I Regressed and the Genre Changed - Chapter 93
Chapter 93 – Another Possibility (1)
When I followed the butler to the vault, I could only stare blankly around.
The floor covered in a thick layer of dust, the books scattered haphazardly, and the shawl carelessly draped over a bookshelf—it was just as I had seen in the game.
I slowly took in the sight of the vault, lost in nostalgia.
‘I never thought I’d actually come here.’
In the previous run, I had never set foot in here, having played the role of Kyle the whole time I stayed at the mansion.
Even when stealing the Holy Blood, Luna had infiltrated the vault while I slept in my room.
But for some reason, the Duke had suddenly given me access to the vault.
There must be some ulterior motive I wasn’t aware of.
But since I had no reason to avoid it, I took the key and entered the vault.
“Feel free to look around, young master.”
The butler bowed respectfully and left the vault.
Shaking off my sentimental thoughts, I began to walk.
True to its reputation as the Duke’s secret vault, it was filled with all kinds of treasures.
If I grabbed just a few of these items, I wouldn’t have to worry about money for the rest of my life.
‘But it’s meaningless.’
I had no plans to take anything from this world to the original one.
Not money, not items, nothing.
The reason I came to the vault was solely to find out about the “Tears of Lethe.”
‘Where is it?’
With my eyes wide open, I searched the vault.
In a corner, I spotted a uniquely designed glass bottle emitting a soft glow.
Familiar shape.
Familiar location.
A faint sigh escaped my lips.
All the distracting thoughts in my head vanished like smoke.
I walked slowly towards it.
As I picked up the bottle, its cool touch sent a shiver through my fingers.
No doubt about it.
It was the “Tears of Lethe” I was looking for.
“……”
A heavy silence filled the room.
I rubbed the glass bottle with my fingertips, lost in thought.
Drinking this would allow me to experience the “forgotten past.”
But I had no idea what that forgotten past was.
Yet for some reason, my hand was already opening the bottle.
I didn’t know why.
I just felt that if I missed this chance, I would regret it.
My instincts screamed that I had to drink this.
“Hah.”
I slowly lifted my head.
Taking a deep breath, I poured the liquid from the bottle into my mouth.
Moments later.
With a strange sensation, my consciousness faded.
****
I blinked slowly.
‘Where is this…’
A familiar medieval-style room.
It was the room where Kyle Winfred had lived as a child.
‘No way…’
I quickly turned my head and saw a mirror hanging on the wall.
In the mirror was a young boy with a fresh, youthful face.
I stared blankly at that face.
And soon, I realized it was Kyle’s face from his childhood.
‘…Have I returned to the past?’
This was definitely Kyle Winfred.
The young Kyle from his teenage years.
‘Is this a dream?’
I moved my arm, and the boy in the mirror moved his arm too.
To be sure, I pinched my cheek, and a sharp pain followed, with my right cheek turning red.
‘Damn it, what is this?’
I blinked dumbfoundedly.
Holding onto my fading consciousness, I racked my brain.
What is this?
Why have I suddenly gone back to the past?
It doesn’t feel like a dream.
But it doesn’t feel real either.
What the hell?
Just as a bitter laugh was about to escape my lips, a possibility crossed my mind.
— By drinking it, you can read the forgotten past.
‘Reading the forgotten past… could it mean being sent back to the past?’
This is crazy.
Then, another piece of information flashed through my mind.
— You can return as soon as the viewing is over.
I can return.
As soon as this damned memory viewing is over, I can return.
‘This isn’t just a simple regression?’
At that moment, I sensed someone outside the door.
Opening the door cautiously, I saw someone approaching.
‘Who is it?’
I stared blankly at the approaching figure.
Sensing my gaze, the woman approaching smiled broadly.
A deflated sound escaped my lips.
“…What the hell.”
It was Luna Winfred in her youth.
****
Her eyes were sharp as if they could cut, her blue eyes as cold as ice, and her eyebrows furrowed in irritation.
She looked exactly like the Luna Winfred I knew.
But at the same time, she was a completely different person.
“Kyle?”
The girl in front of me was not the Luna Winfred who always tormented me.
Her eyes were pure, without a trace of hostility, her smile was warm and kind, and her voice was soft.
What is this?
Am I seeing things?
“What are you doing there?”
I couldn’t say anything.
Her completely changed appearance left me speechless.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“……”
“What, can’t you hear me?”
She tilted her head a few times and furrowed her brow.
Then she started walking towards me with determined steps.
I stared straight at her as she approached.
I could already see what was about to happen.
Yes, of course.
Luna, angry at being ignored by someone like Kyle, would sigh in frustration and…
“Are you alright?”
…Huh?
This isn’t right.
“Are you sick or something?”
What?
Has she gone mad?
Where are all the usual insults like “trash” or “bastard”?
And that innocent smile, I couldn’t bear to look at it.
My expression must have been a mess as I spat out.
“…What do you want?”
Despite my half-hearted answer, an innocent smile bloomed on her face.
“What do you mean? Don’t you remember? We promised last night. I said I would tell you as soon as I got the results.”
“Results?”
“Yes, results.”
What is she talking about?
As I frowned, Luna’s face turned a bit sullen.
“Did you… forget?”
I remained silent.
I had nothing to say, so I chose silence.
After a moment, Luna, realizing my intent, smiled brightly and spoke in a cheerful voice.
“It’s okay. Anyone can forget.”
Okay my ass.
I can see your twitching eyebrow.
“Come here for a moment.”
She suddenly grabbed my wrist and started dragging me somewhere.
“Where are we going now?”
“Puh, what’s with that old man’s way of speaking?”
“…Just answer the question.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
Luna let out a laugh and quickened her pace.
After much fuss, she led me to…
“This is…”
“My room!”
What?
“Why did you bring me to your room?”
“Wait, ‘your room’? Address me properly.”
Damn it.
Hold it in. I need to gather information about this place.
“…Sister’s room.”
She chuckled like a little devil and opened the door.
“Come in.”
“You want me to come in here?”
“Why are you like this? You hang out here all the time.”
One problem after another.
I barely swallowed a sigh.
“Sit next to me.”
She sat down on the bed without hesitation and patted the spot next to her.
“…I prefer to stand.”
“Just sit down already.”
“Didn’t I say? I prefer to stand.”
“Really? Then I won’t say anything until you sit next to me.”
A somewhat playful tone.
It was an immature side of Luna I couldn’t even imagine.
“……”
I bit back the curse that was about to slip out.
Like a broken wind-up doll, I creaked and sat next to her.
Meeting her blue eyes made me want to sigh.
Not wanting to waste time, I asked her directly.
“So, what are these results you’re talking about?”
Luna laughed innocently.
Then, after a moment, she spoke in a gentle voice.
“Father called me last night.”
“……”
“He said he finished talking with the elders of the family last evening.”
“What did he talk about?”
Luna smiled, lifting the corners of her mouth.
“Candidate for head of the family.”
What?
“I am now eligible.”
Wait.
What did you just say?
“Finally, I can put my name on the list of candidates for head of the family.”
This is absurd.
This is an unprecedented history.
Luna Winfred had never been listed as a candidate for head of the family.
The family elders, the Duke of Winfred, had always removed her name from the list of candidates.
“What about the Duchess?”
I asked with a trembling voice.
Because there was no way the Duchess would have allowed her to be listed as a candidate.
“The Duchess?”
She tilted her head in confusion.
“What are you talking about?”
She blinked, flustered, and then told an unbelievable story.
“The Duchess died in an accident last year.”
———-