Parallel World (2)

"Fuuuuuuuuck!!"

The moment I looked in the mirror, a curse escaped my lips.

"Y-Young Master? What is the matter?!"

I had my doubts, but to think I'd look exactly the same as I did on Earth? Mercury, you absolute bitch!

"This... this body again! Dammit... sigh."

The hand holding the mirror trembled violently. If this was how it was going to be, why did she even bother reincarnating me? Sure, my family background was a bit better, but how was I supposed to survive in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this wretched body?

If there was any difference, it was that I looked like my younger self. But even back then, I was already morbidly obese.

"Ha, haha... Uh, Albert? How old am I right now?"

"...Since you fell into a coma at eighteen, you are nineteen this year. Young Master, are you alright?"

"I-I see. No, it's nothing."

Indeed, the reflection in the mirror looked like me at nineteen. And at that age, I already weighed well over a hundred and ten kilograms.

"Since you haven't been able to eat properly for a year... you must have slimmed down quite a bit. I will inform the Lord immediately and have a meal prepared."

"...Please do."

After Albert left the room, I collapsed onto the bed without a word. Memories of the countless insults and contempt I had endured on Earth flooded back. A daily life where I was ultimately branded as nothing but a pig.

Dammit.

I thought I could live a new life here, but I was a fool to believe it.

"Fucking Mercury."

—What is the matter?

"Aaargh!!!"

Thud!

The sudden voice startled me so badly that I rolled right off the bed.

"Aigoo, my back..."

—If you called for me, speak.

"..."

I looked left and right, but Mercury was nowhere to be seen. Her clear voice echoed directly inside my head. Just like when I died, it seemed I was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the only one who could hear it.

"Ugh... Are you listening, Lady Mercury?"

I grabbed the edge of the bed and managed to haul myself up.

—Yes. I am listening.

"...Do goddesses usually answer whenever they're called?"

—Of course not. It is thanks to the Talent of Knowledge I bestowed upon you.

...Ah.

Suddenly, the ability I had seen back in the temple crossed my mind. In the description for the Talent of Knowledge, it did say that the goddess would answer if asked. I just hadn't expected it to work like this.

"Then... have you been watching me this whole time?"

—Do you truly think I am that idle? I will only respond when you call for me.

That alone sounds pretty idle to me, though.

—Was that directed at me?

"Gah!"

—I can hear your thoughts as well, so mind your words.

Right. I mean, yes, of course.

—Now, did you not have something to ask?

"Not really... I think I just called you out of habit."

—Understood. I shall return next time.

"W-Wait a minute!"

I cried out in a hurry as something suddenly occurred to me.

—What is it?

"Oh, right. Before you sent me here, wasn't there something you were trying to say?"

Just before my reincarnation, Mercury had definitely apologized to me. It was hard to brush it off as nothing, especially since the bitter smile she wore back then kept bothering me.

—I do not know.

"Huh?"

—The one speaking to you now is not my true self. In Earth terms, you could call me an avatar.

"...What? So you're not the real Lady Mercury?"

—I told you, I am not that idle. However, the conversations we have are shared with my true self in real-time.

"..."

Acting like she's so damn busy.

—Watch your mouth.

"Ack! I-I'm sorry."

—Do you have anything else to ask?

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything... Can I ask you again later?"

—Very well. I shall take my leave for now.

"Y-Yes! Take care."

With those final words, the echoing voice in my head vanished completely.

"...She's gone, right?"

There was no reply.

"She... she really left, right?"

I double-checked just in case, but my mind remained quiet.

"...Man, she's so prickly. She could've at least given me a better ability!"

Gulp.

As expected, no answer came.

Whew, I got scared for nothing.

Fortunately, it seemed true that she only responded when called. Exhaling a long sigh, I began to organize my current situation.

I had been reincarnated as a nineteen-year-old. And according to Mercury, this world was currently facing a crisis. Once the Total Lunar Eclipse began, monsters would run rampant. My task was to grow strong enough before that happened.

...That's way too grand.

Saving the world. The scale of it was so massive that I couldn't even muster a sense of purpose.

Besides, growing stronger? Considering how I was on Earth, that was absolutely impossible. Words like "growth" or "improving skills" were completely foreign to me.

The only thing I could rely on was the ability Mercury had given me. Suddenly, I recalled seeing Lee Cheri's status window back in the temple.

I wonder if I can do it too?

To check my own abilities, I visualized a status window in my mind. At that moment—

Flash.

Just like before, a status window materialized before my eyes. Looking at it, I couldn't help but grimace.

"What the hell is this..."

Irritation seeped into my voice without my realizing it. Lee Cheri's game-breaking stats were absurd enough, but my stats, all sitting in the single digits, seemed even more problematic.

...I look weak as shit.

I didn't have an exact grasp of the numbers, but compared to Lee Cheri's strength, which was around 50, mine was pitifully low.

My hands trembled. Unlike the members of Rosemary, who were gifted weapons and high stats, my only ability was talking to Mercury.

Goddess's blessing my ass.

Give me a real ability, not just a chat partner!

It was infuriating, but lamenting now wouldn't change anything. Was the only thing I could rely on the Learning Talent listed under my passives? A heavy sigh escaped my lips in frustration.

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

Just then, a vibration strong enough to shake the floor rattled the room.

"W-What is it? An earthquake?"

The sound drew closer to my room. A moment later, the door burst open with a loud bang.

"Y-Yeong-sik!!"

"Brother! You've ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠finally awakened!"

Two men had suddenly burst in. One was a middle-aged man whose frame was just as portly as mine, and the other was a tall young man with sharp, masculine features.

"W-Who are you?"

"...Do you truly not remember us?"

"I heard from Albert! Are you feeling alright?"

Albert, who had left the room earlier, appeared behind them. He spoke up on behalf of my bewildered self.

"Please, both of you, calm down. Young Master Yeong-sik, allow me to explain. This is Lord Liam, the ruler of the Russell Territory and your father. The gentleman beside him is your older brother, Young Master Oliver."

"Yes, Yeong-sik. Do you really not remember me?"

"Brother. It's me, Oliver."

My father? And my brother?

Although it was a parallel world, it seemed it wasn't identical to the point of leaving me familyless. Meeting people who were supposedly my family left me utterly dazed.

"I-I'm sorry. I still don't remember..."

Before I could finish, they lunged forward and pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Ugh! W-Wait a minute."

"It is alright, my son. Thank you for coming back to us, sob..."

"Father is right. Thank goodness, thank goodness..."

The two men held me tight and began to sob uncontrollably. Behind them, Albert was also quietly wiping away his tears.

I felt like my body was being crushed, but there was nothing I could do. I simply waited for them to calm down.

After a while.

"Do you truly not remember anything at all?"

"Yes, Fa...ther."

"It is fine. What matters is that you have regained consciousness. Your brother and I have waited for this day for so long."

"..."

With a face smeared with tears and snot, Liam caressed my cheek. Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, I gently pulled my face back and spoke.

"Ahem. I... have one question."

"Yes, my son! Ask anything!"

"So, your names are Liam and Oliver, and my name is Yeong-sik. Is that correct?"

"Indeed. You are the proud youngest son of our Russell family. Yeong-sik de Russell!"

...Wait, what kind of fucked-up naming system is this?

"I-I see."

"My son, your face looks so gaunt. We must eat something while we talk."

"Father is right. Let's eat first, Yeong-sik."

"...Yes."

I reluctantly agreed to their suggestions.

"Albert, is dinner ready?"

"Yes, my Lord. Since it is a meal for the three of you after so long, I will prepare it with the utmost care."

From Albert to my so-called father, their first thought upon my awakening was to feed me. I could easily imagine what my reputation had been like in this place.

Dammit.

Liam, Oliver, and I. The three of us sat facing each other at the dining table.

"You must be very hungry, aren't you? Just wait a little longer, my boy."

"Brother, it breaks my heart to see how much weight you've lost... Eat to your heart's content to make up for lost time."

"Yes, yes."

Were they seriously saying that? Even a passing glance would tell anyone I was morbidly obese.

"Albert, bring in the food."

"Yes, my Lord. I have specially prepared the dishes Young Master Yeong-sik used to enjoy."

"Excellent."

Soon, Albert and two servants wheeled in a cart laden with food. A savory aroma tickled the tip of my nose.

A feast was laid out before my eyes in no time. Golden-brown barbecue, a well-simmered chicken stew, along with various fresh seafood and salads.

"How long has it been since the three of us gathered like this? I will never forget this day for the rest of my life."

"I feel the same, Father. Yeong-sik, thank you so much for waking up... sniff."

Man, this family is incredibly sentimental. Wiping away his tears, Oliver took a moment to catch his breath and cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Ahem. I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made a scene at the dining table. Let us eat."

"No, it's fine... Please, help yourselves."

How was I supposed to eat with all this pressure?

I carefully sliced a piece of the barbecue. The knife slid effortlessly through the meat. I could feel its tenderness just by the touch. I picked up a piece with my fork and popped it into my mouth.

"...It's delicious."

"Isn't it?"

"I am glad it suits your palate."

It was indeed an exquisite taste. A tender texture I had never experienced back on Earth. But that was it. Normally, I would have buried my face in the plate and inhaled the food, but I wasn't in the mood right now.

To think I have to live as a pig again...

I had gone through the trouble of reincarnating, only to end up in the exact same body. The thought of living like this from now on drained all my energy.

"What is the matter?"

Noticing that my knife work had slowed down, Liam asked with a worried look.

"It's nothing. I just... don't have much of an appetite."

Clang!

Clang!

"W-What did you just say?"

"Y-Yeong-sik? Are you alright?"

Liam and Oliver dropped their knives at the same time. Both of them stammered in utter shock. What was with the overreaction?

"What's wrong? I just don't have much of an appetite..."

Clang!

The fork in my hand clattered onto the table.

"W-What did I just say...?"

Only then did I realize something was wrong. Did those words really come out of my mouth? It was a phrase I had never uttered in my entire life.

No appetite?

Something was definitely wrong with my body.

Do I have cancer or something?

In a panic, I summoned Mercury.

M-Mercury? Are you listening?

—What is it?

I-I don't have an appetite right now. What's going on?

—What is wrong with not having an appetite?

Because it's weird! I don't want to eat. I've never felt like this in my entire life.

—You must have had quite the gluttonous appetite.

Dammit, whose fault do you think that was?

Ah, whatever! Do you know why I'm like this? Is it a health issue?

—Hmm. No appetite... Just to be sure, do you wish to lose weight right now?

Well, obviously! Do you think I want to live in this body here too?

—Then that must be the reason. Humans naturally translate their will into action. In your case, the effect is simply more pronounced thanks to your Learning Talent.

What...

My jaw dropped.

The Learning Talent?

The ability I thought I'd need to save the world was manifesting in the most unexpected way.