Chapter 1: From a Black Company to the Shinra Electric Power Company

Being a rank-and-file employee at a "black company" is a miserable existence. Every day is spent bowing to bosses and clients, slowly whittling away at your own soul. Still, you have to work to survive, and I never had the guts to look for anything else. Before I knew it, I’d already coasted past my thirties.

I had money saved up, but nothing to spend it on. I loved games as a kid, but now, even if I have the cash to buy them, I don't have the time to play.

"I finally got a PS5, but I haven't even set it up yet. Honestly, I don't feel like I’ll even finish FF7 Rebirth by the time the final part of the trilogy comes out."

I’m part of the generation that was right in the sweet spot for the original FF7. I was obsessed with it back then. I even thoroughly enjoyed the Remake on the PS4. Back then, I still had a little bit of mental energy left to enjoy games...

"I never thought 'climbing the ladder' would end up like this."

I was the only one left at my desk. Energy drinks were scattered across my keyboard, and the top drawer was stuffed with convenience store snacks to keep me going. My hard work had actually been recognized, and I'd managed to get promoted to Assistant Manager—the lowest rung of management. At first, I was happy about the promotion, but it just meant no more overtime pay and the added burden of managing subordinates. To top it off, the pressure from above was insane. My Section Chief would just dump his workload on me and head home early.

"This is a total sacrificial play. Promotion isn't all it's cracked up to be."

At this rate, I felt like I’d be dead before the final FF7 game hit shelves. I have the money; maybe I should just quit this company and take a break from life for a while. Once this current project is wrapped up, things should get easier. Maybe then I'll quit and just spend my days leisurely playing Rebirth. I’d already spoiled bits of it for myself by watching gameplay videos, but I was still looking forward to exploring that world with those incredible graphics.

"Phew... is it that time already?"

The clock showed that the date had long since changed. If I stayed much longer, I’d be greeting the morning sun from my office chair.

"I’ll just grab a midnight snack from the convenience store and crash in the nap room."

Struggling now wasn't going to make the work move any faster. I’d buy tomorrow’s energy drinks and a couple of rice balls and just pass out in a bed.

I forced my sluggish body out of the chair and slowly walked out of the workspace. I waited for the elevator, thinking I might as well buy a tea for the security guard on my way back.

"With how much I'm overworking my body, I’m starting to actually believe in those Isekai stories."

Reincarnation stories were a huge trend for the generation slightly younger than mine. Usually, it’s about someone who failed in this life getting a second chance to shine in another world. I’ve read a few and enjoyed them, but I can’t imagine myself fighting with swords or magic. I'm not athletic and I hate pain, so maybe an "internal affairs" or "territory management" story would be more my speed.

"Starting my own business from scratch sounds stressful. I think I’m more comfortable just being part of a company. Man, I really am a corporate drone to the core."

Being a salaryman felt more natural to me than being a Hero or a Warrior. Besides, living in a medieval setting sounds like a hassle. As someone who can't live without convenience stores, I’d prefer a world with a similar or higher level of civilization.

"So, even if I were reincarnated, I’d still want a corporate job? That’s hilarious."

The elevator chimed, and I stepped inside. Going from the 7th floor to the 1st always felt like an eternity. Then, I felt it—that weightless sensation as the box descended—and suddenly, I felt so nauseous I couldn't stand.

"Ugh, what is this...?"

I slumped down, but the sickness only intensified. I tried to take a deep breath to calm myself, but even breathing became an agonizing struggle. Was I really going to die like this?

Well, whatever the cause, it was definitely my unhealthy lifestyle. Or maybe I’d finally just hit my limit. I couldn't move anymore; I just lay there on the cold floor.

Gradually, the pain began to fade. It wasn't that I was getting better—it was that my strength was leaving me. The end was near.

Honestly... I didn't even care anymore.

"Doctor, she’s waking up."

When I opened my eyes, the shortness of breath was gone. My memory was a bit hazy. Where was I?

"That’s good. How are you feeling? Oh, don't try to speak yet."

Was this a hospital? Had I just collapsed from exhaustion? I felt a bit embarrassed for thinking I was actually dying. As I regained my composure, I looked around. It was a private room, and there was a monitor next to the bed displaying various vitals.

Damn. Even if it was just exhaustion, a private room like this is going to be expensive. Even with insurance, it wouldn't be cheap, and missing work was going to hurt. My seat at the office might be gone by the time I get back.

"Work... I have to..."

I wasn't back to 100% yet. Moving was a chore, and my voice sounded... strange. It was high-pitched, like it wasn't mine at all.

"You mustn't overdo it. You collapsed after being exposed to a Mako leak during an experiment while your immune system was down from fatigue. The President himself has ordered you to take a few days of rest. We have nurses on standby 24 hours a day, so please, let us know if you need anything."

The doctor tapped something into his tablet, bowed politely, and left the room.

Mako? What was he talking about? Was that some medical jargon I didn't know? And for a guy who just collapsed at work, they were being unusually kind—almost like they were serving a high-ranking official.

As I wondered what was going on, a long strand of blonde hair fell into my line of vision. What? I have black hair, and I keep it short because it’s easier to dry. I touched the hair and gave it a tug. I felt the tug on my scalp.

"What the...?"

I tried speaking again, and it was definitely wrong. There was no way that was my voice. I lifted my hand and saw long, slender white fingers—not the hands of a man. The nails were painted with bright red polish. These were a woman's hands. And this hair color and length...

I had a bad feeling. I reached up to my chest and felt two soft masses that definitely shouldn't be on a man. I scrambled out of bed, looking for a mirror. I found a high-end designer bag on the nightstand and dug through it until I found a hand mirror.

When I looked into the glass, an unbelievable face stared back at all me.

"No way... You’ve gotta be kidding me. This is Scarlet from FF7..."

I couldn't believe it. I was actually experiencing an Isekai reincarnation.

"Of all the people... a woman? And a villain who dies at the end?! No way!"

I pinched my cheek, hoping it was a dream, but it hurt. The sharp point of my manicured nail dug into my skin, making it hurt even more. I tentatively touched my chest again. It wasn't muscle or fat; my fingers sank into a wonderful softness that was actually... kind of fun?

No, no, no! That’s not the point! I’d been reincarnated into the world of FF7—or rather, I’d taken over a character's body. And of all the options, a woman. My male instincts made me wish I’d at least ended up as someone younger like Tifa or Yuffie.

"I can't believe I'm a middle-aged villainess."

Now that I listened, my voice was incredibly sultry. It sounded exactly like the voice from the Remake. Well, obviously—she was voiced by a professional voice actress. Of course it sounded good.

But if this wasn't a dream, what was I supposed to do? I was in a position completely hostile to Cloud and the others. At this rate, I’d be killed when the Proud Clad explodes before the world is even saved. If I fight Cloud, I die. Even if I somehow win, Jenova would just end up destroying the Planet.

"Wait... am I in a checkmate position?"

My head started to ache again. Maybe if I just went back to sleep, I’d wake up in a normal hospital bed...

It didn't work. I gave in to the drowsiness, but when I woke up, the fact that I was Scarlet hadn't changed. I decided to focus on gathering information. Fortunately, I didn't have to work right away, and if I gave the order to let no one in, nobody below the rank of Executive would dare enter this room. I thought about the other Shinra Executives, but none of them seemed the type to visit a colleague in the hospital, which actually worked in my favor.

I found a tablet among Scarlet's personal effects and used it to access the Shinra Network. I checked internal newsletters, news reports, emails, and the progress reports from the Advanced Weaponry Division.

Based on the info, it seemed we weren't in the timeline of the main game yet. SOLDIERs were active in the Wutai War, and Sephiroth was being plastered all over the media as a hero. Hollander and Genesis have already deserted, but Rufus hadn't been appointed as Vice President yet. I looked up Zack Fair; he was currently registered as a SOLDIER Class 2nd. I searched for Cloud Strife, but he hadn't even joined the company yet.

So, this was roughly seven years before the original game. Sephiroth was already around, Professor Gast was dead, and Vincent Valentine was likely already brooding in his coffin in the Shinra Mansion.

"Now, what do I do...?"

First, I had to deal with Sephiroth. At this stage, there was no way to defeat him in a fair fight. I could just leave it to Cloud and try not to interfere, but that might lead to my own death anyway. And if I asked myself if there was a place for me in a world without Shinra, the answer was "no." This company was hated globally; either way, my life was on Hard Mode.

"How can I make myself happy while also manipulating the world for the better?"

Perhaps Scarlet’s personality was rubbing off on me, because I felt myself becoming a bit more self-centered. Looking at the weaponry reports, I didn't just understand them—I could naturally see how to improve the designs. I’d already died once; this was a "Retry." I wanted to live however I wanted and grab the happiness I missed out on in my last life. To do that, I would use everything at my disposal.

Of course, I had no interest in causing needless sacrifice, but if the sacrifice wasn't needless, then so be it. Not everyone can be happy. Just like in a company, human society is a competition. For someone to climb up, someone else has to stay down.

"Well, time to get back to work tomorrow... oops."

I had to fix my way of speaking.

"I’ll be returning to work tomorrow... Kyahaha!"

I tried out the feminine speech pattern, and it matched the sultriness of the voice perfectly. It felt natural. Okay, I could pull off being Scarlet. But where should I start?

"First, I need to gather some useful pawns. I can order the rank-and-file around, and autonomous weapons are great, but I want people who will be loyal specifically to me."

In the original story, Scarlet could use as many combatants as she wanted, but they were technically on loan from the Public Security Division. Most elite candidates were taken by the SOLDIER program, and any other standouts were snatched up by the Turks.

"The Turks are small in number, so they usually grab anyone who's elite but didn't make the cut for SOLDIER. That means I have to 'scout' the new recruits whose potential is still unknown and pull them into the Weaponry Division first."

I could easily sneak a few people in as "weapons testers" to be my direct subordinates. The problem was finding someone both trustworthy and talented. In my old life, I’d interviewed part-timers, so I knew judging people wasn't easy. Anyone who looked good on paper would be snatched up by someone else. To outmaneuver the SOLDIER and Public Security departments, I needed to find a "diamond in the rough"—someone they’d overlooked.

"Most people who come to Shinra just want to be like Sephiroth. If they can't make SOLDIER, they end up in Public Security, hoping for a path to the Turks."

Was there anyone? Someone who would swear loyalty to me instead of the company? Someone I knew would eventually become stronger than a SOLDIER?

"Wait... hold on... I've got it! I'm a genius! There is someone! A diamond in the rough whose talent is a guaranteed win!!!"

A smile crept across my face. That’s right. I had the power of an executive at the world's greatest corporation, and I had the "cheat code" of knowing how this world's future was supposed to go. I’d use everything.

"All for the sake of the Planet... and, of course, for my own happiness."

I’m sure I had the face of a perfect villainess right then.