Gamma was passing through the drifting fog, his mind fixed on the one he wished to meet. Not long after, someone who looked exactly like him appeared, yet in a strange condition.
He was trapped inside a golden iron cage shaped like a half circle. Strangely enough, he sat inside it calmly, utterly relaxed.
"So you've come again," said the one who resembled Gamma.
"Yeah. Honestly, I was surprised too. Turns out coming back here is pretty easy."
"You are an idiot. Do you think that method is safe?"
"No. But it's effective."
"You're insane."
"So, what do you want this time? You didn't force your way in here just to greet me, did you?"
"I just want to ask a few things. Last time, you said you were on the brink of death, that's why my soul was able to replace yours, right?"
"Yeah. That damned god told me so. So What? are you here to mock me?"
"No. I actually need your help."
"Help? I'd rather go straight to heaven than help someone who stole my body."
"Heaven? You really think you can go to heaven?"
"Of course. I've never killed anyone."
"You're an idiot. Do you think sins only come from murder?"
"That's true, isn't it? All I did was fire people, harass them, and act arrogant."
"Do you know what happened to the people you fired?"
"I don't care. Why should I bother knowing the fate of people who don't matter?"
"Alex the chef, he had two children and a wife. He lost everything after you fired him. You even deliberately threatened everyone in your father's territory so he wouldn't be hired anywhere else. That was no different from exile."
"That was his fault for putting carrots in my food."
Ray suddenly shouted, "What's wrong with carrots?! They're delicious!"
"You got angry over something like that?"
"Don't you know that eating vegetables is good for your health?"
"Huh? I don't care. If it tastes bad, it tastes bad. Are you just here to lecture me? If so, you're wasting time. Get out of here, you bastard."
"You insolent brat!"
"You're a brat too."
"I'm older than you, damn it!"
"Just get out already! You're annoying."
"At least tell me how you died."
The imprisoned Gamma stared at Ray for a moment before answering, "Poison…"
"Oh… That was easy. I thought you'd refuse."
"Remember, you're using my body. It would be humiliating if I died from poison."
"Aren't you already dead?"
"Shut up! Get out!"
Ray clicked his tongue and woke up from his sleep.
The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was Charlotte, looking panicked.
"Young master, did you succeed?"
"Yes. Thanks for watching over me. How long was I asleep?"
"Two hours."
"Oh, so it's still midnight."
"By the way, young master… I still don't understand why you'd do something like this."
"Oh, this is training, poison resistance."
"But what if you died because I was too slow giving the antidote?"
"That won't happen."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I trust you," Gamma said with a gentle smile.
Charlotte looked pleased and blushed. "T-thank you, young master."
"All right. Go back to sleep."
"Yes!" Charlotte replied cheerfully.
She left Gamma's bedroom, and the room fell silent.
Then Gamma muttered softly, "So it's just as I suspected. If I count from the moment I arrived in this world… that means I've been poisoned three times."
The second time was just a few days after I came here. I was eating dinner alone when I suddenly collapsed and found myself in that foggy place. That made me realize, even the living creature can enter that place, as long as they're caught between life and death.
The third time is now. I did it myself to confirm the truth. And it seems my body can withstand poison up to a certain limit. The poison I drank this time slowly weakens the lungs. If I hadn't taken the antidote immediately, I would've died from suffocation.
Gamma looked at the two empty glass bottles lying on his bed.
So Charlotte really did give me the antidote… Or was it just an improvisation by the killer?
If Charlotte really is the killer, then this is simple. But if she isn't… then this investigation will be troublesome. The first time I was poisoned,and the cause of the original Gamma's death,both happened when I drank tea in the middle of the flower garden. And the only person there… was her. Charlotte.
Gamma looked down at the floor around him, then opened the balcony door and gazed below.
It really does seem like she gave me the antidote. So is Charlotte not the culprit?
Hm… This is complicated. The one who makes tea isn't just the chef, it's also the maids' duty. And if I announce anything now, it'll only make the killer panic and running away. worst case scenario the killer will change her killing method to an aggressive one
…I guess I'll just wait.
Despite his racing thoughts, Gamma chose to sleep.
Time passed quickly. Three months had gone by since Ray became Gamma, and tomorrow would be his birthday.
Gamma woke up after a mentally exhausting night. Four maids entered his room, tending to his clothes, fixing the bed, and cleaning up. Afterward, he was informed that his two older siblings were waiting in the dining room.
Hearing that made Gamma curious. If it was true, this would be the first time he'd ever meet them. He hurried to the family dining room and slowly opened the door. Just as he'd been told, two people were waiting inside.
One was a woman with straight black hair, wearing a hat and holding a wooden staff with a rainbow-colored gem bound at its tip. The moment Gamma saw her, he understood, she was a mage. However, the black robe she wore made her look like an evil dark wizard.
The other was a man with messy silver hair. Laziness was written clearly across his face, unlike the woman, who looked excited the moment Gamma entered. His noble attire was black as well.
Seeing them, Gamma felt slightly disappointed.
I know our history is deeply tied to dark magic, but like this… we look like a family of criminals. No, wait. If I think about it… I'm a villain, right? Does that mean they are too?
The woman suddenly rushed toward Gamma and hugged him, while the man remained seated calmly.
"Gamma! My beloved little brother! How are you? Are you healthy? Are you eating properly? Are you having any troubles? If you do, tell your big sister, okay?" she said.l while began pinching Gamma's cheeks.
What's wrong with her?!
"Stop that shameless behavior. We are respectable nobles. What do you think people would say if they saw a mage like you acting this way?" said the older brother.
"Huh? You're overthinking it. I just wanted to play with Gamma's cheeks," she replied, continuing to squeeze them.
"My cheeks are not toys!" Gamma shouted.
She stopped and replied, "S-sorry. Are you angry?"
"Forget it. Why did you call me here?" Gamma asked.
"Of course, to have breakfast together. What else would it be?" the older brother replied.
"Now sit properly, both of you."
They had breakfast together, and the two siblings talked about what they had been doing outside their family's territory.
The man was Harrington Hall, seventeen years old. He was currently studying at the academy in the knight department, second year.
The woman was Alice Hall, sixteen years old. She also studied at the academy, but in the mage department, first year.
That was why they were rarely home, only returning during semester breaks or important family events, such as birthdays or funerals.
From that breakfast conversation, Gamma realized something.
This family seems… more normal than I expected. Then why did Gamma become the villain?
The dining room felt warm. Even Harrington, who looked strict and lazy, chatted with a faint smile. But the atmosphere didn't last long. Because Suddenly, someone opened the dining room door, and it wasn't a maid.
It was Gamma's little sister, Beatrice Hall.
The air instantly turned awkward, because everyone in the room knew one thing very well, Beatrice hated Gamma.