Chapter 2

Have you heard of reincarnation?

In English, it's called reincarnation, and in Sanskrit, it's known as samsara. To put it simply, it's like being reborn. This is probably easier to understand.

Dying and gaining a new life. If such a thing were to happen, what would you do?

“Daa”

This is the first time I haven't understood what's going on.

The first words I uttered to grasp the situation were incoherent murmurs, lacking any strength. I couldn't make my voice work properly.

Moreover, the body I found myself in was clearly that of a small child, one that was incredibly difficult to move. In fact, I couldn't move it at all on my own.

Anyone would realize something was wrong in this situation.

After all, if you've been living your life as an adult and suddenly find yourself regressed to an infant, you'd doubt your own mind. If I could speak freely, I'd probably exclaim, "Oh, Jesus!" in despair.

Still, this is strange.

It's strange enough to be reborn as a baby, but the real issue is that I was supposed to be dead.

It was a simple accident, being hit by a car that ran a red light. I was suddenly sent to the afterlife. The only thing I remember clearly is the intense pain. Ironically, I'm actually dead.

In other words, it seems I've experienced reincarnation.

“You! Liz smiled!”

“Really!”

If I could control my body, my cheeks would have twitched violently.

The people who picked me up seemed to be my parents, but they were clearly not Japanese.

By conventional standards of beauty, they were a beautiful couple, but their hair and eye colors were so unusual that I had a lot of questions. My father, for instance, had hair so red it would shock even an Osaka auntie. It wasn't dyed; it was naturally deep and beautiful, fitting his face perfectly without any sense of incongruity.

My mother, on the other hand, had a pale ivory complexion, which suited her well. This was something you wouldn't see in Japan.

“Liz, it's Dad~”

The man who seemed to be my father leaned in with his crimson eyes and rubbed his cheek against mine with a doting expression. For now, I'm his daughter... right? Not his son, right? I'm definitely a child.

Apparently, my name is Liz. I'm definitely not Japanese. I have a strong feeling that something is off, but I don't have any concrete evidence yet.

The second father figure looked at me with a bright, loving gaze. I must have been a much-wanted child, born to be loved. ...I feel a bit sorry for my parents, having a child with an adult's mind. Of course, I'll keep that a secret.

“Hey, do you recognize me?”

“Daa”

“Selen, Liz recognized me as Dad!”

“Our child is so smart!”

These people are going to be doting parents. I can already tell they're smitten. If I act like a child, I'll be showered with love.

When I tried to act more childlike and laughed happily, my parents smiled contentedly.

I really am a child who was born to be loved.

...Then, I want to respond to that love. Even though my adult self is much older, the fact that these people gave birth to me doesn't change.

I'll cherish them as much as they cherish me.

“With this latent magical power... this child could become a court mage like us, it's not just a dream.”

...Yeah, I definitely heard some clearly abnormal words, but I don't know. I'm just a cute baby, I don't understand such fantastical things. I don't know, I don't know.