It was a tragedy.
"We can't do anything to save him."
Those quiet words declared my fate. The end.
...It wasn't fair.
I had just started my career. I had everything in the world to look forward to. After working so hard, suffering so much, failing to meet so many expectations... I had finally stepped foot on my path. The skills I sharpened after all those years failing were finally being put to use.
And it was over...? Just like that?
One moment. It was a single moment.
I was supposed to celebrate Christmas. It was the first year I could finally buy gifts for everyone. The first year that I could hold my head up high after a decade with nothing to show.
So... why? Why did it end up like this?
A single turn. A bright flash. The shrill screech of tires and the blare of car horns...
And then I was like this.
I couldn't see. I couldn't move. I couldn't talk.
All I could do was listen. As if I was already dead, the only thing left to me was helplessly hear the world around me, unable to interact.
It was cruel. If it was going to be that way, why not take my hearing as well? Why leave me like this?
What did I do to deserve this fate?
"...I understand."
A different voice from the first. My father's.
It was cold. Monotone. But not because he didn't care.
No. It was like that because he cared too much. Because he didn't want to show himself breaking down, he shut off his emotions and kept a level tone.
And that hurt.
It hurt because he had just started being lively again. After I started getting my life back together, he started adding some cheer back into his words when he talked to me. He started being proud again of his son.
But... But now...
A soft sigh echoed. After that, I felt a presence draw near. Not the doctor's but one that I knew well. My father.
The powerful presence that I relied on all this time. The one who I thought would always be there to protect me. The one who I used as an excuse to run around wasting my life on random skills, trying out all sorts of get rich schemes, testing all the shortcuts in the world... And the one whose expectations I kept betraying.
Until recently. Just recently, I could finally hold my head up high and meet his gaze. Could proudly face him and say that he didn't have to worry about me anymore.
But... now...!
"You worked hard, Son." A soft and tired voice. With it, I felt a rough but gentle hand brush my forehead. "I'm... I'm so proud of you."
Clipped words. Again, cold.
But I knew the truth behind them. How he was just holding himself back so that I wouldn't hear him cry.
And then he was gone. Footsteps drifted off to the distance, leaving my side.
A long sigh echoed in the room. The doctor's. And then after that... a long drone echoed. The sound of a flatlining heartbeat monitor.
I was dead.
It was the end.
My life was over. A life hailed as a genius, failing to live up to that name due to my laziness, being humbled by countless failures from trying to ride on talent, and only realizing at the end that diligence was key. That it didn't matter if I didn't look good, but that if I tried, there would be people to help support me.
But it was too late.
I wanted to make them proud. Mom. Dad... I wanted to live up to the expectations they had of me. I wanted to make up for wasting so many years and causing them so much pain.
I... I didn't want to die!
I didn't want my life to end like this!
I don't want my life to end in vain!
I...!
-LIV-
...I suddenly woke up.
My vision that had been stolen came back. Along with it came my sense of smell, taste, and touch. In exchange, it seemed like my hearing was blurred now. No, my vision was a bit blurry too and my body didn't really obey me.
I swept my gaze around to gather my bearings. And when I did, I realized that there was someone looking down at me. A beautiful young woman with clear blue eyes and blonde hair.
Was she a doctor? No, she looked too young to be one. Then... who was she?
As I was pondering that, another person came into view. A tall and handsome man with short brown hair, matched with a short ponytail. Unlike the woman, his eyes were a light green color. And as those eyes looked at me, the man smiled and they lit up.
The woman looked at the man and smiled as well.
Happiness, joy...
But I didn't get it. What were they so happy about?
And where was I? No, where was my dad? The hospital?
The man reached out to grab me, a wide grin on his face. As he did, I felt myself lifted through the air.
I wanted to squirm and break free. But before I did that, I noticed my surroundings and paused.
It wasn't a hospital.
First of all, the walls were wooden and the furniture looked a bit rustic. Mostly Victorian style.
Second of all, there was a beautiful woman standing in the back wearing a maid outfit. It would have been one thing if she was a nurse. I could have accepted the weird room as being a home hospice if she was. But that was clearly a maid outfit, complete with the white frills.
Third of all... and most importantly...
When I looked down at the man who picked me up, I noticed that my hands were in front of me. And I noticed that my hands were tiny. Small, compared to the man's face. In fact, only big enough to barely grab his nose.
And with that, I understood.
I was dead.
And now, I was alive again.
Reborn as a baby.
When that thought crossed my mind... When I had that realization, I did what any reasonable person would do.
I blacked out.
I have already believed that every story written by you will be a masterpiece, excited what will you write this time . Good luck and take care
Thank you! And you take care as well!
Okay, wow. Mushoku Tensei? I remember reading it many years ago. Never finished it, but it was one of my favorite novels back then. Holy duck. My only concern on whether to read this or not is that I don't know how frequently the release schedule will be. You have like, thousands of novel... not sure how you'll be able to find time to give this baby some love, but I'll add it to my reading list.
Also, hope it's gonna be a harem, or at least one girl. I know I sound cliché, but Mushoku Tensei had maaaany interesting girls.
Still looking forward to more chapters of your SCOG fanfic, Vain. You better get to work or else...
I don't know how frequently the release schedule will be.
Fair point. I also don't know how frequent the release schedule will be. I might just write this in arcs and have a brief hiatus between each major part. Like one for up til the teleport incident, then the magic continent, then the next part, etc. We'll see though.
I'll make a status update when there's a decent chunk to read though. For now you can think of this is as just me putting the chapters in a convenient place for me to be able to read them as well.
Also, hope it's gonna be a harem, or at least one girl. I know I sound cliché, but Mushoku Tensei had maaaany interesting girls.
Well, it's definitely going to be at least one girl. The order in which that happens might be switched up a bit though because of certain events.
Still looking forward to more chapters of your SCOG fanfic, Vain. You better get to work or else...
Hey, I need a change of pace sometime! And the next chapter's already written. Just editing it now.
Anyway, thanks for reading and leaving your thoughts! I appreciate it!
@HappyVainGlory
Oh, may I suggest you post this story on fanfiction.net too? Not sure if it would be worth the extra few clicks every time you release a chapter, but it would be a good way to expand your reader base and get more feedback. The folk over there loves writing lengthy reviews.
@Nneeil Oh yeah. Forgot about that place. Thanks for the reminder. I'll think about it. Updating things become a bit more of a hassle with more sites though... Mm. Yeah, I'll think about it.
I could not have clicked sooner when I saw a Mushoku fic from Vain - looking forward to this!
I've got up to the teleport incident drafted out, so we'll see how it goes. That draft doesn't include slice of life stuff, so... yeah. Should be fun though! Thanks for reading!
What the heck, the begining cuts really deep... nice find. Gonna enjoy this, loved the manga though I didn't finish it as the updates were really slow and I kinda forgot with all the things I read. Will he replace the Original Mc? Or will there be two reincarnators?
Does this require reading the light novel to follow this story?
This one borrows a lot of elements from later in the story and shuffles some things around, but you won't need to know them to follow the story. You'll definitely get more from knowing how it ends originally though. Like probably figuring out the big 'why' everything is happening as well as subtle call outs to how things got swapped around.
Maybe.
My life was over. A life hailed as a genius, failing to live up to that name due to my laziness, being humbled by countless failures from trying to ride on talent, and only realizing at the end that diligence was key. That it didn't matter if I didn't look good, but that if I tried, there would be people to help support me.
Insert 'I am in this picture and I don't like it' meme here. Jokes aside first thing came out to my mind when I read this sentence is "is that me?" Lol
Like yes, that's really how my life was potrayed
So cheers for the new story! Although kinda shame as I kinda hoping Vain would go changing the canon alongside Rudeus but this is also fine
Thanks for the chapter!
PS. Also try to read The Beginning After The End, available in both web novel and webcomic version
Insert 'I am in this picture and I don't like it' meme here. Jokes aside first thing came out to my mind when I read this sentence is "is that me?" Lol
I've gotten that a few times from people reading that part actually.
Makes me concerned about the state of society quite a bit though...
So cheers for the new story! Although kinda shame as I kinda hoping Vain would go changing the canon alongside Rudeus but this is also fine
Thanks! And no. That's for my Danmachi fanfic that will come out whenever I get around to finishing Glorious Vanity.
Also try to read The Beginning After The End, available in both web novel and webcomic version
Ooooh! Thanks for the reminder! I've been waiting for more of that to come out since the first chapters of the web novel were posted. I'll need to check back in and co- Do some research.
@HappyVainGlory
I've gotten that a few times from people reading that part actually.
Makes me concerned about the state of society quite a bit though
Oh boy, things escalated quickly and I' kinda glad(?)(sad?) I wasn't the only only one
That's for my Danmachi fanfic that will come out whenever I get around to finishing Glorious Vanity.
Whoa, what a surprise XD .But yeah probably still far in the future yeah
And you are welcome~
@LKADITY
Oh boy, things escalated quickly and I' kinda glad(?)(sad?) I wasn't the only only one
Yeah. Mixed feelings on this fact...
Whoa, what a surprise XD .But yeah probably still far in the future yeah
Yeah. I mean, Babel is in both. There's leveling. Freyr's a goddess and then there's Freya... The events at the end of GV that I've got planned line up with a potential reason for Orario and the dungeon to exist... should be fun. Eventually.
My life was over. A life hailed as a genius, failing to live up to that name due to my laziness, being humbled by countless failures from trying to ride on talent, and only realizing at the end that diligence was key. That it didn't matter if I didn't look good, but that if I tried, there would be people to help support me.
Wow, I hardly ever read something relatable in any web novel, but that really hit me hard.
The best works of fiction have truth woven inside their tales. :nodnod:
Thanks for reading!
Nice
Thanks for reading!
Hoho, and now it begins. Keep them fanfic coming Vain !
Thank you for reading! And... ahaha, I'll try. I'm working hard to get a more cost efficient and mental energy efficient system down to an art. I really, really, really want to write all this stuff, but there's just legitimately not enough time.
Yet.
Gotta learn how to zoom...
good choice! looking forward to how things progress!
Thanks for reading! It'll probably be similar to the original at first, but I think I'll play it looser from the beginning in this than in First of Vainglory. We'll see though.
I will say one thing: I don't believe in no Hitogami, and that guy ain't giving me no advice.