This story is a work of fiction. The characters, organizations, and names are all fictitious and have no connection to any real entities.
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Why do I alone have to suffer such unfair treatment?
In an old, dark, and narrow one-room apartment, I pressed my aching chest.
My hand, gripping the front of my shirt, lacked strength.
The hand that clutched the worn T-shirt was thinner than before.
The futon I lay on was stained with the blood I had coughed up.
"Why—why me?"
Physically, I was in pain, but mentally, I was tormented by regret and shame.
A series of fleeting images appeared before my eyes.
I could hardly be called a decent person, but I had lived earnestly.
I had never committed a crime and had lived as seriously as the average person would consider decent.
I had found a regular job, married, and had a child, and bought a house.
Now, I was burdened with debt and working multiple part-time jobs.
I paid child support every month, but I hadn't seen my child in years.
Finally, I had developed a good relationship with my new wife, but that was the reason I was denied visitation rights.
I continued to pay a significant amount of child support but couldn't see my child.
I lost my job due to an alleged affair, but I still had to work multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet.
The room was empty.
Harsh debt collectors came to demand repayment, and my lack of means left me unable to buy anything.
To begin with, I had no memory of incurring the debt.
But it was said that I had created the debt, and I was the one paying it off.
At first, I paid to ensure my child wouldn't suffer.
Before I knew it, I had become emaciated, my body broken, and I couldn't move from the futon.
"What did I do wrong? Why do I have to suffer like this?"
I felt a mix of regret and a sense of relief that it might all be over.
At that moment,
A man in a tuxedo appeared by my pillow.
He placed a leather travel bag on the tatami and stood with his shoes on.
"Good evening. What a fine night it is."
I could only move my eyes, and I saw a man who, in the dim light, was only visible from the mouth up, holding a silk hat in his hand and greeting me.
The tall, slender man seemed out of place.
The tuxedo was one thing, but I had no acquaintances like this.
"What is this, have you come to take me away?"
I had no time to be afraid or run.
The man bent down and brought his face close to mine.
His face was still only visible from the mouth up.
His lips curved into a crescent moon-like smile, as if he were laughing at me.
"Take you away? Indeed, that's not incorrect. However, to be precise, I am a 'guide.'"
The man, calling himself a guide, snapped his fingers.
The scene that appeared before my eyes made me widen my eyes slightly.
—My chest ached.
There, my ex-wife and a well-dressed man were dining in an expensive restaurant.
The food and drinks looked delicious.
I hadn't had such a meal in years.
But that wasn't the problem.
"You're a bad woman, aren't you? You've made your ex-husband take on debt and even pay child support. That child isn't even his, is it?"
"That's fine. Legally, he's the father, and paying child support is his obligation."
The content of their conversation didn't register in my mind.
What was my ex-wife saying?
My ex-wife, who used to be gentle and simple, was now dressed up and flashy.
"Women want to pass on superior genes. A child from a man like him is unnecessary. He just needs to earn money. Besides, it's only fair that he pays since he married me. That's the kind of man he was."
The man sitting across from her chuckled.
"Women are scary."
"You didn't make her that way."
Seeing the two of them enjoying themselves, I felt a deep pain in my chest and a surge of hatred from the depths of my stomach.
I became angry at the guide for showing me this scene.
"Whoa, don't be angry. I just wanted you to know the truth. Don't you recognize it? This isn't an illusion; it's happening right now."
Upon reflection, I realized that something like this had indeed happened.
But I had tried not to see it.
I thought I was overthinking it.
"You are a good person. You've endured this difficult life and continued to pay off her debt and child support. —For such a person, I have a gift."
The man took out a pamphlet from the leather travel bag with a delighted expression.
"You've had an unhappy life. I want you to be happy in your next life. How about it? Would you like to be reincarnated into another world?"
I was so angry and frustrated that I felt like I was going mad.
My chest ached again, and I coughed up blood.
"While you've been working yourself to death and are on the verge of dying, they are enjoying a luxurious meal. Can't you forgive them?"
I gripped the futon with my left hand.
"Let me—let me take revenge. I absolutely—won't forgive them."
Tears of regret welled up in my eyes.
Why do I have to meet such an end?
Was I that bad?
I—tears streamed down my face as I lay there, unable to move.
In this state, I couldn't take revenge.
The guide's smile grew wider.
His eyes were shadowed, but I could sense that he was smiling.
Then, the smile disappeared from his lips.
"Unfortunately, your life is coming to an end. All I can do is offer you a happy next life. You've suffered enough. A happy second life awaits you. Give up on revenge."
"No—I don't want to."
I denied it with a hoarse voice.
If it came to this, no matter how much I suffered— I wanted to make them suffer too.
I would do anything for that.
Anything!
But the guide shook his head.
"All you can choose is which world to be reincarnated into. At least, be reborn into a world of your choice. Your happy second life awaits."
I cried.
The pamphlet the guide offered seemed like a magician asking me to pick a card.
One of the covers featured robots and warships.
My finger touched it.
"Hmm, you're interested in this world? I recommend it. It's a fantasy world where science and magic have advanced. There are interstellar nations, and it's a very enjoyable world. The human lifespan has increased several times, so you can enjoy it much longer."
My hand reached out without much thought.
I didn't care what the next world would be like.
At that moment, all I could think about was how ridiculous everything was.
Why did I live earnestly?
Is this the result?
What a joke—what a joke!
If living earnestly led to this, I should have enjoyed life more.
I shouldn't have cared about others; I should have pursued my own happiness.
—The idea that good people are rewarded is a beautiful lie.
If that's the case, I want to live as I please. —I want to be a villain.
"Hmm, in this world, the powerful are nobles. How interesting. Despite the advanced civilization, the feudal system has been revived. This is quite intriguing."
The guide continued.
"I'll arrange for you to be born into a noble family. In your next life, you will be born with everything. You'll be a born winner."
That sounds very enjoyable.
I'll trample others and do as much evil as I can.
"A noble—perhaps a count's family would be good."
Hearing this, I smiled.
That sounds good.
A corrupt official—no, a corrupt lord?
I'll enjoy it to the fullest.
"Have you made up your mind? Then, let this next life be a good one—"
Yes, I'll do that.
I'll enjoy my next life.
—As a corrupt lord.
◇
The guide looked down at the man who had breathed his last.
He twisted his body and laughed, a look of madness in his eyes.
"An unhappy life? How foolish! There are plenty of unhappy people in this world! Thinking you're the only one suffering? What a naive person."
The laughing guide snapped his fingers, and an image of my ex-wife and the man appeared in the air.
He laughed with his lips curled up.
"By the way, I'm the one who made you unhappy! I just wanted to see how far a seemingly happy, decent person would fall."
The guide was not a good person.
He was a mass of malice.
"Let's get the appetizers out of the way before the main course."
He reached out and touched the image, and black smoke emerged from the guide.
The two were having a pleasant conversation.
But the man smiled and said goodbye to the woman.
"Well, have we had enough fun? Let's end it here, shall we?"
"—What?"
My ex-wife was taken aback and dropped the knife she was holding.
"What are you talking about?"
"We've had enough fun. Our pretend marriage is over."
My ex-wife looked confused.
The man continued with a smile.
"If you resist, go ahead. But don't forget that the lawyer who helped you with the divorce is my acquaintance. If you make a fuss, it will be to your disadvantage."
"I did. But I've lost interest. That's all there is to it. We've had our fun, so that's enough."
The man pulled my ex-wife away and left the restaurant.
"Don't touch me. I have no interest in you now."
"Wait. Wait!"
The man chuckled.
"How foolish. Did you really think I would marry a woman who cheats? How naive can you be? I can't even laugh at your ex-husband."
My ex-wife looked down and clenched her hands.
"I left my husband for you."
"Ex-husband. You left him, and you enjoyed it. Don't act like a victim."
The guide was laughing.
He had read my ex-wife's thoughts.
"Oh, impressive! You're already thinking about the man who died. Women are so resilient! But, unfortunately, the man who loved you is dead, and his last wish was to take revenge on you!"
The guide laughed and opened the door to the other world, looking forward to the future.
"Will you search for your ex-husband or a new man? It's going to be fun!"
He knew that either outcome would lead to unhappiness.
"Now, I must guide his soul—into a world where human lives are cheap and 'I am happy.'!"
Thinking about the world he was about to send him to, the guide couldn't stop laughing.
"When he realizes it, it will be too late. He'll regret, be angry, and be sad—surely he will hate me! Hate me, and that will be my nourishment!"
The guide, who loved such human emotions, spread his arms wide and rejoiced.
"Spread unhappiness in the other world! Become unhappy and hate me! The future is going to be a fun time!"
No matter what happened, he was looking forward to a happy outcome for himself.
The guide was ecstatic.
"Oops, I should go soon. I'll come back here after guiding his soul. Still, it's a good era. When I mention reincarnation, only fools get excited. A little sweet talk, and they're easily deceived."
He picked up his bag, feeling elated.
The guide, who had deceived him into reincarnation, was about to step through the door to the other world.
A small light in the corner of the room watched him.
The dim light was hiding and observing.
It looked like an animal.
It had the shape of a dog.
The guide didn't notice it.
"How to enjoy it is a bit of a dilemma. First, I need to decide where to reincarnate him. Throwing him into a happy family and making him miserable could be fun, but I've done that before—how about making him rise to power?"
Seizing the opportunity while the guide was thinking, the small light passed through the door without being noticed.
The guide clapped his hands.
"I've decided! I'll let him rise to power and then knock him down! He'll surely be filled with negative emotions and direct them at me! Oh, I can't wait. I'll gather people with different personalities and incite a rebellion? He's aiming to be a bad noble, so a grand execution or torture will surely follow. I can't wait to see it all unfold!"
The guide embraced himself and writhed with joy.
His happiness was abnormal.
"This next life will be long. He will surely have a longer and more painful life for my happiness! Struggle and suffer as much as you can!"
The door to the other world closed, and the guide disappeared.
The room was left with only the body of the man who had breathed his last.
How was it?
I hope you enjoyed it.
Also, my book will be released at the end of this month.
Seventh Volume 7 will be released on August 31st.
Pre-orders are also available, so I would appreciate it if you could check them out.
The following are my currently available books.
I would be happy if you could pick them up.
Dragoon ~The Path to a Dragon Knight~ (4 volumes) *E-book version available
Side-Character Hero Shines 1 volume
Seventh 1-8 volumes
The World of Otome Games is Tough for the Subordinate 1-3 volumes *E-book version available