New World

"Mmm…"

Feeling suffocated, a moan of despair escaped my lips.

I struggled to sit up, but my body felt heavy and unresponsive.

Every movement was met with resistance, as if my limbs were bound by invisible chains.

Frustrated with how stiff and confined everything felt, I opened my eyes.

"Uh... my head..."

As the fog in my mind slowly lifted, I became more aware of the throbbing pain in my head.

It was as if my brain was pulsating with every heartbeat.

I massaged my forehead with hands that felt heavy and unresponsive.

Every movement was an arduous task, as if my limbs were weighed down by waterlogged sponges.

My arms were stiff to move as well.

Why was my body like this?

"No, that's not the problem..."

I scanned my surroundings, but something seemed off.

This wasn't the familiar room I was accustomed to. The ceiling was too high, for one.

As my sense of feeling gradually returned, I was able to lift my upper body.

A thick blanket slipped off my body.

Was it because of the blanket that I felt suffocated?

That didn't matter now. What was more important was that I was in a place I had never been before.

This room was larger than your typical living room.

It was so well-decorated that it could have been. The antique furniture and glossy ornaments were dazzling my eyes.

"What is this, seriously?"

Didn't I die?

Is this a dream?

No, this was absolutely not a dream.

The sensations I felt were too vivid to be dismissed as a dream. The feeling of the blanket and clothes brushing against my skin was genuine.

This could be a dream?

No, it was impossible.

My next thought was to wonder if I died

But that, too, didn't make sense.

'Should not I be meeting god or something right?'

That's how this worked in novels though.

I was confused, so I kept looking around. The big room had all kinds of stuff.

As I looked around, a blue translucent screen appeared in front of me.

<God Of Fate is watching you with interest.>

"Huh...?"

'What's this?'

I was startled to see a screen appear out of nowhere.

"God...of...fate?"

I muttered reading the content on the translucent screen.

A mixture of surprise and recognition washed over me.

The name sounded familiar—wasn't the God of Fate the author of "The Rise of the Crazy One"?

With a little bit of thinking, I remembered the name.

This was the last name I had read before that...

"W-wait wasn't I dead?"

The strained of my hair stood up just remembering the event last night.

<God Of Fate says that she had fulfilled your wish.>

"...Huh? What wish?"

<God Of Fate shook her head as she explains that reincarnated you in the novel world of 'RTCO'>

Feeling a mix of confusion and disbelief, I tried to process the situation unfolding before me.

The mysterious screen claimed that the "God of Fate" had fulfilled my wish and reincarnated me into the novel world of "The Rise of the Crazy One" (RTCO).

It was a concept straight out of fantasy, something I had only encountered in books or movies.

Questions flooded my mind. Was this some sort of elaborate prank?

How could it be possible to enter a fictional world?

Yet, the vivid sensations and the unfamiliar surroundings around me seemed to contradict any notion of it being a dream.

Curiosity and a sense of adventure began to replace my initial shock.

If I were truly in the world of RTCO, then this was a chance to live out the fantasy I had always yearned for.

To be a protagonist in a world of magic and swords, to make a difference.

With a mix of nervousness and excitement, I cautiously responded to the God of Fate through the screen, asking for more details about my new existence in this novel world.

The screen blinked, and a message appeared.

<God Of Fate informs you that are now the side character Zephyr Orion Caesar.>

"WHAT!!?"

"WHY HIM!!?

The revelation struck me like a bolt of lightning. I was now Zephyr, the character I had felt such empathy for.

But why? Why would the God of Fate choose to reincarnate me as him?

<God Of Fate informs you that she was touched by your deep connection with Zephyr and wanted to offer a chance change his life.>

'Because of that?'

If I had known this would happen, I would have empathized with William.

The only reason I felt bad for Zephyr was because I could emphasize with him. Although a little...

But I don't fucking want to live his pathetic life.

"But how would I change his life? It's already worse."

I asked the God Of Fate, so she could pity me and give me some divine weapon... or something.

<God Of Fate shook her head in agreement, she says was also feeling that something missing.>

<God Of Fate is checking something.>

<God Of Fate is giving you a little gift.>

<God Of Fate says she hopes you like her present and wishes a good life.>

<God Of Fate says that you will definitely like her gift.>

<God Of Fate looks forward to your reaction.>

Hearing her wish for me to have a good life. I could not help but curse, with this character... nah! It's impossible.

With the last message popped up, a new golden translucent screen appeared in front of me.

Ring!

『The God Of Fate's gift has arrived.』

[God Of Fate has sent you a gift. Would you like to accept it?]

[Yes/No]

The question was not that hard, of course, anyone in their right mind would press yes.

And I was one of them, so I pressed yes.

[You have received the 'Fate Changing System']

"...Fate Changing System?"

I was not that surprised as I had already thought that it would be a system.

<God Of Fate is disappointed and asks why you're so calm?>

'...Really? It's the most cliche thing ever.'

I thought to myself as anyone who reads a novel could easily guess the gift.

<God Of Fate says you are no fun.>

I ignored her message as I was busy exploring the system.

『

[Info]

Name: Zephyr Orion Caesar

Race: Human

Gender: Male

Age: 14

Cultivation: Mana Beginer (barely)

[Traits]

Positive: 「SSS: Heavenly Talented Swordsman」「A: Will」「SS: Intelligence」「S: Charmer」

Negatives:「SSS: Curse of Weakness」「B: Terminally ill」「SS: Trash Mage」「A: Loser」

[Skills and Abilities]

Martial Arts: None

Skills: None

[Fate]

Number of Fate Coins: 01

Fate Draw

[Attributes]

Strength: 3

Agility: 2

Defence: 1

Stamina: 1

Dexterity: 8 (51)

Charm: 45 (92 Hidden)』

"Huh...? Why are my stats so low? And What's Fate coin?"

I said, not seeing enough information about fate coin.

<God Of Fate clears her throat and says that you can use fate coins to get skills, martial arts more... randomly or might nothing.>

<God Of Fate continue her explanation, she says you can receive a fate coin by changing Zephyr's fate. And for every 0.001 per cent change, will get one point.>

"Um..."

I nodded my head, understanding what she said.

<God Of Fate says to use the one fate point you have.>

"Huh..."

Now that I notice, I do have a fate point.

Agreeing to her suggestion, I used my fate coin.

Ring!

Suddenly, a lot of cards appeared in front if me. All of the cards were identical.

"Hmm… Then how do I use it?"

<God Of Fate says to simply press the card you want choose, will know how it works.>

I followed her instructions and lifted up my bony finger and pressed the card that was in the middle.

~Ring!

[You have won the A Rank trait 'Observer.]