LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 1: - Reincarnation
In the aftermath of a city strewn with ruins, the conclusion of a long-standing fate was about to be reached.
“… In the end, you never won against me even once.”
Under the gloomy sky, as if on the brink of tears, a boy lying on the ground amid debris spoke. He addressed a girl with silver hair cascading down to her waist. In her hand, a sword was held, its point directed at the boy’s throat.
“… That’s not true. I know you held back just before the end.”
“… That’s not it.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No.”
After these few seconds of fleeting silence, the boy finally spoke.
“Well then, why don’t you finish me off in one go? But I’ll let you know, I don’t like pain.”
A nod. The girl affirmed by raising the sword.
Upon seeing this, the boy smiled as if his age was showing and muttered his words.
“Thanks.”
Suddenly, the girl’s body trembled slightly. And then,
“… Idiot.”
A soft sound, like a droplet. Tears overflowed from her emerald eyes at the same moment.
“─ Goodbye, my beloved.”
The girl swung down her blade.
“This is practically a bad ending…”
In a dimly lit room with closed curtains, only the monitor was emitting light. In front of that monitor sat a man who watching the footage that had just played, placed his controller on the desk with an exasperated expression. Leaning back in his chair, he let out a sigh.
Set in modern-day Japan, this third title in the series features characters with yin-yang powers who employ shikigami to battle demons. It was the popular game that the man had been playing.
When discussing this game, one must never forget the fact that each character is essentially a protagonist, so captivating and intriguing that they practically compel players to believe so. And it’s the quality of the side stories that forms the foundation of this.
A multitude of side stories are prepared for each character, delving into their upbringing, beliefs, and the resolve they carry into their battles. Consequently, the formation of a bias towards a particular character, whether consciously or subconsciously, is one of the game’s appeals.
The man was also one such player.
“One side isn’t enough… I wanted a story where both of them survive and share a laugh…”
His bias was the boy and the girl displayed on the monitor.
The relationship between the boy and girl was that of childhood friends who had spent their early years together. However, due to certain circumstances, they were separated, promising to reunite. But that promise, as depicted on the screen, was fulfilled in a manner neither of them had wished for. The boy became a criminal, and the girl, his judge, and executioner.
—for the man who had been following the side stories of these two, it was the worst possible outcome.
“… Sigh, I don’t even feel like progressing the story anymore.”
With these words, he let out another deep sigh.
The clock at the bottom right of the monitor had already crossed into the next day.
“… Maybe I should go to sleep.”
Despite being plagued by intense weariness, the man stood up, made his way to his bed, and collapsed onto it. Amidst the encroaching drowsiness, he murmured like a whisper.
“─ At least…”
“─ At least, even if only in dreams, I hope their reunion will be in the form they desired.”
When he awoke, the first thing the man noticed was the blinding brightness.
Squinting against the overwhelming light that filled his field of view, he gradually opened his eyes.
As his eyes adjusted, he found himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
(Where am I…?)
Instinctively, he tried to sit up to survey his surroundings. And then…
(… Huh?)
The shock he felt left him stunned.
(What’s going on? What’s happening to me?)
He couldn’t muster any strength in his entire body. He couldn’t even manage to prop himself up, let alone move his limbs. The only thing he could do was flail his limbs weakly.
During this struggle, he caught a glimpse of his arm in his field of vision, resembling the shape of a lotus root. At the sight, confusion reverberated within him.
(… I don’t understand.)
The utterly nonsensical situation was threatening to render his ability to think futile. Even so, he tried to understand his circumstances, relying solely on the portion of his vision that he could still control.
The room had an interior reminiscent of a traditional Japanese-style residence, adorned with decorations like hanging scrolls and vases. The room exuded a vintage, luxurious aura from a bygone era, and it certainly wasn’t his familiar room.
(And… this isn’t a hospital either, huh?)
Reflecting on his own physical state, he initially suspected he might be experiencing a sudden illness. Yet, that possibility seemed rather thin.
If that wasn’t the case, then this was truly becoming incomprehensible.
With such thoughts swirling in his mind, he carefully observed his surroundings once more.
At that very moment, the door to the room opened, and his gaze met that of a young woman.
He was certain they had never met before. However, there was something about her… He had seen her somewhere.
While he was caught up in this train of thought…
“Oh, you’re awake. Perfect timing. It’s time for a meal.”
With those words, the woman approached.
And then, she lifted the man up…
(… Seriously?)
With his head supported, he was finally able to see his entire body, allowing him to comprehend the situation.
He was amazed by the ease with which an adult-sized him was lifted. Yet, that wasn’t the only source of astonishment. Something else was causing turmoil within him.
His limbs, clad in infant-sized clothes.
The sensation of unfamiliarity in his limbs, and the incapability of even shifting positions.
(Am I… turned into a baby?)
It was simply too surreal.
Who would believe the story of waking up and finding themselves turned into a baby?
Amidst his turmoil, the woman smiled at him affectionately.
“Eat well and sleep plenty, and grow up to be strong enough to defeat demons, Tenji.”
(─ Huh? Wait, what…?)
Hearing the woman’s words, a memory surfaced in the man’s mind.
Youkai, Tenji. These keywords were all from Yin-Yang Fantasy Chronicles.
And the sense of familiarity he felt towards the woman from earlier…
(Right. She’s the mother of my favorite character, Hinanai Tenji.)
And thus, the man arrived at a conclusion.
(Ah, this must be a dream.)
He must not have been satisfied with that ending. So, if that’s the case, he couldcreate a future where he, as Tenji, survives with that child, turning the ideal into reality within his dream.
(Haha, it’ll all be over when I wake up. If that’s the case, I’ll make the ideal a reality within the dream.)
────That’s what he thought, and for a week after that, the man didn’t wake up from his dream.