"Shit…"
"Where am I?"
I woke up in a hospital room, disoriented and unsure of how I got there.
The last thing I remembered was going to bed, and now, suddenly, I was in a hospital.
The realization hit me hard. Had something happened while I was asleep?
The idea of going from a perfectly healthy person to a hospitalized patient with no warning was straight up terrifying.
As I struggled to make sense of it, fragments of memory surfaced, images of a man I didn't recognize, yet somehow felt familiar.
"Fuck…"
A sudden flood of memories crashed into me, triggering a migraine so intense it felt like the aftereffects of what it was like to be hit on the head by a rock.
"Are you alright?"
The nurse rushed in, clearly alarmed after hearing my groans of pain. She quickly approached my bedside, concern written all over her face.
"My head…" I murmured, squeezing my eyes shut, my voice barely audible through the sharp throb pounding in my skull.
Thankfully, the pain didn't linger long. While the nurse had stepped out briefly to get me a glass of water, the migraine faded as suddenly as it had come. She returned swiftly, eager to help.
"Thank you… The headache's gone now." I took the glass from her, drank every drop, and handed it back with a nod of gratitude.
"Could you tell me why I'm in the hospital?" I asked.
Even though some memories had surfaced, memories that didn't feel like my own, everything recent was a blur. Disjointed fragments filled my mind.
I had transmigrated into someone else's body. But I had no idea why this body had ended up here, in a hospital bed.
I watched the nurse closely. She hesitated, eyes flickering with something she was trying to hold back. Whatever had happened to this body, it hadn't been good.
"Just break the news to me," I said, my tone calm. Unless I was paralyzed or had some terminal illness, I didn't think anything could really shake me.
She exhaled softly, then met my eyes.
"There was an incident… A conflict between two Collectors turned violent. Your family was caught in the crossfire," she said gently. "I'm sorry, but none of them made it out."
Her voice was steady, but the pity in her eyes said it all.
The word Collector echoed in my mind. In this world, it was the most prestigious and dangerous career one could pursue. It had also been the dream of the body's original owner.
How ironic… that the very thing he admired most was what ultimately led to his demise.
Pity.
Those were the emotions I could muster. I had inherited his memories, ambition, and relationships, but not his soul. I could sympathize with and understand his feelings, but I wasn't him. I couldn't cry, even if I wanted to.
"Thankfully, you weren't harmed in the incident," the nurse said, her voice soft. "Since you experienced a headache earlier, we'll run a full checkup once you feel better, just to be safe. After that, we'll get you discharged."
"I see…"
"Could you give me some time?" I asked, my voice steady.
To her, it probably sounded like I needed space to grieve. In reality, I needed time to think. I had taken over this body, and now I had to decide what kind of life I wanted to live.
"Of course. If you need anything, just press the red button," she said, nodding slightly before leaving the room.
Should I become a Collector? The thought lingered.
The fragments of memory were slowly piecing themselves together. What I had seen of those powers, the abilities, was terrifying yet mesmerizing, dangerous yet alluring.
Collectors were individuals who had obtained relics, ancient artifacts that granted them the ability to harness supernatural powers. Every year, on the first day of the new calendar, a trial opened for aspiring Collectors. Only those under eighteen could participate, and eligibility started at fifteen.
Most waited until seventeen, giving themselves as much time as possible to prepare. The older you were, the better your chances.
The new year was just a month away.
I didn't have much time.
Becoming a Collector was something I truly wanted, but the odds were brutal: one in a hundred thousand. It was not impossible, but it was extremely difficult.
Failing wouldn't ruin my life, but it would suck.
My backup plan was to become an Aegis, a role with less prestige and power than a Collector, but still essential.
Collectors could grow stronger by acquiring more relics. But there was a limit to how many relics one could wield at a time. That's where Aegis came in.
They acted as living placeholders, carrying and protecting excess relics for Collectors. It is not as glamorous and definitely not as powerful, but it is still respected and, more importantly, a more attainable path.
Although this method granted power, it came with a price: the Aegis would be bound by a master-servant contract. When a Collector obtained a relic, they were forced to keep it, not discard it or sell it. This limitation made contracting others who could help bear the load practical.
A Collector could equip their contracted Aegis with excess relics through this contract, effectively expanding their arsenal.
I called it a master-servant contract, but the reality wasn't as harsh as it sounded. Despite the Collector's higher status, both parties were bound by rules. Most importantly, they couldn't harm each other.
Collectors also had limited authority over their Aegis. So while the terminology sounded oppressive, the actual structure was reasonably balanced. In many cases, the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks.
Besides, a Collector could only form a limited number of contracts. That meant they had to choose their Aegis wisely, not just someone with the talent to wield a relic, but someone they could trust.
In this era, newborns are tested for their spiritual capacity and talent at birth. Fortunately, the body I now inhabit was already evaluated, and it scored exceptionally high in spiritual power.
Talent is ranked from grade F to S, with S being the pinnacle and F the lowest. I wasn't an S-grade prodigy, but being ranked A was still impressive. It meant I was someone to watch, someone with value.
Beyond that, I had the will to grow stronger, alongside a high baseline for relic compatibility. Since I'm alone, I have no responsibilities or obligations that tie me down. As long as a Collector was ready to explore a ruin, I'd be there, eager and willing.
But here's the catch: You need a relic to unlock your spiritual power. And to obtain a relic, you must become either a Collector or an Aegis.
If I fail to pass the trial and become a Collector, there's no doubt I'll draw attention from those looking for an Aegis. Word travels fast, especially when it comes to spiritual aptitude. Someone like me, with an A-rank classification, wouldn't stay under the radar for long.
However, if I become a Collector, these classifications will be null since a Collector's body is practically perfect, meaning their talent should be at the pinnacle without any restrictions. It's such a cheat if you think about it.
With my mind made up, I slapped my cheeks lightly and set my focus. Having a clear goal might be the best way to stay grounded or at least distracted in a new world.
Assuming the identity of Maple Finley, I reached for the red button and called the nurse.
I was done sitting around in this hospital bed. It was time to move forward.
When the nurse returned, she wasn't alone. One visitor, a stranger to me, followed behind her.
"Hello, Maple Finley. I'm Joshua Columbia, your legal counselor," he said with a calm, practiced smile.
"I'm sorry for the loss of your family and your home, but today we'll be going over your inheritance and compensation."
Right… I'm homeless now.
I didn't have a guardian either. My predecessor had no surviving relatives, which he had already confirmed before the incident. In a way, that was a relief, no inheritance drama. No distant family members crawling out of the woodwork to make things messier than they already were.
Still, for the next few hours, I got a firsthand taste of how exhausting legal matters could be.
The inheritance wasn't given to me in full. Most of the money would be held in trust until I officially became an "adult" at eighteen. That included the compensation for the loss of my family and home.
In the meantime, they provided me with a temporary living arrangement: a room in a luxury apartment, paid for until the end of the new year.
Once the trial ground opened and I decided whether to become a Collector or an Aegis, I'd be sent to a vocation center, where most new Collectors would gather to begin their journey.
Still… a brand new life in a brand new world. A fresh start.
I couldn't help but wonder what kind of future was waiting for me?