NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: Dreams, Death, and Reincarnation
[First POV]
Life can sometimes be smooth sailing, but other times, it's like trying to pass through stormy seas without a compass.
I was in my second year of high school when, after receiving a particular scholarship, I found myself with more free time than I knew what to do with over the semester break. I wondered how I'd spend it—how I could keep from feeling like I was drifting aimlessly.
Maybe, I considered picking up my favorite light novel series I loved once more, starting from the second volume, where my favorite character made her appearance.
The novel's title is Mushoku Tensei, and the character's name is Eris Boreas Greyrat. She was just one of the side characters of the series, but that didn't matter. Her fierce personality and remarkable swordsmanship were what I adored.
Not only but she also lived a life of indulgence, residing in a sprawling mansion within a huge citadel. A life like that is something I wanted for my own, not that I desired wealth but rather I yearned to live comfortably, free from the worries of hardship.
I would imagine what it would be like to step into her shoes, to have a bunch of servants and family members with high authority and prestige.
But reality was far from the enchanting life I dreamed of. As the semestral break went on, my mundane worries slowly overshadowed my fantasies. The thought of returning to high school after vacation filled me with anxiety.
What if I didn't meet everyone's expectations? What if I disappoint them?
I shook my head, trying to clear the doubt that had settled in my mind. Maybe I could escape back into my fantasy for a little longer.
Or so I thought.
As I walked home after picking up some groceries from the convenience store, I crossed the road when suddenly...
Screeeeek~! Kablam!
A speeding car slammed into me, and within that split second, everything changed.
The impact threw me into the air, and my vision blurred. A chaotic mixture of sounds, flashes, and pain stretched on forever yet lasted only an instant.
No, this can't be... I can't die yet... I still have a dream to fulfill.
That lavish life... my idol's life...
I want to know what it's like to live the life of Eris Boreas Greyrat…
With those final thoughts echoing in my mind, everything faded to black.
------------------------------------------
After the darkness consumed me, I drifted into nothingness, feeling light and relieved. There was no more pain now, replaced by an odd stillness as if I was floating in an endless void.
So, this is it—my demise.
It was strange how quickly it ended. One moment I'd been crossing the street, and the next... instant agony followed by darkness. Perhaps that car had obliterated my body so hard that it left nothing but bits and pieces of my former self.
Well, there's nothing I could do about it.
Besides, there was something almost peaceful in the emptiness and some memories flashed in my mind—thoughts of what I'd wished for, the luxurious life I'd envisioned, and the strange yearning I hadn't fully understood.
Like that's ever going to happen... now that I'm dead...
As I lingered on that thought, an invisible force suddenly pulled me like a river current. After that, I felt a gentle yet constant warmth spreading over me. Slowly, my consciousness began to rise again, and I felt something soft beneath me cradling my weight.
Hold on, why can I feel things? I'm supposed to be dead, right?
As I opened my eyes, a dull ache pulsed in my head, with nausea gnawing faintly at me.
At first, everything was blurry. But as my vision cleared, I found myself lying in a bed. Not just any bed—it had a canopy.
What the heck? Where am I?
I pushed myself up slowly, wincing at the faint throbbing in my head as I tried to make sense of where I was. Looking around, I observed that the room around me was grand—decorated with thick, velvet curtains with gold accents and elegant furniture.
It was the kind of luxury I'd only seen in magazines or movies.
How did I get here?
creak...
Before I could make sense of my situation, I heard the door creaked. Turning my head, I saw a maid entering the room, carrying a tray. Strange enough, I noticed she had cat ears and a fluffy tail—details that didn't fit with anything from real life.
"?!"
Upon seeing me awake, the maid froze, wide-eyed, and accidentally dropped her tray. She then rushed out of the room, shouting something down the hall.
"Someone come quick! The young lady is awake!"
Young lady? Is she referring to me? For her to address me with such a prestigious title is a bit surprising. Maybe my wish to live a lavish life had somehow come true—or, better yet, maybe I'd get to meet my idol in this place.
Ignoring the headache, I swung my legs over the bed, only to notice something strange—my limbs were shorter. In fact, my whole body felt different, much smaller and lighter.
What's happening to me?
Just as I was about to take in the change, I saw a mirror on the wall. Feeling nervous, I made my way over and froze when I saw the reflection.
A very young girl with fiery red hair and sharp red eyes stared back at me. I recognized that face—I'd spent hours remembering the details, dreaming of what it'd be like to be her.
Wait... Am I...
SLAM!!
Before I could think about the identity of the face, I heard the door swung open, and a burly old man rushed in, his face red with anticipation as he bellowed.
"ERIS! WHERE IS SHE? WHERE'S MY GRANDDAUGHTER?!"
I staggered back, my heart racing. This wasn't just some dream—this was real. My mind spun as everything clicked into place.
Somehow, impossibly, I had turned into my all-time favorite idol, Eris Boreas Greyrat.