Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Childhood Friend
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I'd been reincarnated into a fantasy world.
And as some kind of reincarnation perk, they tossed in a rather unusual ability to boot.
Its name was Body Hijacking.
Just as it sounds, the power to seize control of other people's dead bodies.
As long as it was a human corpse, I could possess it—male or female—and puppet it however I pleased.
'Still, turning into a woman feels a bit off.'
It had nothing to do with the ability itself. Just a difference in tastes.
I'd do it if I had to, but beautiful girl gender swaps weren't my thing.
There were no restrictions on this power either; I could fully replicate whatever skills the body had in life.
At first, I put it to good use for the public good.
I fought monsters as a knight and brought prosperity to the empire as a grand archmage.
I amassed unbelievable wealth and fame, and whenever that body kicked the bucket, I'd hop into a new one and do it all over again.
If I exaggerated a bit, you could say about a third of all those empire greats biographies sold on the streets were actually me.
'Not quite that many, though.'
Wealth and fame came and went in cycles until it all started feeling tedious.
Those things barely stirred me anymore.
I didn't even have much drive to avoid death.
This ability kept postponing it indefinitely, after all.
Maybe that's why I decided to use it for my own amusement instead.
If death was just a tool, it opened the door to all sorts of entertaining scenarios.
Black Curtain Play, Corruption Play, Despair Play, Harem Play... plenty to choose from.
But the one I could confidently say was my absolute favorite—
"No, don't! Pull yourself together, please...!!!"
'Savior Sacrifice Play.'
Save someone, then die in exchange while they watch.
Your benefactor dying right in front of you in your place. Hard to top that thrill.
Today, I was dying too. Right in front of my nominal childhood friend, a girl.
'Perfect. So perfect. What an expression.'
There was an extra reason I loved this Savior Sacrifice Play so much.
It could chain into follow-up plays.
Despair Play, watching her blame herself.
Black Curtain Play, reviving in the exact same body and showing up again.
Couldn't do without either one.
With my fading vision, I strained to look at my playmate.
I acted out the expression. Moderately sad, a touch of relief, a hint of joy—subtly complex and nuanced.
Skills I'd honed through endless repetitions.
As her childhood friend's form faded before her eyes, the girl's pupils filled to the brim with utter terror and despair.
Her hand trembled as she reached to caress my face, but my numbed skin registered nothing.
My vision darkened bit by bit, my breath rasping in my throat.
The peak of the performance.
With labored breaths like I was in agony, I locked eyes with her and cleared my throat.
"It's okay... I'm just glad... you made it out alive."
Last lines always had to be short and punchy. Nailing the emotional arc here was crucial.
Her screams grew distant as my consciousness sank into deep darkness.
The instant this body's vital signs flatlined, I was already plotting the next move.
'For the follow-up... give her some time to stew in self-blame before reappearing. Hmm, better make sure she doesn't shatter in the meantime. Should I stick a Helper on her?'
My awareness shifted to a new vessel. I awoke in a corpse I'd stashed not far away.
The so-called Helper character. The role that provided psychological care to keep the toy from breaking.
'Gotta decide later whether to kill the Helper too.'
If I offed the Helper as well, the toy sometimes killed herself.
It happened plenty in the early days, but as a seasoned pro now, it was rare.
'Still, a suicide attempt makes for a prime situation. The caretaking that follows is delicious too.'
I walked a little farther and gazed at the still-steaming Despair scene.
My childhood friend toy clutched the corpse, sobbing her heart out. I tweaked my voice tone and inflection slightly.
"Hey there! Looks like goblins hit this place—are you okay?"
She whipped around, her face a mask of pure despair.
This expression was gold. Pure gold.
"U-Uncle... m-my, my friend... my f-friend...!!"
I put on a grave face. Hurried over and checked the freshly dead body.
"Damn it...! If only I'd gotten here sooner...!"
There'd been no chance of that. I'd planned on dying anyway.
I shot a sidelong glance at the weeping childhood friend. Still an exquisite expression.
No wonder I couldn't quit this play.
After some time babying the toy in my Helper role, I stepped outside.
Caretaking was a hassle, but it had its own fun.
'Can't just do the fun stuff all the time.'
Like fine food or great music.
Eat nothing but delicious meals every day, and you'd tire of it fast. Sometimes you needed the bland stuff too.
That's when a signal chimed from my communicator—a magic device for long-range calls.
A call from Broker. He handled minor conveniences for me in exchange for pocket change.
"Hello? Shit. You finally picked up."
A distorted voice leaked from the communicator.
"Why the hell are you dodging calls? Play day today or what?"
Play days weren't all that common.
Delicacies were fleeting; the rest of the time was just prep.
Usually less than four times a year. Though some years had a ton.
"It's the joy of my life. Happens whenever. You must be used to it by now."
"Bullshit... As if anyone could get used to your sick hobbies. If there's cleanup this time, I'm done. Quitting and vanishing for good. Got it?"
Plays typically ended with either my death or the toy's.
But not always. Sometimes the toy awakened and came hunting for the bastard tormenting her.
We almost died for real once, me and Broker both, when I played with the Sword Saint.
She scoured the entire continent, turning it upside down to catch me.
'Wouldn't have actually died, though.'
I'd have set up a decoy and let her kill me once.
Broker probably would've died in the crossfire, but that wasn't my problem.
"Obviously. So what's up?"
"Those rebel bastards called a meeting. They want you there too. Sounds like an emergency, but you'll have to check the details yourself."
Those rebel bastards.
Literal rebels. The resistance group hell-bent on toppling the empire and founding their own nation.
One of my toys. My most promising one, even.
"I'll wrap this up and head right over."
I hung up and glanced around. Pure habit—no one was there.
I could only pilot one body at a time with my ability. But I juggled over three identities.
To resolve the contradiction, I disguised inactive bodies as being "on an extended trip."
Don't contact me while I'm away, that sort of thing.
Too many "trips," though, and some sharp-eyed busybody might get suspicious.
That's why I prepped a wide variety of excuses and scenarios.
Why I never let my toys exceed three at once, either.
'Would love to baby her more, but... no choice.'
I turned toward the inn where my childhood friend was holed up.
"Ceres. Feeling any better?"
My childhood friend toy's name was Ceres.
Ceres, lying on the bed, struggled to sit up. She was skin and bones from not eating.
"Uncle... h-how am I supposed to go on living now? Without her, I just... I can't..."
"Ceres... I get it. I really do. But this is exactly when you need to pull yourself together. If you die too, her sacrifice will have meant nothing."
Ceres, staring blankly into space with dead eyes, suddenly burst into sobs.
I continued calmly as she wept, fighting back the laughter bubbling up.
"Don't let her sacrifice be in vain, Ceres. Live your life right. It'll be the best thing—for you and for her."
Even as I said it, giggles kept threatening to escape.
It all felt so absurd.
Offing myself right in front of her, then preaching from the sidelines about not wasting my death.
'Necessary nonsense, though. Can't be helped. Can't think of better lines.'
"Ceres, I'm sorry to hit you with this when you're already struggling... but I'm planning to leave this village. Been here too long. Time to move on."
A heavy silence stretched out. I timed my next line—
Then Ceres forced her mouth open.
"Th-then... take me with you. Please."
I'd half-expected that.
Now, what to do.
This wasn't about whether it'd be a hassle or not.
Just whether it'd make for an interesting scene.
After a moment's thought, I gave her my answer.
"Will you follow me?"