บท 1: Died by Fire, Chosen by Flames

"This is fine"

I said to myself as I watch the whole apartment room burn and couldn't help but chuckles on how ridiculous of a predicament that I am currently in.

I remember when I was just chilling in my bedroom while reading novels. But then something exploded at the room next door and caused a fire in the building. I'm guessing it was the stove of my neighbor that caused this fire. How unresponsible of them, I think they left it open or something.

I could just get this over with and escape the apartment building instead of complaining. However, I couldn't do that.

Why? Well, you see.... I am currently stuck... My lower half has been crushed by fallen debris and suffered several burns due to the explosion earlier.

I tried to call for help but no one noticed my screams. Not even the firefighters seem to not noticed me shouting yet. Like seriously, where are they?

*sigh* I sighed heavily as I wait for my impending doom or whatever. It's not like I am an important person or anything.

I am just your average high school girl who studies so hard to catch up with an elder sibling in order impress the parents.

For the past several years, I received just a few words of commendation only from my parents and only the words of "You should study harder in order to be on the same level as your elder sister" was said to me.

Like... give me a break her mom and dad! I am literally trying my hardest to ace all of the exams, but the subjects are just way too hard and I made a lot of mistakes. Studying is way too difficult and complicated if your own parents is pressuring you to learn better and smarter.

*sigh* 'I wish learning and studying is easier to do' I thought to myself as I wait for something to happen.

I then noticed a book laying on the floor and the pages were currently burning.

'Ah, that was the novel I was reading earlier' I said to myself as I realized that the book in front of me was the 15th volume of Mushoku Tensei that I bought yesterday.

I remembered reading a part in that novel where the character named Eris Greyrat fighting an impossible foe in order to save her beloved man. The character is strong, badass and overly beautiful.

Ever since I first read the volume 2 of the novel, I fell in love with the character when she was introduced in the story.

With vividly bright hair and red eyes, accompanied by her aggressive and violent nature, she is by far my favorite character in the novel.

'I wonder, if I were to die in this fire, I wanted to meet her in person or maybe to have a connection with her in the next life. That would be great' I thought to myself as I feel the fire in the room burns brighter. The fire crawled its way towards my direction as it scorches my entire arm.

'Ah, this is it... the fire is burning me' those were my last thought as the flame engulfs my entire upper body, burning me into ashes.

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After dying in the fire, I was transported to a hellish place that was covered with flames.

"Is this hell?" I muttered to myself as I look around the place.

"Not quite, dear" a deep menacing voice suddenly answered my question. I was startled and I frantically search around to find the source of the voice.

Then I found in the middle of the fiery landscape was a throne with bearded man clad in black armor. I approach the man and he seemingly resting his head with his arm while staring at me.

"Who are you, sir?" I asked the dark armored man, smirking at me while I'm asking the question.

The man lifts his head from his arm and stands from his throne.

"I, my dear, am the God of War" the armored man introduced himself with a thunderous voice.

His voice echoes throughout landscape, making the flames of the place flicker brightly.

I was bewildered by the man's voice and was speechless on the information he gave me.

"Wait, hold on just a second! Did you just say God of War? As in the Greek God of War, Ares?" I question the man to verify the information I inquired at him. However, he shook his head, denying my claim.

"No, I am not him"

"Then how about... Ninurta?"

"Nope"

"Indra?"

"Not even close"

"Kratos?"

"Are you a gamer or something?"

"Perhaps yes"

"*sigh* no, none of those names were mine. Rather, I am the very essence of war itself" the man explained to me about his identity. "Then what do I call you, sir?" I asked the man on how should I address him.

"Just call me Bellum, dear" the man told me the name I should call him and I nodded in compliance.

"Then, may I ask something, sir Bellum"

"Sure, be my guess"

"Where am I? What is this place?" I asked sir Bellum about my whereabouts and the reason why I am here.

"Ah, this place? This is my domain, the heart of the War realm"

"War realm?" I asked sir Bellum because I was confused on what he meant about the location's name.

"Yes, this is where the souls of the mortals who died in wars pass through here before reaching heaven or hell"

"What? Do you mean like a Purgatory place?"

"No, but close enough. The realm is just a pathway that leads to the true purgatory"

Sir Bellum explained about the purpose of the place's existence. Now that I know that, I decide to ask him for why am I here.

"Then how about the reason on why I end up here, sir Bellum. Why am I here?"

"Ah, well... You see, the fire that engulfed you were actually mine and you were accidentally chosen by the flame" Sir Bellum said with a regretful tone.

"What do you mean accidentally chosen?" I asked him what he meant by what he said.

"The flames the engulfed you were meant to be for the retired military veteran that was living next door in your apartment. But in some twist of fate, he survived the gas explosion from the stove he left open and it killed you instead" he said in shame, completely admitting that he was responsible for my death.

"So, you're the one who's responsible for the explosion that severely wounded me and crippled me from the waist down?!" I angrily rebuked sir Bellum who was bewildered by bad temper.

"Apologize, it wasn't my intention for you to be affected by my actions. I shall grant you three wishes in order for me to compensate you for your death" Sir Bellum apologizes to me while offering me three wishes as compensation.

Regaining my composure, I nodded in compliance and I ponders on what I should wish for. After some careful consideration, I have decided to begin in making my wishes.

"My first wish is for me to be reincarnated in the world of Mushoku Tensei in the year K400, which is seven years prior to the main canon of the novel's story"

"I see, that wish is understandable. Then I shall grant it" sir Bellum then snaps his finger and a flaming portal opens. I assume that was the way towards the world I wanted.

"Then what's your second wish, my dear" he asked me on what's my next wish. I complied and start wishing on the second wish.

"My second wish is for me to look like Eris Boreas Grayrat and I would like to have a close connection with her"

"Oh? Do you mean like familial connection?"

"If possible, yes. I want to be born in the same family as hers"

"I see, then I shall grant it" he snaps his finger again and my body starts to disappear, making me panic that my limbs start vanishing.

"Don't panic, my dear. Your soul is still intact and your old appearance just disappeared in order to prepare your soul for new appearance in the next world" sir Bellum reassures me which stops me from panicking and regaining my composure. "Then what's your last wish, my dear?" he then prompts me to make the last wish.

"My last wish is...." I thought for a second on what I decided for the last wish. Remembering my parents on the previous world, I decided to wish something about that matter.

"... for me to duplicate my soul and send it back to the previous world. Make sure that a body of my previous self was provided for that soul and was safely escaped the apartment building" with my last wish had said, sir Bellum raised his eyebrow because of my decision.

"Would you mind explaining to me about that wish, dear"

"You see, even though my parent treats me insufficiently in the previous life, I don't want to disappoint them. So, I don't want them to see me dying as a failure, knowing that I haven't done any good achievements in my previous life. With that in mind, I want the copied soul to continue studying for me in order to make them proud somehow" I explained for my reason in deciding the last wish.

After I explain my reason to sir Bellum, he nodded in understanding. He then snaps his finger one last time and my soul beats heavily and another soul came out of mine, hovering away from me and vanishes to the sky above.

"It is done, my dear. I am sure that a replica of your former self will be manifested somewhere outside of the burning apartment building, completely unscathed and healthy" sir Bellum informs me that the duplication of myself was finished and I sighed in relief that another me is able to take my place in continuing the studies for me.

Although the apartment building was burnt down along with my textbooks in my room, I haven't wished for a replacement for the copied soul to study with.

Whoops... my bad. I'm sorry, another me. I'm sure that you will find a way to replace those burnt textbooks, somehow. I hope that my parents would understand the situation and buy her new books to study.

"Now then, off you go to the portal, my dear. In this way, your soul will pass through the barrier of space-time continuum of that world and become part of its timeline" sir Bellum instructs me to go through the flaming portal, which I complied and went towards it. However, I stop midway and ponders for a bit.

"Will I see you again, sir Bellum?" I asked him as I look back to see sir Bellum one last time before entering the portal.

"Oh? Do you miss me already, dear?"

"Hehe, it was fun talking to you, sir Bellum. I have never talked to a fine gentleman like you before" I complimented sir Bellum, telling my honest thought about him. He snickers at my words but he shook his head afterwards.

"I apologize my dear as I can't leave the War Realm in order to see you again" hearing that I couldn't see him again, I felt down about the sad response in my question.

Seeing me feeling upset, he went towards me and patted my non-existent head, touching my soul instead.

"Don't be heartbroken, my dear. I may not able to meet you again in your next life, but the flames of mine that has chosen you will be forever bonded in your soul" sir Bellum comforts me, easing my worries of not seeing him again.

"How does your flames benefit me, sir Bellum" I asked him on what the fire that was bonded in my soul do to me.

"My flames will grant you strong affinity to fire, making you completely immune to fire-based attacks while boasting your strength through rage and bloodlust. In this way, you will able to continue to battle through wars and bloodshed" he explained the power-up I received from his flames. I nodded in understanding after hearing his explanation.

"Well... this is farewell then, sir Bellum"

"Ah, take care of yourself, my dear. May the flames of war will always be with you"

Me and sir Bellum said our farewells and I hop in to the flaming portal, leaving the War Realm behind.

'Good bye, sir Bellum. I'll do my best in my second life' I thought to myself as I am going through a tunnel that heads towards the world of Mushoku Tensei.