I was reincarnated into another world—a scenario straight out of a light novel, but somehow, it had become my reality.
In my previous life, I worked for a black company, pushing myself beyond my limits day after day until, one day, I collapsed from overwork and died at the age of twenty-six, without any real accomplishments to my name or any freedom to enjoy the life I lived.
After death, I found myself standing in a completely white, empty space—an unreal void where a divine being, presumably God, appeared and spoke to me in a calm, distant tone, explaining that reincarnation wasn't something available to just anyone, that there were conditions involving soul quality and timing that had to be precisely aligned for the opportunity to arise.
The explanation was far too complicated for someone like me, who had just died, to grasp in full, but the end result was simple enough—I was granted a second life in another world.
This new world was one built on the classic foundations of fantasy—swords, magic, and an RPG-like structure where power and skills determined survival and status—and my new physical body had been adjusted to a younger state, specifically nineteen years old, which was apparently beneficial for reasons that, again, were far too complex for me to follow.
Before being sent off, I received something special—a "Reincarnation Perk"—a unique ability given only to someone reborn into another world, a gift that would allow me to distinguish myself and shape my own destiny, though the logic behind how and why I received it was as convoluted as everything else I'd been told.
But the details didn't matter.
All I needed to understand was this: I had been granted a new life, and with the help of my perk, I would finally live that life according to my own desires.
My old life had been nothing but obedience to routine—studying because it was expected of me, attending university without any passion, landing a job at a respectable company that, in the end, drained every drop of time and energy from me—and in the middle of all that, I missed out on everything people usually cherish, including love and even basic human connection.
There were no women, no moments of romance, no youth to look back on fondly.
So this time, I swore to myself—I would chase freedom, I would live fully, and I would experience everything I missed out on, including the bittersweet emotions of romance and the simple joy of having someone close.
To be completely honest, I wanted a woman—just once in my life.
I died a virgin, after all.
In this world, people were born with "skills"—abilities that defined their potential and roles—and I planned to make use of mine, especially my perk, to its fullest, living a life that was happier and more satisfying than the empty one I left behind.
That was my goal.
But then, almost as soon as I arrived and reached the nearest village, everything went straight to hell.
Without warning, a gigantic dragon descended from the sky, its roar loud enough to shake the ground, its breath spewing both fire and lightning, tearing through houses and cracking the earth beneath our feet as villagers screamed and fled for their lives.
There was no way to fight back—the dragon was too close, and we had no means of resisting such overwhelming force—so I ran with the others, eventually reaching a cave at the edge of the village, hoping it would be enough to hide us from the destruction raining down outside.
If the dragon found us here, we would all die—no doubt about it—and this would be the shortest reincarnation story ever told.
I prayed that my perk would activate, that I'd gain the kind of cheat-level power needed to defeat a creature like that, because that was supposedly the whole point of the "Reincarnation Perk"—to give its wielder an edge when it mattered most.
But of course, there was a catch—the activation conditions were... complicated.
Then, suddenly, it happened.
A faint, golden light began to rise from my body—subtle but unmistakable—and a young girl nearby noticed it before anyone else, her voice trembling as she pointed and spoke.
"That light... could it be the 'Reincarnation Perk'?"
One of the villagers—a young girl—looked toward me.
She seemed to notice the faint glow rising from my body, a light only those with the "Reincarnation Perk" can emit.
"Well, I was reincarnated into another world, after all."
"Ohhh...!"
She and the rest of the village began to murmur.
Apparently, there are others like me in this world—reincarnated people with special perks.
"Um... you also have the 'Reincarnation Perk,' right? Please, save our village."
"Please save me...!"
Everyone knelt in front of me.
"Well, that's... there is a reincarnation perk, but..."
It's hard to explain.
"Is it the type of skill that isn't suitable for combat?"
"Not exactly, well..."
They wouldn't be satisfied unless I explained it.
I had no choice.
"My 'Reincarnation Perk' is—[if you have sex, you gain one skill]!"
Silence.
See? I let you down.
I mean, that was a real buzzkill...
"I guess you won't believe me after all..." I mean, I can't believe it myself."
"I believe you."
"Come on, just trust me... huh?"
"I believe you."
"Well, I don't know if that's true or not..."
"There's no other way."
She said it.
"The skills you gain are super powerful, right?"
"That's what God told me."
"So, would you like to hold me?"
She stepped forward.
"Eh, you—"
Now that I looked at her properly, she was stunning—long golden hair, clear blue eyes, and delicate features that made her look more like royalty than a common villager.
She looked a little younger than me, maybe eighteen at most, and in this world, the concept of legal age was likely different anyway.
"My name is Aria," she said. "If it helps you activate your Reincarnation Perk, then I'm willing. Please... save us, Reincarnated One."
Her breath was sweet. So was her scent.
Maybe I felt that way because I wasn't used to being around women.
Just talking to Aria face-to-face made my head spin with her charm.
If I talked to her for a few more seconds, I might fall in love.
... But this is probably not the time to be excited.
I want to bask in those bittersweet feelings, but the survival of the village—and our lives—is on the line.
"I-I understand..."
I gulped and decided to accept Aria's offer.
I feel bad, but I'm going to have sex with her.
"Then, may I ask you a favor?"
"Of course, Reincarnated One. It's my first time, so please be gentle with me..."
"Eh, so you're a virgin..."
I feel so guilty.
By the way, I'm not a virgin, but I've only had a few romantic experiences.
"Don't worry about that. I'll be happy if I can save the village."
Aria told me.
"Please, Reincarnated One."
"...At least use my name," I said quietly.
She looked at me.
"My name is Kairi."
She whispered it once, as if committing it to memory.
Then she smiled again.
"Alright, Kairi. Let's save the village."