It was a quiet and peaceful morning at the beautiful green plains of the Voyin Province—territory of the Albury’s in the Gladean Empire. The small home of Ninigi stood out among the emptiness of the field, showered by the gentle rays of the sun above.
Inside the small house, Maulik and Gal lied flat on the floor in front of each other—looking at the ceiling with drowsy expressions. Maulik rested his head on top of his hands, while Gal spread her arms and legs like a starfish in the sand. A soft and relaxing song played on the phone laid on the floor next to them, serving as both entertainment and the source of their sleepiness.
“I’m bored…” the redhead girl said.
“Mmhm…” Maulik replied lazily.
“I’m bored…”
“Mmhm…”
“I’m bo—”
“I get it,” Maulik interrupted the girl. “I’m bored too.”
Gal suddenly lifted herself into a sitting position, she crossed her legs and held both feet with her hands—swaying herself gently back and forth. “Can you narrate me one of your picture books? I don’t like reading them, but you make them sound a little interesting.”
Frowning at her petition, Maulik remained with his back flat on the wooden floor—replying to Gal’s request. “They are called comics, Gal. Not picture books.” the man said. “But I guess I could tell you about the one I read recently.”
“Really?”
“Yes. This story is about resurrecting in another world that functions like a videogame.”
“Sounds dumb.”
“You simply don’t understand art, Gal.” Maulik retorted, burying one hand inside his vest before pulling out a small book from within—one that Ninigi bought him during a small trip to the city. “So, it all starts with our protagonist.” he began to narrate, opening the comic on the first page. “A young man from university named, Gen Eric.”
“Dumb.”
“Are you gonna judge or are you gonna listen?”
“I’m listening.”
“Gen had just dropped out of university after failing in his studies,” the man continued with his story. “He…”
Gen Eric, he found himself inside a plain flying across the beautiful blue skies above—making his way from the Gladean empire towards his home, the Hemel continent. Only a couple of years ago, the young student flew towards the Gladean Empire thanks to his outstanding football skills—having earned his place in one of the most prestigious universities through a scholarship.
“Can you play football, Maulik?” Gal interrupted.
“No, now listen…”
It was a dream come true for young Gen Eric, but the trials he would face at the empire were something he would’ve never expected. He found himself outclassed by the almost inhuman speed and strength of the empire’s best players, a humbling experience he would never forget in his life.
Failure after failure, Gen’s life broke into a downwards spiral as he was unable to keep the balance between his social life, football, and studies—prompting him to return home, and abandon his dream.
“Wait, so he flew to a different continent to play a game?”
“Let me tell the story, Gal. You wouldn’t understand.”
Unknown to Gen however, the plain he rode would see the final hours of his life on this earth, and the beginning of his epic adventure in another world. A somewhat familiar, loud and beeping sound suddenly echoed in the man’s ears—shivers running down his spine. Gen raised his eyebrow as he lifted his butt to check on the noise, planting his hands on the sit and turning his head to look over his shoulder.
A blinding white light suddenly struck his eyes—forcing him to cover his face. Gen knew exactly what he had in front of him however, having spotted the massive white truck beeping its horn. As the truck approached him furiously, our young hero was unable to avoid the speeding vehicle that struck him like a boulder—crushing his body and ending his life in an instant.
“How did the truck make it inside a plain?”
“It’s artistic freedom, Gal. Do you want to hear the story or what?”
“Go on.”
He felt his consciousness fade as the air left his lungs, losing himself in the void of nothingness. That wasn’t the end of Gen however, as he suddenly heard the voice of a young woman calling to him—it was faint, but he could hear it in the distance. The voice begged him to open his eyes, it called him a hero, someone who would save their world from the demon lord that ruled her people with an iron fist.
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At the request of the woman, Gen Eric did everything in his power to open his eyes—noticing the blinding light emerging from above. A loud gasp escaped his lips, and he found himself sitting on the side of a comfortable bed. In front of him, was a beautiful woman of blonde hair and a black robe—her brows scrunched with worry, and her hands clasped together.
“I thought he died?”
“He is another world now, Gal!”
“Aah.”
She was as beautiful as the prettiest of flowers, and as kind as the gentlest lamb. She was a nun from the nearest church, one that served the goddess of ‘everything that is good in this planet.’ The nun introduced herself to the hero as, The Nun.
“That’s not a name.”
“Gal.”
“I’m listening.”
The Nun brought Gen downstairs to meet his new team, one that swore an oath to accompany the hero in his quest to destroy the demon lord. They were very different and diverse in not only their appearance, but their personalities as well. The first one was a woman of gentle blue hair and heavy brows, she introduced herself as, The Angry One. Following next was another woman, her hair was green like the plains outside, and she wielded the name of, No Emotions one.
“I’m confused…”
“Then pay attention.”
The leader of the group introduced herself next, she was tall and well mannered. Her figure displayed one of a warrior who’s seen many battles, but her face had the expression of a fair maiden in love. She walked up to Gen Eric and introduced herself as, The Leader—confessing her love for the hero.
“Wait what? Why?”
“This story has a sprinkle of romance in it. It actually won an award at a recent convention here in the empire.”
“Aah.”
Gen Eric then married The Leader under the bright stars and the silver light of the moon, having realize his love for her too.
“What?”
“Listen.”
It was during these joyous moments when the demon lord arrived at the village, his powerful army razing everything in its path—turning trees, homes and even the people of this new world into dust. The flames of his fury traveled across the world, engulfing the planet in flames. Gen Eric’s party remained standing however, protecting the innocent with the powers that the goddess had granted them.
“Uh?”
After defeating his army, the demon lord suddenly dropped from the sky—cladded in black armor with bladed shoulder pads. The massive helmet in his head concealed the man’s face entirely, the gigantic flaming sword in his hand scorching the earth around it.
“Woah!”
The hero fought bravely, but the demon lord was too powerful for him to take down easily. His party was swiftly defeated by the demonic powers of the villain, and Gen Eric found himself lying on the floor with a broken body.
As the demon lord approached him to deal the final strike, a flash of memories rushed through the hero’s mind. The friends he made, the people he met, the adventures he had, and the ones he loves. Suddenly, a bright light surged from within him—lifting his body in the air. A familiar voiced called out to him, introducing herself as ‘the goddess of everything that is good in this planet.’ Gen Eric smirked with confidence, claiming that all this time, he’s only been suppressing his power.
Gripping the sword in his hand—
“He had a sword?”
“Yes, take a look.” Maulik flipped the book so Gal could see it, displaying the young hero—Gen Eric—wielding a radiating golden sword.
“Aah.”
Gripping the sword in his hand, the hero dealt the final blow against the villain—killing him instantly and freeing the world from his evil. The demon lord fell on the ground, drawing his last breath. Before he passed into the afterlife however, he gently took the helmet off his head as blood poured from his mouth—revealing his true identity to his opponent.
It was a shocking revelation that forced a loud gasp from the hero’s lips, causing him to flinch as he stumbled backwards. All along, the demon lord was no one else but himself—Gen Eric. They had the same eyes, same hair, same nose and mouth—even the scar on his cheek was present. The demon lord then explained to the hero, that this would’ve been his fate if he didn’t return home after dropping out of university—If that truck never killed him on his way home.
It was the demon lord who sent the truck in a mission to kill Gen Eric, so he could be reborn as a hero, and be spared the fate of the villain he himself has become. The hero offered his thanks to his other self—forgiving the manslaughter he just committed around the village—and watched as the demon lord vanished into thin air with a smile. The world was finally saved, and a new era of peace began for the new world.
“Wait, you said there would be videogame mechanics in this.”
“The hero leveled up, and was able to marry the rest of his group of adventurers.” Maulik explained. “Continuing to maintain the peace in the new world they’ve created.”
“Aah.”
“The end.”
“Hm…” Gal hummed while rubbing her chin. “I didn’t get it…”
“I guess it’s not for you after all,” Maulik sighed while rubbing his forehead. “I mean, wouldn’t you like to be reincarnated in another world with videogame mechanics too?”
“No? I wouldn’t be able to see Gigi again.”
“Hm… Yeah, I see your point.”
“I’m back,” Ninigi’s voice announced from outside—prompting Gal to jump on her feet and rush towards the door.
Gently pushing the door open, Ninigi was met by a fiery redhead wielding a joyous smile in her face. Gal leaped at the knight before he could put a foot inside the house, wrapping her arms and legs around his torso.
“Gigi!”
“Agh…” Ninigi stumbled backwards—almost dropping the pair of bags in his hands. “I said I would be back in a few hours, Gal.” he smiled at the girl.
Maulik jogged his way towards the door, slamming one fist on the palm of his other hand with a bow. “Welcome home, master.”
“Thanks, Maulik.” Ninigi balanced his way inside the house—Gal still glued to him like a sticker. “What have you been doing? The house is surprisingly clean.”
“Maulik told me a story about a guy that got hit by a truck.”
The girl’s words caused the knight to raise an eyebrow at his student, puzzled by the type of stories he’s been reading lately. “It’s not one of those you asked me to buy for you, is it?”
“T-there’s more to it than that, master.”
Ninigi simply laughed, placing the bags on the floor. “I brought some ingredients from the city,” he said. “I thought I would prepare something special for you both today. What do you say?”
“Thank you, master!”
“Yay, Gigi!”
Both students celebrated, and the day continued on as normal.
END OF CHAPTER