0 - Prologue

Part 1 In the Forest: The Life of a Cat nyaa~

000 Prologue

That day the cold of winter began to ease. The life of an old man who would usually bask in the sun on the veranda is about to run out.

I would be 100 years old today… I’ve had a lot of things happen to me up until now. When I was a young boy, I wasn’t rich, but I didn’t have a problem with having to find what to eat. I had a turbulent adolescence with a lot of sadness. Although it was a lot of hard work, I was blessed with happy encounters in my prime and middle age. In my later years… I was just playing online games with my grandchildren.

I lost a lot of important people in the war, but after that, I met my wife and could see my children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren…

Today many people would be gathering to celebrate my birthday. Even though some parts of it were painful and sad, it was a happy life.

The old man closed his eyes while musing over his memories.

And then, he began on a new journey……

“This place is……”

When the old man came to, he was on a boat floating on a river with beautiful scenery.

“I should have been on the veranda up until a while ago… Is this… a dream? It’s the first time I’ve had such a beautiful dream.”

The old man started to think that this was a dream and began looking around leaving the course of the boat to the flow of the river. Some time passed and the boat landed by itself.

“It’s a dream, so you shouldn’t have to walk… Still, the ship doesn’t seem to move anymore…”

Looking at the surroundings, he found a place being illuminated in soft light.

“For the time being, let’s aim for that place… still, this is a very beautiful place. I wish my wife could have seen this too. Well, it should be impossible since it’s a dream. Even so, was there ever such a beautiful place in the scenery I have seen before? ”

As the old man walks while being fascinated by the beautiful scenery, he reaches the place illuminated by the light.

“I have been waiting”

There was a beautiful woman I had never seen before who stood there and spoke to me with a gentle voice.

Who is this beautiful woman!?? Her beauty was so transcendental it appeared out of this world.

The woman began speaking while the old man stood there in a daze.

“Even if you praise me so much, nothing will come out of it you know.”

What? Did I voice it out loud?

While the old man was worrying about that, the woman talks to him again.

“I have the power to read what you are thinking. After all, I am what you call a goddess”

Saying that the woman is puffed out her chest with pride. She continues talking to the old man who is so surprised he is unable to speak.

“Tetsunojo-san welcome to the “Afterlife”. My name is Amaterasu.”

“Amaterasu? That Amaterasu??”

“Ah, that’s right where Tetsunojo-san was born, information about me was widespread. However, apart from the name of that story, there are many places where various other stories are mixed in along with some fabricated parts in it so I can’t say it is accurate.”

Why do you know my name? Afterlife? Amaterasu? This isn’t a dream?

“Ara ara, you are confused. In that case, let us sort out and talk about your current situation.”

Apparently, it seems I’m dead. After death, it seems that souls are gathered in a place called the “Afterlife”. Also, the level of virtue of the soul will determine the next destination of the soul. Roughly speaking, based on the level of virtue, there are two courses that can be selected. Reincarnation (Circle of Transmigration) and Reincarnation (Isekai) course. 1

The reincarnation (Circle of Transmigration) course is to be born back to the original world. Souls with high virtues will become primates, and even higher virtues will become humans. It seems that based on the rank of the soul it can even select from being poor, rich, or living in dangerous or safe areas. Furthermore, if the virtue is low, it becomes an amoeba, a unicellular organism, a flea, or a Daphnia Pulex.

The reincarnation course (Isekai) is not to be born back in the original world, but a different world. It seems that the soul would reside in the creatures of the destination world that have evolved differently from Earth. There seems to be a world where reptiles have evolved, a world where minerals have become life forms, a world where science has developed beyond Earth’s, and a world where magic has developed instead of science.

“Tetsunojo-san is a highly virtuous soul that you would rarely see, so there are many options to select from. You can even reincarnate with your memory intact. My recommendation is a world where you can use magic. It is very popular with young Japanese people. However, it’s difficult for young people to go there because they didn’t have much time to accumulate virtue, unlike Tetsunojo-san.”

“Even if you say that, I’m no longer young.”

“What are you on about? In the next world, you’re starting from a baby you know. Is it okay to still be an old man?”

I was lightly scolded…

“You are right, I’m going to live in a new future, so I’ll change my mind and do my best with the intention of returning to being a young person.”

“Young person you say… well it’s fine. Please do not hesitate to tell me what course you want and if you have any wishes.”

“This is quite sudden. Could I have some time to think?”

“Oh, that’s fine. Please go ahead.”

Well, what should I do… Starting off the choice is between reincarnation in the same world or to a different world? The world mentioned earlier where science has developed is fascinating. Maybe it is even possible to take a trip to space.

“That is possible.”

I’m in the midst of thinking, so please try not to read my mind and interject. Or maybe, the recommended magical world… will fire come out from your hand? It’s similar to an online game I played with my grandson, and I’m tempted by it… When I glanced at Amaterasu-sama, she seemed to be itching to say something. It seems better to decide this early.

“I have decided. Please let me take the reincarnation (Circle of Transmigration) course.”

“Eh! Even though a virtuous person has come for the first time in a while, why don’t you go to a more interesting world? Magic is cool you know?”

She was visibly disappointed. Even her tone changed, what going on?

“Reincarnation (Circle of Transmigration) is too easy for me so I don’t feel like working.”

Are you a child! Also, don’t read my mind!!

“Eeeh……!”

“I have already decided, so please reincarnate me!”

“It is unfortunate, but I understand… In that case, do you have any regional, economic conditions, appearance, or other requests?”

“That’s right, I’m curious about the company that my son took over, so I’d like to be a good-looking and rich man who lives within 50 kilometres from his house. Can I still bring my memory under these conditions?”

“Yes, that’s okay, I’ll arrange it that way. Please enjoy your next life. Then, have a good trip …”

Saying that, Amaterasu turned her hands toward Tetsunojo and muttered something like a spell. Thereupon, Tetsunojo’s body began shining and turned into a sphere of light. Gradually, he began to float, and Tetsunojo set out for a new life…

“Have a pleasant trip……”

After Amaterasu uttered again the words of departure, she turned her back and went to greet the next soul coming to the “Afterlife”. Without noticing that Tetsunojo’s soul had collided with another soul and changed course…

Hmmm… I feel the sensation of being wiped with something. Was I just born? I mean… is this a hospital bed? When Tetsunojo rubbed his eyes and opened his hard-to-open eyelids, there he saw the figure of a giant monster cat.

“Nyaa Nyaa~!! Gyaa Gyaa~!!”

When Testsunojo became surprised and inadvertently raised his voice, the giant monster cat spoke to him gently.

“What’s wrong? You don’t have to be afraid of anything. Your mom here will protect you.”

Apparently, it seems Tetsunojo has reincarnated into a cat. His wishes were not fulfilled…

Footnotes

Basically the Kanji are different 輪廻転生 refers to the Buddhist belief that all souls belong to the Circle of Transmigration and 転生 means Isekai reincarnation as we know it.