Choosing from Three Options
After hearing the options, he couldn't help but frown. None of them seemed entirely beneficial, but each held its own potential.
The first option offered the ability to know the future of the world—valuable knowledge that could reveal the protagonist's opportunities and future events. With this knowledge, he could easily manipulate circumstances and become overpowered. However, he was also aware that if he chose this option, fate would not simply stand by. The gods, or whatever higher powers controlled the world, would not allow him to disrupt their plans. In the short term, it might provide an advantage, but in the long run, it could be disastrous.
The second option provided something different: knowledge of the main cast's strengths, weaknesses, traits, and personal preferences. With this, he could create opportunities to encounter the fated females and either form beneficial relationships or abduct them for future advantage. The outcome would depend on the time he entered the world and the background he had at the start. If he abducted them before the protagonist, he could secure more support—something that could never hurt in the long run.
The third option, the most practical, offered a personal A.I. companion. This system would analyze past and present events, calculating the most logical course of action for any situation. The A.I. would be devoid of emotion, making decisions purely based on reason, ensuring the most efficient outcome.
Most people would choose the third option, as it seemed the most versatile and practical. However, he excluded it first. Why? Because his mind worked differently from most people's. His memory was sharper than average, and his brain processed information in a unique way. For instance, his mind could easily forget negative, embarrassing, or traumatic memories, storing only the important ones. This ability allowed him to focus solely on what mattered, and the A.I., despite its practicality, would force him to rely on logic rather than his instincts and experience.
Another reason he rejected the third option was his inability to make emotional decisions. From childhood, he had felt intense emotions, but his mind had never followed suit. While others might feel pity when walking past a homeless person, for example, he wouldn't feel sadness or regret if he couldn't help. To him, living was far worse than dying, so he viewed those moments with detached sympathy, but never with emotional involvement. His brain would simply erase the memory, as it served no purpose or benefit.
He was the type of person who could kill anyone—even his loving parents—if it benefited him. He didn't understand love the way others did; he only felt pity or sympathy.
These thoughts might seem overwhelming to most, but he processed them in mere seconds.
Turning to the Guide, he asked, "What is my background, and at what time will I be reborn?"
The Guide's voice was steady, yet tinged with a hint of surprise. "You will be born as the sole young master of the renowned Zephyrion family, a powerful dark family skilled in both magic and swordsmanship. You will be reborn into the Elista Kingdom, the most powerful kingdom in this world, and you will start your life from birth."
He absorbed the information, his expression unchanged. After a moment of reflection, he chose option one—the knowledge of the world's unfolding future. Why? Because understanding the protagonist's fate would allow him to navigate the world's challenges. The world he would be born into was full of aristocrats, and the majority of the female characters would be from noble families. By understanding their opportunities, he could recognize them or establish false harmony to learn more about them and set his plans in motion.
The Guide seemed surprised by his choice. Most others, she explained, would choose option three, but she said nothing further. With a subtle flick of her hand, she transferred the knowledge of the plot directly into his mind. The pain of the process was sharp, but he did not flinch, his faint smile remaining in place.
"So get ready," the Guide said. "You're about to be reborn."
He braced himself as the surrounding darkness closed in around him. A moment later, a bright light enveloped him, and he heard voices.
"A son has been born."
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a lavish room, lying in the arms of a beautiful woman. She had a fair face, with long, dark, silky hair that cascaded down her waist. Her beauty was extraordinary, a figure carved by divine hands. Behind her was a grand room, its magnificence indicating its expensive nature.
A middle-aged man entered, and everyone in the room bowed their heads. "Welcome, Duke," they greeted him. The man was the Duke—the father of the main character. His gaze fell on the baby, and he mustered a faint smile, though his face remained cold. "You look like me," he said, his voice devoid of warmth.
The baby caught a glimpse of his mother, who was recovering from the pain of childbirth. She was stunning—her long blue hair framed a delicate face with a fair chin and rosy cheeks. Her small features made her look like a work of art. As she gazed at the baby, she sighed with relief. "He seems perfectly healthy... and your duplicate."
The Duke laughed lightly, a rare moment of tenderness, and turned to her. "What should we name him?"
She looked at him, offering a small smile. "Why don't you give him a name?"
The Duke thought for a moment before replying, his tone calm yet final. "Your name will be Aether Zephyrion."