Reincarnation is every isekai fan’s dream: adventures, a harem, finally getting to be the overpowered protagonist of your own story.
I used to think that too, sprawled on the couch with a controller in my hand, never imagining that one day it would actually happen to me.
And it did.
I died in a crash.
Well, it wasn’t the crash that killed me—I survived that—but what came after: some high-voltage lines snapped on impact and stayed live.
The spark found the spilled gasoline and the car blew up with me still inside, trapped.
Just like that, my life was over.
Or so I thought.
Right when I figured that was the end, a being appeared in front of me.
Without much in the way of explanation, it said it had made a mistake: my time hadn’t come yet.
As compensation, it was offering me the chance to reincarnate and, while I was at it, to pick any object or knowledge I wanted.
“Alex, have you decided yet?” it asked, in a tone that sounded more like “hurry up” than genuine curiosity.
I’d been mulling it over for a while.
How could it not be hard?
I had the chance to ask for a superpower, a legendary item, anything at all.
I’d never been much of a fan of other-world fantasy, but I was big into video games, and now my head was a mess of options.
Kratos’s Blades of Chaos.
A mech.
Harry Potter’s powers.
Damn, it was impossible to choose.
“It’s just… it’s hard, give me a second,” I answered, noticing that the Administrator’s patience was starting to wear thin.
“If you don’t decide soon, I’ll give you something at random,” it warned, in that neutral tone that somehow managed to sound threatening.
That snapped me out of it.
Okay, no random items, thanks.
“Well, I still don’t know where you’re sending me,” I began, thinking out loud, “but I’ve always liked technology.
I was a programmer before I died, and I spent half my life playing Halo.
I know the story, the lore, all of it.”
And then, out of nowhere, it hit me.
“I know what I want,” I said, almost surprised at myself.
“You said I could ask for anything.
I choose all the technological knowledge of the Halo universe.”
The Administrator fell silent for a moment.
“Hmm.
Ambitious,” it said at last.
“I thought you’d ask for something more along the lines of weird powers, magic, immortality, or some mythical weapon.
Interesting, at least.”
“That’s my final decision,” I confirmed, without hesitating this time.
“There’s no going back,” it warned one last time.
“I’m sure.”
“Very well.
Get ready.
I wish you the best in your next life.”
“So…”
My vision cut out all at once.
In that instant of darkness I thought about everything that might be waiting for me on the other side: what adventures, what dangers—and I also felt a real flicker of fear of the unknown.
When I finally opened my eyes again, it wasn’t even remotely what I’d imagined.
It wasn’t that bad either, I suppose, if I think it over calmly.
I’d been human my entire previous life.
Now I was a machine: a logistics-type robot.
I only managed to think one thing.
What a load of shit.
Thank you for your understanding!