My life was unremarkable. The only thing that brought me joy was probably gaming. I was an avid gamer who could sit at home for months without leaving the house. Luckily, my parents were rich, so I didn't have to worry about food, and besides, they had no time for me. Therefore, I didn't feel much love for my parents; I only saw them as the reason I was born. Nothing more, nothing less.
Of course, I didn't love them as a son should, but I still felt some affection for them. Only thanks to their work, which brought in a lot of money for our family, was I able to live a peaceful life without a care in the world.
But even though I knew this lifestyle was unhealthy, I couldn't change it, and I didn't want to, and I paid for it with my life.
After I went outside, after six months of sitting at the computer, everything went black, and the last thing I remember was feeling a strong blow to the back of my head, and my world went dark.
By all accounts, I should be dead, but...
"I didn't expect this," I said, and my voice involuntarily startled me.
At this moment, I'm on the shore of a small lake, looking at the surface of the water, where a girl is reflected... the girl I am...
And indeed, I somehow became a girl and, apparently, ended up in another world...
I'm not very familiar with this whole past-life reincarnation thing. I've read all sorts of novels, even ones in which a guy becomes a girl... like me right now...
By all rights, this should have scared me terribly, or at least caused an identity crisis, but... it didn't, which was strange. I didn't care at all that I had become a girl, and such a beautiful one at that. And I became not just any girl, but the one I loved most in my past life... Evernight...
I was exactly like Evernight, in the game... Evernight, or perhaps March 7 in the past, lost in space in a block of ice, but rescued by the Nameless, after which she joined them... Specifically, Evernight. Evernight was initially a second personality of March 7, who wanted to fulfill March's dream, but used drastic methods. Eventually, they reconciled, and March 7 began to look like Evernight.
In my past life, I greatly admired Evernight, but even then, the game couldn't convey the beauty I saw. Be it her beautiful long pink hair, her blood-red eyes, or, especially, her charming face. My figure was also very alluring, though not particularly large, especially around the chest, but that wasn't necessary... I was also wearing the same clothes, black and white, with a black flower woven into my hair and a red one hanging on my chest, which contrasted sharply with the rest of my look. Still, the coat, if you could call it that, was a bit short... But even that doesn't change the fact that I've become a true beauty...
And this beauty, who can conquer countries with her appearance alone, will I be me?
Sigh...
In any case, judging by my experience as a reader, in such cases there must be a system or status...
"System?" I asked out loud, but there was no answer.
"Status?"
"Menu?"
"Characteristics?"
After several attempts, I was starting to get a little worried.
No matter how strong Evernight was, I'm not her, or rather, not the original Evernight. I have absolutely no experience in combat or anything like that. And I'm fairly certain this isn't a peaceful world, and in fact, if the multiverse theory is true, then there's absolutely no peaceful world that could be called a utopia.
Although a utopia could exist, but either in the past or in the future, this world ceased to be peaceful.
"Um... excuse me," a female voice said behind me, causing me to flinch slightly and turn to look at it.
After seeing the girl standing in front of me, my eyes widened slightly and my breathing quickened, but I tried not to show my recognition.
"So beautiful..." the girl said when she saw my face, and her words made me blush involuntarily.
"Lumine? What's wrong? You just saw this girl and already fell in love with her?" a little girl hovering next to the blonde asked her.
Hearing her companion's words, she snapped out of her stupor and bowed to me.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to..." she said after a pause.
"It's okay," I replied dispassionately, though I could feel my heart pounding at her words.
Of course, even though I'm a girl now, I used to be a guy, so it's natural that I'd only be attracted to girls. While that's true, I'm sure there are girls who were never guys but were always attracted to girls, and the blonde, or rather Lumine, is proof of that, if I understood her correctly.
"Anyway, don't pay attention to her. My name is Paimon, and this girl next to me is Lumine," Paimon said.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Evernight," I said with a barely perceptible smile.
Since I look like Evernight, why not call myself Evernight? Plus, I'm terrible at coming up with names, and regular girly names don't suit someone like me.
"Evernight? You have a rather strange and unique name... Don't take it wrong, it's a compliment!" Paimon said, waving her hands.
I simply shook my head.
"I figured so, don't worry, I wasn't offended," I said, then noticed Lumine, who was silently looking at me, but this time, it seemed like she wanted to ask me something.
"Lumine? Is there something you want to ask me?" I asked, to which she nodded.
"Yes... You see, I used to travel with my brother, but due to... an unforeseen situation, we had to undress, and I haven't seen him since. So I wanted to ask you, have you by any chance seen him? He's about my height, and also blond," she said.
After her words, I thought for a moment. I could tell her about Aether, about what he's become and what he wants, but... Then it would likely change the future, which could be more terrible than what she's about to go through, and I'd have to tell her how I know all this, and I'm not very good at making up stories, so...
"Sorry, I haven't seen him. I'm not from around here either, and I only recently arrived," I told a half-truth.
"I see..." Lumine said sadly.
"Lumine, don't worry, we'll find him," Paimon said, trying to support her friend.
"Paimon... You're right, we'll definitely find him," Lumine said, more animatedly.
"That's the Lumine I know! And anyway, all this talk has made me hungry. Let's find a city and eat," she said.
"..." - Me
"..." - Lumine.
"What?" Paimon asked, seeing our gazes.
"Nothing... Anyway, Evernight, do you want to come with us? Since you're new here too, I think it'll be more fun with us," Lumine said.
"Yes, Lumine's right, the three of us will definitely have more fun," Paimon said.
"Okay," I replied.
I didn't have much of a choice; I was new to this world and didn't know anyone, but knowing what Lumine would go through... In any case, it would give me the opportunity to meet the key figures in this world. "Well, that's great, let's go!" Paimon shouted, flying past me, followed by Lumine, who was stealing glances at my face and blushing...
These actions alone made me realize what awaited me in the future: a lot of headaches, because of my sense of smell. Well, if it were only from girls, everything would be fine, but if it were from guys...
This thought alone filled me with disgust and contempt.
Apparently, because I used to be a guy and now I'm a woman, I've started to feel disgusted by men. Well, to be honest, I don't plan on doing anything to me; I'm perfectly happy with this situation, and if anyone tries to approach me with ill intentions... Anyway, I simply followed Lumine, who was still blushing, which made her look quite cute...