In the mirror, an unfamiliar face was reflected.
Instinctively, I raised my right hand in a gesture of confirmation. And then, the mysterious child reflected in the mirror made the same movement.
This time, I raised my left hand and smirked wryly… And, as expected, the child in the mirror did the same.
“If I’m not going crazy, what I see in the mirror is…”
Myself.
I whispered those last words in my mind.
And then…
…
…
…
About five seconds passed.
“What the hell?!”
I shouted loudly.
I stumbled back and weakly tripped, falling flat on my face.
Ignoring the pain in my hands and my rear, with fear, I peered into the mirror again… Yes, nothing had changed.
The boy with black hair and eyes the color of gold still reflected in the mirror unchanged. I was also surprised by how handsome he was.
Even though I had smirked wryly before, his radiance outshone even male idols. He had a beauty that is only found in the 2D world.
I blinked hard and then slowly got up.
“No, no, no. This makes no sense. Yesterday, I was just an ordinary Japanese guy, and upon waking up, I’ve turned into a handsome Western boy! This is no longer just plastic surgery; it’s as if I’ve been physically transformed or reincarnated into someone different…”
I stared at my face, getting closer to the three-sided mirror.
My eyes looked like authentic gems. If I keep developing like this for about ten more years, women will throw themselves at me just by walking through the city.
I am the embodiment of temptation at this moment. In what illegal facility have I been modified to evolve in this way? If possible, I do not want to go back…
Initially, completely devoid of information other than my appearance, I forgot the initial doubts and became intoxicated with my own beauty.
While saying foolish things like “I could attract men if I tried”, I heard hurried footsteps in the distance. Thanks to that, my consciousness returned to reality.
“…Hm? Could it be that the maid has returned?”
I turned around immediately. Staring at the corner entrance with my back straight, as I had imagined, without even knocking, several people, a man and a woman entered the room. Among the members, the previous maid was also there.
“Hermes! You’ve finally woken up. The doctor said he wasn’t sure when you would wake up… But I’m glad. I’m very glad!”
“Yes… It’s good to see you awake. Your mother is happy. When I heard that you had an accident, I felt as distressed as if it had happened to me.”
“…Mother?”
Huh? Mother? Whose? Hermes’s mother?
…But, wait! I am Hermes! I mean, the other two men and the women besides the maiden who entered the room… They must be my parents. The maiden said she would bring Hermes’s parents when she left the room.
However, this is too surprising! How on earth can these be my parents?!
It’s too strange!
My mother doesn’t seem as beautiful as when she was in her twenties, and she’s not someone who cries easily! Also, did she suddenly lose about twenty centimeters of waist circumference? Are you on a diet?
The same goes for my father. What happened to his clearly bald head?! Suddenly, he looks like a paradise full of hair! Where did he get rid of those aging wrinkles? Did he also undergo a transformation?
In a way, the drastic change of my parents surprises me more than my own physical transformation. They are completely different, not only in their skeleton, body shape, but also in their voice… Oh, me too?
It’s impossible to claim that all this is due to an unauthorized alteration by a plastic surgeon. The word ‘reincarnation’ that I said as a joke suddenly makes sense here.
Being a lover of video games, anime, manga, and novels, something I understand. Well, rather, I want to believe it.
It seems that… I have reincarnated into a different world.
***
Reincarnation in a different world.
That is the fantasy that all anime-loving otakus, without exception, long for.
Even I, as a common otaku, have had thoughts like ‘I would like to reincarnate into a fantasy world with swords and magic’.
However, I never imagined that someone like me, a simple otaku, could actually reincarnate into the fantasy world I longed for. And furthermore, transformed into a handsome young man of UR level.
If I had to find something to complain about, it would be the relatively young age at which I reincarnated (I’m probably in the latter stages of my adolescence) and the fact that I don’t fully understand who I am.
The maiden said I was hit by a carriage, was there a soul exchange at that moment? Does my real-world body now have Hermes-kun’s soul? Or did I simply die in the real world, and by chance, this empty body was available?
No matter how much I think about it, I can’t find a clear answer.
For now, as I observed my parents and the maiden crying with tears, I calmly assessed the situation. Although there are still many things I don’t know, the simple fact of knowing that I was reincarnated into a different world is a big step forward. This gives me some peace of mind to prepare myself.
It’s time to talk to my parents and try to resolve this chaotic situation.
“Um… I suppose you may have already heard from the maid… But the truth is, I have no memories. I have no idea who you two are or where I come from. Despite that, could you consider me your son?”
“Of course! Absolutely! The presence or absence of memories will not break the bond we have. You are and will always be part of our family. You are indeed Hermes von Lunaselia.”
“Hermes… Von Lunacelia… That’s my name, right?”
“Yes, do you remember anything?”
“Hmm… Ah”
Just as I was about to say that remembering wouldn’t be so easy, I was left speechless.
Lie. I remembered…!
Suddenly, Hermes’s memories rushed through his mind. Naturally, I accepted his past life as if I had always known those memories.
However, among the resurrected memories, there was information that matched Hermes’s current memories.
“Royal Academy of Magic…”
Wait a moment. That name is undoubtedly…
“Oh, have the memories returned so soon? Exactly. You have been accepted to enter that academy in the near future. But due to the accident, your entry was postponed… Although if your health permits, it would be good for you to enter as planned.”
“…Really?”
The coincidence of the information with his father’s words struck Hermes like never before.
Enter the Royal Academy of Magic, First?! I can’t believe it.
It’s because the Royal Academy of High Magic, First… It’s the setting of a game I used to play before reincarnating, back when I was still Japanese in my previous life.
In other words, this means that this place is… The world of “Lovely Sorcerer”.
