Random Change ep1, web novel

Introduction

100 years have passed since humanity, in the year 3096, implemented a policy to eliminate all threats that could potentially create viruses in their war against existing and potential viruses. In the end, only plants necessary for human survival and protein sources like pigs, cows, and chickens remained as the surviving organisms for humanity. With everything reduced to only the elements necessary for human survival, in 3036, humanity began to recognize that the last remaining problem was that humans themselves were the only threat to survival in the limited space of Earth.

The Daily Lottery

As each day begins, people face a new morning.

Today's lottery number is 1209842. The alarm announcing the day rings.
"Thank goodness." "It's not me." "Thank you." "Amen."
What could this lottery number mean?

A Child's Innocent Request

"Mom, I want sausages for breakfast today." ^^ A child with a bright smile looks for their mother in the morning.
It seems like any other family would respond with a bright smile, but the mother can't smile at the child who approaches her cheerfully.

Why?

"Mom, Mom!" I want sausages, sausages today.
Even with the child's bright smile, the mother only stares at the watch on her hand. The watch displays today's lottery number.
'1209842' The mother is smiling, but her expression can't hide the cold tears flowing down.

"Okay, you want sausages. Mom will make you delicious sausages."
"Yes, yes, yay~~~~~~"

The mother hugs the joyful child while turning her head so the child can't see her sobbing.
We see the mother's back as she cooks the sausages the child wants to eat.

How much time has passed?

The child sits at the table, happily imagining the delicious sausages they'll soon eat.
Just as the cooking is about to finish, the doorbell rings early in the morning.

Ding dong ding dong seee eng~ "Arrival, arrival. Today's lottery targets are 9,450 people. Make sure to bring them all in," a voice from outside the door is heard.

"Is anyone there? You're today's lottery target. Open the door quickly!"

The tone, whether a request or a demand, feels forceful enough to make the peaceful morning of a family uncomfortable.

Sobbing, "Just a moment, please. My child's breakfast is almost over. Please wait a little."
"I'll open soon. Just a moment."

The mother's expression of desperation sounds like a quiet scream.
The child, not understanding the situation, looks puzzled at their mother's back.

"Mom, why did those men come?"

"Oh, Mom is a bit late for work, so they came to pick me up."

"Oh, you've waited long. Ta-da! Here are the delicious sausages."

"Wow~~~ Looks delicious. Mom, I love you~♥"

Taking off her apron and opening the front door, "Yes~ Yes~ That's right. Yes. Yes, yes..."

"Just a moment.."

"Mom will be back, I'll make sausages for you tomorrow too... I'll be back, I love you, Haru."

"Okay, see you later, Mom."

Was that the last time? Mom didn't come back in the evening, the next day, two days later, or even after a year.

Haru's Daily Life in 4015

Haru checks the alarm in 4015 as if nothing is wrong.
Today's lottery number is 7203462......

The daily routine begins.
Breakfast is ready in front of the house at 5:00 AM, as usual.
Haru's lottery number for today is '8405614'. It's the start of another day.
What seems like it could be the last day of life is another day gained.
The old-fashioned lucky lottery called "Lotto" no longer exists in daily life.
When you open your eyes, you must live with gratitude for the luck of not being deleted from daily life.

"Yes~ I've completed the development results for today. I'll present them at the morning meeting."

"That's right. I've applied sufficient data."

A piece of toast in the mouth and a paper cup half-filled with milk prove Haru's busy morning routine preparing for work.

"Yes~ Yes~ I know. Yes~ As much as possible."

Haru is tightly squeezed in the dense crowd of people commuting to work.
Ding dong ding dong ding dong, Haru's phone rings with notifications in rapid succession.

The messages are full of "Thank you," "I'm grateful," "I've gained another day".....

For some reason, countless people's messages of gratitude are pouring in among the commuting crowd.

Haru wonders why? What's the reason?... What have all these people gained?

Random Change

"Doksan Doksan, the current station is Doksan Station."

The subway doors open. A flood of people starts pouring out.

Haru's daily routine begins.
The phone notifications have stopped.
"Now, who will I become today?" It's been a year since living as 254618. Now it feels like I've always been 254618 from the beginning.

10 years ago..

It's been two years since Mom left, saying she'd be back soon.
Dad, who worked as a national researcher, started drinking every day after learning about Mom's disappearance, and these days he doesn't come out of the basement.
We only talk when it's time to eat - breakfast, lunch, dinner. "Haru, you need to eat." I don't remember talking to Dad except during meals. When we eat, Dad always says to me,
"Dad will definitely protect our Haru."

That's the only thing I remember him saying, like a habit.

One day, when the sunlight was about to engulf the living room, Dad, who always called me to eat breakfast at the same time, is quiet. I can't hear the sound of his clumsy cooking skills.
What could be wrong?

Before Mom disappeared, the basement was a playroom full of toys. This is the first time I've gone down there since then.
The flickering old basement light showed and hid the basement stairs, making them eerily changeable.
The half-open basement door.. Small noises can be heard faintly.

"It's a success." It's a girl's voice.

As I enter the basement storage room, I see a large machine with an entrance that sparkles with various colorful lights.
Next to it, I make eye contact with a child.

"Oh, Haru, Dad has finally managed to protect Haru~ ^^"

The child speaks to me brightly, smiling as if they were Dad.

"Yes~ No, I mean, what are you talking about? Why are you here? Where's Dad?"

The child also briefly examines their appearance.

"You're surprised, let me explain. It's Dad, don't be scared~ Haru."

Haru stares blankly at the child for a moment.

"Sit over here, Dad will explain."

The child points to the entrance of the strange machine emitting sparkling light.
With clear, bright eyes, they even look mischievous.

"When you pass through here, your consciousness remains the same, but you come out looking completely different at random~ Um, Dad named it 'Random Change'. Isn't it cool? ^^ There's still one side effect, but it's a success. Now I can protect Haru."

Haru still doesn't understand what this means or if this really is Dad.

"Kid, stop joking around. Haven't you seen our Dad? He's about this tall, has a beard, and a belly about this big???"

The child seems to have made up their mind.

"Our Haru doesn't believe me, hm, how can I make you believe? Ah, that's right. Haru, remember when you were 5, we buried a time capsule under the apple tree in the front yard, saying we'd open it when you grew up? Do you remember?"

Haru is surprised for a moment.

"How do you know that? Only Dad and I knew about that."

The child approaches Haru.

"That's right, I am Dad. Dad will show you for the first time. Here, I'll go into the 'Random Change'."

The child enters the 'Random Change' machine. The machine emits a momentary bright light that's dazzling to the eyes, and machine noises start to be heard.

The view that was momentarily hard to see due to the bright light gradually becomes clearer as time passes.

The child has disappeared, and 'Woof, woof, woof' a puppy is barking. Then the puppy goes back into the machine.
After a short while... This time, an adult man appears.

"You saw it, right? This is how you change when you enter the 'Random Change'.

The only side effect is that you don't always change into a human. ^^;"

And so, my life became random.

Haru enters the meeting room.
"I'm not late, am I? Then shall we begin..."