Isekai and meet Lex Armine

(Lex POV)

((Click here when you're ready to go))

The screen asks me to click when, but in reality, it'll work when I choose to go... well since there's no point in waiting any longer it's time to go on what is probably the first of many adventures... since everything is prepped.

'I'm ready'

Upon affirming to myself a ray of dark blue light came down on me, it felt like I was being fragmented into little pieces, but there was no pain.

It's a strange feeling but I couldn't let myself be bothered by it. Who knew when I'd have to do this again? So I closed my eyes and once I reopened them I fell on my knees... and puked my ever-living guts out.

This is the absolute most dizzying feeling I've ever experienced, even more than my most traumatic theme park experience. Though since I'm nice I won't have you need to read any vivid details.

When I was done trying to be a cat failing to spit out a hairball, I could now pay attention to my surroundings. A fresh breeze made my hair flow, to the front of my face. Which I instantly realized.

'Wait this... isn't my hair colour?'

In a bit of a hurry, I didn't pay attention to my situation and found a river nearby. When I looked at myself I found a reflection different from what I was used to. A scholarly-looking man, with medium-length light brown hair, sharp grey eyes, and a beauty mark under 'my' left eye.

Wondering what happened while travelling here a new notification appeared,

[[Congratulations host! You have been successfully reincarnated into your new, you now inhabit the body of Lex Armine and will use the same body on your return to Earth...

Feeling a bit perplexed, I calmed down once read the notification.

[[You can now select which memories you wish to keep and wish to discard from the original body...]]

From there a drop-down appeared with a range of different types of memories that this body possessed things from languages, education, relationships, and more.

It didn't take too long to choose which types of memories I'd like to have. I chose general knowledge of the world, relationships of this person like; friends, family, no lovers, enemies, and other people "I'm" acquainted with. Then other useful tidbits like their educated skills, plans for the future, and secrets.

I discarded stuff like when this 'Lex' lost his virginity cause I want my own experience damnit! Any other useless junk was also ignored.

I expected another hurtful time when gaining these memories but it merely stung and no memories flowed into my mind like 'the failed regression' did. Instead, when I needed to use the memories I could access them, like finding a book when needed.

According to these memories, Lex Armine is the adopted son of a local merchant. 20 years old and has no other related family members apart from his adoptive father. Now I'm in a world that heavily relies on steam-powered machinery, but it seems magic does exist. Though it's not easily accessible to commoners in this aristocratic society.

The country is named Cheshire and is found in this continent named Arya. Lex moves very often from city to city so he can sell products and gain partners for his father's mercantile business.

Before I could review my newfound memories any further I should probably use the items I bought now. Cause looking down... it seems I'm in my birthday suit again. Looking back to where I 'spawned' in a few pouches laid.

These were space pouches that I purchased from equipment to store what I had till I could access the inventory. Taking out the [Automatic Culture X Fashion disguise] device after turning an arrow dial to the center, then click a button. I was now wearing what a middle-class commoner would wear and what seemed fashionable around the area.

A brown vest made of velvet-like material with unique patterns over a white shirt on top and some snazzy brown jeans, a belt, and glossy shoes to go along with it.

Around the belt I hung the three space pouches that we're honestly pretty cheap... either my retailer is extremely generous or it is heavily mass-produced; each has around 15 cubic meters of space in it. One for food, one for equipment, and the last for any artifacts I may collect. From that same third pouch, I grabbed a pair of Prussian blue and yellow gloves each with a symbol of the sun and moon.

Putting them on a didn't feel different than normal even though it was the day I felt no particular increase in strength. Though maybe the air felt a bit cleared up, perhaps the pollution had cleared up because of the sunlight glove?

Now having a general idea of my surroundings with mostly plains, trees, and the dirt road. Turning back around now that I gathered back my attention. A shocking sight had beholden me; the sight of two dead bodies presumably of women and 3 well-built men laid on the ground. A memory flashed in my mind.

An attack; a band of 12 bandits who called themselves... the zodiac bandits. A powerful group of criminals with access to illegal magic.

Supposedly hired by a rival company that was mentioned by the bandits, that company's owner went mad with jealousy since 'my' father struck an extremely profitable deal recently, one that'd tip the edge in our favor and get us into the high class of commoner citizenship.

The two maidens on the ground had simply joined me on a carriage ride since we had similar destinations. Sandra and Connie... those were their names.

They were 'played' around with by the reviled bandits after our three escort knights had only managed to take down a single one of them.

'I' myself was stripped of my belongings but not before they told me they'd get 'my' father too.

I was shocked by these memories and was only put off more by the putrid smell of dead bodies on the ground that threatened to make me go another round of cat and hairball. I brought my hands up to my mouth to contain a yell.

I had just minimally recovered from the [redacted] experience, the sight of dead bodies around 'me', Kim Oh-Jin, and a woman whose identity I didn't get from 'our' memories that were in 'my' arms.

This was not a healthy sight to see after all that. I walked forward slowly, every step crackled on the dirt and gravel paved road.

'Seriously it's one thing after another, why is my "creator" doing this to me?'

I shuddered a painful sigh and approached the naked, dead bodies. I carried them and gently put them inside the carriage that stood on its wheels still. The seats were covered with blankets so I used them to cover their bodies and silently wished for them a better life after death.

Going towards the river I washed my arms that were now covered in dirt, grime, and 'bandits' fluids. Goosebumps crawled up my arms in disgust and soon I found myself investigating the scene.

All of our possession were taken, luckily my things came along the time of my reincarnation else I'd be fucked. There wasn't a single wound on my body from the attack even though I remember an arrow being shot into my abdomen. Curiously, it was the same place where I found my injury back on earth after being attacked by those hooligans, delinquents, or whatever they were.

There was nothing of use to me here. Now I had to contemplate my path going forward. Around an hour away from here is the town 'I' left from, a small place called Shara with citizens who all live pretty decent lives.

Though, you might find a beggar or two on a single street... it would seem that in 'my' memories that slavery all exists here. It's more strictly enforced through the use of magical stigmas, so if they disobey their master they get an extremely painful shock to their nervous system.

Even our Armine family has 2 slaves we take around everywhere. I could only sigh since I'd be here for only three months that was no time to abolish slavery, especially with how "prosperous" that industry currently is. I don't even know how I'd do so, I'm hardly a historian to borrow ideas from people on earth too...

'Whatever!'

Slapping both my cheeks like an anime character stung a bit, but now I could focus on the short term. I need to decide whether to save 'my' father or not. The memories about him keep coming in and it's compelling me to do so...

'My' father has a cold exterior but his words carry all the warmth and care he has for 'me'. If I were to say... abandon him I could start anew and build a new life while staying away from my previous contacts. If I save him I get access to all of that sweet, sweet merchant money and I'll save a life! However, I'll have to put on a convincing act so he doesn't find out that "I'm" actually gone...

"Gosh! This is so tough... do protagonists need to make these types of decisions so often? How come I never realized it? I can also guess this is one of those decisions that'll affect my destiny according to the quest too...

"Ooookay~ I guess the only way to do this is through what I feel is right for me..." I lazily motivated myself. (A/N Irony...)

A few minutes of contemplation is all it took and I'm off running... to Shara to save 'my' father. I have an hour to come up with a plan as I run or find another method of transport. I dash forward feeling a couple of times more athletic than I usually do, even in comparison to Lex Armine's memories. Does the sunlight glove improve my overall physique? Since it seems it does this was such a good purchase truly worth my precious protagonist points.

'My' new physique seems real above average, in comparison to my earth one. There aren't exactly six-packs or anything, just a lean body with some firm muscles from participating in some manual labour when visiting the family-owned factory and constant traveling. However, I was still far better built here.

Apart from checking my new self out, I had to start thinking of a plan with what I have, gather what I know, attempt to strategize something I've never done before, and I could try making a contingency plan in case of failure.

I'm certain a certain bat-themed detective/superhero would be proud of me for preparing said contingencies plan... I think.