"Ahhh... another day. I guess I have to live my life. Let's go start my day."
I am Tabib, a college student in his twenties. My parents died in a car accident, leaving behind nothing but a mountain of debt. After their death, I wasn't even given time to mourn before the debt collectors appeared. They grabbed me by my collar and beat me, demanding the 10 million my parents owed.
"Hey, mister!" I pleaded. "My parents just died and you appeared instantly to get your money? Please, don't disturb their funeral!"
They didn't listen. Instead, they tried to take my parents' bodies away to sell them. I grabbed their legs, desperate. "Please! I will do anything! Don't take them away!"
The men laughed at me, holding their heads high. "Hey, beggar, stop! Don't dirty my shoes," one said. "Kid, I will come tomorrow. Be ready to pay. Until you do, we will grind your bones."
The next day, he returned in a black car, dressed like a wealthy man. "Your parents borrowed 10 million from me with a monthly interest of seven percent," he said coldly. "Now it's 17 million. Get in the car, kid."
I obeyed. He took me to an unknown place filled with hundreds of people just like me—all drowned in debt. He shoved me into a room. Some time later, a man wearing a mask entered with the collector. Seeing a stack of cash, I realized something was fishy.
"From now on, Tabib, your debt is settled," the collector said. "Mr. Albert, thanks for the 20 million. He is yours."
The masked man, Albert, looked at me. "Kid, from now on, I am your master."
At that moment, I realized even my life was a debt owned by someone else. Mr. Albert was not a good man. He beat me all day for the slightest mistake, giving me just enough food to stay alive. I lost track of time. I missed my parents, my friends, and my old college life.
One day, the matriarch, Mrs. Albert, entered with a whip in her hand. She beat me for over an hour. "You bastard!" she spat. "We raised you, and yet you waste our resources, resting like a young master? Get up! Go shopping. We are out of ingredients, and don't think about running away, or I will hunt you to the ends of the earth."
Shivering, I changed into long-sleeved clothes to hide the bruises and headed out. On the way, I saw a child crossing the street just as a truck came barreling toward her at full speed. I didn't think; I just ran. I pushed her out of the way, but it was too late for me.
The impact threw me far across the pavement. My bones shattered, and blood pooled around me. As my vision blurred and people rushed over, memories of my parents floated before my eyes.
If I am given another chance, I promised myself, I will be the richest person in existence. So rich that even the heavens can't stop me. I closed my eyes and fell into endless darkness.
Suddenly, a brilliant light surrounded me. A figure made of pure radiance appeared. "Poor child, you are given a chance to reincarnate in another world. What is your wish? I can grant you anything."
"Really?" I asked. "Then I don't care about anything else. I only want wealth. Wealth that will rival the heavens!"
"Your wish is granted."
The world went dark again. Then, I heard muffled sounds.
"Push! Push, Madam! The child's head is almost out! One last push!"
A bright beam of light hit my eyes, and I let out a cry.
"Lord Oyasit! It's a boy! It's a boy!"
I looked at my hands; they were tiny. I had actually been reincarnated. A man in his forties rushed in, wearing a black suit that looked more expensive than gold. He had piercing golden eyes and hair to match. He took me in his arms and shouted, "Finally! The heir of the Oyasit clan! My ninth child, and my first son!"
He turned to a beautiful woman with silver hair and red eyes that looked like heaven brought to earth. "Honey, thank you for giving birth to my heir."
She took me from my father and embraced me, weeping. "My child... from now on, you are Tabib Oyasit. My son."
As my parents cried tears of joy, holding me between them, I made a new vow. It's not so bad this time. This time, I will protect them.