Where am I?
Why is it so dark?
There was no light. No sound. No sense of direction. It felt as if I had been swallowed whole by an endless void—weightless, silent, and suffocating.
I tried to move.
Nothing.
I tried to open my eyes… but I couldn't even tell whether they were open or closed.
A strange unease slowly crept into my mind.
The last thing I remembered…
The blaring sound of a truck's horn.
The deafening screech of brakes tearing against asphalt.
Bright headlights rushing toward me.
Then—
Darkness swallowed everything.
Fragments of faint voices echoed in my mind like distant whispers.
"Is he alive?"
"I think he's dead…"
"Man… lucky bastard…"
Lucky?
How could that be luck?
Getting hit by a truck… there's nothing lucky about that.
Unless…
No.
That thought made my chest tighten.
Just then—
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in the darkness.
[Installation complete.]
My thoughts froze.
What?
Where is this voice coming from?
Installation?
What installation?
Whose installation is complete?
Before I could gather my thoughts, the voice spoke again.
[Good morning, Chris Wilson.]
"What?! Who are you?"
My voice sounded distant… almost unreal.
[My name is Emma. I am your assistant.]
Assistant?
"I don't understand anything," I said, trying to stay calm despite the growing anxiety. "Why is it so dark? And why can't I feel anything?"
[It is dark because you are in a coma.]
"A coma?"
My mind went blank.
[You have been in a coma for six years.]
"Six years?!"
Shock surged through me.
Six years?
That was impossible.
"But… there's no one to take care of me. I'm an orphan. I don't have any friends either. So who's been helping me?"
[Your stepmother has been taking care of you.]
"Stepmother?"
Confusion deepened.
"I don't even know my father. Where did a stepmother come from?"
[There are no visible injuries to your head, but it appears you lost your memory after the accident. I initiated a memory reset to assist your recovery.]
A chill ran down my spine.
"Wait… what do you mean by 'memory reset'? Are you even listening to me?"
[Memory reset in progress.]
"No—wait! Stop!"
Suddenly—
Memories flooded my mind.
Like a dam breaking.
Like an ocean crashing into my consciousness.
Images, voices, emotions…
A completely different life unfolded before me.
I found myself in another world… occupying someone else's body.
The name of this body…
Chris Wilson.
The First Prince of the Wilson Dynasty.
A grand palace appeared in my mind.
Snow drifted gently outside tall crystal windows. The air inside was quiet, heavy, and filled with tension. Servants walked silently, afraid to make even the slightest sound.
At the center of a massive chamber—
A young boy knelt beside a woman lying on the floor.
She wasn't moving.
Her face was pale.
Her warmth… gone.
"Mother…?"
The boy's voice trembled.
He shook her gently.
But she didn't respond.
That day…
Chris Wilson lost his mother.
He was only four years old.
After that…
Chris begged his father countless times.
"Please… find the person who killed Mother…"
But his father ignored him.
The Emperor remained indifferent.
Cold.
Unmoved.
A few months later…
The Emperor remarried.
A new queen entered the palace.
Chris distanced himself from her immediately.
She tried to approach him.
Prepared meals for him.
Visited him when he trained.
Stayed beside him when he fell sick.
But Chris never accepted her.
To him—
She was only the Queen.
Not his mother.
A year later…
Prince Henry Wilson was born.
Chris never blamed Henry.
Instead, he treated him with kindness.
Henry, unaware of the truth, believed they were full brothers.
"Big brother!"
Henry would run toward him with a bright smile.
Chris never refused him.
Despite everything…
He cared.
The Queen also treated Chris with genuine warmth.
But Chris could never fully accept her.
He always saw her as a replacement.
Someone who came too soon after his mother's death.
As resentment toward his father grew…
Chris buried himself in training.
Day after day.
Relentless effort.
Unwavering determination.
His talent soon became evident.
By the age of seven…
He had already earned the reputation of a prodigy.
But talent didn't protect him.
At the age of seven—
The first assassination attempt came.
Poisoned food.
Hidden blades.
Traps.
Chris survived.
Barely.
His father did nothing.
That indifference deepened his hatred.
Only his stepmother stayed by his side.
She protected him.
Comforted him.
Though Chris remained distant…
He quietly acknowledged her care.
Henry often visited him—
Laughing.
Playing.
Unaware of the danger surrounding his brother.
But when Chris turned ten—
The attacks became more frequent.
More brutal.
More desperate.
Until one day—
Blood stained the palace floor.
Chris collapsed.
Gravely injured.
Darkness consumed him.
And he never woke up.
"If I'm in this body… then I must be dead in my original world."
[What do you mean by 'my original world'?]
Hearing this, I realized something.
The system… didn't seem to know that I wasn't the original Chris Wilson.
"…Nothing. How long until I wake up?"
[Do not worry. Today is our first meeting. As a gift, your recovery is complete.]
A translucent blue panel appeared before me.
[Name: Chris WilsonLevel: 0 (Normal Human)Status: Coma, Half Paralyzed]
"What is this… a screen?"
"I am not only your assistant, but also your system."
"A system? What kind of system?"
[You will find out soon.]
…I have a bad feeling about this.
[Body recovery process initiated. Time remaining: 59:58.]
Suddenly—
"Mother, when I grow strong, I will find the people who did this to my brother."
Chris heard a young boy's voice.
"…Where is that voice coming from?"
[Your body is healing. Your senses are returning. You can now hear the outside world.]
"Of course, you will. When you grow stronger."
A gentle, kind voice followed.
"Yes. When I grow up, I'll make sure the entire empire remembers how I punish those who hurt my brother."
Warmth filled the room.
…
Footsteps echoed.
Someone entered.
"Henry!" A man in his fifties stepped in.
"Grandpa!"
Henry ran forward joyfully, hugging him tightly.
"When did you arrive, Grandpa?"
"Just now, my boy."
The old man patted his head dotingly.
"Did Uncle come too?" Henry asked excitedly.
"Yes. He brought you many gifts."
"I'm going to find him!"
Henry rushed out.
After he left…
The atmosphere changed.
"How many times have I told you? You don't need to take care of him. We have maids for that."
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I will take care of my son myself."
"This is not your son. Henry is your son."
"I have told you many times… Chris is also my son."
"You would raise your voice at your father… for this half-dead boy?"
"I'm only raising my voice now. But if you try to separate me from my son… I won't hesitate to take up arms."
"You—!"
"GET OUT."
Silence.
"GET OUT OF MY SON'S ROOM!"
"Hmph!"
The old man stormed out.
She approached Chris slowly.
"No matter what the world says… you are my son."
Her voice trembled.
"I believe one day you will wake up."
She leaned forward.
A gentle kiss touched his forehead.
"I will wait."
She left quietly.
…
[What are you thinking?]
"…Chris was lucky."
"He found someone who truly cared for him… yet he never accepted her."
"In his memories, he always called her 'my queen.' But her ears… they want to hear something else."
"She suffered in that palace… even as queen."
"…Chris ignored her. But I won't."
"I'll give her the happiness she deserves."
"…Maybe then… I'll finally experience what it means to have a mother."
[Body recovery complete.]
"Great! I can finally get up—"
He tried to move.
And froze.
"…Why can't I feel my legs?"
Panic surged.
[Name: Chris WilsonLevel: 1 (Normal Human)Status: Half Paralyzed]
"Half paralyzed?! You said full recovery!"
[Full recovery only applied to your coma.]
"You… fine. What now?"
[Complete tasks.]
"What kind of tasks?"
[I am a peace-loving system, so your tasks will be related to the pursuit of 'peace.']
"…Fine. Give me a task."
A screen appeared.
{ Task: KILLTime Limit: 5 MinutesReward: ??? }
My pupils shrank.
A chill ran down my spine.