Weaker than a child

It was that rainy day I completed my life's work and lost my life as a reward.

BAM. The thunderstorms are still raging, aren't they. Too bad I couldn't see it anymore. There, the last sound is leaving my ears. Even if it wasn't that great, my life wasn't that bad either. I wish it had flashed before my eyes, like they say.

No, it isn't happening. Guess it doesn't.

HA! too bad I had to die the day I thought was really special in my life. If only I didn't join this company.

He remembered his boss's face.

No, any company would have done the same. At least that guy said he respects me. I'm happy.

Guess I should have joined some public research centers. No, even they would do the same, too. Of course, nobody wants to see a country fall apart, do they.

It's my mistake. I should've thought it through. At least my mind isn't dead yet. I should think about something really nice before I pass away.... There isn't anything.

How could I still keep thinking. I should have seen my body from the other side by now. Why am I still in this pitch black. Wait, I'M STILL BREATHING! AM I STILL ALIVE!

Maurice opened his eyes.

He wasn't in the company building. He seemed to be in some kind of ancient building. The roof stretched far high, and it was made out of smooth stone, carved out in perfection along with symbols etched into it.

It wasn't ruins. Watching just the roof, he could say this building looked grand and rich. Even with the faint light that entered the room, the black stone roof shined vehemently.

He could feel his arms and legs and tried moving them. He could. He isn't dead. Even though he felt a bit sluggish at first, like a person who had been in a coma for years, he managed to slowly get up and screamed.

He was sitting on a large cuboid stone, and on each side of it laid the corpse of some woman. They seem to be dead from exhaustion.

Maurice scanned the entire building. Despite its grand looks, something seemed off. He examined the corpses. Each wore a clerical outfit, the kind of which Maurice hasn't seen yet.

Maybe it's some random cult Maurice didn't know about, but he couldn't avoid that possibility.

"Am I reincarnated. In another world." he thought.

Being a huge fan of anime and light novels, Maurice didn't take much time to figure out.

"But this isn't some anime or light novel. It isn't possible. No, it is according to theory."

"I was right."

"Yaaah, I was right," Maurice shouted. "I was right. I waaas riiight"

He dropped on his knees and bowed down, clenching his fists.

I need to find a way out of here. He started walking towards a faint light that came from what seemed to be a door.

As he walked, he thought about all those reincarnation animes and light novels he saw.The MC is usually born overpowered or becomes overpowered soon enough.

"I would too, right? Become the overpowered guy that everybody respects and every girl has a crush on."

"The life I always wanted. Going around on an adventure, hunting powerful creatures, showing off my strength, having many hot girlfriends who fight each other for me.

Back on earth, I was really a failure, especially with girls. Despite having good looks, no girls bothered to talk to me or make connections with me, considering my lack of fashion sense and nerdy nature.

Besides, I didn't put in an effort from my side either. Whenever I talk to any girl, I get nervous and tongue tied. I thought it would go away when I grew up, but it didn't. On top of that, my interest often diverting to research rather than girls.

But now I have a chance to amend all that. I will no longer be the nerd that nobody cares about, and no girls like. I will now live like a king and all women would want to be with me. (Although I feel a bit nervous about it even now.)"

My path to a new successful life is here.

HERE I COME TO CONQUER THE WORLD. MAURICE IS HERE.

**************************************************

Name: Maurice

Level: G1

Skills: None

Spells: None

Abilities: None

Mutations: None

Strength: 0/0

HP: 1/1

MP: 10/100

XP: 0/1

Merging stage 1: Incomplete

Merging stage 2: Incomplete

Status: Hungry

"Maurice is here, my ass. I just need some food.

Those animes make it look too easy. Why didn't they show other reincarnation MCs could go hungry? You know why? BECAUSE IT'S A FICTIONAL STORY. Stupid me. Why didn't I think

even that. You call that intelligent, huh?

Why do I even have a system in the first place. There are no demihumans, dragons, or mages in here. It's just some common medieval people living here. After all, elves and dwarves are not scientifically existent.

He saw an elf.

You know what, forget it. It's good that I have a system, I can level up, but WHAT THE FUCK'S UP WITH THAT LEVEL, and that HP and that strength.

What's the logic behind 0 strength. Does that mean I can not lift any weight or stones, or even money I need to buy stuff. No, if that's the case, I'd be crushed by my own clothes right now.

So it must mean that no matter how hard I try, I cannot deal even a little damage to anyone. And there's only one way to know if it's true. It's to slap that man right in front of me as hard as I can and ask him if he felt any pain. But if he hits me back, I die instantly thanks to my 1 HP, so it's not even an idea.

I can't believe I'm so weak I surpassed weakness.

Even that child walking beside me feels intimidating.

"Beef, hot roasted beef, newly minced newly cooked." he heard the vendor scream again.

"Old man, why are you even yelling this out. The sweet aroma of that thing is already filling my nose." Maurice thought.

His mouth watered. He couldn't resist anymore. If it comes to stealing to survive in this world, he had no other choice but to steal, even if it meant his life was at stake.

But he resisted himself. Not because he didn't want to steal, but because he had something else in mind.

If he stole the roasted beef, he could have a decent one square meal, but if he stole the money, he could support himself for the next two or three days.

Besides being medieval times, this place was a lot weird. Everywhere he went, there was slavery, pickpocketing, rape, murder and all kinds of crime.

There doesn't seem to be a body or laws for upholding peace and security. So naturally, it would mean that once he manage to escape with the money, it's all his.

Controlling his urge for food, he moved forward, his expression normal and unwavering. But inside his nervousness was building up. He felt as if it would burst at any moment. But he held on.

Near the food stand, he stood behind the customers in the front row waiting for his chance. He didn't want to talk. Although he could make up some random order, he found it hard to control his fear while talking.

He waited for the perfect moment. When the old vendor opened his tray to put the cash, he pushed himself forward , grabbed as much money as he could, and, with another effort, dashed his way out of there.

"Stop right there, you thief," the old man said as he took a knife and threw it at his face. Although it didn't hit him, Maurice was shocked by this, as he never expected the old man to throw a knife at his face without any hesitation.

In his world, robbers get punched thoroughly sometimes, but nobody ever shot them in the face. Something else felt different in this world.

Normally if somebody stole something from a shop, customers and people nearby, will put in some effort to catch the thief, but in here the people simply stood and watched as he grabbed the money and escaped. He could even see some people laughing at the misery of the old man.

"Has this world made people so cruel that there isn't a tinge of humanity left in anybody." Maurice thought to himself. "In what hell have I reincarnated into?"

**************************************************

"It's over", Maurice though as he stood panting on an alley way. The old man didn't stop with his knife throw and gave him hell of a chase.

Even though he was old, the old man kept up with Maurice due to his low stats. Maurice even felt drained off too easily. Had he not confused the old man in the alleyway, he would be squashed like a bug by now.

Just when everything seemed alright and he finished counting his money Maurice heard a voice.

"Looks like another rat is in the trap."

Maurice turned around to see a wide grin etched onto an evil face. In front of the face was a sharp dagger gleaming bright, reflecting the light to two eyes that stared straight into him.

From all sides more evil faces appeared. As it is now, a group of bandits have already surrounded him, each staring through the money he was carrying.

"You have a hard life, don't you? Stealing money and running away from troubles." a bandit looked at panting Maurice as he asked.

Another bandit came closer and slid his fingers through the notes as he said. "It ain't enough, but we'll adjust won't we?"

Other bandits cheered in agreement.

"Now hand it over." said the bandit from before as he stopped feeling the notes and streched out his hands to gesture.

Maurice, knowing the predicament he is in handed over the money without any hesitation.

Even if he didn't give the money they'd take it after killing him. There was no point in struggling.

He could gain more money afterwards, but if he's dead now there won't be another chance, especially since he got one already. He knew money wasn't at stake here, his life was.

"Today's catch is quiet good.", the bandit praised Maurice for his quick wits as he grabbed the notes tightly. Maurice shaking, slowly backed away. Even though he felt tremendous fear his heart was at ease, as he was out trouble now.

But as he backed off he bumped into a bandit. It wasn't until he turned back he realized that it wasn't him who bumped into the bandit but the bandit who was blocking his way.

"Where do you think you are going pal?" a grumpy voice echoed in his ears as a large man with a large scar across his right eye walked out from the group. He was the leader of bandits.

"I handed over every money I had. I have nothing else with me I promise. You can check me if you don't believe." Maurice shouted, his fear sky high.

"I believe you. Why shouldn't I? You aren't that kind of guy who pulls cheaps tricks when your life is at stake. I've been in this buisness for quiet some time, so I know.

But if I let you go now, you'll leak some crucial information and I don't want any gossip about this place running around." the bandit leader said. "I'll never utter a single word of what happened here, believe me, I'll never tell anything." Maurice retaliated.

"Hold him." the leader said ignoring his cries. The bandit behind him crossed his hands around Maurice's shoulder and dragged him to the bandit leader.

"I understand you pal, because I've been in your shoes. Years ago my mother fell sick. I didn't know what disease caught her. The only thing I knew was there exist a cure in the higher zone. But as you know people like us can't afford a cure in the higher zone.

I thought I was gonna lose my mother, but when my neighbor came to me with a job offer. The pay was quiet high, enough to pay for treatment at the higher zone.

I went for the job, but that day was the last time I saw my mother. Ever since then I've been his puppet with my life hanging on a thread. If something I've learned on that day was not to trust anybody in this world." the leader clunched his fist as he said it and with rage still flowing through his body, kicked Maurice in his stomach.

Maurice was sent flying like a doll and he hit the wall with a heavy thump. The leader watching this was taken aback. He didn't expect Maurice to go flying like that.

The leader slapped a fellow bandit to see if the problem was with him. Somehow putting everything into perspective he walked towards Maurice taking out his dagger.

Maurice now on his knees, coughed up blood. He could see the bandit leader approaching with a knife as his vision slowly blurred. Darkness filled his eyes as the terrifying footsteps of death became louder and louder. Then it stopped.

Even though he couldn't see anything he could feel the sharp blade getting closer to him. As he knew death was inevitable he began to remember his mistakes.

Despite given a second chance and an oppurtunity to become stronger he didn't accomplish anything.

He dreamed a lot, but was too afraid to even talk to new people in here. In the end his second life came to an end within a day, without achieving anything.

At this point Maurice didn't want another chance, didn't want to do anything, didn't dream about anything, didn't complain. He remained calm and accepted his death.