Noah blinked, his vision blurred and hazy, his thoughts in a very chaotic mess.
'What? What happened? '
Noah blinked rapidly, his vision still blurred as he gradually gathered his scattered thoughts. He instinctively leaned his hands forward to hold onto something solid, something that can bring him back to the reality.
Fortunately for him, he found the touch of a firm, but padded armrest of a chair. Gripping on both sides tightly, Noah steadied his ragged breathing.
Finally, finding some strength, he straightened his back and slowly opened his black eyes, fully breaking free from reverie of chaotic thoughts.
His vision first blurred, before the colors and light returned. He saw a desk in front of him, the one mostly seen in those office rooms. Atop the desk, on both corners, there ware several stash of neatly arrange white papers.
'What is this place?'
Noah was stunned, as he turned his eyes around the room, observing the unfamiliar surrounding he was in with wide eyes.
'This is not my place.'
Noah gazed at the unfamiliar room. It was a small office room with one wooden door, the walls were plain for his eyes to see, nothing of grandiose, just plain and white. Above him, he noticed the plain, but clear lights illuminating the room in a sterile colors.
'An office? But why I am here?' A deep frown appeared on Noah's forehead
'If I remember clearly. I was heading home from the workshop, every thing as usual. The same time when I clock out, and the same streets I head home to. There wasn't anything unusual about that. '
Noah's frown deepened, his black eyes staring at the ceiling. 'Then I stopped by the convenience store for a drink. After buying the drink, I stepped out and waited at the juncture. And then was crossing the crosswalk. But, before I could reach the end of crosswalk… I saw a blinding light…? '
Noah's eyes widen in shock, his eyes fluttering in bewilderment. As he realized what this could meant.
It can't what he is thinking right?
"Ah, looks like you finally realized." Before Noah could had the time digest what he was possibly thinking about. A calm voice rang in his ears.
Noah turned his eyes around the place where the voice came, and then he saw the person across the desk, seated on a chair.
The person had a small stature, almost only at the height of Noah's waist. The person wore a black fine suit made out of some unknown material and a pair simple but gold-rimmed glasses.
But that wasn't what shocked Noah. But the figure's pale green skin, sharp emerald green eyes behind his gold rimmed glass, observing Noah with interest.
'A goblin…' Noah noticed, his face showing amazement.
Noah took a deep breath, then he asked calmly. "I died didn't I? "
"Yep, got blessed (hit) by the Truck-Kun sama." The goblin replied curtly, shifting his gaze from Noah to the sheet of paper in his hand.
Noah nodded, accepting his death with ease, before asking with calm tone. "And this place?"
"Truck-Kun foundation." The goblin muttered, not lifting his eyes from the paper. "The place where most of the people like you gets sent here after being blessed by Truck-Kun sama. " The goblin explained calmly, before finally looking up at Noah's face.
"And from this point onward, I handle the rest. " He finished, seemingly done reading whatever it was in the sheet.
"Noah, Age 18. Born in an abusive household, dad beat you in your childhood. Mom wished for you to never be born. And if the life wasn't already hard enough, they even at last abandoned you at the age of 12." The goblin stared at Noah's face with calm interest, while describing Noah's past with flat voice.
Noah stared at the goblin, his eyes raised in surprised. 'He knows about my past? Did he get that information just reading that file?' Noah's black eyes narrowed in amusement.
The goblin continued. "But life wasn't too cruel I guess. One of the neighbors noticed you. Pitied you and took you in. A man with nothing to spare, but still treated you like a son, gave you a roof, food and taught you what he could. "
The goblin smiled. "Then you got blessed by our great Truck-Kun sama. "
Noah exhaled through his nose. "Of course."
The goblin let out a soft laugh. "of course, same thing. The crosswalk, the afternoon sun and a lemon soda in hand. Then whoosh, dead on impact. Funny shit."
"You guys even keep stat on that stuff?"
"Yup, that's the fun part." the goblin smiled, dropping the sheet on his desk casually.
Then with a serious expression, he spoke again . "I think you already know why you are here. But for the formality's sake, let me explain it to you." He explained.
"This is truck-Kun foundation. Where the members like me, grants wishes to people like you. And the place you desire to reincarnate, transmigrate, whatever you wish. The same old stuff. " the goblin shrugged. "Any questions?" He asked.
"Not really. You have given me the gist of it already." Noah answered with a shrug. His demeanor calm, as if not bothered by anything in the world.
He was like this from his childhood. Nothing fazing him in any situation… Maybe some did, like the time when his father threw bear bottle on him, leaving a big scar on his hands. Or the time when his mother had spat on his face, wishing for him to be never born. Those memories did hurt.
"Great! Now let's get to work then."
Noah focused his attention on the goblin again, leaving the past memories be gone. If he is going have a chance to live life again, then he is more than happy leave behind all his past and misfortunes.
"so? Are you going to grant me a wish then let me reborn in some fantasy world?" Noah asked, a bit excited.
The goblin showed an amuse smile. "Nope."
Noah furrowed his eyebrows. "what do you mean?" He question, showing caution.
"I mean, your case is different. " The goblin corrected. "Usually, people like you have the right to choose your wish and which world you desire to be reborn in." He said, before pointing his green finger at Noah. "But there are some exceptions, some that are odd ones like you."
" An odd one? I believed I am pretty ordinary ." Noah muttered, staring at the goblin with interest.
"A past that fucked up already makes you an odd one. It's still a surprise that you didn't grew to be bitter and spiteful towards the world. " The goblin smiled again, laughing lightly. "And that's good enough reason to put you in that category. "
"Fair enough. " Noah sighed, looking disappointed. "Then what reason am I here if you are not going to be giving me any wishes?" He asked, his black eyes locked at the goblin in front of him.
"I never said I won't send you to another world. " The goblin corrected again. "I will send you. Just not the world of your choice. " The goblin said, his green eyes shimmering behind the glasses.
"And of course, the power you will receive after being reborn will also be decided by me."
"That sounds deeply suspicious." Noah replied in instant, shaking his head.
Noah wasn't an idiot. Even if his previously life gave him nothing, it still made him learn many valuable lessons. And even if it wasn't an important lesson, Noah knew putting all his trust on a goblin he just met is foolish.
'Who knows what sort of world he will throw me in. ' Noah let out a sigh, feeling a slight headache in his head.
"Don't look so dejected, I am not going to throw you into some hell." The goblin laughed, clearly having fun.
Then, he spoke again in his same light tone, finally cutting to the chase. "You will be reborn in the world of Solo leveling. "
Noah stared at the goblin, his brows raised. "Solo leveling?" He muttered, warily glancing at the goblin. "Why that world exactly? " He asked, half curious and half cautious.
Noah does know about solo leveling, in fact, it was the first manhwa he had read. Before finding about the world of webnovels and fan fictions.
The goblin paused, considering Noah's words, before speaking. "That's not in our policy to answer. "
"…What?" Noah was in disbelief.
"That's not in our policy to answer. " the goblin repeated, shrugging casually.
Noah opened his mouth to complain, but the goblin started speaking again.
"After being reborn, you will gain a system as your cheat. Not the type of system that gives you quest or anything. The system won't control you, it will be just a tool for you to grow stronger. " He explain, signaling for Noah to calm down.
Noah listened carefully, suppressing his complains to first gather the all necessary information.
"And now, listen to me carefully. This information is the important for you to know." The goblin showed a serious expression, his voice stoic.
Noah frown, but stayed calm. He intend to let the goblin finished first before speaking.
" The solo leveling world you will be getting reincarnated will be slightly different too. " The goblin adjusted his glasses.
Noah's frown deepened, as he let out a deep sigh. 'Yeah, I was expecting something like this.' Noah rubbed his temple, asking with annoyance .
"And what is the thing that will be different?" He asked, his sharp gaze locked at the goblin.
...