Chapter 2

I woke up to the lingering aroma.

The candle had long since melted away overnight.

Still, I wasn’t used to this smell.

In my room, it usually smelled strongly of Downy.

“They say it has a calming effect. It’s not bad…”

I pushed aside the slippery blanket that seemed as if a fly would slip off it and approached the mirror to check my face.

A towering height, soft blond hair, and a handsome Western face with striking features.

This is me.

When I woke up, I had become this blond handsome guy.

Having seen it yesterday, it wasn’t particularly shocking, and only a sincere exclamation lingered in my mind.

“Damn, I’m good-looking.”

Is this really me?

Entering the game was surprising, but look at these sculpted features and perfect body proportions.

If I were born with this body in reality, I’d have started as a child model and ended my days in old age as a flower boy.

I am the owner of this body.

And that’s not all.

The room was filled with luxurious furniture and decorations.

For a mere personal room, it was on par with a suite in a luxurious hotel.

Of course, I am also the owner of this room.

“Damn, I’m from a rich family.”

So what is the identity of this character who has it all?

In truth, I don’t know much either. However, I could confirm at least the name through the status window.

[Hersel Ben Tenest]

• Blessing

-None-

• Traits

◇The Noble Blood’s Embers◇

◇1 Second Invincibility◇ n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

No blessing at all.

It’s so absurd that I can’t even laugh.

Because blessings are talents.

Main characters, and even some supporting characters, often have top-tier talents.

Even at a basic level, having a talent for knitting or farming is considered normal.

Thus, Hersel is a talentless individual who has nothing…

But the attached name negates all such disadvantages.

Tenest is a name of a significant noble family in the Asares world.

According to the servants’ chatter outside the door yesterday, Hersel is the eldest son of the family.

‘It’s like hitting the jackpot despite being unworthy.’

So it’s strange.

Even though he’s from a famous family, the name Hersel feels unfamiliar to me.

The Tenest family is also connected to some of the hundred or so main characters.

Maybe it’s because there’s not enough information.

Or…

‘I can’t rule out the possibility that he’s a newly added character…’

He might be a hastily created character to be the vessel for someone transmigrating into the game.

One thing that bothers me is that the name feels familiar somehow.

For now, information gathering is the priority since I’m not sure.

As I made up my mind, my stomach growled.

Come to think of it, I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday, right?

Right on cue, there was a knock on the door.

“Young master, are you alright? You’ve been cooped up in your room all day, how about having a meal?”

This voice belonged to a cheeky little maid I saw yesterday. The mention of food in my famished state made my mouth water.

I rang the bell on the table.

This was a signal that she could come in.

Jingle-

With a clear sound of the bell, the door opened.

A small child, about half the height of the door, blinked while dressed in a maid’s outfit.

I remembered asking her name for the first time yesterday, and she had widened her eyes, asking me to refrain from drinking too much.

Her name was surely Selly.

She soon smiled warmly and parted her lips to speak.

“Is there anything you wish for?”

“Bring me something to eat.”

The casual command came out naturally.

I’m not used to this refined, mid-range voice.

It’s also different from the way I usually speak, which makes it feel even more strange.

I know the reason.

It’s because of one of the auxiliary traits possessed by a few of the hundred or so characters, ‘The Noble Blood’s Embers’.

◇The Noble Blood’s Embers◇

It enhances dignity in front of others.

It exudes a noble charisma in front of others.

A trait that is always activated in front of others.

Both the tone and accent change at will.

Thanks to this, even though the content is different, the people around don’t seem to feel much disparity.

“Yes, young master. I will inform them to prepare it immediately.”

Quite some time passed after the little child disappeared.

The door opened again with another knock. This time, it was a maid I hadn’t seen before.

She approached, pushing a cart filled with silver-covered dishes, and moved the plates onto the large table.

“The main dish is veal steak. We have also prepared fresh vegetables brought in today and the wine you favored, young master.”

Although she smiled, her tone was quite businesslike.

When she opened the lids, the fragrant aroma of the food hit my nose. But for some reason, I didn’t feel like eating.

Maybe it was because I’d been fasting all day.

Suddenly having greasy meat is a bit much…

I want something easier to digest.

It feels a bit apologetic, but…

Can I ask for a change?

“I made a mistake. I should have told you my preferred dish in advance.”

“Do you not like it?”

“My stomach is unsettled. Do you have any soup?”

I looked at her with guilt, my eyebrows drooping.

For a moment, the maid’s eyes widened, then she responded with a gentle smile.

She seemed to be displaying professional service, but it must still be a hassle.

I was about to just eat when the maid moved the plates back onto the cart.

“Sorry for not being attentive. I will prepare it right away.”

If she could do that, it would be great for me.

“Even something simple is fine. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. I just need something that will sit well in my stomach.”

“That won’t do. You must be hungry, so I’ll prepare a quick dish. Of course, it will be something befitting your status, young master.”

“That’s not necessary.”

The maid crossed the threshold with the cart, still smiling.

Such kindness.

Some more time passed.

Soup was placed on the table.

This time, it seemed to have taken quite a while, but given that I was the one being picky, I was grateful even for this.

I scooped up the unknown soup with a silver spoon and brought it to my lips.

An intriguing taste.

A deep flavor that wasn’t unpleasant.

Even though I was used to instant food, it was not too stimulating and had a balanced taste.

I slowly moved the silver spoon around.

As the bottom of the bowl became visible, the maid carefully picked up the wine bottle.

“No wine for me. It’s daytime, and drinking alcohol seems inappropriate.”

Besides, soup with wine?

I might not know much, being a Korean who only drank soju with pork belly, but does that really go well together?

“……Yes, young master. You said your stomach was unsettled, and I foolishly made a mistake. I apologize. Please forgive me.”

“People make mistakes. I’ve finished eating, so you may go and rest.”

The maid left the room.

Having satisfied my hunger, I decided to get up and explore the mansion.

As I stepped into the hallway, I encountered Selly, who was waiting outside the door.

This tiny maid, always ready to serve, greeted me with a bright smile.

“Young master, where are you going?”

“I want to see the family tree. Can you guide me?”

Every noble family has a family tree. It is a genealogy that traces the family lineage from the ancestors to the present.

Was it strange to ask to see it?

Selly tilted her head slightly, perhaps feeling a bit puzzled.

“Yes, of course. Let’s see… I should choose a good route for your convenience. Hmm.”

“Is it that far?”

“Pardon? Oh, no. It’s not far. I just thought it should be a pleasant experience for you.”

It was a somewhat meaningful response, but I didn’t mind. I followed Selly down the hallway. As we passed, the mansion staff smiled and greeted me.

“Good morning, young master.”

“Is everything alright?”

“How about a stroll in the garden on such a fine day?”

I responded to them with a simple wave of my hand.

The atmosphere inside the mansion was very harmonious.

Of course, from their perspective, this was all to serve me, a noble, but the liveliness around me was uplifting.

‘Living like this wouldn’t be so bad.’

A smile spread across my face.

Of course, I couldn’t live like this forever.

The game’s scenario involved preventing the world’s destruction, and it was uncertain if the game would clear itself without a player.

However, according to the world setting, most of the outside world was a demon realm, and staying here in this frail body with no combat skills was the safest option for now. R̃

I needed to adapt to my identity and situation first. Checking the scenario could come later.

Moreover, being the eldest son of the Tenest family was akin to being the son of a conglomerate chairman.

I might as well enjoy it for a while.

When else would I get to live as a second-generation chaebol?

***

Upon stepping outside, I realized the mansion wasn’t just one building.

It turned out that the place I was in was exclusively for me, Hersel.

Beyond the garden path, there was another grand mansion where the head of the Tenest family resided.

Following Selly’s guidance, I walked through the vast, park-like grounds and arrived at a special room where the family tree was kept.

Portraits of ancestors adorned the walls. I sat down and familiarized myself with their faces and the family tree.

When I reached Hersel’s time period, a sense of melancholy filled me.

[Lisean Ben Tenest. 767-09-11 ~ 789-08-17]

The numbers next to a woman’s name indicated the beginning and end of her life.

This meant that Hersel’s mother had died at a young age.

And right next to it was another name.

[Ahille Ben Tenest.]

This was the name of Hersel’s stepmother, and below it were the names of his half-siblings.

This wasn’t good…

A sense of foreboding made my fingertips tremble.

Even in modern times, stepmothers and half-siblings don’t usually have great relationships.

In a noble family where various political intrigues unfold, having half-siblings was even more problematic.

‘As the eldest son, wouldn’t I be the primary competitor…?’

Realizing the gravity of the situation, I looked at Selly, who was standing beside me.

Could it be that when she mentioned planning the route earlier, she meant to avoid running into my half-siblings?

Since I had to leave my personal residence to get here, my guess was probably right.

In that case, it would be safe to consider Selly as being on my side.

After all, the fact that Hersel, the first in line for succession, was still alive was proof that even the servants in the residence could be trusted.

As I gazed endlessly at Selly, the little girl approached and examined my face.

“Young master. You don’t look well, just like yesterday. Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m fine. Maybe it’s because I’ve been cooped up in my room.”

“Then how about getting some fresh air? I know a place with a nice view.”

“A view? Do you mean outside the mansion?”

“Yes. There’s no need to worry. We’ll have reliable guards with us, and if anything dangerous happens, I, Selly, will protect you with my life.”

Selly placed a fist on her chest and her eyes sparkled.

Should I say she’s bold?

With this little girl saying that, I couldn’t refuse.

In truth, I also wanted to take a look outside.

I wanted to get some fresh air and satisfy my curiosity about whether the world of Asares, which I had only seen in the game, was properly realized.

“Is it nearby?”

“Of course. It’s just a few minutes away once we leave the mansion.”

***

Hersel’s uneaten steak and wine.

The maid who had brought the food pushed the cart with graceful movements.

As she walked down the hallway to dispose of the food on the plate, she heard the familiar voice of the head maid.

“There’s a rat in the storage?”

“Yes. Recently, the flour sacks have had holes in them. It was so unsettling that I kept quiet, but then I heard the squeaking of a rat.”

“Oh dear… We should have managed it better.”

“What should we do? There are also food supplies for the employers there…”

“I understand. Just continue with your work. As I’ve always said, the lady’s tasks take priority. I’ll have other maids take care of this issue.”

The maid pushing the cart wore a serene smile as she approached the two distressed women.

The head maid’s command was already causing the other maid to turn away.

“Hello, head maid. I didn’t mean to overhear, but there’s a rat in the storage?”

“Huh? Ah, Mirei. I was just about to call for you. Could you let the others know to come to the storage?”

“Is that necessary? Everyone seems busy. I’ll take care of it myself.”

“By yourself?”

Mirei responded with a subtle gaze, her eyes widening slightly at the head maid’s reaction.

“I happen to have some good rat poison.”

Her gentle hand caressed the lid of the plate.

The head maid looked at Mirei and smiled.

“You’ve already started, Mirei.”

“As you can see, I failed. Now it’s Selly’s turn.”

“Oh, you mean Selly? Now that you mention it, she said she was going out with the young master. It’s a shame if it ends as soon as it starts today.”

“Well, it might not be that easy…”

Mirei trailed off and fell into thought.

The image of the young master’s face when he refused the veal steak lingered in her mind.

The expression he had, lowering his eyebrows and narrowing his forehead—what did it mean?

If he knew there was poison.

And if that’s why he chose the soup that required a silver spoon, then it certainly wouldn’t be an easy task.

“This festival might last longer than we thought.”

“Do you really think so?”

The head maid chuckled and glanced around.

When Mirei joined her in looking around, she saw some amusing sights.

In the high window of the opposite mansion, a maid was practicing how to drop a flowerpot so it would look like an accident.

In front of the incoming supply cart, a butler hurriedly packed shiny knives and wires into a box.

While everyone in the mansion was busy, a young butler passing through the hallway approached them. He was holding a small box in his hand.

“Head maid, Miss Mirei. Hello?”

“Ho ho, what’s in that little box?”

“Oh, it contains a venomous spider. Don’t worry, I’ll use it just once and then kill it right away.”

The three of them smiled softly.

It was a bright yet malicious smile.

They weren’t the only ones.

The entertainment of hunting a single prey kept everyone in the mansion constantly amused.

The head maid clasped her hands together as if in prayer and spoke in a gentle voice, like telling a story to her grandchild.

“Let’s thank the mistress for hosting this festival.”