"Haah… seriously…?"
Arata Kurose lay flat on the cold asphalt, rain dripping down his cheek. The city lights blurred above him, stretching into long, useless streaks.
"…That truck came out of nowhere."
His voice was calm. Too calm.
He tried to move his fingers. Nothing responded.
"So this is it," he muttered. "I finally graduate… finally get a job… and I die as an intern."
A weak laugh escaped his lips.
"I didn't even get promoted."
His chest felt heavy. Breathing was getting harder.
"…Guess I really was unlucky."
The rain grew louder. Or maybe his hearing was fading.
"Still…" he whispered, eyes half-closed.
"I don't want this to end."
Something shifted.
Not sound.
Not light.
A presence.
「…」
Arata frowned. "What, hallucinations now?"
「Recognition of consciousness ongoing」
"…Ah."
"So I'm not alone."
His thoughts slowed, but his mind stayed sharp.
"If you're something like a god," he said weakly, "then hear me out."
「Input acknowledged」
He swallowed.
"I don't want to die helplessly."
The pressure on his chest eased slightly.
⟪Resistance: Pain (Minor) acquired⟫
"…Huh?"
Arata blinked. "Did that just—?"
"I really don't want to feel pain while dying."
⟪Resistance: Pain (Partial) acquired⟫
"…So it works like that," he murmured.
"Every complaint becomes insurance."
His breathing steadied.
"Okay… then how about this."
"I don't want to suffocate."
⟪Resistance: Asphyxiation acquired⟫
His lungs suddenly felt lighter.
"…That's cheating," he whispered, impressed.
"But I'll take it."
Rain pooled around his ear.
"…If I'm dying anyway," he continued, voice growing steadier,
"I don't want my mind to rot."
⟪Unique Skill: ⟪Lucid Cognition⟫ acquired⟫
> Maintains clarity of thought regardless of physical or spiritual condition.
"Oh?"
"That one feels… important."
His vision darkened further.
"…I really hate how fragile humans are."
⟪Resistance: Physical Damage (Minor) acquired⟫
"Too little, too late," he sighed.
"But noted."
His heartbeat slowed.
"…If there's a next life," Arata whispered,
"I don't want a body that just… stops."
⟪Resistance: Biological Failure acquired⟫
The presence reacted.
「Desire noted」
"…Good."
Silence stretched.
Then Arata spoke again, quieter.
"I don't want to be human again."
「Clarify」
"Humans rely too much on a single body," he said.
"One hit to the heart, and it's over."
He exhaled slowly.
"I want to exist even if my body dies."
⟪Intrinsic Trait Pending: Distributed Existence⟫
"…Pending?" he muttered.
"If I had to choose…"
"…something that survives by spreading."
A faint smile formed.
"A parasite."
The presence paused.
Longer than before.
「Race selection under evaluation」
Arata continued, voice steady despite everything.
"A parasite doesn't need pride.
Doesn't need a perfect form.
It just needs to persist."
⟪Resistance: Death (Fragmentary) acquired⟫
"…Whoa," he whispered.
"That one's heavy."
His heartbeat finally stopped.
---
Reincarnation Confirmed
Race: Transcendent Parasite (Spiritual-Type)
Intrinsic Racial Traits (Automatic)
Distributed Core — Destruction of one vessel does not equal death
Spiritual Adhesion — Can exist without a physical body
Existence Persistence — Extremely difficult to erase completely
Host Dependency (Optional) — Can grow with or without a host
Parasitic Authority — Natural dominance over lower biological systems
(No skills required. These are racial laws.)
---
As his consciousness detached completely, Arata felt himself spread.
Not moving.
Not falling.
Just… existing.
"…So this is what I am now."
A new voice echoed—calmer, closer.
⟪Lucid Cognition⟫ activated.
> Reincarnation successful.
Skill acquisition ongoing through experience and intent.
Arata's awareness expanded.
"…I survived," he said quietly.
"Then I'll do this properly."
In the distance, a vast world pulsed—
filled with monsters, spirits, dragons, angels, and demons.
"…Let's see," he murmured.
"What kind of host this world offers first."
And somewhere between matter and soul,
a parasite opened its eyes for the first time.