The city looked beautiful from up here.
Too beautiful.
Noah swayed as he stood at the edge of the rooftop, an empty beer can dangling loosely from his fingers.
His legs trembled—not from the wind, but from the alcohol burning in his veins.
He glanced at his phone.
0.00 balance.
Figures.
A bitter laugh slipped out.
"I never knew… this shitty city could look this beautiful," he muttered, tipping the last of the beer over the edge.
The drops glittered as they fell—like tiny stars returning to the sky.
Then a memory flashed—her smile.
Warm. Gentle. A smile that used to make his whole world brighter.
A sharp ache stabbed his chest.
"Maybe… maybe this is how it's supposed to end," he whispered, voice cracking.
He looked down again.
The streets twisted far below like an endless, dark river.
His body shook. His breath hitched.
I can't.
I can't do it.
"I… I'm such a coward," he muttered, stepping back shakily from the edge. "I don't want to end this way… not yet…"
His foot slipped.
"Huh—?"
The heel of his shoe skidded on spilled beer.
His body lurched backward—balance vanishing instantly.
"No—no, no—no—!"
He reached for anything—air, railing, a miracle—but his fingers closed on nothing.
Gravity won.
The world flipped upside down.
Wind roared past his ears.
His heart slammed against his ribs.
Fear.
Regret.
Darkness creeping in at the edges of his vision.
As everything faded, a small, tired smile touched his lips.
So this is it… my end…
---
…Huh? What's this feeling…?
He opened his eyes.
Am I… dead?
The sky above him shimmered with countless stars—brighter and more beautiful than anything he had ever seen.
He tried to get up.
"Ahh—what the hell… why does my body hurt?"
Every muscle, every bone screamed in pain.
His body felt like it had been crushed and stretched at the same time.
I feel pain. That means I'm not dead. But… where the hell am I? This doesn't look like the city…
Ding! Ding!
A strange glowing screen hovered in front of him, floating in the middle of nowhere.
"Wh… what is this? Am I dreaming?"
He reached out, but his hand passed right through the screen.
"Huh. Looks like I can't touch it."
"Get away from me, you freak!" the screen shouted.
Noah jumped back, heart hammering.
"Ahhhh! The… the screen just spoke?!"
"Yes, I spoke!" the screen snapped. "And will you stop screaming?!"
"O-okay… okay…" Noah stammered, trying to calm down.
"Humans…" the screen muttered.
"Umm… excuse me. Can I ask you something? Who are you? The last thing I remember—I was falling from a building. I should've been dead! where am I?"
"Well, Mr. Noah , I can't tell you who I am.
For your second question—yes, you died."
"SO I REALLY DIED?!"
"And for your last question—you have been transported to another world. In your world, I believe you call it… 'isekai.'"
"Isekai?" Noah blinked. "Like… in anime?"
"Yes. Exactly like that."
The screen flickered, almost like it was nodding.
"So, Mr.Noah you've been given one more chance at life."
Noah chest tightened.
"One more chance…" he whispered.
"Yes. And let me make something very clear," the screen continued sharply.
"This is your only chance. If you die now, there will be no new body. No revival. No reset. You die here—you're gone forever."
Noah swallowed hard.
"Wait… why was I sent here? And this body—it doesn't look like mine. Did you make it?"
"No. I didn't create the body. It originally belonged to a kid—but that kid is dead.
I simply transferred your soul into the available vessel."Noah stared at the floating screen, still trying to swallow everything it had said.
Another world.
Another body.
A dead kid.
Noah's stomach twisted.
"So… the body I'm in… belonged to someone who died?"
"Yes," the screen replied bluntly. "Tragic, isn't it? Anyway—moving on."
"W-wait! Moving on?!
"We don't do emotional counseling here," the screen grumbled. "Now stand up and look at yourself."
Noah exhaled shakily and pushed himself up.
Pain stabbed through his legs, ribs—even his fingertips.
"Damn it… why does everything hurt?"
"Because the body you're in was in terrible condition. Try not to die again, alright?"
Noah finally managed to stand.
He looked down.
His hands were small.
His arms thin.
His clothes torn, dirty, stained with dried blood.
"…A kid," Noah whispered. "I really… became a kid?"
"Roughly fourteen years old," the screen confirmed. "The previous owner died just a few hours ago."
"How did he die?" Noah asked quietly.
The screen flickered—its tone shifting slightly.
"…Unknown. I only transferred your soul. The death could've been an accident… or possibly an attack."
A cold shiver crawled up Noah spine.
For the first time, he truly looked around him.
Tall grass swayed gently.
Distant mountains towered under the star-filled sky.
A dark, silent forest waited nearby—unnaturally still.
Wait since i have been reincarnated does that mean do I get to have some power, like the protagonist in anime?" Noah asked, excitement lighting up his face.
"You silly human. Life is not an anime. You will not get power just like that. And what makes you think you're the main character? Are you dumb?" the screen said sarcastically.
All the excitement vanished from Noah's face, as if someone had shattered his dreams.
"Wait… so I don't get to be an all-powerful main character? You should have just let me die. What's the point of being reincarnated then?" he said listlessly.
"Well, don't look so down. You can still get powerful in this world. After all, magic does exist here," the screen said, trying to cheer him up.
"So… hang in there…"
Noah stared at the screen. Really?
Yes really the screen replied
"So… can you teach me how to use magic?" he asked eagerly.
"Well, I can't exactly teach you myself."
"Huh? Why not?"
"I'll explain that later. Besides, I think you have a bigger problem right now."
"Problem? What do you mean…?"
"Where did that boy go? Search him! If we don't find him, the boss is going to kill us!"
"Wha… what people?" Noah whispered, looking around.
It looked like they are searching for someone.
Noah looked down at himself. "Oh crap…"
They are probably searching for me
"I think you should hide for now," the screen advised.
"You're right… . I should better run for now."
Crap, crap… where should I go? They're really close, and I didn't even notice them, Noah thought, scanning the area.
He noticed a thick bush. I should hide in there for now…
"This is your fault! You were supposed to look after the slaves! Do you know how much a single slave costs?" one of the voices shouted.
"Ok, ok, stop nagging! He shouldn't have gone far with his injury. Keep searching," another voice replied.
slave traders?
"Shh… don't speak! you will get me killed!" Noah thought.
oh, don't worry. They can't hear me," the screen said.
"They can't hear you? Wait… how did you hear me?" Noah asked, surprised.
"Oh that we can talk using telepathy,"
Noah's froze. Seriously?
" where did that guy go Let's check that way. He must be hiding somewhere…"
The voices faded.
That was close… I should get out of here—
A hand grabbed him.
"Found you."