Knock, knock.
“Young master, did you cough?”
Lost in thought, I was snapped back to reality by a woman’s voice from outside the door of my room.
‘…Right. It’s about time for them to attend to me.’
My “official identity” as Telos Nehemoth is that of a young lord from a count’s family in the Elysion Empire.
And in this world, where the societal systems and culture are on par with Earth’s medieval era, it is only natural for nobles to be served.
Turning my gaze slightly toward the door, I responded in a calm voice.
“…Yes.”
“Then, for your morning service…”
“I’ll take care of it myself today, so you may leave.”
“…Understood. However, before I go… there is a message from the head of the household. He requests your presence at breakfast.”
The head of the household.
That refers to the count, the patriarch of the Nehemoth family.
In short, the count.
It seems he has summoned me for breakfast.
I replied.
“…I’ll be there shortly.”
“Yes, then.”
With that, I heard the sound of the woman and the servants behind her retreating with their footsteps.
Sensing that they had completely withdrawn, I got out of bed and headed toward the washstand.
“…Hoo.”
Swishhh
As I turned on the faucet while looking into the mirror, water began to flow.
The fact that a society comparable to Earth’s medieval era in culture could develop facilities like modern plumbing, rather than ancient methods, felt grotesque to someone like me who retained memories of Earth.
‘The very act of water coming out is closer to magic facilitated by magical tools, though.’
In this world ruled by swords and magic, the quality of life is surprisingly high.
There’s a saying on Earth that highly advanced science is indistinguishable from magic, but the reverse is also true—magic itself can be seen as highly advanced science.
When you think of a “mage” in a game, you probably imagine a strategic weapon capable of overwhelming firepower to crush enemies.
However, that’s more akin to the role of combat mages who are trained as soldiers.
Most mages are more like scientists or engineers in Earth terms, specializing in their fields.
Thanks to their influence, life in this world is of unexpectedly high quality.
Unlike Earth’s medieval peasants, commoners here have no trouble maintaining cleanliness.
As a result, even the Black Death, infamous as Earth’s worst plague, has never occurred here.
Reflecting on the marvels of magic, I washed the crimson blood off my hands and finished rinsing my face.
Drip… drip…
I looked at the mirror above the sink.
Water dripped along the sharp line of my jaw, creating soft echoes.
In the mirror, my reflection stared back—red irises overlapping with black ones as if both existed at once.
I closed my eyes, grabbed the towel hanging nearby, and wiped my face.
None of it mattered.
There’s no need to distinguish between me and Lee Hyun-joon.
I’ve already come to terms with the nature of this world, the concept of possession, or even reincarnation.
If I can understand those, what else can’t I accept?
With that thought, I began preparing for breakfast.
After a quick wash and tidying up my attire, I stepped out of my room and walked through the mansion’s corridors.
Passing by the household staff, I responded to their greetings with a nod and made my way toward the dining hall.
The count—the head of the Nehemoth family—had asked me to attend breakfast.
After walking for a short while, I arrived at the doors of the dining hall.
The servant standing guard at the entrance bowed deeply as they greeted me.
“Welcome, young master. The lord is waiting for you.”
“…Yes.”
“Lord, the young master has arrived.”
The servant, who had greeted me with utmost courtesy, turned and knocked on the door before addressing the person inside.
A deep voice responded from beyond.
“Let him in.”
“Yes. Then, young master, I wish you an enjoyable breakfast.”
With those words, the servant opened the door and stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter.
I walked past him and stepped inside.
The dining hall was illuminated by sunlight streaming through large, ornately decorated windows.
The view outside was picturesque, and the long dining table, draped in a pristine white tablecloth, seemed excessively vast for two people.
But what stood out more than anything was the middle-aged man with white hair slicked back, crimson eyes gleaming with an austere intensity.
His lean yet solid build, his stern expression, and his sunken eyes…
Looking at him, I couldn’t help but imagine that this is how I might look when I grow older in this body.
And for the first time in a long while, I felt a twinge of “revulsion.”
‘…Not even funny.’
Before I inherited Lee Hyun-joon’s memories, I had begun to feel indifferent to most things.
But now, something stirred within me again.
Pushing the thought aside, I opened my mouth.
“I’ve just arrived, Father.”
“Good. Sit down first.”
A conversation as barren as the desert.
But I didn’t mind—it was better this way.
It made things simpler.
As the count instructed, I sat in the chair that seemed to be intended for me.
Before me was a simple breakfast spread: bread, soup, chicken, and salad.
Without much thought, I quickly glanced over it and turned my gaze forward.
At the head of the table sat the Count of Nehemoth.
Clink.
The sound of the dining room door closing echoed softly.
The world seemed to fall into silence, as though it had been engulfed in a gray stillness.
The distance between the head seats, separated by the long dining table, mirrored the emotional distance between me and the count.
Letting out a long breath, I surveyed my surroundings with my senses.
‘…Is the sound perfectly sealed?’
Though I already knew it was, thanks to Lee Hyun-joon’s memories, I instinctively double-checked.
I gripped the knife placed on the table.
“So, why did you call me to breakfast?”
Gone was the polite tone—no, I spoke in a manner that bordered on outright disrespect.
Something unthinkable under normal circumstances.
Even commoners would face severe consequences for speaking to their parents in such a way, let alone nobles who strictly adhere to decorum.
Such words could be seen as betraying the sacred bond between parent and child.
Yet, the count didn’t seem to care.
On the contrary…
“I wanted to remind you of a few things since you’ll soon be heading to the academy.”
He addressed me with formal respect, as though I were his superior.
It was a shocking scene by any measure.
But for me and the count, this was perfectly natural.
Yes, the count was undoubtedly my biological father.
And this body was undeniably his son.
But at the same time, I was also the person he served.
“Speak.”
“Yes. First, regarding this year’s incoming students…”
The count continued.
“Domestically, the second imperial princess. From abroad, the saintess and saint of the Holy Kingdom of Arcia, the fifth prince of the Leonhardt Kingdom, the twins of the Union Council President of the Khelad Kingdom, the princess and prince of the Enrad Elf Kingdom, and the son of the master artisan of the Dwarf Federation, Dverge… Several key figures have been confirmed to enroll.”
“This is information I already knew. Is there a specific reason you felt the need to reiterate it?”
The fact that so many notable figures, their importance evident just by their titles, were flocking to the academy was hardly news.
Especially to Elysion Academy, which bore the same name as the empire itself.
If you think about it, it’s essentially a situation where key figures from foreign nations are flooding into our country’s educational institution.
Given the unique nature of Elysion Academy, it’s not entirely unexpected, but even taking that into account, the sheer number is exceptionally high.
If something were to happen at the academy, it would undoubtedly cause massive diplomatic chaos.
But this was already information I knew—something the count had told me repeatedly even before I inherited Lee Hyun-joon’s memories.
“It is a most opportune time to achieve the ‘Great Work,’ a fact that cannot be emphasized enough,”
the count said.
“…Indeed,”
I replied.
The Great Work.
A sort of lifelong aspiration I had clung to before I inherited Lee Hyun-joon’s memories.
As the thought crossed my mind, my eyes darkened.
The Great Work…
‘…How laughable.’
At this point, what meaning does it even hold?
Even before I gained Lee Hyun-joon’s memories, I was never certain of its significance.
It was simply the only thing I had to hold onto, the only goal to chase.
“[Nehemoth],” the count addressed me then.
Nehemoth.
It was the name of the family, but at the same time, it was also a title that referred to me as I am now.
“…Speak.”
“The gathering of such key figures, including the imperial princess and so many foreign dignitaries, is unprecedented. May you fulfill the task entrusted to you.”
The task entrusted to me.
The mission that the boss, [Telos Nehemoth], must accomplish in this world.
“…I know. Everything is…”
“…For the Great Work.”
But I will refuse it.
I finished breakfast with the count.
It was a simple meal, and as such, it didn’t take long to conclude.
During the meal, the count shared a few more details—predictably, it was more talk about the tiresome
“Great Work.”
But does the count know?
That there are many things about the “Great Work” he doesn’t understand.
Even without Lee Hyun-joon’s memories, I was still his superior.
As such, there are things I know that he doesn’t—critical elements conveyed only from “above.”
With that in mind, I saw no reason to entertain the conversation further.
After finishing breakfast, I rose from my seat, intending to leave immediately.
“Lord Nehemoth.”
“…What is it?”
However, before I could leave, the count called out to me.
I turned back and asked.
“Now that breakfast is over, I should inform you: [Gamaliel] has sent word. Would you wait in the drawing room?”
“…Understood.”
Gamaliel, huh.
Hearing that “she” was coming, I briefly lowered my gaze, then turned and headed to the drawing room instead of my room.
As I walked, passing by servants who bowed their heads every time they crossed my path, I eventually arrived and opened the door to the drawing room.
Inside was a space furnished with various pieces of elegant furniture, including two luxurious sofas and a table between them.
I called over a nearby servant and spoke.
“Can you prepare some tea?”
“Ah, yes, young master. What kind of tea should I prepare?”
“Enrad plum blossom tea, please. The kind steeped the longest in honey.”
“A distinguished guest, I see. Understood.”
The maid bowed her head and withdrew from the room.
I sat on the sofa in the drawing room, waiting quietly.
A short time later, the maid returned with a teacup and teapot, placing them on the table before leaving again.
Leaning back against the sofa, I closed my eyes and waited.
…Time passed, if only briefly.
“…You’re here.”
Sensing someone’s presence, I opened my eyes.
“It’s been a while.”
Before I knew it, a woman had seated herself across from me on the sofa.
Her long, lilac-colored hair exuded a fragrance reminiscent of lilac blossoms, and her delicately folded eyes, with irises like pink gemstones, were fixed on me.
The pristine white blazer and skirt she wore accentuated her gracefully curvaceous figure, giving her the elegance of a swan.
She seemed to embody the very definition of perfect beauty.
Her features, sharp yet flawless, carried a cold and detached air, but one could only imagine that a smile on her face would cause the hearts of most men to melt away completely.
She was a woman of dazzling and elegant beauty, to an almost overwhelming degree.
Looking at her, I spoke.
“What brings you here, Gamaliel?”
“Please, call me Lilith instead, Telos.”
Gamaliel—or rather, Lilith.
From Lee Hyun-joon’s memories, I knew that the woman standing before me was another “boss character” of Elysion Academy.