Adaptation (Part 2)
I stood there for a long time, staring blankly at my reflection in the mirror.
“Brother, you’re acting very strange today. Would you like to return to your room and rest early?” Saren asked as she approached me.
“Just a moment. Please, don’t speak to me for a bit.”
“Ah, yes.”
I pressed a hand to my forehead and leaned my back against the wall.
“Hoo…”
Think. Think.
Before I arrived here, the system told me to experience the story of the Elsia family. That must mean this is the beginning of the tale. The prologue couldn’t be skipped, so at least that part remains faintly in my memory.
We are the children of the lord—Count Dannes Elsia. Saren has been frail since birth, suffering from an incurable illness. Our parents were falsely accused of plotting rebellion against the imperial family. As a result, every servant in this household was beheaded, and the Elsia family fell into ruin.
Fortunately, we barely escaped with our lives thanks to the help of the maid Vivian. But as time passed, Saren’s condition grew worse and worse. The story begins with me hiding my identity and stepping out into the world to save her.
The problem is that I skipped most of the story, so I know nothing about the middle parts. The only thing I’m certain of is the ending—I become Saren’s savior.
Which means I’ll have to live through every single step leading up to that ending myself.
“……”
Why me? I don’t want this.
I barely survived the military and only just got discharged. Now they’re telling me to survive in a medieval environment far harsher than that? And not just any medieval world—there are monsters, undead, even the Demon King’s army. A world of endless war, a literal hell. How am I supposed to survive that? I don’t have the strength or the guts.
No matter how much I racked my brain, the answer remained the same: impossible.
Wait. Since we’re still in the mansion, this must be before everything falls apart. Then couldn’t I just fix things before the family collapses?
“Saren.”
“Yes, Brother?”
Saren answered with a bright smile, as if she’d been waiting for me to speak. Judging by the way she’d been acting, it seemed we were quite close as siblings.
“Where is Father right now?”
“Ah, Father?!”
“……?”
Her eyes, which had been smiling, suddenly widened in shock. She let out a startled cry.
Why?
“What’s wrong?”
“N-no, it’s just… it’s been so long since you asked about Father that I was surprised…”
“Ah. I see.”
Was the relationship between father and son that bad? The prologue hadn’t gone into that level of detail. Then again, this wasn’t a game scripted strictly according to the scenario. It was a real world with real lives. That made perfect sense.
This was a crucial difference.
The maids laughing brightly outside the window. The gardener carefully trimming the trees. They all had their own lives. In a game, the gardener would have trimmed the garden for eternity. Here, after finishing his work, he would go home, eat dinner, and sleep. Because he wasn’t data—he was a real person.
And that fact gave me an opportunity I couldn’t have asked for.
“I need to meet Father.”
“R-really…?”
“Yes. Could you guide me to him?”
But Saren only fidgeted with her fingers and didn’t move.
“Saren?”
That was when it happened.
Knock, knock.
At the sound of someone rapping on the large wooden door, our gazes turned toward it. The door opened, and a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes entered, dressed neatly in a maid’s uniform. She looked to be in her early twenties. There was no doubt—this was Vivian, the maid who had given me the final quest.
“Miss Saren, it’s time for your medicine… Oh, Young Master, you’re here as well.”
Her slightly androgynous voice was quite charming.
“Ah, I was worried about Saren.”
Did my words please her? Saren whipped her head around and looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
“I see. However, if the Master finds out, there will be trouble. He’ll be returning soon, so it would be best if the Young Master returned to his room as well.”
So Father was currently out of the house. And there would be trouble if he knew. There was definitely something between father and son.
“Alright. I was about to leave anyway. Saren, I’ll see you later.”
“Yes, Brother!! You have to come again! You must!”
“Okay.”
Saren waved at me with a face mixed with reluctance and joy.
“Ugh…”
I had left the room, but now I was frozen in place. The vast corridor stretched endlessly in every direction, and I had no idea where to go.
“What kind of house is this…”
“Young Master?”
Just then, Vivian called out to me as she emerged carrying an empty tray.
“Why are you standing there like that?”
“Vivian, walk with me to my room.”
“What?! S-suddenly, why…”
For the first time, surprise appeared on her usually expressionless face.
“I have something to ask you to do. Lead the way.”
“Ah… yes.”
Vivian lowered her deeply flushed face and walked past me. I tilted my head at her reaction but followed without comment.
After walking for quite some time, turning a corner and climbing another floor, we finally reached my room.
……This was going to be a problem. If she told me to come alone next time, I probably wouldn’t be able to find it again.
“You said you had something to ask of me.”
“Ah, it’s nothing complicated. When Father arrives, let me know. Personally.”
“Pardon? The Young Master is looking for the Master… I never thought I’d see the day.”
Vivian had the exact same reaction as Saren. Just how bad was their relationship?
“Please. It’s important.”
“Understood. Is there anything else?”
“No. That’s all.”
“Very well. Then I’ll take my leave.”
She bowed politely and walked down the corridor. I stared at her back for a long time before turning and opening the door to my room.
Creeeeak—
“Whoa.”
The sound slipped out before I could stop it. How could one bedroom be larger than my entire house back home? I never imagined a count could be this wealthy.
Yet despite its size, the room was remarkably sparse. A large bed stood in the center, a mannequin displaying ornate armor beside it. To the side were a heavy wooden desk and a wardrobe. That was all. It was a room that perfectly embodied the beauty of empty space.
“Haa…”
My mind was utterly exhausted. Without even giving myself time to adjust, I collapsed onto the bed.
Now that I was alone, all sorts of chaotic thoughts flooded in like a tidal wave.
What on earth was this sudden situation? Was there any way to go back? Even though I was technically a member of this family, I felt not a shred of familial affection. Maybe I should just abandon everything, run away from home, and live however I wanted.
My thoughts spiraled on and on until, before I knew it, my eyes slowly closed.
“……”
How much time had passed?
It didn’t feel like I’d slept long. But somehow… it felt like I’d had a pleasant dream.
At that moment—
BOOM—!!
A tremendous noise from outside the door snapped my eyes open.
BANG!!
“……?”
Sensing something was wrong, I slowly sat up and approached the door. The moment I grabbed the handle—
WHOOSH—!!
The door burst open violently, and armed soldiers poured into the room.
“W-what the—?!”
Before I could even react, a dull impact struck the back of my head.
THUD—!
My vision went black in an instant.
“……Wake up, you bastard!! Open your eyes right now!!”
What was that noise? Why was everything around me so chaotic?
THUD—!!
“Guh!!”
The moment someone kicked me in the stomach, my eyes flew open. The pain that cut off my breath made me slam my head against the ground and grit my teeth.
“Khhk……”
Saliva dripped endlessly from my mouth. Everything had happened so fast that I didn’t even have time to assess the situation.
“A traitor should answer when spoken to.”
A traitor? Me?
Only then did I lift my head, and my entire body froze.
“W-why am I…”
I had clearly been in my room just moments ago. Yet now I was kneeling with my entire body bound, surrounded by countless people.
“B-Bro… Brother…”
Saren?
The instant I whipped my head toward the voice, a chill ran down my spine.
A blood-soaked wooden platform. There she was, lying face-down on it, tears streaming from her eyes as our gazes met.
The problem was the massive blade hanging above her head. It was unmistakably a guillotine.
“Brother!! Please save me!!!”
“Saren!!!”
“Shut up!!”
“Ugh!!”
The moment I desperately tried to move toward her, two soldiers pinned me down from behind.
“Let me go!! Let go of me!!!”
“Stay still if you don’t want to get hit again.”
“Please!! Just listen to me for a second!!”
A knight who appeared to be of high rank approached Saren’s side. He unfurled a scroll and began to read its contents.
The story has deviated significantly from the original prologue.
“Saren Elsia. Since Dannes Elsia has committed the crime of treason, his bloodline shall also be judged under the name of imperial law. Therefore, the criminal shall be executed by beheading immediately.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. What the hell was going on? This was completely different from the prologue.
“Carry out the execution.”
“W-wait!! Just wait a second!!!!”
“Broth…”
Schunk—!!
A horrifying metallic sound sliced through the air.
“……”
And then—
Thud. Roll.
Her small head, severed powerlessly, tumbled across the ground. It rolled straight toward me, gushing dark red blood with every turn.
“S-S…”
Her eyes hadn’t even closed. It almost looked like she was staring at me with resentment.
“Ah… Aaaah… S-Saren?”
What is this?
They told me I was supposed to be her savior.
But right now… she’s dead?