Darkness was the first thing that greeted Sora as soon as she regained consciousness. That too without any pressure or discomfort. In fact, it feels warm and calming. It felt like Sora could fall asleep soundly if she continued like this.

'But shouldn't I be dead?'

Soon Sora remembered something from before.

When she was picked up by three young men because of her charm. Then Sora refused with a bit of rude action. But that sparked their anger and ended in a murder case. What's more, it all ended with Sora falling free and sinking into the sea. It was as if Sora had been hit by a triple-hit combo of bad luck. 

What a sad day.

‘Is it a miracle I'm still alive?’

‘Ah, no, wait... Something feels strange.’

‘So that's it... I can't move. Or rather I didn't feel my usual hands, feet, or other body parts. Maybe this is something commonly called the soul? A phenomenon of detachment of spiritual consciousness from the material body?’

She wasn't sure, but Sora noticed the discomfort of her perception.

Sora is dead, that's true. When someone dies, all body functions will stop. From a spiritual perspective, something called the 'soul' is no longer attached to the material body. That's why Sora considers herself to be a 'soul' now.

Sora also didn't feel like she was under the sea, like what should have happened to her body before...

‘Uh, wait a minute! I can experience sensing even after becoming a 'soul'!?’

‘No, no, no... there must be something wrong. Right, this is probably something like an inner perception carried by the soul, right?’

‘But, do dead people still carry memories and awareness of previous lives...?’

‘Hah... I don't know what happened to me anymore. Let's just say that memory and consciousness are also an innate part of the spiritual nature.’

There are indeed various theories that seem to explain life after death. But Sora didn't know much about it. she was not a religious person but was more inclined towards scientific and philosophical thinking. For her, life after death may be more of an unsolved mystery than a definite belief.

But that doesn't mean Sora doesn't know metaphysical or spiritual things. Even though she prefers a scientific approach, she is also open about general knowledge or things that are trending on the internet. Sora knows general knowledge that comes from certain beliefs of the world's major religions, and from fictional things that are usually revealed in novels, manga, or anime.

For example, the existence of the afterlife, a place where souls who have been freed from material life reside, something that is often reported by the world's leading religions, and an event called reincarnation, which has often been the main theme of light novels recently.

But Sora still couldn't conclude what happened to her. Is the darkness that surrounds her now a picture of the afterlife or is this what is known as sinking into nothingness? 

If you say the afterlife there may be some truth to it. Sora doesn't feel like she has a body but still has a sense of her surroundings. The surroundings were also dark, without the slightest light, worthy of being called complete emptiness. But considering her senses, it felt like Sora could still move a little, and what she felt was something like a partition wrapping around her.

That's why it's also possible to say this situation is the condition before the reincarnation phase begins.

‘Huh... is the influence of the internet that bad? Suddenly there was an image of me being the main protagonist who was reincarnated into another world.’

‘If this was a state leading to reincarnation, it would be easier if there was something like a God or life administrator explaining this and that. But something like that only existed in novels that prioritized plot convenience.’

‘Well... there's no point in thinking about the unknown. It's better to stop and sleep or it will drive me crazy.’

When Sora thought there was no point in thinking further, she decided to put aside all her problems and chose to go to sleep. But just then a voice interrupted her inner thoughts.

‘No, why would Sora want to sleep in a situation like this?’

‘...hah?’

Of course, Sora was surprised. Who wouldn't be surprised by such things? If someone appeared in front of you suddenly, of course, you would be surprised. Likewise, with a voice that suddenly interrupts your thoughts. You will definitely be surprised. Especially if it's a sound that sounds much closer than the sound of someone startling you from behind. If you suffer from heart disease, you may die from extreme shock or shock.

Well, Sora is dead now. So such worries are meaningless.

‘Who? Who is there? Is there anyone else besides me here?’

Because darkness stole her vision, Sora couldn't see anything. She also couldn't speak to voice her panic.

Sora only voiced it in her mind, because the voice she heard before also didn't come through her ears but spoke directly in her mind.

‘Well, in simple terms I am Sora and Sora is me’

The voice sounded again in her mind, which made Sora believe it was something that might be called telepathy. A technique that usually appears in works of fiction with the theme of psychic abilities.

‘...At least, can you explain it in more detail? Because of my death, it seems like I no longer have a brain. So my thought process is a bit slow now.’

The explanation given by the voice did not satisfy Sora. But Sora was still able to act calmly to give a reaction even though there was a little confusion. It was because there was something in her mind that somehow told her not to worry too much. And Sora secretly felt like she knew something even though no one was telling him.

‘If Sora can still think, that means Sora's brain still exists... Well, never mind... Back to before, that means I'm Sora's other self.’

‘Sora should have guessed, the mechanical voice that sounded when Sora was dying.’

‘....’

In the depths of her heart, Sora should have understood the meaning of the voice that spoke in her mind. Or rather Sora should have understood the situation, but her rational mind never provided a path that led to the truth.

It was a familiar mechanical sound that she heard when she was dying. Sora knew because it seemed to be stored in her subconscious mind. But if Sora continues to dig into it, she might go crazy and drift further away from reason.

But Sora also knew that she couldn't keep deviating from the right direction.

[Voice of the World], a mechanical sound that is supposed to be the setting in the world of the anime 'That Time I Reincarnated as a Slime'.

‘Sora shouldn't deny it, because from now on everything will follow this flow. Sora was already a part of it and I was something that was born as a result of Sora's skill acquisition.’ 

‘Hah... I still don't want to admit it. A world that is supposed to be fictional. I would be more accepting if it was a parallel world or 'isekai' that was free from human interference.’

‘Well... maybe there was a god who ran out of ideas in creating the world. As a result, they took human ideas as a reference...’

‘I don't want to hear ridiculous stories like that...’

Although Sora is the daughter of a prominent family, who is required to behave like a young lady educated in etiquette and knowledge, Sora also has hobbies that she does in her free time. All of this was done as a refresher so that she wouldn't be too stressed.

Playing games, watching anime, or other otaku hobbies are Sora's daily activities behind her young woman's face. So a famous anime like Tensura, of course, Sora knows about it. Sora is also secretly a fan.

But as a fan, just being able to watch the series is enough. You don't have to be rewarded to be reincarnated into the world of Tensura.

If there really was a high-level existence who casually placed Sora on her game board, like it or not, if Sora could meet him, the first thing she would want to do would be to slap him in the face.

What Sora wants is to die in peace, not become the toy of an irresponsible God.

Even so, there was nothing Sora could do. As a low-level creature, all she could do was cry over spilled milk.

‘So how? If she doesn't like it, Sora can still commit suicide to die one more time and then be able to sleep peacefully. But isn't that a waste? After all, this is Sora's favorite anime.’

‘I don't know whether to be happy or sad about this...’

‘But isn't that what Sora usually dreams of? When I saw Sora's memories, I knew that Sora was a late-stage ‘chunii’ sufferer. When alone in her room, she often acts like an antagonist who brings darkness and destruction. She even said 'Argh! My right eye...' or something like 'Anyone gets in my way, I will destroy them...', like that.’

‘Huh...!?What are you doing!? Don't peek into other people's memories without permission!? Or rather why do you know my memories!?’

'Hah? But as another part of Sora, I can't help but already have all the memories about Sora. So it's pointless, right?'

‘Geh! ..I know... B-but at least please don't bring up my dark history. I-if you were me, you'd have shame too, wouldn't you?’

‘Well, now that I think about it, it seems embarrassing, so I'll do it.’

‘If you already know it's embarrassing, why even bring it up in the first place... hah, I want to take a break...’

But somehow all of those interactions made all of Sora's previous worries disappear. She hadn't spoken much for a long time since her parents died. Sora also doesn't delve into her otaku hobbies. At that time she was grieving the loss of her parents and even had to fight with her uncle and aunt. Apart from studying independently, Sora also has to be busy with her school life because she is in the third year of high school and is worried about her future. There was no thought of hiring a maid because Sora was calculating and that was also to prove that Sora could live independently.

‘Well... I guess I'm also looking forward to it a bit, a second life in the world of Tensura. Just hope it's not too harsh...’

‘No one can guarantee that, but don't worry, I will always accompany Sora here. Moreover, with the original knowledge and three unique skills that Sora has, the chances of survival are increased.'

Hearing that, Sora became even calmer. Is it like the feeling of having a friend who is always with her, maybe something like that? Sora wasn't sure, but it sounded reliable and had the effect of calming her uneasy heart a bit.

‘Thanks for that,... um, my other self? That's strange, do you have a name?’

‘Well, because I am Sora, my name is also Sora...’

‘I see... that's difficult. For a while how about using my second name? So I'm Sora and you're Aoi.’

'I see, that's fine too. After all, it's too strange to call if the name is the same.’

‘Then in the future, I will rely on your support, Aoi.’

‘I also ask for your support, Sora.’

‘By the way, from the words of the Voice of The World that I remembered earlier, it seems that I will become some kind of marine life form. So most likely our place of life is the sea. But am I still an egg right now?’

‘I think so. But Sora was aware. Maybe that's a sign that it's time for Sora to hatch?’

‘Is that so? But how do I get out?’

‘By forcefully breaking out?’

‘...I guess that's the only way.’