The Kingmaker System Chapter 2 - 1. Isekai’d (1)

The serene darkness enveloped me, a clear indication of my demise. All I could perceive were the speckling stars, akin to the vast Milky Way, and I found myself gazing at them with a profound sense of numbness and tranquility. Time seemed to cease its march, or perhaps I had no need to track its passage anymore; as a deceased soul, such concerns were irrelevant.

It had been an eternity since I last experienced such peace. In my life, the beauty of nature and the sight of stars were luxuries I rarely afforded myself, my vision constantly fixated on either the glowing computer screen monitoring for red flags or the luminescent display of my mobile phone.

But now, all those distractions had vanished. I was stripped bare, cast into the sprawling cosmos, devoid of any earthly entanglements.

Could this be the so-called Judgement?

I was hardly a paragon of virtue during my existence. Sins were committed, lives were taken, promises were shattered, and those who cared for me were wounded, all actions I continued despite my awareness of their wrongfulness.

Regrets, numerous and heavy, now felt palpable, as if standing before me.

If only I had been more honest with myself, if only I hadn't been so foolish, if only I had faced my battles head-on then perhaps... perhaps the weight of my regrets would be lighter now.

While those regrets were significant, one particular memory stood out, a pain that intensified with its recollection.

I had died without witnessing Luffy achieve his dream of becoming the Pirate King!

And the anticipation for new anime releases, shows I would now never get to watch, lingered painfully.

What could possibly be worse than the realization that one would never finish the seasons of beloved anime or read cherished books?

At this juncture, one might question why, instead of lamenting my departure from everyone without a word, I was weeping over lost entertainment.

To clarify, my family was a fractured entity. Happy memories were non-existent within its confines, rendering their absence insignificant to me.

Frankly, they wouldn't even flinch if they learned of my death.

As for my love life, it was nonexistent. I had no boyfriend, nor any interest in pursuing one. The reason?

My heart was already occupied by dozens, perhaps hundreds, of fictional crushes – the very reason many Otaku girls remain unattached.

Besides, fictional boys were far less likely to betray my trust.

I had lived a considerable span of life, and truth be told, had it not been for my demanding job, I would have been a recluse, a sage on the path to celibacy, dedicating my existence to books, anime, and manga.

Alas, all of it had to be left behind...

Just as I began to find acceptance in my new state, a radiant light flickered in the distance, rapidly approaching me before I could even comprehend its advance.

My vision was momentarily consumed by the brilliant white light, and alongside my regrets and sorrows, I embraced the perceived afterlife.

Or so I believed.

A delicate floral scent wafted to my nostrils, coaxing me to snuggle deeper into the soft sheets, a feeling of warmth and contentment washing over me.

The gentle chirping of birds filled the air, and the sheer tranquility of my surroundings made me yearn for just a little more sleep.

This peaceful interlude lasted mere moments before my eyes snapped open, and I jolted out of the bed, suddenly remembering my obligation to be at work.

"What the hell! Where is my phone? Why didn't my alarm go off? I have a crucial meeting!" Panic seized me as I scrambled around, searching for my phone and belongings, but something felt undeniably wrong – I wasn't in my own room.

My gaze swept across the opulent chamber, significantly larger than my entire apartment. Walls adorned in regal purple, a sprawling king-sized bed, expansive windows, exquisitely crafted furniture, and various ornate decorative items – none of it was mine, nor anything I could have ever afforded.

"Huh? Where am I?" I murmured, extending a hand towards my head, only to notice the alarming decrease in its size.

"What is this?" I brought both my hands before me, marveling at how diminutive they had become.

I wiggled my delicate fingers; they were pristine and flawless, unlike the familiar scarred arms I was accustomed to seeing.

Approaching the mirror within the room, I gasped, stumbling backward as the reflection confronting me sent a shockwave through my being.

There stood a petite girl with hair cascading down to her waist, a shade of pure white, and an angelic, pale face currently contorted in an expression of utter shock. Regaining my composure, I moved closer to the mirror, my gaze fixed on her large, cerulean eyes framed by thick, white lashes.

For a breathless moment, I stared into those eyes, the most beautiful I had ever beheld, like captivating frozen lakes captured within two shimmering crystals. A small, perfect button nose adorned her face, leading to exquisite, bow-shaped pink lips. Her petite form was clad in a simple white nightgown, and for a fleeting instant, I questioned if I was caught in a dream.

I lifted my hand, intending to pinch my own cheek, and the girl in the reflection mirrored my action. A sting bloomed on my cheek as I realized the redness spreading across the young girl's pale skin.

"This... this is me..." I breathed out, my gaze fixed on the mirror, utterly bewildered.

No, wait. This couldn't be right. I wasn't a child; I was a thirty-year-old working woman. My hair wasn't long and white, but short and brown, and my eyes were black, not blue. What in the world-

Then, it was as if a missing piece clicked into place.

"Could I have been Isekai'd?" I muttered to myself.

This wasn't a dream. I was certain I had met my end and was now inhabiting this new body.

Everything suddenly made sense if the only logical conclusion was...

"ISEKAI!" I shrieked with delight, bouncing up and down.

The fantasy of every anime fan had actually happened to me!

Oh, Great God of Reincarnation, thank you ever so much!

Typically, it's Truck-kun sending protagonists to another world, but for me, it was apparently Bullet-kun, I suppose.

Who would have imagined that a terrorist's stray bullet would be my ticket to an Isekai adventure?

I had only ever read about such things in manwhas and novels, but now, it was my undeniable reality!

Just as I was savoring this incredible new existence, the doors burst open. My eyes darted to the figures entering, and my body instinctively snapped into a defensive stance.

There stood a man with short white hair, appearing to be in his mid-thirties, a young boy with light pink hair cascading past his shoulders, two women clad in maid uniforms, and a man in a crisp white butler's outfit.

"Re-Reina?" the white-haired man stammered, his eyes widening as he saw me. I slowly let my guard down, sensing no immediate threat.

I opened my mouth to respond, but abruptly, my vision was consumed by darkness. I lost all control over this new body, succumbing to the void.

[Goddess of Wisdom assesses the new candidate...]

[New Host recognised.]

[System loading...]

[Loading complete.]

[Status Display.]

[Name: Reina Minerva Aurelius. Age: 10. Specie: Human (Mage). Magic: Frost and Mana Control (locked). Class: Novice.]

[Host is currently unconscious.]

[100th Iteration complete.]

[Memory Transfer complete.]