Kenji Tanaka's life was the color of beige. At twenty-eight, his daily routine was a masterclass in mediocrity: wake up, commute on a soul-crushingly packed train, stare at spreadsheets until his eyes blurred, and return home to the lukewarm comfort of a convenience store bento box.
His only escape was a fantasy gacha game on his phone, Celestial Saga. And even there, his luck was abysmal.
"Another R-rank pull… seriously?" he muttered, flicking the screen with a defeated thumb. His prize was a balding, pot-bellied dwarf warrior. Meanwhile, the game's latest banner featured 'Arch-Duchess Eleonora,' a stunning, silver-haired sorceress with laugh lines that only enhanced her regal beauty. He'd spent his entire paycheck chasing her and had nothing to show for it. "Why can't I have just one cool, elegant, mature character…"
Lost in his gacha-induced despair, he didn't notice the stray calico cat dart into the crosswalk. He also didn't notice the out-of-control scooter, not a truck, zipping down the side street. What he did notice, with sudden, blinding clarity, was the banana peel someone had carelessly discarded on the pavement.
His heroic dive to save the cat was, in reality, a spectacularly clumsy slip. His head met the asphalt with a dull, final thwack.
His last thought wasn't of his wasted life or his grieving family, but, "Dammit… I never got Eleonora…"
A sensation of weightless warmth enveloped him. Kenji opened his eyes to an endless, shimmering white void. Before him sat a woman of such breathtaking beauty that his brain temporarily short-circuited. She had hair like spun gold, eyes that held galaxies, and a gentle, knowing smile. She looked… mature. Experienced. The epitome of elegance.
"Welcome, Kenji Tanaka," her voice echoed, warm and melodic. "I am the Goddess of Reincarnation and Second Chances."
Kenji, ever the pragmatist, blinked. "So I'm dead."
"Spectacularly so," she confirmed with a soft giggle. "Slipping on a banana peel while attempting to save a cat from a scooter is a new one, even for me. For your… uniquely pathetic yet noble sacrifice, I am granting you a new life in the world of Eldoria—a world of magic, monsters, and adventure!"
Kenji's heart hammered. This was it! The ultimate isekai fantasy! "Really? I get to be a hero? With a sword? Maybe some cool magic?"
"Even better," the Goddess said, her smile widening. "We have crafted a unique System, tailored to your soul's deepest, most primal desire. A power that reflects the true, unfiltered yearning of your heart!"
She snapped her fingers. A translucent blue panel shimmered into existence before him. Kenji leaned in, eyes wide with anticipation. Was it [Sword God System]? Or maybe [Grand Magus Ascension]?
He read the words at the top, and his jaw went slack.
[Congratulations, Host! The SSS-Rank MILF Hunter System has been successfully installed!]
Kenji stared. He rubbed his eyes. He stared again. The words didn't change.
"Excuse me?" he choked out. "The what-hunter system?"
"The MILF Hunter System!" the Goddess chirped, completely oblivious to his existential horror. "My, my, I haven't seen a desire this pure and focused in millennia! Most souls want power or fame. But you… you are a man of refined taste! A connoisseur of classic beauty, a champion of mature elegance!"
"No, no, no, that's just a misunderstanding!" he stammered, his face burning crimson. "It's from a video game! I just appreciate the aesthetic! The dignity! The… the…"
"The experience?" she offered helpfully. "Don't be shy, Kenji. Your soul has spoken. Embrace your destiny!"
Before he could protest further, another panel popped up, detailing his starting stats.
[Host: Kenji Tanaka]
[Title: Novice Hunter (Unranked)]
[Level: 1]
[Skills:]
> [Discerning Eye for Elegance (Passive, Lv. 1)]: Allows Host to instantly identify women of a certain age and high-level charm. Details become clearer as the skill levels up.
> [Aura of the Respectful Son (Passive, Lv. 1)]: Gives off a non-threatening, slightly charming aura to women over the age of 35. Reduces initial hostility by 5%.
> [Heart-Stopping Compliment (Active, Lv. 1)]: Deliver a compliment so sincere it may momentarily stun the target. Cooldown: 1 hour.
"This has to be a joke," Kenji whispered.
A new window flashed, cutting through his despair with a cheerful ping.
[New Quest Issued!]
[Type: Tutorial]
[Objective: Compliment a MILF!]
[Description: The first step is always the hardest. Find a suitable target and deliver a heartfelt compliment using your [Heart-Stopping Compliment] skill.]
[Reward: +50 EXP, +1 Skill Point, [Random Household Chore Skill Book]]
"I refuse! I am not going to be some kind of… fantasy gigolo!"
The Goddess simply patted his head, her touch feeling disconcertingly motherly. "Good luck, my chosen champion. I'll be watching your journey with great interest."
The white void dissolved. The feeling of warmth was replaced by the smell of hay and baked bread, the hard cobblestone under his back, and the sounds of a bustling town. Kenji sat up, finding himself in a medieval-looking alleyway. He was wearing simple trousers and a tunic.
His eyes, guided by some unseen force, were immediately drawn to the street. Walking past was a woman with fiery red hair tied back in a practical but stylish bun. She wore a leather apron over a sturdy dress, and her arms, though slender, were toned with wiry muscle. A smudge of soot was on her cheek, and the lines around her eyes spoke of years of hard work, laughter, and a no-nonsense attitude.
The system pinged in his mind.
[Target Identified!]
[Name: Elara]
[Age: 42]
[Occupation: Blacksmith]
[Charm Level: A+]
[Status: Recently Widowed, Stressed, Overworked]
[Note: Possesses a hidden strength. Do not underestimate.]
Kenji swallowed hard. Elara the blacksmith glanced up from the street, her sharp hazel eyes sweeping over the area before landing on him. She raised a single, perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
"You lost, boy?" she called out, her voice a husky alto that sent a shiver down his spine.
The system began flashing an urgent red.
[QUEST ALERT! An opportunity has presented itself! Activate [Heart-Stopping Compliment] now!]
[YES / NO]
Kenji's heart hammered against his ribs. This was insane. He was in a new world, armed with the universe's most embarrassing superpower, and his first mission was to hit on a gorgeous, intimidating blacksmith.
He wanted to scream 'NO,' to run and hide. But the memory of his beige, pathetic life flashed in his mind. What was the alternative? Go back to that?
Taking a shaky breath, he stumbled out of the alley. "Excuse me, Ma'am…"
Her gaze sharpened. "I'm busy. What do you want?"
Kenji's mind raced. What could he say? 'Nice hammer?' 'You have very strong-looking arms?'
As he opened his mouth, the System took over. The [Heart-Stopping Compliment] skill activated, and words flowed out of him that were not his own, yet felt undeniably true.
"It's not the soot on your face or the strength in your arms that's so captivating," he heard himself say, his voice smooth and steady. "It's the fire in your eyes. It burns brighter than any forge."
Elara froze. The hard, dismissive look on her face faltered, replaced by utter, dumbfounded shock. The hammer she was carrying slipped from her grasp, clattering loudly on the cobblestones.
[SUCCESS! Target stunned for 3.5 seconds!]
[+50 EXP! Level Up!]
[Reward: [Skill Book: Flawless Dishwashing] has been added to your inventory.]
Kenji stared in horror at what he had just done. He was no hero. He wasn't a swordmaster or a mage.
He was, officially and irrevocably, an SSS-Rank MILF Hunter. And his ridiculous new life had just begun.