A soft mattress pressed against his back. The scent of wood and faint herbs filled his nose.
His eyelids fluttered open.
A small wooden ceiling greeted him, lit by warm morning light. The walls were made of sturdy oak, and the air felt clean and crisp.
He was alive.
But something was off.
Before he could fully gather his thoughts, the door creaked open.
A middle-aged man with rough hands, a strong frame, and tired yet kind eyes stepped inside.
"Kael, you're awake," the man sighed in relief, walking closer. "You scared me for a moment, boy. Collapsing out of nowhere like that…"
Kael?
Ryuuto’s brain glitched.
"Wait, who's Kael—"
"Don't go making your father worry like that," the man scolded lightly, shaking his head.
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Ryuuto.exe has stopped working....
His father?
This man was his father?
It hit him like a truck.
He wasn’t just transported to another world.
He was in someone else's body.
Ryuuto—no, Kael—kept his expression neutral, trying not to look like he had just had an existential crisis.
"Okay, play it cool. Act normal."
"...Sorry, Dad," he muttered, forcing a sheepish smile.
His "father" sighed. "You’ve always been a bit of an odd one, but try to take better care of yourself, alright?"
Kael nodded.
The man ruffled his hair. "Good. Rest a bit more if you need to. I have to go handle some things in the village."
With that, he turned and left.
---
Silence.
Kael exhaled slowly, staring at his hands.
They were smaller, younger. His body felt different.
This wasn’t his.
This was Kael's body.
And he had taken it.
A dull pang of guilt gnawed at his chest.
"What happened to the original Kael?"
"Did he die? Did I… replace him?"
There were no answers.
Only the quiet hum of morning life outside the house.
After a while, he sighed.
"No point just sitting here."
---
Kael stood up, his legs slightly wobbly as he adjusted to his new height and weight.
First, he needed to check his appearance.
He walked over to a small mirror propped against the wall.
And what he saw made him pause.
A young boy with silver-white hair streaked with midnight blue stared back. His golden, fox-like eyes gleamed in the light. His face was sharp yet youthful, giving off a mischievous but intelligent aura.
"Damn. I look cool as hell."
"At least the Goddess didn’t make me ugly."
Next, he explored the house.
It was simple but cozy—a few wooden furniture pieces, a cooking area, and some hunting gear by the door.
Eventually, he met his family:
- Father: A hunter, rugged but kind.
- Mother: A warm and caring woman, quick to scold but even quicker to hug.
- Younger Sister: A small ball of energy who instantly latched onto him, asking if he was feeling better.
He even talked to some neighbors, playing along with what little he understood about Kael’s life.
---
Just as he was starting to process everything, a familiar blue screen popped up.
[Main Quest Received!]
Title: GET STRONGER
Objective: Begin your journey of growth.
Rewards: ???
Kael stared at the glowing text.
Then, he grinned.
"Alright, System. Let’s see what you’ve got for me."
[End of Chapter]