He remembered darkness—quiet and endless, as if he were adrift in a place without time. Then, a flash of light shattered the void, pulling him back. When he opened his eyes, everything was different.

Just moments before, he had been in his small apartment, celebrating his college graduation. Yet beneath the pride was a lingering frustration: job offers were scarce, and he felt trapped in the endless job hunt. To escape, he had turned to his favorite web novels—fantasy tales of reincarnation, magic, and powerful protagonists. He loved the idea of a fresh start in a world of potential, where he could forge his path from nothing.

But a single, brutal moment changed everything. An accident—a flash of metal, the screech of tires—then silence.

Now, he found himself lying in a soft bed surrounded by richly adorned fabrics and the scent of polished wood. His hands, smaller and smoother than he remembered, lay on his chest. New memories, woven seamlessly with his own, began filling his mind: he was the youngest son of a noble family in the kingdom of Larnhelm, with a father named Count Eldric and an ancient lineage stretching back centuries.

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The next few days blurred as he grappled with his new reality. As he grew from a young boy, he clung to a sense of purpose, recalling how web novel protagonists always had a "golden finger," a talent or unique ability to help them rise. And so, he searched for any sign of hidden strength or advantage—a latent power, an unusual talent—but found nothing remarkable. His aptitude for combat training proved average at best, barely enough to pass the basic assessments.

For a brief time, his family supported his knight training, offering resources and encouragement. But as his limitations became clear, their enthusiasm faded. Training ceased, leaving him on the sidelines as his older brothers advanced, honing their skills in swordsmanship, magic, and leadership. In a world that revered strength and magical prowess, he was painfully ordinary. He could feel his family's quiet disappointment as they realized he lacked the qualities they valued most.

Then came the final decision: he would be sent to a barony on the kingdom's edge, far from the noble courts and familial expectations. It was an unspoken exile—a neglected territory bordering the Warcraft Forest, a harsh and dangerous land often ignored by those in power. Isolated and removed from his family's influence, he was to govern this barren region alone.

When the carriage arrived to take him to his new home, he climbed in, hiding his frustration and resignation. No "golden finger," no exceptional talent, no strong family support—only a forgotten territory and the faintest hope of peace, far from the endless pressures of his family and the world's relentless pursuit of strength.

As the carriage rumbled away, he clutched the quiet determination within him. He would start fresh in this distant land, even if it meant carving his path from the barest beginnings. If he couldn't rely on talent or family, he'd make up for it with resilience.