Chapter 2

Rian’s tears were enough to gather his startled family.

“Oh dear, our baby. You’re still in pain, aren’t you? Quickly, call the priest…”

Stepmother Serena cried out anxiously. At her words, Father, Viscount Aaron immediately nodded and ordered the butler nearby.

“Please, fetch Priest Philion from the temple at once. The child still seems unwell.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The butler hurriedly left the room. Watching that from the perspective of a newborn, Rian—no, Kim Su-hyun—smiled wryly inside. In his previous life in South Korea, they would have rushed to a hospital. But here they called a “priest,” not a doctor to help him. From conversations he’d overheard in the house over the past few days, he had a vague understanding that nobles and the wealthy received healing through holy magic performed by temple clergy, while the poor relied on herbalists or folk remedies.

A short time later, a middle-aged priest in a white robe entered the room. He held a small scripture in his hands.

“Viscount, did you call for me?”

“The child has been crying continuously since waking up; please examine him again just in case.”

Priest Philion approached Rian as if by habit and placed his hand on the small child’s chest. A soft, warm light flowed from his palm. It was divine power. The warmth seeping into his body made Rian involuntarily relax.

“Hmm… May the blessing of the gods be with him. There is nothing physically wrong with the child. He seems exhausted from a long bout of illness; if you allow him to rest well, he should be fine.”

At the priest’s words, the family finally sighed with relief.

From that day on, Rian’s adjustment to the other world began in earnest. Of course, as an infant there was almost nothing he could actively do. Eat, sleep, and soil himself in endless repetition. For a mind of an adult, it was torture, but through that process he was quietly accumulating things he had never had in his previous life.

“Our sweet Rian, you must be hungry. Come, let’s feed you.”

Stepmother Serena cared for him without ever showing the slightest annoyance. Being nursed in her arms felt humiliating at first, but he soon grew accustomed to the pure love reflected in her eyes. She was not Rian’s biological mother, but she was warmer than anyone else in the world.

Father Viscount Aaron was taciturn, but he would come by from time to time and awkwardly hold him. From his rough, large hands one could feel both the weight of a lord of a declining house who must protect his family and, despite that, the unmistakable affection for his child.

And his elder brother, Kaion.

Five-year-old Kaion was the greatest change for Rian.

“Little brother! Look at me!”

Kaion brought a wooden sword the size of his body and, struggling, swung it in front of Rian’s cradle. Though the movements were those of a child, Rian could see extraordinary talent within them: shifting his center, rotating at the waist, the angle of his swings. Everything instinctively traced an optimal trajectory.

‘Is he… a genius?’

From his memories of his past life, Kaion clearly possessed innate talent for swordsmanship. He was a promising prodigy who could one day lead the family and become a hero of the empire.

One afternoon, eavesdropping on his parents’ conversation, Rian learned a little more about the structure of this world.

“Word came from the Holy Kingdom Artemis that a new decree from His Holiness the Pope has been issued. It said that the demons’ uprisings are troubling, and all the faithful on the continent must pray to the gods with devout hearts.”

“Oh my, how frightening. I hear the newly appointed Saint’s divine power is unprecedented; I hope her blessing reaches the entire continent.”

Pope, Saint, demons. Words he’d only seen in fantasy novels were being spoken as reality. This world truly contained swords, magic, and gods.

Rian thought about what he should do. He could use his previous life’s scientific knowledge to shake this world. But would that lead to happiness? The moment one drew attention, jealousy and checks would inevitably follow. Above all, he did not want to overshadow his brother Kaion’s light.

‘Yes… I’ll become the shadow.’

A family like sparkling gems. If he could protect this warmth, he would gladly hide in the darkness. Let Kaion become the empire’s sun and light the family brilliantly; Rian would be the shadow behind him, removing every threat.

The first thing he needed to do for that.

“Fa…du…”

Rian desperately tried to form words toward his father Aaron. Though it was only clumsy babbling, his eyes shone more clearly than ever.

To perfectly master this world’s language and script, and to fuse his past life’s knowledge with this world’s learning.

That was the first goal of the reincarnated Rian Aster.