The young Assoi lived a tedious life. He'd wake up early for school, return home after lunch, and head straight to work. Nights were spent locked in his room, drowning himself in games or anime. His parents had long since given up hope for his future.

But tonight would be different.

Assoi, chasing extra cash to buy a newly released game, decided to work overtime. The night had already swallowed the city in darkness when, on his way home, he stumbled upon a chilling scene.

A tall man was dragging a body into a shadowy alley — the very path Assoi always used to get home. His blood ran cold.

The man's eyes met Assoi's, wide with panic.

BANG!

A gunshot tore through the night, a flash igniting from the man's hand. Pain erupted, and Assoi collapsed to the cold pavement.

"Damn... He shot me" he thought, his breaths shallow. Fear should have gripped him, but instead... relief.

"Wouldn't it be nice if I could reincarnate? Just like in those anime..."

[Notice: Reincarnation unlocked... Processing.]

His eyelids fluttered, and he heard it — a mechanical, emotionless voice, as if from within his own mind.

"What...? Am I hearing things?"

[Notice: Conditions for reincarnation met... Searching for an ideal world.]

His lips curled weakly. "Whoa... Is this really happening? Just... anything but a slime... Anything but a slime."

[Notice: Request accepted. Race will be chosen randomly, excluding the slime race.]

His fading consciousness sparked with regret. "Damn... I should've been more specific. A super-strong slime would've been awesome... Or... I could've just asked to be human."

[Notice: Request for super strength... Processing... Compatible race found. Request granted.]

His mind raced, desperation blending with amusement. "Alright, alright... How about... super rich?"

[Notice: Searching for family... Rejected... Increasing parameters... Wealthy family found. Request modified and granted.]

A thin smirk tugged at his lips. "Hah... could be worse."

[Notice: Changing family to wealthy and malevolent... Granted.]

His smirk vanished. "Wait... You're kidding, right?! What the hell—"

The cold seeped deeper, and the pain sharpened.

"It hurts... So cold... Dying sucks..."

[Notice: Request misunderstood... Processing... Pain, cold, and death... Can be avoided.]

His mind swirled in confusion. "I don't... get you... Either..."

[Notice: Genius trait... Processing... Granted. Title of 'Sage' acquired.]

His thoughts grew sluggish. "Can't... think... anymore... So tired..."

But before everything slipped away, he managed one last wish:

"I just... want to be better... The best..."

[Notice: Request processing... Denied... Increasing parameters... Capacity to become the best... Granted.]

The world fell silent. The pain and cold dissolved. His senses, muffled and strange, returned. Something damp and sticky surrounded him, his body trapped within a soft, cocoon-like shell.

His new life was about to begin.