to maintain my expression as I opened my lips.
“…Long time no see.”
A simple reply caused a sincere smile to form on Isabel’s lips.
As if that one word was enough.
‘I hope she hasn’t gone crazy because of the penalty.’
Even when playing the game before regression, adapting to and living in the game world after possession, Isabel never smiled at Kyle, not even once.
She cursed me to hell many times, but…
“Please have a seat. The tea tastes good.”
I hesitated and sat down.
Immediately afterwards, there was silence.
I wanted to see how far she had gone mad.
“I apologize for coming without prior notice. It’s because the maid got the date wrong.”
“…”
“I’ve come to discuss something in advance regarding the engagement ceremony. Could you spare some time?”
It seems she hasn’t completely lost her mind after all.
Even amidst her madness, she seems to be trying to bring up the engagement breakup story somehow.
“This is perfect timing. I also have something to say.”
“Something to say? To me?”
“Yes.”
I’m sorry, but I have to make the first move.
I have to pretend to break off the engagement so that I can at least give Isabel a hint of relief later on.
Of course, simply declaring, “We’re breaking off the engagement!” will not automatically end the promised marriage alliance between the two families.
There are various interrelationships intertwined like threads in that single marriage.
But I don’t care about that.
If the parties involved don’t want it to happen, how can they force it?
“Let’s forget about our engagement.”
Isabel’s eyes widened in shock.
The shock must be quite significant since she wanted the breakup so badly.
I waited patiently for her response.
“…”
She bowed her head.
Immediately she clenched her trembling hands tightly.
Tick-tock.
The rhythmic sound of the clock echoed in the serene silence.
“Hah.”
A forced laughter burst from her lips.
It’s surprising how she’s still strictly following etiquette even in such a situation.
A moment later.
Pressing the corners of her eyes, Isabel asked me.
“Are you serious?”
Of course.
I’m more serious now than ever.
“You whispered love to me until just recently, and now you want to break off the engagement? Is this really your sincerity?”
“I did love you. But not anymore.”
“Not… anymore…?”
Isabel stumbled over her words, as if she had been hit by a shock.
After a while, a glint of emptiness flashed in Isabel’s eyes.
Her expression was so stern that it could be called downright sinister.
She let out a bitter laugh.
Then, she uttered a response I had never expected.
“I refuse.”
[Translator – Peptobismol]
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