1 The Beginning [1st PoV]
[Are you sure about your answer?]
A solemn voice resounded in my ears.
"Its an obvious answer isn't it? I haven't had enough of living my life yet." I said with a grin on my face. The figure in front of me... should I say, the Devil, made a bitter smile.
Although he is indeed a Devil, his looks are the same as an angel, a handsome face, an overwhelming charisma, and a feel of overwhelming power. The only difference for him is that he has wings that differed in color. One of the wing has a pristine white color that emits a divine feeling while the other one is gray in color and emits the stench of Death.
[Very well. In exchange of your help, I shall use our most precious treasure to fulfill the pact. The moment you return, the pact will be finalized. There's no turning back this time.] He said to me with a grim face.
"Yes, this time, I'll make sure no one dies under my watch while I complete your request." I said while he nodded seriously.
"You really loved humans dearly... don't you? Even after your fall... you still regard them as one of you despite the difference in race." I continued while he lightly smiled at my question.
[Of course. Father created everything, from plants to animals to humans and every other race that existed in the universe. You could even say that we're one big family.] The Devil said as I chuckled bitterly at his answer.
'Unfortunately, those races don't know about it. Even if you presented them the truth, they won't accept it easily. They have their own pride and always thinks of themselves as superior beings... humans included.' I thought to myself as I remembered the atrocities I've faced on my journey.
"I guess I should help uncle out. After all he transmigrated me in the first place." I said as the Devil smiled at my words.
He then waved his hands and a golden hourglass appeared in his hands.
[Once I turn it over, you shall return to the time you first arrived in that world... May Father bless your journey.] The Devil said as I nodded and he turned it over. A magic circle appeared and the light shone on me.
"I guess you aren't really a Devil at all... Lucifer." I said his name before being swallowed by the light.
*
Hebrion Kingdom.
I opened my eyes to see for myself if I really returned back in time.
Lucifer did what he promised and sent me back.
I looked at my small hands and clenched my little fists hardly.
"This time..." I murmured to myself when a knock returned me to my senses.
"Young Lord, may I come in?" An aged voice came from the other side of the door.
"Come in." I said and the door opened up to see the head butler coming in with a tray of food and drinks. He placed the tray near my bed and knelt down.
"Young Lord, I know that your parents passed away but please take care of yourself." The old butler said as he bowed his head.
"Thank you... Uncle Wilhelm." I said as I slowly raised my thin body and started eating. While eating, I started recalling my memories.
I was first transferred to this world after dying in my old world. I thought that it would be the end of me after I closed my eyes, only to open them to an unfamiliar office.
That's where I met the person who transmigrared me to this world. He explained that it was just because of my luck that I got chosen to transmigrate with my memories intact.
I didn't believe it was all luck since my luck in the previous world was pretty trash... Only someone like me can get a lot of sh*tty rolls from a "guaranteed" gacha roll.
I said that he was just joking when he showed me the worlds I thought were never real... the worlds of fantasy, fiction, and more. That's when I took his words seriously.
Although I have read and watched many reincarnation stuff, I never received something like a cheat but my background was good. Then, I was just thrown into a fantasy world that was familiar to me. The world where shadow worlds exist. The story of a returnee who wanted to fix all his regrets and his mistakes.
'A Returnee's magic should be special.'
I got reincarnated as a Duke's son who's parents got killed in the civil war that shook the Hebrion Empire. I was only 5 years old that time and I already had to take the mantle as the only remaining successor of the duke.
Maybe due to my mental age, I took the news of my parents death well and continued to live on despite the hardships that I've faced.
The pressure from the nobles who deemed me unworthy of my title and wanted to strip it away from me, the pressure of running the territory, the pressure of the engagement, and many more.
The person who helped me withstood all that was the person in front of me. Uncle Wilhelm.
He is my father's trusted aide and always considers his opinion. He's also the only person that helped me unconditionally.
He sacrificed his life for mine when I overestimated my skills because I got too arrogant of my achievements.
When I learned more about Uncle Wilhelm, the more I felt angry at myself for overestimating my skills. His death made me grieve more than the death of my parents. He's like a father to me who taught me everything from the ground up. He taught me about the art of fighting, how to run the territory, etiquette, and helped me research on ways how to utilize my magic.
I learned many things about Wilhelm when I accidentally saw my father's journal in his study.
He said that Wilhelm was a former noble and my father helped him by giving him a priceless elixir and healed her granddaughter. He then continued to serve my father for years and helped him make my father's territory prosperous and strong.
His influence on the nobles is not a joke either. If not, it would only be a matter of time before they took the title of Duke, and my territory away from me.
Coming back to my senses, I finished up my meal and looked at the kneeling butler in front of me.
"Uncle Wilhelm, can you teach me how to be strong?" I asked him with my tiny voice.
A glimmer of light passed through Wilhelm's somber eyes.
'Master, I have failed to protect you and your wife... I will not make the same mistake anymore. I will protect the young lord and make him into a splendid successor that you will be proud of.' Wilhelm's eyes carried determination as he looked at me in the eye.
He saw the deep blue eyes staring at him, waiting for his answer.
"I, Wilhelm Van Astrea, obeys the young lord."
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For those confused, my MC is a reincarnator who got reincarnated in the manhwa 'A returnee's magic should be special'. I won't spoil much but because he made a deal with the devil, he will return back in time, making him, a returnee as well, like the original MC of the manhwa. The difference lies in the time of their return. My MC will return to the time when he first transmigrated while the original MC will return on the day of the academy examinations.
I'm sure a lot of questions are raised but please, bear with me, its been a long time since I wrote a book and I will surely address it in the future.
I will also follow the manhwa, not the novel.
