OBWESB 01

Chapter 01

Even in the midst of my utter confusion, I want to applaud myself for my brilliant foresight in clearing everyone from the room beforehand—a choice I still stand by, looking back on it now. Wracked with chaos as my mind was, I desperately tried to organize my thoughts.

First of all, this is the world of The Regalia of the Ruined Empire and the Treasure of the Kingdom, an otome game that was massively popular in my previous life.

This must be that common “reincarnation” thing. Well, setting aside whether it’s actually “common” in reality, it’s that cliché you see all the time in light novels. I forcefully convince myself to accept that explanation.

By the way, for the sake of my own honor, let me just state that otome games are absolutely not my hobby. I have no intention of judging other people’s interests, but I need you to understand that in my previous life, I was not some otome-game-loving otaku.

So, why was a guy like me playing an otome game, you ask?

It’s nothing complicated. It was by the decree of my tyrannical ogre sisters… cough, I mean, at the request of my beloved older sisters.

In my past life, I had three older sisters. And they were triplets.

They were all beauties and working adults. The eldest was a gal-style big sister type with a bit of a delinquent streak. The second daughter was a cool, seemingly capable secretary type who was actually a klutz from time to time. The third daughter was gentle and mild-mannered, but the absolute worst type to make angry. A highly varied lineup of older sisters.

It’s not that we didn’t get along. They doted on me since I was the only boy and significantly younger than them, and my relationship with my sisters—who still lived at home even after entering the workforce—was reasonably good.

However, our father was transferred away for work. And the eldest brother, the firstborn of the family, had already gotten married and moved out.

In other words, the household was completely dominated by the female matriarchy. No matter how you looked at it, my position was at the bottom of the food chain.

Why did you leave the house, Brother?! I will never forget the words of my brother, who hugged my shoulders as I clung to him when he moved out, encouraging me with: “Stay strong, live on!”

…I digressed. Anyway, otome games were the hobby of those very sisters.

The Regalia of the Ruined Empire and the Treasure of the Kingdom

This otome game features two heroines. One is a beautiful girl with straight, long flaxen hair and large eyes of the same color. She has a bright, lively personality and beautiful, strong-willed eyes. The other is a beautiful girl with fluffy pink hair and violet eyes. She is timid and gentle, but possesses a strong inner core—the kind of girl who makes you want to protect her.

The player can choose one of these two girls to be the protagonist. And just like any other otome game, you nurture love while healing the emotional scars of the capture targets and solving their problems.

Man… just saying the phrase “nurture love” makes me cringe. To be honest, being endlessly wooed by a bunch of dudes was pure torture.

The capture targets are men who rank at the very top of this country where I’ve been reincarnated, Jueral, in terms of looks, family lineage, and talent.

Normies, explode.

Their family backgrounds are illustrious, featuring the royal family, dukes, marquises, and earls. And on the hidden route, there’s even a demon! He’s not even human anymore.

Since it’s an otome game, I get that you need glamorous capture targets. But as someone who has actually been reincarnated into this world, looking at this lineup fight over a single woman makes me gravely anxious for the future of the kingdom.

Each of the capture targets is named after a gemstone, and it is these very men who are the “Treasure of the Kingdom” from the title.

They aren’t hidden at all, though. In fact, every single one of them flaunts a face that stands out like crazy.

Then, what is “The Regalia of the Ruined Empire”? This presumably refers to the heroines.

In this world, there once existed a mysterious, lost empire.

Its name was Anges.

Just like its name, which derives from angels, its royal family was said to possess knowledge transcending human intellect, truly fitting for those called the “Children of God.” It achieved various advancements, enjoyed its status as a great empire, and then perished overnight due to unknown causes—a phantom empire. The birth of male heirs was extremely rare, which is why the kings took a vast number of consorts. In order to keep the bloodline alive, many children were born, and the heroines are set up as the descendants who escaped the empire’s ruin.

And there is one more setting that must not be forgotten in this world—or rather, in this Kingdom of Jueral.

The existence of “Traits” (Special Abilities).

For some reason, this is an ability possessed by the royalty and nobility of Jueral, and rarely by a segment of the commoners. As the name implies, it is a supernatural power. From those that cause various phenomena like fire, wind, and water, to those like charm, healing, or seeing through lies, the abilities span a wide variety.

Legend has it that it originated from a pact the first king made with a spirit. Honestly, it sounds highly suspect…

Regardless, the fact remains that Traits exist in this country, and they are passed down through bloodlines. A child born to someone without a Trait may not inherit one, whereas a child born to parents who both possess Traits is almost guaranteed to have one. Because of this, the bloodlines of the country’s upper echelons are incredibly concentrated.

Furthermore, the “very small segment of commoners” refers to cases where a noble fell in love with a commoner, disregarding the status gap, and a Trait manifested in their child. Conversely, if such a child’s Trait is powerful, they can easily aim for a massive life reversal through adoption or marriage into nobility to preserve that blood.

By the way, even though Traits are passed down through the blood, it is merely the possession of a Trait that is inherited, not the exact same ability. In fact, it is quite rare for a parent and child to share the exact same Trait.

Setting that aside… while some reincarnated individuals in the world don’t clearly remember the outlines of their otome games, I am different. I remember everything down to the finest detail, so clearly that I don’t even need a strategy guide.

Why? Because this game was rumored to have a hidden-hidden route beyond the official hidden route.

An official hidden route makes no sense to begin with. Is it hidden or not? Make up your mind.

And what the hell is a hidden-hidden route?! I’ve never even heard of such a thing!

To tell the truth, this was the exact reason my older sisters ordered me to beat the game.

To quote them: “A character kept secret to that extent is guaranteed to be insanely handsome!”

Even though 100% of the CG gallery was completely filled, those women—excuse me, my older sisters—demanded to see the rumored hidden-hidden route that allegedly existed behind it all, forcing me to spend day after day sweet-talking men.

Man… just remembering it brings tears to my eyes.

And… The hidden-hidden route __________ was never found.

In the first place, it’s not even certain if it actually exists. And yet, here I am, someone who fully completed The Regalia of the Ruined Empire and the Treasure of the Kingdom all for the sake of a hidden-hidden route whose very existence is unconfirmed. How hollow…

Precisely because I played that game inside out, I want to say this from the bottom of my heart:

“Why, of all people…?!”

Harboring an unventable frustration, I strike my small fist against the bed. The soft, muffled thud that echoed back only amplified my sense of helplessness.

I, who have been reincarnated into the world of The Regalia of the Ruined Empire and the Treasure of the Kingdom.

The glorious eldest son and heir of a ducal house: Kaiser von Luxembourg.

Pitch-black hair like a sleepless night, and golden eyes resembling the full moon. Though young, my flawless, pale features are beautiful enough to guarantee I will grow up to be an incomparably handsome man.

If I were a third party looking in, I would view myself as a total winner in life and hurl curses like, “Go explode!”

However__________

I am a mob character. Forget being a capture target, I’m not even a supporting character. I am a complete nobody who doesn’t even have a character sprite.

The capture target from the ducal house I mentioned briefly earlier is my younger brother. By the way, he hasn’t even been born yet.

And the villainess lady, a staple of otome games, is my younger sister. By the way, she hasn’t been born yet either.

Two years from now, I will reach a turning point in my life. There is a custom where all children of royalty and nobility receive an appraisal for their Trait at the temple when they turn six years old.

And at that temple, Kaiser von Luxembourg will receive an appraisal of “No Trait” (Powerless).

To make matters worse, for some reason, that information will leak to the public, and Kaiser von Luxembourg, the heir of the ducal house, will become widely known to the world as “The Powerless.”

A child born between nobles who possess Traits should inherit a Trait.

Which means__________ It comes along with the disgraceful rumor that the eldest son of the ducal house might be a child of infidelity.

“I’m doomed.”

Muttered the four-year-old in the summer of his youth, staring blankly into the distance.