"So, first things first," the woman in white began, crossing one leg over the other with effortless grace. "You're not panicking; good. You've accepted that you're dead, and you've completed the skill selection process, yes?"
Her tone was casual, but her sapphire eyes studied me intently, like a teacher evaluating a student's first exam.
For a few seconds, I could only stare at her. Her beauty was unreal: flawless skin, golden hair that shimmered faintly in the ethereal light, and a voice so soothing it could make angels jealous. I had to physically shake my head to pull myself out of it.
"Yeah," I replied, clearing my throat. "I guess there's no point worrying about it. What's done is done. But I am curious about a few things. If you could give me some explanation about… well, everything, that would be great."
A small, knowing smirk curved her lips as she lifted her teacup. "Curiosity is good. It means you haven't given up yet."
She took a slow sip, savoring the flavor before continuing. "Alright then. Let's start with the basics. Your situation, Abel, isn't all that uncommon."
"My situation?" I echoed.
"Yes. Despite everything that happened to you, and excluding the whole shoplifting spree during the first two years after your parents passed away, you lived the short life of a good person."
I winced. "You saw that?"
"I see everything," she said with a mischievous glint. "But don't worry. You never really did anything that would make you a bad person. You were desperate, not evil."
I let out a slow breath, unsure if I should be relieved or embarrassed.
"You died young," she continued softly. "You never got the chance to live a fulfilling life. That's why you were chosen as a reincarnation candidate. The god of your original world passed you over to me so you could start anew here."
"So… there are others like me?"
"Oh, plenty." Lily set her cup down and leaned back on the couch. "The world you're going to is full of people reincarnated from other worlds. Most of them were ordinary people who met early or unfair ends, much like yourself."
That was oddly comforting. I wasn't alone in this after all.
"Do you need me to do anything special there?" I asked. "Like defeat an evil god or save the kingdom or something?"
She laughed, the sound bright and musical. "No, no, nothing like that! The world doesn't need another hero right now. Ages ago, other reincarnated heroes already took care of all the apocalyptic nonsense: dark gods, cursed empires, world-ending plagues, that sort of thing. These days, we just let new arrivals live as they please."
She clapped her hands together, her excitement infectious. "That's why we let you pick your own skills and appearance. You're free to choose your own role. Live, love, create; it's up to you!"
I nodded slowly, the idea settling in. "Alright, I can do that. But I do have some questions about my system."
"Go ahead," she said, smiling. "I can't tell you everything, but I'll answer what I can."
"Thanks. So, first of all… why is it called the Survival Game Production System?"
"Ah, that." She tilted her head slightly. "It's because the system customizes itself to the user's memories. In your case, it took inspiration from the survival crafting games you used to play back on Earth."
That made sense. My thoughts immediately flashed back to those long nights spent gaming after brutal shifts at the construction site.
When I wasn't breaking my back at work, I'd unwind by playing co-op survival games. My favorite genre was always zombie survival. One game I loved had you spend seven in-game days building and fortifying a base before a massive horde attacked. The constant loop of exploring, looting, building, and defending was weirdly therapeutic.
Another game was more complex: an isometric survival sim with clunky graphics but an incredibly deep crafting system. My friends and I modded it heavily until it looked like a fantasy world. We'd spend hours debating where to build our next safehouse or how to optimize our farms.
Then there was the "block game". Everything was made of cubes, and the joy came from shaping the world with your own two hands. Creating, exploring, producing; it always gave me a sense of control I lacked in real life.
I even tried a PvP survival game once, where you were stranded on an island and had to gather materials, build, and fight other players. I quit after a week. The community was too toxic.
Thinking back on it now, I could almost laugh. My new "system" was basically a mash-up of everything I used to escape reality. Maybe the gods had a sense of humor after all.
"That actually sounds… kind of fun," I admitted. "So, what do I need to know about this new world? Anything I should avoid or be cautious of?"
"Yes, actually," Lily said, straightening up a bit. "First, the world is home to many intelligent races: humans, elves, beastkin, dwarves, demons, and others. You are not to discriminate against any of them. I take that sort of thing very seriously."
"Got it. Be respectful, don't start race wars. Easy enough."
"Good." She nodded approvingly. "Now, another important thing: everyone in that world has a skill system. The natives use what's called a Template System: preset combinations of abilities suited to their role in society. But reincarnators like you get customized systems, more flexible, more personal."
I listened closely, intrigued.
"And one more detail," she added casually, "about the demographics."
Something about her tone made me wary. "Demographics?"
"Yes. The ratio of men to women in your new world is roughly one to twenty."
"…Wait, what?"
She grinned. "You heard me. One man for every twenty women."
I stared at her, trying to process that. "So… the world is basically a giant matriarchy?"
"Not exactly," she said with a giggle. "Culturally, it's quite balanced, but yes, men are extremely rare. To balance population growth, polygamy is not only accepted but actively encouraged. And before you ask, reincarnated women go to a separate world with the opposite ratio."
I blinked. "So all the reincarnators in this world are men?"
"Exactly. Should be much to your delight, I imagine."
I ran a hand through my silver hair and let out a low whistle. "So I'm being sent to a world full of magic, crafting, and twenty times as many women as men. And you're saying I can just… live however I want?"
"Within reason," she said with a wink. "As long as you don't become a tyrant or a psychopath, yes. Think of it as a cosmic compensation package for a short and miserable first life."
I chuckled, unable to help myself. "Well, when you put it like that, it sounds amazing."
"Oh, and one more thing," she added. "Unlike those fantasy stories you used to read, you don't have to hide the fact that you're a reincarnated person. It's public knowledge."
"That's… a relief," I said. "So no chance of being captured by some mad king for 'research'?"
"Not at all! In fact, many major cities have organizations that specialize in helping reincarnated people adjust. They offer education, housing assistance, even guild introductions. You'll fit right in."
That sounded almost too good to be true.
Still, as I sat there, sipping the tea that had mysteriously appeared in my own cup, I felt something I hadn't in years: excitement. For once, the future didn't seem like a wall closing in on me. It felt open, wide, full of possibilities.
"I think I'm ready," I said finally. "If there's nothing else to discuss, I'm ready to start my new life."
Lily smiled warmly. "That's the spirit. If you ever need anything, just pray at one of my temples and I'll hear you. We can chat every now and then."
She rose gracefully, the white fabric of her dress flowing like liquid light. "Oh, and do send me some interesting offerings, won't you? Divine existence gets terribly boring without souvenirs."
I laughed, standing as well. "I'll see what I can do."
With a flick of her wrist, the world around me began to dissolve into light.
"Good luck, Abel," she said, her voice echoing like a melody fading into the distance. "This time, make your life your own."
And then, the world vanished.