I stood there for what felt like an eternity, still staring at my new face in the mirror. A face with green pupils, black hair, and a body shape and style very similar to people from Loen. The initial shock was slowly giving way to a grim acceptance, though panic still bubbled just beneath the surface.
"Heh, I mean Caucasian..." I muttered to my reflection, the words sounding hollow in the spacious room. Seriously, this world's terminology seemed so easy for him to recognize or even understand. But I'm actually from Earth! So of course I prefer Earth's terms, which are naturally more familiar to me. It was a small act of rebellion, clinging to the remnants of my old identity in this terrifying new existence.
Although... actually, this world's terms are quite familiar too, thanks to John's memories, so I don't feel too strange about any of them. But it's clearer to me that it's more enjoyable to use Earth terms because I still haven't accepted that I'm inside a 'novel's' world. The cognitive dissonance was staggering—part of me kept expecting to wake up back at my desk, with my computer screen still showing the Lord of the Mysteries wiki page.
I tried pinching my cheek and my hand, harboring the foolish hope that all of this was actually just an unbelievably realistic dream. But of course, the result was zero. The pain was sharp and immediate, confirming the terrible reality of my situation. Heh, at least I tried. Even if the result wasn't as hoped. It was the kind of desperate, irrational action people take when faced with the impossible, and I was no exception.
After doing that useless thing, I immediately went and walked towards the table with a really nice wooden stool, intending to sit down while trying to figure out what I should actually do now. The floor felt cold beneath my bare feet, and I noticed how plush the rug was—another reminder of the wealth I now supposedly possessed.
Shortly after, I sat on the chair by the large table which had a gas lamp on it. Ah, right, I hadn't tried turning on any lighting, letting the pale red moonlight serve as the main illumination. The eerie crimson glow gave everything a surreal, almost nightmarish quality, perfectly matching my internal state.
Besides... I didn't want my butler, Fritzh, to come just because I was randomly trying to contemplate everything that had happened to me now. The last thing I needed was to explain why I was behaving strangely to a stranger, even if he was supposedly "my" servant.
The table actually had several other items besides the gas lamp. There were some things that I, ugh... I mean, John, had kept, such as a family photo, a photo of himself, and some random objects he owned. My eyes fell upon the family photo first—it showed four people, two sitting and two standing. Charles and Eleanor Lynch sat with dignified expressions, while John and his sister Viola stood behind them. They looked... happy. Normal. A perfectly wealthy family without a transmigrator from another world complicating their lives.
Hey! Now that I think about it, John has a copy of Roselle's diary page! Wait..., actually, John doesn't really know it's Roselle's diary. To him, it's just a historical artifact from the Emperor that he collected out of admiration. But I know! I know exactly what this thing means!
I suddenly thought of that while trying to trace through the fragments of John's memories. I also remember that although John was disgusted by Roselle's behavior towards women, he was truly admiring of the man. The contradiction was amusing—John could separate the innovator from the womanizer, something I wasn't sure I could do.
Heh... he was actually just a cheat who used Earth knowledge to create Earth-like items and became rich! I'm genuinely amused by John's previous thoughts about Roselle. The irony wasn't lost on me—I was now in the same position, possessing knowledge from another world, though mine was far less practical than Roselle's engineering expertise.
Wait? Come to think of it, John possessing a copy of Emperor Roselle's page is an advantage, right? I mean, I currently can't confirm whether Roselle never found a way back to Earth, although I'm ninety percent sure he indeed never found a way home. But perhaps the copy John has is the key!
My heart raced at the possibility. Roselle's diary! This is a clue! Maybe, on the page that Klein never translated..., maybe there's a clue about how to return! Even if my confidence is only ten percent, it's still hope. A genuine smile spread across my face for the first time since waking up in this world, imagining being able to undo all this and go back to my normal, boring life.
And then, as if doused with cold water, reality hit me.
"I...don't know Mandarin!"I said softly at the table, but full of frustration. Of course! I only know "Ni Hao" and "Xie Xie". But how could I possibly decipher a secret code specifically designed for Chinese people? The hope that had blossomed moments earlier withered and died, leaving me feeling more empty than before.
"This is trash!" was truly the only statement I could muster from all this. The words came out more bitterly than I intended. Seriously, why did I have to come to this world without complete knowledge about it? It felt like the universe's cruel joke—giving me just enough knowledge to understand my predicament but not enough to escape it.
If only... I had known I would randomly end up in the LoTM world, I would have spent my time reading the novel to the end, then I would have also read the second book, then the Wiki, and I would even have read all the fan theories for the novel! The regret was physically painful. All those times I'd put off reading, telling myself I had time, that the story would still be there tomorrow...
I was so angry that if there was anyone who made me transmigrate to this world, I feel like I would punch and trample them right now. The anger was a welcome change from the despair—at least it made me feel something other than helpless.
Seriously… why did Roselle write his diary in Mandarin anyway! I'm really angry at Roselle too; if only he had written his diary in English, I might have understood it. The irrationality of blaming a long-dead emperor for my current troubles wasn't lost on me, but in that moment, it felt justified.
Well, actually, it's because he was Chinese and the author is also Chinese, of course he would write in Mandarin. But still, it's really infuriating. The logical part of my brain tried to reason with my emotional side, but right now, emotions were winning.
"Okay. Okay. Calm down," I muttered to myself, taking deep breaths to calm down from all the chaotic thoughts about all this. The familiar mantra from my stress-filled days as a civil servant came back to me. Well, even though I calmed down, my anger still remained, simmering beneath the surface.
But… come to think of it, I actually can know the contents of Roselle's diary. That's right, I can just ask Klein to read it for me!
No. That's stupid, I don't even know if Klein would actually read the diary to me or not, so of course that idea can't be considered. Besides, approaching the main character felt like walking into a lion's den—I had no idea what the consequences might be.
Besides… I don't want to interfere with the Plot! And I also don't know what will happen to Klein at the end of the story; my perspective on all this is really blurry. And it would be terrible if I intervened in the story and caused Klein's death due to my own mistake. The weight of that responsibility felt crushing. This wasn't just about my survival anymore—my actions could affect the entire world.
Not only because Klein is my favorite character after Audrey, but with his death, the LoTM world might be thrown into chaos. After all, he is the main character of the novel… I really won't risk changing the plot. Right, I think I'd better make some kind of rule for myself. Having guidelines might help me navigate this dangerous world.
Maybe the first is DO NOT CHANGE THE PLOT, because if I do that, perhaps a bad ending for this novel would be inevitable. The words felt inadequate, but they were a start.
Then I probably also have to BE JOHN LYNCH, hah. Wait, why should I become this person? But… I don't know if this is an important character or just a random character I randomly possessed. The philosophical question of identity made my head spin—was I John Lynch now? Or was I just wearing him like a suit?
Actually, I'm also not too fond of being someone else. Wait, actually John Lynch is myself, why am I considering him another person? The merging of memories was creating confusion about where "I" ended and "John" began.
As I was thinking about that, I felt myself frowning unconsciously again. Right… actually, every time I think that I'm not from this world, it makes me really sad because everyone I loved and knew before has disappeared. The grief came in waves, unexpected and overwhelming. I thought about my parents who would never know what happened to me, my friends who would think I just disappeared, my junior who...
Wait a second… what's the date today? I completely forgot about remembering the date, considering everything I do next is actually related to this. And it would be funny if this turns out to be an event 10 years before Klein transmigrated. The practical concern snapped me out of my melancholy.
So I started trying to trace back John's memory of today's date and I remembered that it's now June 26, 1349! Okay, this is good. At least I was in the right timeline.
But… what date did Klein transmigrate? I'm quite sure that Klein did transmigrate this year, but I don't really remember the specific month. No! I must remember this! This was crucial information—knowing when the main story began would determine how much time I had to prepare.
I pressed my temples while trying to recall the date Klein first transmigrated to the LoTM world. The pressure helped me focus, though it was becoming a nervous habit.
Damn it! This is really difficult. My mind is filled with memories about ingredients and how to make potions in the Visionary pathway, but even my memory about this is just as bad because I only remember the ingredients and potions for Sequence 9 and 8. The rest are just names… The frustration was mounting again. Why could I remember random potion ingredients but not the most important date?
"Hah.. but I really need to know the specific date." After that, I pressed my temples even harder and finally I remembered! Klein transmigrated in July, so it should be around now. Although… I still don't remember the exact date. But as I recall, the original Klein committed suicide because of a book? Wait? What book was that! I completely forgot! What the hell. Even though that book was really important, I completely forgot about it and I'm sure it's impossible for me to forget this considering it's the core plot of volume one and I reread this volume twice!
Moreover, the sensation of me forgetting about this book and some character names and gods is completely different from the sensation of me forgetting a date or specific potion ingredients in the Visionary pathway. It feels like… my memory was forcibly erased? The thought was chilling. Was something or someone interfering with my memories?
No. No, I better not think about this and just consider it something beyond my control. Right, besides, I don't want to deal with super powerful characters who could kill me in an instant. Self-preservation kicked in—some questions were better left unasked in this world.
But the main point is, it should be safe now because I know the month and year Zhou Mingrui transmigrated into Klein's body, and strangely it coincides with my month. Hah, come to think of it, maybe I transmigrated before Klein. Who knows, I can't be sure about that, so it's better to be prepared for other possibilities as well. The uncertainty was maddening.
But… how can I know the novel's events accurately? I don't really remember the date of every event in that novel. I mean, I do remember that Klein became Sherlock Moriarty in September, but I also don't remember the exact date. Hah, come to think of it, I only know about the date December 28th, when the Great Smog of Backlund will happen. The gaps in my knowledge were like Swiss cheese—full of holes.
This is why all of this is really bad. I mean, I'm in my new world full of weaknesses. Like I only know about half of the LoTM plot, and haven't actually finished it, I know some random facts I read on the Wiki but don't remember the reasons, then I can't read Mandarin which automatically eliminates me from reading Roselle's Diary. Listing my disadvantages was depressing, but necessary for survival.
Shouldn't someone like me get one powerful ability? I mean. Come on, whoever summoned me is truly trash. Not only did they make everyone and my original family disappear, they didn't even give me any ability. Or at least, shouldn't I have transmigrated into someone who was already strong from the start! The injustice of it all felt personal.
Sigh... alright, I guess I'm complaining too much about this. Shouldn't I be grateful, because I transmigrated into the body of someone who is actually very rich? At the very least, I won't face financial difficulties like Klein did in the beginning. Trying to count my blessings felt forced, but it was better than sinking into despair.
Alright, maybe this is the cheat advantage I have, but actually I'm still not satisfied with all this! I mean, the being that summoned me literally made the people I love and want to protect disappear, and the compensation is only this? It's still completely not equivalent! No amount of wealth could replace what I'd lost.
But I have to think again, how can I know what Klein will do later? Or should I just remember the dates until September? Because as I recall, everything in volume one was arranged using a very powerful book, so most likely everything that happens in volume one will happen. Except for the Tarot Club part; that might change quite differently. Trying to predict the future based on incomplete knowledge felt like building a house on sand.
However, I can't do anything to change the Tarot Club, or even know the club's developments, considering my goal is DO NOT CHANGE THE PLOT, so if I know about the Tarot Club's news, the only reason I could know that is because I have CHANGED THE PLOT. The circular logic was giving me a headache.
Alright… Problem one, regarding Klein, is settled. At least this novel shouldn't change, so I better continue thinking seriously about the second problem. How will I face my 'parents' later? Will they see the difference? And how should I become 'me'? The social implications were daunting—I had to convince an entire family that I was still their son and brother.
I held my face with my fingers while thinking about that. I also gazed at the strange red moonlight while thinking, hoping to find an answer in its eerie glow. The moonlight offered no solutions, only more questions.
Okay… come to think of it, John Lynch is a fairly intelligent man in his university, clearly not in the genius category, but he is a smart man. Assessing my new identity felt like reading someone else's resume.
He also has a few very close friends: Alistair Hobbs, Beatrice Magnate, and Thomas Eiffel. Those three were the original John's close friends, right? I think I also have to figure out how to interact with them, especially since we'll be graduating soon. More people to deceive, more relationships to maintain—the thought was exhausting.
Honestly, thinking about university reminds me of my own university life back on Earth. I remember I had a few close friends who often shared interesting information; I even started reading Chinese web novels from one of them. Initially, I wasn't too interested in Chinese web novels, hah.. I used to read Japanese novels more than Chinese ones at first. The nostalgia was bittersweet—those memories belonged to a life I could never return to.
But putting that aside. I pressed my temples while trying to retrieve more of John's memories until I felt it was enough. The process was becoming slightly easier, like accessing files in a well-organized database.
Well.. alright, the main point is, being John is quite easy. This man is basically a company heir who isn't too interested in business. But he has a fairly good understanding of economics, and he's very interested in history, especially regarding Roselle, because he considers that man exceptionally great. Although he himself isn't too fond of Roselle's overly flirtatious style. But he's clearly a "fan" of Roselle. Understanding John's personality was key to maintaining the facade.
So what I really need to do while being John is to be a Roselle fan, someone with fairly good economic knowledge, an heir uninterested in inheriting the company. It's all easy. It's all somewhat similar to my original self back on Earth, the difference being, I was never a company heir. The similarities were comforting—at least I didn't have to pretend to be someone completely different from myself.
Ah, right, I also need to remember the information I know inside a text; maybe I should use an English text. And since Loen, or all languages in the Northern Continent, use letters somewhat similar to the alphabet, I can just say it's random writing. Having a way to record my knowledge without suspicion felt like a small victory.
Hah, that reminds me of my junior. That girl did the same thing I'm thinking of now in many ways; well, I'm copying her in this regard. The memory came unbidden—her smiling face as she showed me her notes written in a mix of English and our native language.
Hmm. Come to think of it, something like this shouldn't be suspicious, right? Hah, I don't know. But the original John never did this. The risk was there, but it seemed necessary.
But actually, after remembering my Junior, my thoughts about her suddenly grew deeper, and it really made me even more annoyed at whoever summoned me to this world. Because I heard a rumor that she seemed to have fallen in love with me. Of course, I didn't immediately believe all the random gossip circulating. The memory was painful—I'd been too cautious, too slow to act on what might have been genuine feelings.
But… everything that girl did towards me seemed to justify all that gossip, so back then I intended to approach her and have a serious relationship with her. The regret was a physical ache in my chest. All the plans I'd made, the future I'd imagined...
Hah, I even had thoughts of proposing to her at the end of this year.. but because of my own foolishness and this trash summoner, I suddenly ended up in a 'novel's' world that I read myself. The anger returned, fresh and sharp. I'd lost everything—my family, my friends, my potential future—all because of some cosmic joke.
Thinking about it is truly frustrating… The understatement of the century. I rested my head on the cool wooden surface of the table, letting the despair wash over me. In the silence of the room, with only the pale red moonlight for company, I allowed myself to grieve for everything I'd lost. The tears came quietly this time, without the earlier panic—just a deep, profound sadness for a life that was no longer mine.
After what felt like hours, I finally lifted my head. The moonlight had shifted, casting different shadows across the room. Dawn would be coming soon, and with it, the first test of my acting skills. I took a deep breath, wiping the tears from my face.
"Okay," I whispered to the empty room. "First step: survive breakfast."
It wasn't much of a plan, but it was a start. And in this wo
rld where gods schemed and mysteries lurked in every shadow, sometimes just surviving until the next meal was victory enough.