Reid Valdia, whom I’d reincarnated as, was a side character and antagonist in a game from my memories of my previous life: TokiRella! The plot had followed the same narrative progression that other Cinderella-esque stories did, which meant that there was a villainess whose job was to get in the way of the main character. I, Reid Valdia, was a member of that villainess’s entourage.
During the main story, Reid was only mentioned by name, and he didn’t even have a character sprite. Though his name only appeared in one line of text, Reid faced all kinds of horrible fates at the end of the game. He was convicted as an accomplice of the villainess and, depending on the ending, exiled, sent to war to die in battle, or executed.
I hadn’t played much of the main game, so how the heck did I remember this character? The answer lay in TokiRella!’s postgame content. After completing every route, there was bonus content in the form of a free play mode, where every character was unlocked. In other words, any character from the main story with a name became playable. During normal gameplay, you were restricted to using only the main characters. Since the free play mode was designed to be a time sink, it greatly increased the number of playable characters, which made it all the more fun. Each of the newly unlocked characters had stats that were carefully balanced, which was one of the reasons the main story was often regarded as bonus content. With all of that said, the character I’d prioritized leveling and used during my playthrough of TokiRella! was the very person I’d become: Reid Valdia.
“Since I’m Reid, if I work hard, things might work out for me!” I muttered to myself.
I peeked out from the covers and stared at the ceiling, my face now full of hope because Reid Valdia was a character who transformed into a total powerhouse. Magic existed in the world of TokiRella!, and in order to use it, you needed something known as elemental potential. Each character had unique stats when it came to their elemental potential. Reid had horrible base stats, but he had elemental potential for every type of magic, which made him a late bloomer.
The main characters had modified growth rates, so they became more powerful at a relatively quicker pace. These characters notably had fewer elemental potentials, which meant that they couldn’t use as many types of magic. In order to reach the hidden boss, players had to face challenging situations where their party might not be able to use all the types of magic necessary to win. By leveling up Reid, who could use all types of magic, and adding him to your party, this content became much less difficult. However, Reid had terrible base stats, so leveling him up was grueling work. The only people who used him were those who wanted to grind.
“I like steady growth and repetitive tasks. Also, if I’m remembering correctly, Reid has elemental potential in all types of magic. First, I’ll assess my current situation. I’ll plan for my future after that. At the very least, I’m going to avoid getting involved with any antagonists and live an honest life.”
With that decision made, I rang the service bell that had been placed by my bed. A few moments later, a cute maid of small stature appeared.
“Excuse me,” she said as she entered the room. She had black hair and orange eyes, and she stood in front of the door with her head lowered as though she was waiting for something. I could sense that she was slightly afraid and nervous.
“There’s no reason to be so nervous,” I reassured her. “Now that I’m awake again, there are a few things I want to confirm with you. I’m seven now, right?”
“No, sir. You just turned six last month.”
“Oh...yes, that’s right. I also wanted to ask...”
I continued with questions about my father, my mother, and the country we were in. I eventually confirmed that this was indeed the world of TokiRella!
“Are you perhaps unwell after all, Sir Reid?” the maid asked. “If you’d like, I can call the doctor back...” She had a concerned look. I had probably worried her with all of my strange questions.
“I’m sorry for worrying you. I think I’m feeling anxious after suddenly collapsing in the garden. I’m okay, and thank you.”
The maid seemed slightly relieved by my response, but she still seemed to be nervous or scared for some reason.
I wonder what’s wrong. Just as that thought crossed my mind, Reid’s memories flashed before my eyes. This caused my head to ache slightly, and I placed a hand on my forehead.
“Sir Reid?” the maid asked. She drew closer and inspected my face, her own full of worry.
That’s right. I remember now. I, Reid, have been taking out my anger on the maids and various objects these days.
“I’m an idiot,” I whispered to myself. Then, I turned to look at the maid and spoke in a gentle tone. “There’s no need to worry. I’m all right. More importantly, I’m sorry for treating you so harshly until now.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “You’ve done no such thing, sir.”
“Yes, I have,” I insisted. “The way I’ve been treating everyone is unconscionable.”
It was clear that she was confused, but the fear and anxiety she’d initially exhibited toward me had lessened.
“Oh, by the way, can you tell me your name?”
“My name is Danae.”
“Danae,” I repeated. “That’s a nice name. It’s a pleasure to properly meet you.” I tilted my head in an endearing manner and gave her a smile.
“What a cute smile,” Danae quietly whispered. Then she gasped and bowed her head. “M-My apologies! It’s my pleasure as well, and I look forward to serving you!”
A cute smile, huh? The reflection I had seen in the vanity mirror was indeed cute. I probably do have a cute smile. That thought felt so silly that I couldn’t help but giggle. Danae just stared at me, confused.
After asking most of the questions that were on my mind, I bowed my head gratefully to her. “Thank you.”
She frantically waved her hands to indicate that my gratitude was unnecessary. “Please raise your head,” she begged.
Once Danae left the room, I began thinking about what I needed to do next. But before I could do that, I’d drifted off into a deep slumber.