-???-

".....You are nothing more than my successor." (Father)

My father was very cold to me, his own blood related son.

No matter how much I desired affection to him, what he gave is just endless work to do.

No matter how many times I want to run, I will get drag back to his place without mercy.

It's like having an invisible leash on my neck.

I hate my father.

I hate my surrounding who only see me as a gear for their own profit.

....And I hate myself who can't even free own self to chase his own dream.

Why does I have to be in this position? Why does other people can be more free to me?

No matter how I think about it, I can't reach an answer.

(I just want to....die.) (Rein)

Even so, I don't have the chance to even do that. My life is also being controlled by that damned man.

In the end, do I really have a 'self'?

In the end, I'm just a puppet.

A replacement so his dear company that is even more important than family to survive.

....However, by meeting one girl during this bottomless pit, she gives me the light.

The light called as hope for me to burn my soul brightly once more.

At the same time,

It is also a curse called as despair that binds me eternally.

******

-Present: Inside private room of airplane-

"....(Slowly open eyes)....A dream huh?"

After waking up, Rein bitterly smiles after experiencing the dreams here he saw his past.

To him, his past was only a bad memory and nothing more.

Even so, it attach to him really strong. Which is why, the dream he experienced just now was very clear and vivid. Most probably, it is due to that strong attachment which makes him remember.

Remember what is his true self.

....And remember the most important moment he wants to forget but unable to.

[Peng]

[This is the pilot. Thank you for riding our airplane among all available choices. By fifteen minutes, we will be arriving to our destination safely. I repeat, by fifteen.....]

"....Well, I guess it saves me the boredom of just sitting blankly." (Rein)

Unknowingly, it looks like he was able to reach his designated location in a short moment.

*Knock knock*

"....Excuse me sir, may I come in?" (???)

"Hm? Oh, yes. Please go ahead. The door is not locked." (Rein)

After permitting the person to come in, a beautiful attendant who is long black-haired comes in to Rein's private room.

In truth, Rein actually can just order economy seat since he's used to it. But, since he have the money and no restrictions from his father, why not enjoy the best luxury?

With a bright smile, the attendant greet the most handsome man she ever met politely.

"Good morning Rein-sama. In a moment, our plane will be landing shortly. Do you need any help?" (Attendant.)

"No, thank you Mishima-san. I enjoy today's flight. I was able to relieve all of my accumulated fatigue due to your amazing service. I really appreciate it."

Responding to the attendant who faces him, Rein also respond to the attendant directly to her face with a polite tone and faint smile that could mesmerize any woman alive.

As for the effect?

"N-no. It is of course to attend to our customer needs. We are glad able to help you." (Attendant)

.....It is certainly VERY effective as the attendant is even charmed by it. Even so, a professional like her immediately grabs composure and answers calmly as best she could.

(Hauu! his face is so bright!!....I wonder he has a girlfriend?)

....Truly, being handsome itself is already a sin.

"....Then, please enjoy the rest of the flight. If you have any problems, plea---"

*Brum* *brak*

"KYAH!?" (Attendant)

*hug*

[....Dear passengers. Apologies. Currently, our plane is experiencing harsh turbulence. Immediately return to your seat and wear the seat-belt. I repeat.....]

"Are you alright, Mishima-san?" (Rein)

"Eh? Rein-sama....Close!? ...Ah!! My apology!" (Attendant)

The moment when the plane is shaking, Rein immediately react to it by standing up and support the attendant who has her balance broke. Due to that, she is seeing Rein's face in close proximity.

*Badum* *Badum* (Heart beating)

...To a young maiden like her, the face who currently shows worry and concern to her is just a poison and nothing more.

"I'm very sorry!!" (Attendant)

With a wry smile, Rein respond to her for being too polite and stiff.

"No, it is okay. I'm just glad that you are unhurt." (Rein)

" (blush brightly)~~~~~ Th-then, please excuse me! Good day!" (Attendant)

*Bruk* (Doors closing)

(Haha, a very active girl. She's so cute when embarrassed.)

Remembering her reaction, Rein unconsciously smiles. It was really a fresh reaction to him as this one year, he only faces blood and punches in the ring.

(Well, at least it distracts me.)

In any case, he's going to reach his destination.

Even so,

"*sigh*...Looks like I'm going to be busy again."

His preparation is not yet over.

******

-Airport Entrance-

May 15, 2021. 10:00 A.M.

"....*Stretching* Huhpp!!...Fuuuh, finally arrived. I guess heights doesn't bother me anymore."

Actually, during his previous life, he had a fear of heights so riding airplanes for his business trip was one of the fear he always hated to face.

However, Yuuji's training makes it all vanished completely as he shows him personally something more terrifying than just a trauma.

It was literally fortune in the middle of misfortune (?).

"...Haaah. The hell it is. It was a living hell."

However, For the person itself, it looks like it was collection of misfortune and nothing more.

"Excuse me sir." (???)

"Hmm? how can I help you?" (Rein)

*Turns around*

"!! ...O-oh, Kuhum. Welcome to Japan. Seeing your appearance, it looks like you are not around here. Do you want to use the taxi?"

"Oh, yes. I would like to. Is it available now?"

"(smiles) It certainly is."

*******

(In English)

[....What is the purpose of your visit, sir?] (Pilot)

(In Japanese)

"I'm moving here. You could say that I change my resident permanently." (Rein)

"Oh. I see. By the way, your Japanese is so smooth. It feels like I talk to native."

"(Smiles) Thank you. I practice a lot."

In order to chase his previous dream, he constantly heard that the best facility and education to improve his skill was this place so he study Japanese like hell.

Moreover, he also found out that this body's spec, including his brain is dozens if not hundred times better so his processing speed is like a KTX train itself.

"Oh right, do you know the game called Sword Art Online is? It's all over the internet right now, saying it's revolutionary."

"!!...Yes, I know a bit. It's a game where you can live in virtual world, I heard. Although, I haven't heard of being released yet."

"Yes, that's true. However, the beta something was distributed 2 months ago for 1000 people able to play it before the official release."

"...I see."

(It looks like the story's progress is almost the same.)

Hearing from the driver story, Rein felt unfortunate unable to test it beforehand but, at least he knows that the official release will still be the same so there won't be much change in the plan.

(I guess Kirito is enjoying right now. What a shame, I want to meet him earlier.)

Kirito.

The main character of Sword Art Online with the real name of Kirigaya Kazuto. He was like the most typical main character story depicted in Light Novel, Anime and Manga.

Although he can be a little socially awkward and game junkie, he is kind-hearted young man who always prioritizes his friends.

.....Although, that leads to him as the Harem King itself since his surrounding is mostly girls.

Even so, Rein admire and respect his personality as he shed tears for Sachi, one of the game players who died in the SAO even though they are not that close.

(....I guess giving a helping hand to him won't be a stretch.)

Rein is not the main character of the story but just an outsider so he can fix the story without any bad ending. Therefore, he have no intention to take the title of protagonist nor steal Kirito's position.

He is he while Kirito has his own path.

Even so, for Rein who knows that flow of the story, he wants to avoid tragedy falling to Kirito in the future. Kirito also held a lot of emotional burden during the road. Moreover, including the unknown factor due to curses, it may lead to much more worse ending Rein can even imagine.

Therefore,

(It will be up to me now.)

gripping his hand tightly, he resolve himself strongly.

"We have arrived to your destination sir. Have a good day."

*****

Right now, in front of Rein's eyes is a huge villa, which is personal home from now on.

"It feels nice to have my own home."

As for the owner itself, he is so cool since he is used to live in a huge mansion. As expected of second generation rich young master.

With his fighting money, he can buy it, but only barely.

He can't use all of it since he have other uses with it.

Then, how does he is able to buy it in the first place?

During one year in America, he's not only throwing punches and making havoc in underground fight only.

"I guess my decision isn't wrong."

Another job he can do without revealing his identity is stock buyers.

The previous him would never challenge it as he himself is not arrogant nor smart enough to handle the massive amount of information flowing endlessly in a matter of minutes.

However, one skill he gained from the training helps him.

Skill: Instant decision Lv.7- By having this skill, the user are able to handle any type of situation including combat to choose and act the most correct solution. The higher the skill is, the more faster you can process it.

Due to repeated and constant usage, it increases the level from 5 to 7, which shows he uses it since level of the skill can't be raised easily. All the more so when the level is already high enough.

Therefore, his total gain by using his fighting money as the foundation already become close to hundreds of millions US dollar excluding taxes.

Converting that to Yen, Rein is already a billionaire without exaggeration.

Actually, he have billions of US dollar approximately but it decreased that much due to him buying tons of land property all around the worlds that looks profitable so he will get interest daily.

He really doesn't need to find a job anymore.

Other than that, he also dabbled himself in cooking, art, forging and many others especially hacking and programming.

By learning the last two skills proactively, he can be the hacker in the top of the world so it was quite easy for him to hack into the government database, inserting false information and record so he can make the passport easily.

With all of this, at least half of his preparation is complete.

"I'm home... well, nobody will respo-" (Rein)

[Welcome to your new home sir. I am the AI that will be assisting you and managing your houses from this moment forward.]

In order to manage his inhabited house, he prevent burglary and dirtying the house from time passage by buying it with a very advanced AI that cost him tens of million US dollar. As expected of the near future, this function has already been utilized actively.

"...Guess not. Hello then. Do you have an original name to call?" (Rein)

[Currently, I don't have any official name. What would you like to call me master?] (???)

"Then,.....Merry. From this moment, you are Merry."

[Understood. May I ask, what will you be doing now?]

Hearing that question, Rein has tons of things he needs to do.

But right now, he has the most important need to accomplish.

"I'll be sleeping then."

...it's to rest his tired body physically and mentally.