The New Start

The darkness swallowed Sei whole, he couldn't see anything, just darkness all around. Then suddenly, he felt the warmth of hands, soothing.

He opened his eyes with immense effort. A brilliant, intense rush of light grazed him, then the cold wind struck him next. He tried speaking, but the only voice that escaped his mouth was a thin cry. He tried moving his body, but the movements were sluggish, like thrashing underwater.

He could hear people chattering around him, the words he didn't understand, but they were happy.

"He's so beautiful… our son," a woman said softly, her eyes filled with tears. She held his little body with utmost care, like holding a glass.

"He looks strong," another voice—this time hard, but still chimed with joy.

"He's your son, after all," the lady murmured, and they both laughed. Then a third voice intercepted them.

"You two, give the boy here," an old, experienced voice cut through. An old lady picked him up in her hands softly, giving a slight smile, and then wrapped his body in a warm cloth.

What is going on? Ahh, why am I a newborn infant? I remember everything—the crash, that courtroom, and that bastard angel… and Haru. Panic rose in his little chest. Yes, what was Haru doing there? And what game were those fuckers talking about? I'm stuck here in this body. I wonder where Haru is right now.

I am reincarnated, and that angel said I will have a skill. I couldn't even see what was on that card… fuck.

The old lady put him down by his mother's side. "This child… he doesn't even cry. Such a brave boy from birth. He indeed is the son of the great warrior Leo," she spoke, laughing.

Who the hell is this old fart? Doesn't she have some work? Ah, and this pretty lady is my mother… she is so pretty. I wonder how good-looking I am. Ha-ha, all the girls will fall for me soon enough.

He tried to speak, but he could only manage a feeble cry.

"It's all right… it's all right, my sweet Sei," the woman whispered, her lips brushing gently against his forehead. "You are safe."

What? Why is she calling me Sei? No damn chance I have the same name. No, give me a good name, change the name.

Ahh, she can't hear me. And so, I am stuck here as an infant. I am in a new world, and not on Earth. And the angel said that I will get some skill, so maybe this world has magic and stuff… or not. Might be that only I get some skill. But one thing is clear—I need to grow and learn if I want to survive. And I wish my parents aren't rich—at least in this world, I need freedom.

Sei was reincarnated as a newborn baby. He didn't know what skill he got from the beings above, nor did he know what they were or why he was reincarnated. His only goal now was to survive and grow.

As he twisted his little head to look at the lady, her calm and joyous expression, thoughts struck his mind.

Was my mom on Earth so happy when I was born? Would she be crying right now because she lost her son? She never loved me… or rather, never showed it. To her, I was just a kid who was born as a result of her forced marriage to a rich man.

Tears rolled down his little cheeks. The lady—his new mother—immediately wiped them off and tried to comfort him.

Where are you, Haru? I hope you are alright, and what I saw there was just my imagination. I don't want to see Haru with that twisted expression.

This was what Sei thought, but what he saw was the truth—Haru died.

Haru's Perspective:

"Huff… Huff…"

Haru swiftly opened his eyes, sweat clinging to his forehead. "Ah, my head? Why does it hurt like that?"

He raised his hand only to freeze. He immediately looked around—he was in a foreign room, one he didn't recognize. He stood up from the bed, his eyes darting to find a mirror. He saw a broken shard in a corner, covered in blood. He immediately picked it up to see his face.

His eyes widened. What he saw was not his face, and there was blood gushing from a wound on the side of his neck.

Tears fell, slowly rolling down his cheeks. "Everything was real… no, this can't be."

He remembered a blurry memory. They said I will live again.

Ding—

A red screen popped up in front of him—

Another message appeared—

His head erupted with foreign memories. "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" he screamed, clutching his head.

After some time, the pain subsided, his breathing ragged. "I am… Gilian Fredrik," he whispered.

[Name – Gilian Fredrik]

[Level – 1]

[Core – Empty]

[Battle Art – None]

[Exp – 0/100]

[Inventory – Locked]

[Realm Level – Locked]

"What is this? It's like those systems I saw in the comics."

A voice rang out in his head—

{FIRST MISSION DETECTED}

Then a message appeared—

His face twisted with anger and uncertainty as he looked at the hideous mission in front of his eyes. "What the fuck is this?" his voice was just above a whisper.

Then a sweet, tender voice rang out, "Brother, what are you doing?"

A little girl came in from the door behind.

He reflexively hid his neck with his arm and slowly turned back. The little girl saw him with awe. "Brother, what happened? There is blood," she asked, her voice filled with concern.

"No, it's nothing… just a little scratch from that glass shard on my hand."

"You are late today; Dinner is ready. Come on."

The little girl turned and left. Haru—or rather, Gilian—sat down on the bed.

"So, this Gilian guy committed suicide… and now I'm trapped in his body. I wonder where Sei is… hope he's already in heaven, if there exists one." He sighed and looked again at the system notification.

"They want me to kill… or she dies? What kind of monster would set this up?" he gritted his teeth. "You shitheads… I will make sure to pay you back." Determination flickered in his eyes.