The Lazy Lord’s Slow Life in Another World

The world was dark. Ryo floated in the void, weightless, as if his body no longer existed. Then, a sharp, sudden pain exploded through his skull, a hammer against steel. "Ugh…" The world rushed back in a haze. Warm sunlight. The distant chirping of birds. The scent of fresh linens tickling his nose. Slowly, Ryo opened his eyes. A lavish ceiling stretched above him, gold trim tracing elegant patterns across dark wood. His first thought? This is definitely not my apartment. His mind was sluggish, memories fragmenting like broken glass. The last thing he remembered was hunched over stacks of paperwork, buried in the glow of a computer screen. Then… nothing. Wait. Did I die? His heart skipped a beat, panic bubbling up. The bed beneath him was far too soft—sinking into its plush embrace, like he was cocooned in silk. His eyes scanned the room: velvet curtains, marble floors, and heavy bookshelves stacked with what looked like expensive books. A knock broke the silence—sharp and quick. "Young Master Ryo!" A voice, frantic yet soft, echoed through the room. Ryo turned toward the grand double doors, which were already opening. In rushed a young maid, silver hair spilling from a messy ponytail, eyes wide with alarm. She froze in the doorway, gaze dropping to the floor. "You're awake!" she exclaimed, flustered. Then, quickly, her voice softened, bowing low. "Forgive me, Young Master. I heard a noise and… I thought…" Ryo blinked, still half-dazed. Her attire—a black-and-white maid uniform—felt out of place here. Not because of her, but because hewas in it. More memories trickled in. Confusing. Unfamiliar. A noble family. Third son. Lazy. Useless. A disgrace to the family name. Ryo groaned, rubbing his temples. 'Great. Reincarnated as a spoiled nobleman with no ambition.' "Young Master," the maid said, her voice full of concern. "Are you well?" "I'll be fine," Ryo muttered, still trying to make sense of his situation. "Give me a minute." He exhaled slowly, trying to digest his new identity. He was Ryo Valford, third son of Duke Gerald Valford of Eldoria, a wealthy and powerful family. The problem? His reputation was less than stellar. Ryo wasn't a fighter, a wizard, or a politician. No, he was the lazy, useless third son. 'At least no one will expect anything from me.' A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. "Young Master," Anna said, voice hesitant, "Your father wishes to speak with you." Ryo sighed. "Let me guess. Another scolding for being a waste of space?" Anna winced, biting her lip. "Yes…" The hall felt vast. Tall marble pillars stretched high into the ceiling, casting long shadows over the crimson carpet. In the far corner, Duke Gerald Valford sat upon an imposing chair, his stern figure framed by the soft glow of a massive chandelier. His blue eyes cut through the air like sharp knives. He could freeze anyone with just a glance. "So," the duke said, voice thick with disappointment, "You've finally decided to drag yourself out of bed, huh?" Ryo suppressed a yawn. "Good morning, Father." The room grew still. Anna tensed beside him, and several noble retainers shifted nervously in the background, exchanging glances. The duke's lips tightened. "Do you not care about the family's reputation? Your brothers train tirelessly, while you squander your time." Ryo resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Honestly, who cares about this? He wasn't interested in becoming some legendary warrior or mage. All he wanted was a life free of expectations, where he could relax in peace. A life where no one expected him to fight battles or join political games. "Fine," he said, leaning casually against the pillar. "If I'm such a disgrace, why don't I just leave?" The room fell into stunned silence. Anna gasped. Even the retainers looked like they'd seen a ghost. The duke, however, only smirked. "You? Survive without the comforts of the Valford estate? You, who have never lifted a finger?" Ryo shrugged, unfazed. "I'll manage." The duke stared at him for a moment, then laughed—a cold, humorless sound. "Very well. If you wish to throw away your privileged life, then go. From this day forward, you are no longer a Valford." A retainer stepped forward. "My Lord, are you certain—" "Enough!" The duke waved his hand dismissively. "Let the boy go. He was never fit to be my son anyway." Ryo gave a dramatic bow. "Thanks for the generosity, Father." Anna's expression crumpled. "Young Master, what are you—?" Ryo straightened, stretching his arms above his head. "It's fine, Anna. I've got everything planned." That was a lie. He had no plans. But that didn't matter. Later that evening, Ryo stood outside the estate gates, a small leather bag slung over his shoulder. It held only a handful of personal belongings and a modest sum of gold. Anna, despite Ryo's insistence that she stay behind, stood beside him. Arms crossed, her resolve firm. "You don't have to follow me," Ryo said, giving her a sideways glance. "I must follow you, Young Master!" she declared, her eyes burning with determination. "Really, Anna," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. "You don't need to." "I must!" Ryo sighed. "Fine. If it makes you happy." They walked side by side along the winding country road. Fields of soft green grass stretched to the horizon, the air fresh and full of the scent of earth. The mountains in the distance seemed to call, their peaks soft against the evening sky. Ryo took a deep breath. "No more endless meetings. No more paperwork. No more angry nobles." Anna glanced at him, her voice hesitant. "So… what will you do now, Young Master?" Ryo grinned, carefree. "I think I'll open a tavern." Anna blinked. "A… tavern?" "Yep. A nice, quiet place in a village somewhere, where I can cook, drink, and relax all day." "That's… incredibly irresponsible!" "I know, right? Isn't it great?" As the road stretched ahead of them, Ryo paused suddenly, staring up at a cloud lazily drifting by. "You see that?" he asked. Anna looked up, a little confused. "A cloud?" "It looks like a pancake," Ryo said, pointing dramatically. "No, wait. A pancake with a mustache." "Really? You're stopping for this?" Ryo shrugged. "If I don't, when will I have time to enjoy the simple things in life?" Later that night, when Anna was busy preparing a small campfire, Ryo saw a tired traveler pass by. He reached into his bag, pulled out a small pouch of gold, and tossed it to the man without a word. Anna watched, confused. "You just… gave him money?" Ryo shrugged, then smirked. "He looked like he could use a little help. Besides, the way he was staring at me made me think he was sizing me up for a duel." Anna blinked, still taken aback. "I thought you didn't care about anyone?" Ryo stretched out, smiling slightly. "I don't. But it's fun to mess with people."