The Forgetten Ger : Rebuilding an Empire Through Time (Taekook)
Chapter 1 – A Second Life
The scent of damp straw and smoke filled the tiny room as unbearable pain exploded inside his head. Countless unfamiliar memories clashed against his own, making it impossible to tell which life truly belonged to him anymore.
Kim Vincent
Ugh... where am I? This isn't the road... wasn't I hit by that truck?
He forced his heavy eyelids open and stared blankly at the cracked wooden ceiling above him. There were no white hospital lights, no machines, and no familiar sounds, only the faint crackling of an oil lamp.
Kim Vincent
This can't be a hospital... did someone rescue me?
A stabbing headache nearly knocked him unconscious again. Images flooded his mind one after another—a frightened child, freezing winters, empty stomachs, bruises hidden beneath worn sleeves, and endless days spent working without a single word of praise.
Kim Vincent
These memories... they aren't mine. What's happening to me?
The pain lasted several long minutes before finally fading, leaving behind memories that no longer felt foreign. They had settled inside his mind as though he had lived them since birth.
Kim Vincent
Kim... Taehyung... sixteen years old... a ger...
Slowly, he raised his trembling hands. They were much smaller than he remembered, covered with calluses and tiny scars earned through years of hard labor. His fingers looked so fragile they barely resembled his own.
Kim Vincent
I really died... didn't I?
His last memory from Earth resurfaced with painful clarity. Rain poured across the street as he left the university library carrying another stack of history books. The traffic light changed, a truck ignored the signal, and everything disappeared beneath blinding headlights.
Kim Vincent
So that's how my life ended...
He struggled to his feet and walked toward a small bronze mirror hanging beside the door. The young face staring back was handsome yet painfully thin. Faded bruises rested beneath gentle eyes that carried nothing but fear.
Kim Vincent
So... you're Kim Taehyung now.
Silence filled the room as he continued studying his reflection. This wasn't simply another person's appearance. Every scar, every bruise, and every trembling instinct belonged to him now.
More memories surfaced naturally.
A father who considered feeding a ger a waste.
A mother who believed kindness would only spoil him.
An elder brother who treated him worse than hired servants.
A younger sister who mocked him whenever she could.
Only one memory brought warmth instead of fear.
Kim Eun-woo quietly slipping half of his lunch into Taehyung's hands before pretending nothing had happened.
Kim Vincent
So even in this family... someone still cared about you.
His chest tightened unexpectedly. The gratitude lingering inside those memories was so genuine that it almost felt like his own.
Another memory arrived, and this one made his expression freeze.
Yesterday evening. His parents had accepted a bride price. His marriage had already been arranged.
Kim Vincent
Wait... I'm getting married?
He searched through Taehyung's memories until another unfamiliar face appeared.
A tall young hunter carrying two rabbits over one shoulder while walking down a mountain path.
Jeon Jungkook. Twenty years old. Quiet. Hardworking. The main provider of his family despite receiving almost nothing in return.
Kim Vincent
So he's... my future husband.
He expected panic. Instead, he only sighed.
Kim Vincent
At least he's another victim... not the monster I imagined.
The original Taehyung had cried himself to sleep after learning about the marriage. He believed he was simply being thrown away because no one wanted him anymore.
Vincent gently touched his chest.
Kim Vincent
💭"You may have given up... but I won't."
Years of studying history slowly settled his racing thoughts. Kingdoms had risen because ordinary people solved ordinary problems. Prosperity wasn't born through miracles but through patience, knowledge, and countless small improvements.
Kim Vincent
💭"I don't remember everything... but I remember enough."
He began listing everything he could recall.
Kim Vincent
💭"Better farming methods... soap making... food preservation... simple mechanics... accounting... those memories could change lives."
For the first time since waking up, hope replaced confusion. A loud voice suddenly shattered the silence outside.
Kim Mother
Taehyung! Have you decided to sleep all day instead of working?
The wooden door slid open with enough force to hit the wall.
A middle-aged woman glared at him with clear annoyance, showing no concern for his pale face or exhausted expression.
Kim Mother
Stop standing around. Fetch water from the well, clean the yard, and don't expect breakfast after wasting half the morning.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Yes, Mother. I'll finish everything as quickly as I can.
She snorted before turning away without another glance, slamming the door behind her. The room fell silent once again.
Vincent rubbed his empty stomach as it growled loudly enough for him to hear.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
So skipping meals wasn't an exception... it was normal.
The memories confirmed it.
Whenever food became scarce, Taehyung ate last. Whenever work needed doing. Taehyung worked first. No one questioned it. No one cared.
He walked toward the tiny window overlooking the village.
Farmers guided oxen across muddy fields while women carried buckets from the communal well. Smoke drifted lazily from clay chimneys, and children chased one another along dirt roads without a single modern sound interrupting the peaceful morning.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
No electricity... no engines... no telephone poles... this really is a world trapped centuries behind its calendar.
Everything resembled the late nineteenth century despite the memories insisting the current year was 1992.
For someone else, that realization might have been terrifying.
For Vincent... It was an opportunity. He wasn't an inventor. He wasn't a genius. But he knew history. He understood why civilizations advanced and why they collapsed.
Most importantly... He knew progress never happened overnight. It began with one small improvement. Then another. Then another.
Taehyung slowly clenched his fists, the fear in his eyes disappearing little by little until only quiet determination remained.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"I may have inherited a forgotten life... but I won't inherit its ending."
He looked around the empty room one final time before opening the door himself.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"If this world has given me a second chance... then I'll build a life no one will ever be able to throw away again."
Chapter 2 – An Empty Bowl
The morning air carried the scent of damp earth as Taehyung stepped into the courtyard. Chickens wandered between scattered firewood while the family's worn ox lazily chewed dry straw beside an aging wooden cart.
Kim Mother
Why are you standing there? The buckets won't fill themselves.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
I'll leave for the well right away.
Kim Mother
Then hurry before everyone arrives first.
Without another word, she walked toward the kitchen, leaving Taehyung alone with two heavy wooden buckets.
His body instinctively lifted them, but Vincent quietly observed every movement, committing the unfamiliar routine to memory.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"This body remembers everything better than I do."
The village well stood near the center of the settlement, already surrounded by villagers chatting while waiting for their turn. Some laughed together, while others glanced toward Taehyung before whispering among themselves.
.....
Village Woman¹ : Isn't that the Kim family's ger?
.....
Village Woman² : Poor child always looks exhausted.
.....
Village Woman¹ : Don't pity him too openly.
Taehyung lowered his head without responding. According to his memories, answering back would only invite more gossip, something the original Taehyung had learned after years of quiet suffering.
An elderly woman waiting nearby smiled kindly before stepping aside.
Old Woman
Come here, child. You look weaker than yesterday.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Thank you, Grandmother.
Old Woman
Have you eaten this morning?
Taehyung hesitated for only a heartbeat before answering honestly.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Not yet, but I'm used to it.
The old woman's smile faded, replaced by quiet disappointment. She looked toward the Kim family's fields in the distance before letting out a soft sigh.
Old Woman
A growing child shouldn't speak those words.
Before Taehyung could reply, another villager called for the next bucket. He thanked the old woman once more and carefully filled both containers, struggling against their unexpected weight.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"This body is weaker than I imagined."
By the time he returned home, his shoulders burned with pain and his palms had already begun blistering. Even so, no one acknowledged the effort as he placed the buckets beside the kitchen.
Kim Mother
Finally. I thought you'd fallen into the well.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
There was a long line today.
Kim Mother
Excuses never finish housework.
She handed him a worn broom before pointing toward the courtyard.
Kim Mother
Sweep everything before your father returns.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Yes, Mother.
As he quietly swept fallen leaves into neat piles, the aroma of freshly cooked porridge drifted from the kitchen. His empty stomach tightened painfully, reminding him that breakfast had already begun without him.
Inside the house, cheerful voices echoed through the thin wooden walls.
Kim Jae-hyun/Tae's Elder Brother
Mother, this porridge tastes much better today.
Kim Mother
Eat plenty. You worked hard yesterday.
Kim Soo-yeon/Tae's Yonger Sister
Can I have another egg?
Kim Mother
Of course. Take two if you want.
Taehyung stopped sweeping for a brief moment.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"Two eggs..."
The memories answered before he could think further. Taehyung had not eaten an entire egg in nearly three years. He quietly resumed sweeping.
Moments later, the kitchen door opened, and a young man stepped outside carrying an empty bowl. Unlike the others, his expression softened the moment he noticed Taehyung working alone.
Kim Eun-woo/Tae's Second brother
Have you eaten already?
Taehyung forced a small smile.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Mother said I'll eat later.
Eun-woo remained silent for several seconds before glancing toward the kitchen. After making sure no one was watching, he reached inside his sleeve and quietly handed Taehyung half of a steamed bun.
Kim Eun-woo/Tae's Second brother
Eat this before someone sees.
Taehyung looked at the warm bread resting in his hands. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Brother... thank you.
Kim Eun-woo/Tae's Second brother
Don't thank me. Just stay healthy.
Before Taehyung could say anything else, footsteps approached from inside the house. Kim Eun-woo immediately took a step backward, pretending nothing had happened.
Kim Father
Eun-woo, we're leaving for the fields.
Kim Eun-woo/Tae's Second brother
I'm coming, Father.
As the family walked away, Eun-woo briefly met Taehyung's eyes before offering the faintest nod. It lasted only a second, yet it carried more warmth than anyone else had shown him.
Taehyung slowly finished the steamed bun, savoring every bite.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"So this is why the original Taehyung survived this long."
The bread wasn't large, but it eased the burning ache in his stomach enough for him to think clearly again.
He glanced around the courtyard with renewed focus. The fence leaned dangerously toward one side.
Rainwater collected beside the chicken coop instead of draining away. Firewood lay scattered without shelter, allowing moisture to ruin much of it. Nothing was organized efficiently.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"Everywhere I look... I see wasted effort."
His eyes moved toward the narrow strip of unused land behind the house. Weeds covered most of it, yet the soil beneath appeared surprisingly dark and fertile.
Taehyung crouched, scooped up a handful of dirt, and rubbed it between his fingers.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"This soil could grow vegetables."
He smiled for the first time since awakening. It wasn't a smile born from happiness. It was the smile of someone who had finally found the first piece of a much larger puzzle.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"I don't need miracles."
He gently let the soil fall through his fingers.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"I only need one small beginning."
Chapter 3 – The Little Shadow
The afternoon sun hung high above the village as Taehyung finished sweeping the courtyard for the second time. His aching arms reminded him how weak this body had become after years of hunger and endless labor.
Kim Mother
Stop moving so slowly. Take these clothes and wash them before sunset.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
I'll finish them as quickly as I can.
Kim Mother
If they're still dirty, wash them again.
She tossed a heavy basket into his arms before returning inside without another glance.
Taehyung steadied himself, nearly stumbling under the unexpected weight, then quietly walked toward the small stream behind the village.
The stream flowed gently between smooth stones, reflecting the bright summer sky. Several village women chatted while washing clothes, but their conversations softened as Taehyung approached with the worn wooden basket.
.....
Village Woman¹ : That child is always working.
.....
Village Woman² : The Kim family never lets him rest.
.....
Village Woman¹ : Keep your voice down. They'll hear.
Taehyung kept his eyes lowered and chose a quiet spot farther downstream. He knelt beside the water and began scrubbing the clothes exactly as the memories of this body guided him.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"These hands have done this thousands of times."
The rough fabric scraped against his already blistered fingers, reopening fresh wounds. Even so, he continued without complaint, knowing returning with dirty clothes would only earn another beating.
A faint crunch of footsteps came from behind. Someone stopped several steps away but didn't speak. Taehyung looked up.
A thin boy stood there holding a small bundle of firewood almost as large as himself. His clothes were patched repeatedly, and his timid eyes carried the same quiet fear Taehyung had seen in the mirror.
The memories answered immediately.
Kim Yejun. Eleven years old. A ger. Taehyung's younger brother.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
Brother... are you busy?
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Not really. Come sit with me for a while.
Yejun hesitated before carefully placing the firewood on the ground.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
Mother said I should gather more... but I wanted to see you first.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Did something happen?
Yejun quickly shook his head.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
No... I just... I was worried.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Worried about me?
Yejun nodded without lifting his head.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
They shouted a lot this morning. I thought... they might hit you again.
A strange warmth spread through Taehyung's chest. Among everyone in the Kim family, this frightened little boy had been worrying about him.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Don't worry. I'm alright.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
Really?
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Really.
The younger boy finally smiled, though it lasted only a moment before fading again.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
Brother... are you hungry?
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
That's an easy question.
Yejun looked around carefully before opening his small cloth bundle. Inside rested half of a cold sweet potato.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
I saved this from yesterday.
Taehyung's smile disappeared. The sweet potato was tiny. For an eleven-year-old child living on scraps, giving away even half of it meant sacrificing his own meal.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
You should eat it yourself.
Yejun shook his head immediately.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
You need it more than me.
Taehyung looked at the child for several silent moments before breaking the sweet potato into two equal pieces.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Then we'll share it together.
Yejun blinked in surprise.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
We can do that?
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Food always tastes better when shared.
The brothers quietly ate beneath the shade of an old willow tree while the stream continued flowing beside them. Neither spoke for several minutes, yet the silence felt peaceful instead of lonely.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
Brother...
Yejun hesitated before asking in an almost inaudible voice.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
Is it true... you're getting married?
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
It seems that way.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
Will you... leave me behind?
The question struck harder than Taehyung expected.
The original Taehyung had been the only person who consistently comforted Yejun. If he left, the little boy would face the family's cruelty alone. Taehyung gently placed a hand on Yejun's head.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Listen carefully. No matter where I live, you're still my little brother.
Yejun looked up hopefully.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
Really?
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
I promise.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
Then... I'll become strong too.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
You don't have to become strong alone. I'll help you.
Yejun's eyes slowly reddened, but he stubbornly held back his tears.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
Brother... you're the only one who says things like that.
Taehyung silently looked toward the flowing stream. He had no intention of making empty promises. This child deserved an education. Proper meals. Warm clothes.
A future where he wasn't treated as disposable simply because he was born a ger.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"If I can't even protect one little brother..."
He lowered his gaze toward the fertile soil beside the stream. Wild grasses grew thick along the banks, and moisture remained trapped beneath the surface despite the summer heat. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
💭"This land... it would be perfect."
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
Brother... what are you looking at?
Taehyung scooped up a handful of dark soil and rubbed it between his fingers.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Tell me, Yejun. Has anyone ever planted vegetables behind our house?
Yejun thought for a moment before shaking his head.
Kim Yejun/Ger/Tae's Younger brother
Father says it's useless land because it's too small.
Taehyung looked toward the distant Kim household and smiled faintly.
Kim Taehyung/Ger/MC
Sometimes... the smallest piece of land changes everything.
Yejun didn't understand those words, but he instinctively believed them.
As the afternoon breeze rustled through the willow branches, Taehyung quietly watched the rich soil slipping through his fingers.
His first business was still far away. His first silver coin hadn't been earned. His marriage hadn't even happened yet.
But for the first time since arriving in this unfamiliar world, he knew exactly where to begin.
Not with grand inventions. Not with impossible dreams. But with a forgotten patch of earth... and the determination to make it bloom.
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