In a classroom for the academy's top students, Gold class 2nd year, a young woman sat at her desk, lost in thought. Her auburn hair fell over her shoulders, and her green eyes stared blankly ahead. A group of girls gathered around her, their faces filled with concern.
"Elara, are you okay?" one of them asked, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "You've been quiet all day."
Elara gave a small, faint smile. "I'm fine," she said softly, her voice barely audible. "Just… thinking."
Another girl frowned. "Is this about Leonhardt? Don't tell me you're upset about him. After everything he did—following you around, annoying you—you shouldn't waste a second on that creep."
Elara's smile stayed, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Even so," she murmured, "he was still a student here. In his own way, he was a friend. Feeling something is only human."
Her friends exchanged surprised looks, clearly impressed by her kindness. "You're too kind, Elara," one of them said warmly. "The world doesn't deserve someone like you."
Elara chuckled softly but stayed quiet. Her thoughts wandered elsewhere. "Thank you," she said eventually, her voice barely above a whisper.
---
In the academy's most luxurious boys' dorms, a young man with golden hair lounged in a grand chair, holding a folded letter in his hand. His sharp features and confident smirk marked him as the first prince of Elaris, Prince Cassian. His blue eyes glinted with amusement as he read the letter.
"Finally," he said, leaning back with a satisfied grin. "The fool is dead. Took long enough."
Across from him, another young man sat, legs crossed. His dark hair was slightly messy, and his relaxed posture gave him an air of quiet confidence. His calm, unreadable expression contrasted with Cassian's energy.
"It's still not confirmed," the man said evenly. "Could just be rumors."
Cassian waved the comment away. "The Eldergrove Forest is a death sentence. Whether it was bandits or monsters, he's not coming back, Darius. Trust me."
Darius leaned back, his face calm. "If you say so," he replied, his tone neutral.
Cassian leaned forward, his grin widening. "This changes everything. With Leonhardt gone, the Caulem Dukedom will go to his half-brother. That's a game-changer."
Darius raised an eyebrow. "And the princess? She won't ignore this."
Cassian laughed, his voice full of confidence. "Let her try."
---
Reo lay on the grass, his crimson eyes staring blankly at the morning sky. The memory transfer was done, but it left him feeling like he had been hit by a truck. He groaned, running a hand through his messy hair, muttering, "Elynn."
[Yes, Host.]
His voice was strained, full of annoyance. "Can I meet the goddess?"
[Why?]
"Motherfucker."
Reo let out a frustrated growl as he sat up, holding his aching head. "Are you kidding me? Out of all the bodies out there, this is what she picked? What kind of miserable life did this kid even live?"
[The body to host your soul is not easy to find. Few bodies can handle the strain. This one is the only one that works with your soul.]
Reo exhaled sharply, rubbing his face. "Great. So I've been stuck in the body of a loser because you guys couldn't do better. Real nice."
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting Leonhardt Caulem's memories come in like unwelcome guests. The pieces painted a grim picture: a cowardly boy, bullied by those stronger, then he bullied others to feel powerful. Weak in body, weaker in spirit—a total mess of a person.
"Perfect," Reo muttered dryly.
His gaze shifted to his hands, his crimson eyes stopping on the wedding ring still on his finger. For a moment, he froze. Carefully, he slid it off and held it in his palm. His expression softened, his fingers tightening briefly around the band.
With a sigh, he whispered, "Alright, kid. You're gone, but I'll clean up your mess. You've got my word."
Reo tucked the ring safely into his pocket.
He straightened up and rolled his shoulders. "Elynn, show me the stats."
[DISPLAYING STATS.]
A glowing screen appeared in front of him, listing the details of the body he now had:
[- NAME: LEONHARDT CAULEM
•STRENGTH: 25
•ENDURANCE: 20
•DEFENSE: 23
•SPEED: 30
•STAMINA: 20
•MANA CAPACITY: 5
•INTELLIGENCE: 70
•BATTLE INTELLIGENCE: 83
•SOUL RESONANCE WEAPON: NONE]
[SKILLS:
•MARTIAL ARTS
•ADVANCED INSTINCTS
•WEAPON MASTERY (intermediate)
•HEALING (3/3)]
Reo scanned the numbers, his lips curling into a frustrated sneer. "This is pathetic. Strength, endurance, stamina—total trash. And mana? A five? What am I supposed to do with that?"
[The body is in its base state. But with the goddess's blessing, your growth rate will be amazing. Even basic effort will give great results.]
Reo raised his eyebrow, frustration briefly replaced with curiosity. "So you're saying I can grow my skills faster?"
[Correct. Your potential for growth is much higher than the average person.]
"Huh," Reo muttered. "Guess that's one good thing."
His thoughts were interrupted by a loud growl from his stomach. The sound broke the moment, and Reo sighed in mild annoyance.
[Alert!]
[Host has been unconscious for five days. You need to eat immediately to get your energy back.]
"Are you a fukcing smartwatch or something?" he muttered, shaking his head. He forced himself to stand, stretching out his sore muscles.
[....]
"Alright, alright. Let's go get some food before I pass out again."
He grabbed the hunting knife lying nearby and turned it over in his hand. The blade caught the sunlight, shining faintly, and Reo gave it a quick twirl. "Let's see what this body can actually do."
---
The maid jolted awake in the cave, her body trembling as she gasped for air. Her breath came in short, panicked bursts, and her eyes darted around the dimly lit space.
The sound of the whip cracking in her mind—a cruel nightmare of her past where she got punished by her young master.
No. Not a nightmare. A memory.
The humiliation, the pain, the fear—it all surged through her like a cold wave, threatening to pull her under. She clenched her fists tightly, trying to steady herself, but the shadow of her trauma lingered.
Then, a sound broke through her thoughts—a steady, rhythmic noise, like something being struck repeatedly. Her eyes flicked toward the source. Just a few feet away, she saw him: Leonhardt Caulem. He was kneeling on the ground, his back to her, moving with careful, deliberate motions.
Her heart pounded in her chest. He was awake. She froze, unsure of what to do. What was he doing? And why… why did he seem so different?
As if sensing her gaze, he turned his head slightly, his crimson eyes meeting hers.
Liana stood stiffly, her brown eyes wide with shock. Her light brown hair, was messy, a few loose strands sticking to her damp forehead. Her plain dress wrinkled, clung to her as she gripped the fabric with trembling fingers. Her breath hitched, her knuckles turning white as she clutched the her dress.
"Oh, you're awake," he said casually, his tone light and friendly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Liana's breath caught in her throat as her gaze darted to his cheek. It was streaked with dried blood, and his hands were stained red. In one of them, he held a knife—its blade glinting in the faint light, smeared with fresh blood.
"Hey, can you co—"
"I-I'm sorry, young master!" she blurted out, cutting him off. Before he could say another word, she scrambled to her knees, bowing so low that her forehead touched the ground.
"F-forgive me, young master!" she stammered, her voice trembling. "I-I failed to protect you! Please don't punish me! I'll do better, I swear!"
Reo blinked, his expression shifting to one of pure confusion. *What the hell?* he thought, staring at her trembling form. He set the knife down beside the partially butchered dire rabbit meat and stood, wiping his hands clean on a piece of cloth.
As he steps toward her, fragments of Leonhardt's memories flashed in his mind—memories of this maid, Liana.
She was the only one who had stayed by his side, enduring his temper and cruelty without complaint. Even when he lashed out at her, she never abandoned him. She had been his anchor in a world that otherwise despised him.
"Leo, you absolute idiot," Reo muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair. He stopped a short distance from Liana, who was still trembling, her face pressed to the ground.
"Hey," he called out, his voice softer now. "Get up."
Liana didn't move, her entire body stiff with fear. Reo frowned, then spoke again, this time with a firm edge. "I said, get up."
At the sound of his commanding tone, Liana flinched and quickly obeyed, her movements stiff like robot. She knelt upright, her head still bowed, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.
"Y-yes, young master," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Reo studied her for a moment, his expression softening. He recalled Elynn's report—how she had dragged him to safety after the attack, how she had foraged for food and fed him berries to keep him alive while he was unconscious for five days. She risked everything for him.
"Liana," he said quietly, his tone filled genuine warmth.
"Thank you for saving me."
Her head snapped up in shock, her wide eyes meeting his. She stared at him, her lips parting slightly, as though unable to process what she had just heard.
Leonhardt Caulem had never thanked her. Never. Not once. And now, here he was—his voice soft, his gaze sincere—offering gratitude she had never dared to hope for.
"Y-young master…" she stammered, her voice shaking. "I… I don't understand…"
Reo smiled faintly, though there was a flicker of sadness in his eyes. "You taken care of me while I was in unconscious," he said simply.
"You didn't have to, but you did. So… thank you."
Tears filled up in Liana's eyes, but she quickly wiped them away, bowing her head again. "I-it was my duty, young master," she murmured.
"I… I only did what I can."
For the first time in her life, she felt a faint glimmer of hope. The young master she had known—the cruel, selfish Leonhardt—seemed changed.
This man standing before her was different—gentler, kinder. She didn't understand what had changed him.
But a small part of her whispered a question she couldn't ignore. What if… what if he wasn't her young master at all?
"Young master," she began cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes?" Reo replied, meeting her gaze.
"Are you… really my young master Leonhardt Caulem?"