章 2: New Life or Not?
"What was that weird dream. I can't help but feel annoyed when I try to remember that voice." A man who was knocked out on the floor was grumbling by himself. His movements were akin to a paralytic trying to move his body one last time.
He furiously threw the red bottle in his hand towards the only painting on the wall without any care how much the art cost. The remains in the bottle stained the picture of what seems to be an intricately dressed young man standing beside a majestic old man who bears the image of a king.
The person who tainted this seemingly expensive painting did not bother what he did but instead hold his head before puking out the contents of his stomach.
A man who acts like a drunkard waking up after a hard session was directly contrasting ] the extravagant and dignified setting of the room he was currently in. Only when the last retching sound was heard when the man finally notices what state he was currently in.
"Brian? Brian Laurefort? That's me" The drunkard figure named Brian repeated his name like it was the most important thing he should not forget.
Brian's eyes blinked many times as he recollected what occurred last night that resulted in the most terrible hangover he experienced. When about five breaths passed by, he finally got the gist of everything.
"Last night was not a dream… It appears to be too real for it to be a dream. Bryan or Brian, I don't know who I am really. I cannot help but feel like the memories of both individual with almost no similarity is mine. But based on the place where I woke up, this should be the room of Brian."
After recollecting himself, Brian finally looked at the painting he stained.
"This is me? Golden hair with sharp eyes of a noble despite being young, this man who can be a blockbuster Actor back in the States with only his looks should be me…? However, I cannot help doubting if I was always this handsome. The last time I looked at the mirror, I was a donut away from obesity even when I was a child."
Touching the dirtied painting, he felt nostalgia for the memories of two individuals. To make sure of his situation, he looked for a mirror to look at himself.
"A body with barely any fat in it. A mature face which resembles the young kid in the painting. A hair color which should be almost impossible for a pure Asian citizen like me…Yup, I am currently Brian Laurefort."
Brian sat on the only sofa in the room while pondering silently. Looking across the whole room once again, his face was full of amazement when he notices how expensive everything here should be.
"I can probably pay all of my debt by selling all the stuff here." Brian shook his head dejectedly.
"Reincarnation… That stupid voice really did what it said. What was it again? System? Amazing System-"
<System: Ting~ Welcome back our esteemed User. You have successfully integrated into this world as Brian Laurefort>
"Ah, the idiot is back." Surprised at first yet Brian accepted it easily.
<System: That's rude. I have a name, you know. You can call me either the Amazing system or the Amazing Merchant System> A hint of bragging can be heard from the voice
"Merchant System?"
<System: You heard right, but I prefer if you put Amazing before it. But if you're asking for what I am, to put it simply, I am here to help you give a chance to redeem yourself by making you the best Merchant in the world>
"Redeem myself from what?"
<System: From what you did in your previous life. And I quote from your wife as Bryan "You trash of a husband and father who can only think nothing but gambling…" Because of it, you have gained a lot of Bad Karma points, and that does not spell out any good at all> The System voice even copied his wife's voice when it told him the quote.
This reminder made Brian frowned as he remembered how horrible his farewell was. He cannot help but clicked his tongue in anger for himself. He can clearly remember the disappointed face of his wife and the tears of his lovely daughter like it was yesterday.
'Maybe it really occurred yesterday… I hope they are doing fine back there.'
Brian's confused state immediately turned to a depressed mood. His previous life was only filled with nothing but regret when the images of slot machines and roulette tables flash in his mind. His memories should be filled by the loving family he has back home, but all of it was erased by the ecstasy of winning in the casino.
He wanted to run away from the sadness by looking for a drink but there were no bottles to be found anymore.
"No… I should remove all my vices with this chance. I will not become like that loser of a man called Bryan!" A change happened in his clear sapphire eyes. He clenched his fist hard until the pain was transmitted.
Bryan silently pledges to himself that he would be a changed man with the given chance the System of whatever gave him. However, remembering what should be done first, he tried to recall how the man named Brian Laurefort came to collapse on the ground before he integrated with him.
There were frowns on his face. It was still hard to comprehend the situation even after he accepted his life as Brian. What best to find for the answer by asking the System which is also strange by itself and seems to understand what was going on.
<System: Nah, I don't have any clue regarding his history. His memories should be yours so why are you asking me?> The robotic yet humanlike voice replied like it was a piece of common knowledge.
"That is why I am asking you. There is no evidence pertaining to what happened during the time yesterday in Brian's life. Based on my memories, he is a strong drinker, and he is not a man who drowns himself to death through alcohol. I cannot believe he would collapse by a single bottle."
Brian gripped his head as he tried to connect everything that will explain to him his situation currently. All that he can remember yesterday was that he and his wife had a big argument yesterday concerning a small petty thing. It was just like his previous life but the reason for their dispute was far from what Bryan had before dying.
Ironically, when recalling further, Brian is a good husband and a better father for his daughter, unlike someone who he really wants to slap the hell out of it.
When he was looking around for clues around the room, something finally clicked and made his refined body goosebump. It was rare for Brian to feel fear especially the history he has serving the army and being a noble, but what he realized suddenly made him fear for his life.
"System, do one need to die to reincarnate… Including the individual of this world?"
<System: Of course. It is obvious that it would be impossible for two souls to exist in one body normally>
"The Bryan of the other world died by alcohol, but there is no indication for Brian's death unless…"
Brian stood up and reach for the painting. Instead of gratifying the artist of the artwork, this time he was more focused on the liquid that stained it. Back on Earth where it was common for TV shows with crime and mystery genre to show how their detectives handle evidence with the utmost care, Brian did not dare to touch, smell, and taste the questionable liquid. Especially when he has a gist of what it is.
"System, do you know this is."
<System: The user has not unlocked the 'Appraisal' feature yet>
"What purpose do you have except being an annoying stupid voice."
<System: Excuse me?! I am the most Amazing Merchant System in existence and I won't accept berating my na->
"Yeah right, the most amazing system that cannot do anything. This is what I get for winning the odds of 3% in the roulette. I doubt reincarnating without the system is worse."
<System: You think you have the right to have all my amazing features just by standing up and clicking a button like a slot machine. I am offended… For the record, you need to fulfill quests given by the amazing system itself before you can awe in my grace>
"Quests?"
A term very familiar for someone who played games for most of his teenage years popped out of his mind. However, before he can ask about it, the sounds of footsteps on the other side of the door perked up his ears.
<Quest Triggered: Survive for the day!>
<Like how it said, live to see another day>
<Rewards: The Amazing Appraisal Feature>
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