Justin glanced around him again, taking note of the sights around him, trying to prepare himself.
Being transported in the new world wasn’t much of a problem for him; unlike others, he wasn’t transported due to being hit by a truck or an unforeseen accident.
He merely died of old age.
And the cause of death was enough for him to easily accept the situation.
He had already lived a full life before, even if that life was disappointingly dull and regretful.
So, this new life was more like being reincarnated and having a second chance at life, rather than being taken out of his own free will into the novel world.
"Okay... calm yourself, Justin."
"Let’s just stay level-headed... you’re a historian, remember? You’ve studied this situation countless times."
He tried convincing himself with his words, but studying about the fall of dukedoms and being in the situation itself is a drastically different matter entirely.
It was like comparing airsoft to an actual battlefield.
They’re similar, but also completely different.
He lay flat on his bed, giving time for his body and mind to fully acclimate. The experience from earlier of him slowly getting used to the cold meant one thing.
There are still some conditions on him being transported here, one that still hasn’t fully finished adapting to this world.
Like his mind and body not being one.
"Memories might come as well... or even..."
And speaking of the devil.
[Memories Inserting]
"What...?"
BA-DUMP.
A powerful beat of a drum exploded across Justin’s head, like being whacked by a metal baseball bat straight onto the back of his head. Swung by the best baseball player the world could have ever seen.
"Aghh! W-what!?"
He writhed in pain on the bed, clenching his head with both arms to try and lessen the pain.
But it made no difference, as countless information flowed into his brain all at once, some he already knew about, while some were information that only the real Justinian would know.
Just like it said, it was inserting the real Justinian’s memories straight into Justin’s mind.
Merging them into one being.
Knowledge of his childhood flowed first, experiencing what it felt like when his lands were still at their peak in the hands of his parents.
He was like any normal noble child, mingling and making connections with other kids of the same age from other noble families.
But all those happy memories changed as other memories started flowing in.
Adolescence.
"There’s more!? Even the novel didn’t have this much detail!"
And why would it? Justinian was barely a footnote in the novel, even as a minor villain, more like an annoyance that was briefly mentioned to foil the MC’s plan.
A faceless villain with only his name mentioned before is inevitably removed entirely.
The memories came rushing in again.
This time of hardship, seeing his parents suffer, betrayed by other vassals of the same kingdom, until even their own vassals started revolting.
Ripping their family from all their power, wealth, and even prestige.
Then the final parts of his memories arrived.
This time, his parents are nowhere in sight, and only he can be seen, the old joy of his childhood no longer present, only a brooding adult who had lost everything at such a young age.
One that faced betrayal in all facets of life.
The current him, one whom everyone feared, a Duke who inherited the throne that was barely competent and heavily cruel.
"I guess... that’s the gist of everything?"
Justin, no, Justinian spoke, a new coldness in his voice, while Justin inherited the body and maintained his memories, it didn’t mean that every piece of Justinian was gone.
It only meant it was now merged into him.
***
[Kingdom Building System Protocol Activated]
Ruler: Justinian Alarys Thirell]
Rank: Duke
Land: Winterhelm, South of the Reduvian Empire
[Resources:]
Gold: 500 KG
Food: 15~20 Weeks
Military: 500 Units
[Map:]
Snowkeep (Capital): Unrest (87%)
Herdrin: Unrest (13%)
Bridgeton: Unrest (76%)
***
A panel appeared in front of him, something he was already familiar with due to being exposed to it back in his world.
This was completely expected.
He clenched his hands into fists, biting his bottom lip with them.
"Guess that’s it for my introduction in this world."
He laughed, sure he inherited Justinian’s memories, but he was still himself, just with countless more cruel memories.
But that wasn’t enough to keep his hopes down.
He looked at the panel in front of him, placing a hand on his chin in thought.
"I should start with stabilizing the capital..."