When I was little, I saw soone save my life, and I decided that I wanted to beco soone like that too. Firefighters, police officers—there were many professions devoted to protecting lives, but the answer I found was dicine. I believed that if there were even a few people who could save another human being with their own hands, the world would surely beco a better place.
But reality was not so forgiving. There were tis I saved them, and tis I couldn't. Whenever a patient under my care died, it felt as if sothing inside broke. Still, there was a quiet joy in watching a sick child recover and grow healthy enough to leave the hospital.
Yet, when it mattered most, I failed to save the one life that ant everything. The day my own son died in an accident, I cursed my own helplessness. I despaired, haunted by the fact that I could do nothing.
I had done everything in my power to save him, but deep down, I knew. It was already too late.
In the end, I could only hold back my tears and let my child go.
Many long years passed after my son's death, until I reached an age where being called an old man was only natural. It was night, and a torrential rain fell, blurring everything in sight.
As I walked ho under my umbrella, I spotted a child crossing the street, clad in a raincoat and rain boots.
I couldn't help but wonder... if my son had lived, would he have been about that age?
Just as the light turned green and the child stepped into the crosswalk—
Honk!!
"!! Watch out!!"
A truck ca hurtling toward the child at a terrifying speed. Without a second thought, I threw my body forward to save them.
"M-Mister!!... Mister!!!"
The child was sobbing, calling out to . I lay sprawled on the asphalt, blood streaming from my head. By pushing the child away, I had saved their life—but I had taken the full impact of the truck head-on.
As a doctor, I knew my condition better than anyone. I perford a quick ntal triage and reached a conclusion.
This was not survivable. Even if the ambulance arrived imdiately, I wouldn't make it. But I didn't regret my choice. Because of that one decision, a life had been saved.
My ribs were shattered, and I was bleeding heavily from my head and abdon. I'm going to die of hypovolemic shock.
I knew my body best. Even the fastest paradics would be too late.
Is this how it feels to be at the threshold of death? My mind is growing hazy... and my body is turning cold.
As the blood drained away, I felt my core temperature plumt. The freezing rain only accelerated the chill.
I was satisfied that I had saved a child, but a lingering wish remained. I wanted to save more lives. I wanted to make the world, even if only by a fraction, a better place.
[Notice. Unique Skill: Savior (One Who Saves) acquired... successful.]
If I'm born again, I want to fly freely through the sky. Yes... like a dragon.
I had loved dragons since childhood. Their indomitable bodies, their impenetrable scales, and those massive wings that could carry them anywhere. I adored them. Even now, my display cabinet is filled with the dragon collection I spent years gathering.
[Notice. Pain Nullification acquired... successful. Due to the request for "Dragon," species adjustnt to Dragon failed. Selecting substitute species: Draconic Lineage... successful.]
The only sounds remaining were the child's wails and the rhythmic drumming of the rain.
"Ha... I wanted to see more of the world... is this how it ends?"
[Notice. Unique Skill: Observer acquired... successful.]
Co to think of it... I've been hearing a strange voice. Is it my imagination? "Confird," "Skill," "Species"... sothing surreal is happening. It's almost like a novel.
Gradually, the sounds of the world faded, and the thumping of my own heart grew deafening. The end was near.
My consciousness blurred. The world turned black, and my body felt weightless.
Ah... now that I think about it, what happens to my position at the hospital? Will soone else fill the void?
...Well, it'll be fine. They'll manage. Since a senior position is opening up, maybe the juniors will be more motivated...
I... can't... speak...
My heartbeat sounded unnaturally loud. The sound reminded of the tis I used a defibrillator to shock patients back from cardiac arrest. mories flashed before my eyes like a kaleidoscope—treating frostbite, burns, amputations, and countless other traumas.
[Notice. Defibrillator electrical shock... insufficient data, failure. Acquiring substitute Extra Skill: Thunderbolt Manipulation... successful. Acquiring Electric Resistance... successful. Acquiring Paralysis Resistance... successful. Acquiring Fire Resistance, Self-Regeneration, and Ice Resistance... successful.]
With that, my consciousness plunged into the abyss.
.
.
.
.
[Notice. A new draconic being has been born.]
Huh?
This is strange. By all rights, I should be dead, yet I'm still thinking. Did I survive? dically, that's impossible. Is this the afterlife?
...Or so I thought, until I heard the chirping of birds and the rustle of grass. This didn't feel like a void.
Then, is this the next world?
[Negative.]
A voice echoed directly in my mind.
"Where am I? Who's there? Who is speaking?"
[Answer. I am utilizing a portion of the authority of the World's Word through the power of the Observer to communicate.]
"Observer? Skill? Explain everything."
[Understood.]
To summarize the explanation from the World's Word: I did indeed die in that accident. However, I have been reincarnated into this world—a fantasy realm—in the form of a dragon.
First, the effects of my Unique Skill, [Observer], are as follows:
Future Prediction: The ability to see a few seconds into the future. As an application, I can glimpse years ahead, though this consus a proportional amount of mana.
Terrain Detection: The ability to roughly grasp the structure of my current surroundings within a radius of 500 ters.
Observer's Advice: The World's Word will directly provide answers to requested information.
These are the three primary abilities.
Additionally, I possess various resistances and self-regeneration. While this defies every law of dicine, the fact that I can see and hear proves this is no dream. I simply accepted my new reality.
I began to wander, hoping to find another living soul. However, I encountered only monsters, and the mont they spotted , they fled in absolute terror.
According to the Observer, I awakened 100 days after my reincarnation. It explained that it took this long to manifest my physical body and for my skills to fully settle.
"Settling" referred to the transition from my previous world to this one. I initially thought it ant the skills were adapting to , but it turns out my skills are engraved directly into my soul. Because the voice couldn't explain it simply, it clarified that it had "hijacked" the connection to the World's Word to communicate.
The World's Word rings out whenever a global change occurs, or when a skill is acquired or "evolved."
Essentially, I am receiving information about this world through this system. Thanks to a concealnt effect, this voice is audible only to .
It functioned like a computer, answering only when questioned. While it was nice to have a companion, the lack of proactivity was a bit disappointing.
I discovered that I was currently in a cave at the very edge of the world—a place so remote that no one ever ventured near.
I also learned that I belonged to the draconic lineage, the strongest of races. More specifically, I am a high-ranking spiritual being. Including myself, there were once five of the world's strongest creatures, though it seems only four remain now.
To find a way out, I used [Terrain Detection] to map the area, etching the optimal route into my mind like a GPS.
Thanks to the skill, I exited the cave without hesitation. Once outside, I looked at my reflection in the sea.
There I saw piercing green eyes and a crimson body. I had a long, powerful tail and massive wings that dwarfed my own fra. Sharp spines jutted from my shoulders.
...I can't exactly wander around like this. Even if I try, I'll just cause a panic. Is there any other way?
[...Answer. It is suggested that you transform into a human form.]
A human form, huh. Let's give it a try.
"...Hm? What was that?"
A red-haired man suddenly bolted upright, sensing the sudden ergence of a powerful aura.
"Did you feel it too?"
"I did... but it should be fine, right? Probably nothing serious."
Inside a palace draped in ice, the red-haired man and a white-haired woman exchanged words. Both of them suspected that the sudden silence of the World's Word was no re coincidence.
-------------------
"...Huh? I feel sothing... was it just my imagination?"
A young girl felt a flicker of unease at a familiar aura that had suddenly brushed past her. However, she quickly dismissed the thought, deciding it was just a whim, and lost interest almost imdiately.
――――――――――――――――――――
"...Eh? It feels as if sothing that shouldn't have been born just entered the world... Well, probably just my imagination!"
In the sanctuary where the fairies gather, the spirit queen murmured to herself. But, judging it to be a re trick of the senses, she returned to her leisurely repose.
User Comments
0 comments from readers