Gerhan was living a simple life—one that was far from the grand, adventurous tales he had often read about. Somehow, he had been reincarnated into this world, which was almost like Earth but a bit… duller. Sure, it had books—an endless supply of them, particularly stories about reincarnation and rebirth. There were also dramas, though he couldn't imagine anyone willingly watching those.
"Whatever," he thought, brushing the idea aside.
After his reincarnation, he found himself with new parents, but they had tragically passed away, leaving him a decent inheritance—enough to live a quiet, uneventful life. He had rented a small apartment, and for the most part, his days were simple. He didn't need to work. Instead, he spent his time lying in bed, budgeting just enough to survive while avoiding any unnecessary spending.
At least he had books. Cool stories about heroes, magic, and systems that made life infinitely more interesting than this world. Those stories made everything bearable.
One day, while walking down the street, he glanced at the buildings, his mind wandering. He had no destination, really, just a vague goal of grabbing something to eat. When he entered the store, a scene outside caught his attention—some poor guy getting beaten up in broad daylight.
"This world sucks," Gerhan muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
Fighting wasn't his strong suit, nor was playing the hero, so like everyone else, he ignored it. It wasn't his business, after all. He grabbed some instant noodles from the store shelf, along with his favorite items—milk and carrots. The milk was cold and tasty, and carrots? Well, he figured they were good for his eyesight, even if he didn't particularly care for them.
Walking back to his apartment, he stumbled upon yet another unpleasant sight. This time, a group of delinquents was bullying a young couple. Everyone on the street pretended not to see it, hurrying along as though nothing was happening. Gerhan sighed, cursing his luck. Why was he always the one to witness these things?
He turned his head away and started walking faster, his mind made up to avoid trouble. Still, guilt nagged at him. Pulling out his phone, he called the cops and reported the address.
"Feels good," he thought with a small smile. "Like I'm a real hero."
Back at his apartment, he surveyed his surroundings. The place was nothing special: a tiny kitchen, a small bathroom, and a bedroom with just the basics. No TV—it was a waste, anyway. At least he still had a phone, though there weren't many good games to play. This world's technology was underwhelming. His phone's main purpose, it seemed, was making ghost calls—just useless, idle interactions.
Gerhan flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind wandered back to the countless isekai stories he had read—about heroes saving worlds, losers rising to greatness, and people awakening systems that gave them incredible powers.
"How cool would that be?" he murmured, a tinge of longing in his voice.
But here he was, reincarnated whit nothing special. No powers, no system, not even a grand destiny. Just an ordinary, dull existence.
He let out a sigh. "Reincarnated to enjoy life? What kind of luck is this?"
For a moment, he thought that saying those words might trigger something—a beep, a system activation, anything. He even paused to listen.
Nothing.
"Of course not," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "All those stories are fake."
Nothing.
He turned off the lights, let out another sigh, and closed his eyes, letting sleep take him.