Takeshi Yamamoto stared at the ceiling of his cramped apartment, empty ramen containers scattered around his futon. At twenty-five, his life had become a monotonous cycle of dead-end jobs, rejections, and escape into anime and light novels. His parents had disowned him years ago, calling him a failure. No friends, no girlfriend, no prospects—just endless days bleeding into equally hopeless nights.
"This can't be all there is," he whispered, clutching his phone displaying the latest chapter of "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime." If only he could escape this mundane reality like Rimuru...
Suddenly, the dingy apartment filled with brilliant white light. Takeshi shielded his eyes as a voice spoke, neither male nor female, echoing from everywhere and nowhere.
"Takeshi Yamamoto. Your despair has reached me across dimensions."
When the light dimmed, a formless presence hovered before him—constantly shifting between shapes, radiating incomprehensible power.
"W-who are you?" Takeshi stammered.
"I am what you might call an Omnipotent Being. I have observed your suffering and find it... inefficient. You possess knowledge of countless fictional worlds through your consumption of media. Tell me, if given the chance, what would you change?"
Takeshi's otaku mind raced. This was like every isekai premise he'd ever read! His heart pounded as he considered his words carefully.
"You're offering me wishes?"
"Five, to be precise. Choose wisely."
Takeshi took a deep breath. Years of reading isekai novels had prepared him for this moment. "First, I want to reincarnate into Rimuru Tempest's body in the Tensura world, but after the main story has already started."
"Interesting. And your second wish?"
"I want unlimited magicules—infinite magical energy."
"Third?"
"I want all of Rimuru's abilities and skills, including those from the light novels, except for Mana Ciel."
"Fourth?"
"I want Raphael, the Lord of Wisdom, as my unique skill."
"And finally?"
Takeshi's voice grew emotional. "I want the power to save Shizue Izawa from her fate."
The being pulsed with what might have been approval. "Wise choices. You understand the importance of power, knowledge, and compassion. The world of Tensura awaits you, young one. Use these gifts well."
"Wait, I—"
The world dissolved into light.