While I was playing a game, I died before I even knew it.

[Job Recruitment Online] also known as [JRO] was a world of swords and magic, where there were more than a thousand types of professions. Furthermore, one could choose a job and use the skills they’ve acquired and change into a stronger job to advance their career.

However, unlike in real life, once one had chosen a job, they would surely be able to get skills by leveling up and completing NPC events. Once they’ve reached the maximum level for their profession, they could always change jobs—although with a small fee.

When I was in college, I couldn’t find what I wanted to do and I couldn’t make friends because of my terrible communication skills. Even though I got into a university with a high score on the entrance exam, I couldn’t find an answer to the question, “What did you put your effort into back in your student days?” As a result of my terrible communication skills in responding to my interviews during the summer internship, my real job hunting which started in July during my 3rd year of university, had ended.

After that, I got completely addicted to [JRO].

When I was in college, I couldn’t make any friends, so I spent all my time at home playing games.

What I especially liked was leveling up. Defeating enemies and gaining experience. I felt the happiest when looking at walkthrough guides and leveling up efficiently on a good spot on an hourly basis.

After failing to find a job, I seemingly had an endless amount of time on my hands. Naturally, I devoted my life to gaming.

My average playtime per day is 20 hours.

Fortunately, my parents didn’t bother me because I went to a college in another prefecture. But I must still pay 30,000 yen monthly for rent with the 120,000 yen that my parents sent me as an allowance per month to cover other expenses.

Although I’m not attending school at the moment, I’ve managed to keep sending money to my parents by telling them that I’m going to be a [Job-Hunting Ronin].

Even in that state, I could see that I wouldn’t be able to support myself in the near future.

Since [JRO] wasn’t that popular, I became an administrator for a strategy wiki for about a year using the information I got from playing more than 20 hours a day, but I was averaging less than 50,000 yen a month.

I wondered if I could receive welfare. Worse comes to worst, I could just trick the psychiatrist into getting a medical certificate by pretending to have depression. One day, I was spending my days thinking about such things.

I died without any warning.

No, there was a sign. After failing to find a job and feeling desperate, I got myself absorbed in the world of [JRO].

When I was playing [JRO], I was able to forget the harsh reality of life, and more importantly, I enjoyed the time I spent while playing the game, that game where I was rewarded with tangible results – getting stronger and stronger as I acquired professions and leveled up.

I spent more than 20 hours a day in a room with dark curtains blocking out the sunlight while completely absorbed in [JRO].

Meals consisted of CalorieMate and energy drinks. I slept for less than 2 hours a day on average.

I’d been living like this for more than half a year now. It wouldn’t be surprising if a blood clot or two had formed, and my heart stopped beating.

If the heart stops beating, and blood flow is blocked, humans will surely die.

Ah, the good ol’ days.

A few years ago, I used to think that it was kinda stupid that someone would get so addicted to a game that they’d get a blood clot and die.

But, for me to die in that same exact way, is nothing short of a masterpiece.

I was dying, but I strangely felt relieved. No, wait… Isn’t it strange? It seems that when we die, our brains release a flood of painkillers to escape the pain of death. Accordingly, dying is 200 times more pleasant than having sex.

I’ve never had a girlfriend in my life before, so I don’t know.

Oh, this is fun. Feels good man.

Life has been shitty for me, but I’m glad that I died while immersed in my favorite game before facing the harsh reality.

With that in mind, I died—

 ◇

“Ohh, the baby is born! It’s a boy! Way to go Theresia!”

“Yeah, honey.”

When I woke up, a muscular, tanned man with red hair and burning eyes and a beautiful woman with purple hair and blue eyes were staring at me with delight.

Huh…? What’s going on?… I should have died…

No, in the first place didn’t I already die? Wait, that’s not right. I don’t have any friends that visit my room, and neither do my parents.

When people collapse, they’re already dead and begin decomposing, and the body is only noticed when neighbors contact authorities to report the stench.

So, am I dreaming right now? No, it isn’t a dream. I don’t have any evidence, but my senses are telling me that all of this is real.

So, did I reincarnate? I died, so I think this is some kind of reincarnation schtick.

My family certainly believed in Buddhism, and I myself had never been enlightened in any way, so I would never become a Buddha. I didn’t remember being virtuous in my previous life, so people like me were more than likely to be born as insects or something. No, maybe less virtuous people ended up as humans. Humans are shit.

For starters, let’s assume that I was reincarnated… Now, where was I born?

I heard that a newborn’s eyesight is 0.6― what I saw with my dim vision was an old man with fiery red hair and a purple-haired woman.

The language they spoke was Japanese, but their appearance was far from being a Japanese. In particular, their overly bright hair color was very different from Japanese and the people from Earth.

Even if it’s dyed, they had poor taste; was I born in a delinquent family? At least, there’s no way a person from Earth wouldn’t be considered crazy with this kind of hair color.

Hmm? No, wait what?… I remembered seeing this old man’s face somewhere.

Where was it?

“Heid! Your name will be Heid-Dukehardt!”

“U, ueaaaaaaa (Du, Dukehardt?!)”

Dukehardt was said to be the best martial arts marquess family in [JRO].

Irene Dukehardt and various other strong NPCs had been produced from this house. So, this old man must be Algeo-Dukehardt!

His strength itself wasn’t much, but for a guy that you get to meet at a level 50 recommended quest, his stats are pretty good, and he also had the profession of [Shogun] which was pretty useful!

So, does this mean that I was born as a child of the Dukehardt family?

So, does this mean that I’ve reincarnated into the world of [JRO]?

Is this for real?! I don’t like this kind of development at all!

I see. I really am in the world of [JRO] that I loved…

I don’t know of a character named Heid, but… I was confident that I knew all of the characters, I don’t know if Heid is a character that I didn’t know of yet, or was just a mob character, or an original character created by my reincarnation.

But that doesn’t matter right now.

After all, I’ve been reincarnated into the world of [JRO].

I have no choice, but to play this. There’s no other option, but to enjoy it to the fullest!

My goal is to become the best and max my level! With the knowledge I have of this game from managing a strategy wiki, it shouldn’t be impossible!

I’ve never believed in gods before, but thank you! Lord Amaterasu! Lord Buddha! I will live my life to the fullest in this world!

―――

T/N: CalorieMate is an energy bar brand commonly popular in Japan and it contains nutritional contents with some added sugar to give you a quick energy boost.

Photo from NYMAG

Hello everyone, I’m Kenado a newbie translator. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.