Thursday. Week 1. Year 1.
Hiro woke up earlier than he wanted to, especially with his body still carrying that lingering ache from the night before. The bruises on his body reminded him of just how close he'd come to death.
Laying there for a minute, he stared up at the ceiling fan spinning lazy circles, then pulled up the system menu in his mind, scrolling straight to the printer quest.
[Congratulations, you've unlocked access to Holy Shop I-D. Weekly access only is gained only if you've got the cash and meet the hidden reqs. This one's a free pass for the quest. Inventory rotates weekly. One non-quest item max. View store?]
He selected yes, a grin already forming on his face. Hiro was expecting some useful items he could purchase. The items in the system, from his knowledge of the trope, always held great items.
Then, the item list loaded and an extremely ugly expression fell over him.
[Available Items:
Zeni's Printer (300).
Lightning Blicky (3300).
Super Magic Tome (65,000).
God's Blade (94,000,000,000,000).
Health Potion (200).
MP Potion (350).
Book of Flames (900).
Beginner Gear Set (550).
Mystery Box (100).]
"These prices are a joke," he muttered to the empty room. "You're throwing every trope my way and now you're committing highway robbery? Come on."
That God's Blade price tag especially pissed him off. It was in the trillions!!
What, did he have to farm this world for centuries in order to afford it? And weekly RNG stock? The system was straight-up trolling him at this point.
He sighed and bought the printer first. It was a priority.
[Purchased: Zeni's Printer. Item class: Rare. Prints area maps that sync to your mental nav. Upgradable with free points for extras. Current level: 1/25.]
It popped into his inventory. His cash pool went down to five hundred thirty-three.
A Health potion sounded smart. With 25% instant heal plus HOT[1]. Be that as it may, he could only buy one.
Hanako's healing had carried them thus far; he'd lean on that. The potion was a backup.
Then, the mystery box caught his eye. It cost a hundred dollars. It was definitely cheap as hell compared to the rest of the items.
Though, Hiro thought it was an obvious trap, but his gambling side won. He just count help himself.
[Purchased: Mystery Box. Thanks for shopping! Bye!]
The menu vanished. He soon realized that the mystery box didn't appear in his inventory.
A suspiciously well-timed knock at the door saved him from raging at the system. He opened it to find a big cardboard box sitting on the welcome mat, addressed all wrong.
There was no delivery guy in sight. Whatever. Hiro dragged it inside anyway, shaking his head.
Right away, he opened it and froze. Curled up asleep inside was a tiny girl. Like in full-on loli mode, frilly dress, silver hair and all.
His brain short-circuited. He immediately pulled his phone out, thumb hovering over 911.
There was another knock. He glanced back and the first box was gone. It just vanished!!
Another box waited outside, this one addressed right. With a pounding heart, he hauled it in and checked the apartment. It was empty. There wasn't any little girls roaming around.
This he knew! The system had pranked him hard. What an asshole.
In the real box, there wasn't nothing but junk like scrap metal chunks, screws, glue bottles (including Gorilla strength), random powders and bits he didn't recognize.
Pretty much, one hundred dollars had gone up in flames. He almost lost it until the contents of the box clicked: these were the crafting mats[2]he needed.
Wasting no time, Hiro opened the menu, selected a ruler from his stuff, a metal spike, and glue. The system popped up with a prompt.
[Create Enemy Attractor?]
'Well, why not? Yes.'
It would certainly help in reducing their patrol time if they'd be able to attract the enemies.
[Received: Enemy Attractor. Item class: Uncommon. Consumable. Wave like a moron for 25% chance to pull a small enemy pack ready to murder you.]
A light flashed and the assembled materials fused fast, and the finished item landed in his inventory. It was a simple and quick craft probably because it was low tier.
[Crafting skill leveled to 2!]
Another.
Hiro needed more advantages for his next battles so that he could level faster with smoother runs.
The system wouldn't list recipes. This was a Trial and error only. He messed with metals, gray powder, and more glue.
[Create Gutzo Hand Bomb?]
~GULP~
Hiro looked around, as if someone was watching. He sure hoped SWAT won't come kicking in his door.
He chose Yes.
One minute of glowing fusion later:
[Received: Gutzo Hand Bomb. Item class: Rare. Nasty mini-blast of fire and shrapnel. 40% burn chance, 20% deafen, 30% stun.]
It was alright.
He closed the menu and went to plug in the new printer. A mental interface popped into view. The surrounding maps were mostly grayed, but Viagro Grasslands was the only colored section. He printed it. The newly acquired map synced with the one on his HUD[3], the quest dinged complete.
[Quest completed!]
[Received: Map of Viagro Grasslands.]
Hiro hopped on the buses across Sato City, getting by crowded stops. He bounced from one discount spot to another. Mainly hardware stalls that were tucked in strip malls, corner electronics shops with flickering signs promising "bargains on bits," and buying whatever screamed craftable.
All in all, he got spools of cheap copper wire, packs of nails and screws, odd scraps of metal from clearance bins, even a jar of conductive powder that looked sketchy but cheap.
His funds were scraping bottom and every purchase he made reminded him of how broke he was in this world.
Grinding cash felt like a shitty day job, and no EXP for the hassle.
A thought occurred to him: maybe Chiara had something on discount at her shop; she seemed the type to cut a deal if he played it right. As so, he decided to head to her place.
The bell above her door tinkled as he pushed it in. The shelves were stocked with knives of every size, tools that looked more art than utility, and even the dusty antiques looked sharp enough to draw blood if you breathed wrong.
Chiara lounged against the counter as usual, blue eyes snapping to him like she could smell his wallet from the street.
He held her gaze. 'Don't drop your eyes. Don't.'
She smirked as she read him easily, and leaned forward, making her cleavage push against her top in a way that was all too obvious. The fabric was pulled so taut that it made his thoughts scatter. His pulse quickened.
"Eyeing something special?" she asked, voice a low purr with that teasing bite. "I got daggers in the back. They're prime collector stuff."
His vibrated, probably a text from Rin no doubt. He ignored it though, following her through the heavy curtain. The door clicked shut, sealing them in dim quiet.
The back room hit him like a truck: scents of oil-soaked rags and aged leather. There were glass cases along walls with blades catching the overhead glow.
This section screamed premium and it was way over his head.
"Blessed by old spirits or whatever," she said, body brushing his as she unlocked one, the soft head from her curves too close for clear thought.
He Analyzed her quickly.
Chiara
Level: 22
Type: Blade Maiden
Relationship: Curious / Teasing
HP: 100%
MP: 100%
Stats: Relationship too low.
Special abilities: See above, idiot.
Skills: See above.
Magic abilities: Birdbrain, birdbrain, birdbrain. You disappoint me.
'Level Twenty-two? Damn, she had to be a monster with blades on top of years of practice. Or… was she gifted like the rest. Mental note: get her on the team. Someone who knew steel could tip fights,' Hiro excitedly thought.
She spun toward him with a sharp grin on her face. "Spot anything tempting?"
Hiro swallowed hard. 'Yeah. You, b*tch.'
"You're the first person I've let back here in years," she said, voice low, almost conspiratorial. "Don't make me regret it."
Hiro's gaze drifted over the blades laid out on black felt. "The compact knives are clean," he admitted, "but I don't know how often I'd actually use one." He caught himself too late, words already out.
Chiara's eyes locked onto his, sharp and knowing. "If I haven't made it clear by now that I know you're gifted, then I'm slipping."
He exhaled. "How bad is the demon lord sitting on this city?"
"Bad enough," she said flatly. "And don't even think about playing hero before you're ready. Collectors like you are rare. I'd hate to lose one to stupidity."
Hiro almost laughed. As if this city's demon lord was his problem. His only real goal was dropping The End and punching a one-way ticket home.
Everything else was just grass for him to cut.
Chiara gave him a long, pitying look, then lifted a slim tactical knife that had a matte black blade with a handle wrapped in paracord that felt warm to the touch.
A faint violet shimmer moved along the edge when the light hit it just right.
"A knife would mean getting closer to your opponent than if you fought using your sword," she said.
"If something knocks the blade out of your hand, you switch to this. Remember this: switching to your sidearm is faster than reloading. Or was it drawing? I can't remember it. Pretty much, basic technique beats flailing. I'll teach you how."
For the next two hours, she drilled him on footwork, grip angles, and how to palm the blade without slicing your own fingers off.
She showed him how to throw a knife by knowing the balance, release point, and follow-throughs.
Hiro wasn't flawless, not by a long shot, but he picked it up fast. Chiara's instructions landed clean in his head, like muscle memory being force-fed. And it wasn't too bad that the system also assisted in his learning.
They were pressed close the whole time often with her correcting his wrist positioning, fingers his forearm, and her palm flat against his chest to adjust his stance.
Chiara was handsy in a way that felt deliberate and very teasing. Much like Rin had done him their first tutoring session.
At the end, the system chimed.
[Dagger Proficiency 1 acquired. Throwing Knife 1 acquired.]
[Overall Combat Level has reached Basic 2.]
"Take the black one," Chiara said. "When you've got cash from your experiences, come back. We'll talk about upgrades then."
He left the shop lighter in the wallet but heavier in the head, annoyed he'd let her flirtation steer him into a two-hour private lesson of "Grope Hiro".
Rin's text buzzed in—some dumb meme about alchemy class—and his mood flipped instantly. He fired back something filthy. Ivy blue-haired girls were supposed to be trouble. Rin was the opposite fortunately. She was easy, fun, and had zero pressure.
Down the street, he spotted Lumina outside a hole-in-the-wall barbecue joint, arguing with a guy in the academy's uniform. He was tall, with the same coole colored blue hair as Lumina tied back. Subtly, one could see that his posture was constantly on alert.
"There," Lumina said, spotting Hiro. "That's him. We could actually do this, Nagato."
"I never signed up for any of this gift bullshit," Nagato snapped, not even glancing Hiro's way. He stalked off down the block.
Hiro analyzed quick.
Nagato
Level: 11
Type: Shadow Operative
Relationship: Stranger
HP: 125%
MP: 75%
'Damn, he has a higher health pool threshold, but lower mana. What an interesting build,' he thought to himself.
But what really hit Hiro was the ninja vibe he gave. That silent movement and the way Nagato vanished around the corner like smoke.
He definitely was a little jealous.
Lumina's smile was tired when Hiro walked up. She was in civilian clothes today, wearing ripped jeans, a cropped hoodie, with her electric-blue hair twisted into loose waves that probably took forever for style.
"Your boyfriend's a ninja," Hiro said.
"No, that's my brother," Lumina corrected. "And yeah, he transforms like me as well."
"Into a ninja," Hiro muttered. "The universe is mocking me."
She shrugged. "If he stopped fighting it, he'd be useful against the demon lord. But, good luck convincing him."
"He's level eleven," Hiro said. "Remember that armored jack-o'-lantern thing? It was level twenty-five. The demon lord's gonna be a nightmare. Either he's in or he's not. We can't play footsies with him."
"I'll… keep trying," Lumina said, eyes flickering with that stubborn spark Hiro was starting to recognize.
"Just don't do anything creepy," he muttered, starting to walk.
She fell into step beside him. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Nothing. Good luck. I'm hitting the training hall."
"I don't trust that tone and strange meaning," she said. "And it's cloudy. Perfect walking weather. So, I'll follow."
He gave her a flat look, sized her up, then shrugged. "If you've got nothing better to do."
Lumina made an exaggerated anime huff. His phone buzzed again.
Rin had sent a photo of the most obscene ice cream sundae he'd ever seen, drowning in fudge and topped with an entire candy bar. Sweets were the enemy of gains, but damn if it didn't look worth the cheat day.
Rin: I want to split one with you next time. Not my dad breathing down my neck.
"How rude," Lumina said, peering at his screen. "Ignoring present company for another girl."
"Says the one who—" Hiro bit it off, shook his head.
"Who what?" Her glare could cut glass.
"Like to transform into a magical girl," he finished lamely.
"It's not cosplay," she said. "And you were about to say something worse."
"Woman's intuition?" He grinned.
She rolled her eyes, but the rest of the walk to the training hall passed in surprisingly easy silence.
Inside, they watched a few sparring matches they consisted of kendo and some mixed martial stuff. Their commentary turned into jokes, and the jokes turned into genuine laughs. By the time they left, the system pinged again.
[Your relationship with Lumina has improved from Friendly to Close Acquaintance.]
[Combat style has evolved from Basic to Moderately Skilled. +2 bonus to Speed and Will.]
He saw her off at the corner, then headed home with a shopping bag swinging in his hand.
Passing the ramen stall, a cold prickle crawled up his spine. Someone had their eyes on him!
He spun soun around, yet there was nothing but normal people on the opposite sidewalk, chatting, jogging, scrolling phones. No one was looking his way. But the feeling lingered, hungrily. Hiro could feel it.
There wasn't going to be much don't if he stood there all day. So, he went home.
At his apartment steps, something glinted on the concrete. He picked it up. It was a glossy card that was thicker than trading stock, with a woman in flowing arcane robes, staff raised, and a generous amount of cleavage on full display.
[Mysterious Summon Card discovered. Item class: strange.]
[The Arcane Wanderer, Liora had been said to have been lost centuries ago, unavailable due to erased data and is unprintable. Power: ??? Defense: ???]
[Effects and abilities locked until contract formed.]
"What the f*ck is this?" Hiro muttered, turning it over. Classic big titty sorceress otaku art.
He stashed it in inventory for now. Something about the card tugged at memory, but he couldn't place it.
Hiro then crashed for a nap, then woke as dusk arrived. He went back out after his nap, feeling the crisp 7:30 air.
Back in the merchant district, he hit the ramen stall again, slurping a bowl, trying to convince himself the night would be quiet.
Then, he saw her again, curled up on a bus stop bench, groaning softly.
He quickly analyzed.
Thea
Level: 27
Type: Demoness
Affiliation: Demon Lord's Retinue [Warning: Engagement at current level highly inadvisable.]
Special: Hostile Detection insufficient.]
[Her aura feels… party-wide.]
Weakness: Hostile Detection too low, birdbrain.
Resistances: See above.
Secret: Sigh…
Hiro started backing away. The empty streets meant spawns. And a level twenty-seven demoness? Yeah, she was out of his league. He could take the Meta-Pumpko with his party. But a demoness? Their stats were totally in different leagues.
But the quest log burned in the back of his mind.
"You alright?" he called, keeping it casual. "The city doesn't need bodies on benches."
"I'm starving," she whispered. "Eventually even the hotel soap starts looking edible."
He pulled a chocolate peanut butter protein bar from his inventory. Her head snapped up, eyes glowing faintly. She snatched it quickly, the wrapper gone in one tear, and devoured in seconds.
"I could get you actual food," he offered.
Her gaze locked on him, luminous. "Marry me."
"Hard pass. But I live off sweets sometimes too." He handed over his last bar. "Enjoy."
He turned to leave and felt her presence tailing him three steps later. He sighed at this.
It was one thing for regular girls following him home. It was another when a Demoness was the one in tow. That was a hard no.
He ducked around a corner and broke into a dead sprint. She kept up with him effortlessly. Hiro hit another turn, then he flattened against a dumpster in the alley shadows.
"Tch." Frustration in her voice, close.
He waited until the presence faded, then bolted home. Hand on the doorknob, he froze.
Bailing on hunting tonight was just begging The End to show up and turn him into paste.
[Willpower has overcome procrastination. +2 Composure bonus. Thank Chiara for the drills.]
He pulled up the crafting menu. "System, basic armor. Come on."
[Crafted armor appears equipped as a protective barrier. Reduces incoming damage without altering visible appearance. Physical armor must be purchased normally.]
He equipped the full set. Felt the faint hum settle over his skin.
Before he could head out solo, the neighbor's door opened.
"Hey," Hanako said, stepping into the hall light. Get long, black hair was loose. She wore comfortable sweats tonight. The wand he'd given her was somehow holstered at her thigh.
"Hey yourself."
"Going out alone? Give me a second."
Her door closed. Two minutes later she was back, ready to move.
"Let's hunt," she said, smile bright.
Some time later, they found their first monsters; two small humanoid things made of shimmering crystal, their heads were like round faintly glowing amber with twitching metallic antennae. They wore purple cloaks that dragged on the pavement.
"They're kinda cute," Hanako whispered.
Hiro sighed.
Voltling
Level: 10
Type: Demon Lord Spawn
Special: Charged Orb [Electric damage. 2% stun chance. 1% paralysis chance.]
Weakness: Hostile Detection insufficient.]
Resistances: See above.
Secret: Hostile Detection, Luck, and Will too low.
[1] In gaming terms, it means “healing over time”.
[2] In gaming terms, it means “materials”.
[3] A term meaning “Heads Up Display”. Often used in gaming spaces as well as in the sci-fi genre and more.