The the ogMl and the current ml is basically the same person???

Pretty sure they are. Timid Alec somehow knew that if he “died” he could go through a journey of change. He just didn’t know that he would lose his memories in the process. The system window even said that Alec’s soul traveled to another world… cough cough. It’s also revealed that cool Alec was given quests that weren’t like the rest, which are now helping him and his family since they have no servants.