Parallel World (3)

"Let me know if you get hungry later."

"Yes, Father."

Tea time followed the meal. Fortunately, I managed to gloss over my lack of appetite as a lingering side effect of waking up from a coma.

I wondered what kind of men sat around having tea time, but seeing Liam inhale the refreshments made me nod in understanding.

I bet the original me was just like that.

I joined the conversation while sipping only warm tea this time as well. By asking questions here and there under the guise of memory loss, I managed to gather a decent amount of information about this place.

The Caser Empire, located in the center of the New Orant continent.

The Russell family ruled a small, rural baron territory situated in the northwestern part of the Caser Empire.

Should I say it was just as I hoped? As expected, it was a noble family. However, they held the rank of baron, the lowest among the nobility.

"There isn't a single soul in our territory who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠doesn't know you two. Especially you, Yeong-sik. You and I were famous as the fat father-son duo! Wahahat!"

"I-I see."

Even to my eyes, Liam and I were undeniably father and son. The rolls of fat, the short and stubby build. If anything, it was hard to believe that Oliver, with his tall stature and sharp features, was even part of the family.

Come to think of it...

As I listened, something felt slightly off. Ever since they started talking about the past and the Russell family, there was a strange omission in their words. To be precise, a single person was missing.

"Is that lady... my mother?"

They flinched.

When I pointed to the photo sitting on a table in the corner of the dining room, both Liam and Oliver stiffened.

It was a warm photo of four people, seemingly taken in the estate's front yard. Father Liam, Oliver and me as toddlers, and a woman I had never seen before.

She had calm brown hair and gentle eyes. She was beautiful enough to make anyone gasp in admiration. If she was indeed our mother, it would explain the stark difference in appearance between Oliver and me.

My brother got our mother's genes, and I got the opposite.

Damn it.

"You are correct."

"You don't... remember Mother either, it seems."

Their expressions darkened instantly. Judging by their reactions, it was clear that something tragic had happened.

"...May I ask what happened?"

Since I had to live as a member of this household anyway, I needed to know the crucial details. At my question, Liam and Oliver hesitated for a moment before exchanging nods.

"Chloe was your mother, and my one and only wife. I held my tongue out of concern that it might shock you, but..."

"I'm fine."

"Right. You would have found out soon enough anyway."

Liam looked at me, the laughter completely gone from his face.

"Your mother... passed away while you were in a coma."

"..."

"You might not remember, but Chloe cherished you dearly during her life. After you collapsed, she never missed a single day of nursing you."

"...I see. Was her health poor to begin with?"

At my question, Liam shook his head.

"About six months after you fell asleep, our territory was raided by a horde of goblins. It was on the day of a Total Lunar Eclipse."

"What?"

My eyes widened at the unexpected response.

"There were over seventy of them. Our territory was completely devastated because of it."

"Then, did Mother also...?"

Liam remained silent instead of answering. Seeing this, Oliver gently placed a hand on Liam's back and spoke in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his stead.

"Unfortunately, Father and I were away at the Imperial Palace at the time. They said that as the village was falling apart, Mother took up arms and fought back. She was definitely that kind of person... our mother."

"..."

"I'm sorry, Yeong-sik. I have no excuse for failing to protect Mother."

Oliver hung his head weakly. Naturally, I couldn't blame the two men before me. Not only was it not their fault, but the deceased woman was someone I had never even met.

A brief silence fell over us. However, there was something I had to verify. Glancing at their expressions, I posed a question to the gloomy Oliver.

"Brother, those monsters called goblins... had they ever appeared here before?"

"No. Though there had been rumors before..."

"What kind of rumors?"

"...Rumors that monsters invade cities on the day of a Total Lunar Eclipse."

Just as I thought. It was exactly what Mercury had told me. The anomalous behavior of monsters during a Total Lunar Eclipse. The crisis currently threatening Lercelon was already happening here in the Russell territory.

"I am the one who failed to protect Chloe and our people. I will face my punishment for it one day."

"Father..."

"..."

The damage must have been far more devastating than I imagined. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to ask just how bad it had been.

A heavy atmosphere enveloped us for a while. Sensing the mood, Liam was the first to change the subject.

"Well, let's leave the heavy talk at that. We can't just sit here lamenting when my second son has finally returned."

"Yes, Father. I agree. We should be celebrating today, of all days!"

"..."

Oliver also raised his voice, trying his best to liven up the mood.

"Exactly. Oliver, what do we need at a time like this?"

"Ha... alcohol, of course! What in the world could beat the craft beer brewed right here in the Russell territory?"

"Indeed, indeed! If only Yeong-sik knew the taste of it too!"

Liam laughed heartily, looking at me.

"Come to think of it, Father, our youngest is old enough to drink now!"

"...Brother, I literally just woke up from a coma."

"Wahahat! Right. Today, Oliver and I will drink your share for you. Albert! Bring out all the alcohol left in the estate!"

"Every last drop! I'll finish it all off today!"

"..."

Watching the two of them boisterously shout, a strange, blank feeling washed over me.

I didn't know for sure, but was this what family felt like?

Fascinated by this novel emotion, I silently watched their banter.

Long after dinner time.

Located in the northern part of the empire, the sun was only now beginning to set.

"How beautiful... Huh? Why are there two suns? No, is it three? Haha."

"Father, what are you talking about! There's only one sun, one! Right, little brother?"

"...Sure. By the way, haven't you two had a bit too much to drink?"

I threw a word at the two swaying figures in the front yard. Ignoring my remark, Liam and Oliver remained lost in the beauty of the sunset.

Flutter—

I raised my head at the sound of something flapping in the wind.

"Huh? That flag..."

"Haha, that? If I were to tell you about that..."

Liam trailed off.

"It is our painful scar."

"That's right, Yeong-sik! It means we won't forget the sacrifice!"

On one side of the yard, a flag hung high enough to be seen from anywhere in the territory. It wasn't a family crest. It was simply a flag dyed entirely black.

"It's to mourn the victims."

"Well, it's also for my own reflection. Haha."

"Don't say that! We will recover in no time! I believe in you, Father, and in our people!"

Leaving the two drunkenly shouting men to themselves, I gazed out at the scenery. The Russell estate sat atop a small hill within the territory. Thanks to that, the entire village was visible at a glance.

Here and there, half-collapsed houses dotted the village. The interiors, exposed under the sunset glow, spoke of the tragedy that had unfolded that day. Even though six months had passed, the land still bore the scars of the attack.

"My Lord, please do not worry too much. The people know how hard you have worked for them and how deeply you have agonized over the recovery efforts," Albert said, stepping up to Liam from behind.

"Even so... it won't bring back the dead."

Liam's voice was quiet and sober.

"...My Lord."

"Haha, it's a beautiful day. I might be drunk, but I should still go see Chloe, shouldn't I?"

As he spoke, his eyes glistened in the twilight.

A short while later.

We climbed to the very top of the hill where the Russell estate stood. There, overlooking the vast landscape, lay a small grave.

The sun had fully set, leaving the sky dark.

"Did we come too late? I'm sorry, dear."

"Mother, look who's here. Your favorite youngest son, Yeong-sik, has come..."

I stared at the tombstone erected in front of the grave.

It was a strange feeling.

The first family I had ever had, and a mother.

Yet, I didn't know who she was.

"I'm here, Mother."

I offered a greeting to the woman I had only learned about today. Naturally, there was no reply.

The night air was cold. I looked up toward the horizon. A blue moon hung in the dark sky. It was a sight I had never seen on Earth. Once again, it hit me that I was in another world.

A parallel version of myself.

An existence named Yeong-sik de Russell.

I had to live as him from now on.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

Returning to my room after a shower, I threw myself onto the bed.

Creak!

"Whoa, so soft! Being a noble is great!"

Delicious food, a plush bed, and they even clean up after you. Could there be a better heaven than this?

"Come to think of it, I'm a noble with money. Even if I'm ugly, won't I still be popular?"

Maybe, regardless of whatever wish Mercury promised to grant, just rolling around here would make me happier. I felt a bit sorry for the people of Lercelon, but I preferred a shut-in life over playing hero.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Are there no dating sims here? Wait, since I have money, I can just meet people in real life, right? Hehehe."

I rolled side to side.

I rolled around the bed, imagining a rosy future. The bed groaned under my weight, but I didn't care. If it broke, they'd just buy me a new one.

Thud!

Suddenly, my knee slammed into the chair next to the bed. The sharp pain left me speechless. Tears welled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up in my eyes.

"Argh! Who put a chair here..."

I stopped mid-curse.

Because the person who must have placed the chair there suddenly crossed my mind.

I quietly shut my mouth.

They said she nursed me every single day.

A single chair and a table placed right next to the bed.

Feeling a bit awkward, I sat up.

"She was rich, she could have just ordered the servants to do it... Huh?"

Without much thought, I opened the table drawer, and something packed inside caught my eye.

"...?"

A thick stack of letters. There were too many to hold in one hand. I picked up one of them and read the contents.

"What..."

I opened the other letters one by one.

Day 34, Day 97, Day 120.

The letters written to me had never stopped, not even for a single day.

She didn't seem entirely soft-hearted. Though judging by the state of things earlier, her lectures didn't seem to have worked very well.

As I read the next letter, my eyes stopped at a certain passage.

"This is...!"

A sudden wave of anxiety washed over me.

"..."

That was the end of the letters. I already knew the story that followed. Even the end she had met.

I let out a soft sigh, my heart heavy. I felt strangely uncomfortable. Even though I knew it had nothing to do with me, reading a dead person's letters was hardly pleasant.

"...Ah, whatever. It's not my business anyway."

I muttered quietly, holding the letters in my hand.

I mustn't forget. My true self is Park Yeong-sik. I only came here to fulfill Mercury's request, return to Earth, and live a life of luxury. Nothing more, nothing less.

Right. I'll just play the part of Yeong-sik de Russell until then.

Steeling my resolve, I opened the drawer to put the letters back.

At that moment,

Thud.

A small note fell to the floor.

"What is this... gasp?!"

I gasped in shock as I picked up the note. There was a stained fingerprint on the paper. But it wasn't just a simple smudge. It was written in blood.

My heart began to beat faster. After a quick glance around the room, I checked the contents of the note. It was scribbled in a frantic hurry.