Why was the world so unreasonable?
Inside an old, dark, and narrow one-room apartment, I pressed my hands against the pain in my chest.
I was struggling to put power into my arms.
The hand that was gripping my t-shirt felt shabbier and thinner than Ive ever felt.
The futon that I was lying down on was already stained and dirty with my blood.
Just why?
Yes, I was in physical pain, but the mental regret and anguish I felt hurt far more.
I could see lights spinning around me.
I cant say that I was a completely respectable man, but I really didnt want to die here.
I never committed any crimes, and I lived seriously enough to be seen in a positive light by the general public.
Get a normal job, marry a girl, have a baby, buy a house.
Its because of those completely normal aspirations that I was now littered with so many debts and problems.
I pay child support monthly, but I havent seen my kid in years.
She was finally in a good place in her relationship with her new husband its for that reason as to why I had been denied visits.
So I kept paying the expensive child support even though I couldnt even see my child.
Then I got fired from my job for a reason I couldnt even recall doing, but I still needed income to live so I made due with whatever part-time job I could find.
There was nothing in the room.
I couldnt afford to buy anything because of my crippling debt and lack of personal time.
I couldnt even remember why I was in debt in the first place.
Even so, I was in debt, and I had to pay it back.
At first, I was paying for it with the mindset that it would be used so that my children wouldnt have to struggle in life, but before I knew it, I had lost weight, my body was paralyzed, and I couldnt even move from on top of my bed.
Whats wrong with me? Just why is this happening to me?
At that moment, I felt relieved when I saw it.
Because at that moment, a man wearing a tailcoat suddenly appeared at my bedside.
He stood there and placed a leather suitcase down beside his dirty shoes.
Good evening, isnt it a beautiful night, tonight?
I could barely move my eyes, but even then it was so dim I could only barely make out his mouth and the top-hat he held in his hand.
He was a tall man with a slender stature, but there was something off about him.
He was even wearing something like a tailcoat, but I couldnt remember having an acquaintance who dressed as distinctive as this.
Have you come to take me away?
I was terrified and there was no way for me to escape.
To such a me, the man bent down towards my face, but even then I couldnt make out his features.
His mouth arched up in a smile like a crescent moon, as if he was stifling a laugh.
Pick you up? Well, thats not wrong, but not exactly right either. If I had to say, Id describe myself more like your guide.
The man waved his finger and claimed to be someone that guided others.
A supernatural sight appeared before me, and I widened my eyes slightly.
My heart was in pain.
I could see it, a man in formal dress and my ex-wife were eating at an expensive restaurant together.
The food and drink looked delicious, I hadnt eaten a meal like that in years.
However, the problem wasnt that.
You snake of a woman. Not only did you leave your previous marriage with your debt, but you even make him pay child support? Is that kid even your ex-husbands?
Its fine. At least officially hes ours, and by law the one who reared the child is obliged to pay for child support.
I couldnt even process what they were talking about.
Just what was she saying?
My former wife, who used to be so gently and rustic was now dressed so finely.
After all, women are attracted to those with superior genes. I dont care about that child one bit, what matters is that hes a gateway into another source of income. I only married that man because I could. He was only worth that much.
The guy sitting opposite to her was laughing a little.
Women sure are scary.
Was it not you who made me such a woman?
Watching the two of them being so happy, my heart seemed to clench in pain, while my empty stomach furthered my depression.
I felt anger boiling inside of me from watching such a scene.
The man waved his finger again and it disappeared.
Oops, lets just calm down a bit, shall we? I just showed you this scene because I wanted you to know the truth. Dont try to fool yourself, this isnt a vision. This is something that is happening right now in real time.
Now that I think about it, there were definitely some suspicious things that happened while we were married.
But I forced myself to look away, I had to.
I thought I was just overthinking it.
Youre a good person, you endured such a hard life and yet you still paid for both her debt and child support, so Ive prepared a little gift for you.
The man happily took out a brochure from his leather suitcase.
Youve lived such a miserable life, so Ill make it so youre guaranteed happiness in your next life. How about it? Would you like to reincarnate into another world?
Miserable, the emotion I felt was far uglier than that, I felt so much regret to the point that I thought I was going insane.
My heart clenched in pain again, and I could taste blood.
You continued to work to the point of destroying your body, and yet there they were enjoying their meal in peace. Thats something you cant forgive, right?
My left hand squeezed into a fist on my futon.
Even so, let go of your revenge. Let go of that hate that says you cant forgive them.
Tears started to flow from my eyes.
Why did it come to this?
Was I that terrible of a person? Is this my retribution?
I teared up at the fact that my body was now paralyzed.
In such a state, itd be impossible for me to take revenge.
The guides crescent smile widened as he let out a chuckle.
I knew my eyes probably looked dead, but even I felt like laughing at that moment.
The smile disappeared from the guides mouth.
Unfortunately, your life is about to end. All I can do is guarantee your happiness in your next life. So dont worry, no matter how unhappy you are currently, happiness is just over the horizon. Please give up on your revenge.
I cant.
I denied him with a faint voice.
I wanted them to feel every ounce of unhappiness I felt in my life.
Id do anything for that purpose.
Anything!
However, the guide shook his head.
The most I can allow you to do is choose the place youre going to go next. At the very least, please incarnate into a world that you want. Your happy life is waiting for you.
Tears continued to flow from my eyes.
The pamphlets the guide provided resembled playing cards a magician would spread out before someone to make a choice.
One of the covers had robots and spaceships plastered on it.
I moved finger over to it.
Are you interested in this world? You chose a good one. Its a fantasy world where both science and magic have both progressed. Its an intergalactic nation in a very enjoyable world. Theres many things to enjoy there, so I know youd have fun.
I stretched my hand out towards it without hesitation.
I didnt know what the next world would truly be like.
All I was thinking at the time was about how stupid everything was.
For what reason did I live so seriously?
And yet this is the result?
Youve got to be kidding me! Dont joke around!
If you lived your life seriously, you should be able to enjoy it just as much!
I dont care about others anymore, Im going to focus on my own happiness.
If living a good life just ends with something like this, then I want to live for myself from now on.
I want to be the villain.
Oh, this world has aristocracy, thats interesting. Civilization has evolved but society reverted back to the feudal system. Thats really amusing.
The guide continued, Next time youll be born into a house of power. Youll have everything you could ever want, youll be a born winner.
Sounds like a lot of fun.
Ill step over others while doing my best.
The aristocrats youll be born into will be a warm family as well.
A small amount of laughter escaped from my mouth.
Thats fine.
An agent of evil no, wasnt I going to be a noble?
I suppose thisll work to entertain me.
Are you ready? I hope you have a good second life-
Lets do it.
Lets fully enjoy my next life to the greatest extent.
As an evil lord.
The guide looked down at the man who had stopped breathing, and started laughing.
There was madness in that figure.
An unhappy life? Hes an idiot! Did he seriously think hes the only miserable person on the planet?! Did he really think that theres absolutely no one else thats sad or depressed?!
The laughing guide waved his finger, and the projection of the ex-wife and the man she was with fluttered into existence.
His grin widened as he roared with laughter.
And to think, I was the one who caused all his misery in the first place! I just wanted to see how far hed fall!
The guide wasnt a benevolent being, not at all.
Itd be more fit to describe him as a living mass of cruelty.
Now, lets finish the hors doeuvres before moving on to the main course!
The guide reached out and touched the image as black smoke started to emit from him.
The two people were having a pleasant conversation.
However, the man smiled and bid farewell to the lady.
Well, I hope you had fun, but lets end things here.
huh?
The former wife dropped the knife she was holding, stunned.
W-what are you saying?
Im saying that Ive had enough fun, and now I dont feel like playing house with you anymore.
His face seemed to say he didnt understand why the ex-wife was acting this way.
He was smiling.
You can resist if you want, but dont forget that the lawyer who helped you with the divorce was my friend. If you make a fuss about this, youll be the one at a disadvantage.
But what about our child!
Legally thats not my child, so I dont need to pay child support either.
The man put a divorce notice on the table.
Fill this out by tomorrow.
The ex-wife was trembling.
Didnt you say you loved me?!
Oh I loved you, but Im not interested anymore, thats all. Weve already enjoyed each other long enough.
The man tore off the lady who was now his ex-wife as well, and left the restaurant.
Dont touch me, Im not affiliated with you anymore.
wait, WAIT!
The man chuckled.
Stupid, did you really think Id marry a women who was willing to cheat? You, just how far did you lie whenever I said I wanted to meet? I cant laugh at how you treated your first husband.
The now twice divorced ex-wife clasped the mans hand.
I abandoned my husband for you.
You mean your ex-husband. Youre the one that threw him away, and I was there, I know you enjoyed it. Dont try to pretend youre the victim.
The guide was laughing.
He could tell what the ex-wife was thinking.
Oh man~ thats ugly~ Youre already contemplating how youre going to kill him? Women really are tough! I hope you get your revenge!
The guides laughter roared as he opened the door to another world.
Now, are you going to come crawling back to your original husband or find a new boy-toy? Im looking forward to the results~
Both results would bring her misery, and that thought brought the guide immeasurable joy.
Well, for now I have to guide this ones soul to the world where peoples lives are consumed cheaply, so more entertainment for me~!
Thinking about the world he was about to send this man over to, the guide couldnt stop laughing.
Itll be too late by the time he notices, so thisll definitely be fun. If this isnt the case, regret, resentment, sadness, surely hell abhor me! Miseries are my delicacies!
The guide who loves the dark emotions of people spread out his hands in delight.
Even if you find misfortune in another world, its fine! Become unhappy! Hate me! Loathe me! From now on its fun time!
No matter how far the man fell, pleasing developments were all that waited for the guide.
The guide was ecstatic.
Oops, if I dont go soon, Ill have to spend time finding his soul too. Well whatever, I can brush it off with some cheap reason, all humans are fools thatll jump at the chance in joy when they hear about reincarnation after all, but lets not waste anymore time, continue to happily be deceived, idiot.
He cheerfully grabbed his bag, and as the guide who was just insulting a body started to pass through the door into another world
A small light came into being in the corner of the room.
A tiny light that was hiding and watching.
It was in the form of a small animal.
It looked like a dog.
But the guide didnt notice it.
I wonder how I should enjoy this. First of all, I have to decide where to incarnate him. Itd be nice to have him enjoy a family before thrusting him into despair. Like yah! The feeling of something plummeting from a high place?
Taking the chance while the guide was caught up in delusions, the small light passed through the door.
The guide clapped his hands.
Ive decided! Once he climbs up, Ill slam him back down to rock bottom! Im sure hell send over some great negative emotions then! Oh man, Im looking forward to this. Hell aim to be some noble aristocrat, but hell just end up in a massive execution! Maybe even tortured!
The guide embraced himself and writhed.
His joy was clearly abnormal.
Please live long, live a longer and more painful life! For the sake of my happiness, do your absolute best!
When the door to the other world closed, it vanished from the room.
The only thing left was the body of the man who just died.