Chapter 1
*English is so universal that everyone in this universe knows it
Isekai, the same old cliche, I've seen this supposedly fictional concept for so many times in the web novels I used to read that it became slightly annoying.
However, I can understand why that concept was so popular back then. A new world, a new identity, sometimes a new body. It was a fresh start, an exciting adventure in waiting, just what the tired minds of those who didn't do so well in the suffocating modern society longed for.
Isekai sounded enticing to me too, but in a different way. Adventuring life was simply not my thing. For me, I prefer being born in a new world with a loving parents and staying with them until I have my own family. I want a family where there are people who genuinely care for me.
Well, I was an orphan, I just want the taste of something I didn't have. My parents died when I was too little to remember anything, after that I stayed with my uncle. He was not a bad uncle, but I can't say he was a good one. I didn't know why, but we were like two strangers living together. I was still grateful to him, but as soon as I got to college, I moved out and we rarely had any contact with each other ever since then. Optimistic about the future, I intended to find a partner and build my own family after having a stable income.
Then I died and got isekaied.
I got my memory back when I was 5, on the verge of being eaten by a stray dog. I couldn't have imagined that the wrestling moves I learned from my high school PE teacher could really save my life.
I don't remember how I died, but who wants to remember his own death anyway.
A new life doesn't always equal to a better one. My father in this world is a half vampire half human hybrid while my mother is a succubus whore at a cheap brothel. The world I am currently living in is a typical magical fantasy world where all kinds of magical humanoid creatures co-exist with humans. I myself am a magical creature a hybrid of three races. We have similar physical traits as humans, as well as some unique needs and differences.
While most humanoid species live alongside humans in human kingdoms and have a friendly relationship with them. There are still a large number of humanoid species which are inherently incompatible with humankind. They gathered together and built cities for their own people to live in. They founded their own kingdoms, each consists of around a dozen of cities. Humans and other magical creatures call them demons and of course, there is no shortage of conflicts between two sides.
And I was living in a poor city in a kingdom of the demons.
Usually succubus whores don't bear child since that will hinder their work. They are succubus to begin with, there is no way they don't have some kind of birth control magic. Besides, abortion is not so unethical here. However, my mother got pregnant with my father and, for better or worse, decided to keep me, maybe because of a promise of a happy romantic future with him. Whatever the reason was, it didn't prevent my mother from regretting her choice. My father was nowhere to be seen after my birth so my succubus mom raised me single-handedly. She gave me the name Chime, and it sounds just like the melodious sound of a bell ring. My mom did an ok job of raising me, almost like my uncle but with the occasional violent outburst expected from a demon.
We were poor so usually I needed to catch bugs to relieve my hunger. To be honest, bugs tasted really good, and they were everywhere too, so it was not that bad.
Back then, I grew up pretty fast, even in demons' standard. Even without my memories from my previous life, I wanted a happier family, so I tried to make my mother happier. I tried to make decent meals, keep the house clean and do odd jobs like washing clothes to help share her burden. I thought if I tried hard enough, she would be less indifferent to me and beat me less.
At my fifth birthday, everything came to an unsurprising end.
Tossing out my few belongings, she shoved me out of the house and told me to take care of myself since I was already 5.
I cried and begged her not to leave me.
“SHUT UP! Just shut up! I never wanted to be a mother, and I sure as hell never wanted you. You were a mistake from day one—a mistake I am finally erasing. You look exactly like your father, and it makes me sick. I’m not spending one more second pretending I care. And wipe that proud look off your face when you tell people your name! It's not a fucking bell ring! Are you stupid! I call you that because you are a fucking chimera!”
I couldn't think much after being told all that. I stood perfectly still, struggling to catch my breath, my tears flowed down uncontrollably. Chimera. The word echoed in their ears, drowning out all other sound. A monster. A hideous, patchwork beast, not any bell ring I was always proud of. I just stood there, well, until my mom kicked me hard in the gut. I rolled away for several meters and lay still until a stray dog followed the smell of blood there.
After that, well, I got my memory back.
