"I can't accept a plot where I die and transmigrate because some 'Lao Da' ghost-image jumpscares me in my face. That would hit my worldview way too hard."
It had been raining since morning—nothing heavy, just a fine, dense drizzle that scrubbed the whole sky into a dirty, dull gray.
He looked out the window. Raindrops slid down the patterned glass, carving crooked streaks that blurred the world outside into a smear.
The café had no customers. Not even anyone ducking in to escape the rain.
What a perfect day.
Weather like this was made for curling up at home to sleep in—or gaming, cracking open a bottle of cola, and letting another calm, uneventful day drift by.
As a transmigrator who'd already been in this world for a long time, Bai Qian had always wanted nothing more than a peaceful routine—like some Stand user with Killer Queen, living quietly and avoiding trouble.
Back in his previous life, as a classic member of East Asia's monstrous rat-race culture, Bai Qian had been grateful that after finishing a certain "band anime," he didn't get the urge to learn an instrument and form a band. Instead, he fell into galgames—and, in just three days, cleared a hundred romance games.
Only… after that galgame binge ended, that band anime still clung to him like a nightmare. It made him want to go to Japan and see for himself whether the people forming bands there were actually all a bunch of absolute freaks.
He didn't need to settle down in Japan. He just needed to show he wasn't "running away," so he dug out his savings—years of travel money—skipped his college finals, and resolutely set off for the neon-lit land.
He had to see whether band life really included things like: customer service agents getting their carefully assembled meal stolen, a high school girl "mom" speaking with that unmistakable Tsukinomori accent, and some white-haired martial freak whose inner world killed people at the drop of a hat while he split personalities like it was a hobby.
Before boarding, Bai Qian even glanced at the plane model twice.
No "Lao Da" meme image plastered anywhere. Not Flight 24. Not some "funding color scheme." He didn't have iced black tea in his hand. There was no "I see you again" music playing around him. And today wasn't the 8th.
Perfect.
No crash. Excellent.
He boarded confidently, and once the plane was high above the clouds, he opened his laptop, launched the galgame a friend had sent him, confirmed there was no "adult content" warning… and clicked Start Game.
What Bai Qian didn't expect was the screen flashing through a whole chain of cursed images—photoshopped into every imaginable anime character variant of "Lao Da"—until, in his dazed haze, a single man sounded right beside his ear.
What can I say?
Just like that, Bai Qian's first run ended.
On his second run, reincarnated as a high schooler again, Bai Qian decided the true culprits who ruined his life were wooden cabinets and galgames. He swore he'd study hard. Even if he gained the superpower to enter people's hearts, he'd still steal time to ace his exams and get into the University of Tokyo within a month.
He awakened a Persona from a senior hanging on the moon, along with the mask of some "Steel Love Sister Boss." Alone, he solved Tokyo's string of mysterious deaths, dealt with a politician trying to compete for Prime Minister and that politician's detective son whose brain circuits were clearly wired like an idiot's…
And in the end, he fought a self-proclaimed false god with the seniors' Personas, plus "sin-piercing armor-piercing bullets," and finally returned to ordinary life.
Thank goodness he didn't need to use the Great Seal.
He'd already played the role of Yamamoto Tetsuya. He'd already "corrected" plenty of people's hearts. He was done dealing with band weirdos and any hypothetical "band breakup tax." Now he just wanted a peaceful life.
"Ciallo～(∠・ω<)⌒"
A cheerful download-complete chime rang out.
Bai Qian picked up his phone. But it wasn't the galgame finishing its download—it was some strange app that had appeared out of nowhere.
What kind of rogue software is this?
If you don't like it, uninstall it!
He uninstalled it casually.
A moment later, the installation chime rang again.
Bai Qian sucked in a sharp breath.
Was his phone infected with one of those viruses that auto-installs junk apps if you shake the device?
Why won't you die?!
The whole thing reminded him of a past app called Isekai Navigator.
Don't tell me… it's that kind of thing again?
Curiosity beat hesitation. He paused the galgame download and tapped it open.
[Dragon Sis Is Dragon]: How many days can a person starve before they die?
(Image: Talulah)
[AAA Customer Service Xiao Xiang]: Seven, probably. That's what the book says.
(Image: Toyokawa Sakiko)
[Want Campus Springtime With Mei]: If I go one day without eating Mei's cooking, I'll die. If it's "Mei-flavored," even better.
(Image: Kiana)
[Tohsaka Rin]: Really? I want to see how a pervert starves to death.
(Image: Tohsaka Rin)
[Legendary Fireproof King]: In the Lands Between, some people can go a long time without eating.
(Image: Melina)
[Pointy-Hat Lady]: Every time I enter this group, your name and your questions shock me. First time I've seen someone display sexual repression so vividly.
(Image: Herta)
[Dragon Sis Is Dragon]: Yeah. Just wait—our newbie's about to pop out and gasp again.
Soga.
So it was this kind of group chat.
A little disappointed… no, not disappointed. More like… used to it.
Bai Qian glanced at his own display name. It read: [Galgames Domain Master].
Great. Hopefully no one noticed.
It wasn't like playing galgames was some unspeakable sin, but Bai Qian still couldn't stand the feeling of walking down the street naked.
After thinking it over, he changed his name to [Phantom Thieves' Lao Da] and began lurking.
Lurking was one of humanity's greatest pleasures—especially when everyone else was excitedly chatting, and you were just quietly reading along.
It was raining anyway. No one would come buy coffee. Bai Qian simply flipped the sign at the door and brewed himself a cup.
The café wasn't big, but it had everything it needed. The place was called LeBlanc, and it even had a small loft upstairs. The previous owner had taken pity on him and let him stay here for a while. Whenever he had time, Bai Qian helped out.
When he learned the owner's daughter had psychological issues, Bai Qian—wanting to repay the kindness—said he could help. Under the owner's skeptical gaze, Bai Qian spent a few days with the daughter and directly corrected the "problematic" parts of her subconscious.
She still liked staying indoors, but she could go out now. The owner taught Bai Qian coffee for over ten days, then realized Bai Qian brewed better than he did. So he handed the shop over to Bai Qian, went home to stay with his daughter, and only occasionally dropped by.
Bai Qian took a small sip, then returned his attention to the chat.
[Want Campus Springtime With Mei]: So, Pointy-Hat Lady, you really can't make "Mei-flavored" instant noodles?
[Pointy-Hat Lady]: You've asked the same thing like ten times… No. I can't. I've been busy lately.
[Dragon Sis Is Dragon]: Busy is good. The Ursus tundra's even colder now.
[Tohsaka Rin]: Everyone's lives sound pretty miserable.
[AAA Customer Service Xiao Xiang]: Same here… my boss has delayed my pay for a whole month. Why are people so awful…
[Legendary Fireproof King]: The Lands Between doesn't have any of that stuff. It's still awful.
[Pointy-Hat Lady]: Oh, by the way—just so you know, I won't be around for the next few days. Don't @ me and disturb me. That's it.
The chat went quiet.
"In a heavy mood like this, better not butt in… I'll chat when they switch to something happier."
"You've got to read the room."
Bai Qian drained his coffee and sighed.
A rainy day, no customers, just sitting quietly like this… wasn't bad.
"Ciallo～(∠・ω<)⌒"
His phone chimed again.
"Hm? I don't think I'm downloading anything anymore?"
Bai Qian looked up—and saw someone had @'d him.
[Pointy-Hat Lady]: @Phantom Thieves' Lao Da @Dragon Sis Is Dragon @Tohsaka Rin @AAA Customer Service Xiao Xiang @Legendary Fireproof King @Want Campus Springtime With Mei
[Pointy-Hat Lady]: Help me! Something feels really wrong! I might die!
[Tohsaka Rin]: What happened?
[Pointy-Hat Lady]: My instincts are telling me whatever that machine-head is calculating this time will send me straight to death. If I look, it's only a matter of time!
[Phantom Thieves' Lao Da]: Then close your eyes and don't look?
[Pointy-Hat Lady]: Why would you say something so mean?! No—my rational mind says I absolutely can't miss it. I can't close my eyes anymore!
"Because she's being controlled by her own desire, so she can't bring herself to give it up…"
A Shadow was a distortion of one's desires. Bai Qian had fought countless Shadows; he knew anyone could be seized by desire.
Curiosity counted as a desire too.
Desire wasn't only "bad" things. Anything you crave—if it grows strong enough—will make you move without thinking.
[Phantom Thieves' Lao Da]: I see. I understand now.
[Phantom Thieves' Lao Da]: Kid, don't be scared. I'll send the calling card right now—then I'm going into your Palace to change your heart!
A system notification popped up. He swiped it open and saw the old app he hadn't touched in ages: Isekai Navigator.
[Someone nearby is falling into a distorted heart. Tap to stop it.]
[Yes / No]
Bai Qian didn't hesitate. He chose Yes.
He'd always believed that if you had the power to change something, you should. This time was no exception.
The world blurred a few times—then the scenery shifted.
Endless code spread out before him, and then assembled into an image.
At the center of that image, a woman wearing a purple veil slowly raised her hand. Coordinates formed beneath her palm… and vanished.
A vast starfield opened before Bai Qian's eyes. At the highest point his gaze could reach, a gigantic machine-head—large as a planet—turned slowly in the heavens.
He looked at the machine-head, then looked down at hands that clearly weren't his.
He lowered his head.
He was wearing an outfit no man should be wearing—and he could see, at a glance, a pretty collarbone… and a snowy-white pair of soft mounds.
Bai Qian fell silent.
"Stupid Isekai Navigator! I swear to god—I'll—"
"This isn't supposed to drop me into someone else's heart-Palace?! Where the hell did you send me?!"
-------
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