"Ah… I see you've died again."
Yeah, I woke up to that dark void, with that same strange voice echoing around me.
I… had died.
Just as I expected.
Still, I was surprised when I heard those words from him.
Am I really that weak?
Heh… I guess I am.
"Don't worry, I'll give you another chance."
"W-What?"
"You heard me. I'm willing to grant you another chance."
"R-Really?"
But I didn't let that false hope take over me. I stayed composed.
I took a deep breath—only to realize I couldn't breathe here.
It was shocking, but it didn't stop my old self from returning.
"So… what do you want in exchange for bringing me back?"
"Nothing."
"You're joking. Nothing in this world is free—not even heaven.
You get in with work first… and then God's mercy."
"Hah… Fine. How about I give you a bunch of missions instead?"
"Uh… how about… no."
"But didn't you just say nothing comes for free?"
"…I'm just a dumbass."
"Oh... okay then, see you later."
"Hah, I don't think so."
Yeah… I won't die again.
Not this time.
---
I opened my eyes inside the same damn trash bin.
There was a piece of bread there—stale and moldy—but who cares?
I want to survive.
No—I have to survive, no matter the cost.
I hesitated.
Then walked away from the trash to search for something else.
I didn't want to eat that disgusting bread. It really was nasty.
"Bread… Please, someone give me anything…"
I started screaming.
Even if I'm ugly, surely they aren't so heartless as to judge me just by how I look, right?
I kept crying out…
But all I saw in their eyes was disgust.
They whispered to each other behind my back.
Then one of them approached me.
Blond hair. Red eyes.
He looked at me with pure revulsion, then drew his sword.
"You… you're a demon. No, not even the Demon King is this hideous. Just die."
He killed me.
It hurt—a lot.
His damn sword wasn't even sharp.
It tore my skin. Crushed my bones.
I couldn't even scream—he shoved a block of wood in my mouth.
And after minutes of agony…
I finally died.
---
"Oh… Looks like you failed again."
Sobbing
"N-No… please, don't bring me back… Please don't bring me back…"
"Hahaha, you don't have anything left.
You're just… a slave now."
---
I opened my eyes—again—in the same filthy trash bin.
And there it was: the same piece of bread.
This time, I grabbed it and ate it.
Didn't matter how nasty it was.
Didn't care if it was healthy or not.
I just knew one thing: death is terrifying.
Something ancient inside me woke up—some primal fear.
Yeah… I'm scared now.
How can people be so cruel?
How can they all turn against me for just how I look—or how I smell?
Am I blind?
---
You have a new quest: Go to Death Mountain [Danger Level: SS]
"Oh, SS-ranked mountain? That's easy...
Why not just ask me to fly while you're at it?"
New Quest: Obtain Flight Skill (Rank A)
"…How do I get it?"
"I'm not Google, idiot."
"But you're the system! You're supposed to help me!!"
"How much will you pay?"
"What?"
"How much will you pay for my services?"
"…Excuse me?"
"Forget it."
What kind of system asks for payment?
I demand a replacement.
"Where even is Death Mountain?"
Why go there?
Good question.
Because if I don't—I'll die.
That's what this system will probably do to me if I don't complete the mission.
"Figure it out yourself."
(And so, the ugly failure packed his things and headed to Death Mountain… What a moron.)