Normally, if a death occurs, where does the human soul go? In this world, there is a population of over 8 billion people, or perhaps even more than that. And among the entire population, there are different beliefs according to cultural roots and the mental anchor called "faith."
For some groups, death is a step toward the final judgment. They believe in a land of eternal happiness like heaven, or a pit of hell filled with flames and punishment depending on the deeds done while on earth. If you are a good person, you just go to enjoy bliss in a place with songs praising God. But if you are a sinner, you just prepare to be burned. It is a system that looks remarkably simple—or to call it a "cosmic-level social screening," it probably wouldn't be wrong.
While the other side of the world views death as merely a rest stop for the "reincarnation express train." They believe in karma and rebirth. If in the past life you behaved like a dog, in this life you might actually be born as a dog. Or if you have accumulated enough merit from good deeds, you might escape from the wheel of suffering called Samsara to a state of emptiness called Nirvana.
For me, it is like playing an endless RPG game. You are forced to farm new levels over and over again in different bodies to find a conclusion that no one can confirm actually exists.
And there are also groups of people in history who tried to lay a logical foundation to make death look more civilized. Like the Greeks who believed in the Asphodel Meadows.
A place for souls that are neither too good nor too evil—like a gray zone for ordinary people with nothing outstanding. Or the Norse warriors who dreamed of Valhalla, so that they could drink and battle for eternity. Every belief is entirely designed to console humans who are terrified of "the void."
For logicians or atheists, they often say that death is cessation. When the brain stops working, your identity vanishes like a computer being unplugged. Memories, emotions, and "your identity" dissolve into an unfeeling universe.
That is the truth that looks the coldest, but it might also be the fairest truth. Because at least in that darkness, no one has to wear masks to face each other anymore.
I myself used to think like that... Death should be the quietest and simplest conclusion. But my godforsaken life always has unexpected jokes.
In the past, at home, or even when I was with Zaimokuza, I had read through countless times about the "Other World" (Isekai) type of light novels. The story of a down-on-his-luck guy who gets hit by a car and then wakes up in a fantasy world to become a hero saving the world.
As for me?
Those things are pure logical garbage. It is a sweet dream for losers who cannot accept reality in this world, so they have to fantasize about a world where they are important. A world where everyone will flock to love and praise them just because "destiny" decreed it.
I would always sneer every time I saw that kind of plot... "Another world"? Utterly ridiculous. Death is the end, not a fresh start in the body of a super cool hero surrounded by a harem of girls.
But then again... what's funny is that the part about the belief of going to another world, which I viewed as the most ridiculous and delusional... it actually ended up happening to me for real. Or something along those lines—
"Young Master~ Is about this much okay?"
"Ah~ Yes~ That's it, just right."
What a truly splendid time.
Umm… don't get me wrong, all you readers. It is not what you guys think. If you guys know me well, you probably know what kind of person I am.
Right now, I am just lying face down on the bed, with a maid simply massaging my back.
…Huh.. a maid? A person like me having a maid? Of course, there's no way that would happen. Yes.. there was no way it would happen to me in the previous world. But not with me in this world.
I was reborn just like what should happen in a comic book. At first, I thought this rebirth would require me to play the role of a hero protagonist to defeat the great demon king. Far from it, it is still a world that is no different from the previous world. If there is a difference, it would probably be my status right now—
"Young Master~ Here you go, ahh-mm."
"Ahh-mm.."
I was born as the son of a wealthy millionaire of the Hikigaya family. Sometimes I think that this might be a parallel world. Because for the Hikigaya family—which should have been just a family whose main income came from enterprises akin to corporate slaves—to actually be able to hold their heads high among others. Perhaps God really exists. That's why He accepted my desire of wanting to be a 'gigolo', or to put it politely, a husband who sponges off his wife. Even though there is a slight difference in the matter of the positions being swapped.
My ultimate dream is to not have to work, not have to face the outside world that is full of masks and deception. And in this world, God was probably too lazy to listen to my complaining, so He served up the status of 'Young Master' of the filthy rich Hikigaya family to me entirely. This family does not just have a good standing, but they are top-tier millionaires whose businesses cover everywhere. This wealth allows me to maintain a distance from the 'youth society' that I detest completely.
In the old world, I viewed being a company slave as the end of life. But here, I have maids supporting my every step, unlimited money to use without having to try to stand out at all. It is the ideal tranquility that I used to yearn for.
Being able to lie still, having someone massage my back, while having someone feed fruits right to my mouth, it is clearly 'social withdrawal' at a premium level.
I don't have to join the Service Club to solve problems for anyone, don't have to be forced by anyone to do things against my will. Because in the eyes of the servants, I am the 'Young Master' whose words are absolute law. This right here is the consolation prize from my pathetic death in my previous world.
"By the way, Milla, lately I haven't really seen Father and Mother. Where are they right now?"
"Currently, they are abroad, Young Master."
But even so, amidst this dream-like life, I instead feel a certain fracture that looks strangely 'abnormal'.
Especially my parents in this world. Generally speaking, the children of multi-millionaires usually shoulder heavy expectations. Parents should train me to be a perfect successor, drilling me on manners or academics to prepare to take over the business. But for the Hikigaya family parents in this world, they instead did the exact opposite.
They gave me everything, except 'attention'. There was never any forcing, never any expectation, or even any scolding regarding me acting foolishly day by day. They let me live life as a wealthy background character in a nook of the mansion freely.
This indifference is too much to the point that it doesn't look like respect for privacy. Rather, it looks more like overlooking my very existence. It is so different from the parents in the old world who, despite working hard as corporate slaves, still had worries or biases appearing to be seen.
In this world, I am like being placed on a golden shelf... A beautiful shelf, but devoid of the echo of true love.
"Mmm… that feels good.. Alright, that's enough. You girls can go rest or do something else now. I want to be alone for a bit."
"Yes, Young Master."
After finishing the massage, I dismissed the maids from the room, so that I could continue to have time alone.
"Sigh…"
Even though I have a luxurious and comfortable life, underneath the depths of my mind, I cannot deny that I feel lonely after all.
Ah.. Komachi, I want to hear your nagging voice. If Komachi could see her brother's life right now, what would she think? My points would definitely be deducted.
Sometimes I want to hear the sarcastic, cynical nagging of Yukinoshita. The silly greeting of Yuigahama. The punch to the stomach from Teacher Hiratsuka. The cuteness of Totsuka. The observation of Hayama's group which is full of fakes. The numerous nonsensical words from Zaimokuza's novels…
Mmm… perhaps I really have changed. I don't know whether it's for better or for worse.
"Speaking of that matter, lately I feel strangely unwell. I have a premonition that in the future, something bad might happen to me.. Mmm.. whatever, better go to sleep…"