episode_0003

“Hey, chubby cheeks. What kind of trouble are you causing now?”

A woman with black twin-tailed hair approached me and glared, speaking.

Who is this woman?

I’m not really causing any trouble… Is she seeing someone exercising for the first time?

“Who are you…?”

“What…?”

The woman in front of me frowned disapprovingly.

Wait, as I look closely, she seems to resemble Pablo’s features.

Is it my imagination?

“Have you become so stupid that you can’t even recognize your own blood anymore?”

“Huh?”

Blood? Could she be my sister then?

No, she feels a bit too mature to be called a sister.

“…Sister?”

“Don’t even say ‘sister.’ If you think our blood is mixed, it makes me sick to my stomach.”

That seems right.

Her disdainful gaze and arrogantly jutted chin suggest she doesn’t like Si-an either.

Before possessing this body… was he always this unpopular?

It’s a case of reaping what you sow, but still, she’s my sister. Can a sister dislike her brother for being a failure? Still, this feels extreme.

“So why were you causing a fuss since morning? Answer me.”

“I was working out.”

“…What?”

“I said I was working out.”

My sister blinked in confusion.

Three seconds of silence followed. She then asked me if I was crazy.

“Are you… hit your head or something?”

She’s saying the same thing as Pablo.

Was Si-an’s behavior so different from mine before possession? But what can I do… I need to exercise when my body is like this.

I have a personality that can’t procrastinate. If I have to lose weight anyway, it’s better to act quickly and get used to it, even if it raises suspicions.

“I started exercising because I felt like I needed to lose some weight eventually. There’s no special meaning behind it.”

“…That’s annoying. What do you think will happen by losing weight like you? Stop talking nonsense and come eat breakfast. Father is calling you.”

With those words, she turned around and walked back home.

Breakfast…

For efficient strength training, one should have breakfast.

Since the body is in its growth phase, starving oneself while trying to lose weight can have severe side effects. It might hinder muscle development if one becomes frail.

Let’s go eat.

After all, I’m curious about the food at home and in this world.

I followed her back home.

—

“Everyone’s here.”

The Brace Craftsman’s family gathered around the large kitchen table.

There were only three of us – Father, sister, and me.

I wondered if there were other family members, but apparently not.

Mother seemed to have only given birth to my sister and me.

But where is Mother…?

As I glanced around, Pablo started eating before Mother arrived, picking up his spoon and starting on the food on the table.

Roasted chicken, vegetable soup, bread, and other delicious foods were laid out abundantly.

To avoid suspicion, I just picked up my spoon without further ado.

I first tasted the soup.

‘Oh, it’s quite good?’

The soup had a deep flavor… Contrary to my concerns, it was surprisingly savory and sweet. Does the Craftsman’s house have a private chef?

“…They said there are three months left until the Academy starts?”

While enjoying the meal, Pablo asked me.

“Yes, well. That’s how it turned out.”

I replied casually.

So there are three months left until the Academy starts… Does that mean it’s currently vacation?

No wonder I’ve been holed up at home doing nothing.

“…Even if we attend the Academy, skipping classes and just eating and playing, what’s the point? Might as well die.”

My sister said as she stirred her spoon.

Die… that’s a bit harsh.

The one who lived such a flimsy life isn’t me but the original owner, Si-an.

She doesn’t know the circumstances, but still, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I glanced at Pablo discreetly.

Silently eating his meal, Pablo contemplates his sister’s words.

Before the possession, how could Si-an have received such treatment even within the household?

Unacceptable. Nevertheless, he must speak up.

Not knowing how Si-an was before, he softens his words.

“Isn’t that too harsh?”

“…Too harsh? Hey, your mother who bore you and passed away would probably feel more severe watching you from above.”

“Enough. Disappear.”

Her name is Sara.

Wait… What did she say?

Bore me and passed away? Mother did?

“Did I say something wrong? Father? Mother passed away giving birth to that brat because of the curse, yet that very child is deteriorating day by day. If Mother were alive, how devastated would she be.”

“……”

Sara casually speaks while eating.

Pablo remains silent.

The numerous maids watching us from the wall also stay quiet. The resulting silence leans towards everyone agreeing with Sara’s words.

I couldn’t eat.

The thought that Mother passed away because of my curse lingered in my mind.

…Unacceptable.

“I will get up first.”

If I stay seated any longer, I might not even be able to swallow my food feeling like a criminal.

Setting down the spoon, I rose from the table and headed to my room.

No one spoke to me during this time. No one.

…I guess I’ll have to eat alone from now on.

Entering the room, I sat on the bed.

I roughly understood the situation.

Now I understand why everyone in this mansion despises Si-an to such an extent, thinking it’s severe.

‘Maternal death.’

I’ve seen it in game stories. Cases where newborns with cursed defects trigger dangerous magical reactions during childbirth, leading to the mother’s death.

Si-an must be a similar case. Losing his mother in an instant, if the child born like that lives like a wretch, I would be angry too.

‘But aren’t these cases about giving birth to infants with the potential of a Sword Master or Grand Magus but dying?’

Great power comes with great consequences. It was common in stories for mothers to die giving birth to infants with high-spec curses.

However…

Si-an’s curse clearly has a flaw.

Even with a high-spec curse, there’s no problem giving birth to a child with a curse that doesn’t hold mana.

So, is Si-an a case of acquired damage to the curse?

I don’t know.

‘I should try to fix the curse.’

I need to shed my skin as soon as possible.

Whether Si-an truly has the potential of a Grand Magus or Sword Master, I’ll find out later.

Until then, I’ve decided to live without unnecessary expectations.

***

Two months have passed.

“That wretched fellow… Doesn’t he seem to have lost weight a bit?”

“He looks slightly more handsome… Is it just my imagination?”

It was the usual time for strength training after finishing morning cardio and having lunch.

“Huff…”

He proceeded with push-ups.

20 reps, 5 sets.

Eating less and repeating running and exercise daily, he felt his body improving significantly.

Still chubby, but much better than before.

‘It’s time to start moving slowly…’

Time to go fix the curse.

The first step was to make the body somewhat human through exercise.

The final step, the second, required hunting the Low-Rank Magical Beast Great Eagle near Gryphon’s Forest.

Recalling Si-an’s memories before the possession, there were vague memories of basic swordsmanship learned at the academy.

‘But capturing a magical beast with a sluggish body is impossible.’

The moment he swings the sword, he’ll be attacked by the beast.

That’s why he worked hard to lose weight. The result: from severe obesity to just obesity.

It feels like around 85kg is coming off. Still, this clumsy Gongja… It’s fortunate that he’s tall.

“He seems to have become quite agile compared to before… He can’t afford to be sluggish anymore.”

In a month, it will be the first day of school at the academy.

I wiped away the sweat with a cool towel I had brought and headed towards the bathhouse.

After washing my body, I brought out the wooden sword that Si-an used in possession and went out to the backyard.

Being adequately shaded and knowing that even the maids rarely come here, I had remembered this place as a secret spot for practicing swordsmanship.

“Hoo….”

I grasped the wooden sword skillfully with both hands.

In an instant, I pulled my elbows above my head, making them right angles while holding the sword.

And as I struck down, gathering all the core strength, I straightened my elbows to form a line and swung the sword.

“Haap!”

A vertical cut, one of the basic Samjegeom techniques.

Si-an had never practiced ‘even once’ and had only learned swordsmanship sitting down.

-Whoo!

With each swing of the sword, the sound of air being sharply cut by the blade was heard.

Today, I plan to repeat this 10,000 times.

Mastering the basic sword techniques firmly is essential to smoothly transition to the next moves and seamlessly connect the techniques like flowing water.

“Haahap!”

I immediately cleared my mind of distractions and focused solely on swinging the sword.

…

*Gasp… Huff….*

After swinging it about 7,000 times, a sense of exhaustion overwhelmed my body, causing me to slump to the ground.

“Darn… I need to take a short break.”

Swinging the sword wildly with a body that had never wielded a sword before, muscles in my unused arms and core screamed in protest.

“But it seems like I’m not completely talentless….”

If we were to compare, a prodigy in swordsmanship.

Initially clumsy, but soon my body adapted quickly, making it easy to wield the sword.

“Having such a good body, why did that guy Si-an end up living like this?”

Even if his spirit was broken, with practice in swordsmanship, he could have held a decent position.

From the perspective of a player who only played games, it’s hard to gauge the level of talent here… But clearly, the body was flexible in wielding the sword.

“…Maybe I should start again slowly.”

Since I decided to complete 10,000 swings, I will keep my promise to myself.

I stood up and readied my stance again.

And just as I was about to swing the sword.

“May I take a look at the sword?”

“Ahh!”

Startled by the voice of a woman who appeared behind me without notice, I stumbled backward.