"If I ever get a chance, I would choose to be reincarnated over death."
Never have I regretted my words so much.
You see, my parents died when I was young due to a drunk driver who ran over them when they were on their way to fetch me from preschool. Although the driver was caught, my parents could not be revived, and the police could only express their condolences. My parents had no siblings, and all grandparents were welcoming my parents up above. Luckily, my parents had prepared a savings account for emergencies, although I could only take ownership of it when I reached legal age. Hence, leaving me with no choice but to be sent to an orphanage.
Growing up in the confines of an orphanage, I was often bullied due to my timid nature and by the fact that I was a newcomer. Hence, the days I had were harsh, and the only solace I found was in the pages of books. It was within the world of words that I found refuge from the harsh realities I faced at a tender age. Among all those stories, one stood out, named [A Hero's Tale].
It told the tale of how the MC managed to overcome the hardships he faced one by one. Idolizing the MC of [A Hero's Tale], I often wished to be someone like him and prayed every day to be as cool and righteous as him. So, I studied for hours and hours on end, wishing that God would take notice of me and reincarnate me to become the MC of the story I love.
And eventually, as I grew older and matured, I managed to enroll in Eiyu University, one of the most prestigious universities in the country. The savings account that my parents left for me was also enough for me to study until I found a stable job. Hence, I started to enjoy my university life, forgetting my dreams of my younger self...
3 Years later~
As it was time to bid farewell to my school life, I began packing my belongings in the one-room dorm I had called home. I searched around the room, making sure I hadn't left anything behind.
"Huh? What's this?"
Mumbling to myself, I found [A Hero's Tale] under my bed – a story that defined me. Nostalgia hit as I reread it; it seems that after all these years, my love for this tale endures.
The story takes place in a futuristic setting in 1940, when the first dungeons appeared, nicknamed 'The Catastrophe,' and humans all over the world started gaining the ability to use skills. It is still unknown what factor influences which skill you get, but most people are able to know what skill they get intuitively when they first receive it.
The Main Character was your typical justice-obsessed person who could be found in every story. He was also an orphan, similar to my situation, and managed to awaken a skill that changed his life. The skill he had was <<Sword of Light>>, an S-tier skill that summons swords of light that can heal the user, defend, and attack. It was, in short, a cheat-like skill. Furthermore, he stumbled upon an Archangel that granted him a <<Sword master>> skill and an item that nullifies debuffs.
Afterward, he gets tangled up in disasters that happen. For example, a dungeon error occurred due to a different dungeon forming naturally inside of it. The Main Character had to tackle 2 dungeons at once, and although he did, he was compensated for saving his teammates and closing the dungeon; he was put into the spotlight with everyone attempting to target him due to how versatile his skills are.
What happened afterward was a minor incident where the villain organization, 'Reaper,' attempted to kidnap the Main Character due to the threat he could be in the future. With his <<Sword of Light>> skill, he managed to break free and escape. Although Reaper was destroyed by the Main Character in the future, they still possessed a huge threat that could even go against the number one hero.
Furthermore, he even managed to befriend the angel race that appeared when the Catastrophe occurred. Aside from the Angel's blessing, he managed to attain the Elves' blessing, the Dwarves' blessing, and even a Demon who rebelled against the Demon God's blessing. What does the blessing do? The Angel's blessing allowed him to get another skill slot (which is a huge scam) while the specifics of the Elves, Dwarves, and the Demons blessing have not been touched upon yet.
Snapping back to reality, I focused on the last page.
'The final book - [A Hero's Tale Finale] coming out soon. Will the hero defeat the Demon God?'
"I can finally see the end of this..."
Although I dropped it when I entered university to focus on my studies, my interest was rekindled. Surely the Main Character would be able to have a happy ending and get married to the female lead? His skills are too overpowered, and he had the blessing of all the races.
Therefore, rushing to the nearest bookstore, I managed to snag a copy of [A Hero's Tale Finale] and went to a nearby bench to start reading. However, my day was ruined, and my disappointment was immeasurable.
"What was that shitty ending that ended with 'Hence the world was destroyed'???"
My heart sank as I delved further into the pages, realizing that the novel I once cherished had concluded with a devastating twist. The protagonist I admired, the world I had immersed myself in, all met an untimely demise. Not even the strongest character could stop it.
Enraged and heartbroken, I sat down on the park bench.
"The Main Character had a cheat-like skill, cheat items, and even the blessing of the Demons. How the hell did he fail???"
Sighing with regret tinged in my voice, I stood up holding the book in my hands.
Shatter." I could hear loud shattering coming from all around me. Though there was no glass? Nothing.
"Huh?"
Shatter? Why was glass breaking-
As I glanced down toward my arm, the book in my hands was breaking apart like it was made of glass. As the pieces fell one by one, a veil of darkness soon enveloped my surroundings, casting an eerie and mysterious ambiance over everything.
"WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING???"
As the world seemed like it's fading away, someone's footsteps could be heard through the sound of silence. As a person tore through the veil, I could see the wings behind his back and, more importantly, his face. It looked eerily similar to mine. Who was that person? Soon he started to speak.
"This one's name is God. As for why this one is using your appearance, my powers are limited after attempting to save you from dying. You haven't been the best in your life, so I shall take you to the place you deserve to be."
"Huh? Are you talking about hell? No, this can't be."
"Correct, you've committed far too many sins to be forgiven."
"But please, I beg you! Please give me another chance!"
"I see... I shall give you another chance. Therefore, would you like to wander in chaos for eternity or be reincarnated into another world?"
"I-I'd like to be reincarnated."
My mouth hanging open, I was flabbergasted. What was up with this self-proclaimed God and his manner of speech? Was he crazy? But I was hooked. The words 'Reincarnated into another world' caught my full attention. I could get another shot at life. Who would not agree, especially when the only other option seems terrifying.
I welcomed my new fate. This must be my lucky day!
Nodding with satisfaction, he said, "You will be reincarnated into [A Hero's Tale], a world that this one presides over."
"Ah- I see! Thank you for reincarnating me Mr Go-"
Hold up a second, [A Hero's Tale]? The world where everyone dies in 5 years after the Main
Character enrolled into the academy? Why there? Huh???
"WAIT TELL ME WHY ITS THIS WORLD? OF ALL WORLDS CAN'T YOU SEND ME TO A BETTER ONE? TELL ME WHY??"
"Ain't nothing but a heartache... Jokes aside, unfortunately, my powers are limited due to you being a human from another world. The best this one can do is send you to the world this one manages."
Laughing crazily at my cursed luck, bitter feelings arose within me.
"Do I at least manage to choose my skills...?"
As I prayed inwardly, God smiled solemnly and appeared before me in the blink of an eye.
"May this succeed" were the last words I heard before he sliced my neck off with a red-tinged sword that appeared from nowhere
"Fu-" Was my last thought before I died.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'You have mail! You have mail!'
Awakening me from my sleep was the sound of my phone email ringing aloud. Lethargically getting up and rubbing my hazy eyes, I reached out toward the noise and picked up the phone.
"Wait, aren't I supposed to be dead...?"
Coming to that sudden realization, I jolted awake and looked around at what appeared to be a one-room apartment that looked similar to the one I lived in.
"God damn you, which God kills people to reincarnate them?"
Grumbling under my breath while rubbing my eyes several times, I recalled the plot of [A Hero's Tale].I found myself in a fantasy world where villains were common, different races were extremely arrogant, and a world that was destined to be destroyed by the Final Boss.Curse my luck.