1 1. Into the New World (1)

"Welcome."

A gentle voice mused amidst the loud booming of music and screams of people. Those that opened the door paused then looked at the greeter.

". . We're here for the special menu." One of them said.

The man who welcomed them paused and had a glint in his eye. "May I ask for the specifics?"

The two men looked at each other and after a few seconds of silence, one of them answered. "One shot of Everest Flora, and add a bit of Spice."

The man at the counter stopped washing the glasses and smiled. He nodded at the two. "This way, gentlemen."

The two followed the man as he opened the "Workers Area" door and went to open another door to the right which leads to a staircase going down.

"Just follow the stairs and use this code word: Black Mamba."

"Okay. Thanks," One of them gave out a few cash and the man generously accepted the tip.

While watching the two men enter and go down, the man wiped off his smile and indifferently went back to his counter.

"Don't you get bored doing stuff like this all the time?"

He looked beside him and saw a fellow worker with the name tag "Choi Hyunjin". Hyunjin had a rather cheery personality more fit for an idol rather that working in this chaotic bar.

"I don't care, they give out big tips so it's fine I guess."

"Awe, c'mon Jihyun! Aren't you at least curious about the outside world?" 

Jihyun, the man on the counter, shook his head.

It's been 5 years since he's been in this bar, and ever since, he more or less grew numb to anything outside this bar.

It was probably because this bar held so many secrets that even someone like Jihyun, who was once an innocent college graduate wanting to earn money, grew up to be sharp and quiet.

"Bah! You're so boring," Hyunjin rolled his eyes and skipped off to entertain new guests that entered the door.

Jihyun quietly continued cleansing the cups and glasses without a thought of whatever transpired.

It was when the clock turned 3 a.m. that he was finally free to go. And as he locked the door of the empty bar, he suddenly heard a few voices behind him.

"Shit. Where should we go? It's a dead-end!"

"Keep quiet or they'll hear you damn it!"

Jihyun grew alert and stuck his body beside the building. Although the streets were dark, he could see two shadows sneaking around the vicinity with vigilance.

His movement halted when he saw the two shadows draw closer. His hand instinctively drew a small metallic blade tucked on his boots. 

"Ah. . who's there?!"

They noticed Jihyun.

Just when Jihyun was about to pounce on, one of them suddenly turned back and ducked, dragging the other person down. A stray bullet shot down to where they previously where standing.

"Shit!"

They crawled towards Jihyun who was watching where the bullet came from.

"A sniper?" Jihyun questioned.

Watching the two crawl down while feeling the sniper load in another bullet, Jihyun grabbed his keys and motioned to open up the locks. No one was dying in this bar, or else the authorities will give him another hard time with their interrogations.

"In here." Jihyun called out and opened the door, letting the two men inside.

And just as he was about to follow and enter, he heard a click from behind and felt a sharp stinging sensation on his abdomen.

"Ah. . fuck." Blood trickled down his lips as he looked down at his bloody chest.

He looked at the two person looking back at him with shock. And when he knew he couldn't move anymore, his vision blurred and his mind succumbed to darkness.

That was the story of how Lee Jihyun died.

***

"Young master. ."

"Ah, what do we do?"

"Somebody. . call the doctors!"

Jihyun felt extreme pounding on the head. He wanted to open his eyes but his body seemed stuck, it was like he couldn't move.

He vaguely heard shouts and sobs around him which made his unconsciously frown.

'Wasn't I dead?'

Jihyun remembered how he got shot from saving two people, and then the next moment he suddenly awakened again. Was he brought into a hospital?

Suddenly, Jihyun felt his body being lifted up– but there was no arms supporting him. It was like he was. . floating?

'What's going on?'

Jihyun wanted to wake up faster, but when he felt a jolt on his body, he became unconscious again.

.

.

When Jihyun woke up, he saw that it was dark and night time.

He instinctively looked around and found that this room seemed fancy and old style. There was a chandelier in the center, and the bed he was laying in was wide and soft.

"Ugh. . where am I? Ah? My voice. ." 

It was a young childish voice.

Jihyun wanted to get up and find a mirror, feeling that something was wrong. But just as his feet touched the ground, he fell with a loud thud, and his head collided with the floor.

"Young master!"

Jihyun helplessly watched the door open as a few maids surrounded him and picked him up with ease. He pursed his lips in embarrassment. Then, he felt something trickle down on his nose. His lips tasted a metallic taste and he frowned.

'Blood?'

"Y-Young master! Hold on!" The maids began panicking again, a clatter of basin and some wet rags came forward and help him wipe off the blood. 

He could see worry in the maids eyes, and he wondered why. 

'Was I so weak. . ?'

"Waah! It's good that you're awake, young master!" One maid with bright red hair sobbed.

"Young master are you okay? Should I go in and call a doctor?" There was another maid fussing over him and she had dark blue hair.

They didn't look Asian. . where was Jihyun?

"No. . I just need a mirror. . please." Jihyun said.

Not a minute after, a maid came and handed him a small mirror. Jihyun put the mirror in front of him and when he saw the reflection–

Crash!

"Ah! Young master?!"

The mirror broke when he let go in shock.

'W-what the. .'

Jihyun's eyes shook. He couldn't believe who he saw in that mirror.

Lee Jihyun was Korean and had natural black hair and eyes, yet why was his reflection it that mirror different?

Brown hair, green eyes– he even had freckles! And worst of all, why did he look like a ghost?! Sunken cheeks, dark bags under his eyes and dry lips--

"Young master! Are you okay? What happened?" 

Jihyun's inner dilemma was cut off when a maid grasped his hand. For now, he had to force himself to calm down and looked at the maid.

". . I'm fine. . All of you can go back now." He awkwardly ordered.

Though the protest, Jihyun had to order them again but this time with force, and it seemed effective as the maids soon retreated outside his room. Now, Jihyun was left alone to sort out his thoughts.

". . I've definitely died." He concluded. "But. . It seemed as if I went to another world." 

He suddenly remembered the novels he'd been reading which had a popular genre in Korea. He couldn't believe that it was real and it happened to him. But he wasn't at all surprised, rather he just felt uncomfortable in this new body, trying to adjust.

It's such a weird experience, but after some time of thinking thoroughly, Jihyun's face cooled down. He tapped on the soft mattress, crossed his legs, and assessed the situation even more.

He suddenly remembered the familiar face he saw on the mirror– now his body. And it felt so familiar that he instinctively knew that he's heard it from somewhere.

"Ah. ." Didn't they also call him young master? 

Then, a strong pounding sensation invaded Jihyun's mind, it was like he was being tore up inside out. Clutching his head in pain, he whimpered at the sensation and saw memories flashing by with the pain to accompany it.

"Cedric Kerill. . . No way."

Jihyun's eyes widened. That's right, he remembered who this body's identity is now.

Cedric Kerill was a young master and coupled with the obvious pale face and weak body, he was convinced.

Jihyun bit his lip and then sighed. Cedric Kerill, should he go by that name now? That was how quick he accepted the situation he was in.

Cedric combed through the memories and suddenly frowned. If he remembered correctly, Cedric Kerill was a minor supporting character.

Yes, Cedric was a character from a novel that he read in his last life. It was one of the reasons why he quickly knew who this body was and what his situation is. This story was a popular munchkin story for teen boys, and he was no exception.

Cedric Kerill was a young master of the Kerill household. He was only five years old when he developed an unknown disease that quickly deteriorated his health until he was bedridden for years.

Although, everyone pity such a child, it was only for a fleeting moment.

Because Cedric was one of the many children the Kerill head produced. 

Inside the Kerill household, it was all about survival. Cedric managed to be lucky when being born from a mother whose identity was linked to the royal palace.

He survived. Out of the 40+ children in the Kerills, only 10 remained and he was one of them.

But that didn't mean he got it off easy.

Cedric had to struggle to survive whenever countless fights for the seat of successor happened. But because he was weak and powerless, he was merely used as a shield by others whenever problems arrived.

And when his mother died when he was ten, all hell broke loose.

Cedric was pushed into the abyss and forever dragged and pulled around. Just when he was near death's door after his body began to crack–

Lee Jihyun transmigrated.