Thump, thump, thump...
'Where am I? Why is it so dark?'
A panicked voice echoed in my mind. I tried to open my eyes, and faint rays of light pierced through the darkness.
"Young master! Young master!!" a girl's voice called out nearby.
'A girl's voice…?'
As my eyelids slowly lifted, I saw a brown-haired girl crying beside me. Next to her stood someone who looked like... a doctor?
They both froze in shock when I opened my eyes. Then, the girl suddenly lunged forward, hugging me tightly while sobbing uncontrollably.
"Young master... Huaa... You're finally awake!"
I was stunned. 'Who are they...? And where is this place…?'
I looked around. The room felt strange, like those classic European-style houses you'd find in fantasy manga.
'Wait… I was just playing a game. Why am I here?'
The man who looked like a doctor leaned forward with concern.
"Are you feeling alright, young master?"
'Young master?' I repeated in my head.
The girl who had hugged me nodded eagerly.
"Yes, young master…"
I struggled to sit up, my body still weak, and then asked, "Who are you…?"
The girl's eyes widened. "Y-young master… you don't remember me?"
The doctor's expression turned serious. "Could it be… amnesia?"
I turned my head to the right and noticed a small mirror on the table.
As my gaze met the reflection… I froze.
'That's… not me!'
Staring back at me was the face of a young boy, about seven years old. Brown hair. Pale skin. Definitely not the eighteen-year-old me.
'Did I… reincarnate?! No… I didn't die, did I?'
'Then is this… another world? An isekai? But why am I in a child's body?!'
I stared at the unfamiliar reflection in silence.
My heart pounded rapidly, cold sweat forming on my temples.
'This isn't a dream… is it?'
The brown-haired girl beside me still held my hand tightly, her face soaked in tears.
"Young master, please don't scare me again…" she whispered shakily. "You've been unconscious for three days. We were all so worried."
I swallowed hard. "Three… days?"
She nodded. "You fell off a horse and hit your head on a rock. The doctor said… you might never wake up again…"
I fell silent. Inside, I screamed in disbelief.
'Fell off a horse? Me?'
The doctor stepped forward and examined my eyes using a glowing stone.
"Thankfully, there's no permanent damage, only possible memory loss from the head trauma. But—" He looked me straight in the eye. "Young master, do you really not remember anyone here?"
I shook my head slowly. "No… I don't remember anything. Not even… my own name."
The girl bit her lip, then spoke up hesitantly. "Your name is Kael Rynthier, young master. You are the only son of Marquis Rynthier, ruler of the eastern region of the Aezrith Kingdom."
'Marquis? A kingdom? This really is… another world.'
I took a deep breath. So, my new name is Kael? Age seven, and living in a noble family's mansion in a fantasy world?
If this is like a game, shouldn't I have some kind of system? Stats? Skills? Levels?
I thought hard.
'Status! Show up! Open panel!'
Nothing appeared.
'Maybe I need to use the local language?'
"Uh… status…" I muttered awkwardly.
Suddenly— a translucent screen appeared before my eyes.
---
[Status Panel]
Name: Kael Rynthier
Age: 7
Race: Human
Title: Heir of Marquis Rynthier
Level: 1
Job: ???
Skills: ???
Mana: Locked
Stamina: Low
Special Status: [World Traveler] (Passive)
---
Whoa... it actually appeared!
My eyes widened in disbelief.
'World Traveler…? So I really was transferred into this child's body?!'
My heart raced—not from fear, but from a strange mixture of dread and excitement.
The brown-haired girl beside me spoke again.
"Young master… have you truly lost your memory?" she asked quietly, her voice trembling. "You don't remember me?"
I stared at her for a moment, then nodded hesitantly. "Sorry… I don't remember anyone."
She immediately burst into tears. "Huaaa… Young master… what should we do…"
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, forcing a small smile despite her crying.
"My name is Lilia. I am your personal maid, young master," she said, bowing slightly. "I've served you since you were a baby…"
Lilia, huh?
I nodded slowly. "Lilia… so you're my maid?"
"Yes!" she replied quickly, her eyes still teary. "But… how will I explain this to your father and mother…? They'll be heartbroken to know you've lost your memories!"
I fell silent. So… I have parents in this world? A father and mother who are still alive?
That means I'm not alone. This isn't one of those isekai stories where the protagonist is an orphan and gets thrown into a magic academy or a deadly war.
Still… I'm just a seven-year-old kid now.
So… what do I do next?
I glanced at Lilia, who was still watching me with swollen, worried eyes.
"Lilia…" I said, trying to sound calmer. "Can I… have some time alone?"
She hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, young master. But please call me if you need anything…"
Lilia and the doctor quietly left the room.
As the door closed, I turned my eyes toward the ceiling.
This is real. This world… is the beginning of my new life.
And at that moment, a mysterious voice echoed inside my head.
[Starter Quest Received!]
Title: Inheriting the Name of Rynthier
Description: Prove yourself worthy as the heir of the noble Rynthier family.
Objective: Build your reputation within the household and the eastern territory.
Reward: Noble Bloodline System [Locked] will be unlocked.
A quest system?! This really is just like a game!
I clenched the bedsheet beneath me.
Alright.
If this is the beginning of my life as Kael Rynthier… then I won't waste it.
After Lilia and the doctor left, I found myself staring up at the finely carved wooden ceiling.
Silence.
Only the steady beat of my heart echoed in the quiet room—still uneven, still restless.
> "So… I'm Kael Rynthier now. In a world that's not mine."
I took a deep breath, trying to sort the storm in my head. Then my gaze landed on a small bookshelf tucked in the corner.
> "If this world is anything like a fantasy game or novel… there has to be something like a guidebook or history text."
I pushed off the bed—still a bit shaky, but manageable. This body was weak, but not helpless.
Step by step, I reached the bookshelf.
Several thick, leather-bound books rested there. I picked one at random:
"A Brief History of the Aezrith Kingdom – For Noble Children."
> "Even has a beginner's version. Convenient."
I opened it gently. The characters were in an old, elegant script… but I could read them easily.
> Must be one of the perks from [Otherworld Wanderer] or something like that.
---
📘 World Summary – Book Excerpt
> The Kingdom of Aezrith is one of the Seven Great Kingdoms of the continent Elvareth. It was founded 728 years ago by King Aezrith I and has grown into a center of culture, military power, and magic in the eastern region.
Dominant race: Human
Minorities: Elves, Dwarves, Beastkin
Governance: Monarchy with noble hierarchies—12 Marquises, 30 Counts, and hundreds of Barons
The eastern province is ruled by House Rynthier, once famed for their military strength and strict discipline. In recent decades, however, internal strife has weakened their influence.
> "So this family used to be powerful, but now it's declining. That's probably why there's pressure on me as the heir."
---
📙 Magic & Bloodline Systems
> Every human is born with a degree of Mana Potential, but only a few can access it without training or inherited traits.
At age ten, noble children are tested for elemental affinity.
Some ancient houses possess rare Bloodline Systems—powers passed down through generations.
These systems only awaken when the heir proves themselves through strength or virtue.
> "That ties in with the quest from earlier… 'Inherit the Name of Rynthier'. So awakening the bloodline isn't automatic—I need to earn it."
---
Before I realized it, the sun had vanished from the sky. Twilight faded into the deep navy of night.
I let out a long breath and closed the last book. I'd spent hours absorbing as much as I could about this new world—my world now.
> "Seven kingdoms, ancient bloodlines… this is still unreal."
A soft knock pulled me out of thought.
Knock knock…
> "Young master, may I come in?" Lilia's voice, soft and familiar.
"Come in," I said, slowly standing up.
She entered with a tray of warm food. The scent of fresh bread and herbal soup filled the room, and suddenly, my stomach growled with hunger.
"You haven't eaten all day," she said with a gentle smile. "It's already night."
"…Thanks."
She placed the tray on the bedside table and helped me sit down. I could've done it myself, but… I let her.
As she spooned some soup toward my mouth, I decided to ask.
> "Lilia… can you tell me? What was I like before? Before I lost my memory?"
She paused, clearly surprised. Then she gave a soft smile.
"You were kind, young master. A little stubborn… but never cruel."
> "Really?"
"Yes. Very bright for your age. You used to sneak into the grand library in the middle of the night to read books on strategy and magic—even though it wasn't allowed."
She chuckled. "I had to cover for you many times when Madam caught on."
I found myself smiling faintly.
> "And… what about my family?"
She set the spoon down and looked at me, eyes warm.
"Your family loves you very much."
"The Marquis, your father, is strict—but caring. No matter how busy he is, he always has breakfast with you in the mornings."
"And the Madam… your mother… she's gentle. She never misses a night without tucking you in or singing a lullaby when you're sick."
I went quiet. There was a warmth in my chest I hadn't felt in a long time.
> "A family like that… I never had in my old world."
"When you fell from your horse and went unconscious," Lilia continued, "they were devastated. But due to an emergency in the western province, they had to leave temporarily. They'll return in two days."
> "So they don't know I've lost my memories."
She looked uncertain. "I haven't told them. I didn't want to worry them unnecessarily—especially if this is temporary. But… if you want me to, I can."
I stared into the flickering candlelight.
> "No… not yet. Let me try to learn and adapt before they come back. I want to make a good impression—even if I'm not the same Kael they remember."
Lilia's smile turned soft, almost teary.
"Whatever you decide, I will be by your side, young master."
"…Thank you, Lilia."
And that night—my first night in this strange world—I finally felt… not so alone.