Just Being Alive Is Amazing: Starting Life Over in a Chastity-Reversed World - Chapter 0: Prologue

Chapter 0: Prologue

Where am I?

When I came to, I was in a Japanese-style room with tatami mats.

The sliding door was closed, preventing me from peering outside.

More than that, I couldn’t move a single step from where I was, nor could I even stand up.

Trapped in an unfamiliar tatami room, unable to move, I felt an indescribable sense of panic.

As I racked my brain for a way to break free from this situation, the sound of the sliding door opening echoed through the silent room.

“My apologies for keeping you waiting.”

A woman with long black hair, dressed in a pure white kimono, entered the room as she spoke.

Who could she be? Given the situation, she was likely the one who brought me here or someone connected to them. I had no memory of coming here myself.

Either way, I had a lot of questions for this woman.

“This is a room within my domain in the Divine Realm. It is used for speaking with the souls of the deceased and processing their reincarnation.”

The Divine Realm? What’s that? Souls of the deceased, reincarnation—that sounds like something straight out of a manga or anime.

And why was she answering when I hadn’t even asked the question out loud?

“Everyone who comes to this room asks the same thing, so I explain it first.”

I see. That makes sense.

But wait, that’s not it. There was something else bothering me…

She mentioned something about the souls of the deceased. What does that mean?

There were so many questions swirling in my mind that I didn’t know where to start.

“Please, do not worry. I will explain everything from here.”

Looking straight at me, the woman began to speak calmly.

“To put it bluntly, you have already passed away and exist now as a soul.”

The first thing she said was a shocking fact that I could hardly believe.

Dead? A soul? If that’s true, I wouldn’t even have ears to hear this, would I?

“Indeed, you do not.”

Did I just speak out loud?

If what she’s saying is true, I shouldn’t even have a mouth or throat to speak with.

What is going on here…?

“I am one of the gods. Reading thoughts is a trivial matter for me.

Since those who come to this room are naturally unaccustomed to existing as souls, I read their thoughts to make communication more efficient.”

I see… If she can do that, then maybe this talk of the Divine Realm is true after all.

But having my thoughts read makes me feel a sudden sense of pressure, or rather, unease… especially since she’s a god.

Is there no way to have a normal conversation?

“Please, rest assured. There is a way to communicate without me reading your thoughts.

Simply focus on the questions you want to ask me, as if you’re directing your thoughts toward me.”

“I-Is it true that I’m dead…? Like this, maybe?”

“Yes, very well done!”

Whoa… It feels like telepathy.

“As for your question, as I mentioned earlier, you have passed away.”

I knew she said something about the souls of the deceased, but hearing it again still hits hard.

I can’t recall anything that would have led to my death… In fact, I can’t remember anything at all.

My name, my age, what I did when I was alive—nothing comes to mind.

“Um… I can’t remember anything about myself…”

“Those who are summoned here typically retain their memories as they are reincarnated, but in your case, I took the liberty of erasing your memories.”

I see… That explains why I can’t remember anything.

But why was I the only one whose memories were erased?

“May I ask why my memories were erased?”

“Of course, I will explain.

Your fate was twisted and toyed with by an evil god.

As a result, you were struck by countless misfortunes and ultimately lost your life.

Keeping those memories would have a negative impact on your soul, so I erased your personal memories.”

With a look of regret, the woman explained what had happened to me.

Even so, there was something I couldn’t help but press further.

“Wasn’t there anything that could have been done before I died?”

“My apologies. The gods are forbidden from directly interfering in the mortal world, so this was the only way we could address the situation.”

The black-haired woman—rather, the goddess—bowed deeply, pressing her fingers to the tatami.

“Uh, please raise your head. It’s not your fault, and since I don’t have my memories, I don’t feel anger or loss.”

“Thank you for your generous words.”

The goddess lifted her head with a relieved expression.

If it’s against the rules, there’s no point in complaining…

That’s enough about my past life. Since I was called here, there must be a reason.

“So, why was I summoned here?”

“I called you here to apologize and explain.

As I mentioned earlier, you will be reincarnated into another world.

Ideally, I would have preferred to reincarnate you in your original world, but that is forbidden by the laws of the gods.”

“Why can’t I go back to my original world?”

“When a soul with memories lingers too long in one world, it has a negative impact on the mortal realm.

As a soul repeatedly reincarnates in the same world, its desires grow unchecked, bringing chaos to that world.

It’s like exceeding the lifespan of a species, and those desires become far greater than what is natural.

Thus, when a god allows a soul to retain its memories during reincarnation, it must be sent to another world.”

“I see… But if my memories are gone, isn’t that fine?”

Yes, she did say my memories were erased.

I’m not particularly attached to my original world, but I don’t understand why I need to go to another one.

“That is because your memories have not been completely erased.

If your memories were entirely erased, you wouldn’t even be able to have this conversation.”

The goddess spoke with a beautiful smile.

Now that I think about it, she did say she erased my personal memories, and I vaguely recall thinking earlier that this felt like something out of a manga or anime.

“You will be reincarnated with the memories that remain.

If you were to reincarnate in your original world in this state and somehow learn about your past life, we cannot predict what might happen to your soul.

To avoid the worst-case scenario, you cannot be reincarnated into your original world.

Moreover, if we completely erased your memories, it wouldn’t serve as atonement. That’s why we’ve arranged for you to be reincarnated in this manner.”

Atonement, huh… I don’t feel anything about it anymore, but accepting what’s offered is probably better for her sake as well.

“I understand.

So, what’s reincarnation like?”

“I’m glad you understand.

You will be reincarnated by merging with a version of yourself in a world that exists parallel to your original one.”

As I accepted her apology and began to grasp the situation, the goddess started explaining with a gentle expression.

A parallel world… like a parallel universe, I suppose. At this point, I’m past being surprised.

Merging with a version of myself in a parallel world—what happens to the me over there? Wouldn’t that mean there are two souls?

“In the world I’m reincarnating into, there’s another me, right? What happens to that me’s soul?”

Even if it’s a parallel world version of myself, the idea of taking over someone else’s body feels a bit… wrong.

“The evil god’s influence extended to the you in the parallel world as well.

Because it was discovered too late, the soul in that world is already…”

She trailed off, speaking with a regretful tone.

The mood shifted back to something heavy, unlike the lighter atmosphere earlier.

It seems the evil god has caused quite a lot of trouble for my souls.

“So, if there’s no soul, does that mean there’s just a body left, and I’ll be reincarnated into it?”

“Yes, exactly.

By placing your soul into the vessel in that world, you will be granted a new life.

Normally, we would have you start a new life from scratch, but given your current state, this world is the most compatible for you.

Fortunately, the body is still young, so you should be able to live a long life. However, please note that you will have no memories of the world you’re reincarnating into.”

I’m relieved to know my understanding wasn’t wrong.

But entering a world without any knowledge of it, and at an age that’s not exactly young…

I’ll have to be careful not to come off as strange.

“Um, with this kind of reincarnation, is there some sort of mission, like defeating a demon king or something?”

In stories about reincarnation, that’s usually the trope, but I wonder what it’s like in reality.

With my incomplete memories, I don’t feel like I’d be much use in a fight.

The thought crossed my mind, and I ended up changing the topic abruptly.

“Please, don’t worry. You have no such mission.

Some people do, but not in this case.

Besides, a mission like that wouldn’t serve as atonement.

If I had to say, your mission is to find happiness.”

The goddess giggled elegantly and answered politely.

Okay, maybe that was a bit of an overconfident question.

But the idea of finding happiness as a mission has a nice ring to it.

“W-Well, going back to the earlier topic… what kind of place is the world I’m reincarnating into?”

“There’s no need to worry. The world you’re reincarnating into has a civilization similar to your original world.

As for the lack of memories, you can simply claim to have amnesia, and it should be consistent with your situation.”

Sensing my slight anxiety about reincarnation, the goddess kindly explained.

If the civilization level is similar, I probably don’t need to worry too much.

That must be what she meant by it being compatible with me.

And it sounds like I’ll manage somehow, even without memories.

“Do you have any other questions?

If not, we’ll proceed with the reincarnation.”

As I was processing her words, she gently prompted me.

My doubts and anxieties have been cleared, and I feel ready to reincarnate with peace of mind.

“Yes, I’m ready.”

My heart races a little at the thought of starting a new life.

…Well, I don’t have a heart to race yet.

“Understood. We will now proceed with the reincarnation ritual.”

The goddess’s appearance didn’t change, but I could feel my consciousness gradually fading.

It was only a short time, but I’m glad I got to talk with such a beautiful goddess.

At first, hearing things like “you’re dead” and “evil god” felt like some kind of joke, but now I’m ready.

My vision starts to blur with white, and I can feel the moment of reincarnation drawing near.

“Oh, one more thing. It would be inconvenient not to know your name, even if you claim amnesia, so I’ll tell you.

Your name is ——————”