Inside a dark office.
My face was pressed against the floor.
How'd I end up like this?
It was two in the morning. I remembered working overtime alone.
I was sure I had gotten up from my desk to go home.
But I couldn't summon any strength at all.
My chest hurt. I couldn't breathe. The tang of blood filled my mouth. Light flashed before my eyes.
This seems dangerous, doesn't it?
Surprisingly, I wasn't flustered.
I had barely slept for days now.
My meals were always irregular, and I couldn't even remember the last time I had done anything resembling exercise.
I knew I'd collapse at least once if this continued.
It just happened to be today.
“Someone...... please...... he......lp.......”
My grotesquely bent neck would not let my voice come out properly.
In truth, even if I screamed my lungs out, there was little chance anyone else would be at the company at this hour.
A chill seeped into my body. My arms and legs, twisted in strange directions, hurt.
I'll die like this.
“......”
The moment I thought of death, I grew calm instead.
The plea to save me caught in my throat and would not come out.
‘Do I really want to live?’
On reflection, there had been nothing but pain.
Every day on the way to work, I considered throwing myself into traffic.
I couldn't picture any sort of happy future for myself.
Death will be a relief.
I won't have to think about anything anymore. I'll be free of everything that tormented me.
The company, the debt, and my relationships.
I let my body go limp. I closed the eyes I had forced open.
As consciousness faded, I prayed fervently for one thing.
If there is a next life, may I not be born into a world like this.
***
“Ah.......”
My eyes opened on their own.
The filthy scrap of cloth covering me slipped down.
Cold air seeped into my gaunt body.
It had been the same dream for days now.
Ever since I remembered my previous life, the moment I died had repeated whenever I closed my eyes.
“You're truly...... vile.”
The one showing me this dream was probably the person who had reincarnated me into this world.
It was surely the work of a being that could only be called a ‘god.’
I, who had died from overwork, had achieved the wish I made just before death.
I had been reborn in a typical fantasy world—one where magic and monsters existed, and civilization was somewhat less advanced than on Earth.
But like everything else in life, it was not exactly what I wanted.
“You reincarnated me as a fucking beggar, and now you won't even let me sleep properly?”
In this life, I was a fucking beggar. Not figuratively, but literally.
I had been abandoned in a back alley with nothing but a rag-like set of clothes and a scrap of cloth used as a blanket.
I did not have a proper name, and I was not even sure of my age.
The miserable life of surviving day to day by begging had not changed even after I recovered the memories of my previous life.
“I'm hungry, too. Damn it.”
Muttering to myself, I drew in the air with my hand.
A translucent, blue-glowing ‘Shop’ opened in response to my will.
The screen was the spitting image of an online shopping site.
The Shop, where I could buy almost anything in this world from where I sat, unfolded in my hand.
It was proof that the memories of my previous life were not mere delusions.
It was the ‘Privilege’ granted only to me when I came to this world.
“Hmm.”
When I selected the cheapest apple, a half-rotten apple plopped into my palm.
With that, the amount I had added the day before was exhausted. I had to earn more money and add it to the Shop before I could buy anything else.
Because it worked by adding money in advance before making a purchase, it was very similar to using a debit card or a simple payment service.
CRUNCH.
I forced myself to chew and swallow the strange-tasting apple.
It was no kind of breakfast.
But what could I do? I had no money.
The Privilege I received was, after all, a ‘Shop.’
It was only natural that I needed money to buy things at a shop.
I had merely gained the right to make purchases with ease.
“If I had been born into a wealthy family, it would have been much more useful. If you were going to reincarnate me, you could have taken proper care of me.”
I grumbled at the god who might be watching me from somewhere.
Because I remembered my life on Earth, I knew how much potential this ability—an upgraded version of online shopping—held.
But to put it to use somehow, I needed money. To someone without money, it was a rice cake in a painting.
At least, for now.
“I've filled my stomach a little. Shall I get moving?”
I got up and stretched.
I remembered my previous life, but I had almost no knowledge that would be useful in a world like this.
To live like a human being in this world, I had to make active use of my Privilege.
The first priority was securing seed money to use the Privilege.
In recent days, I had spent my time making plans for how to grow the seed money once I secured it.
Some might laugh at me for making plans before I had any money.......
“But the proper way to start a business is with a loan.”
This world did not have anything resembling a proper bank, and even if it did, it would not readily lend money to a poor child with no collateral.
Then I had no choice but to borrow from a private individual.
Remembering my former life had not erased the memories of my current one. I might be a street urchin, but I knew at least how the surrounding neighborhoods worked.
There were not many people nearby wealthy enough to lend money.
The most likely was an old man named Repizen Reed.
He was the richest person in the area and was considered a man of good character.
He was especially known for being kind to children, so he would likely respond favorably even to a grimy young beggar like me.
“It's about time he came out.”
I had spent the night deliberately in front of Repizen's house.
The plan was simple.
I'd stop Repizen when he went out for a walk and ask him to lend me money. If necessary, I'd explain my Privilege and business plan.
If Repizen was sharp enough, he'd lend me money. If he refused...... I'd have to think about it then.
Creak.
I heard a door open. Repizen was leaving his house at a leisurely pace.
“Sir!”
At the same time, street urchins sprang out from who knew where.
They had clearly spent the night nearby like I had, hoping to get anything they could from Repizen.
Seeing the street urchins, Repizen immediately reached into his pocket and pulled out several silver coins.
Silver coins. With a single silver coin, I could have a decent meal. If I was frugal, it was enough to last even a week.
Of course, he would not give them to every street urchin. Only a lucky few received money.
Not wanting to upset Repizen, the street urchins quietly waited for him to make his selection.
I stood one step away from the crowd of street urchins.
It wouldn't be too late to speak with Repizen after the street urchins scattered.
That was what I was thinking.
“Take this.”
For some reason, Repizen, who had surveyed the street urchins, approached me and held out a silver coin.
“Thank you, sir. Thank....... No, I am not trying to beg!”
I bowed reflexively, then came to my senses.
It was because the habit of living as a beggar for years had surfaced on its own.
The other street urchins stared at me in surprise.
Repizen seemed to have the same reaction, as he raised his brows once.
“Do you have some other business?”
Repizen returned the silver coin to his pocket and asked with a curious look.
What a waste. Maybe I should have accepted the silver coin first and then spoken.
Then even if he refused the loan, I'd still have the silver coin.
No. That's not right.
It's only one silver coin. It won't make much difference to the business. I shouldn't get hung up on a small amount.
“I would like to borrow money.”
Repizen frowned at my words, so I hurriedly added,
“I am not asking you to simply give it to me. I have a way to grow money. If you help me just once, I will repay you twofold, threefold.”
I spoke earnestly while meeting Repizen's eyes directly.
Any ordinary person would reject that proposal out of hand. How would this person respond?
“Hm.......”
Repizen looked at me with interest.
“How much do you want?”
It was a question that sounded close to approval.
“How much can you lend me?”
The more startup capital, the better.
It was strength to endure when I was in the red, and it let me choose to accept some risk for higher returns.
Though of course, that was only when the interest rate was reasonable.
“Ha ha.”
Repizen let out a light laugh.
I waited for Repizen's next words, a little tense.
“Come inside. We can discuss the details there.”
Repizen tossed a few silver coins to the street urchins, then opened the door he had just come through.
I rejoiced inwardly.
He had not given a definite answer, but inviting an unidentified person like me into his house was highly encouraging.
It was as good as settled.
My steps grew lighter on their own at the sense that things would work out much more smoothly than I had expected.
Wondering how much he would lend me, I followed Repizen through a corridor full of lavish decorations.
“That is right, my reincarnator friend. It is good to meet you.”
“......Pardon?”
I couldn't help freezing at Repizen's words the moment I entered the drawing room.
A reincarnator? He just called me a reincarnator, right?
Repizen spoke as he sat down.
“Do not play dumb. Not only did you refuse charity, you asked to borrow money because you had a way to multiply it. That is not the sort of thing a child begging on the street would say. Those eyes, that expression. Everything tells me you are a reincarnator.”
“......What do you mean? You believe reincarnators exist?”
I denied it even as I felt something had gone wrong.
Even on Earth, people often joked about a ‘second life,’ but anyone who claimed to remember a previous life would normally be met with suspicion first.
“Hm. Were you born a beggar, and so lack common knowledge of this world?”
Repizen narrowed his eyes as he stroked his well-kept beard.
“There are quite a few reincarnators in this world. I have met them myself a few times.”
Only then did I realize what mistake I had made.
This was a world different from Earth.
In a world where magic and monsters existed, it would not be strange for there to be a few reincarnators.
“Ha.......”
Calm down.
It was a blow to be exposed as a reincarnator before we had even exchanged a few words, but I had been considering revealing it if needed from the start.
The fact that I didn't have to prove I had reincarnated was actually a good thing.
What mattered was.......
“Are you saying you will lend me money because I am a reincarnator?”
“Of course. A reincarnator is more than worth investing in.”
Repizen leaned toward me.
“I could give you a thousand gold coins right now. Would that be insufficient?”
A huge sum that an ordinary commoner could never dream of in a lifetime.
The amount far exceeded my expectations.
“......What are the conditions?”
It'd be stranger if there were no conditions for investing such a large sum.
A small kindness was one thing, but anyone who offered major help for no reason was a swindler one hundred percent of the time.
“Just as expected of a reincarnator. You understand quickly.”
As expected, Repizen seemed to have some ulterior motive.
“Do you know of Beaumont Academy?”
“I have only heard the name.”
I answered honestly.
I knew there was an educational institution called an academy in this world.
However, only a small number of upper-class people could attend an academy.
For a beggar like me, tossed about on the streets, it was a tale from a distant country.
“Beaumont Academy is the best academy in this kingdom. Each year, only one hundred people brimming with talent are granted the opportunity to enter, and only half of them can graduate.”
Repizen spoke as if singing.
“You will become my adopted son and graduate from Beaumont Academy. That is the condition for my investment in you.”
“Even if you suddenly say that, I do not have the ability to enter such a prestigious academy.”
They said the admissions requirement was to be among the top hundred people in the kingdom.
Naturally, it would be full of people who had received thorough education from an early age, while I couldn't even properly read the letters of this world.
“Do not worry. Reincarnators can enroll without meeting any conditions. Of course, lasting until graduation is a completely different matter.”
The face of Repizen, who wore a benevolent smile, somehow seemed chilling.
I had no idea what he was scheming.
If he knew about reincarnators, didn't he know that the Privilege existed too? Why wasn't he interested in my Privilege?
Why did he make graduation from the academy the condition for lending me money?
Why, why.......
The questions led to more questions.
It was certain he was not as good a man as people said.
But.
“......All right.”
I didn't deliberate long.
I calculated that it was better to accept Repizen's demands for now and secure capital.
Whatever Repizen was plotting, the fact that he demanded graduation meant nothing would happen immediately.
If I could build enough wealth before then, I could break free of Repizen's influence.
The academy was not a bad place to earn money either.
An educational institution only the chosen few in this world could enter.
The students there would have a great deal, but not yet the judgment to match it.
I might be able to accumulate money more easily than in the outside world.
“I accept the offer.”
If he was going to use me, I could use him too.
It was a much cleaner arrangement than one where I only received help.
“Good. About three months remain until enrollment...... We can start preparing now.”
Repizen grinned from ear to ear.
“Letters first, then magic, and swordsmanship. There is much you need to learn before enrollment. I will support everything you need, so work hard.”
Thus began the bone-grinding preparations for enrollment.