Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Archvillain's True Identity
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They say accidents strike when you least expect them.
I was hit by a large truck while using a crosswalk. I even had the green light.
What followed was a total cliché.
As if the whole truck-to-another-world joke was real, when I opened my eyes, a completely different world unfolded before me.
In an unfamiliar body, no less.
Naturally, I started moving—to figure out what this world I’d woken up in was, and to survive.
I didn’t expect to live a smooth life like in a comic or a novel.
But I at least wanted to avoid getting caught up in trouble as much as possible.
Despite my cautious actions, I ran into problems far sooner than I’d anticipated.
The cause was my beauty.
Even as a young girl, my face was striking enough to capture people’s attention.
At first, it was pretty good.
Being a child made it easy to earn people’s sympathy, and my looks made it easier to win them over.
To me, who was penniless and at a loss for how to survive.
People were the first to extend a hand in goodwill.
Looking at it that way, it might not seem like a problem.
But I was gravely mistaken.
-Hey, kid. Ever thought about working in this line of business? With a face like yours, you'd definitely boost our sales…!
-Little one, it's dangerous to wander around here alone. Come with me.
-Hey, what are you idiots spacing out for? Get over there and grab that kid! She'll be worth a fortune!
Everywhere I went, people made passes at me, tried to drag me to strange places, or attempted to capture me.
All sorts of people clung to me, becoming a nuisance.
On unlucky days, I was often caught and found myself in crisis.
Of course, I managed to escape and survive each time.
*It was truly awful, even thinking back on it now.*
Anyway, for that reason, I began to wander from place to place with my face hidden.
And I came to learn about this world.
First, this wasn't the Earth I had lived on.
It was similar to Earth, but unlike it, this was a considerably more dangerous world.
A city built upon magic and highly advanced science and technology.
Within the city, humans lived alongside various other races.
At a glance, one might think it wasn't a bad world to live in, but like the negative aspects of any futuristic world, it was rife with extreme individualism and a faded sense of morality and ethics.
It was a bleak world, to say the least.
With all sorts of problems erupting, the city's public safety naturally hit rock bottom.
The world was hurtling toward ruin, to the point where it wouldn't be strange if it collapsed tomorrow.
The way it precariously held itself together felt so contrived, it was as if I’d stepped into a web novel or a comic book.
*What did I do so wrong in my past life to be reincarnated in such a dangerous world? It still makes me shudder to think about it.*
But what could I do?
Even though I’d drawn the short straw, I wasn't foolish enough to end my own life.
Of course, it's difficult for a child like me to survive in such a perilous world.
I sometimes saw other kids my age, but when I returned to those spots, they would be gone one day.
I trembled in anxiety, wondering if I would end up like them.
But fortunately, it wasn't long before I realized I had a special power.
And I lived by using that power without hesitation.
-You crazy bastard. What the hell are you? Which organization sent you?
-I'll give you all the money and women you want, just spare my life… Aaargh!
-The Grim Reaper is here! Everyone, run!
After stirring up trouble here and there trying to live comfortably, I had somehow become one of the top figures in the criminal underworld.
I just wanted to live quietly.
*Sigh.*
◆
A small building, long devoid of any human warmth.
Inside, items no better than trash were arranged in a relatively neat fashion.
They were things people had thrown away, items I had carefully selected from the junkyard that were still usable.
I flopped down on a worn-out sofa in the corner.
This eerie, abandoned building was my base. It was an ownerless building, so there was no problem with me using it.
*Though the lack of electricity and heating is more than a little inconvenient.*
You might wonder why I live in a place like this. With my power, couldn't I live somewhere much better?
First of all, I'm a person who can't prove my identity—an illegal immigrant stranded in another world.
Naturally, no one would take in such a suspicious person, so I can't work a respectable job in the light.
Of course, I could find work in the underworld. The problem is that it's unsuitable for a child.
In the end, I chose the simple option of extorting money from bad people.
Anyway, I took their cash and made money by selling their valuables through a fence.
And with the money I earned, I got my own place and decorated it lavishly with various expensive items.
But I had to give up that cozy home I had so carefully decorated.
The reason was simple.
Various factions caught my scent from somewhere and came looking for me.
I fought and drove them away each time, but I love peace and prefer to be quiet.
A life of constant fighting is empty. In the end, I gave up first and moved to a different base.
And the place I found was here.
A junkyard where no one ever comes.
Reflecting on my past mistakes, this time I'm moving cautiously, saving up a moderate amount of money.
*Of course, there is a much easier way to make money than what I’m doing now.*
A rumor about me circulates through the city.
The people of the city call me the ‘Grim Reaper.’
It's a nickname that came about as a result of my meddling here and there.
Naturally, it doesn't have a good meaning.
To put it simply, it implies that I'm a terrible, atrocious archvillain.
People are so afraid of me that they treat it like some kind of urban legend.
So, the easy way would be to form an organization and bring criminals under my command in the name of the Grim Reaper.
At the very least, I could live like the leaders of major criminal organizations, sitting on a cushion of cash.
But I don't want to!
*If I create an organization, I’ll eventually have to get my hands dirty to keep it running.*
I don't really care if bad people die, but I might end up extending my reach to the powerless.
Having lived in a peaceful era before…
I don't want innocent people to get hurt because of me.
Also.
*It’s bound to be a pain. I’m not cut out to stand above others and lead them. Let alone leading a bunch of villains. The mere thought is horrifying.*
Being a leader isn't easy.
Especially since I'd have to control and monitor the criminals with my own power to keep them from crossing the line.
It would be truly exhausting.
I don't want to take on such a troublesome task for the sake of immediate convenience.
And one last thing.
*Who would follow someone in this body? It would just attract enemies from all sides.*
Right now, I'm a little girl.
If they found out that the fearsome Grim Reaper was actually a child…
They'd come running, drooling at the prospect.
I believe in my own power, but I'm not confident I can handle every enemy.
That's why I deliberately operate while wearing intimidating armor and a helmet.
So I won't be seen as an easy target by others.
You might wonder why I don't just run the organization while wearing the armor, but that seems too difficult, so I don't want to.
Anyway, for those reasons, I'm enduring the inconvenience.
And living quietly.
Well, my current life isn't all that bad.
Once you get used to it, it's not a problem.
◆
As I was counting the cracks in the ceiling, I suddenly remembered something important I had forgotten.
*Ah, right. I almost forgot about that.*
I got up from the sofa and headed toward a small, old refrigerator in the corner.
This refrigerator was a rare item that worked without a cord or electricity.
It also had a convenient function that automatically adjusted the temperature for its contents.
It was something someone had thrown out, which I found and brought here.
Unlike my other belongings, this was something I truly needed, so I didn't sell it to the fence and have been using it myself.
When I opened the refrigerator, it was packed with various desserts.
Castella, strawberry cake, chocolate cake, pudding, macarons, and more.
There were too many kinds to count.
These were desserts I bought with the money I earned. I put them in the small refrigerator to make them last.
*I used to avoid sweets because they would upset my stomach.*
Perhaps my tastes changed due to the influence of this body.
Hehe.
Just looking at them makes my lips curl into a smile.
I wiped the drool from my mouth with my thin arm.
A desire to eat them all welled up inside me, so I slapped my soft cheeks with my palm to snap out of it.
One dessert for lunch, and one for dinner.
I'd already eaten my portion for today, so even if I wanted more, I had to wait until tomorrow.
But today was a special day.
I rummaged through the desserts and picked out a suitable one.
A chocolate muffin!
I choose you!
I closed the refrigerator, took the chocolate muffin, and sat down in a corner.
I looked around and happened to spot a twig rolling on the floor. I picked it up.
And carved it into a tiny "I" shape.
After finishing, I stuck it right into the center of the chocolate muffin.
With that, the preparations were complete.
Using a very faint amount of power, I created a small blue flame at my fingertip.
I then brought my finger to the tip of the twig.
*Fwoosh.*
The blue flame pushed back the darkness in the building. As the gentle light flickered, a cozy atmosphere settled in.
Alright, shall we begin?
I took a deep breath and, in my mind, sang.
*Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you.*
A poignant song that seemed to wash away all filth echoed gently in my mind.
It wasn't actually my birthday. Today was simply a meaningful day for me. It was the day I woke up in this world.
I remember that day and celebrate it like this every year when it comes around.
I prepare a cake at night, stick a candle in it, and sing a song.
I originally had a proper cake prepared, but the cake shop unfortunately got caught in a conflict between organizations. *Sigh.*
Anyway, at first, I started this with the hope that this was all a dream and that I would return to my original world.
But I've celebrated this day ten times now, and that wish has not come true.
Perhaps even if I make the same wish today, I'll still wake up to the morning here.
I always wonder.
Why did I awaken in a world like this with the memories of my past life, and why is my body that of a child?
Maybe there's a special reason for it, or maybe there's no reason at all.
It's all a mystery.
I don't like it, but this is the world I live in.
So, my wish has long since changed.
May I eat sweet desserts until my belly is full.
May tomorrow be quiet, with nothing eventful happening.
May I one day find the meaning behind why I woke up here.
Even in this hopeless world, may hope be what awaits me in the end.
Please, let me reach a happy ending.
I wished with all my heart.