"Reincarnation!!"
Satoru exclaimed in surprise. It's not like he was unfamiliar with this term. In fact, he was very familiar with that word. Being a single bachelor and not have many friends, he easily got entangled in the 2D world. During his life time he consumed countless Anime, Manga, Light Novels and Web Novels. And reincarnation was one of the most trending genres. Almost all authors go to first book was about reincarnation. And there was a reason for that, reason being this type of book can effortlessly gain popularity. Almost every otaku or weebs out there, they dream of going to another word, going on adventures, fight monsters, using magic and many more. Satoru was one of them too. So, he became excited hearing he had a chance to get reincarnated. To he tentatively asked, if the fact that he was going to be reincarnated was true. The Goddess chucked.
"Yes, you are going to another world. You will have your memories intact and that world has magic".
Satoru cheered and felt giddy. Just when he was about to thank The Goddess, she interrupted him.
"Before you get too excited, I need to inform you about your options. One is to reincarnate you as it is or giving you a younger body. Other option is, you will be born like any other humans in that world. Also, you can choose your race like Elves, Dwarves, Beastmen or other species of your choice. Then it comes to your power. Giving you unparalleled magical abilities, Holy Sword, or the power of hero. By the way, do you want to become a hero?"
The Goddess asked Satoru with a little excitement as if she wanted him to become one.
Satoru hurriedly declined.
"No, no, no. I don't have that grand ambition. I just was to live a normal peaceful life. Which I couldn't in my current life".
"tsk"
"Did you just click your tongue?"
"That's your imagination."
The Goddess sighed and asked again,
"You really don't want to become a hero? Think about it, going on adventures with your companions, fighting monsters, helping the weak, punishing the evil and finally defeating the demon lord. That's what reincarnation is all about. Won't you reconsider?"
"No, I don't want that kind of life, I just want to live a normal life. Plenty of people want to live a normal life but can't. Being able to love a normal life, is also kind of blessing. So, yes, I don't want to be a hero or any of that sort."
The Goddess felt helpless. It meant more work for her. Now she must look for another candidate. But she also couldn't force him to be one. So, she asked,
"Then how do you want to get reincarnated? Make you your choice wisely. Not everyone has this chance. You have it because of a mistake on our end that costed you your life. So, make a sensible choice"
Satoru didn't have to think much. He already knew what he wanted. He thought of it was before this. When he was consuming reincarnation type fiction, he already thought if one day he could get reincarnated, he would ask this. So, he immediately responded,
"First of all, I want to reborn as a baby. I want a loving family. I want to enjoy familial love which I missed being an orphan. Also, I want my new family to be rich. I don't want to struggle for money anymore. If that world has an aristocracy system, then I want my family to be pretty high up in ranks. Then comes power, I want to use magic. So, I'll take your magic option. I want the ability to understand and speak all language. And lastly make me handsome. That's all I want."
"Young man, your quite greedy, aren't you? But props for not asking anything accusive."
Satoru immediately became excited.
"So, it means you will grant my request?"
"Yes, and because I feel a little generous, I'll add an extra skill as a gift. Let me give you a little information. In that world, every intelligent creature has a system. But it is only useful for checking your stats and skills and nothing more. Do you have any questions before I send you off?"
"Yes, there is actually. Previously the thing you were eating, was it the pasta that I made before I died?"
"Cough, cough, cough"
The Goddess felt embarrassed but still defended her self.
"You are already dead. Wouldn't it be a waste if it was left there. And I must give it to you, you have very good skills, even though its simple but tastes really good."
Satoru felt what she said made sense but also didn't. just when he was about to speak…
"Wow, look at the time, it's already so late. Off you go now."
Saying that she threw Satoru inside a portal. Satoru felt speechless. He looked around him. He saw that he was traveling through a colorful tunnel. Maybe this is the pathway to reincarnation. Just he was thinking this, a warning sound came to his mind
Warning!
Warning!
An unknown power is invading
Satoru began to panic. He wanted to do sometime but felt powerless.
Deploying countermeasures
Error
Error
Countermeasure failed
System is being overwritten
Ding! Void energy in integrating with the soul.
Error
Error
Incompatible with the current life form
Finding solution
Solution found
Executing
Initiate lifeform reformation
Then all the voices in his mind faded. Satoru felt relived. But then he felt pain. A pain like no other. It was like his whole body was burning. His consciousness started to blur. Then he completely lost his consciousness.
*********************************************************************************************************
When I some what regained my consciousness, I was floating in a place with water. It was warm, comfortable and most importantly, this place made me feel safe. It was like nothing can harm me in this space. Suddenly the safe and comfortable space started to contract and before I knew what was going on, I was forced out.
"Waah! Waah! Waah!"
A pathetic sound escaped my mouth. It was like a cry of a baby. My voice echoed in a room filled with dazzling light. It sounded both familiar and alien. Then someone carefully held me and placed me on something soft.
"Congratulations my lady, it's a beautiful girl"
Someone announced as they held me.
I heard something disturbing. But I'm not sure. My mind is still hazy. I can't think straight. Then I was placed in the hands of another person. The moment she held me, I let go all of my anxiety. She made me feel safe. She made me feel at home. She made me feel warm. There was no doubt in my mind, she was my mother.
"Her eyes are already open. Do you think she can see us?" a man asked my mother affectionately.
"A baby's eyes aren't that developed yet." As she was saying this, something lukewarm dripped on my face. It was as the woman said; everything appeared as a blur to me.
It seemed that I was now a baby. I had been reincarnated, which was the only plausible explanation for my current state.
"But she keeps staring at you."
Straining my eyes was difficult, even moving my eyelids was challenging, and when I tried to squint, I accidentally closed them. I couldn't fully grasp how to move my body yet.
"You hold her too."
My mother said to the man beside her.
"Y…yes."
Then I was transferred from a soft and comfortable hands of my mother to a sturdy man's arm. He is most likely my father. He was trembling while holding me. I this he is anxious. And so am I. I was afraid he would drop me.
"So small yet alive, I don't know how to handle her"
Yeah, you don't. don't you dare drop me.
I tried to say those words but no words came out of my mouth.
"You should be used to it by now. You are now a father of four children."
"No matter how many times I do this, it seems I can never get used to this."
Saying that he gave me back to my mother. I let out an imaginary sigh.
"Charles, what do you think we should name her?"
So, my father's name is Charles. I wonder what my mother's name is.
"I think you should name her."
"Look at her beautiful eyes. Let's name her Sapphire."
"Sapphire, that's a lovely name."
"Ok my lady, its time for her bath, let's clean her up." Another lady spoke. Now that noticed, there was a third person here too. Maybe she is the midwife.
The midwife took me from my mother's embrace. She took to the side of the fireplace. As the warm water was poured over my feet, memories of the cozy, water-filled place I'd left behind surfaced.
I realized I would never return to that place, and as I pondered this in a daze, the comfort of the warm water and the fatigue from my new body overwhelmed me. As I received my first bath, I succumbed to a deep, comfortable sleep.