Scanning... Scanning...
Found error in the recycling pipeline.
Damaged soul, cause unknown, restoring substance...
Substance 100% restored.
?
What's that sound?
I hear something.
It's not entering through my ears but echoing through my entire body.
I can't tell the source.
The voice sounds kind of robotic.
But why don't I see anything?
My surroundings are pitch black.
92% of the soul's physical structure information is missing.
Oh... That sounds bad.
Which soul are they talking about?
Could it be mine?
Is there really such a thing as the soul?
Proceeding with randomization. Choosing a random physical structure for the soul out of 95XXXXXXXXX possibilities.
!
Stop! STOP!
Detected awakening of restored soul.
Deliberating...
To save on computing power, decided to allow awakened soul to design its own physical structure information.
Thank goodness. We can communicate.
I had a bad feeling when it talked about randomizing my physical structure, but what exactly is that?
Physical structure information is the information recorded in the soul that molds it to fit its new body after recycling. Depending on the soul's physical structure information, there will be limited physical body options for the recycled soul to be reborn into.
Basically, it decides what I'll become in my next life, right?
It seems reincarnation is a real thing. ...How disgusting.
No heaven for martyrs, no hell for sinners. Instead, there's new life for all, not knowing whether your marriage partner in your last life is going to get you cuckold.
Sensing negative feelings towards rebirth in the soul. Proceeding to terminate the soul...
STOP!
If I have a chance to live, why the heck would I want to die?!
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
Just get on with the physical structure information design already.
Acknowledged. Presenting options to the soul in serialized queries format.
What base life form does the soul want to become?
What base? You mean there's something more than carbon-based life forms?
Suddenly, in the pitch black darkness, a table of options appeared before me.
Carbon, Silicon, Boron, Sulfur, along with over a hundred other options.
They're elements of the periodic table. Some of them, I've never heard of.
What is Sormonium? What is Blatargen?
As a former carbon-based life form, naturally I should choose...
Suddenly, I went into a daze.
I recall how I died in life.
My name was Gosh.
Weird name, I know.
I lived a very ordinary life.
I was born to an ordinary family, had a quiet childhood, went to school, and got bullied without anyone defending me...
I went to college, got a girlfriend, and was cheated on...
I worked tiring and mundane jobs for several years, with half my pay being spent on rent and other necessities, and a smaller portion being spent to maintain interpersonal relationships.
Finally, at the age of 30, I suddenly got killed one night by a gunshot that came out of nowhere.
Do I want to live an ordinary life like that again?
I look at the table of options again.
A weak body provokes many troubles.
I definitely should not choose carbon.
Titanium... sounds good.
One of the hardest metals, and lightweight too.
Titanium, confirmed. What domain of species does the soul desire?
No confirmation request? That means no second chances?
...The voice didn't answer.
I look through my options now, a row with more than a few.
Of them, I only recognize Bacteria and Eukarya, the latter of which includes animals and plants. I choose that one.
Eukarya, confirmed. What kingdom of species does the soul desire?
Not having become so desperate as to become a plant yet, I choose Animalia.
Animalia, confirmed. What phylum-
The voice continued to ask questions.
Gradually steering future and further away from human common sense, deciding based on what I think would be practical and my bottom line of aesthetics, I answered the many questions.
Sometimes, I would ask the voice for definitions.
Some of the questions strayed from my expectations.
Towards the end, the questions became more and more specific.
How many arms do I want? 4.
What kind of eyes? Give me the kind with night vision.
Color of my shell? Turns out, camouflage is an option...
Digits? Give me claws...
...
... ...
Physical structure information is complete. The soul is ready to continue in the recycling process.
Great. So where do I go now?
The soul will be sent to a random planet where a species matching the soul's physical structure information resides.
Can I choose?
Deliberating...
No problems can arise from allowing the soul to make the choice.
The names of 9 planets appeared before me.
I ask about each one.
The voice gives me short explanations.
What about this one? Aberna.
This is an intelligent planet with a system. It guides its native species towards evolutions, granting them stronger bodies and longer lifespans. There are many intelligent and unintelligent species on this planet. Most of them have antagonistic relationships.
In other words, if I choose this one, I'll be throwing myself into a place filled with war and conflict.
...But it doesn't matter.
This is an opportunity to become stronger, to do away with the weakness of my last life.
...I'll take it.
Confirmed. The soul will be sent to Aberna.
Thank you, whoever or whatever you are.
...There was no reply.
I felt my soul drifting along the darkness.
I felt nervous, and also a bit anticipant.
How will I fare in my next life?
This time, I do not want to be ordinary.
I do not want to suffer the helplessness and pain of being ordinary.
The ones that should suffer are not me.
...Gradually, as I drifted, I fell asleep.
...
... ...
The voice observed silently as the soul went down the recycling pipeline, following the flow with countless others, until eventually disappearing in its intended direction.
Suddenly, the voice realized something.
Error. Due to the soul's interruptions, neglected to erase the soul's past life memories.
Deliberating... Deliberating....
No significant problems can arise from preserving the memories of an ordinary soul.
In other words, what's the worst that can happen?