Chapter 1

….

This might be a bit awkward to say, but I died.

Can you believe that?

Murdered by your best friend in the dead of night. If that type of traumatic event doesn’t give you trust issues, then I don’t know what will. I mean, that crazy psycho! I knew there was always something wrong with his head, but being a friend, I never outright pointed it out. That would be rude after all.

But to think that he’d just stab me like that… you can’t think about it at all! It’s unthinkable! Truly unthinkable! After all the time and effort it took me to consolidate our friendship… for him to just end it all at knife point… what a selfish bastard.

….

Well, now that it actually happened, I don’t really feel all that mad. I guess just a little bit tired, maybe.

And just because of this, it's not like I’ll suddenly have an incurable distrust or phobia towards friendships. After all, not everyone’s the same. Some of the friends you make are good. The type that will share their snacks with you and give you answers to your homework. While others are bastard friends. The type that’ll give away your contact information for a loaf of bread, or stab you in the stomach because they have underlying mental problems… In the end, I died because I was careless. Next time I’ll choose better friends… maybe more mentally stable friends… I mean, if I’m going to get along with a crazy person, then let that crazy person be me. It’s easier to handle that way.

As I thought such useless things, I waited. Waited for what you might ask? Well, I don’t know either. I mean, it is the first time I died, at least, the first time I remember dying.

Whether I end up going to a place like heaven, or end up turning into nothingness, then, that’s for me to find out. I can’t really do anything at the current state I’m in. To begin with, I don’t even think I have a body.

Rather, how am I even thinking right now?

Am I still alive? Looking at the pitch black nothingness that makes up my surroundings, I doubt I’m still alive, unless this is what a comma feels like. If it is a comma, then when I wake up, I’ll be sure to knock a couple of that idiot’s teeth loose.

….

Well, for some reason I’m certain I’m not in a comma. After all, I feel…. dead. I don’t know how to describe it. It's sort of an instinctual thing, really. You can just tell that you’re not alive anymore.

There’s no feeling of despair or hopelessness, just… nothing. No, that wouldn’t really be an accurate word to describe this current feeling. More of a tranquil sort of feeling. Like I’m at peace. Calm? Harmony? Serene? Relaxed? Well, something along those lines.

Since I’ve got nothing to do but wait, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll wait for whatever happens next in life (or after life), be it heaven, nothing, or something else. Although if I were to give a suggestion, then something along the lines of reincarnation would be nice. I mean, doesn’t heaven sound a bit too boring?

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Sure chilling on a cloud, and having dance parties with angels sounds cool and all, but such a lathargic lifestyle… won’t you grow bored of it?

If I do get reincarnated, then I hope I can be a Hero. Or maybe a Prince to a powerful and noble kingdom. That would work too. I think I’ve been a fairly good person before I died, so I probably acquired a few karma points. If they base reincarnation off of the good deeds you did in your previous life, then I think I’m ahead. Hopefully, they’re enough to give me a good head start in my next life.

If not anything grandiose like Hero or Prince, then at the very least, I hope to still be human. It’d be awkward to end up as a fish, or worse, a plant. Will I even be able to think as a plant? Rather than thinking, if someone were to step on me as a plant, won’t I die? I don’t want to die again… Scary. That type of life is definetely scary.

I sincerely hope that I don’t end up being a plant. For now, let’s pray that I end up being a hero. If not, then a prince. If I can’t be a prince, then a human. If I can’t even be that, then at least something that can move. Anything but plant. Say no to plant life.

While holding in such thoughts deep in my heart (although in retrospect, I currently don’t have a heart), I waited.

…….

I don’t know how long I’ve waited.

Probably about 5 minutes. Or was it 1000 years? I don’t know. In here, where the only companion is the darkness and my derailing thoughts, keeping track of time is hard. At the very least, I feel like I’ve waited for too long.

Fortunately, that wait comes to an end right now. Since, after a long time of waiting, there’s finally a change to my surroundings.

A light, an impossibly bright light.

It's getting larger and larger. Getting warmer and warmer, as if it wants to envelope me in a soft embrace. I want to reciprocate that embrace. I tried to extend my arms towards the light, but unfortunately, I don’t have arms. For now, let’s extend some imaginary arms and give the light a big imaginary hug.

[Ding!]

[New Skill Acquired, Telekinesis Lv 1]

Oh?

Something interesting happened, but now’s not the time for that.

My time’s finally come. What happens next will surely be a fun experience.

Let’s go! My second life experience! Reincarnate as a noble Hero! I can already see my destiny, Fuhahaha! Watch me! I’ll go save the world and get a Princess Wife! Here I come! I’m ready! Take me now!!!!!!!!!

…..

…..

……

Wait.

Something’s not right.

Wait, wait, wait.

Can I restart?

This doesn’t seem correct.

The face I’m currently looking up at…. That… although it looks like it, it’s definitely not human. There’s too much hair.

Something’s not right. Oi, what the hell.

No matter how I look at it… I’ve definitely been reincarnated as a monkey.