My cause of death was simple.
A building collapse.One moment, I was in my room playing a game—next thing I knew, the entire one-room apartment came crashing down on me.
And it wasn't even that cheap of a place. Who would've thought the construction was that shoddy? I wanted to sue the contractor... but I never got the chance.
Because my head was crushed like tofu before I could even think of legal action.
[GAME OVER!]
The last thing I saw was my monitor flickering in front of me—then darkness.
But apparently, that wasn't the end for me.
"Ah!"
"Oh no, Yor, are you okay?!"
I was reincarnated—into a strange medieval world.
A fantasy world of swords and magic, where I became an orphan named Yor in a local orphanage.
But that wasn't the only odd thing about this world.
"I-I'm okay…"
"You really need to be more careful. A little boy shouldn't be running around so recklessly."
In this world, the concept of gender roles was completely reversed.
Women held the power—literally. They were stronger, faster, and the ones who filled the top ranks of society. Most soldiers, mages, and government officials were women.
"Haha… right…"
Not that men were stuck doing dishes at home or anything, but… a lot had changed, that was for sure.
Even their sense of morality and purity had shifted. You could feel it just by existing here.
It was disorienting, sure, but not unbearable. The orphanage was a bit stifling, but the people were kind enough. I didn't have any close friends, but I got along well enough.
If that hadn't happened when I turned ten, I probably would've lived a normal, quiet life.
It all changed on June 6th—my tenth birthday.
In this world, all children undergo a special test when they turn ten.They channel divine energy into your body to see if there are any… abnormalities.
Why? Because in this world, there's a chance you might awaken a cursed trait known as Demon's Blood.
"…Wait a second. This mark—?!"
"It's a demon! A real demon!"
And this year's unlucky winner? Me.
The moment they poured divine energy into me, a blood-red sigil surfaced on my right collarbone—a twisted horn-like pattern, unmistakably demonic.
It was the mark of the Demon's Blood.
Thinking back, it was a familiar trope. Not just because it sounded like a cliché, but because I'd literally played a game with the same exact setup.
[Demon's Saga]
That was the game I'd been playing before I died. An online RPG where the whole goal was to hunt down scattered demons.
'You've gotta be kidding me…'
I hadn't noticed it at first, too thrown off by the gender-swapped world. But now it was clear—I'd been reborn inside Demon's Saga.
And lucky me… I got the worst trait possible."Demon's Blood." It sounded like something straight out of an angsty teenager's fantasy—but it completely ruined my life.
"Damn it! We were raising a demon child all this time?!"
"Take him away! He could snap at any moment!"
"I'm sorry, Yor… But there's nothing we can do…"
Those who awaken Demon's Blood are considered living threats.No one knows when or if they'll lose control, so the safest option is to eliminate them before they do.
And in classic medieval fashion, they had a very efficient (read: barbaric) solution:
"Take him to the gallows!"
"Purge the evil blood!"
They execute the child—immediately.
It's a wonderfully convenient system if you ignore little things like ethics or human rights. Preemptive justice at its finest.
And so, I was tossed into a dark underground prison beneath the empire, awaiting execution.
On the way there, I caught the looks thrown my way.
Civilians glaring with disgust.Knights visibly annoyed at having to escort me.A few sympathetic glances, sure—but they were rare. No one stood up for me.
No one questioned my death.
…But there were two things they didn't know.
First—there was just enough space between the bars for someone small and flexible to squeeze through.
Second—my Demon's Blood had already started awakening.
As it turns out, Demon's Blood boosts your physical capabilities—regeneration, strength, the whole package.
It took a few tries, but I snapped the chains binding my wrists and ankles. My skin tore, bled, and healed over and over again—but in the end, I was free.
A small price to pay for my life.
After that, I ran.
I ran from the guards, from the city, from the empire that wanted me dead.
Wanted posters went up. Rumors spread. I saw squads of soldiers with swords and bows scouring the land.
But somehow, I made it.
I crossed the empire's borders and found myself standing in a vast, empty field.
And then, for the first time since it all began, the weight of it hit me.
'…Why?'
Why me?
What did I do to deserve this?
Was it a crime to be born this way?
Yes.
In their eyes, being born with Demon's Blood made me a criminal from the moment I took my first breath.And the day I turned ten, my "criminal record" was finally revealed.
A capital offense punishable by death—worldwide.
"Snf… Hrk…"
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I couldn't afford to stop. If I stood still, they'd catch me.
'I want to live.'
No matter how hopeless it seemed—I wanted to survive.
So I kept walking. And thinking.
'Where can I go?'
The empire was obviously a no-go.Other countries? Same story.Even hiding in some remote village wouldn't work.
The mark on my collarbone—those horns—were like a walking death sentence.I'd be found eventually, and killed.
Civilization itself was off-limits to me.
Then where?
Where could I go?
"…Ah."
That's when I saw it—a forest.
But not just any forest.A forbidden zone overrun with monsters and beasts corrupted by dark magic.In the game, it was probably a high-level hunting ground.
The paths were twisted and confusing. No one dared enter.
Perfect.
They said the creatures near the entrance were weak, so maybe—just maybe—I could survive here.
My stomach growled. I was starving.
I craved something sweet—like those strawberry jam pastries they sold near the orphanage.
But I'd never have one again.
Swallowing my tears, I stepped into the forest.
A long time passed after that.
"Damn it… No matter what I do, deer meat always tastes gamey."
The beginning was rough, but I made it work.
Eventually, I memorized the winding trails. I learned how to get enough carbs, protein, and fat to stay alive.
There were natural water sources scattered throughout, and if I searched carefully, I could find decent places to sleep.
The monsters were the biggest threat… but even they became manageable.
Well, manageable thanks to my Demon's Blood.
Sure, it had ruined my life, but the power it gave me was real.
Beyond the basic strength and regeneration, I eventually unlocked strange new abilities—like manipulating and solidifying my own blood at will.
There were a few monsters deep in the forest I still couldn't beat, but aside from them, I held my own.
Once a month, I'd go into a berserk state—Type A or B, depending.Those were rough. Suicidally rough.But manageable… for now.
All in all?It was a hard life, but survivable.
A few inconveniences here and there, but nothing I couldn't handle.
And so, somehow… I'd made it twelve years.
I think.Honestly, it was hard to keep track of time living in the forest like this.
"…Still edible, I guess."
The worst part? The loneliness.
Crackle, crackle.
The campfire lit up the small cave where I lived, casting dancing shadows on the walls.
Sometimes, sitting here alone, I'd feel a bone-deep sense of isolation.
They say humans are social creatures.We don't just exist—we define ourselves through our relationships with others.
The need to connect isn't logical. It's biological.
And yet… I'd spent twelve years without a real conversation.
The loneliness grew like a snowball, threatening to crush me some days.
You'd think, being stuck in a gender-flipped world, I'd at least get some perks out of it.
But nope.
Not a damn thing.
And even if someone did show up, it's not like I could just say "Hey, wanna be friends?" without risking everything.
Still, I found myself muttering the same wish over and over again.
"…I just want a friend."
The only reply was the hollow echo of my own voice.
[Open Beta Service Has Ended!]
[Visitors from Other Worlds Incoming!]
[You have acquired the trait: "Player's Eye."]
"…Huh?"
A few days later, a strange message window popped up right in front of my eyes.