Three days into his transmigration.
Gu Hong dragged his recovering body to the window. This was the guest quarters of Count Mason Rivers (Riva), reserved for esteemed visitors. Beyond the glass stretched Yorn City's iconic landmark—the Yorn Holy Light Church, a branch of the Holy Light faith. Closer below, early-morning streets buzzed with activity, where a burly Dwarven blacksmith pounded an anvil at the corner alley.
Gazing at this unfamiliar medieval vista, Gu Hong sighed.
…
In his past life, Gu Hong had been an architect, collapsing at his desk after a brutal all-night design rush. When he awoke, he inhabited this new body—a body battered almost to death.
His chest had caved inward like a crushed lute, ribs shattered, lungs swimming in blood. Every breath tore through him, consciousness slipping away. Too weak to even twitch a finger, he resigned himself to death.
…
Then, a miracle.
On the first day, a robed old man entered, wielding a staff capped with a milky gem. Without a word, the man channeled radiant light into Gu Hong's chest. Broken bones realigned, blood clotted, and clarity returned. The man departed without a glance, leaving Gu Hong staring at the ceiling in shock.
…
Two days later, Gu Hong marveled at his fully healed body. Back on Earth, such injuries would've required months of recovery. Clearly, this world's magic—wielded by figures like the Holy Light "Divine Officer"—defied all logic.
…
In his convalescence, Gu Hong pieced together three truths:
He'd transmigrated to a medieval-esque fantasy realm.This world teemed with races like Elves, Dwarves, and Dragons, some blessed with transcendent powers.He was royally screwed.
His new identity: Sean Violet (Violet), 16-year-old fourth son of Duke Albert Violet of the Lane Duchy, and newly minted Baron of Riverside Town.
From fragmented memories, Gu Hong reconstructed Sean's downfall:
A idealistic knight-in-training, Sean had clashed repeatedly with his father over nobles' mistreatment of commoners. After a final explosive argument, Duke Albert exiled him to Riverside Town—a backwater at the duchy's southernmost border.
But en route, Sean's caravan was ambushed by abnormally fearsome bandits. His retinue, including a peak-Silver-rank guardian knight, fell. Sean alone survived, gravely wounded, rescued by a passing powerful individual and brought to Yorn City.
Now, Count Rivers, ever the diplomat, had housed Sean near the Holy Light Church, where the bishop's miracle healing restored him.
…
"Time to embrace this second chance," Gu Hong—no, Sean—murmured, staring at the bustling streets. "From now on, I'm Sean Violet."
Yet the situation was dire. His entire entourage slain, supplies plundered, he possessed nothing but a distant, possibly hostile, fiefdom. Worse, the bandits who'd attacked him likely lurked nearby.
"Returning to Riverside would be suicide," he thought. "Hiding in Yorn isn't safe either—my enemies will strike again."
His only hope? The mysterious system he'd discovered two days prior.
"System," he whispered.
A cyan hologram materialized, displaying:
[System Unlock Countdown: 30, 29, 28…]
…
The countdown had taunted him for 48 hours. Now, finally, it neared zero.
[5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0]
[System fully unlocked. Constructing Hearthstone system architecture… 30, 29, 28…]