Reborn: I Refuse to Bear My Stepbrother's Pain

The sound of ripping rang out.

I watched as the fabric over my shoulder split open, revealing a fresh crimson gash across my smooth skin.

Only then did the reality of being reborn truly sink in.

I didn't even bother putting on my shoes before immediately running to the edge of the field. Sure enough, I saw Derek Lane carrying a pole on his shoulder that was loaded with buckets of manure.

The pain in my shoulder grew worse. I bit my lower lip hard, unable to make sense of it at all.

Even after being given a second chance at life, nothing had changed. Every injury Derek suffered while working was still transferred to my body.

My dad, George Zyrus, snatched the pole out of Derek's hands and shoved it into mine. "What kind of older brother are you? Derek has a cold, and you're still making him do farm work."

In my previous life, the lazy, good-for-nothing Derek was always claiming he had a headache or a cold every now and then. He stayed in bed every day and refused to work.

Dad forced me to do the work of two people, so I had been earning Derek's work points along with my own.

But today was markedly different. Derek got out of bed before dawn. While everyone else was still asleep, he carried manure, cut weeds, worked in the fields, and harvested grain.

Everyone praised him, saying he was an outstanding young man. While basking in the compliments, he took the opportunity to make a pointed jab at me.

He said, "I was only resting before because I was sick. It's not because I'm lazy, like Isaac claimed. Just watch. In just five days, I'll do as much work as the rest of you do in a month."

The crowd showered Derek with praise for being so hardworking. No one noticed that I was drenched in sweat, my lips devoid of color.

Derek did exactly what he had promised. In just five days, he completed an entire month's worth of farm work. After earning all of his own work points, he even started helping other people with their work. Before long, everyone was praising Derek for his kindness.

Meanwhile, because Derek had worked under the blazing sun, his heatstroke was transferred to me. I was left lying in bed, barely clinging to life.

Dad barged into my room with several others and yanked me to my feet. "Isaac, stop playing dead! Quit acting like some spoiled boy from the city and get up and work!"

The moment those words were spoken, everyone became convinced that I was a lazy bum who wanted to profit from others' hard work. They all spat at me in disgust.

On the day Derek returned to the city to attend college after being crowned the Farmer of the Year, I died alone in the fields amid everyone's cheers and celebration. There, wild dogs devoured my body.

Now that the heavens had given me a chance to be reborn, I was determined to get to the bottom of everything.

I quickly finished loading the manure and said to Derek with a smile, "Go home and get some rest. From now on, I'll take care of all your work for you."