In the Soma Familia hall in Orario. Kael held his head as he groggily woke up. His nose twitched at the strong smell of alcohol permeating t
In the Soma Familia hall in Orario.
Kael held his head as he groggily woke up. His nose twitched at the strong smell of alcohol permeating the air.
Ugh…
Opening his eyes, Kael looked around in confusion.
The stone-built walls were unadorned, reminiscent of 1980s architecture. The space resembled a wine cellar, with wooden barrels stacked in neat rows. Scattered across the floor were thirty or forty "corpses" — unconscious drunkards with flushed faces, drooling as they giggled in their stupor.
"Where am I? What kind of place is this?"
Looking down at his shrunken hands and feet, Kael paused in confusion before the realization hit him.
"I've... been reborn!"
In a flash, his vision went white and flickered.
Memories flooded in like scattered fragments, forcing themselves into his mind without pause.
My name is Kael Kane. I'm a twelve-year-old human with gray hair, and I've just awakened with memories of my past life.
My parents were Adventurers in the Labyrinth City of Orario and members of the Soma Familia. They died recently in the Dungeon while trying to earn money for Soma, the Divine Wine. I had a sister once, but according to my memories, she disappeared in early childhood.
When both parents die, something extraordinary is bound to follow.
I quickly grasped the situation and felt elated. Who would have thought that divine wine would be the key to awakening my memories!
You see, Captain Zanis, who runs the Familia, gives Soma to all new members. Anyone familiar with "Familia Myth" or World Mythology knows what Soma is — a substance so powerful that merely speaking of it might summon unspeakable cosmic horrors. Error 404 warning.
Thinking back to moments before getting drunk...
"To celebrate everyone joining the Familia, I specially requested Soma from Lord Soma! This is a company benefit! Let's toast!"
"Oh!"
Zanis's voice still echoed in his ears.
What a scam!
"Who would've thought that even after reincarnating, I still can't escape this bitter fate?" Kael sighed, "Begone, my endless misfortune. Begone, this all-too-familiar beginning!"
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Hello, I'm Kael Kane, just an ordinary person who's crossed between worlds.
In my previous life, I was a simple security guard, working diligently like a cog in the machine, with only games and anime as my escapes.
During what seemed like a routine reassignment, I discovered my superiors were all men in black suits with incomprehensible names — all named after foreign liquors. My direct superior, whom I called "big brother", would speak coldly about "rats", "foxes", and "blood roses". He'd pat my shoulder, telling me to work hard, to be loyal like my parents, and never become a rat.
Before I realized what was happening, I found myself holding an AK-47, guarding the entrance to an underground pharmaceutical research facility. I came to affectionately call it "the liquor factory".
Then came the good news: the sister-in-law was stunning — a blonde bombshell straight out of Hollywood.
The bad news? Big brother found out. Though surprisingly, he wasn't angry — probably because he was more interested in my ward, a girl called "Sherry".
With sister-in-law's help, I received my own codename: Alaska.
Success went to my head. I became reckless, pursuing various sisters-in-law while helping big brother "clean up rats" — mostly as his driver.
Then came the revelation: my parents were actually Chinese special agents. The irony — I was the rat all along.
Finally, during a mission to rescue a research team member's relative, my cover was blown. I was eliminated.
And then... Kael "fortunately" reincarnated into the Soma Familia.
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"Starting in hell mode again…" Kael muttered, sweat beading on his forehead.
Having awakened his previous life's memories, he immediately understood which world he had crossed into.
"Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?" — or Danmachi for short — a heroic fantasy tale. Gods, Monsters, Heroes, Dungeon... Just a few words could sum up this entire world.
But...
"Why does everyone else who crosses worlds get to choose their goddess and build relationships, while I'm stuck competing with a bunch of crazy drunkards? My cursed 'good luck'!" Kael couldn't help but wonder if he was somehow fated to end up in places involving liquor.
He had landed in a Familia where you'd get beaten for not earning money, robbed if you did earn money, and even had to pay just to update your Falna to get stronger. There seemed to be no escape. And now he was addicted to alcohol on top of everything else.
His thoughts drifted to Liliruca Arde, the Supporter from the original story — working endless hours, relying on others' charity for meals, surviving through theft and begging.
"Could it be... I have to wait for the white-haired protagonist to come save me? But I'm a boy!
No, I must save myself!"
"System? Ding? Where are you?" Kael called out desperately.
Silence.
Oh no... no system! Just his luck!
The resilience he'd developed in the "organization" quickly kicked in, helping him regain composure.
Don't panic. Compared to life in the "organization". this situation was nothing!
His first thought was to look for sisters-in-law to help him... No, that was wrong.
This was Orario, paradise of Gods, city of Heroes. He knew the plot and its secrets — he could definitely make it! The Familia Captain was only level 2, with limited abilities.
Much gentler than his old big brother who'd always gone on about catching rats!
First things first — he needed to confirm the timeline. What were the reference points?
But his mind drew a blank.
Kael clutched his head, the Soma's effects still clouding his memories.
No matter — the priority was checking his Falna! He needed to see his status. Maybe he had special talents? The makings of a Hero?
Looking around at his "companions" sprawled across the floor, he stepped over an unconscious body and quietly began to move...
Need to leave this place first.
Just as he was about to turn around, a voice came from behind the screen in front.
"Well... Kael-kun. Where are you going?"
Kael looked up, his gaze meeting a pair of eyes that held both mockery and surprise.
The newcomer had middle-parted hair, silver-rimmed glasses, and a sleazy smile that reminded Kael of the 'manager' from his previous life.
Hypocritical, cunning, sleazy. Not nearly as good as my big brother!
Kael shuddered and blurted out, "You, what person you work for?!"
"Hmm? Drunk?"
Damn these previous life memories... Reorganizing his thoughts, Kael said in somewhat clumsy common language:
"Captain... Zanis."
He found the newcomer's identity in his jumbled memories.
Zanis stood with his hands behind his back, head slightly lowered, his glasses reflecting white light.
"I'm surprised you managed to withstand the Soma's impact..."
"Uh..." Kael's gaze fell on his companions who had fallen into dreams around him, suddenly realizing his own 'abnormality'.
Because he had awakened to his past life memories, he hadn't passed out drunk. And this... might be an 'anomaly' to Zanis — organizations like the Soma Familia needed anomalies least of all!
Opening... opening death flag?
"You're quite good, the most talented one among this batch!" Zanis praised with false warmth, his tone unreadable.
Memories flashed through Kael's mind.
Finished Soma was extremely precious, originally meant as a reward to motivate Familia members, yet now it was being given to ordinary people.
He realized that the so-called Soma was just a test!
He swallowed hard, thinking quickly, forced a smile, raised his eyebrows, and said self-satisfiedly, "Captain, I... I succeeded! I succeeded!"
"Not bad, you passed the divine trial. What do you want, little brother Kael?"
"I want to see Lord Soma! I want to receive divine rewards!" Kael seized the opportunity — he was gambling.
Gambling that Soma hadn't completely given up on the Familia and was watching from the sidelines.
Zanis lowered his head, his glasses catching the light, looking exactly like a murderer from Detective Conan.
"What, do you have some request that needs to bypass me as captain? Perhaps you want to leave the Familia? If that's the case, I can grant that right now."
Kael was stunned — but only for a second.
"No, how could I have such thoughts? My loyalty to the Soma Familia... to Captain Zanis is like flowing water, as eternal as the sun and moon!"
I'd probably be cut to pieces the moment I nod!
Kael quickly demonstrated his loyalty with practiced ease.
"The Soma Familia raised me, Lord Soma is like blood parents to me, and Captain Zanis is like my elder brother!" Speaking with a thick tongue, he continued, "In the Far East... there's an old saying: those who understand the times... no! Elder brother is like father — if you don't reject me, I wish to take you as my adoptive father! It's just that Soma..."
"Hahaha, good!" Zanis patted his shoulder. He had been worried about someone appearing who wasn't afraid of Soma competing with him for power, but now...
Sure enough, even if one could temporarily resist Soma's effects, they couldn't avoid its attraction!
Even he, Zanis Lustra, would still fall for Soma, let alone a mere kid! He didn't believe in flattery, but he believed in the power of Soma!
"Want to be my adopted son? First prove your worth! Work hard, surpass everyone, until you stand before me again!"
Looking down on me! You've sealed your fate! Kael cursed internally, his eyes turning sharp.
"Yes! I will become the sharpest blade, helping Captain Zanis eliminate all disobedient rats!"
"That won't be necessary..." Zanis coughed, changing the subject, "You're too aggressive, calm down. Given your loyalty, tell me, what do you want to ask Lord Soma for?"
Kael raised his head, showing a humble expression, "I want to make the Soma Familia great again!"
"Speak plainly."
"I want to update my Falna!"