Who I was, why I was here, and why I kept doing the things I did. Those were questions worth answering.
To answer them properly, I figured a quick recap wouldn't hurt.
First things first, I used to be human. Not just any human, but one with a very specific goal. I wanted a second life, a better one. A reincarnation that would place me above the rest, something grand, something meaningful.
A Grand Sage. That was the dream.
And in my infinite wisdom—yes, that's sarcasm—I believed in a certain rumor. Die a virgin at fifty, and you would reincarnate into something extraordinary. Something powerful.
So I committed. Fifty years. Fifty long, uneventful, painfully restrained years.
And then… I died. Simple as that.
No dramatic final battle. No heroic sacrifice. Just simple death during a ritual
To my credit, the first part of the rumor came true. I reincarnated. Just not into what I had aspired for.
Instead of becoming a Grand Sage, I became a Ghost.
At first, I thought it was unfortunate. No—scratch that—I knew it was unfortunate. I mean, out of all the possible fantasy races I could have been reborn as, I ended up as something intangible, something that couldn't even properly interact with the physical world.
"…Not exactly ideal."
But as time went on, I started to see things differently. Overtime, I figured perhaps being a Ghost wasn't all as bad as my thoughts feared it to be.
For one, I had abilities. Actual Ghost like abilities that makes the whole thing fun and interesting to look forward to.
There was Possession, which let me take over bodies. Then Ghost Glide, which allowed me to move effortlessly through the air. Fear something… something—yeah, I forgot the exact name, but it sounded cool. And there was one more.
"…What was it again?" I frowned slightly. "…Eh, doesn't matter."
If my gut said it was cool, then it was cool. That was enough for me.
"And that's not even the best part."
There was also the possibility of evolution.
The chance to grow stronger, to become something greater than I currently was.
"…Now that's exciting."
Not long after my rather questionable reincarnation, I met someone.
A goblin. A scrawny, fragile, love-struck goblin who, for some strange reason, could see me.
That alone made him special. So, with my knowledge as an Otaku and as a Ghost who can't or shouldn't normally be seen by the living, I knew I shouldn't, couldn't let him slip off my fingers.
I chose to do the one thing that would keep he had I together? I named him.
Then, everything changed when the fire Nation attacked.
My bad. Slipped off there, just couldn't help myself it seems.
To be back on track, everything changed after my naming him.
From a pathetic, barely-standing creature into a fully built, muscular Hobgoblin.
"…Still unfair."
I couldn't help but think back to that moment. The difference was ridiculous.
He went from looking like he would collapse under a light breeze to someone who looked like he could snap trees in half for fun.
"…Meanwhile, I still look the same despite having gone through one evolution already."
Not that I was bitter. "…I'm definitely bitter."
Still, it was fascinating. This world allowed for that kind of transformation.
Evolution wasn't just a concept—it was real. Kind of makes you wonder, 'What else could we become?'
What other forms existed out there? What kind of paths could I take?
This world is going to be fun, "That much, I was certain of."
As for why I did what I did? Naming him I mean.
The answer to that was easy, "Because I can." And more importantly, "Because it's fun."
That was reason enough.
Right now, I was floating alongside Kaiden as he made his way back to his village. He walked along a narrow path surrounded by stretches of grass, his posture steady, his grip firm around the snake's skull he carried.
He hadn't loosened his hold on it even once.
If he cradled it that dearly, I can only begin to wonder how very important the girl he planned to present it to really is to him.
She must be something, I am sure. Not that I could relate.
I was, after all, a fifty-year-old man who had lived his entire life without romance.
Or did I?... No, wait. There might have been something. A memory perhaps. One with details of back when I was younger and naive.
Maybe during my teenage years. Or my twenties.
Actually speaking, I was kind of a catch back then.
I nodded to myself. "Yes. Definitely."
There had to have been opportunities. Chances to experience the so called love and relationship. Maybe even get deep into the fun zone.
If you know what I mean.
Moments where things could have gone differently. But I ignored them all because of my goal and the obsession that drives me toward making my goal more than just a fantasy thought.
I didn't want distractions. Didn't want anything that could compromise my resolve. So I shut everything out.
Do I regret it?
That was a difficult question. One I didn't have the answer to.
Maybe. Maybe not. For now I couldn't say. Going forward though, I am sure the answer will eventually present itself.
At the end of this journey. At the end of whatever story this turned out to be.
For now, though, I intend to lean back and enjoy the ride. Go with the flow and see where it leads me.
That was the plan.
I turned slightly toward Kaiden. "How much farther is this village of yours?" I asked.
We had been moving for a while now, and while I wasn't exactly tired—ghost privileges and all—it was starting to feel like a long trip.
Kaiden slowed down slightly before answering. "Not much farther."
He stopped for a moment, his gaze shifting toward me. Specifically, at my legs. Or rather, the lack of contact between them and the ground.
He stared. A little too intently.
"…What?" I frowned. "You got something to say?" I demanded, my tone sharpening.
I could already guess what he was thinking. Why complain when I wasn't even walking Why act tired when I was literally floating?
That kind of thing.
He shook his head quickly. "Nothing."
"…Figured." I turned away slightly, pretending not to care.
But he had a point. An annoying one, yes. But a point nonetheless.
He was the one doing all the walking. I was just drifting along. Still. That didn't mean I couldn't complain. Right?
'…Right?'
The rest of the journey passed in relative silence. Not an awkward silence. Just quiet.
I didn't say anything. Neither did he.
In that quiet, I found myself reflecting again.
'Maybe I should cut him some slack.'
Just a little. After all, he was the one putting in the effort.
'Maybe.'
As we continued forward, the light around us began to shift.
The sky dimmed slightly, the brightness of the day slowly giving way to something softer, something darker.
"…Evening?"
Or maybe not. I wasn't entirely sure how day and night worked in this world.
Back on Earth, it wasn't always a clean transition.
And here? "…Who knows."
For all I knew, the moon could show up whenever it felt like it.
Or maybe there were multiple moons. "…That would be cool."
Either way, the point was clear. The day was winding down.
And just as that realization settled in, I noticed something in the distance.
"…Smoke?" A thin trail of it rose into the sky, visible even from where we were.
I turned toward Kaiden immediately. "Is that—?"
"That is my village," he confirmed. "We should be arriving soon."
"…Soon, huh?" I giggled, "Speak for yourself."
Before he could react, I shot upward. Then forward. I floated very fast in the air. Left him behind without an inkling of hesitation doing som
"No way I'm walking the rest of that at his conveniently annoying pace." Not when I could do this.
As I moved ahead, my mind shifted to what should come next once I reach the Goblin village.
Once I get there, I'm going to possess as many goblins as I can.
Would have used the phrase,"get my hands on them," but—
"…Yeah, definitely not happening."
Still, the idea remained what it was meant to be. Possession. Over and over again.
Doing that would raise my experience point count. Push my level higher. Bring me closer to my next evolution.
"…Perfect." Everything was falling into place.
"I can't wait." A small laugh escaped me. Light and definitely creepy no doubt.