Seeking Answers

Seeking Answers

Leon leaned back in his chair, his eyes still fixed on the now-vanished status screen. The weight of confusion bore down on him like a heavy fog. He rubbed his temples, trying to make sense of his predicament.

"I need information," he muttered under his breath. "I can't just wander around blind. I need to know about this world, about… him."

The thought of Leon Alaric—the despicable character he now inhabited—made his stomach churn. He needed to understand the kind of man he had replaced and the dynamics of this powerful yet twisted household. But where could he find this information?

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," Leon called out instinctively, his voice steady but curious.

The door creaked open, revealing Aria. Her silver hair caught the light, making her look almost ethereal. She stepped inside hesitantly, her eyes flickering with nervousness.

"My lord," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, "the household is waiting for you at the dining table."

Leon raised an eyebrow. "Waiting for me?"

Aria nodded, clutching the edges of her apron. "Yes, my lord. It is customary for the family to dine together."

Leon's heart sank. He wasn't ready for this. Facing a room full of people who likely despised him sounded like walking into a lion's den. But he couldn't ignore it either—it would raise suspicion.

"Alright," Leon said, standing up. He paused, looking at Aria. She was the only person he recognized in this unfamiliar world. If anyone could give him answers, it was her.

"Before we go," Leon said, motioning toward the chair beside him, "sit down. I need to talk to you."

Aria's eyes widened in alarm. "I… I don't deserve to sit beside you, my lord," she stammered, lowering her gaze. Instead of sitting, she knelt on the floor, her head bowed.

Leon felt a pang of guilt twist in his chest. Her submissiveness, her fear—it wasn't just habit. It was something he had instilled in her. Or rather, something the previous Leon had done.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I'm not going to hurt you," he said, his tone softening. "I just… need some answers."

Aria hesitated but gave a small nod, remaining on her knees.

Leon sat back down and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "Tell me," he began carefully, "what kind of person am I? Or rather, what kind of person do people think I am?"

Aria's hands clenched her apron tightly, and for a moment, she said nothing. Finally, she spoke, her voice trembling. "You are… you were… feared and… hated, my lord."

Leon flinched at her words but forced himself to stay calm. "Hated?"

Aria nodded, avoiding his gaze. "You… mistreated many people. You were unkind to the servants and cruel to those who depended on you. The household saw you as… a scumbag."

Leon blinked, taken aback. "A… scumbag?" he repeated, his voice carrying a mix of disbelief and amusement.

The word felt so blunt, so simple, yet so utterly damning. A small, incredulous laugh escaped him before he could stop it. "That's… quite the description."

Aria's face turned pale, and she immediately lowered her head further. "I'm sorry, my lord! I didn't mean to offend—"

Leon held up a hand, cutting her off. "No, no, it's fine," he said, waving her apology away. "I just… wasn't expecting you to say it so plainly."

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face. "Scumbag, huh? Well, that's… not great."

Despite the gravity of the situation, Leon couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Here he was, a hardcore gamer who had conquered the most challenging game, only to find himself stuck as its most hated character. The irony was almost poetic.

"Alright," Leon said after a moment, his tone shifting to something more serious. "Thank you for your honesty, Aria."

Aria hesitated, her gaze flickering up to him for a brief second. "You… you're different today, my lord," she said cautiously.

Leon's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly masked his surprise. "Different?" he echoed.

She nodded. "You seem… kinder."

Leon didn't know how to respond to that, so he simply stood up and gestured toward the door. "Let's not keep everyone waiting," he said, changing the subject.

Aria rose to her feet quickly, her hands still clutching her apron. As she opened the door for him, Leon took a deep breath, bracing himself for whatever awaited him at the dining table.

"Step two," he muttered under his breath. "Fix the mess this scumbag made."

And with that, he stepped into the hallway, determined to face the family that had every reason to despise him.