FUYUKI HAYASHI

*Cough* *Cough*

Coughing out the blood I kept on walking through the grim battlefield, confronting the corpses of both the enemies and allies alike, I couldn’t help but think about the peaceful times we had just a couple of months ago.

The times when everything was fine, the time when I was happy, but now that I continue to travel through this battlefield of death, I don’t know why, but for some reason, I don’t feel sad, no, rather I feel empty.

Empty.

Alone.

That’s how I feel.

It’s as if there is a void inside of me that’s sucking my whole existence into itself.

But, it’s not like this is the first time I have ever felt like this.

No.

Rather I have been through experiences like these multiple times in my life where the only thing I had in this world was myself, and no one else to protect or watch over me.

These cold faces of the ones who have fallen aren’t much different from mine.

I know that.

But there is still some difference between me and them, that is, I am still breathing, and since I am still breathing, that means I still have it in me. That I still have the chance to turn it around.

Or that’s what I would like to believe anyway.

“Haa haa…”, resting a bit to take a breath I looked at the sky once again, unlike just a few hours ago right now it was completely clear as there was not even a trace of cloud on it.

The way things change in nature so abruptly, without any warning, it’s exactly the way it happens with life, just the moment you think you are doing good, that you are living a fine life, you end up having to face things that change your life forever.

Just like how I got reincarnated in this damned world.

***

When I first arrived in this world, I didn’t feel any sorrow for leaving my parents or family back on earth,

I would always tell myself that it couldn’t be helped, that I didn’t know how I came here in the first place then how the hell would I ever be able to go back?

That’s how I convinced myself and continued to live my new life .

There weren’t any feelings of sadness or guilt inside of me, no, rather because of this entire scenario the only thing I got to experience was an overwhelming sense of happiness and joy.

After all, I had achieved my dream of leaving everything behind and starting anew.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

But only after I turned 5 years old in this world did I finally realize the worth of those things that I had so easily let go of.

‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch’, I learned this lesson the hard way.

But now… I don’t feel like I can go back to my home as I am right now, no, actually I doubt I would ever be able to go back to my folks, it’s the path I had chosen, the quagmire of fate in this parallel world won’t let me escape it, one day and that day might be today, I will, for sure, will end up just like all of my comrades and enemies.

Walking down the mountainous track, I, at last, got out of the war zone.

From here on out, it’s going to be very difficult.

After all, right now I am nothing but a soldier who lost a war. My life isn’t worth anything, all I deserve is death, at least according to the common people who must have had to suffer because of the war between the two sects.

The sun is about to set as well, I need to find some kind of a place to rest as soon as possible, not to mention, I am literally dying from hunger and thirst, I doubt I would be able to hold on for too long if I don’t find a solution as soon as…

“Ughh!!!”

My heart started hurting like hell all of a sudden.

I was baffled.

‘What happened!?’, I thought but wasn’t able to come up with any answer or solution, the only thing I could do was to suffer the intolerable pain as I felt my innards ripping each other into pieces.

This… this is Qi Deviation!

But why?

Why now?

I don’t want to di…e?

Ah… I am… such a piece of trash. Even after everyone died… I still… deep down want to live.

Even after getting another chance in life by reincarnating in this parallel world, I still failed to live a good life.

“I really am… irredeemable”.

I muttered in a pained voice and just a moment later my vision blacked out.

I guess… I am dead.

***

“Ugh…”

Carefully as I opened my eyes the piercing rays of sun entered my eyes and brought me back to my senses.

The moment I got back I found myself in a forest, lying against an old tree that seemed to be in its last years.

The somewhat pleasant scent of the soil soaked in rainwater entered my nose making me feel more refreshed than ever.

Calming myself I looked at the sky, it was as dark as an abyss, but for some reason instead of feeling any uneasiness or stress, I felt as if I had reached back home.

Home.

A place where people go when they have nowhere to go.

I guess, that’s the best definition for what ‘home’ is, but even so, it’s not like I have any place called home for myself.

Not now at least, I used to have one in the past.

Used to have one… huh?

A sudden thought appeared in my mind and I carefully examined myself.

The moment my eyes fell on my body, I...

“Hahahahaha”

The sound of someone’s maniacal laughter could be heard in the surroundings.

The laughter sounded psychotic and mental.

Such cruel laughter, it was so emotionless and yet at the same time so full of emotions.

“Hahahaha…hahaha… haahahaha!! Aaahhh!! Waahhh!”

The laughter changed into cries and cries turned into screams.

The screams were full of pain as if it was a wounded beast pleading for its life.

The screams belonged to me.

I was the beast.

“Regression after reincarnation?”, I said as I looked at the sky.

I don’t know why I am getting yet another chance and I, for sure, don’t care about it either.

“All I know is that I will kill you, you bastard!”, I screamed as I looked at the sky that was looking down on me from above.