Prologue

Have you ever thought about your future? Becoming successful, having a great job, being famous, wealthy, and having a happy family? Everyone dreams of a bright future like that. But I never imagined mine would turn out that way. Whenever I close my eyes, all I see is darkness and emptiness.

My name is Takahiro Nao. I'm a 25-year-old man with black hair, dark eyes, fair skin, and a decently handsome face. People say I often have a cold expression, but I do have a warm side—especially for those I care about.

After graduating from university, I started working as a sales marketer at a private company in Japan. The job has long hours, but the pay isn't great. It's hardly enough to support four people. That's right, I'm supporting three others: my mother and my two older siblings.

Why do I work so hard for my family? I should only be responsible for myself, just like other people my age. But I'm the only one who can keep my family going. My mother, Takahiro Ayase, is a retired government employee whose pension is consumed by debt. My older sister, Takahiro Nana, has been traumatized for years, making it impossible for her to work. My older brother, Takahiro Naki, is a hikikomori—lazy, unmotivated, and incapable of earning money.

If you're wondering about my father, he divorced my mother when I was in college. In fact, they had been separated long before that, since I was in elementary school.

The reason? He had secretly started a new family with another woman. My childhood was far from pleasant. My mother struggled to raise her three children on her own, even going into debt, yet she still managed to smile for us.

Being the only child who could work and earn money, I decided to give it my all and work tirelessly to support my family. My only goal was money, money, and more money. In this world, happiness and security can only be achieved with wealth. That's why I took on any side job I could find—working freelance at night or as a convenience store cashier on weekends.

Day after day, I worked as hard as I could, yet I still didn't have enough money to support my family. Even my mother's debt kept growing, thanks to those scummy bankers. After a long night of work, I'd lie in bed, lift my right hand towards the ceiling, and open my palm, thinking:

"If things keep going like this, what will become of my future? Can I keep going?"

Just then, I heard a knock on my door.

"Dear, you must be exhausted. I made some noodle soup. Come and eat," my mother said softly, concern lacing her voice.

"Yes, Mom," I replied, opening the door and sitting at the dining table.

"Son, I'm sorry this is all I can do for you. I feel so guilty that I can't work anymore and that I have to rely on you," she said, gently cupping my cheek with a worried look in her eyes.

"It's okay, Mom. I can still work for all of us. Don't worry about it. Please don't try to work anymore—you'll only get sick again if you overexert yourself," I responded, trying to reassure her.

My mother could no longer work due to her severe health issues. The doctor said it's normal for someone her age, but I know it's the stress that's making her sick—thinking about how she can support her children even after retirement.

I couldn't bear to see her in that state, so I chose to be the backbone of this family. All of it was for one reason:

"For my family."

My mother just smiled, nodded, and shed a few tears. I finished my meal and went back to my room.

I needed to sleep early since I had a cashier shift at the convenience store the next day.

..

..

The next morning, I hurried to the convenience store for my side job, riding my beloved bicycle. Once I arrived, I opened the store, arranged the products, and took my place at the register.

The store didn't have many staff, so each shift was covered by a single person, meaning I had to handle various tasks myself. It was tough, but the pay was decent for a side job.

Time passed, and suddenly a female customer I recognized entered the store. I didn't know her name, but I couldn't help but be distracted by her appearance. She was beautiful, with long, shiny black hair, but her eyes looked tired. She was probably an office worker, considering her formal attire.

But what kind of company makes people work on Saturdays? Well, there are always companies that exploit their employees.

"Do you have vitamin supplements from Brand X?" she asked.

"Unfortunately, we're out of that. Would you like Brand Y instead? It has the same benefits," I suggested.

"Oh, that's fine. Thank you," she said, flashing a gentle smile.

After she finished shopping and was heading out, I noticed a suspicious person following her. Alarmed, I decided to follow them. Sure enough, the person trailed her into a narrow alley.

When I reached the alley, I saw the woman being mugged and struggling as the assailant struck her face. I immediately rushed in and kicked the mugger, sending him flying back.

The mugger pulled out a switchblade and charged at me. Although I may not look like it, I have basic martial arts training that I honed since middle school. I blocked his attack, grabbed his arm, and threw him hard to the ground, leaving him writhing in pain.

I then turned to the woman. "Are you alright?" I asked, worried.

"Yes... Thank you for saving me—" she stammered, still shocked and crying a little.

"Let me help you up," I offered, reaching out my hand.

"Watch out!" she screamed, terrified.

The mugger hadn't been knocked out and lunged at me again with the knife. I turned around just in time, but the blade grazed my left side. I kicked the knife away forcefully and punched him in the gut, finally knocking him out cold.

"Are you okay?!" the woman asked frantically.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just a scratch. Don't worry about it," I replied, trying to sound unconcerned.

Her terrified expression gradually relaxed. After that, we brought the mugger to the police station. Once everything was settled, she approached me.

"Don't you need to go to a hospital? Even if it's just a scratch, it's bleeding," she asked with concern.

"Oh, this? It's nothing. I can treat it myself," I said dismissively.

"Ah, I forgot! I have the afternoon shift today. I need to get back to the store!" I suddenly remembered and rushed off.

"Hey, wait! I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Fujimaki Arisa. Nice to meet you and thank you so much for your help!" she called out, smiling brightly with sparkling eyes. I was a little mesmerized.

"I'm Takahiro Nao," I replied with a smile.

"See you around." I added coolly, waving my hand as I headed back to the convenience store.

...

...

When I arrived back at the convenience store, I finished my shift, though I was immediately scolded by my manager for abandoning my post earlier.

"You ungrateful brat! I've given you a job, and this is how you repay me? From now on, you're fired!" shouted the store manager, his voice booming across the small room.

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to leave my post. I promise it won't happen again," I pleaded, desperate not to lose the job. After all, I needed it—badly.

"No excuses. Get out!" he barked, slamming the office door behind him.

With a heavy heart, I packed my things and slowly walked out of the store. I didn't even realize it at first, but tears started rolling down my cheeks. As I rode my bike back home, I stared up at the evening sky, lost in thought. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my left side.

"Ugh..."

I stopped my bike and clutched my side, noticing that my hand was stained with drying blood.

It turned out the wound from earlier was deeper than I'd thought. The adrenaline must've numbed the pain at the time, and since I was wearing a black shirt, the blood hadn't been obvious.

"What a horrible day..." I muttered to myself...On my way home, I heard the desperate cry of a cat.

"Meow... Meow..."

The sound was filled with distress, like it was calling for help.The sound seemed to be coming from a large tree by the side of the road. The street was deserted, as this shortcut was known only to a few. I spotted a white cat stuck on one of the high branches.

"How did you even get up there?" I wondered aloud, baffled by how the cat managed to climb so high.

I parked my bike next to the tree and, despite feeling light-headed, I decided to help the cat. I couldn't just leave it there.

My vision blurred a bit, but I forced myself to climb the tree. After struggling to reach the branch, I carefully picked up the cat and started climbing back down. But as I neared the ground, a sudden downpour drenched me. The cat, startled by the rain, began to squirm in my arms.

"Whoa—!" I lost my balance and slipped, plummeting to the ground.

THUD!

I hit the ground hard, my head smashing into something solid. Pain exploded in my skull, and I could feel blood trickling down my face. My vision began to blur, turning everything red. I glanced down at the cat, still safely cradled in my arms. It was unharmed.

"At least... you're okay..." I whispered, my voice growing weak.

"Is this it for me? Am I going to die here?" My voice faded as everything grew dark and cold.

Memories of my past flickered before my eyes—one by one, they flashed until they dissolved into darkness. My body felt numb and icy, the cold seeping into my bones.Suddenly, I remembered my family.

"What will happen to them? They won't survive without me..." The thought echoed in my mind, filling me with regret.

"I don't want to die... I can't die yet..." The darkness swallowed me, and everything went silent...

....

....

Out of nowhere, a small glimmer of light appeared. It grew brighter and brighter until it enveloped me. I slowly opened my eyes and found myself in a strange room filled with a misty haze.

The first thing I noticed was the white cat I had just saved. It was sitting on a shimmering throne, its gaze fixed on me.

"Wait... A cat? What are you doing here?" I asked, confused.

"Takahiro Nao, congratulations. You've been chosen!" the cat said, its voice clear and calm.

"You... You can talk?" I stared in disbelief, completely taken aback.

The white cat slowly transformed into a beautiful woman. She had long, flowing white hair, glowing blue eyes, and flawless pale skin. She was dressed in a gown made of delicate silk, and in her hand, she held a long staff adorned with gold. To my surprise, her cat ears and tail remained, twitching slightly as she smiled at me.

"What... what are you?" I asked, mesmerized by her beauty.

"I am the Goddess of Benevolence. Takahiro Nao, because of your kindness in saving me, I will grant you one wish," she said gently, her voice filled with warmth.

"A wish? Can I... Can I go back to life? Please, Goddess, I have to take care of my family on Earth!" I begged, falling to my knees in desperation.

"I cannot bring you back to life in your world. But I can help you provide for your family," the goddess replied, a soft smile on her face.

"How? I'll do anything! Just tell me what I need to do," I declared with determination.

"You will be reincarnated in another world. Become a hero and defeat the Demon King who seeks to conquer that world. The more you contribute, the greater the rewards you can send to your family on Earth," she explained, her eyes filled with kindness and hope.

"I'll do it! But... I'm just an ordinary guy. How can I become a hero?" I asked, feeling a twinge of doubt in myself.

"With my power, I will grant you a system to guide and support you in this new world," she said reassuringly.

Suddenly, a notification appeared before my eyes, much like a game interface. It read, "Do you wish to reincarnate into another world? Yes or No."

"Demon King or whatever—I don't care! This is all for my family!" I said, firmly pressing the 'Yes' button.

"Good luck, my hero," the Goddess of Benevolence said as she leaned toward me, whispering an incantation.

"Thank you"

In that moment, my body dissolved into particles of light, soaring toward the gate of another world....

---Adventure in another world begin!---