Work Text:
To every stars, comets, constellations, black holes, and every gods in the shrines that Isagi had profusely dropped coins and paid respect to, was it so hard to claim his soul, count his good and bad deeds, deem whether his soul could pass on and be done with it all? What good will it do to Isagi if you place his soul in an NPC of an RPG that was bound to die a merciless death anyway?
If this was some kind of an inside joke in the Heavens, then Isagi was not laughing at all.
‘The Destined Path of the Hero’ was a recent RPG that achieved tremendous profits in just two days after its release due to its immaculate designs, concrete story lines and lovable characters. The game narrated the adventure of the main character, Loki, who went out to find the God’s chosen ones in order to save the world.
Unfortunately, most of the chosen ones were entirely corrupted by the darkness cursed by their enemies. So these were the main quests that the players had to complete before they could include the chosen ones in Loki’s squad. When all had been collected, the team could finally face the Final Boss, the source of the evil, and defeat it for good.
It would be fine if Isagi transmigrated into anyone else as long as he was not roped into the game’s storyline. But as it turned out, he was not just any background character. In fact, he had transmigrated into a character that was alarmingly connected to one of the God’s chosen ones and ironically shared the same first name as him, Azurela Yoichi.
Isagi remembered that the only reason he had wanted to try the game was because his colleagues would not stop teasing him on the fact that a character shared the same name as him. Which was stupid because Isagi could not be the only one in the world to have Yoichi as his given name. But alas, due to the global excitement and high rating that the game got, Isagi couldn’t deny that he wasn’t the slightest bit curious to try the game himself.
And boy, did it live to its reputation. The game may have made Isagi spewing colourful words due to its difficulty, but he remembered watching most of the cutscenes with teary-eyes.
The only peeve that Isagi had was that the character who supposedly had the same first name as him died, in a retold of a backstory nonetheless. For all the suffering and teasing that he had suffered from his colleagues, Isagi had thought that this character would play a bigger role in the game. Instead, Azurela Yoichi died as a way to showcase the effect of the corruption from one of God's chosen ones.
The same Azurela Yoichi who was now lying dazedly on plush pillows, enveloped by silk blankets.
“Young master, how are you feeling?”
Like shit, Isagi had wanted to say. Like my body was run over by a truck back and forth.
His brain, on the other hand, felt like it was dissected and rearranged repeatedly as the memories of the original Azurela Yoichi frantically clashed with his own and forced their way into his body like a kid stubbornly pushing the wrong block into a wrong hole.
Isagi didn’t even know how he had died. He remembered leaving his workplace, ordering a fresh takeout from his favourite diner and a box of kitsuba as he had been craving for it. He ate them when he reached his home and sat on the dining table. The small television was turned on but more as a background sound to accompany his lone figure. He remembered washing up then plopped onto his bed, hands on his bloated stomach with a blissful expression before his eyes drifted close to rest.
Fuck, did he actually die in his sleep? Were the foods actually poisoned or unsafe to eat that his soul immediately gave in? Did he actually harbor some kind of imminent disease that he didn’t notice? Well, he may have pulled on too many all-nighters to work overtime at his workplace, deadlines and reports pulling at his legs.
“Young master?”
Isagi’s eyes moved slowly to the figure standing beside his bed. She was a maid wearing the classic long black dress and white apron that he would usually see in anime or manga. If it was any other situation, he would have freaked out and started to shout profanities at every single person in this room. But, hell, his head hurt so much and his body felt like lead. They should be grateful he didn’t overreact. Isagi had always prided himself in having a keen sense of awareness. Plus, he had enough time to surmise his situation while laying down like a ragdoll, taking in the unusual architecture and flashy decorations of the room that he would not find in his own room on Earth.
“What happened…?” Isagi finally croaked out as he slowly rose from the soft bed, hissing when his head throbbed in bouts of pain.
“You walked onto a tree in the garden, young master. We tried to warn you but it was too late.”
What the hell, sure. At least this Yoichi’s death was hilarious compared to Isagi’s. He didn’t know how anyone died from that, but it must have been a massively rough bump judging by the way his head was still hurting now. If Azurela Yoichi hadn’t been so careless, would Isagi have ever transmigrated at all?
“The bruise is quite obvious, but it won’t be hard to cover it with some powder.” The maid continued with a straight face, no indication of laughter at all. “If we start to get ready now, we will have ample time to work on covering it before your night meeting, young master.”
'What meeting…?' Isagi frowned as he rubbed his temple. Thankfully, the frequency of his head throbbing was becoming lesser now. “Is it…an important meeting?”
'Can’t I just cancel it or move it to another date?' Isagi echoed internally.
The maid then turned her body fully at him, there was a smidge of guilt and exasperation on her face, a crack on her earlier stoic expression. “You will have dinner with Lord Hugo tonight, young master. Have you forgotten?”
Isagi’s entire body went still.
Right.
Isagi didn’t just transmigrate to any background character.
He had transmigrated into Azurela Yoichi who was engaged to an important character in the game, before meeting his demise.
That so-called important character was one of the God’s chosen ones that would join Loki’s crew to defeat the final boss.
That character’s name was Vivian Hugo.
In Hugo’s backstory, the game only stated that they were engaged for one month. Then, in a certain gathering, Hugo lost control due to the corruption in his body and Azurela Yoichi, along with several nobles, were caught in the crossfire. That event caused everyone to shun Hugo thus plunging his reputation into the mud. Afraid of causing another catastrophe, Hugo decided to live far away from the kingdom. It was Loki who helped him to overcome his corruption and Hugo, moved by Loki’s strength and determination, decided to join him and became one of Loki’s most trusted companion.
This was what Isagi had already known.
What he didn’t know was the reason why there were no traces of Hugo in Azurela Yoichi’s memories. Isagi had tried to browse through his memory lane multiple times only to become even more confused. He saw Azurela Yoichi’s stoic parents, his daily routine from day to night both during his younger and recent version’s perspective. And not once he could see Hugo in them.
Isagi scowled, his steps remained light as he followed one of the maids, who was escorting him to the dining area. Strange. Even if they have been engaged for mere weeks, shouldn’t there be memories where Azurela Yoichi first met Hugo? Was their engagement done discreetly by their families’ representatives?
It was possible. If so, then there was no need for Isagi to be scared in case he was being out of character. Both Azurela Yoichi and Vivian Hugo barely knew each other. Yes, that must be the case. The fact that Azurela Yoichi’s character was only mentioned briefly in the game must have meant that he was not that important to Hugo.
Now that Isagi had compiled all the facts and ideas, he could finally come up with a concrete plan to change his miserable fate in the near future.
After what felt like hours, they finally stopped in front of a massive double door made out of exquisite glass and ceramic. It was so extravagant that Isagi himself had the urge to trace his finger on the materials. Yet instead, his eyes moved toward the center of the partly glass door and stared at his own reflection. Funnily enough, Azurela Yoichi shared the same face as Isagi’s. The exact height, the exact deep oceanic eyes, even the exact futaba on the top of his head.
The only difference was that Azurela Yoichi’s face seemed to be accustomed to powders and blushes which further accentuated his doe eyes and plump lips. Isagi wondered if this was what he would look like if he actually wore make-up in his own world. Plus the pastel blue blouse and white high-waisted pants were totally different from his usual dark-colored styles. Who would have thought he would be this dolled up to meet his supposed fiance, who was probably waiting behind this door.
“Thank you,” not forgetting his manners, Isagi expressed his gratitude toward the maid who had brought him here. The maid merely bowed and clasped her hands in front of her hips, “You are most welcome, Young master. May you have a pleasant dinner with Lord Hugo.”
Isagi winced lightly at that as the maid pushed the doors open. Steadying himself, Isagi tried to compose himself as he stepped into the dining area.
The lighting here was even dimmer than the long hallways that Isagi had walked on previously. Despite there was a huge chandelier overlooking the room, its awfully intricate design made it seemed like the source of light was mostly there for aesthetic purposes. He stopped just behind his seat, in front of him was a long table where a fresh set of meals had been prepared for him.
“You’re here,” a resonant voice echoed from the other end of the room.
Isagi was no stranger to the visuals of every character in ‘The Destined Path of the Hero’. He remembered getting distracted from their distinctive and stunning looks when he tried to read the dialogue and progress the story. He remembered the social media community had constantly praised the hands and brains of the person who came up with the character designs (him being one of them).
Yet nothing could have ever prepared Isagi for how the saturation and contrast of said visuals seemed to be amplified when meeting with the real deal. He could feel his lips parting as he stared at Hugo like a wild deer caught in the headlights. If Isagi had thought the Vivian Hugo in the game was attractive, then the real one was undeniably distracting. He was not even at the top in Isagi’s list of favourite characters in ‘The Destined Path of the Hero’ but even he could admit that Hugo was one of the top contenders for the most attractive bachelor in the game.
Isagi finally broke out of his stupor when he heard a dull thud where Hugo had placed the book he was reading while waiting for Isagi to come, on the right side of his seat. He immediately used this chance to straighten his posture and closed his mouth, lest he would drool if given the chance. When those dark eyes with long lashes slid onto Isagi, a shiver ran uncontrollably on the back of his spine.
In a flat voice with an equally flat expression, Hugo spoke. “Are you going to stand all day?”
Right. He was too busy staring at the beautiful specimen that he forgot they were supposed to eat dinner.
“Pardon me,” Isagi mumbled as he gingerly sat on the plush seat, his own heart hammering against his chest for various reasons. When Isagi glanced at the man before him, he was surprised to find Hugo was still looking at him. Their awkward eye contact lasted for a moment before Hugo finally relented and picked up his eating utensils to dig in. Isagi followed suit, the feeling of bewilderment had yet to disappear.
“... I heard you had a minor accident today.”
Just when Isagi thought that would be the end of it, Hugo surprised him by striking a conversation first. Isagi blinked, before gingerly swallowing the small piece of meat he had chewed on earlier.
“Ah yes, it’s all fine now.” The bump mark that the maids had expertly covered mildly stung as he finished his words, as if to refute his statement. Yet for some reason, Isagi could feel Hugo was staring knowingly at the exact spot despite their far distance and the bruise being indistinguishable.
Isagi was determined to solely focus on finishing his food, in disguise of preventing himself from looking at those dark orbs. But he also knew he could not escape forever, if he wanted to change his early death then he should find an opportunity to do it now. Knowing Hugo’s character, he would likely find Isagi’s proposal to be ideal and suitable for Hugo’s circumstances. In the game, it was stated that Hugo went along with this engagement only because it was the current 'trend' among the nobles.
Surely, nothing was worth the trend when his life was at stake.
The dinner was…mildly exhausting, for the lack of better words, as Isagi was busy swallowing down his food while his heart was somersaulting. He couldn’t even savor his food in peace as a pair of eyes were watching him like a hawk. Honestly, was this one of Hugo’s weird quirks that the game didn't mention? Who in their right mind would be able to stare at the same person without blinking at all (Isagi swore he could feel rather than see this)?
Thankfully when Isagi looked ahead this time, Hugo’s eyes had already averted as he cut into the steak on his plate. There seemed to be a certain gloom now surrounding the taller man, but Isagi dismissed it as a trick of light.
Pursing his lips, Isagi began to dig his nails onto his soft pants. Should he…go for it now?
Isagi watched the bob of Hugo’s throat, waiting for the taller man to swallow his food before he decided to seize the opportunity.
“My lord, I…have something to confess.”
Hearing this, Hugo’s dark eyes instantly zeroed in on his own blue ones. His face remained expressionless as he paused his movement, utensils hovering in the air. “What is it?”
Isagi steeled himself, his lips were dried and his thighs wouldn’t stop shaking under the table. Yes, the way to change his fate was…
“I would like to call off our engagement, my lord.”
This.
A beat of silence.
Until it stretched a tad too long that Isagi suspected the man didn’t hear him.
“My—”
Clink.
The sound of Hugo placing down his utensils on the marble table interrupted Isagi. The ringing of the two materials in contact reverberated ominously in the room. Suddenly, the surrounding felt more like a court room and far less of a dining area.
“It seems like—” Hugo started before he took the napkin and dabbed it against his lips, the act deceivingly normal yet so elegant on the taller man.
“—you’ve yet to recover from the accident earlier.”
'Huh?'
“I—” Isagi’s mouth was moving like a gaping fish in the middle of a desert. But Hugo paid no heed to this, continuing on his own like Isagi didn’t say anything beforehand.
“No need to worry, I will contact a highly exceptional doctor to treat you.”
As the words left Hugo’s lips, Isagi couldn’t take it anymore.
“Please wait a moment, my lord! I am fine so there is no need—”
“Since the start of our engagement five years ago—” What? “—you were quite adamant in pursuing this relationship to leave that god-forsaken house.”
Abyss-like eyes then glinted dangerously as Hugo stared straight onto him.
“And now you’re saying that you want to return to those vermins? To leave me?”
Isagi gaped. This…This wasn’t right. This piece of information and scenario didn’t align with what he had learned from the game. They had been engaged for five years, not recently? And what vermins? Was the Azurela family some sort of abusive and evil nobles like what you would find in those typical historical manhwas?
Too deep in his thoughts, he didn’t realise Hugo had risen from his seat and was walking toward him.
“For years, I have seen the way you defied your destiny and did everything you could to escape their clutches. I had found our status to be unsuitable at first, yet seeing you diligently paved your own light…”
Hugo then stopped beside him, his burgundy fringes casting a heavy shadow over his eyes. “...I’d find myself being enamored by that rebellious spirit of yours.”
Isagi stood up slowly, his blue eyes wide in both astonishment and horror because what the actual fuck? How was he supposed to know this kind of development? This wasn’t even the script he knew. But it was a fact that Hugo had already been corrupted by their enemies. If so, then it was only a matter of time for Isagi to die in the way as mentioned in the game.
“I, uh, understand that this might be baffling to you, my lord. But, um—” Oh my god, this is so stressful! “—I did a lot of pondering and I realised that you are meant to accomplish the grandest purpose for the sake of this world’s peace—” by joining Loki to defeat the evil forces! “—and I don't want you to be tied by this engagement when you should be focusing on the greater good—” and so that you will not kill me when you wreck havoc at a certain gathering.
As Isagi finished his hasty explanation, Hugo remained still like a statue. When he replied, his tone was anything but understanding.
“A plausible reasoning,” Hugo intoned flatly. Just when Isagi despairingly thought the man was (not) convinced, a hand suddenly seized Isagi’s arm in a tight grip.
“Did they put you to this?”
Isagi blinked, “Eh?”
Hugo’s dark eyes narrowed, and if Isagi looked closely, he would see an ominous black vortex swirling on those equally black pupils, akin to a beast roaring under the dark sea waves, desperate to be released from its chains.
“Did your family threaten you if you didn’t go along with this ridiculous plan?”
Isagi would have been severely offended that Hugo called his approach ridiculous, but he was too busy gawking for the nth time at the unexpected turn of events.
“Or—” The grip on Isagi’s arm gradually tightened.
“—did you find someone else you fancy?”
Isagi let out a disbelief huff, sweat trickling the back of his neck, “I, t-that’s not it, my lord—”
Isagi refused to believe that this man was actually jealous, because if so, then that meant—
“...Of course. I have already made sure it remains that way.”
'C-crazy!'
“That is why, Yoichi…” Hugo drawled as his hand slid down from Isagi’s arm to intertwine their hands together. He then brought them up and turned their joined hands so that Isagi’s was up front, kissing the knuckles like this was a normal thing to do between them perhaps it was.
His void eyes tracked the flush that was slowly spreading from Isagi’s face down to his neck with alarming precision and interest.
“...let’s get your head checked so that you won’t ever think of leaving me again. Like you said, we are fated to achieve the grandest goal ever known to mankind.”
Hugo’s other hand then crept behind his waist and slowly pulled him in, making their noses almost brush with one another. Isagi knew he should do something to rectify the situation. He should pull away, or better yet, push Hugo away from him so that he could escape those captivating, dark eyes and that distracting cologne that Hugo had donned.
But Isagi remained spellbounded by the man before him. Perhaps it was because Isagi could see the sincerity, strength, desperation adoration behind those abyss-like orbs, that it dawned on Isagi that this was not the game, the character, he thought he had known.
“This is the path destined for us, my dearest.”
As Hugo murmured his next words onto Isagi’s lips, Isagi felt his resolve slowly start to collapse, rebuild and move onto an entirely different structure. Like puzzles snapping into their rightful places.
No. This is an entirely different setting.
This life was his domain now.
And Isagi would make sure that both of them would survive until the end.