CHAPTER 3 – Mirror of the Past, Shaw of the Future
Hideo was still staring at the strange status screen when a soft knock echoed from the door.
Knock knock.
"Young Master... your grandfather is looking for you."
The voice was barely above a whisper. There was a tremble in it—thin, like a string about to snap—hinting at fear too deep to hide.
"Grandfather? What does he want with me?" Hideo murmured.
"I-I don't know, Young Master…"
The girl's voice was so faint it nearly vanished into the air. When Hideo opened the door, he saw the same servant girl from before—a small, trembling figure with pale skin and eyes that wouldn't dare meet his.
Am I… really that terrifying to them?He sighed quietly.
"Then take me to him."
She nodded meekly and turned, leading the way with slow, hesitant steps—like guiding a tiger she hoped wouldn't pounce.
As they reached the front courtyard, a strange sight greeted him. The servants were tending to all sorts of animals—stray dogs, venomous snakes, even oversized rats. Hideo's brows instantly furrowed.
"Why are you keeping animals like these?" he asked, unable to hide his disgust.
A male servant feeding a snake froze mid-motion, visibly panicked. But before he could answer, the girl spoke first.
"It was… by your own order, Young Master. You told them to care for these creatures…"
Hideo stopped in his tracks. The air around him seemed to freeze.
Seriously? The old me asked them to raise this walking disease zoo?
His face darkened. He could already imagine the previous occupant of this body—an entitled brat, obsessed with bizarre pets just to feed some twisted ego.
"Sell them all. If they can't be sold, throw them as far away from this estate as possible. I never want to see them again."
Silence fell. Time seemed to stop for a moment. The servants exchanged shocked glances.
But under that silence… something shifted. Their fear melted into the faintest trace of relief.Yes… those animals had always been a nuisance.Maybe… the Young Master had finally come to his senses.
Without another word, Hideo turned and walked away. The servant girl rushed after him.
Moments later, they arrived in front of a grand hall. Towering wooden doors stood before them, etched with the symbol of a golden sword.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
The voice was deep, calm—yet carried a weight that pressed down on the air itself.
Hideo slowly opened the door.
Inside sat an old man behind a heavy blackwood desk. Though he was well past sixty, his hair remained jet black, and his sharp gaze cut like an eagle's.
This was Jun Takumi, Grand Duke of the Katalys Kingdom. A war hero who had led royal forces to dozens of crushing victories. A living legend.
But behind the glory, the Takumi family story was a quiet tragedy.
Hideo's father, Akihiro Takumi, had fallen in battle ten years ago.His mother followed a year later, consumed by grief.His two older brothers, Goro and Hideki, perished in a major battle three years back.The only surviving brother of Akihiro—Uncle Hisashi—was still alive… but left crippled for life.
The once-brilliant Takumi clan had faded into a shadow of its former glory.
And all that remained… was a single, frail grandson—long believed to be weak and useless.
Or so they thought.
Jun Takumi studied his grandson with a complex expression. There was fatigue in his eyes, a flicker of hope… and perhaps, the faintest trace of curiosity.
"I heard you fell out of bed and passed out. Is that true?"
"…Hah?"
Hideo nearly laughed. He searched for any lingering memories from the body's former owner. No wounds. No poison. Just… falling out of bed?
Seriously? Died from falling out of bed? That has to be a world-class idiot's death…
Jun let out a sigh, gently thumping the desk with his fist.
"You didn't even realize someone tried to kill you. If I hadn't assigned a shadow guard to watch your room… you'd be dead before you could scream."
Hideo stayed silent. His gaze remained cold, almost void of emotion.
Oh? So there was an intruder? Still, this body died anyway. Unbelievable. Truly hopeless.
Meanwhile, Jun Takumi continued to observe him.
Strange… he's not crying. Not shouting. Not blaming anyone. His face is calm. His eyes… different.It's like he's not the same person at all.
Is this… really my grandson?