It started about a week ago, when mysterious text began floating in front of my eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙System user confirmed. Welcome, Kairen.
"Gah!?"
This happened right after I'd endured their painful experiments until dawn, as usual from the people looking after a stray like me, and finally collapsed onto the bed in my room.
"Wh-who's there?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙I am the system implemented to assist you, Kairen, a reincarnator.
"Reincarnator? System?"
At first, I thought it was some hallucination from the aftereffects of those agonizing experiments. When incomprehensible words started lining up in front of me, my suspicions only grew.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Memory absence in user confirmed. Synchronizing partial memories from previous life...
But right after those words appeared, unfamiliar yet somehow familiar memories began forcing their way into my head.
"Ugh."
Memories of obsessively devouring novels. The faces and names of countless female protagonists. Worlds that all vaguely resembled one another. And...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Due to your young age and to prevent identity confusion, only general memories and knowledge of romance fantasy child-rearing stories have been synchronized.
Just as more memories seemed about to surface, the influx stopped abruptly along with the text.
"Hm..."
It felt like it had cut off midway, leaving me a bit uneasy, but with what I'd received so far, I could barely grasp my current situation.
"I'm... reincarnated into a romance fantasy child-rearing story?"
The world I'd lived in up to my upcoming tenth birthday was actually a romance fantasy one—the women-oriented child-rearing kind I'd often read in my previous life.
'No wonder life felt so damn hard.'
According to the adults, this place where the shameful bastard child like me resided was the prestigious Opstein Marquisate.
Of course, it perfectly followed the early clichés of women-oriented romance fantasy child-rearing stories: a trash family abusing a mere child like me in every way imaginable.
They were even pros at gaslighting—I hadn't even realized I was being abused until those previous-life memories resurfaced moments ago.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙To summarize once more: This world, where you are the protagonist, seems to follow the clichés of a 'women-oriented romance fantasy child-rearing story.' From this point forward, this system will operate referencing those clichés.
Stunned by the aftereffects of the shared memories and the shock of realizing I'd been abused, I sat there blankly until new text appeared, forcing me to speak up urgently.
"Um, excuse me."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Yes, go ahead.
"I'm a guy, you know..."
I could somehow accept that I'd reincarnated as this world's protagonist and gained a system straight out of a novel.
But I was a bona fide boy in both my past and current lives—never a girl. So why had I ended up in a women-oriented romance fantasy child-rearing story?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙You are the man from your previous life who read the most romance fantasies. As such, your reincarnation into this world is highly suitable.
The system's kind explanation resolved my doubts, more or less.
Well, for a guy, I had read a ton of romance fantasies in my past life.
Especially child-rearing ones—I'd devoured every last one before dying.
But still, why women-oriented ones specifically?
Sure, I'd been sickly and frail in both lives, but I was still a proper boy. They weren't seriously expecting me to become a girl, right?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙It's fine. There is a reason a man like you became the protagonist. Well, even without that, there might be some demand for it.
That last line felt a bit ominous, but either way, I had no choice but to follow the system's lead now.
I hadn't realized it until now, but my body and mind had reached their limits from the constant abuse and contempt.
And according to the clichés of romance fantasy child-rearing stories I knew, listening to the system was the obvious way to escape this abuse.
"So, what do I need to do from now on?"
As I asked, text appeared immediately, as if it had been waiting.
📜 NEW QUEST 📜
[Chapter 0 – Adoption]
📍 Objective: Be recognized as the youngest son of the Monster Ducal House 0/1
⏰ Related Tags:
#AbusedMaleLead #SecretBirth #Adoption #Retribution
Right, the standard early plot for a romance fantasy child-rearing story was the abused protagonist getting adopted into a ducal house.
The familiar tags were one thing, but that leading phrase felt ominous.
"Monster Ducal House?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Yes, it's a cliché.
"...Well, that's true, but."
Of course, the family adopting the protagonist being a northern grand duchy or a despised Monster Ducal House was commonplace in these stories.
And the wounded protagonist growing up under their care was a cliché too.
"How am I supposed to get adopted there?"
But why would a place like that adopt a worthless kid like me?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙I've already given you the hint.
"Ah."
My question was short-lived as I glanced back at the tags the system had generated and realized the reason.
'So I have a secret birth.'
As a romance fantasy expert, I could guess the gist of how things would unfold.
And I had a rough idea of how to act going forward.
Soon, the duke of the Monster Ducal House would visit here, and I'd need to catch their eye somehow to get adopted.
'Not that hard.'
For a hardcore reader like me, it was a piece of cake.
I'd just sneak out on the day the duke visited, make sure they saw me, and the story's nature would force the world to play along, right?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Then, I leave it to you.
I accepted the quest without much thought, and with what sounded like a hint of ulterior motive from the system, my long journey began.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Call me Big Sister System from now on.
And at that moment, I had no idea.
"Sure thing, Big Sister!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Hehe.
This world was somewhat different from the 'ordinary romance fantasy child-rearing story' I knew.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
About a week after I became aware of my reincarnation.
"Let me say it again: you are not to leave this room today."
Having realized my destiny as the protagonist, I'd been brimming with confidence for a while, but on the day to execute my plan, I learned the world wasn't exactly on my side.
"Today is the day the monster from Belverk comes."
Marquis Opstein—the child abuser who'd tormented me since my earliest memories, when I was still too young to know better.
As always, he stood blocking my door at the end of the bustling guest-welcoming corridor, stroking his long mustache while laying down the law.
"If that thing so much as catches sight of trash like you, it'll become prey. Got it?"
"...Yes."
"That's not a proper answer."
When I hesitated, gauging his mood before mumbling my reply, the marquis's face soured instantly.
"If you disobey me, you'd better brace yourself."
"..."
"The experiments today will be especially gruesome."
The moment he uttered "experiments," I mechanically plastered on a smile and responded.
"I'll obey your command, Marquis."
"Good, that's more like it."
From the moment blood first rushed to my head in this marquisate, I'd learned survival: how to navigate people and read the room.
Without those two skills, I might not have survived this long.
"Not that it matters. I'll lock the door anyway."
Satisfied with my reaction, he still locked the door before sauntering off down the corridor.
But that was within my expectations.
"Kairen! There you are!"
Whether the door was locked or not, a certain person always showed up shortly after the marquis left.
"Let's play. Together, like always."
"Lady Dorsia."
Dorsia von Opstein. The marquis's only daughter and a candidate for heir of the marquisate.
In this household where beatings and starvation were daily routines, she was the one who'd treated me decently—a childhood friend of sorts.
'Wait, is "childhood friend" still accurate?'
Unlike the first day when I'd only recovered memories of romance fantasies, a week later I was fairly synced with my past life.
Not all memories, but I clearly recalled being a full twenty-year-old adult back then.
Calling Lady Dorsia a peer felt a tad disingenuous in that light.
"Kairen, what's wrong? Why that dumb look on your face?"
"Oh, it's just..."
Anyway, as she picked the lock with a key she'd snuck away and slipped inside like always, I flashed the most harmless smile I could muster and asked.
"Lady Dorsia. I have something I'd like to ask."
"Sure, what is it?"
"What do you think would happen if I left this place?"
At that moment, I harbored a sliver of hope.
Unlike the rest of the Opstein household who abused me, Lady Dorsia had at least been somewhat kind.
Maybe she pitied me? And if I begged, perhaps she'd help me escape?
"What? What are you talking about, Kairen?"
But my hopes were shattered mercilessly.
"You're my toy. Where would you even go?"
Her face hardening, she thrust her head right in front of mine and whispered while staring me down.
"You know what happens if you make me mad. Bruises on your face."
"..."
"You're cute, Kairen, so I try not to touch your face unless I have to."
Honestly, bruises on my face didn't matter. She was the only one who treated me well, even if she hit me.
"...It does feel good when I actually hit you, though."
But now it seemed she hadn't pitied me at all—she saw me as a toy she could rough up without worry.
"Haha..."
Even though the one person I'd trusted crushed my hopes, I didn't feel particularly sad.
"I see..."
It just stung a little in my chest from that brief flicker of expectation vanishing.
"Alright. So, what game should we play today..."
But I didn't have time to dawdle.
It was time to enact my premeditated plan.
"Hehe. Yeah, today it'll be puppy play..."
"Hup."
"...Kyaa?"
Stealthily approaching Dorsia from behind as she pulled a collar from her bag with bated breath, I summoned every ounce of strength (not sure if I'd even been nursed properly) and shoved her back hard.
"Eek!"
She tumbled forward with an adorably pathetic yelp, but since my push was weak, she braced her hands before her head hit the floor, avoiding injury.
"Farewell, Lady Dorsia."
That was enough for my plan.
- Click...
Before she could get up, I darted forward, snatched the key from her waist, and bolted out the door.
I slammed it shut and locked it from the outside just in time.
"Hah, hah..."
Thanks to my undersized frame compared to my peers, I had confidence in my nimble movements.
I worried someone might be guarding outside, but luckily, as usual, she'd cleared the area.
- Kairen! What are you doing? Are you insane!?
"..."
- Get back here! Hey! Kairen!
I sprinted down the empty corridor with all my might, but soon my breath gave out, so I paused to catch it.
"Huff, huff..."
"Ah!?"
But then maids carrying luggage spotted me from afar, forcing me to grit my teeth and run again.
'...It was thrilling reading about this in novels.'
People called after me suddenly dashing down the hall, some even reached out, but thankfully no one grabbed me.
Malnourished and gaunt as I was, they probably hesitated, fearing I'd get hurt if they caught me at full speed.
"Ah...!"
How far did I run?
"I... made it..."
I burst from the corridor into the downstairs guest reception room, clutching my pounding heart and wildly scanning the area.
"...Huh?"
That's when I realized what Big Sister System meant by 'the reason a guy like me became the protagonist.'
"...?"
Sitting in a reception chair, sipping tea, exuding a monstrous aura even from a great distance.
The figure, emblazoned with the Belverk Ducal House crest on their chest, gazed down at me coldly with crimson-glowing eyes.
"Who are you?"
Unlike the standard clichés of romance fantasy child-rearing stories, it wasn't a male duke.
It was a female duke.
"Uh, um..."
In other words, not a dad.
A mom.
"Uh uh uh..."
And that's where the real problem began.
"Why no answer?"
"..."
"What an odd brat."
Because from here on, I had to shamelessly act spoiled toward this woman.
📜 NEW QUEST 📜
[Astridje Main Quest List]
📍 Call Astridje the Duke "Mom."
📍 Be held in Astridje the Duke's arms.
📍 Get petted by Astridje the Duke.
📍 Sit on Astridje the Duke's lap.
📍 Astridje the Duke's maternal affection reaches required level (0/100)
'...I have to do all this?'
My eyes went dark as the quest list updated the moment I realized it.
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