Ringing!

I took out my phone from my pocket at the sound of the notification.

Fresh update!

The latest episode of ?I’m a Rich Kid, But I’m Running Away? has been updated. Click to read ?

‘Ah, it’s already 6 o’clock.’

The upload time for ?I’m a Rich Kid, But I’m Running Away? is 6 a.m.

That means I’ve been pulling all-nighters because of work.

I rubbed my tired eyes.

‘Can I finish translating it before Agent Park comes to the office?’

Honestly, it was impossible. It wasn’t an amount I could finish even if I stayed up for several more nights.

But…

“Are you vomiting blood over there? You should be grateful that I’m asking you despite your lack of credentials. If you can’t do it, just say so. There are plenty of others who can take your place.”

I clenched my hand holding the phone tightly.

“Let’s hurry back.”

I came to the convenience store to buy some coffee before I doze off. I grabbed the cheapest canned coffee.

As I walked out of the convenience store, I absentmindedly pressed the ‘Read Now’ button as usual.

Reading romance fantasy novels was a small but endless source of joy in my daily life.

It was my only source of happiness.

No matter how wealthy they are, II can’t live with my brothers and dad! I need to escape from this house as soon as possible!

As I watched the determination of the female protagonist, my heart felt suffocated.

“Why would she leave a house with handsome dads and brothers, they are even wealthy!”

Yes, her (handsome) dad is such a pushover!

And what about her (handsome) brothers!

She even received a diamond mine today!

Why run away!

I left a comment full of enthusiasm under that amazing sweet potato¹term used to express the speaker’s frustrated or impatient feeling about a situation or a person post.

Hey, protagonist, how about I become the daughter of that house? I can live well without running away?

Many people empathized, and the number of ‘likes’ quickly soared. It soon became the top comment.

For some reason, I felt so happy that I couldn’t help but smile.

Ppaaaaahhng?

The brisk dawn air was pierced by an intensely bright light that pierced through my vision.

A flickering headlight.

And a truck that filled the entire street.

Wait, a truck in this narrow alleyway?

Plus, it was rushing towards me at an incredible speed.

All of a sudden?

Screeeeeech!

Crash!

Yes, all of a sudden.

That was my last thought.

‘Or more precisely, the last thought of ‘the living me.’’

I stood there, arms folded, gazing at my lifeless body.

There was no feeling of pain from dying in an instant. I was just dazed.

Is this really death?

Like this?

Then what was the point of all my struggles?

A sense of emptiness washed over me.

It was at that moment.

[Congratulations! You have obtained the chance to be reborn!]

Pong! I looked up at the sudden voice of a voice accompanied by a popping sound.

Against the brightened sky, a boy was laughing while setting off fireworks.

His fluffy, cloud-like white hair and golden eyes were perfectly harmonious, almost otherworldly.

“I must be dead. It’s all just nonsense that I can see.”

[Excuse me? You got your hands on a chance for reincarnation? Well, you better be a little more delighted about it!]

“What are you talking about? A chance to be reborn?”

I pondered the words indifferently and then gasped for breath.

“Wait, are you saying that I got hit by that famous reincarnation truck?!”

The reincarnation truck, a legendary vehicle that supposedly transports you to a fantasy world upon being hit.

“I thought it was only in novels.”

[Well, it seems you have the thoughts of someone who has read a lot of novels! Truly a chosen one!]

“Huh?”

[I am the messenger of the deity, Aphthanes.]

A messenger of God? He was an angel after all.

Well, I guess it makes sense for angels or demons to speak to the dead.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed tiny wings, no bigger than sesame seeds, flapping on the boy’s back.

‘The angel seems much more frivolous and insignificant than I thought…’

[Aphthanes took inspiration from various things when creating the world.]

The angel, who revealed that even gods look at reference materials, Jjan! stretched out his arms as if to say something grand.

[Among them, the most referenced were romance fantasy novels!]

Yes?

What did you use as reference?

What on earth is this barking sound all about.

‘To think he created the world based on romance fantasy novels!’

Are you out of your mind?

[How about it? Isn’t this world for you, a die-hard fan of romance novels? Don’t you want to be reborn?]

“No, it’s a world created by a delusional god who took inspiration from romance novels. Who would want to go there?”

Unconsciously, I found myself frowning.

The tiny-winged angel flapped its arms and puffed up its cheeks. Despite claiming to be a divine messenger, it was far from holy; rather, it was quite astounding.

[In your recent comment, you said you would rather be the female lead!]

“That’s because it’s not a world created by a strange god… Huh?”

I involuntarily furrowed my brow in thought.

Is this really a divine messenger?

No matter how much I think about it, I can’t imagine gods or angels going this crazy.

“Why are you giving me a chance to be reborn?”

[Aphthanes saw all the novels you commented on.]

What?

[You became the most highly praised commentator, and you scolded the protagonists the most.]

“…….”

[To the pro-commentator of romance novels, a round of applause! A world inspired by romance! How about that?]

With an expression that couldn’t be any clearer, the angel smiled brightly and winked.

[I hope you’ll try it out and leave ratings and comments!]

“…….”

Seems like God is thirsty for attention.

Even without experiencing it first-hand, this asshole deserves zero stars.

[Now that your doubts are resolved, you’ll be reborn, right?]

There’s no way that answered my questions! On the contrary, suspicion has only grown stronger. It’s incredibly fishy.

But I’m dead.

It’s like a gamble with nothing to lose, so I can nod in agreement with ease.

‘It’s just an average situation, I suppose.’

I am an avid reader of romance novels.

To the extent that I devour dozens of volumes in just one month.

‘Oh, well, there’s no way I could just accept being told I’ll adapt easily!’

Romance novels have various storylines as well.

‘What if I get reborn from some wretched waste material!’

Even if I’m not in a wretched waste novel, it’s still a problem.

What if I’m reborn as a villain whose neck gets sliced?

Or just end up being a used and discarded supporting character?

[Why hesitate? Didn’t you want to live in a fantasy world instead of this place?]

“I don’t simply want to live in a fantasy world.”

[Is that so?]

“I want to be reborn in a family of wealthy individuals, with a handsome dad and brother!”

[Gee, you’re quite picky.]

Look at this. He’s trying to reincarnate me into some strange place.

“It’s the basic premise of romance novels.”

[Well, fine. I’ll make sure you’re born into a family with a handsome dad and brother, and lots of money.]

“And all of those family members should dote on me.”

[Hmm… It’s not easy to find a romance novel like that. Even though they might end up loving them later, everyone seems to dislike them at first…]

“Why not! Lady B** had one like that!”

[Well, if you want to start with all the family members dying like in that novel…]

“No, I’m sorry. I misspoke. I’ll give it a try…”

A quick change of attitude is a shortcut to a comfortable life.

“So, are we done now? Will I be reincarnated?”

A handsome dad and brother with a wealthy background.

That’s exactly what I want.

“Um, but most of the female protagonists in romance novels have special abilities… At the very least, they are intelligent or something.”

[…You really want a lot.]

The angel turned his head and muttered something quietly.

“Huh?”

[Don’t worry. Since I’m specially granting you rebirth, I’ll also give you abilities.]

The angel responded with a gentle smile, as if asking, When did I ever complain?

It feels like he scolded me for something…

‘With a handsome dad and brother, and now being reborn with special abilities.’

At this point, it’s like a reward for all the hardships I’ve endured so far.

Yes, I may not have lived virtuously, but I’ve been through a lot of struggles.

Finally, the day has come when I can bask in the sun!

“Okay then, I’ll be reborn.”

As soon as I finished saying that, a warm feeling filled my chest.

Surprised, I looked up to see the angel smiling.

A deep smile that curled up at the corners of his mouth, more devilish than angelic.

[If that’s the case, the contract is established, human.]

A completely different tone than before resonated and spread above my head.

At the same time, a large crack began to form in the air.

Inside the crack was pitch-black, with not a single speck of light.

An abyss that had no resemblance to angels or servants swirled.

And then…

‘A contract… you said?’

Anxiety rushed in.

Don’t gods usually bestow grace?

‘Contract… isn’t it supposed to be something like that…’

That’s it.

That is—

‘A devil.’

All color drained from my face.

“Wait, just a moment!”

As the pitch-black crack continued to grow, I urgently raised my hand.

“I want to cancel this contract! I refuse!”

[The contract has already been established, human.]

The cracks had grown completely, and it began to suck in my soul with its dark, gaping maw.

I tried to escape, but I was utterly helpless.

It seemed inevitable that I would be reborn like this.

If that’s the case, I must salvage something!

“My, what is my ability…? What is it?”

The demons were good at deceiving, but would they give me some weird ability?

[Don’t worry, human.]

“Worry? You, demon!”

[It’s the ability that suits you best.]

“What kind of ability is supposedly best for me?”

I felt extremely uneasy as if I was being scammed in real-time.

“If the ability is to be scammed, you’ll die for real!”

[You don’t need to worry…. Because you’re my — — — .]

“What?”

I couldn’t quite catch the meaning behind the last remark.

I wanted to ask again, but my soul had already been completely drawn into the cracks.

And then, a profound darkness came, where nothing could be felt.

* * *

‘That swindling demon!’

I gritted my teeth and wiped away my tears on the marble floor.

‘Where did the handsome dad go!’

It’s the middle of winter, and my fingers turned bright red.

‘Where’s the good-looking brother!’

I feel like I’m losing sensation in my fingertips.

‘My golden spoon!’

I slumped down in frustration.

Then, a vast hall with no end in sight came into view.

It was a grand and magnificent hall, as if it belonged to a castle you would enter after paying an entrance fee.

Normally, one would have marveled at it, but I couldn’t.

Because I was the one who had to clean the vast floor of this hall all alone.

‘This is not even a silver spoon, it’s a dust spoon…!’

Sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff.

Tears started to well up.

If only I hadn’t been reincarnated back then.

I tightly hugged my skinny arms and skinny legs.

Even as an adult, I wouldn’t be able to clean alone, let alone being in the body of a young child now.

As I sniffled, I heard a thunder-like scolding from behind.

“You’re being lazy again!”

Without even looking back, I reflexively flattened myself on the ground.

“Um, I’m sorry…!”

My lips trembled, and my whole body stiffened.

I didn’t want to act like such a fool, but the ingrained fear had consumed me.

“Is being this lazy also something you inherited from your mother?”

Tsk, he sound of tongue-clicking.

The person who approached me kicked a bucket with their foot.

The bucket tipped over, and soapy water spilled all over.

My clothes got soaked and felt damp.

“You look like a dirty rat when you’re all wet.”

It’s cold.

“With such lack of dignity, I swear.”

It’s cold.

“Can’t even do one task properly.”

Feeling lonely.

My swollen hand couldn’t even form a proper fist.

“…I made a mistake.”

I cautiously raised my head to look at him.

“Uncle.”

The man berating my mother, using foul language, was none other than my own uncle.

He was the one who ordered a young child like me to clean this vast hall alone.

Others wouldn’t have done such a thing.

But I wasn’t just anyone. This grand hall and the colossal mansion it belongs to are all his.

“You dare act like my niece?!”

He shouted angrily, apparently irritated by being addressed as ‘uncle.’

“Marquis…”

Quickly correcting my title, he snorted in response.

“You need to know your place.”

A pair of polished shoes pressed down on my shoulders.

A child’s body couldn’t withstand this weight and collapsed.

“That’s why your father left you behind.”

I couldn’t even let out a whimper as I heard his cruel words.

“Well, I’m not sure if you’re really the marquis’s daughter or not, though.”

Each word pierced into my young heart like thorns.

“She may be my sister, but your mother must have been incredibly frivolous.”

A mother I had never seen before.

Yet, when my uncle insulted her, my stomach churned, and my nose tingled.

“There’s nothing particularly unusual about having another child.”

No, that’s not true!

“Maybe there are more, considering what kind of woman she was.”

Our mother was not that kind of person!

“Who do you think you’re looking down on so arrogantly!”

With the disapproving command, the pressure on my shoulders intensified.

“Sob…”

My face was pressed against the cold marble floor. The gray soap foam mixed with dust smeared my cheek.

I bit my lip and swallowed my tears. Crying would only make things worse.

When I was reborn, I had imagined myself in a splendid and beautiful home.

At least I was born into a good family.

I don’t know how my family will be, but at least I won’t spend the winter trembling in fear of freezing to death.

Survival won’t be the biggest problem, but living life will be.

Through life, I’ll be able to experience many things.

Maybe I’ll be able to have dreams.

Maybe I’ll be able to receive love.

Just like not knowing unhappiness in a happy family, I could grow up healthy, bright, and warm.

Maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to get a happy ending like the protagonists in novels…

I felt excited.

Hope for life.

Expectations for the future.

The fact that I had something like that made my heart race.

However.

“Dad?”

It was all a misunderstanding.

That place wasn’t my place.

I am not the protagonist of this world.

A girl peeked through the open door and covered her lips with surprise.

She was a lovely girl with bright, shining blonde hair.

“What are you doing there?”

If this world was a novel, she would have been the heroine without a doubt.

My cousin, Clatie, asked with an angelic face.

• 1
  term used to express the speaker’s frustrated or impatient feeling about a situation or a person