The servant of Marx informed me that once I signed the contract, there was no turning back.
That meant I needed to think differently — my phone wouldn't help me now. I had already spent a fortune, and only 25 million points remained.
Now, I found myself in the worst possible situation.
The battle I had joined was born out of my indifference toward life... until I read my brother's message.
I couldn't afford to die now.
"I don't want to die... If I die, I won't be able to resurrect my family."
And that wasn't the only problem.
There were Awakened individuals who wanted me dead, driven by the bounty placed on my head — something I had seen listed in the store on my phone.
The amount was 300 million points, enough to buy an SS-ranked weapon or live a life of luxury.
"Who put such a massive bounty on me?"
I took a deep breath. Overthinking wouldn't save me. I made my way to the bathroom, locking the broken door behind me.
"Let's hope no one barges in again..."
After showering, I stared at my reflection in the large mirror, trying to gather my thoughts.
"Damn this body... Your face doesn't inspire any clear thinking!"
The new body I inhabited looked far too feminine. Annoyed, I yanked the earring from my ear and cut my hair — it had fallen down to my shoulders. Despite its beauty, I chopped it off and dumped the strands into the sink.
"Now I look like a man… instead of some sissy!"
I left the bathroom and went to the wardrobe. It was filled with the finest, most elaborately embroidered clothing.
"Ugh… isn't there anything normal to wear?"
Fortunately, I found a plain, loose white outfit, reminiscent of what I used to wear in my previous life.
"Perfect. Now for the pants."
I didn't overthink it. I just grabbed anything that would cover me properly.
Then, for the first time since arriving, I stepped outside the palace for breakfast.
The boy's mother had arranged for various trainers to find someone suitable for me.
As I walked through the enormous palace, many servants and guards stared at my changed appearance.
By the time I reached my destination, it became painfully clear:
"God, this isn't even the Horck family's main palace!"
This massive estate had been purchased by the boy's wealthy mother, located in the Horck kingdom, yet far from the royal castle where my new father ruled.
"There must be bad blood between my new mother and father."
At the outdoor breakfast table set in a sprawling garden overlooking a pond, I found my mother, several servants, Head Butler Marx, and the trainers who had come to evaluate me —
And, of course, my fiancée, already digging into breakfast.
She was the first to react to my new look, laughing mockingly:
"Hahaha, what's up with that new look?"
"Shut up, you lunatic. Let's just get to why I'm here."
I spoke sharply, cutting off any discussion about my appearance. I didn't have time to waste — I only had seven months to get stronger or face death in the Family Bloodshed Duel.
"As I told you before, my son," my mother said, "I have gathered the best trainers from your father's kingdom."
She proceeded to introduce them one by one:
1. A swordsman, a graduate from an A-rank Sword Academy, capable of infusing mana into his blade to unleash devastating strikes.
2. A beautiful, elven-like spearwoman, a B-rank knight known for her fierce determination and defensive prowess.
3. A giant of a man, nearly two meters tall, who strengthened his hammer blows using mana. His offensive power ranked at A-level.
4. A skilled sorceress, a B-rank mage specializing in body enhancement and mana amplification spells.
My mother had summoned them to find someone who matched my fighting style.
But they were useless to me.
Not because they lacked skill — but because I couldn't use mana at all.
Not even a single drop.
How could I be the son of the greatest mana user and yet possess none?
I couldn't reveal this secret; all their training methods relied on mana and magic.
Thinking quickly, I decided to reject them with a joke:
"You all depend on mana to strengthen your attacks. Could you defeat my servant Marx without using mana?"
I thought they would laugh, and later I would ask my mother to find me a trainer who relied on pure physical prowess.
But something unexpected happened.
The third trainer, the giant with the thick beard, answered seriously:
"Even if I used mana, if I faced Marx head-on, I would lose without a doubt. He's the son of the Horck family's legendary butler."
I stared at him, stunned.
"What? You'd lose to that lowly servant? Hahaha!"
But no one laughed, except my fiancée, who giggled at my confusion.
Even my mother intervened, apologizing to the trainers:
"Forgive him. My son has lost his memory; he doesn't understand what he's saying."
Then, she explained that Marx's father was an SS+ ranked warrior, a close aide to the Horck ruler during his battles.
Marx himself was S-rank, having trained his entire life in a forbidden family art — a brutal combat style that focused on maximizing physical strength without relying on mana.
Only one out of seven trainees survived the brutal regimen, and Marx was only allowed to use mana after reaching seventeen years of age.
Fighting Marx without mana was nothing short of suicide.
After hearing this, I finally confessed to my mother:
I couldn't use mana.
Once everyone left, I snuck into one of the palace's training halls to find Marx.
"So this is where Marx trains at night..."
He was violently punching a steel wall, his bloodied fists dripping as countless scars covered his body.
"Yes, this is what I need... A way to fight without mana!"
Even though I hid behind the door, Marx knew I was there.
Without even looking at me, he ordered:
"Stop staring and leave."
I approached him, trying to break the tension.
"Hey Marx, training alone? Need a partner? Hahaha."
"..."
He didn't respond — just kept hammering the steel wall with brutal force.
"Ah... you know, I can't use mana. What if you and I..."
Before I could finish, he flatly refused.
He wouldn't train me — not even if I begged all night.
But I was determined.
He was my only chance to survive.
"Come on, Marx. You didn't even hear my request! As your master, I command you to train me!"
Marx stopped and walked over to me, stating coldly:
"I refuse, because it would endanger your life."
I didn't understand.
To me, training was just hard work, like in the stories I'd read in my past life.
But Marx clarified:
His training was torture.
Half of those who attempted it either killed themselves or died from the pain.
"So, Alex," he said, "after hearing that, do you still want to risk your life? I've known you for a year. You cherish your life more than anything."
I answered him with determination:
"Marx... I'll die if I don't train. So I order you: teach me!"
He refused again, turning his back to me.
I realized from his expression — no matter what I said, he wouldn't change his mind.
So...
"Marx, please... I'm begging you!"
I fell to my knees, bowing my forehead to the ground.
I hated humiliating myself like this, but my life — and my family's resurrection — were at stake.
Inside, I cursed Marx with every insult imaginable, swearing that once I grew strong enough, I would kill him myself.
"Alex, no..." he said.
"What do you mean 'no', Marx? What the hell did I ever do to you, you damn bastard?!"
Marx answered coolly:
"I mean you won't survive even a single day of my training."
I finally understood.
"Sorry... I thought you were just refusing me. Then how about this — just train me for one day? What do you say?"
Finally, Marx turned and agreed — under one condition:
I had to be awake at dawn, ready to start.
It was my only chance.
I left him to continue his brutal training and headed back to my room.
On my way, a worrying thought struck me:
What if I couldn't wake up in time?
My phone had no alarm clock, so I decided to find a servant who could wake me up.
But most of them avoided me, fearing me for reasons I didn't fully understand.
Finally, I found the scarred maid, Ellie.
"Hey, Ellie, come here. I need a favor."
She stared at me for a moment before asking:
"...I'm sorry, but... who are you?"
I was shocked.
Had cutting my hair changed me so much?
After explaining, she apologized and followed me to my room.
She also confessed that after the day she cried in my room, the other servants had become even more afraid of me, thinking I had done something terrible — when, in fact, I had only spoken kindly to her.
"Anyway, Ellie, I'm counting on you. Wake me up at sunrise. Stay awake all night if you must. Understand?"
"Yes, my lord! I'll stay awake all night, I promise!"
Her eyes shone with determination.
"Don't let me down..."
I could have asked Marx to wake me, but I wanted to prove my resolve.
After ordering Ellie to sit in a chair facing my desk to stand guard, I lay down on the soft, luxurious bed with its brilliant white sheets.
I waited for sleep to come...
A minute passed.
Then ten.
Then fifty.
"Damn it... why can't I sleep?!"
Startled, Ellie jumped from her chair.
Apparently, she had dozed off,