As time passed, the different memories and personality within him confused him less and less, and Nerval's persona merged with Erwin 's. Their two different memories and personalities showed on the surface, but blended together without conflict underneath.
Nerval showed up more intensely because he'd had far more life experiences, but Erwin was able to accept that part of him. That was why they were able to perceive each other's memories as their own experience and still remain sane over the situation at hand.
(A/N: Please note that Nerval have no recollection of his Sister. It was sealed by the skill Reservoir. He'll get it back in the next few chapters.)
Even so... Erwin thought that it was best not to think too deeply about how strange it felt.
But right now, he had a bigger problem...
Rrrgghhhh. The sound of an empty stomach echoed throughout the room, and Erwin suddenly came into a depressing realization that he was starving.
He sighed... the hunger he felt made him feel a bit lightheaded. There were a lot of things on his mind.
Whether these memories of another life were real or fake, and if so, why was he reborn, and why did he only get those memories now?
But Erwin knew fully well how useless it was to ask this questions right now.
Instead, he shifted his thoughts on trying to find a solution to break away from his dire situation.
Nerval's memories and personality played a huge role on how he was thinking so calmly, he analyzed all possible solutions and the most practical ones.
If it had been Erwin and only Erwin alone, then he would have died in this house without even realizing how he died.
That would've been the worst possible outcome... and it would have been unacceptable.
Erwin stood up with much difficulty and went for the door.
Just then, the door to the shack was yanked open. A skinny man walk in, he had a decent clothes— only if it was compared to his own clothes, that is.
Behind the skinny man was a crowd of people with different sizes and clothes, all of them was man except for a petite young woman who looked extremely scared.
Erwin knew what was going on, but didn't gives a damn about it. He was used to it by now... but there was still a small part on himself that wanted to stop this. Yet, he also knew he was powerless to do anything. So he just shut up.
"Hmm? Oh, Erwin! Are you finally awake?" asked one of the men standing. Erwin knew him. It was the same man that killed his previous master— even though his previous master was a bastard, at the very least he got to eat the leftovers.
"Huh! So you actually survived. Thought you were a goner... Hey, boss! Erwin's still kicking! We thought he was good as dead before..." the man yelled. His eyes were wide with surprise as he directed his voice toward the back of the group, where a giant man stood over the rest.
"Ha! What a lucky brat. You were almost keelin' over from yer fever yesterday... We were gonna toss you out if you were still sleepin' today," said the giant man who had been referred to as boss; he sounded impressed.
"...Yes. Somehow." Erwin replied, holding back a frown.
These men were a group of jacks-of-all-trades here in the slums. They had a large circle of influence and earned their money working as outlaws-for-hire and by taking requests for all kinds of evil activities. Human trafficking, illegal trading, robbery, swindling, extortion, transportation and disposal of stolen goods... even hit jobs.
The list of crimes they were willing to get their hands dirty for was endless.
To these men, an orphan in the slums was like a convenient, disposable pawn. Easy to obtain, use, and throw away — which they often did. Erwin was one such pawn that these men had picked up.
He lived in this small shack with them and lived in fear of being subjected to their abuse. Sometimes they would hit him for stress relief, sometimes they would force him to assist with their crimes, using him as a scapegoat or bait while they escaped.
To them Erwin was nothing more than a tool for their own use.
"Now that yer fine, get out the shack I still need to release my frustration in this little chick!"
The bulky man said while staring heatedly at the woman in the center of the formation. The bulky man couldn't help but lick his lips as he stared at her terrified face.
The same also goes for the men surrounding her, they couldn't wait to have a taste.
"Yes..." Erwin replied in a weak voice.
As the others made space for Erwin to get out, he passed by the young woman who was still trembling, Erwin couldn't help but give her a long glance while on his way.
This made Erwin to stopped on his tracks and widened his eyes in shock.
What he saw was the women's terrified and pale face with slight tears gathering on her silver eyes. She was trembling, her short blonde hair was in a mess, her clothes was in tatters... She was also beautiful.
But this was not the thing that made Erwin shock.
It was her eyes, even though she looked like on the verge of crying and breaking down... Something inside Erwin was yelling at him that it was Fake! She was Faking it!
Erwin wanted to have a good look at her to make sure, but he was interrupted by a loud voice.
"Oi! Little brat! Keep yer ass moving! If yer interested in her then you can have a taste after I've used her!"
"No-no, I'm just checking..." Erwin replied hurriedly.
He again started to move, and once he was out on the encirclement he give one last look at them before moving away.
Unbeknownst to him, he just got himself in a deep trouble.
The trembling woman eyed the back of Erwin, as for what she was thinking only I knows.