"I am of low-birth, I didn't have proper education. When I was young, I thought by practicing the sword I'd be able to receive better occupation chances in the future. But-but while I was training my handsome face got scarred and now, I am unable to get any job other than being an adventurer, they see me as a thug, Young Master Theo! A thug I tell you!"
"Everyone judges you because of your looks! How preposterous, they see you as a thug and I see you, Kaba as an upright warrior with the heart of steel who did not bow in the face of great hardship! Just make sure to stop harassing those who seem more fortunate than you, you're better than that. You may be a drunk, but you're an honorable drunk, don't let anyone take that away from you!"
Heruzen who learned his name was Leo raised his mug and downed the liquor. Kaba, who now had tears falling down his face wiped it away and downed the liquor as well.
"What… za hell, are you crrrying over?"
"I'm sorry… this is… just the first time someone looked at me like I'm not a thug… Young Master… you're such a good person! I can't see why so many are calling you useless! You are more worthy to be called Hero—" Kaba who had been treated badly because of his looks clung to the person who beat him up earlier.
He was thankful, but then—
PAK!
A slap flew across his face!
Surprised, Kaba raised his head and saw the kind Young Master also crying, "Don't yu darrre referrr to me in such a mannerrr! I am no hero… Kaba! Like how you are no thug, I am not tied down to… such a title! I am not a Hero! I am but an orrrdinarrrry person, trrrrying to live his best life."
"Of course, you are, Young Master!"
Heruzen raised his cup and then downed it without hesitations. Everyone in the bar could hear their conversation and as many of them found it weird, a lot of more scoffed at their friendship.
'Birds of the same feather.' They thought in a chorus.
The drinking party ended with Kaba and Heruzen somehow befriending each other after a grueling one-sided beatdown.
Heruzen drowned his sorrows after learning he was a man fit to be a Hero with the obvious tested method of drinking. He had Kaba who had been treated as a lowly thug accompany him throughout the night.
Without fear of death nor losing any money, Heruzen kept drinking the point of blacking out. He passed out yet as he opened his eyes, he found himself in a room.
Upon waking up, the first thing he did was assess the situation.
"This soft feeling on my back, must be high quality canopy bed, several mirrors, luxurious furniture, and a butler looking at me weirdly. Yup, I am a rich kid."
An old man with a fairly well build looked at him with a pair of eyes that was as though looking at a fool.
'Well to his defense, if he saw the Young Master, he had been taking care of for a long time talking to himself with nonsense that expression would be fitting. Also, seeing that contempt, mixed with disappointment, and some hint of disgust means that he sees me as something worth less than a garbage of waste… hmm, I think I may have misunderstood my situation.'
Theo recalled the life of this person he took over, he searched for vital information… but there was nothing.
'That's weird, the memory of this life is still not being shared with m—'
"AAHHH!" Heruzen held onto his head, bits and pieces of memories struck him, from emotions to thoughts, all of it flooded his mind.
"Young Master!? Wha-what's wrong!?"
Heruzen held onto his head, the sensation of his soul and very existence conforming and receiving this new identity had never been so pleasant.
A Takeover, a Replacement, a Fulfiller, such was the name Heruzen had come to give this kind of existence. From this point on, when the memories, the emotions, the experiences and grievances the previous controller of the body would be given to the new possessor of the identity. Their attachment would be ingrained, and would be up to the one who takeover the body to accept those emotions.
Heruzen had always thought of himself as a thief when taking the life of another. But after realizing that as long as memories were accepted, then he could become that person. The person would change, but in the end the identity would remain.
Smoke only he could see seeped out of Heruzen's soul then body. A body formed and a few minutes after, a complete ethereal figure float before him. It was a reflection of the material body Theo now possessed.
He had a sharp and deep silver eyes, his skin translucent much like a woman's yet, his muscles defined giving him a beautiful form. His silver hair was cut short, and his smile opposed to his sharp gaze held a natural sense of gentleness giving him a sense of mysteriousness.
This was the original Theo, staring back at Heruzen bearing an unchanging smile.
'Tell me, what is your wish? Without the system chaining my actions I can even conquer the world for you.' He asked the corporeal figure.
Heruzen had taken over hundreds of identities and to ensure he does not lose himself, he made sure to draw a line on himself and the previous owners. A single way to keep his guilt of taking over another person's identity and reassuring himself that he's still himself.
He would give them a minor request that he could fulfill, sometimes he would be able to fulfill them when the System deems it not too hindering in the plot, and often times it would be left in disappointment.
Apologize to one's mother, kill someone, fall in love, all sorts of request would ask of him in exchange. In the past he could not complete the ambitious desires of Villains, but if this would become his last life, he wanted to at least fulfill this person's any desire.
"Save this family."
Guilt stricken words were uttered leaving Heruzen muddled and confused.
The other soul willingly disappeared into Herzuen's, the last of the memories flooded his mind and Heruzen finally became Theo Sigurd of the Illustrious Sigurd Family.
A man respected by many, someone who was once called a Hero turned outcast wastrel. A man who abandoned his sword for liquor, sold his honor for his own pleasure.
Easy to say that Theo was a common man from any story. A man with a bright past and a fallen story, someone who would star at a Shoujo Villainess Story, a simple character with only selling point was his face and body.
Either that or a character on a Redemption Story. Theo opened his eyes in cold sweat, the aged Butler to his adjacent, standing still, observing him with a pitcher of cold drinking water at hand.
Quietly, Theo sat on the bed, grabbed the pitcher of water and drank straight from it. He processed the information given to him by the original.
His heart was perturbed because something was wrong.
'The memories are incomplete.' Indeed, only the information about the host existed, everything, were erased. His family, his friends, his acquaintances, all were erased.
'This is the first time this happened. Goddess, did you do something?'
The Goddess of Fate did not answer.
'Did she finally die…that ended well. Now, what am I going to do.'
"Young Master, are you, all right?" The Butler asked, concerned seeing how Theo just downed a whole pitcher.
"…"
'…that could work.'
Theo looked at the Butler with utter confusion, "Young Master? Who is that? Me? Wait… Who are you? Who am I?"
The Old Butler's smile cracked, "…sorry, Young Master, what?" the time-tested butler did not have the answer to such a question… he just stood there, and then, "…sorry what?" asked Theo again just to confirm.
For the time being, Theo decided to have amnesia.
===
"I thank you for bringing my useless brother home, Sister Rose."
"It is fine, he was my intention for coming here in the region, after all. He also saved me from the drunkard… Sir Kaba… I wish he was all right going home."
"Do not worry about that guy, I had the guards guide him back home. Oh yeah, are you sure about your decision in coming here so early?"
Two women wearing beautiful dresses walked down a long hall.
One of them had a red fitting pantsuit. She bears a striking pair of crimson eyes and a beautiful long black hair. She had a fierce air around her and commanded attention, when she walked her back was straight and when she talked it was forceful and commanding, this woman was Levia Sigurd, first born daughter of the Sigurd Family.
With her was Rose Breakblade. Against Levia's oppressing air, Rose was calm and subtle. An embodiment of her name, a beautiful rose whose beauty stands amongst others. Her pear-like lips, sapphire eyes, perfect curves, elegant gestures, and intoxicating gaze, she was beautiful to say the least. Even the black gloves she wore did nothing but add a sense of exoticness to her wildness to her beauty.
A perfect lady that's the target of envy. Rose has hundreds of suitors who would line up from one end of a city to the other just to catch a glimpse of her. They would do everything to get her attention, alas, of the twenty years she spent in this world, none had made her heart beat faster in response, except for one.
"The Young Master… do you think he is all right? He hit his head pretty badly when he fought a peeing dog for the claim of its territory." Rose was concerned.
"He fought a peeing dog for its territory… I don't even know what to say." Levia just sighed.
They talked as they walked until they heard the sound of fighting.
"Help! SOMEONE! HELP!" from a distance, someone cried aloud and without missing a beat Levia took off and reached its source.
"Theo—" Levia abruptly stopped.
Her eyes immediately changed to that of contempt.
"Wh-why are you undressing me!? Unhand me you disgusting old pervert!! Help! HELP! I did not consent to this!" Theo shouted as he pushed the old butler away with his legs.
"You-young Master! This is a standard procedure of me helping you get dress! Do not fight—Ack! Goddammit!" the butler was struck on the jaw.
The old butler with hair gray as ash trying to take off his Young Master's clothes.
Levia did not know that it was possible to lose even more respect to someone you already considered a failure.
"Oh my." Was Rose's reaction as she stood by the door.
"…what the hell is happening here?"
The butler of young master pair stopped suddenly at her words.
They saw a pair of eyes that was devoid of any and every respect.
Theo looked at Levia then at the old butler, "He's trying to rape me."
"I AM NOT!"
The Butler almost choked to death.