Chapter 1: Disposable Life

There was a girl.

She was a beautiful girl with mysterious grayish hair that looked almost silver, and blue eyes reminiscent of jewels.

However, the life of this beautiful girl was incredibly cruel.

The girl was in a laboratory.

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes were researchers looking at her with calculating gazes.

To them, the girl was not a human, but merely a test subject.

The events that followed were so brutal they could hardly be put into words.

Countless atrocities poured onto the girl, who still had an immature ego, all under the guise of experiments and education.

There was no malice.

There was no grudge.

They simply pursued efficiency and tormented the girl relentlessly.

They used direct beatings, drugs, and sometimes even machines when it got severe.

She tried to resist, but it only resulted in worse treatment.

Days like hell.

The horrific days continued, making her wish she were dead.

In the process, the girl’s spirit gradually wore down.

The only fortunate thing for the girl was that the research ended in failure midway, and they decided to terminate the project.

If so, what would happen to the girl, the subject of the project?

The researchers unanimously said.

“Dispose of it.”

To the girl, who realized her situation and didn’t even resist, the researchers administered a drug as a final mercy.

Feeling the drug coursing through her body, the girl slowly closed her eyes.

The girl, waking up as if rising in the morning, felt someone’s gaze upon her.

It was a gaze without much change in expression, just like the researchers, but she knew.

She knew what would happen next, as if she could foresee the future.

[I’m, sorry.]

She had no choice but to bow her head.

Considering what was about to happen, this was not enough.

Bowing her head repeatedly, the girl unknowingly slumped down.

Even though she didn’t touch the ground, even though she had no physical body to exert strength.

[I’m sorry. I’m sorry…]

The unknown gaze watched the girl until the very end.

Then, finally, as the girl disappeared, the gaze vanished along with her.

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a dark ceiling.

“An unfamiliar ceiling…”

It feels like I had a dream that was intense in many ways.

Specifically, something very deep and dark that would likely be R-rated in a different sense, the kind that automatically drains the viewer’s mental strength.

But strangely enough, I can’t remember it now.

‘Ah, a fcking dream.’

Well, a dream is just a dream anyway, so it probably doesn’t matter.

Let’s just ignore it.

What’s important is the current situation.

I definitely have never come to a place that looks like an obviously suspicious laboratory, and I certainly have never slept here.

And most importantly.

“Ah, ah.”

Ah, this is that, isn’t it?

“Possession, huh.”

It was a development so familiar to modern people that I understood it immediately.

If so, what I need to do here is simple.

First, research the original owner of the body I’ve possessed.

Second, plan how to live from now on.

Third, if possible, find a way to return.

That’s it, planning complete.

Now that I have a rough plan, I should get moving.

It’s clear there’s no one around, so I can investigate at a leisurely pace.

Zzzzt—

That’s what I was thinking, just moments ago.

Suddenly, the door across the room slid open, and a man popped out.

For some reason, he had a very angry look on his face.

He looked around frantically before finally spotting me, and his eyes widened.

“You, are…”

Wait, Japanese?

But for some reason, I can understand it naturally?

How kind of them.

I guess this is some sort of perk or something.

While I stood there blankly, he approached cautiously, like approaching a wary cat.

Finally, the man, now right in front of me, looked at me and for some reason, his expression crumpled even more.

W-What.

I just woke up, you know?

Please tell me the original owner of this body wasn’t mortal enemies with him or something.

He looks quite a bit older than me.

“Ah…”

Startled by the sudden approach of his hand, I instinctively shrank back slightly.

At that, the anger on the man’s face deepened even further.

W-What is this?

Is he seriously getting annoyed because I dodged his hand?

He doesn’t exactly have a gentle appearance to begin with, so his angry face is very scary, you know?

First, I should apologize for suddenly avoiding him.

As I carefully tried to stand up, perhaps as a reaction to the sudden movement, my legs hurt terribly.

Uh, wait a minute.

Am I tilting?

Hey, stop!

Violence, stop!

Thud!

“…!”

It hurts.

Because I collapsed right after trying to stand up, an unexpected pain slams into my knees!

I can’t seem to muster any strength in my body.

As soon as I hit my knees, my upper body suddenly bends forward.

Ah, no.

I hate being in such an embarrassing position in front of someone I’ve just met!

I quickly reached out my hands to brace against the floor, but my head was already about to touch the ground.

Uh, so embarrassing.

I can feel his gaze from above.

He’s probably thinking, what the hll is this idiot doing.

“S-Sorry.”

I barely managed to apologize and tried to get up, but I have absolutely no strength.

Just how weak is this body?

Unable to stand, my body just trembling, I suddenly felt a cautious touch on my shoulder.

“…Get up.”

Hearing the voice that seemed to carry some strength, I somehow managed to squeeze out the energy to lift myself up.

I can see the man’s face, which is even more hardened than before.

Seeing that, I instinctively lowered my gaze.

It can only be described as an unavoidable defensive instinct.