Awakening in a New World
The truck driver slammed the brakes on but it was already too late. He never imagined a random guy would jump in front of his vehicle on an open, clear road.
Leon, a 20-year-old male, sprawled on the freezing pavement, agony ripping through every part of his body. His eyes blurred, his body wouldn't budge, and the last thing he saw was the blinding light of the truck's headlights.
"Truck-kun... even though I did make that comment in the comments section saying I wanted you to run me over, I didn't expect you to take it literally..."
A bitter laugh escaped his mouth, but it was immediately replaced with a groan. The pain was excruciating. His mind wandered away as his body numbed, and then—nothing.
Leon's entire body twitched. He needed to catch his breath as his eyes snapped open.
"That was a frightening dream..."
His forehead gleamed with sweat, and his chest convulsed from fear. He sat up, attempting to sweep away the remaining terror, but something was... amiss.
His eyebrows were furrowed as he looked about, and his bewilderment grew.
The room that he was in was not like his small apartment. It was grand—almost miraculous.
Large black pillars with detailed crimson markings stood along the walls, their designs glowing slightly under the soft candlelight. A rich, plush carpet, black as the night sky, covered the smooth wooden floor. The furniture—black oak with crimson velvet cushions—towered above. In the corner, a giant bookshelf was laden with leather-bound tomes. Behind him, the canopy bed loomed, its drapes of deep red silk. The air was thick with the slightest hint of incense and aged parchment.
It was fit for royalty.
Leon swallowed. Am I kidnapped?
No, that wasn't logical. He was nobody—no money, no power. Who would kidnap him?
Then another thought came to him.
"Wait... does that mean it wasn't a dream? Was I actually struck by that truck?"
His heart was racing. Frantically, he tried to reconstruct what had occurred. Had someone rescued him? If so, how did he get into this place?
His fingers skidded over his forehead, and at that moment, he saw something strange—his hands.
They were whiter than before, the skin softer, but firm. He curled his fingers, experiencing unfamiliar firmness in them. His eyes fell on his attire—an exquisite black tunic with silver threads, coupled with tight-fitting trousers that shouted nobility. This was not his humble cheap hoodie and jeans.
His heart pounded. A crazy thought crept into his head.
He sprinted toward the huge window, throwing it open. The air was cool, with a smell he had never experienced before. Outside the window, beneath the night sky, the world extended far and wide—a medieval city with great castles, cobblestone roads, and radiant lanterns. Two moons painted the sky.
Joy exploded within him.
"Yup! It's surely what I think it is!"
A broad smile spread over his face as realization hit him.
Leon laughed uproariously.
"Truck-kun, my dear friend! I was serious when I told you to hit me! Hahaha!"
He whirled back into the room, nearly shaking with exhilaration. He crumpled onto the floor; eyes shining with expectation.
"Alright! As per script, this is where my cheat system shows up!"
He stood up tall. Expectant. Ready.
The silence lingered. One minute. Two. Five.
His smirk began to falter.
"Don't tell me... no system?"
A long sigh left his lips.
"As expected, lady luck would never be on my side..."
He rubbed his temples, telling himself to accept reality. Perhaps he had just transmigrated into some random noble body without any cheat system. Perhaps he was condemned to live a painfully normal life in this new world.
"Well, at least I've got a nice bed."
Just as he leaned back, ready to resign himself to disappointment—
Then— A searing pain exploded in his skull.
Leon clutched his head as burning agony tore through his mind. A flood of foreign memories surged into his consciousness, overwhelming him like a raging tide. He saw faces, places, battles, and secrets that were not his own.
And then, a name echoed in his head.
Duke of the Moonstone Kingdom.