~Hachiman's POV~
It has been nine long years since the day I opened my eyes to this bizarre new world. My life of absolute luxury, sitting comfortably atop a mountain of wealth, had been progressing smoothly. There were no thrilling developments, no world-ending crises. My daily routine was simple to a fault—waking up early, enjoying exquisite meals, playing video games, and reading books from an inexhaustible supply. Afterward, I would merely lounge amidst the lush greenery surrounding this massive mansion.
In my past life, I used to scoff at the ultra-wealthy, wondering why they squandered fortunes on sprawling gardens that seemed like a massive waste of money, rather than just staying inside an air-conditioned room packed with shiny gadgets. But having experienced it firsthand, I have come to realize that nature is the only thing that keeps a human's warped mind sane under the crushing weight of their responsibilities...
Or at least, that is the justification I try to give myself as I roll around lazily on the grass right now.
"...Hmm... The weather today feels a bit uncooperative. It's strangely volatile."
I muttered to myself while gazing up at the unusually dark, overcast sky. A sudden chill ran down my spine. It wasn't just a cold breeze; it was an instinct warning me that something was entirely 'out of place.'
"Come to think of it, why is it so eerily quiet? I haven't run into a single soul all day."
Yes... it was far too quiet. Although this mansion was expansive and naturally peaceful, it had never been completely 'deserted.' Normally, servants would be bustling about, diligently performing their duties. Today, however, there wasn't even the sound of a footstep.
The mansion I resided in resembled a colossal fortress, encircled by towering walls. I didn't even know where exactly I was on the world map, only that the general geography seemed identical to my previous world.
But the sole flaw, a literal curse in this new life, was that I could not step outside by even a single pace. This child's body was perfectly confined. I had attempted to escape multiple times, but I was always caught before even reaching the front gates.
And the most unsettling anomaly of all was the 'servants' in this mansion. They did not resemble the maidens in lace outfits you would typically see in Akihabara.
Instead, they were like 'dolls' programmed with a set routine. The smiles plastered on their faces were completely vacant, and their eyes were utterly devoid of life, acting like masks concealing a hollow interior.
Every time they bowed in respect, I felt as though I were being scanned by a robot processing data rather than being served with genuine, 'authentic' care. At first, I couldn't get used to it, but after living with them for so long, I thought that perhaps this was just their version of professionalism... or maybe it wasn't.
Even more suspicious was the 'mysterious water' my parents forced me to drink every single day since I turned five years old.
(Flashback)
"Here, Hachiman. From now on, you must drink this every day."
"Huh? What kind of water is this?"
"It's a health drink. It will make you strong and healthy, dear."
(Present)
It was a clear liquid that emitted a faint odor, resembling iron mixed with certain chemicals. My parents always maintained that it was a "special dietary supplement" for my health. Naturally, upon drinking it, it felt burning hot inside at first, but afterward, it truly made me feel full of vitality.
After rolling around on the grass for a while... it was time to go check things out.
"...Alright, let's go investigate a bit."
I stood up, stretched my body, and brushed the dirt and leaves off my pants until I was certain they were clean. Then, I headed straight into the mansion.
"Where did everyone go? This is getting kind of creepy... Hey, Sebas! Are you there? Marie! Milla! If anyone's here, please answer me!"
..
….
...
"....."
Dead silence.
I swallowed hard... This wasn't funny. No matter how much I preferred being alone, a tense atmosphere where a ghost could pop out at any second was a bit much. I figured I should check other areas—the bathroom, the living room, or even the mansion's rooftop...
25 minutes passed.
"Hah... Hah... Hah... Whew, I'm exhausted."
I panted heavily. Good grief, I seriously need to start exercising. Next time, I must incorporate a workout routine. No matter how much I want an easy life, it's no good if my body is this weak.
After searching every nook and cranny of the mansion, the result remained the same... absolutely no one was here.
What happened? Is today a holiday? But that shouldn't be the case, because for as long as I can remember in this world, I have never seen them take a single day off.
Right at that moment—
"Mmm…! [muffled]"..!
Suddenly, I felt a freezing touch press against my face from behind. A sharp, pungent chemical odor rushed up my nose, burning straight to my brain. It was likely chloroform.
"Mph...!"
I desperately tried to struggle, but a nine-year-old child's body was completely powerless. The hand locking my neck in place was as unyielding as iron pliers.
My surroundings began to blur and distort. The hallway lights seemed to flicker and plunge into darkness. A burning heat surged through my chest just before all my strength evaporated.
The final thing my fading senses could perceive was the tall, slender silhouette of a stranger wearing an unfamiliar uniform, and a pair of eyes looking down at me with an indifference far colder than those doll-like maids.
"Subject Number 8... secured..."
The muttered voice was incredibly faint. 'Huh? Number 8? What's that...?' and the entire world plunged into darkness once more.
...
...…
…..
…
.
.
.
.
The current darkness..
Beep—Beep—Beep…
"How is the status...?"
Hmm?
Beep—Beep
"Yes. The heart rate and pulse are within the designated parameters. At present, Phase 1 of Project Nursery is fully complete... We are currently preparing for Phase 2... to condition the body for the cells..."
Ugh... what is that sound... Milla?
Beep—
"Mm, good."
"For the sake of this 'X-Class' project, we absolutely cannot disappoint them."
....X-Class?
"Understood."
"..um.. ugh.."
Finally, after groggily stirring for a while, I opened my eyes. The first sensation that greeted me wasn't the softness of a bed, but rather the freezing touch of metal binding my wrists and ankles to an angled examination table.
My body was positioned flat on its back, my bare skin pressed against the icy steel framework of a laboratory table. The continuous 'Beep... Beep... Beep...' from the pulse monitor kept ringing in an annoying rhythm.
"Where... am I?"
I muttered weakly with a raspy voice, my consciousness not yet fully restored.
"Professor, it appears Subject Number 8 has regained consciousness."
"..—!.. "
My awareness gradually returned. My immediate focus upon waking was the woman standing directly in front of me.
Yes... it was her... Milla herself.
The maid who had looked after me ever since I was a child. However, what differed from my memory was the attire the woman before me was wearing. It wasn't the standard maid uniform she wore every day, but a lab coat?
"Milla?"
I called out to her, my voice laced with confusion.
"....."
She did not respond to my voice as she usually would. Her face was completely vacant, devoid of emotion even more so than normal, exactly like a robot.
"Oh, you're awake, kiddo?"
"?"
After observing for a moment, I noticed a tall man in a dark uniform walking into my field of vision near Milla. He appeared to be in his late 40s. Reflected in both eyes of that man was me? No, rather, it was the results.
"Who are you? Where is this place?"
I asked him in an indifferent tone, even though anxiety was beginning to mount inside me.
For now, I had to push aside the matter regarding Milla. It seemed she wouldn't react to my words at all.
"Ho~ You are remarkably calm. Normally, most children this age would panic, cry, and scream when finding themselves in an unfamiliar environment. It is quite rare to see someone behave so maturely at this age."
I narrowed my eyes. It seemed my current behavior didn't align with that of a typical nine-year-old... This is trickier than I thought...
But you can't really blame me, because I had always conducted myself this way back at the mansion, and furthermore, no one had ever complained about it.
"But I will give an answer, seeing as you are the first one to wake up."
Hmm? The first one? What does that mean?
I then turned my head left and right, and only then did I notice that there were other beds besides mine, stretching out in rows. To my right were 7 beds, and to my left were 12 beds. Upon those beds lay other children around my age. It appeared that the children they had gathered were all exactly nine years old.
..Hmm..
"My name is Professor Fergus. I am the head of this facility, and the place you are currently in is a lab. Or, you could call it an experimental chamber."
The man introduced himself in a playful tone that carried an underlying sense of danger.
"..Ugh.."
I swallowed hard... An experimental chamber? Taking a closer look, my body right now was covered in dozens of needles attached to tubes... Am I about to become a guinea pig?
What should I do—
"..Mmm... Father."
Just then, the voices of other children waking from their slumber began to echo.
I turned toward the sounds of the children.
"..Where is this place?.."
Some were utterly confused.
"Hey!... Who on earth are you people!?.."
Some panicked.
"...What is with all these tangled tubes!?…"
"..Ugh.. [sniffling].. ugh.."
And some were crying, which was completely expected.
"..."
It seemed that my nine years of an exceedingly comfortable life had officially come to an end. From here on out, it would likely be a horrific hell, one that would undoubtedly remain deeply scarred into my memory for the rest of my life.