It has been half a year since I came into this world. Over the past half a year, I have observed my mother and the maids closely, studying their movements and facial expressions to learn their language. I have managed to grasp the basics, though I still struggle to understand when they use more advanced—or perhaps intermediate—vocabulary.
One example is...
"Oh, my little boy, you're going to have your affinity test soon. Aren't you excited? With the Destenebres blood in your veins, your affinity for darkness should be strong," my mother said, her expression alight with excitement.
I could understand what she was calling me, but the words between "your" and "soon" as well as the one between "the" and "blood" escaped my comprehension. I must admit, I am still woefully illiterate when it comes to grasping this language. My face showed only boredom and quiet struggle as I tried to piece together the meaning of the words she spoke to this illiterate infant.
For the past half a year in this body, I had been treated with care and lived in relative peace. Yet, if I were to voice any complaints, it would be the endless servings of baby food… and, well, perhaps one other thing.
"Oh yes, it is time for your feeding" my mother said in a calm, relaxed tone as she gently drew me closer. In my previous life, I had a reputation among friends and even strangers for being something of a shameless flirt, and under other circumstances, I might not have hesitated. But this… this was different. I have my pride, and I am not someone who would stoop so low as to entertain such thoughts while in the body of a infant. That is not who I am currently.
I turned my head to avoid being breastfed. Of course, my mother tried to guide me toward her breast, but I AM NOT ONE TO BACK DOWN ONCE I HAVE MADE UP MY MIND. I twisted away again, resisting her gentle insistence.
"Lord, if you are a man, you should indulge such desires!"
"I agree with Lust—Lord, if you are a man, then act like one."
"I wonder what breast milk tastes like in the body of a infant again…"
"Lord, I think you should stop resisting and simply accept the outcome."
"Lord, you are truly a lucky man. A beautiful young woman is trying to feed you—most would never have such a chance."
"Argh… Just get it over with; it is so noisy."
With all these devils chattering in my mind, a sharp, throbbing headache flared as their voices clashed all at once. Great—just great. Not only did I have to resist my mother's attempts to force me into being breastfed, but I also had to endure the relentless noise of these inconsiderate bastards, all trying to pressure me into giving in.
Just then, the maid with light blue hair and deep blue eyes stepped into the room, carrying a bottle of milk.
"Madam, I've brought the young master his milk," she said in a calm, gentle tone.
Nice, right on time! When she brought the milk bottle closer, I reached out with my tiny arms… I hate these arms. Upon seeing this, my mother calmly covered her exposed breast, took the bottle, and guided it to my mouth. As it touched my lips, I tried to hold it firmly with my little arms, drinking peacefully.
"Why does he love the milk bottle so much more than my breast milk? Is it because my breasts are too small… or does he think my milk is unpleasant?" my mother said in a sad tone.
Lady, your breasts, I would say, are quite ample. And as for your milk, I can assure you I do not find it unpleasant—I simply have my own dignity, that's all. Those were the thoughts I kept to myself as I happily drank from the bottle, all the while ignoring the devils chattering in my mind. Seriously, could these inconsiderate bastards not show me a shred of consideration?
"Madam Cesline, the Element Affinity Test will commence this afternoon, as preparations are nearly complete. The lord has also announced that the participants will include the young miss, Lyraena Destenebres, as well as the young master, Lysander Destenebres," the maid reported, detailing the forthcoming event at the mansion.
"Alright, Yukino, thank you for your hard work," my mother said with a warm smile, expressing her gratitude to the maid for reporting the details of the Element Affinity Test.
Listening to their conversation, I could not quite grasp the words, and for some reason, that left me feeling nervous. Knowing that my understanding of the language was still limited, I focused instead on drinking from the bottle of milk until it was empty.
After I finished the bottle of milk, the maid took it away, leaving me cradled in my mother's arms. I simply rested there, for there was nothing I could do. I could not move, nor could I end my life to return instantly to my original body. A moment later, the maid left the room with the empty bottle.
After a while, the maid returned, and my mother, who had been cradling me, handed me to another maid nearby. The returning maid then helped my mother to her feet and supported her as she walked. Once my mother reached out for me again, the maid who was carrying me placed me back in her arms.
After that, the maids surround my mother and escort her while she is carrying me in her arms, walking within the building. I already know, but after half a year of being stuck in the room, I am finally seeing the interior of the building. I can tell it is the Destenebres Mansion, but I did not expect it to be big, well, from an infant's perspective. I don't know why, but I feel quite worried. I have a bad feeling about this.
While my mother held me and was escorted by the maids, I looked around at our surroundings as we moved along. After about ten minutes of walking, we arrived at a door guarded by two sentries. They were fully clad in silver-coloured armour that, at first glance, looked like iron — yet I could tell it was not. If I remembered correctly from the game, the material was called Silron: a reflective and durable metal. Despite its strength, the high sheen made it seem more decorative than practical for battle.
Their faces were hidden beneath helmets that completely obscured their features, leaving no skin exposed. Beneath the plate, they wore chain mail, which, upon closer inspection, was also crafted from Silron.
As we came to a halt, the guards raised their right arms to the left side of their chests in salute. My mother answered with a gentle nod and a faint smile. Lowering their arms, the guards turned towards the door. In perfect unison, the one on the left pushed with his left arm and the one on the right with his right, swinging the door open before us.
Watching the door swing open with such a display from the two guards, I had only one thought in mind: Isn't that a bit too dramatic? Now that I think about it, the game was rated poorly for its weak plot and clumsy narrative. It had those random "what on earth just happened" moments and relied heavily on the so‑called power of companionship — trust, love, and mutual understanding. Remembering all that brings back the time I was so fed up I wanted to quit entirely… But I persisted because… well, the heroines' designs were just that good. Can you really blame me?
"Yes," seven all-too-familiar voices echoed in my mind.
Shut up. Your opinion doesn't count. And you'd better stay quiet, all of you — or when I get back to my original body, I'll make sure your consciousness ends up in one of Keloria's residents.
As the thought surfaced, my mind fell silent. Heh… that threat always works.
As my mother, carrying me in her arms and escorted by the maids, stepped into the room, I took in the sight before us. It was a spacious study, its walls lined with towering bookcases, the shelves forming a grand backdrop against the polished wooden floor. At the centre stood a large, rotating model of a planet, its surface gleaming under the warm light due to the window behind it.
The main floor was laid with ceramic‑like tiles, but a small two‑step staircase led up to a raised section of polished wooden flooring. Upon this platform sat a sturdy study desk — and behind it, my presumed father, his black hair neatly combed and golden eyes steady. Beside him was my presumed stepmother, her black hair framing a pair of brown eyes, as she cradled my presumed half‑sister. My presumed half‑brother was in the arms of one of the maids standing beside her — a calm‑faced woman whose gaze never left the young master, as though fearing that the slightest mishap might cost her position. Several other maids surrounded them, attending quietly to their duties.
As I observed them, my eyes fell upon a crystal orb resting on the study desk. The moment I saw it, I knew exactly what it was — and the realisation struck me. The words I couldn't quite grasp back in my mother's room had been 'Element Affinity Test'. I should have thought more about it at the time; it's so unlike me to overlook something so obvious. Perhaps it's the mentality of this body that kept me from dwelling on it too much.
This is bad. If I were in my original body, I wouldn't be panicking like this—but the thought of taking an element affinity test in this body unsettles me deeply. Why? Over the past half‑year, I've realised something: ever since I transmigrated here, this vessel has struggled to bear the weight of my soul.
I don't know who transferred my consciousness — and a fragment of my soul — into it. Maybe they thought it through; maybe they didn't. Either way, the result was the same: the body's circuits and organs were damaged, badly enough to affect not only its elemental affinity but even its appearance… though that part is best ignored for now.
In short, my vessel is broken. And taking the element affinity test in this state means the results will almost certainly reflect that — and not in my favour.
"Since we are all here, we shall commence the Element Affinity Test," Lord Destenebres announced, his voice carrying through the room.
His golden eyes shifted toward the maid holding my half‑brother, Lysander. A single nod was all it took for her to understand. Moving with quiet precision, she retrieved a small knife from the table, pricked Lysander's finger, and let a droplet of blood fall into the crystal orb resting on the desk.
The instant the blood touched the orb, colours bloomed within its depths — green, brown, blue, light blue, red, and pure white — swirling together in a dazzling display. Yet, all of them paled before the presence of one hue: a deep, consuming black.It seemed to swallow the others whole, as though the other colours were nothing more than faint, unwanted echoes. Looking at it, I couldn't shake the feeling that the orb had been meant to reveal only that pure, devouring black from the very beginning.
"Marvellous…" Lord Destenebres murmured, surprise flickering in his golden eyes at the result of his son's element affinity test.
Clap. Clap.
All eyes turned toward the sound. It came from my half‑sister, her gaze fixed on the crystal orb. She was smiling brightly, her little arms stretching forward as if eager to be next. From her mother's embrace — standing beside the maid who still held Lysander — she reached toward the orb, fingers curling in anticipation.
After applying a small bandage to Lysander. My Stepmother, Thalindra, walks to the crystal orb, carrying Lyraena, one of the maids, grabs the knife and calmly pokes a small tiny wound on Lyraena's finger, letting a tiny drop of blood form and drop to the crystal orb. As soon as the crystal orb received that drop of blood, it suddenly shine many colours as well, the colours reflected from the crystal orb seems to be equal to Lysander element affinity test not long ago, everyone was surprised as the two siblings are like considered prodigy and they could be considered equal as well, though except for me, I was looking at the colours in the crystal orb. It seems that if one looks carefully, the black darkness in the crystal is not as dark as Lysander's result.
"As expected of my children! I hope yours are like mine," Thalindra boasted, her voice laced with pride — and a thinly veiled jab at my mother.
"I hope so too…" my mother replied politely, her tone measured so as not to provoke the proud woman. She turned to me with a warm smile — a silent wish in her eyes, hoping I might prove to be talented.
Lady, I value your warm smile, and the care and love you've shown me over these past six months since my birth. But there are some truths that cannot be changed — such as the fact that your own son is possessed by me, which means I have, in effect, killed him… or perhaps it is more accurate to say I consumed him. In a soul merge, the stronger soul inevitably devours the weaker, turning it into sustenance for itself.
And yet, there is an even sadder truth: your son was fated to die at the hands of his own half‑brother — the very one who has just taken the test — and to lose the woman he loved to him as well.
It makes me sound like a bastard for doing such a thing, I know — but it wasn't my choice to transmigrate here. I was forced into this body. Even so, I must resist… and find a way to avoid taking that test.
After one of the maids fastened a cute little bandage over Lyraena's finger, my mother stepped toward the crystal orb. The maid holding the knife followed, ready to hand it over so she could prick my finger and draw a single drop of blood to fall into the orb.
But as the blade drew near, instinct took over. I flailed my tiny arms in protest, batting at the air, and — as any proper baby should — let out a loud, indignant wail.
"Waahh! Waaaah! Waahh! Waaaahh! Wahhh!" I screamed with every ounce of strength my tiny lungs could muster.
The maid holding the knife froze, startled by my sudden resistance — as though I were reacting to some unseen danger. My mother, still cradling me, tried to soothe me, her voice soft and coaxing. But I knew her intention, and so I thrashed harder, refusing to yield.
Every gaze in the room locked onto me, the air heavy with curiosity and unease. Then — cutting through the noise, the stares, and my own cries — seven familiar voices echoed within my mind.
"Hahahahahaha! I wish I had a snack to watch this hilarious shit."
"Hhaahahahaha, agreed."
"Lord, just give up… it's stupid to resist. Best to accept it."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Wraith's voice dripped with mockery, deliberately trying to provoke me. Gluttony, of course, sided with him — more interested in the idea of a snack than my predicament. Pride's tone was different, urging me to accept my fate with at least some dignity, rather than struggle only to meet the same end. The rest? They were too busy laughing to offer anything useful.
Those bastards. Instead of mocking me, they could at least suggest a way out of this mess. The thought burned in my mind as I kept thrashing, resisting the maid's attempt to draw a drop of blood from my finger.
"My lord, isn't it better to just accept your fate? After all, the plan was to die in this world from the start. If they see you've received the worst result, they might simply dispose of you," Wraith said calmly.
"Agreed," the other six devils echoed in unison within my mind.
Now that I thought about it, Wraith was right. Why had I even resisted? My goal was never to live here — it was to die quickly and return to my own body. Perhaps it was the lingering instincts of this infant form, still undeveloped, that made me thrash and fight without thinking clearly.
As these thoughts churned in my head, the maid seized the moment. She pricked my finger with practised ease, and a single drop of blood fell onto the crystal orb. Ouch.
The orb accepted my blood and began to glow — faintly. Several colours shimmered within, but the one that stood out above the rest was black, the mark of the darkness element. Yet even that black was… faint, as though its strength had been drained away.
"..."
The room fell into stunned silence. No one seemed to know what to say. Myself included. Wow… that is one truly awful talent.