How to Be a Good Person

You have been reborn.

This time, you are born in a remote European town. Your father is unknown, your mother is Mary, the town's famous dancer, your older brother is intellectually disabled, and your younger sister is born with antisocial personality disorder.

And you, William Kerner, are destined to become a great artist and a serial killer.

At age zero, you are born, but your mother forgets you on the cold ground, and you almost freeze to death.

At one month, your mother leaves home, and with no food, you almost starve to death.

At three months, a cat carries you off, but a neighbor finds and rescues you.

At six months, your harsh life forces you to learn to crawl quickly.

At eight months, you learn to walk.

At ten months, your mother returns. Knowing how powerless you are as a child, you learn to speak and do your best to win the adults' favor.

At one year old, you succeed. Your mother loves you dearly and no longer leaves.

Life seems to improve. You no longer have to worry about getting enough to eat.

Your mother becomes the finest dancer in town, and strange men come into your home every day.

At five, you have grown a little, and your older brother is fifteen. His face bears no resemblance to your mother's, but he is handsome.

That isn't the point, though. The point is that he's very strong and can help you with a lot of things. You like him very much.

At six, the neighbors' house accidentally catches fire, killing a person and a cat.

At seven, your mother's lover covets the family's money and tries to kill her and steal it. Your mother is furious and buries his corpse beneath the roses in the yard.

At eight, your brother comes of age. He grows burly and strong, and learns more hunting skills.

At nine, your mother stops dancing. She brings home a man and a little girl, telling you they are your father and sister.

At ten, your "sister" is strange. She seems to abuse small animals. Your "father" is strange, too. He always looks at you strangely.

At sixteen, life goes on. You have a new father, and your mother takes you to a new place. Your sister and brother are still with you.

A new life begins.

*2024.8.10

*Working title

*Let me think about whether this is a game or just a death-reset story

*Pairing: a "you" of master-level status and the vicious dog you hold by the leash

Theme: A happy life is in your own hands.