"Huff… Huff… Huff… Huff…"
I grip my sword tightly, swinging it in a steady rhythm. The metallic arc slices through the crisp early morning air, its echo resounding across the expansive garden of the Baek estate.
The Baeks—the high-ranking nobles of Valtheria, bearing the noble title of Marquis—own one of the grandest mansions in the capital. Their garden sprawls like a small field, meticulously maintained and exuding understated opulence.
In one quiet corner of this vast garden, I stand alone, silently wielding my sword. In my right hand is a practice blade—a steel mock-up, its edge pitted by countless blows from a relentless hammer.
"Huff… Huff… Huff… Huff…"
With every swing, I pour my frustration and determination into the exercise. Each strike is forceful enough to fell an enemy if one were in my path. Today, I am testing the limits of this body—a body that now belongs to Jaden Baek, the man I never wished to become.
After a series of blows, I pause and take a deep breath. With a decisive thrust, I plant my practice sword into the ground.
As I stand there, sweat trickling down, I inspect my right hand. Blood blisters mark it clearly—a testament to relentless daily training. It's not just swordsmanship I must master; dark magic, too, courses through this body.
I focus and murmur the incantation: "Dark Bullet."
A small, black orb—no larger than a marble—erupts from my palm, streaking toward a distant training target and piercing it cleanly. Mastery of dark magic, alongside expert swordsmanship, is the hallmark of Jaden Baek. How did a man, so consumed by his work ethic, become this distorted villain—the one who in the game, Eternal Reckoning: Dark Fate, was infamous for seducing and corrupting every heroine?
I pause, lost in thought. "I don't understand how I became Jaden Baek… but if this is my fate, I must learn everything there is about this body."
It's been barely an hour since I awoke in this cursed world, yet I feel an odd calm settling in. Perhaps the discipline of training is merging my mind with this body, or maybe I'm finally coming to terms with my new existence. The twisted reputation I once despised—Jaden Baek, the villain who ruined lives by seducing every heroine—might be avoidable.
After all, today falls before the school entrance ceremony. In the game's timeline, this is the period before the fateful events that led to the downfall of Ethan Vance—the hero. If I can rewrite this timeline, perhaps I can even cooperate with him to defeat the Demon King, or simply live a quieter life at Grand Arcanum Academy.
Lost in these possibilities, I nearly miss the sound of approaching footsteps. "Jaden-sama, I've brought you some water," calls a gentle voice.
I glance to my side as the maid—Levienna—appears, carrying a tub of cool water and a cloth. Her presence is both graceful and troubled; her eyes widen as she takes in the scene before her.
"Ah, thank you," I say, accepting the cloth and dabbing the sweat from my brow. The water is refreshingly cool, perhaps drawn fresh from the well.
I wipe my face, arms, and torso in sequence. Then, as I dip the cloth for another wipe, I notice that Levienna has frozen mid-motion, her eyes fixed on me as if she's seen a ghost.
"What's the matter…? Why are you staring like that?" I ask, puzzled.
She stammers, "Ah—no… I can't believe it… Jaden-sama… you thanked me?"
A slight smile tugs at my lips. "I did, didn't I?"
Her shock is almost comical. Levienna's eyes widen, and tears glisten as she exclaims, "Jaden… you really thanked me!" In her excitement, the bucket slips from her trembling hands, spilling water onto the stone floor. Yet she hardly notices, her entire being alight with elation.
"This is the best day of my life… What happiness, what joy… I'm finally rewarded!" she exclaims, her voice a mix of reverence and unbridled emotion.
I clear my throat, feeling both amused and slightly overwhelmed by her reaction. "You're overreacting. But… I appreciate your devotion. Please, continue to support me as you always have."
For a moment, I wonder at the absurdity: here I am, expected to be the feared villain, yet a simple act of gratitude transforms this loyal servant into a worshipper. Levienna, whose soft, rosy cheeks betray her deep admiration, edges closer, hands clasped as if in prayer.
I avert my gaze, my mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. Part of me—perhaps a remnant of the man I once was—wishes I could turn back time and become the heroic, harem-building Leon Vance instead. But here I am, trapped in the body of Jaden Baek, with fate and destiny intertwined in a way I never wanted.
I swallow hard, forcing a calm smile. "Let's get back to training. I have a long day ahead."
Levienna, still reverent and tearful, nods vigorously. As she steps back to resume her duties, I steel myself for the day to come. If I must live as Jaden Baek, I'll control this destiny—even if it means rewriting the rules of a game I once despised.