Vol 1 Chapter 1 (1/2)

I died. I suddenly died.

How? I’m ashamed of saying it.

‘I died protecting my family’ — would have been a cool thing to say.

Accidental death. It was an accidental death.

Not interesting, right?

Yeah, but I wasn’t interesting in the first place, so what’s the big deal?

I was c.o.c.ky. I know that it was wrong and I regret it now.

After all, I had finally overcome the university entrance exam, albeit barely.

Wasn’t it my right to be even a tiny bit happy?

Yet I was run over… by a truck.

『Such a handsome guy. To think that he died.』

Good development it would have been if that were the case but it was not.

You would need outrageous luck to remain handsome after getting run over by a truck. I was not that lucky.

Fu~n, the b.u.mper of the truck… became a food processor. That’s how it felt.

Those who are eating at the moment, I apologize.

After having watched such a miserable me for a while from the sky, I seem to have migrated to the realm of afterlife.

Overcome by a strange floating sensation, engulfed in pure white s.p.a.ce, I’m in front of what resembles a munic.i.p.al office.

Is this the realm of afterlife?

Nope, there’s something written on the gate.

『Reincarnation procedure, here ↓』

It’s that, right? That stereotypical reincarnation? Yeah, I know.

Currently, I’m sitting idly on a sofa, looking at the reception desk which has 『Earth』 written on it.

(I did die back there, didn’t I? So, what now?)

While I was thinking that, with my head down in gloom, someone called out to me.

It’s gloomy here yet that voice was contrastingly bright.

「Aww~, you died, right? That’s awful.」

「Well, I’m sorry that I died. And who might you be?」

「Oops, I’m a staff member of Reincarnation Control Centre. Well then, have you decided on the destination world after you reincarnate?」

「Well, I have yet to understand things.」

「You do? Okay then, which world did you come from?」

「j.a.pan, Earth…」

Upon my words, the male staff member 「I see~」 nods his head. He’s a difficult-to-understand type of person. His age seems to be… about 20 years?

「Earth is quite popular. Furthermore, j.a.pan’s acceptance rate is pretty high~. By the way, how about a world other than Earth?」

「Eh? Is there such a world?」

「There is~. Of course there is~. So, are you interested?」

Am I interested? Of course I am… but this man doesn’t seem to be serious. Is it really alright?

「Nah, if I can be reincarnated, I would like to go back to Earth, I think.」

「What did you say!? It’s another world! A world of swords and magic! A fantasy world!」

「R-Really? Hey, think about it. Isn’t a world of swords and magic really dangerous to live in? In j.a.pan, if you can secure top position in occupations ranking, you can become a 《Public Servant》 which can provide you with financial stability in such an era as this.」

「Don’t! Don’t say anything. Even if you do, there’s no use~ the quota is fixed. Quota.」

Quota? Like filling?

「You understand that there are many worlds, right? Every world has a fixed quota in respect of the number of people in order to maintain balance. Also, it’s about time for the change of s.h.i.+fts. Do you know what would happen if they find out that I couldn’t handle even one person? Terrible~.」

While lamenting, he peeks at me through the gaps between his fingers.

Why do I smell a lie?

Exactly what kind of G.o.d would behave like that?

「N-No… 「Then how about a special service? You will receive one skill of your choice as a present.」 …Eh?」

While I was trying to say something, he shut my mouth with his index finger.

Well, I’m interested in this otherworld anyway.

It does sound interesting.

「I can hear your story… at least.」

「Thank you so~ much. Guide this gentleman, ple~ase.」

Suddenly, a man grabs my arm and pulls me.

The man takes me to another reception desk. 『Iris』 is written on this reception desk. Which reminds me, 『Earth』 was written on the previous reception desk. So, is Iris the name of this otherworld?

「Have a seat, please. Let’s start right away. First, your present as a special service.」

「O-Okay.」

「Here’s the keyboard. Type whichever word you want. I’ll give you the description of the skills in the search results. Feel free to use it, please.」

Why is there a keyboard!? And why is there a Liquid Crystal Display!?

「Ah~, it materializes as something which is easy-to-recognize for you. Don’t pay any mind to it.」

Does it? So, if someone from another world were here in my place, would it materialize as a crystal ball?

Alright, let’s set that aside and search something. I’m grateful for the fact that it’s easy to use.

Stereotypical fantasy world, here I come.

『Magic』

It is.

I lightly type the words in and click the search b.u.t.ton.

–O-Oh! The page is full.

・Fire Magic Lv1

・Water Magic Lv1

・Wind Magic Lv1

・Earth Magic Lv1

・Dark Magic Lv1

・Light Magic Lv1

・Origin Magic Lv1

・Spirit Magic Lv1

–It goes on and on.

Oh well, it’s something that I only know of. I have never seen it.

「Excuse me, what does this Lv next to the skill name indicate?」

「Ah yes, all the skills start with Lv1. In your life in the otherworld, you can level it up. Like any ability, you can train a skill until you reach its peak. Lv1 is Basic, Lv2 is Intermediate, Lv3 is Advanced, Lv4 is Expert, Lv5 is Superhuman.」

What- Superhuman!?

If I…

「Umm, this service allows me choose just one skill?」

「That’s right~ it’s special, you know? You’re the only one who’s receiving this service.」

Stock scam phrase.

Hopeless. Absolutely hopeless.

「This service let’s you choose one skill. However, the skill someone possesses is decided by their birth. In other words, it depends on their race. Even if you choose a skill, it’s not necessary that you’ll get that skill.」

Fumu, is there no skill in this world which let’s you gain other skills?

I should stop being double-minded.

After all, a true man is always straight.

Alright, next.

『Martial arts』

I type.

・Sword Arts Lv1

・Spear Arts Lv1

・Axe Arts Lv1

・Archery Lv1

・Body Arts Lv1

・Stick Arts Lv1

–…

It goes on and on. The problem is, I have to choose only one.

『Resistance』

・Abnormal Status Resistance Lv1

・Mental Disorder Resistance Lv1

・Fire Attribute Resistance Lv1

–…

…Un, I’m so troubled. I can’t decide on one.

Thereafter, I typed in numerous keywords but found nothing of interest.

So, should I give up on it?

While I was thinking that, I unintentionally-

-Searched a blank.

・Thief’s G.o.dly Skill Lv1

And this is what came up.

「Excuse me, what kind of skill is this?」

「–This…?」

「Yeah, it seems to be good. Please give me its details.」

「That’ll be difficult~. Do you really want me to? Okay, this is… a hidden skill. How did you come across it anyway~? Err… it’ll be too much to explain for a mouth. Wait a bit… there you go.」

Inside my head, some words float up.

That’s convenient, hey!