THE MERCHANT'S SECRET: My Unexpected Isekai Life

It had been almost three years since my grandfather passed away-three years of relentless nightmare. I was just 15 years old when the bus accident happened. Losing my only family changed me. A part of me disappeared-my light, my smile, and my will to move forward.

I loved the old man so much. It had always been the two of us in our small apartment. Now, looking at his picture beside my bed, three years felt like forever. The frame was slightly worn from the time I had picked it up, tracing his familiar smile with my finger, as if that could bring him back.

"I miss you, Grandpa," I whispered, glancing at the calendar. A red circle marked today's date. I had planned this trip for months-a week of solitude in the wilderness, the same place my grandfather and I used to camp. The thought of returning to those familiar woods both comforted me and unsettled me. Would they feel the same without him? Would I?

Finally, I managed to clear my schedule at the Filipino convenience store, trading shifts and saving enough to make this journey happen.

Grabbing my huge green backpack and the camping gear under the bed, the fabric slightly dusty from disuse.

Yesterday, I stocked up on groceries and essentials, carefully selecting the same kind of coffee and biscuits and soft bread my grandfather used to drink over the fire. The scent alone might bring back memories I wasn't sure I was ready for. I took a deep breath, adjusting the straps on my shoulders. It was time to go.

After an hour on the train and three more on the bus, I finally arrived in the small town and began my trek into the wilderness. The familiar scent of damp earth and pine filled the air as I walked, each step bringing me close to the place where my grandfather and I once camped.

A few hours later, I reached my destination-but I hadn't expected the storm. The sky was dark, even though it wasn't afternoon yet. Heavy rain poured down, turning the ground into thick mud. Thunder rumbled overhead, followed by flashes of lightning that lit up the trees. I wasn't scared, just frustrated. I checked the weather and planned everything carefully. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Then, without warning, a blinding light engulfed me. A sharp, searing pain shot through my body. I know I screamed my grandfather's name before everything went dark.

I, Dirk Robinson Jr., died at the age of 18-with nothing but my green backpack.

******

"Come on, human, wake up." An unfamiliar voice echoed in my ears like distant thunder. "Human! Wake up!"

I took a deep breath, and slowly, I opened my eyes and looked around me.

I'm... not dead? But I know for sure I died.

The blinding light, the searing pain-I remember it all. Lightning struck me. I should be gone.

So why am I still alive?

Hell, I know I have a boring life, an average half-Asian, half-Irish person with an ordinary look and height, but to die so young? Wasn't it too unfair?

"Dirk? Are you okay?"

I furrowed my brow, searching for the source of the voice. Then, my breath caught in my throat.

The surrounding place was massive, glowing with an ethereal light. Towering statues of angels-or maybe gods-stood in perfect rows, their stone faces staring down at me. The air itself shimmered, thick with something beyond human understanding. Woah! Is this heaven?

"Are you okay, Dirk Robinson Jr?" the male voice asked again.

I turned to look-and my mouth fell open.

Standing before me was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. His eyes were as deep and endless as the ocean, glowing with an unnatural light. His silver hair flowed past his shoulders, yet he didn't look old. If anything, he radiated power, like something out of a legend.

I gawked. Am I... seeing things? Or is this really heaven?

"Is this heaven?" I asked, my voice unsteady.

The man smiled, soft but regretful. "Nope. This is my sorting domain."

I blinked. "Are you a god?"

"Well...something like that. "I am a guardian," his smile faltered as he shut his eyes briefly. "I'm sorry. This is my mistake. You weren't supposed to die yet."

I raised a brow. "Then why am I... um, dead?"

"For that, I apologise. I can't go with the details, but I admit I accidentally killed you with my lightning. I flicked my finger the wrong way." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't see you down there. But don't worry; I can, um, give you choices. I mean, compensation."

"Compensation?"

"Yes," he answered with pride.

I bit my lip. "So... this isn't heaven?"

"You aren't listening, are you? I repeat, this is my, um, domain. I sort souls, you know-deciding whether they go to heaven or the underworld." He straightened, as if proud of his work.

I folded my arms. "And my choice?"

He hesitated before answering. "I can send you to heaven... or you can be reincarnated or be summoned from another world."

My mind raced. Is this like one of those isekai novels and comics I used to read? Wow. And those sexy elves? Why not? A smirk crossed my lips. "So, I have choices, huh? " I asked smugly.

"Yes. But you can't go back to Earth."

My eyes widened. "But why?"

"It's complicated. Your death was...um, I mean, unregistered. If you're reincarnated or summoned to another world, you'll likely never see Earth again."

I took a deep breath, my mind spinning. I have read dozens of isekai books and watched even more anime. I knew exactly what I wanted. To live peacefully with lots and lots of money. Besides, I didn't have anyone on Earth. Why not try something new? "Another world... a fantasy world? Or a random world?" I asked, already thinking of the possibilities.

"I'm a kind guardian," he said with a smile. "I can send you to any world you want."

"Really?"

"Yes. And I can give you three gifts or a cheat skill." The guardian smiled, a subtle flicker of pride.

"Okay," I smiled, wondering if he could read my mind. "I want to be summoned, not reborn. Being reborn sounds like too much of a hassle. I want to start my new life immediately."

"Good. As a guardian, I'll send you to the world you choose. Take your time to think."

"There's no need to think," I replied, grinning. "I know exactly what I want."

The guardian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Interesting. You're different. I like that. Tell me what you want."

"I want to be summoned and go to a fantasy world with magic and a status screen," I said, already imagining it.

"Alright. What about the gifts? You can choose if you like," he asked.

I thought about it. A world with magic and monsters? Perfect. "I want something that can stop me from getting sick, poisoned, or anything related to getting wounded."

"You want healing magic?" The guardian nodded, as if he understood what I meant. "I can give you that. In fact, I can give you more than that. I'll give you a magical body shield."

"A body shield?" I asked.

"Yes," he said with a smile. "I'll cast a powerful magic shield on you. It's like you are inside a magical bubble. Nothing-no person, no monster-will ever be able to hurt you. It will protect you forever, as long as you live."

Now that sounded amazing. "Okay. I like that."

"Good. Now, about the second gift-"

"Wait," I interrupted. "Can I have my backpack instead?"

"Really?"

"Yes, and everything inside it. The one I was carrying when I died. It was important to me. It was a gift from my old man."

The guardian snapped his fingers, and there it was-my precious green backpack, floating in front of me.

"Is this the one you want?" he asked.

"Yes," I said, my heart racing. "But I want it to be magical."

"A magical backpack?"

I smirked, "Yes. I want all my goods inside to never run out."

"I see." The guardian smiled knowingly. "And never get lost?"

"Exactly!" I grinned.

The guardian snapped his fingers again, and my backpack glowed with a faint, otherworldly green light.

"For an extra bonus", he said with a wink, "it can never be stolen, and everything inside will never perish."

My eyes sparkled. "That's perfect."

"Now, for your third gift," he said, his voice a little more serious.

"I'll give you intelligence, and you'll be able to understand all the language and have a little magical ability," the guardian continued with another wink.

"Fantastic, but what kind of magical abilities?" I asked, curious. Why was he always winking, by the way?

"That's something you'll discover for yourself," he replied with a snort. "I can't give you everything at once-it'd be like cheating. But you have a bright soul, Dirk Robinson. You're kind and gentle, yet you were born in the wrong world. I'm granting you something special. It's up to you to use it wisely. I just hope I'll see you again, and your soul will still be as bright as now."

Tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn't believe it-this was my new beginning. A new life, a new adventure. I smiled through the tears.

"I promise I won't disappoint you," I said, my voice shaking with emotion. "Thank you for everything."

The guardian's expression softened at my words, his glowing eyes reflecting a rare, sincere warmth.

"Don't thank me just yet, Dirk. You're the one who will create your new life. I'm merely the guide. The world you choose will be filled with challenges and adventures. But remember this-no matter where you go, you carry with you the potential to change it."

I nodded, wiping my tears away. My heart raced. This was it. This was my new beginning. A world full of magic, adventure, and endless possibilities awaited me. I have the power to shape my own destiny now. My own slow life in another world. Yes!

"Alright," I said, taking a deep breath, a determined look settling on my face. "I'm ready."

The guardian smiled, a subtle flicker of pride in his eyes. "Very well, Dirk Robinson Jr. Your journey begins now."

With a snap of his fingers, the world around me began to blur, colours and shapes swirling together like a vortex pulling me into the unknown. The guardian's voice echoed in my mind as I felt myself being pulled away.

"Remember what I said. You have the power to change the world. Use it wisely."

And just like that, everything vanished.