Chapter 1: Reborn

Being an overworked office worker isn't just a job—it's a modern form of slavery. Day after day, I serve money while the wealthy make it serve them. It's been nine hundred and twenty-eight days of working almost fourteen hours daily in the same sterile office, clicking and tapping away at my keyboard. I have no life, no wife, no children. I'm still a virgin. All I do is work, as they expect me to.

I've tried to smile, but even my body rebels now. Sometimes, I wonder if anyone notices the dark circles under my eyes or the gauntness of my body. But when people see me, they just look away. Humans are truly despicable when something doesn't concern them.

Not long ago, I considered quitting, but the thought of my tiny, comfortless apartment held me back. I'm promoted, paid well, yet I live like a pauper. Is it the taxes, the cost of living, or sending money to my parents? Or maybe it's the endless cycle of getting drunk every night. I'm trapped in this life, but not for much longer. Today, I'll quit.

---

With that resolve, Harry left the office and the building without a word. As he passed by colleagues and security guards, he ignored their questions. He walked into the night, the cold air biting at his skin. The streetlights were dim, barely illuminating the deserted streets.

He suddenly remembered he'd left his glasses in the office. It didn't matter now; he could hardly see anything in the weak light anyway. As he crossed the road, his mind wandered. 'Tonight, I'll feast. Tomorrow, I'll dip into my savings and see the world. Maybe visit the beach and meet someone nice.' For the first time in years, he felt a flicker of hope and freedom.

But that feeling was short-lived.

With a swift motion, Harry's foot slipped, and he plummeted into an open manhole he hadn't seen. The darkness swallowed him, and he landed hard. The impact shattered his jaw and snapped his neck. His body struck a pile of metal scraps, piercing his flesh.

"Uhk! Uhk... Zuhk!" He tried to scream, but all that came out were choked gurgles. Pain engulfed him, both physical and emotional. His consciousness began to fade, and his last thoughts were curses directed at whoever left the manhole uncovered.

As his life slipped away, he lamented, 'Just when I planned to live... I die for it.' His regrets echoed in his mind: no vacations, never tasted a burrito, never learned to ride a bike, never played football. 'Can I even be considered human with this much left on my bucket list?'

And then, darkness.

---

Slam! The sharp sting of a slap brought him back. He cried out in shock and confusion, only to realize he was a newborn in a midwife's arms. The woman spoke in a language he didn't understand, but the reality of his situation hit him hard.

'The mighty business geek, now a baby? What happened to the afterlife? Is this some kind of joke?'

The midwife placed him in the arms of a woman who felt like his mother. She kissed his forehead tenderly. His father, a joyful man, danced around, exclaiming about how handsome he was.

"He's got all my wonderful features!" the man laughed, his joy infectious.

The woman smiled down at him. "We'll call you Axel, which means 'elves' pride.'"

Lying there, Harry—or rather, Axel—felt a surreal mix of disbelief and wonder. 'This is like something out of the manga and novels I used to read. I've transmigrated into another world.'

And thus, a new life began.