Li Hang found himself adrift in an infinite, dark void. There was no sense of direction, no light, no sound—just emptiness. He felt weightless, like he was suspended in nothingness. It was a surreal experience, like being submerged in the deepest parts of the ocean without the pressure. He wasn't quite sure if he was awake or dreaming.
Or did he..
"Did I... die?" he wondered aloud, his voice echoing, yet sounding strangely muffled.
"I mean, that's what happens when you hang yourself, right?"
He paused, as if waiting for an answer. But there was nothing. Just the void.
Which is obvious.
"But, I mean... maybe I didn't make it to the fantasy world? Maybe this is just it? Just a void. I guess that's fair, seeing that I didn't get hit by a truck or anything cliché like that."
He chuckled, but it was an empty sound, the kind that faded into nothingness before it even started.
His thoughts drifted back to the moment he hung himself. It wasn't the suffocating part that hurt—it was that strange, inexplicable sensation of time slowing down, the searing pain as if his soul itself was being peeled away from his skin, layer by layer.
It was an agony unlike anything he had ever felt. It wasn't physical—it was deeper, something that clawed at his essence, stripping him of his will, his thoughts, everything that made him... him.
It's like the gods peeling away your 'true' self from everything 'worldly'.
"Damn, dying hurts way more than they make it look in the movies," he mumbled, his voice barely audible against the void.
But the most hurtful part is not that.
But the moment your past lives got flashed through your eyes, and each and every part of your shitness, unusefulness, ungratefulness, ugliness, and everything is displayed in full HD by your brain.
Only to make you realize when you die.
Oh.
I'm a piece of shit.
Or perhaps even lower than it.
"Yeah,"
"Perhaps I'm even lower than even a shit," he uttered as he remember everything once again.
It's like swallowing a towel used to wipe a vomit.
A disgusting, revolting, forceful way of making him swallow something that he would rather die for.
"But I guess I did die..."
He floated for what felt like an eternity, the weightlessness making it hard to keep his bearings, his mind slipping between moments of clarity and emptiness. The realization that this could be it—his afterlife—began to gnaw at him, eroding whatever sliver of hope he had left.
Then, just as he began to lose himself completely to the void, a faint, echoing voice broke through the silence.
It was distant, almost like a whisper carried on the wind. He tried to focus on it, to understand what it was saying, but the words slipped through his grasp, elusive and incomprehensible.
"Is that... someone calling me?"
A hope.
If there is something that he is feeling, it is nothing else but hope.
The voice grew slightly louder, though still faint, and with it came a sense of warmth, something foreign in this cold emptiness. And then, before he could make sense of it, a blinding flash of light enveloped him, piercing through the darkness, searing into his vision until his consciousness faded away completely.
Li Hang's first sensation was of warmth—an all-encompassing warmth that made him feel like he was floating in a soft cloud. The next thing he noticed was the fact that he was crying. Loudly. Uncontrollably.
Wh-what…?
His eyes, still bleary from the brightness, slowly adjusted to his surroundings. He realized he was being cradled in someone's arms, his tiny body wrapped snugly in a blanket.
He tried to turn his head, catching a glimpse of the face above him. A woman's face. Soft eyes, a gentle smile, beautiful features. She was staring down at him with a look of pure love and affection.
This... this is my mother? he thought, still disoriented.
His cries began to subside as he tried to process what was happening.
"Wait… I'm a baby? I... I really did reincarnate!" Despite the confusion, a surge of relief washed over him.
His wish had come true.
He was in another world.
A new life, a second chance.
He looked up at his new mother—her eyes, her expressions—all of it made him feel comforted, safe. He wanted to smile, to laugh, but his baby muscles weren't cooperating. Instead, he let out a soft gurgle, his tiny hands wiggling in the air.
She said something to him, her voice soothing and melodic, but he couldn't understand a single word. Not one. It sounded foreign, strange, but somehow... beautiful.
Well, I guess that makes sense, he thought to himself.
This is a completely different world, after all. Of course, I wouldn't understand the language.
Despite not understanding her words, he felt a warmth from her tone, a genuine kindness that made his heart swell.
Maybe... maybe this really is my chance, he thought, his tiny eyes beginning to close as exhaustion took over.
Maybe I can really start over... and be happy.
Days passed in a blur. Li Hang found himself adapting to life as a baby. It was strange, to say the least, having the consciousness of a twenty-four-year-old but the body of an infant. Everything required help. Eating, moving, even just sitting up. But he didn't mind. His mother's warmth was always there, a constant presence that made him feel safe.
But there were also… awkward moments.
Oh, no. No, no, no... he thought, his baby eyes widening as his mother prepared to breastfeed him.
He could see her unbuttoning her shirt, her big breast coming closer.
I-is this okay? I mean, I know I'm a baby, but... I'm still me! This is weird, right?
He hesitated, his tiny mouth hovering near her chest.
It's fine! It's fine! You're a baby! Just a baby! This is natural!
In the end he convinced himself, and before he knew it, he latched on, instinct taking over. It was... surprisingly comforting.
Alright. I guess this isn't so bad, he thought, letting himself relax.
There was something inherently joyful about being a baby again. No responsibilities, no expectations, just warmth, care, and comfort. He didn't have to worry about school, or work, or societal pressures. It was a true reset—a chance to start fresh.
Maybe I can grow up to be strong this time, he thought one night as he lay in his crib, staring up at the ceiling.
I could become a hero, or maybe just live a peaceful life in the countryside, surrounded by beautiful people… just like in an anime.
He smiled inwardly, his tiny body wiggling in excitement.
This time, I'll make it different. I'll make it better.
Days turned into weeks, and Li Hang began noticing little things that seemed… off. For starters, his fingers. They were stubby, almost disproportionately so, and they were a strange shade of greenish. He tried moving them, flexing his tiny baby muscles, but they felt clumsy, heavy.
Then there was the baby mobile above his crib. Instead of the usual stars or cute animals, it was adorned with figures that looked monstrous—twisted, fanged creatures that seemed more like something out of a horror story than a child's decoration.
Is this normal here? he wondered.
Maybe it's just cultural differences.
He tried not to think too much of it, but the nagging feeling that something was wrong wouldn't go away.
One day, as he lay in his crib, he caught sight of his hand in the sunlight streaming through the window. His breath hitched—or, at least, it would have if he had proper control over his baby body. His skin was unmistakably green.
What the…
He could feel his tiny heart pounding. He moved his hand, trying to see if it was just a trick of the light, but no. It was green. A light, pastel green, but undeniably green.
Panic set in.
An ugly, miserable panic.
Am I... not human?
Did I reincarnate into some kind of fantasy creature? Am I an orc? A goblin?
He tried to stay calm, but the realization that he might not be human—that he might be something else entirely—sent him spiraling.
No, no, no... this can't be happening. I supposed to be a harem protagonist, not some low-level monster!
He glanced over at his mother, who was sitting nearby, humming softly as she worked on something. She looked human. Completely human.
Maybe... maybe she's just unlucky, he thought, a swelling sense of pity welling up inside him.
It's like one of those troupes in fantasy stories—a human girl gets... attacked by an orc or something.
He hated the thought, but it made sense in his mind.
If that's the case, then I'll just have to support her. I'll be a good son. I'll make sure she's happy.
He tried to reassure himself.
It's fine. It's not like we're in an orc village or anything, he thought, trying to push down the growing unease.
Or so he thought.
But that illusion shattered the moment his mother walked outside with him in her arms.
She uttered something that he still couldn't understand, then she brought him outside.
The bright sunlight hit his eyes, and as they adjusted, he saw them—figures walking around, tall, broad, with green skin and tusks protruding from their lower jaws.
A village full of orcs.
Green.
Muscular.
Orcs.
His heart sank, the realization hitting him like a sledgehammer.
I'm... in an orc village, he thought, despair creeping into his mind.
He looked up at his mother, her gentle smile unchanged, her eyes filled with love as she cradled him.
"Oh shit,"