Eat Chicken When You Can – Reincarnated as a Girl
Reincarnated. And became a girl. Below feels empty, but my heart is full.
The Earth is intact... Even if it's different from the one I lived in before. With that black tower visible everywhere. Gates opening out of nowhere and monsters pouring out. The existence of superhumans who surpass human limits... Anyway, I was grateful that humanity was still alive and maintaining civilization.
"Hello, mister."
"Yuyeon’s back again!"
The advantage of a world where civilization and society endure? You can greet people properly. I bowed my head politely as I'd been taught, then attempted a miraculous transaction born of civilization.
"Three fish-shaped buns, please."
"I'll give you four, so fight on through the day?!"
"Our existence will fight on."
"Hahaha! Where'd you pick up a line like that?!"
"I read it in a book. Was it bad?"
"No! It's great! Our existence will fight on!"
Name: Han Yuyeon. Trait: flexibility. Age: 10. At elementary school, I receive basic education for surviving in this Earth. Despite being called elementary education, most of it revolves around 'How to Survive the Tower'. Summarizing the lessons drilled into us endlessly:
1. From age 20, you're forcibly abducted into the Tower and assigned a class. No one knows who, when, or what class—you just prepare survival methods before turning 20.
2. The Tower's trials divide into four difficulties: Easy, Normal, Hard, Hell. You choose most, but Hell is different. It's forcibly assigned to one random person on Earth. The problem? Most abducted into Hell don't last an hour and die. And we know their death times because...
Hazuki Reika (Swordsman) (21yo) – Floor 1
The Tower broadcasts climbs. This was the feed of the sacrifice dragged into Hell: a woman called Hazuki Reika. Surrounded by ghouls, she swung her sword wildly in terror, exhausted, and was torn apart.
"...Don't watch that, kids."
The teacher belatedly drew the curtains so we wouldn't be scared, but that's Hell for you. They drag someone in forcibly, broadcast the trial worldwide. Fail to clear it? They air your death in vivid detail. Truly vile. Rare clears happen, but they mean little. 25 years since the Tower appeared, Hell's Floor 1 clear rate is under 5%, highest record just Floor 5. Over a million dead already. About 110 a day. 40,000 a year dying in Hell.
No matter how you ignore it to live daily life, the pressure of not knowing when you'll be taken—and the terror it might be Hell—looms over society.
...Someday, I'll be taken too.
The Tower's top is Floor 100. Bases every 10 floors let you return here. You can re-enter if you want. Returnees get immunity from Hell—like an exemption ticket. That's what most aim for: pick Easy, hit Floor 10, return, live peacefully. But if everyone's doing Easy, who fights the strong monsters from gates? We need people to protect peace for civilization to endure.
If I'm taken... I'll go Hard. Higher difficulty means bigger rewards. To gain power against strong monsters, Hard makes sense.
I don't want to live alone again... so let's live diligently.
I have 10 years left. Maybe more—who knows the timing at 20. Use this time to eat and learn as much as possible. The sad part? My stomach's too small.
"...Yuyeon. Feeling better lately?"
"I'm always fine."
The teachers are extra kind knowing I'm an orphan. A caring society. Orphans are common here, yet they care. After personal counseling as always, I head back to the orphanage with the other kids like me. Tonight, I want chicken. But I still haven't finished Uncle Seongcheol's extra fish buns.
Ultimate technique: eat while walking. Clutching the bun, I munch and stroll.
"Nom nom nom."
Declaration: Han Yuyeon vs. fish bun—victory to Han Yuyeon. Barely finished, but seeing the shop reignites hunger. Maybe from past life starvation? Tempted for one more, I linger.
"Uncle Seongcheol..."
Gone. Must've stepped out. He's usually inside. I'll sit and wait. Backpack beside me, 5 minutes pass. Gazing at the Tower, a new broadcast starts.
Park Seongcheol (Warrior) (40yo) – Floor 1
"...Ah."
It's him. Uncle heaving ragged breaths against a ghoul pack. Warrior armor suits him, unlike his usual shabby clothes. Of all people, him at 40—luck for dodging so long turned curse. Watching, it's bad. Too tense, body stiff. He'll die soon like that.
I type in the broadcast chat.
Dead-silent chat, no reply. Of course—Hell victims never react to chat. It's just for viewers. Why even open it? Staring blankly without eating my bun, the outcome matches other sacrifices.
"......"
No more fish buns from him. Final goodbye to the empty shop.
On the way back, a chicken place appears, but appetite's gone. No rule saying today, so early bed. Small steps, 30 minutes trudging—worried backpack stunts growth—shoulders lighten, view shifts suddenly.
"...Huh."
Tower right ahead. Why? I'm only 10.
Should've gotten chicken. "Tower, sir. I'm still 10."
No reply, obviously. If it answered, would it drag folks to Hell to die? Tower's more bored than I thought.
"Hmm."
Past life, this life—always quick acceptance and flexible thinking for survival. Abducted at 10? Eh, must've calculated my past age too. No changing it anyway.
Welcome to the Tower of Trials.
"Ah, yes. Hello. I'm Han Yuyeon."
Your class is Maid.
"Huh?"
Wanted mage, got Maid out of nowhere. But okay—versatile job. Accepted. Blink—suddenly in maid outfit.
Your assigned difficulty is Hell.
"Huh...?"
Trial begins in 5 minutes.
Infuriating. Haven't eaten 100 chickens this life. Midway through indignant tears—stars twinkle overhead. Constellations from lessons. Greet them. Bow politely.
"Hello. I'm Han Yuyeon."
"?"
"?? "
What? Why react like that to a greeting? My manners lacking? No idea. Stretch while I can. Biggest change since becoming girl: super flexible body. Gymnastics to loosen up—stars sparkle more, ignored. Focus on class skills, not constellation messages. Stare at floating interface—desired screen appears.
Check Maid description first.
Maid: Versatile. Exists for the maid herself. Whether advantage or flaw depends on the maid's capabilities.
• Learns all skills without restriction.
• Max grade of non-unique skills reduced by 1.
Simple. Next?
Unique Skills:
Maid's Subspace Pocket (EX)
Maid's Grace (EX)
Stats: Str 1 / Agi 1 / Vit 1
Ooh, two EX-grades. Highest from lessons. Humanity's strongest has EX skills. Hell perks? But Maid's Subspace Pocket? Why "pocket"?
Maid's Subspace Pocket (EX): Subspace prepared for the maid.
• Store touched items in subspace (preserves quality).
• Stored items weightless until released from hand.
• Use Maid Points for subspace shop.
• Gain Maid Points from owner's satisfaction.
• Current owner: None
Owner. Maid Points. Sounds ominous, but accepted. Focus: storage method listed, no retrieval? Nothing to test. Next skill.
Maid's Grace (EX): A maid's dignity is her owner's. Maintain grace always.
• Increased mental anomaly resistance.
• Resists all contamination.
• Purifies surroundings.
• Maintains peak condition.
• Buffs most actions.
Amazing...? This generous? If Hell were kind, fewer deaths. Quick summary: Floor 1 foes—ghoul pack. No weapon, no attack skills. Str...
Pop—5 minutes gone. Empty space becomes forest. Familiar from broadcast. Uncle died ahead. Read popup first.
Tower of Trials Floor 1 – Blood-Stained Forest
Once blessed by light, verdant woods. But red moon rose, monsters rampaged—now blood-soaked.
Main Objective: Survive threats prowling the forest.
No need for summary—three lines. Grateful for eye-friendly text, touch tree to check strength. Much stronger than pre-Tower.
"Hm."
No good weapons. Just pebbles. Try storing pebbles in subspace.
◈ Stored in subspace.
"Oho." Touch and think "store"—feels sucked in. Now, retrieve? Retrieve pebbles. ...Nothing?
"Tower, sir. Explanation's too curt. More subspace details, please."
Hm. Sigh-worthy question? Constellations are way above me—mine seems foolish. Find answers myself. Pondering while stuffing pebbles—soft woman's voice.
"Hng... Like this... I'll... end up... a total mess..."
Found her—99% Floor 1 death rate priestess. Black-haired Ravina, leaning on tree, dying. Longsword in gut, from Hell info posts. Approach stroking blade with ragged breaths.
"Hello. I'm Han Yuyeon."
"A child...? Why's a kid in this forest..."
"I'm wondering too."
"Run...! Ghouls... Ngh—!"
Hell indeed. Already surrounded. My feed's worldwide now? If filming, look cute. V-sign to unknown camera. Then—sadness hits.
Drip. Tears flow, body shakes. Should've gotten chicken.