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My cause of death was simple. The building collapsed. While I was playing a game at home, the one-room apartment I lived in completely crumbled.

The rent wasn’t that cheap, but I never imagined it was so poorly built. I wanted to sue the construction company for the shoddy work, but that wasn’t going to happen. My head was crushed like tofu before that could even cross my mind.

[GAME OVER!]

As the screen flickered before my eyes, I lost my life. But apparently, that wasn’t the absolute end for me.

"Ack!" "Oh, are you okay, Yor?"

I reincarnated in some strange medieval world. A fantasy realm where swords and magic existed, and I was now an orphan named Yor in an orphanage. But there was something even more peculiar about this world.

“Phew... Yes, I’m fine.” “You need to be more careful. Boys shouldn’t be running around recklessly like that.”

This world was one where the concepts of gender had been reversed. Here, most of the hard work was done by women, and they held most of the high positions in society.

"Haha, yes..."

It wasn’t as if men were reduced to merely doing dishes at home, but it was clear many things had changed. It also seemed like the moral standards regarding chastity had shifted.

It was a world that felt pretty strange, but it wasn’t overwhelmingly uncomfortable. The stifling atmosphere of the orphanage was a bit suffocating, but at least people were kind. Even though I didn’t have any close friends, I managed to get along well with everyone.

Had it not been for the incident on my 10th birthday, I would have continued to live a peaceful life.

My life turned upside down on June 6, my 10th birthday. In this world, when a child turns 10, they undergo a special test.

It’s a ritual where divine power is infused into the child’s body to check for any abnormalities. Every person in this world has a chance of manifesting a dangerous trait known as 'Demon's Blood' when they turn 10.

"Wait, this mark...?" "Oh no, it’s a demon! A demon!"

And the unlucky winner this time was me. When the divine power was infused into me, a dark crimson tattoo appeared on my right collarbone. A sinister symbol resembling demon horns—the mark of someone born with Demon’s Blood. Now that I think about it, it was something I had heard about before.

It wasn’t just a cliché; it was a setting from one of the games I had played.

[Demons Saga]

It was the game I had been playing before I died. An online RPG with the goal of hunting down demons scattered throughout the world.

‘This is insane...’

Because of the gender-reversed world, I hadn’t realized it at first, but I was actually in the same world as Demons Saga.

Demon’s Blood, huh. It was a rather edgy setting, but that one over-the-top element threw my entire life into chaos.

“Damn, to think we were raising a demon child!” “Take him away immediately! Who knows when he’ll go on a rampage!” “I’m sorry, Yor. But there’s nothing I can do...”

Those who manifest Demon’s Blood are considered walking dangers. No one knows when they might lose control and go berserk. And because those with Demon’s Blood are practically living weapons, they must be handled with extra caution.

The people of this medieval world came up with a convenient and brutal solution.

“Send him to the execution block immediately!” “Purify the evil blood!”

They executed 10-year-old children. By turning a blind eye to the moral dilemma, they could easily eliminate potential threats.

Thanks to this, I was thrown into the dark underground prison of the empire. With the unfortunate knowledge that I would soon be executed.

As I was being escorted to the prison, I saw countless gazes upon me. There were citizens glaring at me with disgust, knights with expressions of boredom, and even a few pitying glances, but those were in the minority. No one spoke out against my impending death.

...However, there were two things they didn’t know. First, the prison bars were spaced just wide enough for me to barely squeeze through. Second, the manifestation of my Demon’s Blood had already progressed quite a bit.

When Demon’s Blood manifests, it seems to increase one’s regenerative abilities and physical strength.

After a few attempts, I managed to break the chains that bound my wrists and ankles. Sure, my hands and palms got scraped up and had to regenerate a few times, but that was a minor issue. Compared to the value of my life, it was a small price to pay.

Anyway, I escaped. I fled from the guards, from the citizens who hated me, from the empire that wanted me dead.

As I ran, a bounty was placed on my head, and I heard rumors about me among the people. Search parties armed with swords and bows were dispatched to find me.

But after running desperately for some time, I eventually managed to escape the empire. I found myself in a vast plain with no one in sight.

Once I was free from immediate danger, a wave of sorrow hit me.

‘...Why?’

Why did I have to go through this? What crime had I committed to deserve being chased like this? Or was there even a crime to begin with?

Yes, there was. Being born with Demon’s Blood was my crime. According to their logic, I had been a criminal from the moment I was born, and turning 10 only revealed my record. And in this world, that was a capital offense, a crime punishable by death.

“Sob... Sniff...”

Tears welled up in my eyes from the frustration, but I couldn’t stop walking. If I stopped, the search parties would catch up and take me away.

‘I want to live.’

I wanted to live. Even though the situation was hopeless, I wanted to survive. As I wandered aimlessly, I asked myself a question.

‘Where should I go?’

The empire was out of the question. If I went back, I would be executed immediately. Other countries wouldn’t be an option either. And living quietly in some remote village was impossible.

The horn-shaped mark on my collarbone would follow me like a brand wherever I went. I would be discovered soon enough, and then the knights would capture me and execute me. In short, I couldn’t live in any civilized area.

So, where should I go? Where could I possibly survive?

“Ah.”

As I wandered for a while, I eventually came across a forest. But it wasn’t just any ordinary forest. It was a forbidden zone, filled with beasts and monsters corrupted by magic. In the game, this area was likely a high-level hunting ground.

It was an isolated place, difficult to navigate, where no one ventured, which made it a perfect hiding spot for me. The monsters near the entrance were said to be weak, so maybe I could find a way to survive there.

As I continued walking, hunger crept in. I started craving something sweet. I wanted the strawberry jam pastries they used to sell near the orphanage.

Of course, there was no way I could get them now. And probably never again for the rest of my life. Swallowing my tears, I stepped into the forest...

 

A long time had passed since then.

"Damn it, no matter what I do, the gamey smell of venison just won’t go away."

At first, there were a lot of challenges, but this forest turned out to be livable. Once you get used to the winding paths, they start to become familiar, and even though my meals weren’t gourmet, I managed to get enough protein, carbs, and fats on time.

There were freshwater sources like lakes scattered throughout the area, and if you looked hard enough, you could find decent places to sleep.

My biggest concern was the monsters, but eventually, even they became manageable. Or, to be more precise, I became strong enough to handle them.

Despite dragging my life to the bottom, Demon’s Blood gave me considerable power. It not only boosted my physical abilities but also granted me various strange skills.

Now, I could freely control my blood, hardening and shaping it as I pleased. Except for a few monstrous beings lurking deep in the forest, I had no real challengers left.

Though every month, when Rampage A or B hit, the urge to off myself crept up, Demon’s Blood turned out to be surprisingly controllable.

In short, it was livable. There were a few inconveniences here and there, but nothing that seriously hindered my survival.

Thanks to that, I’ve been clinging to life for 12 years. I think it’s been 12 years anyway. My sense of time has blurred from staying in the forest all the time.

"...Still, it’s edible enough."

The biggest inconvenience was the loneliness.

Crackle. Crackle. The fire I lit to cook meat illuminated the cave I called home. Sitting in this narrow cave, sometimes the loneliness would creep into my bones.

People often say humans are social animals. We don’t exist as individuals, but rather confirm our existence through interaction with others. The desire to interact with others isn’t rational—it’s written into our very genes.

But after 12 years without any meaningful human conversation, the loneliness had piled up like a snowball, occasionally overwhelming me.

Come to think of it, I’m stuck in this damned gender-reversed world, yet I haven’t reaped a single benefit from it, have I?

Not that I could just strike up a conversation with anyone who might stumble upon me...

Today, I mutter a wish that I know will never be granted.

"...I wish I could make some friends."

The echo that returned was as hollow as ever.
 

[Open Beta Service Ended!] [Visitors from Another World are Now Entering!] [You have acquired the trait 'Player's Eye'!]

"...What the...?"

A strange system window popped up in front of my eyes a few days later.