"Have you heard?"
"What?"
The days of the season Solnei have always caused problems for people's daily lives, and that didn't change even if it was only five days before its end.
First, it's always freezing cold during the mid-season.
Second, even at the end of the season, the sun doesn't seem to be giving off enough heat. Like today, it was still a cold morning, even with the sun shining brightly almost at the center of the cloudless, blue sky. The wait for the laundry to dry just seems unending.
Third, the security of the Holy Empire is more vulnerable at its center during Solnei compared to any other time of the year-cycle. That is because the Empire would usually employ its best military power on protecting the Bastions from the seasonal demon wave.
Thus, this time of the year has become the peak season for criminals and lawbreakers.
Two maids of a prominent household were talking as they hung the laundry, which they didn't expect to dry in another two days.
The topic was about the most recent event that happened to the house they are serving, namely, the abduction of the third young master.
It was the result of the guards being lax. If not for the help of the distinguished Gold Order knight, Sir Lancelot, the young master might not have been retrieved at the opportune moment. Nevertheless, it was already expected that blood would flow once the Duke and his heir returned from the battlefield.
Five days have already passed since then.
The two maids are workers of the main mansion, of the estate of the Duchy of Illana, territory of the Lichtstiele House. It was seldom to hear news of the children living in other mansions, but the most recent was quite surprising; it was hard to shut their mouths.
"The third young master lost his memories."
"Well, if it's about the abduction, then that's understandable; it must be quite traumatic --- "
"It's good if it's only about that day, but you see..."
"..."
"He lost everything."
"Everything?"
"Everything."
"Hup --!"
Clang --! Splash
The basin containing the laundry that was still left unhung fell to the ground at the maid's surprise. Thankfully, what remains are the servants' clothes; there was no need to wash them over again.
"Careful."
"I'm sorry. But dear, how about the escort?"
"Hah, well, they were already detained the day the incident happened. Of course, they'll pay for their negligence."
"Poor dear, he was a good probationary knight; if only the young master didn't insist on going out to the city."
It isn't normal for servants to criticize their masters, but it couldn't be helped in this instance. In the first place, it was about the third young master. The other maid nodded her head in agreement; it was true that the probationary knight was the unfortunate one.
The third son of the Lichstiele's main family is described by many words, mostly negative. He was the least of the four sons; he was known to be impotent and unloved. Of course, it wasn't because of his physical appearance; in fact, his face is the only thing going well for him.
Being weak was never an option if one belonged to the Lichtstiele family, a noble house that was part of the Five Ancient Lineages. What's more, it was called the Sword of the Empire, producing a significant number of swordmasters over almost a thousand years.
Because of this preconceived notion, it became normal to find fault in the third young master's every move, even coming from the servants.
"But what happened then? How did the checkup go?"
"They said even the priest was baffled. Memory lost is unprecedented after all."
"Oh dear…"
The maid thought that the master would be so furious but didn't express it, she knew any servant would think likewise. Another thing, the object of wrath, is almost always the young master, whether it was his fault or not. As such, the servants didn't concern themselves with them aside from constantly making them the topic of gossip.
"So how is he? Has the condition of the annex building become, you know, gloomier?"
The maid asked, feigning concern. It took a while before the other party responded, and when she did, she had a disturbed expression.
"Well, the thing is…"
The third young master, Elior Lichtstiele, has always been the target of disapproval by the main family. Taking his peerless beauty out of the equation, which could have been a great asset, he was dark, gloomy, and timid.
From the time he was born, it was rumored the Duke was disgusted by him at first sight and only gave him a name before abandoning him at the annex, which was the farthest among the mansions allocated for the main family's children.
Moreover, his mother was a concubine who was hidden from everyone. Of course, there were also rumors that he was illegitimate, but that was dismissed by the Duke himself. Regardless, he was a child who wasn't taken well.
It was apparent that he was delicately weak at first glance; one would think he was suffering from illness. Adding to that was the meek disposition that was very much in contrast with the Lichtstieles.
Before she could open her mouth to respond to her friend, she stopped when someone entered her vision. The other maid, who was eager to hear her, followed the direction she was looking and was similarly surprised.
The young master Elior, who was dark, gloomy, and timid and was usually fearful of going in and out of the main mansion, was walking along the gardens in light steps.
"Does memory loss make one crazy?"
"Probably."
"Goodness, he's coming."
The two maids dropped the basins they were holding and bowed, even though the third young master was still at a distance.
"Hi."
They've never had the chance to hear the young master's voice before, which is why they were surprised upon hearing the pleasantly confident and soothing voice, which was very unlike his reputation. They didn't raise their heads, nor were they permitted to; they just had their eyes both opened wide.
Of course, as maids of the main mansion, they politely addressed the young master without a hint of being startled.
"We greet you, young master Elior."
"Mm."
As the instruction wasn't clear, they both maintained their positions. It took quite a while before the young master seemed to have realized it.
"Ah, you may raise your heads now."
"Yes."
They heard him mumble things like "being awkward" and "never getting used to it," but the maids shrugged the incomprehensible words aside, awaiting what his purpose was.
"I would just like to ask, in which direction is the library?"
He was asking in a very polite manner not suited for his status, but one of the maids responded nonetheless. After being told the answer to his question and refusing the offer of company, he dismissed the two maids with a hint of cheer.
"W-what was that?"
"That's what I'm going to tell you."
"Yes?"
"It seems he has changed into a totally different person. The friend of my friend, who was working at the annex, said the young master has been frequently going out of his room, unlike before. Unfortunately, he would often laze around in the morning and wake up in the afternoon, so it wasn't sure whether the change was for the good or bad."
"Mm."
Picking up the remaining laundry, they returned to their work and gossip, the subject still being the third young master. They were so absorbed in their conversation that they weren't paying attention to their surroundings; they failed to notice the approach of someone whose ears perked up at the mention of an unexpected name.
"What did you say?"
The maids' faces went pale when they recognized the menacing voice.
***
"Elior Lichtstiele."
That is the identity the young man was given while staying at Renaris.
'The atmosphere in Renaris before its destruction is truly different.'
The fresh air that has really come up from the process of photosynthesis, the greenery that is freely seen in the surroundings, even wooden materials and animals—these are things unfamiliar to him.
These are things that have long disappeared in Lohiya, even before the advent of the Abyss.
'But they weren't bad.'
If Lohiya is a world of science and technology, Renaris is a world of aura, magic, and divinity; each has its own downside.
Especially for him.
'What can a hacker do in this fantasy world?!'
The fragrance of the garden as he went on his way towards the library didn't help in easing the headache he was feeling, remembering the bastard that brought him here.
'Do you want to right your wrong?'
'…'
'Let's make a deal, then.'
The Gambler made the most tempting offer, and he, of course, fell for his trap. It was only when he arrived that he realized that there were a lot of missing points that seemed intentionally subtracted.
However, he was already at Renaris, and he no longer has time to cry over spilt milk. In fact, he wasn't angry.
'I got nothing to lose on my end.'
He suddenly felt hot, looked down, and saw the coin showing tail.
'Sh---'
Swish ---!
When he raised his head, he saw a man at the end of the garden, running fiercely towards him.
'In broad daylight? Really?!'
He transmigrated into a body that many wanted dead.