The sunlight peeks through the gaps between the leaves, falling on my eyes. As I lay in a lush green field trying to find a moment of peace, it irritates me out of my slumber.
I look up at the branches above my eyes; I see the leaves being swayed by the wind. Once my head cleared up a bit, I noticed a cicada, or at least something close to it, flying away from the tree I was resting under. It is not quite the same insect I remember from my world; the flutter of its wings seem to create a trail of crimson dust which shapes itself like another pair of illusionary wings over its body. I keep staring at it for no particular reason. Maybe because I've got nothing better to do.
It has been what I presume to be close to 2 decades since I arrived in this world. The length of the days, the passing of seasons, and the date system are different, so it's hard to actually know how much time it is in Earth's terms. But then again, is there even a point to keeping track of it?
I thought I would get transported with my previous body and get directly into the business I was sent here for, but no, I had to go through childhood all over again.
My memory since getting here has been foggy. It's weird in a way that's hard to articulate. It's like I subconsciously remember everything and can use that knowledge without even realizing, but it's hard to pinpoint any single event in my previous life. I can't even remember my name; all I have is the name I got with this new life, "Zeth." I feel I'll be able to remember things when the time is right, but I am forced to immerse myself into the persona of this new person that I am now rather than letting my old memories shape my identity.
As I meander over pointless things, the cicada-like creature goes far enough until I can no longer see it. Even so, I just keep staring into the blank space until an annoying ball of fur jumps upon my face.
"How long are you going to sleep, nya? Isn't it about time we start our quest to save the world?"
I got annoyed, but I knew better than to pick a fight with this thing.
As for who or what it is, well, I'm not really sure myself, but according to this fluffy white cat, she is a fragment of my soul. The god seems to have divided my soul into two and created the two of us in this world. Even though we are supposed to be parts of the same soul, I don't at all feel like we are the same person. It's like losing a part of your personality permanently and having it become its own thing. Ever since we emerged from the same whole, we are two entirely different parts of it with no overlap.
I found this entire thing ridiculous. For one thing, this explanation has no basis other than the cat's word, and I don't understand the point of doing something so convoluted yet meaningless as this. What purpose could this ever serve?
The cat is playing with my nose with its little paws, clearly looking to get a reaction out of me. I picked her up with two of my fingers, grabbing her by the neck.
"You know it's pointless, right? I gave up on all that saving the world nonsense. I don't even know how to, even if I wanted to."
There are two big holes with this entire narrative. First of all, I don't even know what I am supposed to save this world from. There's no demon lord or any visible impending doom looming over our heads. This world has been at peace for as long as I could remember.
And the second thing: I thought I'd easily get a harem and use my unique skill to get stronger faster than anyone else in the world, but the very process of getting a girl to like me is just as annoying and difficult as it was in my previous life. I thought my skills would magically make things quick and simple, but they don't, and the fact that these people feel so real makes it hard for me to treat anyone as an object of conquest.
"Meow, I'm tired of living in this village with nothing but sticks and rocks as far as the eye sees. Can't we start our journey already?"
I paid her no mind and just continued to stare into space after shutting her mouth by pressing her against my chest. She struggles for a while, but then just stays put after realizing it's meaningless to resist.
"I see, you two are getting along as usual."
"Hmm?"
I tilt my head slightly upwards to find a girl standing there. She has her raven-black hair tied up in a ponytail and has a sword—actually, a katana—held at her waist. Her entire style is very Japanese-inspired, even if it's not exactly the same, and to no one's surprise, she is dressed in a kimono-like outfit, though it seems modified for mobility.
"Yura... is it about time we head back?"
"Not until you get some work done."
I frowned as I looked at the cat, who has now escaped my hold and is looking at me with a satisfied smile.
"What's this cat's problem?" I clicked my tongue.