1 Chapter 1

As a punctual human in the world of recession, the idea of being late is simply unthinkable in both social viewpoints and practicality because I'd rather not lose the opportunities and have the receiving end of my father's berating. I understand that our situation is bad financially due to the recent collapse of our economy hence why they strictly raised me to be a disciplined child, an ideal child that is Intelligent, loyal and collected. But most importantly, to have a common sense in order to survive this dystopian era.

So the idea of disappointing my parents and self-loathing is simply... unthinkable and outright blasphemous.

Lucky for me I was just in time to catch the train pulling into the station, and as I checked my Smartphone to check the messages, I lost the signal I stepped onto the train e̙̱͖̩ͦͩ̋v͕̜̘͖͙͍̦̏ͣͯ̋̑͐̾̇̚͡e̱͓͑̀ͨ͋̚͝r̵̟̙͎̯̲͔͐͛ͨy̢̤̱͓ͤ͛̕t͇̮̫͔ͥͧ̄̑̿̆h̾̊̋͋̋͏̵̡͉͇̞̩̮i̮̳̙̙͇̖̫̖ͬͨ̎́͋ͤ̆n̹̣̙͂͛̒ͬ̅̈͠ġ̜͓̣͙̟̙̘̰̏̇ͧͣ ̣̗̯̘̹͇͈͊͛w̟͎̙̱̖̏̔̇̑̓͢a͈͎͓͖̱͇ͤ͂ͬ̾̈́̓͐̉ͅs̸̷̡̱̪͙̞̩͓̲͛ͪͦ͒̊ ̷̗̻͌̒͐ṇ̢̞͗̉́́̓̚͜o̵̳̼̼͈̓͌̍t̖̳̘̘̳̻̖̼̺ͨͭ̃͌̅̿̊̀h͎̜͔̿̂͡i̯̜ͩ͟ṉ̢̟̻̹͔̰ͨ́̒ͥ̇̅̽͜ĝ̸̗͚̗͉̩̻͈͎̀̑̒̆̍͜ ̯̗̹̜͖̱̳̠͕ͥ̀̕a̴̛͉͈̣̪̓̏̊ͪ̉̀ͥ͛͢nͧ̈̒ͪ̍̽̈͏̠̝͚͘͝d̮̬͓̲͇͇͙ͫ̾͐̇ ̟̣͖̭͉͙͙͐͆ͩ̈́̓̒̄ͧ̀͡s̼̝̙̜̥̭ͦ̓t̛̰̺͉͇̝̜̠ͫ̅̄ͯ̇͋̎ͣr̦̩̈̏̃͆̅ͪ̑̄͟ę̤͎̭͖̙ͭ̍̇ͥͥͫ̓͌̕t̵̞͂͐̐̂̉̆́c̶͚͙̤͎͉̲̱͛̉̉ȟ̥̱̥͚͚͚̼̅͂̉̑͐i̵̝̗̦͔͈̫̳͆͗̇̊ͬ͘n͌̏ͣ̎̄̑͐̕͏̞̙̝̞̮g̛͚̮̔̑̑̉̈͠ ͧ̐ͤͦ͏͕̣͍̠ͅt̶̟͈̭̼̣̊̈́̒̾ͭo̶̩̘̒̔̾͂̍͒̈́ ͎͕̝̞̓̅̔i̋́̏ͮ͏̢̟͈̹͔̻͓̭̜̦n̲̭̬̼͇̓ͩͮ̐̋̆ͤf̝̹͙̖͍̪̟͂̃͌ͫ̾ͫ͌̑̍͘͟i͇̲̩̘ͥ͊ͩͦͤͪ̈ń̴̘̰̲̥̘̫ͨͩͦ̑ͧ͝͠i̛̤̿͛ͅtͪ͐͒͒̓̔̚͠͏̟̼̻̱͠y̹̖̺͍̹̻͚͈̖̿͗ͫ̋̿ͤ͡b̸̒̉͑ͫͦ̇͊͋͆͛̋͑́͟͏͍͙̣̹̀ë̴̢͔̙̰̠̾̈́͐̓̿̍̿̈́͂̚͢͡c̢͎͚̩̜͈͕͑͂ͣͬ̎͞ắ̷̠̮̯̮̱̪͎̳̮̳͉̘̖̖̻͚͉̓͒̂̓̽͊ͥ͗̂͢͞͝û̹͖̼̺̙̠̫ͦ́ͯ̉͝͝ş̼̹̣̳̳̞̥̟̣̜̲̠̯͋̇ͧͥ̋ͦ̾́ͫͯ̎͞͝ͅȩ̶̛̮͖̣̜͉͇̩̮̦̞̳͍͇͖͓̃ͯ͋̔̄̏̑ͩ̅ͥ̐̔̔͘ͅͅ ̸̢̛̼̦̲͚̺̝͙͛ͣ̋ͭͪͤ͐͛̀̇̓ͥͮ͜w̴̱͙̤̙̼͚͆͂͗͗̕͡͞ͅȩ͆̾̅ͥ̀ͨͯͣͧ͑ͥ̑̈́ͭ̀͆̓̄̚͠͏͎̜̤̹̪͇̜̮̠̝̩̪̳͈ ̶̷̹̞͈̙̪̦͍̥͎̯͕̎ͧ̈́ͪͬͪ͋͐͐ͥ̐̀̊̏ͩ̕aͥ̈́̑̃̔͟͏̲͈̩̹ļ̯͖̠͔̩̙͍͖̘̳͈̣͙̖̰͎̜̪̫́̃ͫ͛̊͝ḷ̛͖̟͚̳͚̿ͮ̋͆̓ͤͨͧͪ́͛̃ͮ̒̃ͨ̋̚̚͘͟͠ ̸̵̶͚̹̟̟̮͚̰̯̝̤̫̻̪͇̈́̊ͩ̌̅͊ͭͯh̦͚̬̥̯̙̣̬̱͇͉̠̫ͩ͒ͤ͛̌ͯ͛̏͗͝ͅa̴̮͓̣̯̦̙̟̲͇͖͇̳̗͚͇͎͔ͣ̓̈́̎̍̕ͅv͋ͤ͐̀̔ͤ͒̓́̄͊̕͡͏͎̪̫̻̥̲̹͍͎͕̞̤̳̰̘͠͞ͅé̢̛͛̓̐̏̈́ͩͨ̓ͣ̆̀̿̍̄̓̉ͨ̚͏̩͙͎͚̯̙͇̻̼̩̮ͅ ̧͂̍ͥ̾͆ͥ̇̅̌ͣ̀͊ͬ͋̏͗ͩ̀ͮ͏̠̪̤̮͕̖͎͚̫̩̝̝̗̹̺̀ͅt̶̵͚̟͈͖̀ͧ̑̽ͣ̔̓͛̌͌ͩ̒͝o̸̢͚̫͕͔ͯ̓̑ͩ́͜͜ ̧̛̛̭̱̭͇̞̇ͪ͌ͦ̒̋̈́͛͂̊͌ͭͪ̊̈́̀ḑ̻͇̹̰͍͇̜͓͕̗͚̓͌ͧ͌ͨ͋̓̿͆̐̿̉̾̊͗́͡o̝͇̜̩̞̬̠̦̮̫͖ͥͤ̄͒ͭͦ̑ͦͦ́̽ͮ̒ͧ̒ͮ ̎̆ͫ́͒̄ͥ͛ͤ͏̼̫̻̖̼̗̹̰͙t̴̵̤͙̹͙̣͙͓̫̙͆̏̃̔̎̐̓̍ͫ̎̋̆̑ͨ̓̕͟h̫̮͕̲̦̝̦͓̃͒̊ͨ͜ǐ̸̺̤͍̩͙̺̘͈̫̭̩͗̿̃͜ͅs̔̐̎ͩͫ̊͒̾͌͊ͫ͏͇̦̯̦̙̞̱̯̝̮͈̘͠ ̶̴̙̖͇͚̼̮̮̝̥̠̊͆̇̾ͪ̉͂̈́ͫ̈́̎ͤ̆ͣ̔̋̓̀͢s̵͗́ͩ͒͑̌͌̽͏̶̫͓̗̀o̱̠̣̯͗̓ͫ͒ͩ̂ͩ̓͟͟o̵͇̘̥̥̭͎̹̫͎͚̠̪̠̖̫͙̯̼̊̑͂̉ͫ͌̀̀́̚n̛͉̣͓̙̪͔̔̃̐͒ͦ̋ͯͫ̋̑̎́̑̊ͪ́̀̄̚͜͝͝ȩ̩̘͍̹͖̺̋͂̈́̌̔̐̎̌̊̉̓̒ͯ̄r̨̛̖͖̹̰̼͕̺̣͎̟̥̹̬̻̤̜͆̃ͨͪ͗̂ͭ̔͋ͮ͑ͣ̄ͣ̀́͡͠ͅͅ ̷̡̛̛̟̘̮͕̤̲̱̹̥̺̮̳̳̳̘̬̥̉̒̇̔̌͛̂̃̅̒ͥ́o̵̶̫̤̗͙͇̖̥͌ͩ̎̋ͣ̂̆̒̓ͯͩ̾̂ͥͨ͗ͭ̚͘͜͢r̶̡͓̙̥̠̺͙̞ͤ͑̓̌̉̇̋ͦ͘ ̈ͮ̄͐̓͒̚͏̸̝͕͕̦̠̝̤͈͍̻̘̺̥͖̭̳̰̝͟ͅľ̵̹̺̻̝̪̿̄̏ͩ̿̀̕a̸̙̼͚̺̪͕̋́̎́̑ͮ͑͂̈̈́̆̾̇̓͗ͭ͡͞t̷̸̡̛͈̦̫̳̔̅͗͆̕ẻ̸̸̞̼̳̳̳͍̠̫̙̩̭̦͇̱̟ͦ̊̂̓̅͂͛͐̉̏̍̓ͧͅr̸̸͓̙̜̜̝̫̊̆ͧ̿̓̈́̈́ͣ͐̒̚͜

Ț̯ͮ͐u̷̝̼̭̲̮̬̘r͚̻͚̤͛ͣ̈́ͫ̀͠nͤ̀̄̇e̫ͥ͋ͭ̓ͧͯ͡d͌̓ͮͧ͟ ͗̓̓̚͏̙ả̈̇̚t̲͎̞̥̥̓̋͛ ̣̰̦͊ͣ͛ȁ̠͖̼̘͚̜ͯ̚͞ ̣̳͈̙ͬ͝r͓̣̪̗ͅĭ̦̣̭̟͚̪̽͋͐̒̏̽g̭̹͔̙̬̘͎̔̂̌̂͂͋ͫ̀h̒̅t̰ͥ ̗̙͓̫͇͇ͮͅȃ͕̖̹̞̼̻͂ͨ͝n̗͇̹͇̺̞̕g̷̱̥͂ͦ͗l͕̯ͭe͉̟͓̙͉ ͫͭtͯ̇͌̊̀ͫ͏̦̞̯o̩͑͆ͣ̀̈́̔̀ ̶̙̩̖͙̅͊̆ͯe̲̠̙̺͉̣̐͒ͩͮͭͫv̦̜̦̯͙̈́ͨ̆͊̆͗ͅḛ̭ͩr͚̟̖͚̫̒ͅỵ̰̩̥͉ͪt̜̹̯͠h̘͈͕̽͗̿́i̠͚̼ͧͪ̇̌ͥn͓͈͉̄̐͛̓̅ͤ̋͡g̠̣̹̞͎̣̘͌́̽ metal table hard and cold against my back as my limbs refused to… wait, what?

I blink in daze as I shook off the nauseating headaches in my head, now with improved clarity. presently, I'm standing somewhere foreign and unknown, familiar yet unfamiliar. like the designs of the man made structures of my surroundings is a bit of an twenty-first century, the abrupt change of my surroundings is enough for my mind to blank with bemusement plastered on my face...

Looking at the evening sky, my mouth gapes at the sudden change of time and the fact that there's a large gap between my memories.

The whole ordeal is very confusing and I'm left with fear lingering in my heart as it tries to thump its way put off my chest.

There's no portal, no cute goddess cheerfully telling me I'm dead, no Japanese office worker shuffling papers for my reincarnation, no voice of God talking through a crowd.

Instead, between the start of a step and my foot reaching the ground, I'm just somewhere else. Standing on a bed of pebbles underneath a tree. There's a hot spring pool in front of me, and a glass roof over my head. With walls of wooden slats or paper surrounding this little enclosed courtyard.

A glance at my hands shows them unfamiliar, a sort of healthy porcelain skin, unblemished and loss its scars of hardships. Pulling my hair forward shows a thick, coarse mane that is black as night instead of the thinner brown-black I'm used to. On the one hand, it's annoying to lose my very body. On the other, this new one seems to be in excellent condition in terms of cosmetics and healthcare.

My body seemingly shrunk and the loss of body mass feels... disorienting, my previous one isn't bad or good per se, but it has a built of a bodybuilder but this one is lean, too lean from what I'm used to but and has a far better foundation.

The clothes are new as well.

I halt my introspection when I notice a mirror somewhere out of the corner of my eye.

At first glance, the reflection of a man looked ordinary and unassuming, simply standing at the corner with an intense expression of wariness and bemusement.

There was also the clothing the individual wore; a slim and very expensive looking black suit with a dark grey emblem on the breast pocket, black gloves with a red necktie and dark dress shirt underneath the jacket.

The individual was male, that much was obvious. To him, however, he wondered if he was staring at the personification of animation. The Character's skin was pale but perfect, untouched by blemishes or facial hair, chin angular and nose small and narrow. His eyes were the colour of wine, alluring and intense. His hair was as black as the colour of the night sky and, while slightly messy, helped to contrast his otherwise perfect form. The thin-rimmed glasses that sat atop the bridge of his nose helped to complete the look and gave him an air of intelligence and cunning.

It's an anime Character, but what character is a mystery that doesn't serve any purpose to him if not for something strange. feeling inquisitive towards the poster, he walk towards it to analyse its contents-- but froze when he reached on a conclusion that it's him.

I should be very alarmed, but I'm not. I can feel nerves, tension, and other minuscule emotional backlashes such as frustration and wariness. But not panic. I'm wary yes, but not hyperventilating panicky. I know I'm a collected and adaptable person in certain situations and environment but not this much.

The thought of someone messing with my EQ and memories is worrisome, but I suppose getting sidetrack at this point is simply inconvenient and Inconsequential on the grand scheme of things, so I need to be rational. And all I could think of is that I got isekai'd, as dumb and superstitious as that sounds. But then again I'm at my wit's end and I'd rather not stress myself to death.

Sleeping is out, I'm far aware of my surroundings and my senses works. Even pain. Hallucination is out either, I don't do drugs. Several more attempts of rationalizing this shenanigan but they simply don't match with the three-dimensional Anime-like... well, everything. There's also the fact that I could haphazardly remember my earlier actions.

Wandering around the area to acclimate in my surroundings, I kept my silence and walk with upmost caution as I could lest I earn the ire of occupants. But eventually, I'm alone, I have yet to step outside but that could be done later.

My attention is snatched around the corner of the room as I quickly look at it.

There are a book and a fancy glamorous card made of unknown material is sitting on the rim of the hot spring and flipping through the pages tells me in far too flowery language what's happened. Taken to another world, for the amusement of some higher being. The book calls it a god, for whatever good that does. It doesn't tell me what world awaits outside the shelter of this pocket house, though I suppose the clothing might be a clue, it does tell me the tools I'm to work with to survive.

"...Well shit." Mind you, I don't swear like a ruffian, not unless something bizarre or unexpected happened.

The contents of the book is some sort of catalogue, a catalogue consisting of female characters from the various works of fiction with prices attached at the end. Prices such as 1-5 star cards.

I'm... honestly not sure how to feel about that, on one hand. It's relieving that I'm not sent empty-handed but social interaction is the least of my mastery.

Mind games or psychological warfare is not my forte, that honour goes to mother.

There's also the manner of summoning, would they panic? Yes. Would they kill me? Possibly yes.

Could I do anything about it-?

--Looking over the back of the right hand, Rin's command seal is etched in my skin in Crimson-red colour awaiting innocently at my command. Presumably to ensure my safety.

-Probably.

Why?

Because most of them are villainous, I'm not sure how would they would be summoned, would they simply come after they're dead in their respective universe or simply plucked out of nowhere just like him. If so then what timeline?

That looming question made his mind blank, re-reading the note he got along the book. He only got three command seals like that of the nasuverse, but just like them. They are non-replenishable and the possible loopholes are too damn high. Though he they are impossible to refill, he have 3 commandments per summoned beings.

He's so dead, isn't he?

I took a shuddering intake of air as I calm my nerves down, my skin flushes red and my stomach felt unbearably knotted and hot. I feel sick, and I'm scared for my wellbeing.

Even if I instil a successful partnership, I could still die at any opportune moments.

The world outside could be DC, Warhammer or god damn Cultivation novels for all I know and since I'm an alien to them, I didn't have the luxury of Chakra, Chi of ki.

'No matter.'

Feeling my breathing rhythm calm down, I look back at the catalogue of filled with villainess.

'I'll survive this, just imagine it like real life. But a hundred times deadlier and stress-inducing.' He bitterly thought.

He got a 3-star card, and he could choose a list of women from across time and space according to the power level of 3 out of 10 tiers with three commandments per character to ensure my safety and boost my survival, chain them to my will.

In my old world, that would have been a ticket to unending plenty and satisfaction. I have a feeling wherever my 'patron' dumps me out will not be so simple. I'm meant to amuse after all.

Half the women I dismiss out of hand, at least for now, simply expensive or something else. Like some are too strong, or their powers are too slippery. The command seals would work on even the strongest, presumably, but I'd still have to chant a command against them if they say. Retaliate out of various reasons, so I need to do it without getting burned alive or tossed into some random otherworld or without the girl slipping off through a portal to escape. Others are too weak. There's no point calling up another standard human with no powers if there's a demigod or warring occurs outside the doors of my abode.

Of those that are left, I look for one main criterion. Which ones are not only useful in themselves but can grant me the power of my own? Not to scorn the inherent power of leadership, but even a halfwitted enemy can still learn to kill the summoner first.

That limits me more than a little. Several options could teach me to build amazing technology, but crafting takes time, which I might not have. Complex spellcasting has the same problem if they could somehow grant me access to their respective branch in the first place.

For a moment I'm tempted by that woman of the Akatsuki group from Naruto. Chakra is a flexible system, and capable of astounding power at the upper end, and if from what I remembered, sharing chakra is possible. But again, learning can take years without some gifted insight, and I have no way to know if my patron gave me such a thing.

In the end, I only see one option that stands out. Not the strongest of powers, but the most direct. A simple touch of one trained soul to awaken the spark of another. An instinctive improvement in everything you already do. I'm no Lee or Itachi, but I'm decent a fighter if I say so myself. A power that immediately makes that better?

For the cost of one 3-star summoning card, a surprise green-haired girl appears before me.

Emerald sustain isn't unconscious when she appears on the floor of the empty room I chose to summon her in. That's inconvenient, but she is surprised enough for me to install a command.

According to the book, any characters that have been summoned is already married by the deviant command spells, but suddenly a fist buries itself in my gut, knocking me off my feet and back to the wall.

I wheeze in pain and surprise as I coughed heavily.

'F-fast!'

"Where am I!" The green-haired girl shouts. Under the words, I can hear the clattering sound of metal on metal, and a glance shows her 'gunsickles' unfolding as the barrels pointed in front of me. Definitely can't have that. A thrill of adrenaline runs through me, but just as before, it slowly suppresses. Not Ainz level but certainly manageable enough for me to invoke a spell.

"I command you to unlock my Aura."

There's an odd sort of resonance to the words, not actually heard but still clear, and the girl instantly halts her threatening advance, arms falling back to her sides. Her eyes are still clear, not blank or unseeing, and I can see the anger start to share space with fear as she steps forward and kneels next to me as I pull myself up against the wall. Her hand reaches out and rests a finger on my forehead, and then it's done.

The sensation of the aura is, not odd, but very much outside of any words, I can think of. It doesn't dull sensation, doesn't stop the lingering ache from her punch to the gut. But it does expand my awareness as if that ache was only a part of me, a surface concern. I suppose saying that it awakens my soul and draws it out into my body would be a workable description. And in that touch, her soul is bare to me. A more complete understanding of a person than I have ever had before.

Emerald sags even as I feel a renewed sense of energy. I shift her to sit against the wall and hop to my feet, the action felt absurdly easy. A glance at my hand shows three marks graven into the back shone as one of them faded. Command seals, from the obvious source. Three absolute commands that are utterly non-renewable. And with them, a compulsion to listen to me and nudges to follow my direction. With any luck, the combination will be enough. But in time, there's no telling what's going to secure me.

"Thanks." I said as I walk through the courtyard, "If you're collected and curious of your situation, then come with me to the courtyard once you calm down, I don't know why you felt threatened to justifythat punch out of nowhere but I could least understand you."

Just from her clothing alone, I could haphazardly guest that her timeline must be before Cindy's recruitment, hopefully, I'm right.

And if I am right, then lady luck's on my side as I could gain an alliance, this wouldn't be easy but certainly better than manipulating an already manipulated person.

Walking outside in into the courtyard, I couldn't help but stand still and look at my pocket Dimension's moon and contemplate.

Mind games and socializing aren't my forte, but that doesn't mean I'm a slouch to either of those. Just inexperience, according to my mother. It needs to be natural and what's the best lie in a long term other than half-truths that are believable in the perspective of others and situations?

My mind is going overdrive and it helps my thoughts distracted from getting homesick.

'I'm getting sidetracked.'

I heard a bunch of pebbles shuffling behind me as the girl asks in both confusion and wonder.

"Are we in the past?"