I died. I fucking died. Truck-kun killed me. I died a stereotype. Could I have died fighting a terrorist? Or, I don't know, saving someone—even saving someone from Truck-kun? But now I'm the victim of Truck-kun.
"Hey, you finished complaining?" A feminine voice boomed from everywhere. Okay, now that's just too many stereotypes in a minute. Wait… now it's the voice of a woman, so it's not complete."Oh, sorry about that." This time a masculine voice. Fuck this shit.
"I'm joking. It's just so funny to see you in despair just because of stereotypes." Materializing in front of me, a beautiful woman—way too beautiful. So, this is a goddess."Yes, praise me, little human.""Maybe we could continue this out of my head if not too much.""Yeah, sure, if you want. So, let's start this. You died. I offer you a chance at reincarnation in another world.""Yeah, sure. Do I have a choice where I'm going?""No, sorry. I don't offer that. I have a wheel for that."
A wheel appeared next to her, with many names of franchises. I see Berserk… fuck that. Dune… and Warhammer… fuck, this is even worse. What are these options? Two out of three will reincarnate me to some of the worst worlds ever made.
"Now, turn the wheel."
Looking at my options, I decided to let luck decide my fate and threw the wheel with all my strength. Rolling, rolling, rolling, slowing down… fuck, I see Warhammer. Fuck, I see it, and it looks at me like it wants my soul. Don't stop. Don't stop. Holding my breath. It stopped right next to it. I'm going to Danmachi. Yeah, it's okay. Yeah, in that I can do something with that.
"You are lucky. It could have been worse. Now it's time for you to turn the Wheel of Power."
Yes, I got powers. Looking at the wheel that spawned on the other side of her… what are these options? So, it's hell and shitty powers, and some of them aren't even powers—they are just disadvantages. So it's like you go to hell, and you either get the power to fart or never stop farting.
"Okay, same tactic. Let's do it."
Like before, throwing with all my strength, relying on my luck… and I got a template system. Fuck yeah, my luck came through."Wow, you are a lucky one. Now it's time for you to go."
Not leaving me a second to be happy or even realize what I got, I was transported to a forest. Looking around, I see through the foliage a tower—the tallest I have ever seen. It must be Babel. So, I have my target. Let's get going.
"Hey, system, you there?" I say while walking through the forest."Yes, host. Would you like to receive your first templates?" A feminine voice responded to me, coming from everywhere—it must be in my head."Yes, give me my templates and explain how you work, and if there is anything special about you.""Of course, host. My main function is to give you templates of people and characters from any world. However, you will have to increase your assimilation by training or learning, and at last, I give you access to an inventory."
"Thank you, and please call me Arthur. So, what did I get?""Of course, Arthur. You got [Kaseki, Dr. Stone], [Nanami Kento, Jujutsu Kaisen], and [Senku Ishigami, Dr. Stone]."
"Question too: I can assimilate all of them at the same time? How many can I assimilate at the same time, and how can I gain templates?""You can assimilate as many as you want at the same time. You'll gain templates when you reach 100% of one of them, or by completing some quests.""These quests—do I know the objective or is it like accomplishments?""Accomplishments."
Finally, I see the road to the city gate. Walking to the gate…"Paper?" a guard asked me."Do I have that?" I asked the system."Yes, host. In your inventory.""Here," faking taking them out from my pocket."Everything is in order," he said, giving them back to me.
Walking through the gate, I see a road that leads straight to the guild.'Yeah, it's going to be a long walk. Well, I have time to think about what to do, what familia I should join. But for now, I think one of the least problematic is Hephaestus, and with Kaseki template I already have a bit of a base, and maybe with Nanami's technique I could identify the weakness of blades or something like that. Wait… now that I think about it, if I have access to cursed energy, can I make cursed tools or do I need to have a special technique? And do I have his cursed vow of overtime? Maybe it could help me not just fight but also train, learn, or even forge. But who sets how many hours I have to work? Does it have to be what would be considered my boss or myself?'
Finally arriving at the guild, I ask the intendent, a wolf girl—I think her name is Rose."Hello, do you have a map of the city, please?""Yes, of course. Would you like me to help you search for something?" She led me to a booth with a map."Not really, but I have some questions if you could answer." She nodded, sitting down in front of me."So, I'm new to the city and I would like some recommendations to join a familia. I was a craftsman back in my village. I did work in the forge and a bit of carpentry.""If you want to continue in the forge, I recommend the Hephaestus familia, but they are a bit harsh in the selections. Or the Goibnui familia, where they have carpentry work and forging work, and they are less harsh. You could join them by going to their main house or any of their stores and asking for an assignment, show what you're capable of, and if you are successful, they'll give you a recommendation to give to their god."
"Do they explore the dungeon or collect materials?""No. The Goibnui familia is a non-fighting familia. They survive on deals with other familias, and I'm not going to lie—they don't have a need for materials. They do more carpentry work than forging, and they don't have the reputation of Hephaestus familia. So most adventurers go to Hephaestus for weapons and armor."
"So how do I join the Hephaestus familia? I'm more of a blacksmith than a carpenter.""To join them, there is a competition in 3 days to choose new recruits, where they'll give you access to a forge, give you the metals, and an assignment. Will that be all?""Yes, thank you. I didn't get your name.""Rose Fannett.""Thank you, Rose Fannett. I'm Arthur. Have a good day.""Goodbye."
Looking through the map, I found the headquarters of the Hephaestus familia. They have stores around, but where will the competition happen? Looking around, I find an announcement board. Looking through it, I see it—it's in the Tower of Babel, at the fourth floor. Giving the map to Rose, I leave the guild and look at the clock on the facade—it's noon."System, can I talk to you in my head?" I think."Of course, Arthur.""So tell me, is there any evolution in the templates?"
Kaseki 20%, Nanami 1%, Senku 5%
"I'm assimilating Kaseki really fast without doing anything, but Senku is a bit harder, and Nanami will probably assimilate when I fight or use cursed energy. But for now, I need money, and to do that I think the dungeon is my best bet. Do they lend weapons?"
Walking to the dungeon, I see a small building to the side where they seem to be lending weapons. Yes, getting in:"Hello, could I have a dagger, please?""Here. If broken, you need to reimburse the guild."
These guys are scammers. With the knowledge of Kaseki, I can see the pitiful state of every weapon here—they'll break after 10 strikes."Thank you," I say, taking a dagger and leaving for the dungeon. While getting down into it, I try to strengthen the dagger—it comes naturally. Thank God.
Encountering my first monster, a goblin, I try the technique of Nanami. I see the graduation and strike the seventh, and I one-shot it. It explodes into ash. Picking up the crystal it dropped… this will be fun.
[1 hour later]
Walking out without a scratch and not even sweating, I think about how easy this life's gonna be. Walking back to the building to give back the dagger, I open it, and the dude at the reception grins at me, a malicious grin."Here's the dagger," I hand it directly back to him, smiling."Wha… how?" he asks, shocked."How what?" I play dumb, looking at him with the eyes of an innocent child."Nothing. Thank you for the dagger."
With a defeated look, he takes it. Returning to the guild to sell my crystals, I avoid going back to Rose. I don't know if I need to be an adventurer to sell the crystals, so I look for someone else."Hey, I would like to sell crystals.""Of course, sir." Who I think is Misha Flott. I start to take out from my pocket."Is that all, sir?""No, wait, I still have some. Wait…" Faking taking out some from my pocket, taking them from my inventory. More than a hundred crystals later, Misha looks utterly defeated."That will be all, sir.""Yes, thank you." Giving me my money, about 12,000 Valis, saying my goodbye and leaving.
I feel someone watching me, but looking around I see no one. Oh no… not Freya. Please, my soul is not special."Your soul is special. It is ever-changing and always in the move, as you are becoming and assimilating someone else," shattering any dream of a peaceful life I had. Okay, let's leave that for the Arthur of tomorrow and focus on the now.
[Freya pov]
Looking through my mirror in search of my orb—or really anything at this point, I'm bored—I turn my gaze toward the guild and see something impossible: a soul moving, changing, and of many colors. This soul is not that of a hero or villain; it seems to do whatever it wants. Oh… what can I do to you? Push you to the foulest depths or make you burn as brightly as the sun? Without realizing it, my hand found itself between my legs. I need that soul. I need it. I need it. I need it. I need it. Coming to a climax.
"Ottar, go. Find everything you can on this person. I want him, but do not interact with him for now. I don't know what to do with him."