All hopes were lost until… POP — a floating message appeared, a slightly transparent, purple hologram, that said:
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET REBORN?"
YES. NO.
What the hell is this shit? I thought I was seriously dead. And now some game-like option pops up? Oh… wait. Yeah, now I get it. I've watched enough isekai to understand this. But… let me think. If I click yes, I get teleported to some fantasy world? Could be great… I could do all my darkest, filthiest thoughts… But what if I get tortured my whole life by some king as a slave? That would suck…
I was always curious about what happens after death. Hell? Heaven? Yeah, no way I'm getting into heaven. If I could, even Hitler would make it.
I move my finger and press "NO." The message shifts:
SERVER ERROR:
ERROR 5: Access is denied.
ERROR 2: The system cannot find the file specified.
Then it pops back up:
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET REBORN?
Fate's playing a cruel joke on me. What great sin did I commit to deserve this? Reluctantly, I press "YES." My finger shakes slightly. Embracing whatever the hell happens next.
The text changes:
"INSERT A NAME: ...…."
I brace myself, expecting the worst, but it's pointless. Should I put my real name? No, no, no. This is a video-game-like fantasy world. I need a cool-ass name… something starting with "A." Fantasy vibes. Askaleth? Yeah… that'll do. I type it slowly. Next:
"CHOOSE A RACE:"
HUMAN ELVE
DEMON ORC
It just asks like that? No buffs, no weaknesses? How am I supposed to choose? Humans seem weak but adaptable, Orcs are physically strong but dumb, Elves are skilled archers but nature-obsessed to the point of misery, and demons… demons are strong physically and magically, and manipulative. That's perfect. I click "DEMON".
The system changes again:
TELEPORTING… LOADING…
When I appear, first thing I do is touch my face. My features are younger, my stature too. I look like a nine-year-old. Neck-length silver-white hair. A brown tunic. What kind of demon am I?! A peasant demon?! At least… I've got a second chance at life.
I wrinkle my nose. The air hits me all at once—rotten, animal and human waste, smoke. I'm in the medieval countryside. True peasant life. People work the land; some are monstrous demons, some humanoid with faint demon traits. They all stink. Probably never bathed. I touch my forehead. Little slim, pitch-black horns. No tail. Good. That'd be weird.
My stomach growls. I've been standing here like an idiot. There's no market here. Probably another town. I spot food, but first—what's this? A carriage with chained elves. Slaves. At least I wasn't reborn a slave myself. Fun… if slavery's still a thing.
While walking, a broad-shouldered humanoid demon bumps into me. He's strong, dangerous. I have no chance. I act pathetic and bow immediately:
"I'm sorry, sir! It won't happen again! I'm deeply sorry!"
The words escape on their own, but I keep my composure. Then I move as fast as I can. After what feels like an eternity, I find a tavern.
I have no money. My pants have holes in the pockets. How am I going to eat? Prostitution? No, think positive… Kazane—no, Askaleth. I need a new identity.
I open the tavern door. Small, humble, smells of cooking, a rare comfort. A female-looking demon stands behind the counter. Not hostile, but I stay wary.
"Is there any way I could get food with no money?" I ask, words carefully friendly.
"Hmmm… there is," she says vaguely, enjoying the moment.
"How? Really?" I ask, hope creeping into my voice.
"Clean the whole place. Not a speck of dust. Then maybe I'll think about it." Flat. Distant. Disinterested.
I nod, grab the mop, fill a bucket with water, and start scrubbing. Puke from drunks, dirt, filth. A brawl breaks out—some argument over a girl I don't even know, Lady Kaela of the Varnis family. Fine, I clean that too.
Finally, done. The bartender tosses me a piece of cheap bread.
I'm pissed. "I worked my ass off for a few hours for this?! At least give me water!" A vein pops on my forehead.
She chuckles. At least she gives me a glass of water. I dip the rock-hard bread in it. Not great… but I survive.