Finn Anderson
I sat at my desk, doing my daily work for the company I was in.
The silence was broken instantly when the boss's heavy footsteps approached the office door.
He had black hair that nearly covered one eye, a chubby face, and an intimidating belly that seemed to silence everyone who approached him.
Not to mention the awful odor that surrounded him.
He began slamming folders across each desk.
"I have more work for you, morons!" he shouted.
Each slam shook the room until he reached my desk.
The boss stared at me with a sense of excitement before slapping my left cheek, sending me flying in my chair.
"And you, Anderson, you know what happens when you try to disobey my orders," he snorted, a mocking laugh escaping his mouth.
"I understand," I quickly replied.
He walked closer, each step echoing in my ears until he stopped right in front of me.
This time, he slapped my right cheek,
producing a sharp sound that bounced through the office.
"You peasant!" the boss barked, giving me a cold, piercing stare before walking away,
leaving behind his terrible stench.
Slamming the door, restoring the quiet comfort of the office.
"Damn it! What the hell is his problem?" I exclaimed, looking around the room.
Everyone wore the same dead expression, their faces pale and their eyes lifeless, resembling zombies.
"Why was I so naive? All I do here is work and work. I barely get fed and haven't been outside in years."
At 24 years old, with a beard just beginning to form, my eyes felt soulless, my black hair obscuring my vision, and my body feeling like a twig.
It was as if my own body had betrayed me.
I was tired of this world.
This exhaustion showed whenever I dozed off, I always dreamed of being in a fantasy world as a young prodigy, wandering the world alongside my companions, fighting wild beasts, and climbing the ranks as an adventurer.
But each time I woke up to my boss yelling at me, I found myself trapped in the same reality.
"Why is my body betraying me?" I thought, desperate and defeated.
No one could hear my silent screams or see my tears as I slumped onto my hardwood table. It felt like the end. My hands were numb, tears streaming down my face, and my breathing growing shallow.
I was dying all alone.
"I miss my family, my friends, my children, and my lovely wife," I thought, overwhelmed with grief.
My body sagged lower, my heart slowed, and my mind began to collapse.
My final thoughts were simple: if I could get another chance at life, I would never be so naive.
Finally, the emptiness engulfed me, and I fell into darkness.
"Human of the Mortal Earth, why does the reality of your death make me so sad?"
The grand voice sprang in my ears, each word weaving a web of mystery as I struggled to understand my surroundings.
Dark shadows flickered across my vision, casting doubt on where I was and how I had drawn breath in this mysterious realm.
"If you remain silent, I will have no choice but to decide your fate myself."
I fought to open my mouth, but my body betrayed me, frozen and unresponsive. I tried to speak, but no words came out.
"How fascinating, it appears you seek a second chance for redemption, am I correct, Mortal?"
I was overwhelmed with confusion, yet that voice resonated deep inside me, as if it could read the depths of my soul.
"Your heart whispers to me, even as your lips remain sealed," it said softly, its tone strangely warm.
"Your soul radiates light, yet your mind is clouded with distress."
The ethereal voice continued to flow like a warm river, circling around my spirit, clearing my mind with its warm touch.
"I will transform your destiny for the better. Enter the realm of fantasies to become magnificent. Embrace the adventures, hone your power, and strive for greatness. Once you fulfill your potential, seek me out, and our paths shall meet again."
The voice slowly fell, and my mind regained its senses, still in awe of what just happened.
"Till we meet again, Mortal."
Everything fell into light, and my vision blurred more this time with an extra feeling of warmth and light.
As I slipped into unconsciousness, a wave of darkness surrounded me.
When I finally regained my senses, I found myself staring at an ominous green panel suspended in mid-air, its vibrant color casting a glow around me.
As I was about to look at my unclear surroundings the panel flickered softly, and strange symbols flung onto the screen.
A sudden sense of familiarity overcame me; this was no ordinary sight. The design was strikingly reminiscent of the interfaces from the video games I had spent hours immersed in before my job at the office—complete with health bars, quest notifications, and stats. As I processed the scene before me, the realization struck me: this immersive experience felt familiar, as if I were stepping into the world I had always dreamed of conquering.
*User has awoken.*
"Huh, what the hell is this?"
*Transferring data.*
*Congratulations, you have been gifted a unique trait: Lucky Charm.*
A wave of knowledge drenched my mind, I attempted processing as much as I could but I was halted in the process when a young figure stepped into the room resembling a maid, her hair a rich type of pink dropping to her upper abdomen and slightly less fascinating black eyes, I really couldn't fully peek at her beauty as my vision was still hazy.
I could sense the maid's footsteps come closer to me but thankfully my vision cleared revealing me a stunning room filled with texts, aristocratic scenery, and portraits of what seemed to be the manor and its knights.
I had only a few glances to check the room I was in but from what I saw
The room looked like a room for a young noble of some wealthy family. Especially looking like a bedroom for those rich brats from the Isekais that I used to be obsessed with, the ones that get reincarnated as the 7th son of some noble household and turn out to become the strongest.
I chuckled in my head speculating what that would be like if I were in their position. Even if I despised those brats back home.
My inner dialogue took hold when the maid approached me, bowing.
"Young Master please change into appropriate attire. Your martial arts instructor should arrive at the manor at any instant."