I feel an overwhelming urge to document the events of my birth—or rather, my first day in this world. Even now, I vividly remember the moment I died and the strange process of my reincarnation.
In my previous life, I was just an ordinary high school student, though some might call me a nerd. I maintained straight A's effortlessly, was well-liked by my classmates, and even made it to nationals as the ace of my volleyball club in my third year. But despite my social standing, I rarely hung out with others. My true passion lies elsewhere—history and war.
While my peers spent their time on social media or dating, I was buried in history books, war documentaries, and endless research on military strategies. Libraries and computer screens were my second home. My love for anime and manga was just as intense, filling my shelves with figurines, OVA DVDs, and special editions.
Family meant everything to me. We were well-off, and my parents never hesitated to invest in knowledge and skills. My two younger sisters were the most precious people in my life—I would have done anything for them. Even now, I can't help but wonder how they're doing without me.
And then, one day, I died.
It was a normal Sunday—for everyone, including me. I was out shopping for clothes and other essentials, accompanied by my two sisters, who had forcibly tagged along. They insisted my fashion sense was dull, and honestly, I couldn't argue. They were right.
But this time, I had a reason to care. I had a date coming up.
Next Wednesday, I was set to go out with the most popular and beautiful girl in my class. We had admired each other from afar since middle school, but with graduation around the corner, she finally gathered the courage to confess her feelings to me. I wasn't oblivious. I knew.
Normally, my packed schedule—filled with history research, anime, and club activities—left me little room for anything else. But rejecting her just because of my hobbies would have been selfish. She had worked up the courage to be honest about her feelings. The least I could do was man up and step forward.
When Wednesday arrived, I made sure to get to our meeting spot thirty minutes early, only to find her already there, waiting. Had she been that excited? The thought made me smile.
Taking my sisters' advice to heart, I complimented her outfit and hairstyle, though I struggled to hide my embarrassment. Why was this so hard? I suddenly felt bad for all the anime protagonists I had mocked for being too flustered to complement their heroines. I owed them an apology.
She had planned the date, so I followed her lead, making sure to be true to myself and voiced my honest opinions. To my surprise, we had a lot of fun.
She took me to a luxurious restaurant for lunch, and to my surprise, it was owned by her family. I had never realized how rich she was until she told me.
She burst into laughter at my obliviousness, then casually revealed more about herself. She had modeled for her mother's fashion brand and even appeared in top movies. I was dating a celebrity.
I apologized for not knowing, explaining that my world revolved around history, wars, and the otaku culture. That's when she smiled and said,
"I love anime and manga too."
That moment made me realize—we weren't so different.
In terms of achievements, I wasn't far behind her. I had competed at volleyball nationals twice, won a national writing competition, and once helped our Kendo Club win the national tournament in my second year. My love for history led me to learn swordsmanship, and a Japanese Kendo dojo was the closest place to train near my home.
In other words, we were a super couple. We loved each other dearly.
But our time together was limited. The hour of my death was drawing closer.
Leaving the fancy, expensive restaurant, we walked out smiling, stomachs full. Our hands found each other naturally, fingers intertwining as we strolled toward a sports center for some bowling or table tennis.
We approached a crosswalk. The traffic light was red. We stepped onto the street.
That's when I heard it.
A loud horn. Tires screeching. People screaming.
A truck—barreling toward us at full speed.
The brakes had failed.
Instinct kicked in. I grabbed her hand and ran. We barely made it to the sidewalk. The bystanders let out a sigh of relief.
But then I saw her.
A little girl. Frozen in the middle of the road. Tears streamed down her face, her small body trembling.
She couldn't move.
She couldn't even scream.
I let go of my girlfriend's hand.
"W-Wait—!" she gasped, reaching for me.
I ran.
She called my name, her voice desperate and terrified, but I didn't stop.
I lunged forward and shoved the girl with all my strength, sending her tumbling safely onto the pavement.
For a brief moment, I saw her small figure lying on the ground, safe.
Then— Impact.
The world spun. I felt weightless, like a feather tossed into the wind.
Pain exploded through my body. Something cracked—maybe my ribs, my skull? I couldn't tell. My body slammed into the pavement, and for a moment, I thought I heard something—
Her voice. Screaming my name.
Flashes of my past flickered before me.
My younger self, pampering my sisters.
My parents, smiling proudly.
Joining a Japanese Kendo Dojo.
Meeting her for the first time.
Winning the nationals.
Sparring Japan's best Kendo practitioner.
And our date today.
Everything blurred.
The pain was unbearable—but somehow, I still smiled.
"I saved her."
My breathing slowed. My chest felt heavy.
My girlfriend appeared above me, shaking me violently.
"No, no, no—STAY WITH ME!" she sobbed, gripping my hand. Her whole body trembled. "Please, don't close your eyes—!"
I wanted to respond.
I wanted to wipe her tears away.
But my voice wouldn't come out.
My body felt cold. The world around me faded—blurring into a void of black.
I could hear her screaming my name over and over, but it sounded so... distant.
I had one last thought before everything went silent.
"I hope... she doesn't cry too much..."
And then—
My consciousness slipped away.
Darkness swallowed me whole. I died.
Or so I thought.
The pain was gone. The crushing weight, the broken bones, the warmth of my own blood—all of it had vanished.
I should have been dead.
Instead, I felt... small. Weak. My body was unresponsive, like I was trapped in a shell too fragile to move. I struggled, trying to lift even a single finger, but nothing happened. Panic began to rise in my chest.
Was I paralyzed?
I forced my eyes open. Blurred shapes. Colors blending together. My vision was too hazy to make out anything clearly. The only thing I could see was… a face.
A woman.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, her expression soft and filled with warmth. She held me in her arms, and despite my confusion, I felt… safe.
Then, another face appeared—a man, looking down at me with an unreadable expression.
"Who are they?" The thought barely had time to form before the woman spoke in an angelic voice—
"Look, dear… our son is very active. He will grow up to be a strong and handsome king, just like his father."
The man chuckled, his deep voice filled with relief.
"I was worried when he didn't cry, but seeing how strong his grip is… I have no doubt he'll be a fine ruler one day."
Then, something touched my hand. Instinctively, my tiny fingers curled around it. A massive finger. His.
Everything clicked at once.
I understood their words. I saw the size of my hands—tiny, fragile.
I was a baby.
No. Not just a baby. I was reborn.
A prince. The son of a king and queen. My new name—Rhydher H. Drakseid. A name that felt foreign, yet now belonged to me.
Excitement should have filled me. I had always dreamed of being reincarnated into a fantasy world. The thought of wielding a sword, leading armies, diving into an adventure worthy of an isekai hero—it should have thrilled me.
But then—
A memory crashed into my mind like a tidal wave.
My sisters, tugging on my sleeves, dragging me through clothing stores while laughing.
My parents, smiling over dinner, my mother sneaking an extra helping onto my plate.
My girlfriend, standing beneath cherry blossoms, eyes filled with nervous hope as she confessed.
And then—
The truck.
The red light.
The little girl frozen in fear.
The impact.
The pain.
Her screams.
I saw her face in my mind—her tears, her horror, her voice calling my name.
She had been right there. She saw me die.
My sisters—how long would they cry? My parents—how would they endure it? My friends, my teammates…
They were grieving me. Right now, at this very moment, they were mourning my death. And there was nothing I could do to tell them I was okay.
My chest felt tight.
I tried to scream, to cry, and to call out their names—but my body was too weak. The only sound that came out was a pathetic, gurgling whimper.
Tears welled in my tiny eyes.
I was gone from their world forever.
I would never see them again.
For a moment, I felt an unbearable loneliness—a pain worse than death itself.
But…
I knew them.
I knew my sisters would try to be strong for each other. I knew my girlfriend would cry, but she would move forward. My parents… they would grieve, but they would endure.
And if they could move forward—then so would I.
I clenched my tiny fists, steeling my resolve.
If I had been given another chance at life, then I wouldn't waste it.
I wouldn't let my new loved ones suffer the same way.
I swore, to everyone I left behind, I would live this life to the fullest. That I would find happiness again.
That I would protect those I love—so they would never have to cry the way my family did.
I am just a baby now but I will grow up. I will find out everything about this world.
I will train my mind and body. Hone my skills.
And protect my new life, new family and new world.
This was my new beginning.
Or so I thought.
Just as I steeled my resolve, a strange sensation overwhelmed me. It was as if something—or someone—was speaking directly into my soul.
A voice, ancient and powerful, echoed in the depths of my mind.
"The story have shifted, and fate has rewritten itself.
The wheel of destiny turns, and the world awaits its lost king.
One born of war, shaped by history, destined to walk the path of both conqueror and savior.
Rise, child of two lives—
For you shall destroy legends."
As the voice faded, a deep chill ran down my spine.
What… was that?
Who said that?
Was it a prophecy? A curse? A blessing?
I had no answers.
But one thing was certain—this world expected something from me.
And whether fate liked it or not, I would decide my own path.