Chapter 1: Becoming a Prince – 1

I died. It hurts.

Am I in a dream? Why am I in complete darkness? I can't remember how I died but I'm pretty sure I didn't die here.

I walked. I do not know which direction but this is my only option.

Then there is light... No, it's too dim. It's flickering... like a dying light bulb... dying...

I felt fear...

No! I have to hurry!

I ran. I can't sense the wind pushing me. I also can't hear my loud footsteps. When I am finally near it, I also lost my breathing, my sense of touch and taste... and yet I felt cold.

I'm dying for real. This is my only hope. When I almost touched this mysterious light, a panel appeared. I'm familiar with it. I played RPG before and this fantasy-themed panel with bones as its borders is something I am extremely familiar with... I wonder what would happen to my progress... No! Stop! I have no time for this! I rest my hands on the table out of losing energy... I feel sleepy... Table? It's my mo- NO! Stop! Difficulty! Focus!

"Easy / Hard"

Easy! It has to be easy mode! I want an easy life! I tapped it multiple times and it didn't work at all. Sh*t! Why now! Is... Is it voice-activated?

"EASY!!!"

No response. I can feel it. My head is turning blank. I feel tired and want to sleep right now. No, I have to move.

I tapped the word Easy multiple times out of desperation. Still no response. F*cking sh*t! Why?

I can hear it. The sirens. I don't see it here, and yet I can hear it. It's very loud.

I don't want to die.

I pressed "Hard". I just felt that maybe if I made a different choice, something will work.

*ding*

[You chose Hard Difficulty.]

NO! WAIT! I-

I lost consciousness. Everything stopped. The siren, the cold feeling, this desperation...

*******

14 years.

I started completely anew. Yes, from baby to teenager. Only a small part of my memories are retained, of which some gradually return when I grow older. How did confirm my memory loss? Simple. I still do not recall how I died and everything before that.

"Stand straight."

In front of me is my father holding a stick. He's lecturing me about posture.

"Your back is slightly bending toward your front. Raise your shoulders. Tsk! it's been the fifth time and you still haven't learned to do it properly!"

He swung his stick towards me. It hurts like hell.

"Are you a woman?!? Back in my days, I have wounds everywhere and simply laughed it off, and yet you are on a verge of crying because of a mere stick."

This old man! I'm not him! Why should he keep comparing me to himself?!?

"You're mad? Good! Let me see how you react. Hmph! Why are you looking downwards? Are you guilty? You must be! Only criminals look down into the ground because that's where they belong! To hell underneath! How about you? Hah!"

Don't speak. Don't speak. Don't speak. Don't speak. Don't argue over it.

"Eh, forming a fist? Are you challenging me over a fistfight? Speak!"

"... No, father."

"Then don't make a fist over it. That would just make you look dumb!"

"..."

"Not responding? Good. You have learned your lesson to not be a brainless idiot who argues over minor details when others aren't willing to listen. We can stop from here. Let's eat, son."

"..."

"Still mad, eh?... Our dinner is your favorite! Chicken!"

I slowly followed him.

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"Now, come here. Is it tiring?"

"... Yes. I don't want to learn swordsmanship."

"You don't have to cut me off like that. If it were any others, they'd be more than happy to learn from me."

"... I still don't want to learn it. I'd rather learn magic instead."

Father is about to argue again about how men are supposed to carry swords and how women are better at magic than men when he is approached by a few guards.

"Please excuse us, Your Highness."

Their leader gave a note to my father. They were silent for a few seconds before eyeing me.

"My child, return home first. I'll return eventually."

"Yes, father."

I dragged my heavy feet away from the cold freezing courtyard.

Ever since I came into this world, I tried thinking about the fact that I am reincarnated. How? Well, let's not talk about how. Why am I reborn? Am I a protagonist? The hero that saves them all? I waited for an opportunity. Instant power up, or level up in RPG terms. A divine calling. A system reminder. A gift or a rare talent, but alas, nothing came...

I recalled my basic knowledge of math and science from my elementary days and it already labeled me as a genius by the sages of the kingdom. At that point, I finally realized how backward the technology of the past is. I even received an invitation from a well-known academy that looks forward to my arrival. Yes, that academy took me for granted without my input. Let's talk about that later on.

In this world, magic existed but is extremely weak. Swords and shields remain the staple of every army. Of course, timely healing magic is heavily appreciated. Speaking of magic, our tiny kingdom also has a tool for measuring magic and physical ability albeit it gives a very vague result. My physical combat ability is rated 2/10 while my magic aptitude is 4/10.  For a peasant, an average score of magic aptitude is something to celebrate but to me, it's terrible. After all, I had an access to a wide variety of magical books and a higher level of concentration from my elementary and high school days.

Did I forget something? Yes! The system! I remember Hard mode despite choosing Easy for the tenth time. Although, I was born a prince of a tiny and secluded kingdom somewhere in the snow. I lived a safe and comfortable life. I haven't worried about food, shelter, or my clothes. I still do not know how any of this is hard mode.

The system also gave me a really simple command, [Status].

It's your run-of-the-mill self-identification spell. It also included a quest log.

///

Status:

Name: Jeff Glacier

Occupation: Crown Prince

Level ZERO: XP 15/100

Aptitude: Physical (2/10), Magic (4/10)

Pending Quests:

[Becoming A Prince (23%) - Learn the Basics of Nobility. Reward: 80 XP]

///

... Oh right. That one quest that for some reason does not progress at all for years now.

*******

"Big brother!"

The home where House Glacier lives isn't anything grandeur. It's just a small house with two floors... on the outside appearance only. At the front of the house is my younger sister who is excitedly greeting me.

She ran off and hugged me tightly.

"Brother! Love you, brother!"

"Hahaha, Sophia, stop it. You are not a baby girl anymore."

"But I want a ride! Last time!"

"Okay, okay."

I carried her on my back, my head between her tiny legs.

"Bring me there!"

"Alright! Choo choo!"

I carried her into home.

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