I woke to the sound of wind brushing through leaves.
At first, that was all there was — wind and a faint warmth across my face. No alarms, no engines, no chatter, no announcements from crowded train stations. Just… nature. Pure, uninterrupted nature.
My eyes fluttered open.
I was lying on soft moss, surrounded by towering trees with trunks so wide I couldn't wrap my arms around them. Sunlight slipped through the canopy in beams so clear it felt like the air itself was shining. Everything smelled fresh, like damp soil, pine needles, and something else… mana. I didn't know how I recognized it, but the scent was strangely familiar, like a word I'd known all my life but never used.
I sat up slowly.
Immediately, a sharp, throbbing pain exploded inside my skull.
"Gah!"
I clutched my head as images, ideas, and facts that weren't mine forced themselves into my mind. Words I had never heard before. Landmarks of places I had never seen. Names of rulers I had never met. Knowledge poured into me like a waterfall, and all I could do was grit my teeth and endure it.
The country I was in, Veridelle, land of forests, old ruins, and mystic creatures.
The ruler, Queen Arathia Lysandria Veridelle, a monarch respected for her strength and feared for her policies regarding Cardmasters.
The currency, Lunars, minted in silver and gold, each marked with the kingdom's emblem.
The world, one ruled not by technology, but by Cards… the source of power for adventurers, warriors, and even kings.
And finall, Cardmasters, people capable of binding cards to their soul.
The pain lasted long enough to make me wonder if this was the price for reincarnation. But eventually it faded, leaving only an echo behind.
When I finally opened my eyes again, breathing hard, the knowledge settled inside me like pieces of a puzzle clicking into place.
"So… this is the new world."
My voice sounded different, deeper, smoother. This body wasn't Haruto's anymore. This was the body I had asked for. One that belonged to no one but me.
I reached into my pockets, unsure what I'd find.
To my surprise, my fingers brushed against thin, smooth, almost metallic surfaces. Cards.
I pulled them out.
They weren't like the playing cards from Earth. Each one shimmered faintly, like the surface of a lake reflecting moonlight. As soon as I touched them, I felt a faint pulse inside my chest, not physical, but spiritual. Like they recognized me.
I looked through them slowly.
Original (A) — Familiar Card: Moonfang Wolf
Original (S) — Weapon Card: Fragarach
Original (C) — Skill Card: Swordsmanship
Authentic (D) — Skill Card: Lightning Dash
Even with the little I knew, I understood how absurd this was.
"People spend years searching for one good card," I muttered. "And I start with… these?"
It didn't feel fair. It felt like cheating.
But I couldn't deny the relief washing through me. These weren't just good cards. They were a foundation, something people would kill for.
Literally. According to the knowledge forced into my brain, killing a Cardmaster was one of the only two ways to take their cards.
I swallowed hard at that.
"Alright. Maybe I shouldn't advertise what I have."
I slipped the cards back into my pocket. Then I noticed something else, a pouch tied to my waist. I opened it and saw gleaming golden coins. Heavy. Real. Enough to buy food and shelter for several weeks.
The being that reincarnated me… it really wasn't joking when it said it would prepare me.
I stood slowly and looked around.
The forest stretched endlessly in every direction. The trees were ancient and enormous, with roots thicker than cars back on Earth. Moss carpets covered the ground. Tiny floating lights, probably fireflies or something similar, drifted lazily through the air.
It felt like I'd been dropped into a painting.
"No phones. No technology. No internet…" I murmured. "Well, that part hurts."
Still, despite everything I'd left behind, I couldn't deny it:
This world was beautiful.
I walked through the forest, taking my time to adjust to the new senses of this body. My footsteps felt lighter, my breathing easier. Every sound was clearer, birds, insects, leaves rustling in the wind.
Eventually, I reached a break in the trees.
A lake stretched before me, so clear I could see the smooth stones below its surface. Sunlight shimmered across the water like broken silver.
I stepped toward the lake and leaned over the edge.
That was the first time I saw my new reflection.
"Whoa…"
I didn't look like Haruto anymore.
My hair was long and blonde, falling past my shoulders in gentle waves. My eyes were a bright, crystalline blue, not contacts, not artificial. Natural. My face looked symmetrical and sharp, almost regal.
"I look like a prince from a fantasy novel…"
It was surreal, almost embarrassing. I touched my cheek, and the reflection did the same. This was really me.
But despite the beauty of my new appearance, something else caught my attention more.
The world itself.
Far in the distance, rising above the treetops, stood a tree as tall as a skyscraper, its branches spread wide like the arms of a giant. Birds larger than airplanes soared overhead, their shadows sweeping across the land. The sky was clear, a deep blue decorated with drifting clouds.
This world felt alive in a way Earth never did. Untamed. Vast. Brimming with magic.
I sat by the lake for a while, letting everything sink in.
The Cardmaster system, the cards I had, the new identity I'd been given… and the fact that I had died saving two strangers on a train platform.
A clean slate.
A second chance.
Eventually, I stood and brushed dirt from my clothes. According to the knowledge I'd received, there was a small city not too far from here, Lunaris, a trade hub on the eastern edge of Veridelle. The perfect place to get my bearings.
I began walking.
The forest path was surprisingly easy to follow. Roots twisted across the ground like veins, but the terrain wasn't too rough. Along the way, I saw creatures that looked like deer made of light, foxes with crystalline tails, and flowers glowing faintly in different colors.
Everything was magical in some small way.
After an hour or two, the trees thinned, and I saw a wooden fence in the distance. Smoke rose from chimneys, and the sound of voices carried through the air.
A city.
Lunaris.
People bustled in and out of the gate, merchants, travelers, soldiers wearing leather armor, and even a few Cardmasters. I could tell who the Cardmasters were by the glowing insignias stitched onto their cloaks. They held themselves with confidence, though some were clearly less experienced than others.
I kept my head down. No reason to draw attention.
Inside the city, the streets were lively. Shops lined the roads, blacksmiths, potion sellers, card appraisers, food stalls, even fortune tellers. Children ran around waving wooden swords. Adventurers gathered near quest boards. Everywhere I looked, life thrived.
I found an inn near the center of the city. A simple wooden building with a blue sign that read Moonpath Rest.
The owner, an old man with a round face and kind eyes, greeted me warmly.
"A newcomer, eh? We always have room. You look like you've had a long journey."
"You have no idea," I said with a smile.
The room was small but cozy. A bed, a window, a desk. Better than I expected.
I lay down, feeling the exhaustion finally catch up to me.
My thoughts drifted.
What should I do with this new life?
I could live normally. Open a shop. Become a farmer. Hide my cards and try to live quietly.
But the idea didn't sit right.
I could become an adventurer, explore dungeons, hunt monsters, gain strength…
That felt exciting.
I could become a hero, save people, rise to prominence…
That felt idealistic.
Or, purely hypothetically, of course, I could become a villain, take over a kingdom, build an empire…
Yeah, that one was dangerous to even think about.
"…Or," I said to myself with a flat tone, "I could start a harem."
I snorted and immediately dismissed the idea.
"No. Absolutely not. I refuse to be that guy."
I turned toward the ceiling.
Whatever I chose, the truth remained:
My future is in my hands.
And this time, I won't waste it.
With that final thought, exhaustion pulled me under, and my first day in the new world came to a quiet close.