Darkness… then a sharp sting.
My eyes snapped open.
I was lying on a massive king-sized bed, the sheets soft but drenched in cold sweat. Snow-white strands of hair fell over my forehead—hair that wasn't mine. My body felt lighter, younger… different.
Before I could even process it—
BAM!
A soul-splitting pain exploded inside my head.
"Urrrrrr—GHHHH—WHAT THE—FUUUUUCK—!"
My vision shook violently. I grabbed my skull with both hands as if trying to keep it from splitting open. The pain was too real, too sharp, too deep—like someone was carving burning hot memories directly into my soul.
Every second felt like a year.
When it finally ended, I collapsed backward, gasping like a drowning man dragged onto shore. My entire body trembled uncontrollably. Sweat soaked through the sheets. My heart thrashed against my ribs.
But the real terror wasn't the pain.
It was what came with it.
Memories.
Emotions.
Experiences that did not belong to me.
Lives—plural—that I had never lived.
All of them forced into my mind, merging, stitching together until there was no "me" or "him"—just us.
"…I… transmigrated inside the damn book."
My voice cracked as the truth settled in.
The memories belonged to Arthur Von Vormir.
The first son of Countess Valeri Crestban Vormir.
A noble.
A side character.
The cousin of the story's main protagonist.
And now… me.
"This doesn't make any sense… hahaha…"
A breathless laugh escaped me—half shock, half disbelief.
"How the hell is this even possible…?"
Of course, no one answered. The room stayed silent.
I slowly forced myself to sit up and look around. The chamber was luxurious—gold-trimmed walls, towering windows draped in velvet, polished marble floors. The kind of room only a noble heir would sleep in.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror nearby.
Ruby-red eyes.
Eyes that gleamed like polished gemstones.
A face too handsome for someone my age.
Snow-white hair brushing against my cheeks.
"…This is really me now."
Though I still felt like Adam, Arthur's emotions clung to my soul, refusing to fade. Grief, longing, pride, pain—especially pain—settled in my chest as if they had always been mine.
The memories twisted inside me.
Arthur's father.
A high-ranking noble, a warrior who died fighting inside an Abyss Rift two years ago. A man who died to protect his family.
Arthur's mother, Countess Valeri.
An Immortal-rank awakener, infected by Abyss Corruption—a soul-eating plague. Despite her strength, she fell into a coma, clinging to life by a thread.
Arthur had been only twelve when it happened.
Twelve… and suddenly responsible for the entire Vormir County.
I exhaled shakily.
No wonder Arthur's emotions hit so hard.
He carried too much—far too much—for a child.
Just as I tried to gather myself—
Knock. Knock.
My heart jerked.
A woman's calm voice came from outside the door:
"Young Lord, it's Maya. I heard screams. Are you alright? May I come in?"
Maya.
Arthur's memories surged again.
His caretaker.
His sword instructor.
His protector.
A woman who had been with this family for more than a century.
I straightened my posture instinctively.
"Come in," I said, my voice unexpectedly steady—noble, even.
The door opened.
A tall woman with sleek black hair and sharp black eyes entered. Her presence alone radiated discipline and quiet strength. She scanned me quickly, worry tightening her features.
"My lord, I heard your cries. Are you hurt? Let me check—"
She approached and began checking my arms and shoulders carefully.
"…I'm fine, Maya. It was just… a headache."
Her stern expression softened slightly.
"My lord, you've been overworking yourself since the Countess fell ill. You should rest today."
At the mention of "Mother,"
something sharp clutched my chest—Arthur's emotions bleeding into mine so naturally it scared me.
"…You're right," I whispered.
"I'll rest."
Maya bowed, relief on her face.
"If you need anything, please call for me."
She left the room quietly.
The door closed.
The silence returned—but this time, it felt heavier.
I let out a long breath.
"Arthur Von Vormir… huh."
Countess Valeri in a coma.
A dying county.
A cousin destined to become the greatest hero.
A world heading toward destruction… just like the book foretold.
And me?
Somehow thrust into the body of a boy who was never meant to be the protagonist.
I clenched my fists.
"…If I'm here, then I'm not dying like a side character."
No.
I would change everything.
Starting now.