đźź Chapter 01
"This is… beautiful. But man, it's exhausting."
Honestly, I was perfectly content with my life on Earth. I wasn't looking to sign some adventurer's contract or wake up in the middle of a disaster.
Nuul chuckled softly.
"Half the people we summon are just like you."
Nobody wants to torture themselves for the sake of some vague legend.
"So… you just send them back to Earth?" I asked.
He stared at me for a long moment.
"Yes but you… you're a special case. Sending you back isn't an option.
That means I'll have to stay with you… and keep an eye on you."
I said with fake confidence:
"I'll try to manage on my own."
Inside? I was completely lost.
No goal. No plan. Nothing except maybe that one stupid air conditioner that could've ended all this before it even began.
"Well then, Takashi Takero… I think it's time you got your skill."
A skill?! Finally, something familiar from the novels.
At least that brings some balance back to the story after the air conditioner and the execution council fiasco.
Out of nowhere, Nuul pulled out a massive spinning wheel, divided into squares labeled with skill names.
Some sounded powerful—Black Flame, Time Hack. Others were just… bizarre—Talk to Animals, Trade Master, Expert Farmer.
I thought to myself,
"What's talking to cats supposed to do in a place like HideLand ?!"
Nuul grinned with a cheerful tone.
"I get why you're confused. Believe me, this wheel is one of the main reasons so many summoners go back to Earth.
But hey, don't lose hope life might just smile at you. Go on, give it a spin!"
I stepped forward, reached out my hand…
The wheel spun… spun… and stopped.
Skill: Factory.
I froze.
"Factory? You mean… like, an actual factory?!
Am I supposed to build one? Or become one?"
Nuul seemed even more pleased than I was.
"Ah! Good skill. By the way, I'm the one who gave it that nice name, right?"
I squinted at him.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
He laughed and explained:
"It's simple you can craft things.
As long as you have the raw materials… and some experience points… you can make whatever you want.
Weapons? Tools? Traps? Sometimes… robots."
A screen popped up in front of me:
[Hello, user. Factory skill activated.]
Hmm… honestly? Not bad.
Could've been worse. I could've gotten something like Snack Taster or Random Sprint.
I muttered to myself,
"I was hoping for something supernatural… like light manipulation, or maybe firing off a Kamehameha.
But I guess this'll have to do."
Nuul stepped closer.
"It's time to send you to Nevelira.
A new chapter of your life begins now… and maybe it'll be more valuable than the last."
Those last words stung a little… but he wasn't wrong.
Nothing in my old life was worth noting.
I lived alone. No friends. No passion. No purpose.
And if I did get the chance to go back…
This story wouldn't even exist.
I sighed, feeling my last moments in the white void slipping away.
"Just… don't drop me in some forest, okay? I don't want to get eaten in the first five minutes."
Nuul laughed again.
"Who in their right mind drops people in a forest? Don't worry. I'll send you to a city called Valoris. Ready?"
I took a deep breath.
"Yeah… I think so."
Spoiler: I wasn't ready at all.
A strange energy wrapped around me a glowing aura as Nuul began the teleportation process to Valoris.
My vision blurred. The white void faded. The last thing I heard was:
"Goodbye, Takashi Takero."
What a dramatic send-off… or so I thought.
Then?
Freefall.
From the sky.
No cushion. No fancy effects. No dignity.
I smacked into stone pavement like a sack of potatoes.
"Ugh… Couldn't you at least make me look cool, Nuul?!
Even the teleportation aura didn't look like it does in the novels!"
I groaned as I got to my feet, brushing off the dust.
Around me was basically a live-action version of medieval Europe—
Cobblestone streets, stone buildings, wagons, people in outdated clothes… and a dog barking like it had never seen a human before.
"An old-world setting, huh? If I showed them my phone right now, they'd—
…Oh. My phone's at home."
I paused.
"So… what now? Explore? Or call the system?"
"Hey, system? How do I earn experience points?"
The reply was instant:
[There are two ways to earn experience:
Killing creatures – effective
Jobs – less effective]
"Killing creatures… not exactly specific. Does that include humans?"
[If the target contains internal mana, it counts. The more mana, the more points.]
"…Right. Guess I'll stick with jobs—sounds safer. Oh, and by the way, can I understand people here? Or am I gonna need an intensive Nevelirian course?"
[Yes. Automatic translation activated. This ability is granted to all transported individuals.]
Finally, something smart.
Which means I can get started on my life plan right away…
I smiled up at the sky like an evil CEO.
"I'll build a machine to mine gold and oil. I'll amass a fortune, buy a castle, marry a princess, become the richest man in the world Mwahahaha! I'm a genius."
The system immediately slapped me with:
[Sorry. The Factory skill cannot be used for personal material gain—
at least, not at this stage.]
"Whyyy can't I ever get what I want?! Bet Nuul set it up like this… Anyway, back to reality. Step one to survival: a job."
First thing's first get a job.
Level up my skills. Then I can decide if I'm gonna be a business mogul… or just someone who doesn't starve to death.
I wandered through the streets of Valoris, taking in the vendors, the people, and the strange smells wafting from the stalls some pleasant, others… making me question the meat's expiration date.
I thought back to my humble work history in Japan.
The farthest I'd gone was a small shop job…
Maybe there's a Nevelirian version of a supermarket?
Lost in thought, I bumped into someone.
"Oh! Sorry, young man."
"No worries it's fine."
I looked up. The man was in his late forties, bald, with a short beard. Simple but neat clothes.
He studied my face like he was trying to read my character sheet.
"Hmm… your looks and clothes… you're not from around here, are you?"
"Yeah. Actually… from very far away."
"Heh. Looks like Valoris is attracting a new type of tourist."
"Actually, I'm looking for a job not here for sightseeing."
"Really?" he said, genuinely surprised.
"Yeah. Job first, staying alive second… everything else comes later."
He smiled.
"Well, in that case… I might be able to help you if you're serious."