1 Prologue: Suspicious Ads

"How should I say it, the first episode is okay, I think."

Watching the ending of the first episode of "Arifureta: From Commonplace to the World's Strongest" I said so. I held so many expectations for this anime adaptation of Ryo Shirakome's novels. And when the anime airing date came out, I couldn't wait for it. I am one of the fans.

I started reading Arifureta since the web novels version was translated into my native language. When J-novel club translated the light novel version, I had been never late for buying the official translated version. At this moment, I have read the translated digital light novel up to the latest volume.

Before I continue, you must be curious about me. Well, let me introduce myself and share a bit of my background story. My name is Ryan Schmitz, 18 years old, living in somewhere in California. As of now, I'm living alone.

I had filed my emancipation when I was 16 years old after my parents died in a traffic accident. Since they only left behind a small sum of inheritance, I must get an extra income. And so, I went out for some odd part-time jobs while studying in High School. When my parents were still alive, we were only an average mid class family. Not too rich nor too poor. Since I was their eldest and only child, I needed not to think about taking responsibility for any younger sibling.

Living alone as an emancipated minor had its ups and downs, but I would like to think it wasn't that bad. There are people with the worst fate than mine out there. I ought to be grateful for my life, or so I always made myself believe to ease my hard life.

Of course, I still have some living relatives, but I chose to be emancipated because they are nothing but shameless leeches. I could see it, in their eyes, their greed to swallow my inheritance. They didn't even care about me, the nerves! Because of that, our relationship became estranged. But, I digress.

After the credits ended, I stretch my body and look around. I am currently in a terrace of a small café with free WiFi, enjoying a cup of coffee and spending several hours in my lonesomeness, only being accompanied by a second-hand notebook. Today is my weekly holiday from my job, so I came here. The place is currently packed with teens. There are even some couples, making me jealous due to my lack of romantic experience.

I lament my lonesomeness silently. It can't be helped that I am a loner. I don't have close friends like typical teens. I don't have time to experience youth due to my status as an emancipated guy who needs to work hard to pay his bills. Still, I have a few acquaintances, but they are acquaintances from my part-time job. Nothing intimate.

I inhale sharply before exhaling slowly. I then look at my notebook's monitor, put my finger on the mouse pad, and move the cursor to the small red button with a cross symbol in the upper right corner of my browser application.

"What's this?" I mumbled faintly. When I was going to close my browser application, an internet advertisement popped up in the window. I blinked my eyed in confusion and read the ad.

[Congratulation! You are the chosen one from countless people to enjoy the special privilege! You can ignore this ad, but I assure you that you will miss your only chance and come to regret it if you find out later! Click 'here' to continue.]

Such a suspicious text was displayed in the window.

"Is this a scam? Oh, well. I have time to kill and since I am bored…"

I had time to kill, so I decided to check out what it was. I clicked the hyperlink and waited for a moment.

[Thank you for spending your time on this advertisement, but we assure you that you won't regret it. Anyway, do you feel unsatisfied with your current life? Do you wish to be something more? Do you want to have power beyond your wildest dream? Do you want to go in adventure to other worlds you believe as nothing but fictitious? Rejoice, you have been chosen to enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity, the privilege to be something more!]

I read the text with a bemused facial expression. Although it seems like utter nonsense, I was amused by it.

Dissatisfied with my current life, was it? Wishing for more, you said? I would be lying if I say I feel satisfied with my current life. A small part of me desired for more, wanting what I couldn't have at this moment. And it was only natural. Humans are greedy creatures that always want more in their lives. They can't obtain satisfaction easily. Well, there are some modest people who enjoy a modest lifestyle, but they will not mind getting extra.

Wanting power beyond my wildest dream, you asked? Again, it is only natural that I want it. Power, whether it is economy, authority or simple physical power, humans desire them due to their nature to be superior to others.

Going in adventure to fictional worlds? What is that!? Is this an Isekai Japanese Novels? Are you out of your mind! This is a reality, man. Not fiction! Still, I would be lying if I say I had never thought about it once in my lifetime. It was due to my interest in Japanese popular subculture. Whether it is anime, manga or web/light novels, I like them for killing my free time.

I started having an interest in Japanese popular subculture before my parents' death. It was started with the English dubbed mainstream anime: Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, Hunter x Hunter, etc.. I then tried manga after discovering them were adapted from a different media. After discovering some manga were adapted from the web or light novels, I tried them too. And so, that was the root of my interest in Japanese popular subculture.

Finally, I checked for fan-made fictions on the internet and found fanfiction site. Also, I visited Wikia of certain works to get a better understanding of the elements of the works. Before I knew it, I had become a Japanese popular subculture enthusiast, but it wasn't going too far until obsessive level like some individuals who were called "Otaku."

I couldn't stop my retorts and ridicule as I continued reading the ad. Even so, I kept reading until I found some questionnaires. And due to my boredom and free time to kill, I filed those questionnaires. The questions and my answers were something like this---

Question 1: What do you think about your current life?

My answer: So-so. But it will be great if there is something more.

Question 2: Would you agree to leave your current life? If you agree, what's your reason?

My answer: If I can get a better life, maybe? Well, my life sucks. My parents died when I was still a minor, leaving a small inheritance. I don't have time to enjoy my youth due to works to pay my bills. Also, my relatives are greedy fucks!

Question 3: If you get the privilege to choose your destination, where do you want to go?

My answer: The world of anime and manga. I like them. But, I won't mind going to Arifureta world since I like the story.

Question 4: In the destination of your choice, what kind of role you wish to have?

My answer: I don't mind to take the place of the protagonist. It's true that the protagonist of Arifureta had a shitty beginning, but he becomes amazing later.

Question 5: If you have a choice to pick, what event/time you want to start in your destination?

My answer: Right after being summoned to Tortus.

Question 6: If you have a choice to pick, what kind of power you wish to have?

My answer: The Gamer. No nerfing, please. I won't mind if I get extra power to take other's power by eating them like what Rimuru or Goblin Rou had. It's better if I get power to plunder other skills and stats. Better still, it can pillage the skills and stats from dead bodies. The good little ol' Isekai Cheat. Muahahahaha! X-P

After I answered all questionnaires, I checked my answers for the last time before submitting them. While waiting for the process to complete, I shook my head and thought, (I must have been very bored if I took this seriously. Well, whatever. There is no harm from this.)

Right at this moment, a new window popped up.

[We have checked and approved your responses. Rejoice, your wish shall become true! You will be transported to your destination in...]

There is a countdown below the text, starting at 5. It goes down every second.

I snort at the ad and shake my head. When I close the ad window, it pops up. I repeat my attempt to close the window, but it is very persistent. I become annoyed and wonder if this ad brought malware or virus with it. But my anti-malware and the antivirus don't give me any warning. And finally, the countdown becomes zero.

The screen of my notebook distorts. As I am starting to panic due to my fear of harmful malware or virus, I suddenly feel woozy. My mind becomes heavy. And then, my head drops down and hits my notebook. I black out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When my awareness returns, I see a blinding light. I unconsciously close my eyes and shield them with my arms.

(What happened? What's with this light?) I asked that question in my mind, but I was oddly calm.

I don't feel confused nor fear. I am very calm, that it is scary. It is abnormal because I deem myself to be an ordinary person, and like other ordinary people, I ought to have been freaked out by this development.

After a moment, when the light is still blinding my eyes, I see something popping up in my vision. And it is something very outrageous that it makes me think whether I am dreaming or not…

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Transferring the user's soul is successful.

No adverse effect has been discovered by the system.

The system has been upgraded to suit the power system of the user's current location.

The system is running without a problem.

Welcome, Gamer!

Below here are the system's keywords to access your power.

Say/think "Open Status" to access your Status Page.

Say/think "Open Skills" to access your Skills Index.

Say/think "Open Storage" to access your Storage Index.

Say/think "Open Companions" to access your Companions Page.

|X|

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I look at the holographic screen with calm facial expression, but inwardly—

(Well shit! I became a Gamer!)

I don't know how I should properly react to this situation.