In a traditional Japanese-style house, tension hung in the air. A woman's cries echoed through the dim room, her pain palpable. The steady voice of the midwife cut through the anguish, calm but urgent.
"Push! It's close, just a little more!" the midwife urged, her eyes focused on the woman before her.
"Ahhhh!" the woman screamed, her voice trembling as she summoned every ounce of strength.
"Good, good, I can see the head," the midwife said, her hands ready to receive the child.
One last push, and the baby's head appeared, quickly followed by the rest of its small body. Another midwife stepped forward, gently lifting the newborn, cleaning it with warm water. The room filled with the sharp cry of the baby, a new life announcing its presence.
"It's a boy," the midwife said softly, wrapping the infant in a cloth and placing him in the arms of the exhausted woman lying on the futon.
Pale but glowing with a tired smile, the woman gazed down at her son. "He'll be handsome when he grows up, I'm sure of it."
Akira, fully aware of his surroundings despite his infant form, looked up at her. 'So... this is my mother,' he thought. Though her beauty was undeniable, the signs of malnutrition were clear. Her striking silver hair, though rare and beautiful, had lost some of its luster in the dim light of the room.
In the silence of his mind, Akira heard a voice—one that only he could hear.
"System," he thought, calling forth the interface.
[Hello, host. I am the Universe Survival System.]
'That name's too long. From now on, I'll call you System,' Akira thought casually.
The System remained silent for a moment before responding. [Acknowledged.]
'What are your functions, System?' Akira asked.
[Host, I offer Map, Google, Inventory, Status, Group Chat, Dimension Travel, Appraisal, and Shop.]
'Show me my status,' Akira commanded mentally.
A soft light appeared before his eyes, displaying his stats:
| Status |
Name: Akira D. Kanahe
Title: Reincarnator, Saint of Charity, Richest Man in the World, The One Who Angered a Supreme Being
Age: 1 day / 21 years, 1 month
Bloodline: Human
Condition: Healthy
Passive Skills: Immortal Body
Skills: None
Inventory: Unbreakable Weapon
Titles:
Reincarnator: Someone who died and was reborn. (No being can foresee your future.)
Saint of Charity: A title granted to those who give generously to the poor. (Increased luck.)
Richest Man in the World: A title bestowed upon someone with ultimate wealth. (Commands respect from many.)
The One Who Angered a Supreme Being: The first mortal to anger a supreme entity. (Allows you to provoke anyone at will.)
Passive Skills:Immortal Body: Heal quickly, become immune to all negative conditions like poison and fatigue, and never age.
Active Skills: None
Akira frowned. 'I'm already absurdly strong with just the Immortal Body. But… why do I have a title that says I made a supreme being angry?'
[The supreme being read your thoughts before your transfer and realized you didn't want to stay in his presence. This angered him,] the System explained.
A wave of embarrassment washed over Akira. '...'
Before he could continue his thoughts, Akira suddenly lost consciousness.
One Day Later
Akira awoke, his body still small and fragile, but his mind alert. He quickly noticed something—his mother wasn't holding him.
'System, where's my mother?' Akira asked, dread creeping into his heart.
The System hesitated before responding.
[Host, your mother passed away from complications during childbirth.]
Akira felt a sharp pang in his chest. 'What?!' His mind raced with emotion. He hadn't known her long, but she was still his mother—the woman who had given him life.
'Even though I didn't know her well, I'll live my life in a way that honors her,' Akira resolved, the sadness weighing heavily in his thoughts. He would survive. For her.
One Year Later
Taken in by an orphanage, Akira quickly adapted to his new life. By now, he had surpassed the limitations of a normal child, walking with ease. His small body was unnaturally strong for his age, and his appearance made him seem older, more like a three-year-old than the one-year-old he actually was.
One day, after finishing his daily routine, he murmured to the System, "Status."
| Status |
Level: 1
Name: Akira D. Kanahe
Title: Reincarnator, Saint of Charity, Richest Man in the World, The One Who Angered a Supreme Being
Age: 1 year, 1 month / 22 years, 2 months
Bloodline: Human
Condition: Healthy
Passive Skills: Immortal Body
Skills: None
Satisfied with his progress, Akira's mind turned to his day. "For now, let's stick to my routine and go play with Shinobu and her sister," he said aloud, his voice still sweet with the innocence of childhood. But his eyes—the eyes of someone who had lived far longer than his young form betrayed—gleamed with determination.
To Be Continued…