Roma felt pain.
Not the poetic kind. Not the "my heart is broken" kind.
No.
This was the very real, very physical, very humiliating kind of pain that screamed:
"You got beaten up badly."
"…ugh…"
He opened his eyes slowly, only to immediately regret it.
A wooden ceiling. Cracked. Slightly moldy. One corner even had a spider casually weaving what looked like a generational inheritance web.
Roma blinked.
"…Where… am I?"
His voice came out hoarse, like he had swallowed sandpaper for breakfast.
He tried to move.
Big mistake.
"AH—!"
Pain exploded through his ribs like fireworks during New Year.
He froze.
Silence.
Then—
"…Okay. Let's not move."
He lay there stiffly, staring at the ceiling, trying to process the situation like a rational modern human being.
Step 1: Panic.
Step 2: Denial.
Step 3: Acceptance.
"…I've been isekai'd."
He sighed.
Not surprised.
Because honestly, with the amount of web novels he had read before dying, this outcome was practically inevitable.
Truck-kun had done his job. Who told him to walk in the road while reading web novels.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A flood of memories slammed into his brain.
"UGH—!"
Roma clutched his head, eyes widening.
Images. Voices. Blood. Violence.
And then…
Everything became clear.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
He lay there, expression stiff.
His name was still Roma.
But his identity?
Not so fortunate.
He had transmigrated into the body of—
A 23-year-old low-ranking henchman.
"…Low-ranking is fine…"
He paused.
"…But why a bandit?!"
Yes.
Not a noble young master.
Not a hidden genius.
Not even a struggling outer disciple.
No.
He was— A small fry in the Black Wind Bandit Gang.
A group known for:
RobberyMurderGeneral lack of moral standardsAnd being frequently hunted down by righteous sects
Roma stared at the ceiling again.
"…This is a death flag factory."
From the memories, he quickly pieced things together:
This world was a martial cultivation world.
Sects ruled territoriesCultivators fought for resourcesStrength decided everything
Bandits like his gang?
They were basically:
EXP for righteous disciplesStepping stones for protagonistsCannon fodder with dialogue (if he was of high level but he was not).
Roma took a deep breath.
"…Calm down. Think rationally."
He analyzed his situation:
Age: 23Talent: TrashCultivation: Barely anythingStatus: Disposable
"…This is worse than starting as a beggar."
At least beggars didn't get hunted by sword-wielding maniacs shouting justice slogans.
The Most Important Question
Roma suddenly became serious.
His eyes sharpened.
"…Alright."
"If I've transmigrated…"
"Then…"
He sat up slightly (and immediately regretted it again).
"…Where is it?"
His eyes scanned the air.
"Come out."
Nothing.
"…Don't play with me."
Still nothing.
Roma's expression darkened.
"…System?"
Silence.
"…Golden finger?"
Nothing.
"…Old grandpa in a ring?"
No response.
Roma clenched his fists.
"…You're telling me…"
"I transmigrated…"
"Into a 23-year-old bandit…"
"WITHOUT ANY CHEATS?!"
He looked up at the ceiling and shouted:
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
Roma collapsed back onto the bed.
"This is a scam."
"Where's the fairness?"
"Other protagonists get—"
Heavenly physiquesOverpowered systemsBeautiful jade-like companions
"And what do I get?"
He counted on his fingers:
"One broken body…"
"One criminal identity…"
"And a future where I get killed by some 15-year-old righteous genius…"
He covered his face.
"…This is not the script I signed up for."
Roma sat up again, this time more carefully.
He folded his hands.
"…Listen."
"I don't ask for much."
"Just a small cheat."
"Even a weak system is fine."
"Even a half-dead grandpa is okay."
"Even a manual with missing pages…"
He looked around expectantly.
"…Anything?"
Silence.
Roma's expression slowly became blank.
"…Fine."
"If this is how it is…"
"I'll just lie down and wait for death."
He immediately flopped back onto the bed.
…
Five seconds passed.
Ten seconds.
Thirty seconds.
Roma peeked one eye open.
"…Nothing?"
He sat up again, now genuinely annoyed.
"Hey!"
"Don't go too far!"
"I've already lowered my standards!"
"I'm not asking for invincibility!"
"Just something slightly overpowered!"
Ding.
A soft sound echoed.
Roma froze.
"…Wait."
His eyes widened.
"…I heard that."
DING!
A clearer sound this time.
And then—
A faint blue light appeared in front of him.
Roma's breathing stopped.
"…No way…"
The light expanded.
Lines of text began forming.
A familiar interface.
A legendary sight.
A thing every transmigrator dreams of—
[System Initialization Complete]
Roma's pupils shrank.
"…IT'S REAL."
The Blue Screen Appears
A translucent blue panel hovered before him.
Clean.
Mysterious.
Beautiful.
Roma's hands trembled.
"…My golden finger…"
He almost cried.
"…You finally came."
[Welcome, Host: Roma]
Roma straightened his back instantly.
"Yes."
"Yes, that's me."
"Your one and only host."
[Binding Complete]
[System Activated]
Roma gulped.
"…What kind of system are you?"
"Sign-in?"
"Money?"
"Passive skills?"
"Invincibility?"
"Luck manipulation?"
"Please be something broken…"
[System Type: ???]
Roma blinked.
"…Question marks?"
"That's not reassuring."
[Analyzing Host Condition…]
Roma waited nervously.
[Conclusion:]
Age: 23Talent: Extremely LowPhysique: PoorCurrent Status: Seriously InjuredSurvival Probability: Low
Roma: "…Hey."
"Why are you roasting me?"
[Recommendation: System Activation Necessary for Survival]
Roma nodded rapidly.
"Yes."
"Very necessary."
"Extremely necessary."
"Please save me."
[GROUP FORMATION System Unlocking…]
Roma leaned forward. GROUP FORMATION SYSTEM?
Heart pounding.
"…Come on…"
[Function 1 Unlocked]
[Function Name: ???]
Roma: "…WHY ARE THERE STILL QUESTION MARKS?!"
[Function Description:]
"…Yes?"
[To Be Revealed]
Roma: "…"
"…You're joking, right?"
[Additional Function Unlock Condition:]
Roma narrowed his eyes.
"…Now we're talking."
"What do I need to do?"
[Survive.]
Roma: "…"
"…That's it?"
[Yes.]
Roma stared at the screen.
Then at the ceiling.
Then back at the screen.
"…This is the most realistic system I've ever seen."
Suddenly—
Footsteps echoed outside.
Voices followed.
"Did that guy wake up?"
"Who cares? If he dies, he dies."
"Boss said we move tonight."
Roma's expression changed.
"…Move?"
His memories clicked.
"…Right."
The bandit gang was planning a raid tonight.
And injured or not Everyone was expected to participate.
Roma swallowed and took a deep breath.
"…Alright, If I want to live…I can't rely entirely on the system."
He slowly got up, ignoring the pain.
"…I need to use my brain."
His eyes sharpened.
"…After all, I've read hundreds of web novels."
A faint grin appeared.
"…If those protagonists can survive…Then so can I."
Roma looked at the blue screen, then at the door.
"…Let's see…If this world stronger…"
"Or is my plot armor stronger?"