Chapter 3 - Kazuma Shinoda

Ukyo sat slumped on the floor, panting after venting his rage on the mirror. The face of the man in the reflection remained unchanged, though the cracks in the mirror made it slightly blurry. He still couldn't believe the reality he was facing.

Suddenly, the large bedroom door opened gently, revealing the figure of an elderly man dressed neatly in a butler's uniform with clean white gloves. His face was full of calmness, an expression that was neutral yet authoritative. He bowed slightly, full of respect.

"Young Master Kazuma, breakfast is ready. I kindly ask you to prepare to leave for school afterward," said the elderly man in a polite yet firm tone.

Ukyo—or now, Kazuma—was taken aback for a moment. 'Kazuma? Who is that?' he thought. He hadn't known the antagonist's name when he read the manga.

Slowly, he stood up, trying to control his body that still felt heavy and dizzy. The elderly man, who seemed to be the head butler, watched him patiently, as if accustomed to his master's cold demeanor.

"Butler..." Ukyo tried to recall his name, but Kazuma's memories began to surface, gradually filling his mind. "Yoshida..." he finally muttered, realizing that the butler's name was Yoshida.

"Correct, Young Master. Do you require assistance in getting ready?" Yoshida asked with a gentle but authoritative tone, affirming his position as a trained servant.

Kazuma shook his head slowly, "No, I can manage on my own..." he said, his voice nearly faltering from confusion. How could all this be real? In his bewilderment, he complied with his servant's instructions.

After cleaning himself up and donning the school uniform, he followed Yoshida to a grand dining room lavishly furnished. Expensive furniture, gold-framed paintings, and a magnificent crystal chandelier adorned the room. It all felt foreign yet familiar in his mind.

Kazuma sat at the long table, alone at one end. A luxurious meal was served before him—toasted bread, omelet, Wagyu beef, and fresh orange juice. However, Kazuma felt nauseous. Not because of the food, but due to the memories that kept assaulting his mind.

Slowly, he began to digest everything within Kazuma's memories, the original owner of this body.

Kazuma Shinoda. The full name felt strange yet familiar on his tongue. A family name rarely heard, Shinoda, descended from a lineage of land rulers, but now his family had shifted to real estate business. His father, Masakazu Shinoda, was one of the major tycoons in the country, dominating properties in strategic regions. His mother, Reina Shinoda, was a well-known socialite with great influence among the elites.

Kazuma, the only child of the Shinoda family, lived in luxury since birth. But behind the luxury, his memories revealed deep darkness. The original Kazuma was not just a spoiled rich kid; he was ruthless.

In his memories, Kazuma frequently used his wealth to ensnare innocent girls. He offered them dreams and false promises, then, mercilessly, ruined their lives. He slipped sleeping drugs into their drinks, taking their innocence when they were helpless. It didn't stop there; Kazuma also coerced his victims into becoming entertainers, enslaving them by using recordings of his crimes as blackmail.

Even more horrifying, Kazuma used drugs to make the girls dependent on him. They were trapped, unable to escape his clutches. This man not only destroyed their futures but their souls too. His memories were filled with grim scenes from the underworld—linking to the mafia, dark transactions, even violence.

Kazuma jolted out of his reverie. His hands trembled as he placed the spoon back onto the plate.

"So, I'm... trapped in the body of such a ruthless man?" he whispered to himself. A feeling of disgust and anger welled up again. The body he now inhabited belonged not only to a wealthy person but also to a predator that mercilessly destroyed others' lives. It was as if the universe had given him an unimaginable curse.

"Is there something wrong, Young Master Kazuma?" Yoshida asked, having suddenly appeared behind him, observing the change in his expression.

Kazuma merely shook his head, trying to regain composure, despite his mind still being in turmoil. "No... Nothing's wrong..." he replied softly, while thinking hard about how he could get out of this situation.

After breakfast was finished, Kazuma stood and prepared to follow Yoshida to the car that would take him to school. Yet deep down, he knew he couldn't continue living like this—in the body of a monster. Ukyo, who had now become Kazuma, had to find a way to survive, or perhaps... atone for the sins of the man he had replaced.