Chapter 3: Perfect Life Simulator

Chapter 3: Perfect Life Simulator

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After leaving Sora's room and checking the time, Elric realized there was still a while before Utaha would arrive.

In the meantime, he began re-evaluating the dilemma he had been mulling over during the day.

Should he leave Kyoto and settle somewhere less populated?

"Monsters, cursed spirits, and Magus have been far more active in recent years. That's not a good sign," he muttered to himself.

"Although these groups aren't unified—cursed spirits fight monsters, and monsters clash with ghouls all the time—it's still..."

Since discovering that the world he lived in was a chaotic blend of fantasy, Elric had been paying close attention to such developments.

So far, he had identified at least ten distinct supernatural forces, but very few individuals seemed capable of countering them effectively.

Take cursed spirits, for example: Jujutsu High exists, and Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru are there—but Yuji Itadori? He's probably still just a kid, if he's even born yet.

Then there were the ghouls: the CCG is active, and Takatsuki Sen is around, but there's no sign of Kaneki Ken.

As for the monsters, the feathered fox in Kyoto is making waves, and the Nura Clan exists—but only the first generation. The second and third generations? Nowhere to be found.

And these were just a few examples. Supernatural power in this world felt wildly unbalanced, leaving Elric—an ordinary person—feeling woefully out of place.

At the very least, he was sure of one thing: he wasn't some destined protagonist from an anime or a hero chosen by fate. He didn't believe in such things.

"Running away with Sora isn't a bad option," he reasoned aloud. "With my current skills, I can live comfortably in a small town.

"As for Utaha and a few other friends... I'll warn them. Help where I can, but beyond that..."

After deliberating for what felt like an eternity, Elric finally came to a decision.

Just as he resolved himself, a sudden notification interrupted his thoughts:

[Ding Dong! The Perfect Life Simulator is loading...]

[Loading complete. Congratulations, host—your gold finger has arrived.]

An illusory screen materialized in front of him, revealing a detailed character panel.

Name: Elric Takahashi

Race: Human

Alignment: Chaos Neutral (Chaos indicates the host has no fixed notions of good or evil and is entirely self-centered.)

Strength: Ordinary Human

Durability: Ordinary Human

Agility: Ordinary Human

Magic: Ordinary Human

Luck: C

Charm: SS+

Noble Weapon: None

Skills: None

Bloodline: None

Talent: None

Profession: None

Score: 0

Number of Simulations: 1

Current Evaluation: A young man with a beautiful face who understands when to advance or retreat, recognizes gains and losses, makes rational choices, and respects the bigger picture. As an ordinary person, you are exemplary.

"System? Perfect Life Simulator?" Elric muttered, his brow furrowing in surprise.

Having read countless web novels in his previous life, he was no stranger to gold finger systems and simulators. But after eighteen years in this world, he had given up on ever awakening one.

[Host report: Due to the host's calm and low-profile life over the past eighteen years, the system determined that survival in this increasingly dangerous supernatural world would be exceedingly difficult. As a result, the system has now activated.]

[This system is a Perfect Life Simulator, designed to access infinite worlds and allow the host to participate in simulations of various lives.]

[In these simulations, the host can earn points, bloodlines, talents, skills, and more.]

After a detailed discussion with the simulator system, Elric realized that this simulator was strikingly similar to the systems he had read about in novels. By participating in simulations, he could grow stronger, acquire rare talents, and even obtain secret medicines capable of healing Sora's fragile body.

What made it even better was the Time Manager feature. No matter how much time passed in the simulated worlds, only a single second would elapse in the real world.

[How about it, host? Ready to start the simulation?]

"Is there any need to ask? Of course, I'll simulate," Elric responded without hesitation.

Until now, he had stayed away from the world of supernatural powers because he was just an ordinary person. Naturally, he had to rely on the cautious mindset of someone without extraordinary abilities, considering the risks and avoiding unnecessary dangers.

But things were different now. He had the golden finger, and he wasn't going to let any opportunity to grow stronger slip through his fingers. Elric wasn't the type to hesitate, procrastinate, or wait until the last minute to scramble for a solution.

Every second mattered. He would seize the chance to strengthen himself now so that if he ever encountered a malicious supernatural force, he could stand his ground confidently.

When the time came, there would be no hesitation. He'd simply cut it down.

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[As a reward for your first simulation, a novice gift package has been prepared.]

[Ding Dong! Congratulations, host! You have received a Skill Card, a Talent Card, and a Career Card. Would you like to open them now?]

Elric had barely confirmed his decision to start when the system presented him with a tempting reward.

"Open them!" he commanded, excitement bubbling within him. He could only hope his luck would hold out.

[Ding Dong! Congratulations on opening the Skill Card: you have obtained Memory Hall (S).]

[Memory Hall (S): You can perfectly store all images and sounds you experience in your memory. These can be retrieved and replayed at any time, comparable to the observational talents of Sherlock Holmes or Tang Detective.]

[Ding Dong! Congratulations on opening the Talent Card: you have obtained Beautiful Young Man (A).]

[Ding Dong! Due to the host's inherent SS+ charm, Beautiful Young Man has been upgraded to Beautiful Disaster (SS+).]

[Beautiful Disaster (SS+): Your charm is unparalleled, and your words and actions profoundly influence others. Any creature you encounter starts with significantly increased favorability toward you.]

[Ding Dong! Congratulations on opening the Career Card: you have obtained Fraudster (A).]

[Fraudster: Lies are your playground, and truth your weapon to mock reality. Your words are exceptionally convincing, and you can discern when others are lying. This skill is ineffective against beings with higher attributes than yours.]

Elric took a moment to process the descriptions. Drawing three cards and receiving such powerful rewards felt like an excellent start. The system had also clarified the ranking structure: from E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS, and the enigmatic EX.

Each "+" sign indicated a temporary doubling of effectiveness. "++" meant quadrupling, and further upgrades could push the ability to an entirely new level.

As for EX, it represented boundless possibilities. It could mean a skill so strong it defied comprehension—or one so weak it was practically useless.

"These three rewards… hmm…" Elric muttered. While they were undeniably powerful in supporting roles, they didn't directly boost his combat ability.

Still, he wasn't discouraged. "I just hope the first simulation world isn't too challenging."

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, steeling himself for what lay ahead.

It was time to embark on his first simulated life.

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Note.1: Since the book primarily focuses on Type-Moon in the early stages, the combat power system follows its established framework. However, I've added S, SS, and SSS tiers above A for more precise distinctions.

Note.2: Although the protagonist's simulated life is described in short sentences and fragments, it is essential to understand that the protagonist is a fully realized individual who has traveled to another world to start a new life. The narrative merely accelerates the process for the sake of pacing.

Please keep in mind that the protagonist is experiencing these events directly, even if they are summarized briefly. This approach avoids creating a sense of disconnection. I mention this explicitly to clarify any potential misunderstanding.

Note.3: The group chat introduced in the synopsis will not appear until two additional heroines have been introduced.

This decision also ties into the sense of separation mentioned earlier. If I were to include a group chat featuring over a dozen heroines from the start, it might overwhelm readers, making it difficult to remember their traits or for me to depict their personalities effectively.

It's better to take a gradual approach, giving each heroine the attention they deserve.