Why am I the only one experiencing such unreasonable things?

In a small, old, and dark apartment room, I clutched my chest in pain.

My grip on my chest was weak.
The hand holding the worn-out t-shirt had become thinner than before.
The futon, which was just a thin mattress, was stained with my blood.

"Why... why me?"

While the physical pain was immense, the mental anguish of regret and self-pity was also unbearable.
A so-called flashback was occurring.

I can't say I was a respectable person, by any stretch of the imagination.

But even so, I had lived my life earnestly.

I had never engaged in criminal activity, and I had lived a life that could be considered decent by societal standards.

I had gotten a normal job, gotten married normally... had a child, bought a house.

And now, I was burdened with debt and working multiple part-time jobs just to get by.

I paid child support every month, but I hadn't seen my child in years.
I was being denied visitation for the reason that I was finally in a good relationship with my new partner.

I continued to pay a considerable amount of child support without being able to see my child.

I was fired from my job due to an affair I had no knowledge of, but I still had to earn a living, so I took on multiple part-time jobs.

There was nothing in the room.

Due to the harsh collection of debts and my lack of funds, I couldn't buy anything.

Frankly, I didn't even know where the debt came from.

But it was determined to be my debt, and I was the one paying it.

At first, I paid it so my child wouldn't suffer.

Before I knew it, I had wasted away, my body had broken down, and I couldn't move from my futon.

"What exactly did I do wrong? Why... why am I going through this?"

Along with the regret, there was a sense of relief that it would all be over soon.

It was then.
A man wearing a tailcoat appeared by my pillow.

He placed a leather travel bag on the futon and stood there, his shoes on the tatami.

"Good evening. It's a truly fine night, isn't it?"

Moving only my eyes, I could vaguely see the man's mouth, as he held a top hat in one hand and greeted me.

Tall and slender, the man felt strangely out of place.

His tailcoat was one thing, but I didn't have any acquaintances like him.

"What, did someone come to pick you up?"

I didn't have the energy to be scared and run away.

As I watched him, the man bent down and brought his face closer.

Indeed, I could only see his mouth.

His lips were curved into a crescent moon shape, smiling.

It felt like he was laughing at me.

"Pick me up? That's not entirely incorrect. However, to be precise, I am an 'escort,' you see."

After the man declared himself an escort, he snapped his fingers.

My eyes widened slightly at the scene that appeared before me.

--My chest felt tight.

There, my ex-wife, dressed up, was dining at an expensive restaurant with another man, also dressed up.

Delicious-looking food and drinks.

I hadn't tasted such food in years.

However, that wasn't the problem.

"You're a bad woman too, aren't you? I hear you've left your ex-husband with debt and are making him pay child support. That child isn't your ex-husband's, is it?"

"It's fine. Legally, he's the father, and paying child support is his obligation."

I couldn't process the conversation.

What was my ex-wife saying?

My ex-wife, who used to be gentle and simple, was now dressed up and flashy.

"After all, women want to leave behind superior genes. I don't want a child with a man like that. As long as he makes money, that's all that matters. Besides, since he was able to marry me, I suppose he can do that much. He was that kind of man."

The man sitting opposite her chuckled softly.

"Women are scary, aren't they?"

"You're the one who made her that way."

Seeing the two of them enjoying themselves, my chest tightened, and hatred welled up from the depths of my stomach.

I felt angry at the escort for showing me such a scene.

"Whoa, don't get angry. I just wanted you to know the truth, so I showed you this scene. Doesn't it ring any bells? This isn't a hallucination. This is happening right now."

Thinking back, there were indeed some suspicious things.

But I had chosen to ignore them.

I thought I was overthinking it.

"You are a good person. You endure this painful life, continue to repay her debts, and even pay child support. --For such a person like you, I have prepared a gift."

The man gleefully took out a pamphlet from his leather travel bag.

"You have been unhappy until now. I want you to be happy in your next life. How about it? Would you like to be reincarnated in another world?"

I felt so much hatred and regret that I thought I was going mad.

My chest tightened again, and I coughed up blood.

"You've worked yourself to death and are on the verge of dying, yet they are enjoying a luxurious meal. It's unforgivable, isn't it?"

I clenched the futon with my left hand.

"Revenge -- let me have it. I will never -- forgive them."

Tears welled up from the sheer regret.

Why must I meet such an end?

Was I that bad?

I wept for my immobile body.

In this state, I couldn't even seek revenge.

The escort was smiling wider, his mouth curved into a grin.

His eyes were hidden in shadow, but I felt like he was smiling.

Then, the smile disappeared from his mouth.

"Unfortunately, your life is about to end. All I can do is give you the gift of a happy next life. For you, who have been unhappy, a happy second life awaits. Give up on revenge."

"--No. I don't want that."

I denied it with a raspy voice.

If this was the case, no matter how unhappy I became -- I wanted to make them unhappy too.

For that, I would do anything.

Anything!

However, the escort shook his head.

"All you can choose is which new world to go to. At least, try to be reincarnated in a world you desire. Come, your happy life awaits you this time."

I shed tears.

The pamphlet the escort offered looked like a magician presenting a deck of cards, asking me to choose my favorite.

One of the covers featured robots and battleships.

My finger touched it.

"Oh, you're interested in this world? This one is recommended. After all, it's a fantasy world where science and magic have developed. Interstellar nations exist, and it's a very enjoyable world. The human lifespan has also increased many times over, so you can enjoy it several times more."

My hand reached out casually.

I didn't care what the next world would be like.

What I was thinking at that moment was simply -- that it was all ridiculous.

What was the point of living earnestly?

And this was the result?

Don't mess with me -- don't mess with me!

If living earnestly leads to this, I should enjoy life more.

I should have pursued my own happiness without caring about others.

--The idea that good people are rewarded is a pretty lie.

If that's the case, I want to live as I please. --I want to become a villain.

"Hmm, in this world -- the powerful are nobles. How interesting. Civilization has developed, yet feudalism has returned. This is truly fascinating."

The escort continued.

"I'll arrange for you to be born into a powerful family. In your next life, you will have everything. You'll be a born winner."

That sounds truly enjoyable.

I'll trample on others and commit all sorts of evil.

"A noble -- a Count would be good, wouldn't it?"

At his words, my lips curved into a smile.

That's good.

A corrupt magistrate -- no, a lord, so a wicked lord?

I'll enjoy myself to the fullest.

"Have you made up your mind? Then, this time, have a good life --"

Ah, I will.

I'll enjoy my next life.

--As a wicked lord.

◇

The escort looked down at the man who had breathed his last.

He writhed and laughed with amusement.

There was a madness in his demeanor.

"An unhappy life? What a fool! There are countless people in this world unhappier than you! You think you're the only one unhappy? How naive."

The laughing escort snapped his fingers and projected images of the ex-wife and the man into the air.

Then he laughed heartily, his mouth wide.

"Besides, I'm the one who made you unhappy! I just wanted to see how much a happy, good person would fall. That's all."

The escort was not a benevolent being.

He could be described as a mass of malice.

"Well then, shall we quickly finish the appetizer before the main course?"

As he reached out and touched the image, black smoke emanated from the escort.

The two were talking happily.

However, the man smiled and bid the woman farewell.

"Well, I think you've had enough fun, haven't you? Let's call it quits here, shall we?"

"--What?"

The ex-wife, stunned, dropped the knife she was holding.

"W-what are you talking about?"

"I've had enough fun. Our little game of husband and wife is over."

The ex-wife looked as if she didn't understand what he was saying.

The man continued with a smile.

"Feel free to resist. But don't forget that the lawyer who helped you with the divorce is someone I know? If you make a scene, it will only be disadvantageous for you."

"But... I'm carrying your child!"

"Legally, it's the ex-husband's child, isn't it? And you're receiving child support."

The man placed the divorce papers on the table.

"Write it by tomorrow."

The ex-wife was trembling.

"You said you loved me!"

"Ah, I did. But I'm no longer interested. That's all. We both had fun, so isn't that enough?"

The man pulled away the clinging ex-wife and left the restaurant.

"Don't touch me. I have no interest in you as you are now."

"Wait. Wait!"

The man chuckled softly.

"How foolish. Did you really think I'd marry a woman who would cheat? How naive can you be? You're no different from your ex-husband."

The ex-wife looked down and clenched her fists.

"I left my husband for you."

"He's your ex now, isn't he? You left him, and you were having fun. Don't play the victim."

The escort was laughing.

He had read the ex-wife's thoughts.

"Oh, that's amazing~. In your mind, you're already thinking about the man who died. Women are truly resilient! But, unfortunately! --The man who loved you is dead, and his last wish was revenge on you!"

The escort, laughing hysterically, opened the door to the other world.

"Are you going to look for your ex-husband, or a new man? --I wonder what will happen."

He laughed, knowing that either outcome would lead to misfortune.

"Well, I must guide his soul... to a world where human lives are cheaply consumed, a world that is 'happy' for me!"

Thinking about the world he was about to enter, the escort couldn't stop laughing.

"By the time he realizes it, it will be too late. It will surely be fun. He'll regret, rage, and grieve, thinking 'this isn't how it was supposed to be' -- he'll surely hate me! He'll despise me, and that will become my sustenance!"

The escort, who loved such human emotions, spread his arms wide in delight.

"It's fine to spread misfortune in another world! It's fine to become unhappy and hate me! The fun times are about to begin!"

No matter how it turned out, a development that pleased him awaited.

The escort was ecstatic.

"Oh, I must be going soon. I'll come here after I've guided his soul. Still -- everyone is a fool to hear the word 'reincarnation.' It's a good era. A few sweet words, and everyone is easily deceived."

He picked up his bag with a cheerful demeanor.

The escort, who had deceived him into reincarnation, was about to step through the door to the other world.

In the corner of the room, a small light was watching the escort.

The faint light hid and observed.

Its shape resembled an animal.

It looked like a dog.

The escort didn't notice it.

"I'm struggling to decide how to enjoy myself. First, I need to decide where to reincarnate him. It would be good to throw him into a happy family and make him miserable, but I've already done that before -- perhaps a story of rising through the ranks would be good?"

The escort thought with a smile.

Seizing the escort's unguarded moment.

The small light slipped through the door unnoticed by the escort.

The escort clapped his hands.

"I've decided! At the peak of his rise, I'll knock him down! He'll surely harbor wonderful negative emotions and lash out at me! Ah, I'm already looking forward to it~. Shall I gather people of a different nature than him and have them start a rebellion? Aiming to be a wicked noble, he'll surely face a grand execution. Or perhaps torture? I can't help but be excited!"

The escort hugged himself and writhed.

His joy was abnormal.

"This next life will be long. Surely, he will live a longer and more painful life! For my happiness, struggle and suffer as much as you can!"

As the door leading to the other world closed, he disappeared from the room.

All that remained in the room was the corpse of a man who had breathed his last.

How was it?
I hope you enjoyed it.

Also, my book will be released at the end of this month.

Seventh volume of "Seventh" will be released on August 31st.
Pre-orders are also being accepted, so I would appreciate it if you could check it out.

Here are the books currently on sale.
I would be happy if you could pick them up as well.

Dragoon The Path to Dragon Knight All four volumes Available as e-books
Side Character Hero Shines Vol. 1
Seventh Vols. 1-8
Mobuseka: A Mob Character's Overly-Determined Build Vol. 1-3 Available as e-books

I also have a Twitter account.
If you search for "Mishima Yomu," you'll find me.
I tweet about updates and other things there.