"Is this the end of my life?"
A man lay weakly, his body paralyzed.
"Well, at least I lived my life to the fullest; I have no regrets," he murmured, staring up at the hospital ceiling.
"I never expected to experience such a terrible accident."
"I'm glad I decided to go outside and touch some grass again, haha..."
"Made some friends and stopped being a lonely otaku with no life, haha..."
Random thoughts started to drift through his mind.
"Looks like I won't be able to give any more power stones to my favorite web novel."
He thought back to his favorite web novel, Common Sense Hijack System.
---
The man started to mumble incoherently in his mind,
"Yeah… it really seems like this is the end," he thought.
But as his consciousness slowly faded, he suddenly felt his body grow light, as if he were floating. Instead of complete darkness, he sensed a growing warmth and light surrounding him. Everything felt strange, as though his dream wouldn't end.
Suddenly, he woke up, fully aware. He heard the faint sound of flowing water nearby. A cool breeze brushed his face, and the fresh scent of green trees filled his nose.
Slowly, he opened his eyes. Around him, a vast forest stretched as far as he could see. Green grass swayed in the breeze, and brightly colored birds chirped melodiously from branch to branch.
"Where... am I?" he murmured, his voice slightly hoarse. He slowly rose, feeling his body as if trying to confirm that this was all real.
His body felt strong—healthier than he had felt in years.
"I'm… still alive? But how?" he wondered. He could still remember his last moments—lying in a hospital bed, paralyzed, barely breathing.
The man tried walking, stepping on the damp grass. Each step felt real, and each breath was full of energy. This wasn't a dream. But… it clearly wasn't his world.
"Is this what they call… reincarnation?" he muttered, slowly coming to terms with this strange possibility.
As he kept walking, he noticed the clothes he wore—a black outfit and rugged leather boots, like the ones he often saw in fantasy novels. There was no phone in his pocket, no electronic devices at all. And when he tried to think of how to get back, no answers came. He was truly alone in this unfamiliar world.
"Oh, amazing. My life ends only for me to be reborn as… what? Someone in an isekai world? A hero?" He sighed, feeling a mix of confusion and curiosity.
But gradually, he started to smile. He remembered all the isekai stories he had read—about adventures, magical powers, and great destinies. Maybe this was his second chance, an opportunity to live a brand new life.
"I have to see my new face!"
The man walked over to a nearby river and slowly looked into his reflection in the water.
His eyes widened. "This…" he touched his face, "Arthur D. Bump?"
The man froze, stunned by his own reflection in the water. The face he saw wasn't his 30-something-year-old face—this was a younger face, with sharp features and piercing eyes.
He recognized the face he had now; he had seen an illustration of this side character, an enemy of the hero in a lonely Chinese web novel. And now, he had reincarnated as that side character.
And since that lonely Chinese web novel wasn't real, no one would plagiarize it and post it on your favorite reading app.
"So… I'm not reborn as a hero or a great adventurer," he muttered bitterly, "but as a minor character? A character who only has a slap skill?"
The man stood there, processing his new reality. He stared at his reflection once more, observing every detail of Arthur D. Bump's face, the man he had once dismissed as a nobody while reading the novel. A character destined to appear, get beaten by the hero's party, and then disappear without leaving any impact.
He sighed, "This reincarnation is pretty terrible. But, oh well, at least I have a second life." He started to accept his fate.
But then, a strange thought crossed his mind. In the novel, Arthur D. Bump had a nasty personality and often caused trouble. He frequently got into conflicts with others. Without realizing it, Arthur had made many enemies who wanted revenge. Thinking about this possibility, the man started to feel uneasy.
"If this really is the same world… I could end up being chased down all the time!" he thought, panicking. "I have to change Arthur's fate before I end up… as everyone's target!"
The man took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "Alright, let's try to survive in this world. Maybe if I keep a low profile and avoid the main characters, I can avoid a miserable fate."
After deciding on his first step, he began walking along the river, searching for the nearest village or town. But just a few steps in, he noticed something odd in his pocket. A red piece of paper with the word "Wanted" was clearly visible, and below it, the name Arthur D. Bump was written in bold letters. His face was there too, along with a bounty large enough to attract bounty hunters.
"Oh, great… I haven't even started enjoying my new life, and I'm already a wanted man?" he groaned, crumpling the paper in frustration.
But beneath his anxiety, an idea slowly began to form. "Wait, I already know the general storyline of this novel. I know who will appear, who's strong, and how the characters will act..."
Arthur's—or rather, the man's—eyes sparkled with excitement. "I may just be a side character in this story, but this time, I have an advantage no one else has. I know this world's secrets. If I can use them well… maybe I can change Arthur's fate. Maybe I can even survive and achieve something great!"
He smiled with newfound confidence. "From a one-time enemy… to someone who brings about major changes. Yes, this is my new life!"
Tap...
Someone tapped the man on the shoulder.