Chapter 1: I Was Just an Office Worker… Right?
The last thing Kim Min-jae remembered was the sound of his keyboard.
Click. Click. Click.
Midnight overtime. Again.
His boss had dumped another "urgent" report on him five minutes before leaving the office.
"Min-jae, I'm counting on you."
Yeah. Right.
Min-jae rubbed his tired eyes and leaned back in his chair.
"Just five minutes… I'll close my eyes for five minutes…"
Darkness swallowed him.
"...Young master?"
A soft voice echoed.
Min-jae frowned.
Why does my office sound like this?
"Young master, please wake up."
A gentle shake.
He opened his eyes.
A ceiling he had never seen before.
White. High. Decorated with gold patterns.
"…What?"
He sat up suddenly.
Silk blankets slid off his body.
Silk?
His hands looked… smaller.
Smoother.
"…No way."
"Y-Young master?" The maid standing beside the bed looked relieved. "You fainted during your lesson yesterday. We were worried."
"Lesson…?"
Min-jae blinked.
His head suddenly throbbed.
Memories flooded in.
Not his.
Adrian Helios von Ardent.
Second son of a baron.
Age: 14.
Reputation: Lazy. Useless. Always skipping lessons.
"…I'm screwed."
"Pardon?" the maid tilted her head.
Min-jae grabbed his head.
"No… no no no… This is one of those things, right?"
"Those… things?"
He looked at her seriously.
"Is this a hidden camera prank?"
"…I don't understand, Young master."
"…Yeah, of course you don't."
He sighed deeply.
Calm down. Think logically.
Office. Sleep. Then… this.
No hospital. No afterlife explanation.
Just straight into another body.
"…Reincarnation."
The word slipped out of his mouth.
The maid gasped.
"Y-Young master! Did you hit your head harder than we thought?!"
"Unfortunately, I think I hit reality harder."
Min-jae—no, Adrian—got out of bed.
His legs wobbled slightly.
This body really is weak.
He walked to the mirror.
Silver hair.
Blue eyes.
A face straight out of a fantasy novel.
"…At least I'm handsome."
He paused.
"…Wait, why am I calm about this?"
After a moment, he nodded to himself.
"Right. I worked 14 hours a day. This is still better."
"Emily."
"Yes, Young master?"
"What kind of family am I in again?"
She looked confused but answered politely.
"The Ardent family, of course. Your father is Baron Ardent, lord of this territory."
"…Rich?"
"W-We are stable… but the territory is not very prosperous."
"…Of course it isn't."
That's how these stories go.
Trash noble.
Weak land.
Future ruined.
"Do I have an older brother?"
"Yes. The heir, Lord Victor."
"Let me guess. Talented, loved, perfect?"
"…Yes."
"And I'm the useless spare."
"…Young master…"
"Don't worry, I already figured it out."
Adrian turned back to the mirror.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"But you know what?"
"?"
"I don't need to be the main character."
He stretched his arms lazily.
"No more overtime. No more deadlines."
He flopped back onto the bed.
"I'll just live comfortably, eat good food, and avoid trouble."
Emily looked hesitant.
"About that… Young master…"
"…What?"
"The Baron has requested your presence."
"…Why do I feel like this is bad news?"
"He seemed… quite angry."
Adrian stared at the ceiling.
"…Can I go back to sleep?"
"I'm afraid not."
"…This world is already worse than my job."
He stood up again, sighing.
"Fine. Let's go meet my new 'father.'"
As he walked out of the room, one thought crossed his mind.
Please don't be a strict noble dad…
In the distance, thunder rumbled.