Alternative Reincarnation

Regaining consciousness, he found himself inside a box. From how little space there was around him, it felt like he had been buried. He didn't have time to ask questions. The only thought in his mind was, How do I survive? He wanted to get out immediately. He wanted to live more. He started punching. Again and again, he struck above him until his hands began to bleed, the blood dripping onto his white shirt even though he couldn't see it in the darkness. As he kept punching, he realized the dirt could collapse onto his face and reduce the little oxygen he had left. So he changed what he was doing. He pushed the mud toward his feet and forced against it until his hands finally broke through. He emerged from the ground crawling. The moment he was free, he fell onto his knees and breathed in and out, trying to catch his breath. He was exhausted, thirsty, and couldn't think straight. More than anything, he wanted water. After resting for a moment, he instinctively started walking. All he could see were trees and what looked like an endless jungle. He had no idea where he was, but something about the environment reminded him of a medieval setting. He continued along a narrow path, and the farther he went, the wider it became until he finally saw a castle ahead. There were guards at the entrance carrying spears. He looked at them and wondered what kind of place he had walked into, but his instincts told him to keep moving. His face was injured, blood stained his shirt, and his fists were crushed from digging himself out, yet he said nothing. He only wanted water and sleep. The guards immediately took a defensive stance and pointed their spears at him. He didn't flinch. He didn't even feel afraid. He simply kept walking toward them. Surprisingly, instead of stopping him, the guards opened the way and allowed him inside. Beyond them stood a mansion, brightly lit and beautiful enough that he noticed it even in his condition. But he didn't have the mind to admire it. He felt like he could collapse on the floor at any moment. He continued until he found several maids. The only word he could force out was, "Water." One of the maids stared at him, fear immediately appearing in her eyes. "Master..." "Water." She rushed away. Almost immediately, the other maids began panicking as well, and the entire house seemed to fall into an uproar even though he hadn't done anything. When the water arrived, he drank without asking questions. His fingers eventually lost their grip on the glass, and it dropped from his hand. He walked upstairs almost instinctively. Somehow, one particular door felt like it belonged to him. He entered, closed it behind him, reached the bed, and immediately fell unconscious. Several hours later, a knock woke him. As his senses slowly returned, he looked around the unfamiliar room. This time, his mind was clear enough for the first thought to finally come. I died. He studied his surroundings. The room was luxurious, with gold and silver decorations everywhere. Even the plates and mirror looked expensive. He didn't care much about any of it. Someone was still knocking, so he went to the door and opened it. A boy who looked around sixteen or seventeen stood outside. He spoke in a gentle and humble voice. "Hello, brother." "Hello." The answer came naturally, but Victor immediately questioned it in his mind. Why was this boy calling him brother? Maybe it was simply a way of showing trust or appreciation after these people had saved his life. He had no reason to be rude, so he left it at that. The boy continued, "Father is looking for you. He wants to meet you in his office in two hours. Please prepare yourself. You also... smell right now. You should clean yourself before meeting the patron of the house." Patron of the house? Confusion appeared on his face, but he quickly tried to make sense of it. Maybe this was some Eastern-style noble household, or perhaps he had somehow wandered into the estate of a noble family. He went to wash himself and put on the clothes that had been prepared for him, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. Questions kept returning. How had he gotten here? The only memory he had was dying inside a collapsed building, and he knew there was no reasonable way he could have survived it. A faint smile appeared on his face. Maybe this was the afterlife. Maybe it was finally time for judgment. Then he looked into the mirror. The person staring back at him was completely different. For a moment, he couldn't find any way to describe what he was seeing or even what he was supposed to feel. But he was a scientist, and the first thing his mind returned to was what he could actually observe. Everything felt too real. He could feel pain. He could touch. He could smell. He could see and hear clearly. Every one of his senses told him he was inside a real, physical body. That only created more questions. He wasn't the kind of person who would jump toward fantasy as an explanation simply because something didn't make sense. He was a scientist. There had to be a reason for what was happening, even if he couldn't understand it yet. For now, he decided to meet the patron. As he walked through the corridor, a servant came to guide him. Victor noticed almost immediately that the servant seemed afraid. The man avoided eye contact and looked as though even one wrong movement might cause trouble. Victor didn't understand it. Maybe the servant simply felt pity after seeing his condition. When they reached the office, he knocked on the door. "I'm here." Inside was the patron of the house. He wore a long coat and cape that made him look majestic, and his tall frame and white beard only made him more intimidating. Victor could immediately feel that there was something abnormal about him. This didn't feel like an ordinary person. Before Victor could properly understand that feeling, the patron looked directly at him with disgust. His eyes hardened and his teeth clenched. "So you've come back." Victor said nothing. "I heard what happened, but I didn't believe it. I thought it was another scheme of yours." Victor's confusion deepened. What was this man talking about? Was this somehow the judgment he had been expecting? The patron continued. "The reports have been coming in since last year, and I've told you to stop. The promises you've made to several noble houses, the money you've embezzled—it didn't even end with the nobles. You kept going as though you wanted to crush this house yourself. And now even the Imperial Court wants to sentence you to death." Victor remained still. "I don't know how you survived, or why you're here, but prepare yourself. This time, there is no power or money that can protect you." The patron stared at him with the same disgust. "And it will be quite a sight. I'll watch and enjoy as you burn." Victor couldn't answer. His mind was already trying to put everything together. So I was right. I'm in a body I don't know. Everything is physical, and I died. Maybe this is some kind of body takeover. But that created another problem. Why? Why was he being accused of things he had no memory of doing? Where were the memories of the person whose body this was? Victor stood there, unable to speak, as another thought began forming in his mind.