Chapter 1. The End And The Beginning Of The World
The world suddenly began to collapse mysteriously. It seemed everyone had already given up.
After all, the collapse had apparently started not only on Earth but in the entire universe.
Apparently, I say, because I didn't see it myself, and being neither a scholar nor a scientist, I had no way of understanding.
There's no way an ordinary person like me could understand.
So, I've already reached a state of resignation.
Now, I am alone, trying to face the end peacefully.
What a lonely life it was, not being able to be with anyone at the world's end.
My parents have already passed away.
I have a much younger sister, but she went abroad with her friends, and the collapse started while she was away. Now, I can't even contact her.
I hope she is safe... No, even if she is safe, the world is ending, so she can't stay safe.
I just hope she can face the end as peacefully as I am.
The end of the world seems imminent.
If I could be reborn, I wish I wouldn't have such a lonely end,
"I wish for a happy life, loved by many people..."
After muttering that, the world ended, wrapped in a white light.
Huh?
"Where am I?"
Before the world ended, I was at home.
Now, I'm on a grassy field under a beautiful blue sky.
There is someone else here, in front of me.
A girl about 14-15 years old.
She's quite a beauty, but her outfit is strange. I don't know her.
"I will grant your wish!"
Huh?
"It's a world with monsters and such, though!"
What? Pardon me?
"In simple terms, this is the world of gods. Or the afterlife."
"Oh. So, I'm really dead... And if this is the world of gods, are you by any chance...?"
"Yes, I am a goddess. Beautiful, aren't I? Don't fall for me, okay? Hahaha!"
A goddess with quite a gap between her appearance and her speech.
Normally, I wouldn't believe it.
"So, you said you'd grant my wish earlier, but could you explain it in detail?"
"Oh, you accepted it easily. You're surprisingly calm."
Well, I've seen the world collapse.
And strangely, I can tell she's not lying. Maybe because she's a goddess?
And even though she looks like a girl, knowing she's a goddess makes me speak respectfully.
"Alright then. I'll explain. First, the world you were in reached the end of its dimensional lifespan. Even gods couldn't do anything about it."
Oh, dimensions have lifespans.
If gods can't do anything, humans certainly can't.
"So, when a dimension dies, all life in that dimension dies too. But gods save the souls they can and reincarnate them in another dimension. We can't save everyone, but there are too many lives to abandon."
I see. I was lucky to be chosen.
"And earlier, I said I'd grant your wish, but to be precise, I'm giving you a chance. Whether you live a happy life is up to you."
"You mentioned a world with monsters..."
Being happy in a world with monsters sounds like a high hurdle. Or rather, impossible? Isn't that impossible?
I appreciate the reincarnation, but a harsh world where I'd die soon is problematic.
"Yes. The dimension you'll be reincarnated into is very similar to your previous world but also quite different. Hearing about monsters makes you anxious, but your soul, being from your world, will be higher in rank than the souls of that world. In simple terms, you'll be born with exceptional talent."
That's... good news, I suppose. It gives me some hope.
Oh? My body is glowing? No, light is enveloping my body?
"Well, there are other things you're curious about, but time's up. See you."
"Wait! Can you tell me what happened to my sister?"
I'm still anxious about the new world, but I'm more concerned about my sister.
"Sorry, I don't know. If her soul wasn't problematic, she might be reincarnated by another god. But it's not certain she'd be in the same dimension. It's more likely she's in a different one. I can't say it's impossible, though."
So, I might never see her again. It's not impossible, but...
I hope she also gets reincarnated and finds happiness.
"Time's up. Strive to live a good life."
With those words, my vision went white again...
I heard a baby's cry.
It didn't take long to realize the crying was my own.
It seems I've successfully reincarnated.
Moreover, I retain my memories from my previous life. Even as a newborn, I have my old memories.
Is it because of reincarnation? Or because of my high-ranking soul?
Could you explain that part properly too, goddess?
Even with self-awareness, I can't stop crying because I'm a baby.
My eyes are still closed. How long does it take for a baby to open their eyes?
In my previous life, I didn't marry or have kids, so I lack that knowledge.
I think my friend's baby had its eyes open a few days after birth...
I hear voices.
Considering the situation, it must be the parents, doctor, or midwife.
"It seems he was born safely. A boy. Well done, Eliza."
"I'm relieved he's healthy. Don't you think he looks like me?"
"Really? I think he looks like me. He's cute."
"No, he looks like me. He's cute."
"He looks like me."
"He looks like me."
Already, I hear a doting parent conversation.
It seems my new parents aren't the kind of people who would abuse their child, unlike those horror stories in the news. For now, I'm relieved.
But Eliza? It seems my mother isn't Japanese.
Come to think of it, this is another dimension.
It resembles my previous world but is different, as the goddess said. It's not good to be bound by the norms of my past world.
But they're speaking Japanese, right? I understand it...
Oh, I think I can open my eyes.
As I slowly open my eyes, in front of me...
"Oh, he's opening his eyes."
"Really? Can he see properly?"
The person I assume is my mother says. Her ears seem slightly pointier than usual, but she's a beautiful black-haired woman. That's fine.
The problem is the person I assume is my father.
"It's Daddy!"
"And I'm Mommy!"
The person who called himself Daddy.
"He's staring, isn't he?"
"He's looking at you."
Blonde, muscular, like a young Schwarzenegger. That's fine too.
But...
Horns.
He has horns...
"WAAAAHHHH!!!"
What is this?!
No comments:
Post a Comment