A week…
Akiro leaned against the cold bars of the cell.
"…At least they feed me."
A wooden bowl sat beside him. Half empty.
Water. Bread. Something that barely had taste.
But it was enough.
Enough to survive.
"…Could be worse…"
His eyes slowly shifted toward the outside.
People.
Guards.
Even prisoners from other cells.
All of them—
Looking at him.
"…Again…"
Akiro frowned.
"…Why do they keep staring…?"
Not just a glance.
Not curiosity.
It was—
Persistent.
Like he was something strange.
Something out of place.
"…Do I look that bad?"
He rubbed his face unconsciously.
"…Wait…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Am I ugly now?"
Silence.
No answer.
But the stares didn't stop.
"…No…"
He shook his head.
"…This feels different…"
Not disgust.
Not fear.
Just—
Confusion.
"…Like they've never seen someone like me before…"
Akiro leaned back again.
"…Do I look that different?"
Before he could think further—
BWOOOOOOOOOOOM—!
A loud horn echoed throughout the area.
Akiro flinched.
"…What the hell was that…?"
The entire place changed instantly.
People who were staring—
Moved.
Fast.
Making way.
Clearing the path.
"…Oi… something's happening…"
Heavy footsteps followed.
Metal clanking.
Armor.
Knights.
A group of them approached his cell.
"…Ah…"
Akiro sighed.
"…This doesn't look good…"
The door opened.
Clang—!
"—!"
One of them grabbed him roughly.
"…Hey—relax…"
No response.
He couldn't understand a single word they were saying.
But—
He didn't need to.
Their tone.
Their expressions.
Serious.
Strict.
No room for resistance.
"…Yeah, yeah… I get it…"
Akiro raised his hands slightly.
"…I'll walk."
They dragged him anyway.
"…Tch…"
He didn't fight.
Not yet.
Not in a place he didn't understand.
Not in a world he didn't know.
They moved through corridors.
Stone walls.
Clean.
Too clean.
Torches lined up perfectly.
Guards stationed everywhere.
"…This place is big…"
Akiro muttered under his breath.
"…A castle…?"
The deeper they went—
The quieter it became.
Until—
A large door stood before them.
Massive.
Decorated.
Heavy.
The guards pushed it open.
CREEEEAK—
Light poured in.
Akiro's eyes narrowed.
"…So this is it…"
They forced him forward.
Step.
Step.
Step.
And then—
He was pushed down.
Thud.
Kneeling.
Cold floor.
"…Tch…"
Akiro clicked his tongue.
"…I don't like this position…"
He lifted his head slightly—
"—!"
SHING!
The sound of blades.
Multiple.
Pointed at him.
Akiro froze.
"…Okay…"
He slowly lowered his gaze again.
"…Not a good idea…"
His heart started beating faster.
"…Calm down…"
"…You don't understand anything yet…"
"…Don't do something stupid…"
Voices echoed inside the room.
Deep.
Authority.
Someone was speaking.
"…The king…?"
Akiro guessed.
He couldn't understand the words—
But the tone—
Clear.
Powerful.
Heavy.
"…So I'm in front of the king…"
He swallowed.
"…Great…"
"…Thrown into another world…"
"…Got arrested…"
"…And now I'm kneeling in front of a king…"
A small breath escaped his lips.
"…What kind of world did you throw me into…"
His hands clenched slightly.
"…Old man…"
The voices continued.
Back and forth.
As if discussing something.
About him.
"…They're talking about me…"
He could feel it.
Every now and then—
Eyes would land on him again.
That same look.
That same curiosity.
"…Seriously…"
"…What's with these people…"
His gaze slowly dropped.
The floor—
Polished.
Clean.
Almost like a mirror.
"…Huh…"
Akiro blinked.
"…Wait…"
He leaned slightly.
Trying to see—
His reflection.
"…Oh…"
There it was.
His face.
Clear.
"…Heh…"
A small chuckle escaped him.
"…I still look the same…"
No strange features.
No weird changes.
Just—
Younger.
"…Maybe around… twenty…?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"…Not bad…"
A faint grin formed on his lips.
"…Guess I got a free reset…"
For a moment—
He forgot where he was.
Forgot the tension.
Forgot the danger.
"…At least I'm not ugly…"
A quiet laugh escaped him.
"Hehehe…"
The sound echoed lightly.
"…Hah…"
Then—
Silence.
The entire room went quiet.
Akiro slowly lifted his head.
"…Ah…"
All eyes—
On him.
The knights.
The nobles.
Even—
The king.
"…Oops…"
Akiro forced a small smile.
"…Wrong timing…"
The air turned heavy.
Dangerous.
"…Yeah…"
"…Definitely the wrong timing…"