Chapter 3

The air is different. It's so refreshing compared to before. I mean, it's incomparable. When I look around, my surroundings are also completely different instantly.

[Party members have been settled!]

[Welcome to the Lobby, player Hikigaya Hachiman]

[Starting the system…]

"Whoaaaa! Flowers! So beautiful!"

My mouth opens wide, ignoring the system since this place is absolutely stunning! But then I slap my cheeks and come back to my senses.

I believe this is a sight I'll never forget. My body stiffens like a country bumpkin experiencing the city for the first time.

I look around.

I've never been to this place, but it looks familiar.

Behind the clouds, the sky is full of stars, and yet the land is bright like day. The infinity lake... no, that looks like an endless sea as the water cascades like a waterfall to the unknown.

Mountains with snow on top and beautiful rivers coming down until they meet the endless sea. This place is more like a version of the flat earth, no, it's more like a floating island. This beautiful landscape...

Something was missing...

Wait, where did I see this before? If I could describe this place in one name...

"Hm? Asgard…? Holy cow!"

That's it! If Odin's ancestors aren't here yet, then this place is certainly Asgard, but when it was still empty of their civilization! Wait! This place is the Lobby?! I thought it would be a vast white room or just a shady place, but they gave us a big flying island instead!

"Hachi! Get your ass here ASAP! The water is so good!"

Yoshiteru called as I saw the other boys swimming in the calm river.

Even the boys were starting to enjoy this paradise without worry! Shouldn't we listen to the system first? But the system seems calm, unlike others that usually slap the slave—I mean, the host—with punishment.

Slap! I slapped my cheek again, "Ahaha~ Wait for me, boys! Ahahahaha~ Ahahahaha~ Yahoooooooo!"

I threw my school uniform away even my boxers too, I ran to the river playfully through the flowers and then jumped into the water.

---

(Miyuki's POV)

"GAHAHAHAH! I caught this lobster with my bare hands boys!"

"Dude… be quiet."

"Hah… This is not the second life I signed up for. Flirting with the girls, having a beautiful school life, chitchat with Hiratsuka-sensei, hehe... what the hell is that? Sounds delicious. Instead, here I am with the boys, chilling naked by the riverside paradise. Sniff! This is fraud."

Ignoring them, I was thinking of something else.

The Lobby…

It was the place we didn't expect. It's the same as we never thought the first quest would gather us together again. After we were done playing in the water, the system explained how it works and what use this place called the Lobby has. The system seems to have taken the reference of Asgard from the MCU.

More importantly, this quest has activated our system.

"The system's got a point. It's active, but it doesn't mean it's in full function."

Hachiman sighed, "It's like the system is telling us that if we want to clear the ads, we must buy a subscription first! Why do I have a feeling there will be a bunch of ads later?"

I looked at the system.

[Identity]

Name: Shirogane Miyuki

Age: 15

Race: Human

Class: None

Level: 1

HP: 100/100

MP: -

Fatigue: 0

[Stats]

Strength: -

Health: -

Agility: -

Sense: -

Intelligence: -

[Passive Skills]

None

[Active Skills]

None

"That's it?"

I said, expecting more. Bitch, my fantasy had been ruined.

"Most likely."

I glanced at Yu-chi and I could see his status window.

While I could only see the status windows except for the notification. Well, it's useless anyway since it will be the same as mine.

"I think it's the same as Sung Jinwoo's stats. Well, the look is pretty much the same except I don't see any stats points. Sigh…"

Hachiman was saying something about him.

Well, I know about him since we once read the comics. It's a hype story about the weak becoming strong. But, I didn't expect that I would enter that story as a Japanese.

Unlike Hachiman, I didn't like it at all.

"So, this thing will make us strong?" Yoshiteru said with his arms crossed.

"Probably, but why don't we get basic stuff? Shouldn't we be able to try gacha as a tutorial?"

"Hachi, why do you think like that?"

I said as he chuckled.

"Well, I'm just saying it since I read too much fanfiction lately where the MC gets strong without even trying. Haha. It seems this system is stingy. I don't even see the inventory here."

I hummed as I wasn't sure about what he just said, but at least he was right about the system.

"Anyway, let's read this info dump first."

I started reading the information about the system.

[Status]

[By saying 'status' directly or by thought, you can see how strong you are.]

[Lobby]

[The flying island that has strong mana. The bridge between worlds. Players can use it as a starting point and train before clearing the floors. Instant healing functions are available everywhere in the lobby, so players can train without worrying about recovery. Once the floors have been cleared, players can bring the Lobby from this dimension to the world that has been cleared.]

[Disclaimer: the system won't provide players assistance to develop the Lobby. However, you might get something from gacha!]

[Tower]

[Become strong by clearing all the floors! Your world is in great danger. This tower was prepared to help players become strong as a team!]

[Gacha]

[The rarity of gacha is divided into Normal, Rare, Super Rare, and Ultra Rare! Every time you clear a floor, your party will get gacha!]

"The descriptions are simple. In summary; the lobby is our cave to heal and train. The tower is like the gate from the world we reincarnated to. By climbing the tower, we can level up and get the gacha as the prize."

I said as everyone seemed to understand that too.

"Shouldn't we have stat points to raise our stats? I don't see them anywhere, so… how about you guys?"

Hachiman was referring to Sung Jinwoo's system again, wasn't he?

"Me neither. It seems this system works differently."

"Such a pity. I mean, we could get strong by doing Saitama's daily workout."

"You've got a point, Hachi. Unless you have two hearts inside your chest, that's probably not going to work."

"Tch… I don't like this. It sounds like we'll become slaves to this system."

Yoshiteru had the same concern I did. However…

"I know that feeling well, Rudy. But I noticed, it doesn't seem like the system forces us to enter the tower. The system should impose punishment or penalties like Sung Jinwoo's, but it doesn't. It clearly says all of this is prepared for us to get strong, but it sounds like the system doesn't care if we don't use it."

Their silence confirmed it.

I smiled internally. Did they think I said those things without thinking first? These guys have different egos and want to do things their own way.

Well, me too.

What do you think big countries build nukes for?

I need strength that'll become a source of money. The Tower also excites me since the system said that if a specific world is cleared, I could explore and exploit its resources!

Who gives a shit about me becoming an anime protagonist?

That's hilarious.

Chris, that's me, is not antisocial. I welcome everyone as a friend of benefit. But I don't give a fuck about heroine routes or their cheap fuck drama.

I mean, look at all of this!

It's like free real estate for me, an investment I'll go die-hard working for!

But I need the boys as well, and I'm worried about them. I don't want to see my brothers have pathetic lives, so I have to convince them to get strong.

"So, it's up to us to decide," Yu said with a sigh. "What a drag. What choice do I have?"

Nico, I mean Yu-chi, took my bait. This guy sure will say, 'Nah, I'm good,' then shut himself in his room again.

Now... I glanced at Hachiman. Sure, this guy. Since he got a second chance in the world he likes, I bet he'll be hard to convince.

"That's cool. But guys, let's do that later, shall we? I mean, we still need to socialize with our new family at home. We haven't even attended our first class correctly, so I think it's too soon for us. Well, I have something else to do with my sister too."

I sighed as I crossed my arms.

"Man, are you being serious?"

"I am. Look, I'm happy to see you all and that we have the same cheat, but I have to keep my priorities."

Hachiman looked at me as if he wasn't joking.

"What priority? Are you that desperate to get along with the chicks?"

"What the hell was that man? There's nothing wrong with me spending my time in school or with my family. Look,I know we're brothers but don't cross the line."

As he said this, the first guy to react was Rudy, I mean Yoshiteru.

"Keep saying that bullshit, I'll beat your ass for real."

"Ah, look at this guy. Why are you so triggered about it?"

"Rudy, back off," I said as I tapped his shoulder. Damn, this guy's shirt is sweating.

"Look, man, I know how you feel," I said, tapping Hachiman's shoulder as I led him away from the muscle head.

"Sorry about that, Chris. I didn't mean—"

"Nah, it's nothing to me. I understand that feeling. You know what? I have a sister now. What's her name, Hachi?"

"My sister? Komachi. She's a sophomore at Shuchi'in Middle School." He paused. "Man, look, even though you're my brother, I won't give you Komachi."

"Fuck. I didn't hit on your sister. Well, maybe our sisters could be friends since Kei is also a sophomore at that school."

"Wait, that means they're both his juniors, right?"

Hachiman looked at Yu-chi, who just minded his own business.

"That's why, Nollan. You clearly don't understand our situation, man. We're as good as weaklings."

"Why are you in such a rush, man?" He asked as I paused then whispered, "You want to protect your sister, right?"

Hachiman didn't answer, but his silence spoke volumes.

"Good. But look at you now. I know you might think you're a protagonist, but in this world, you're just a nobody. So how are you going to protect your sister?"

As I whispered, I could tell he was nervous.

"Let's say this. What if she gets attacked by a hunter, an E-rank at that? Or there's a dungeon break near her? What would you do in that situation? Remember what will happen to Japan soon?"

"Gi... Giants from an S-rank gate almost wiped out Japan," Hachiman said, visibly shaken.

Internally, I grinned.

"If we don't start now, then when? Do you think the system will give us power by dating girls? No. We have to enter that place and kill the fucking monsters. The system doesn't care about us. Thus, we have to make a decision. Either fight or die pathetically."

Hachiman then sighed, and I could see in his eyes that he had made his decision.

"Alright. Let's do this. Well, it doesn't hurt since I could get girlfriends if I become strong anyway."

I smiled and nodded at him.

As long as he has motivation, that's enough for me.

"Such a fucking simp."

"You got a problem?"

"I do. I don't recognize this desperate simp at all. Are you really my brother?"

"You little—"

"Okay, hold on," I intervened before things got out of hand. "We're not talking about chicks, man."

"Then what? Don't tell me, Chris. You too?"

"Sigh... they're talking about the bitches."

Suddenly, a lazy tone backed me up.

"Hmmm...."

Yoshiteru hummed for a while with what Yu-chi had just said.

"HAHAHAHA!" Yoshiteru then shook Yu-chi's hand, "Finally! Someone speaks my language."

With just a simple line, Yu-chi managed to convince Yoshiteru and end the unnecessary talk. As expected from the lazy ones—they always come up with efficient things.

"Such a hypocritical guy," Hachiman muttered.

I smiled, satisfied that I had convinced them to get stronger.

Alright. Let's take care of each other and climb to the top of the world together. Kekekel!

[Quest available!]

[Tutorial floor has been created!]

[To fully activate your status window, players need a specific class that reflects their combat abilities and future stat growth.]

[A special quest has been designed to identify each player's class based on their fighting style.]

[Warning!]

[No items are allowed to enter the tutorial floor for accurate class analysis.]

[Will players accept the quest?]

"Well, boys. Looks like we have a job to do," I said as everyone nodded at me—some with big grins, some stoic, some nervous.

Nevertheless, we were ready to go.

"Alright, we're in."

[Confirmed!]

[Portal preparation initiated...]

Suddenly, a blue circle slowly appeared in front of us, crackling as it stopped growing.

[Portal complete!]

[Time settings inside the floor synchronized with real-world time!]

[All players can safely enter the portal!]

"I thought a huge tower would rise from the ground."

Yoshiteru had a point, but who cared about the detail?

"Alright, boys. Let's go."

---

Suddenly, they arrive at a place they are unfamiliar with.

"Boys, analysis," Miyuki looks around as the boys seem clueless.

The city is surrounded by towering walls. Narrow, dirt streets are lined with timber houses. With a castle on a hill watching over the city, the sounds of blacksmiths, horse hooves, and people talking fill the air.

"Looks like a medieval city to me," Hachi said as he looked up. "But guys, does this sight remind you of something?"

"Those walls are fucking enormous. My neck hurts."

"Agreed," Hachi said to Yoshiteru, "Don't you guys think it's impossible to build these walls?"

"Must have taken a lot of slaves," Miyuki said.

Bang! A blinding light came from behind the wall, shaking the ground. The boys narrowed their eyes, looking like they'd just woken up from a long nap and were trying to remember what time is it.

The townspeople stopped as they watched the smoke rising from behind the wall.

"I don't like where this is going," Yu said, his lazy eyes wide open.

Crash!

Soon after, they saw a big hand grasping the top of the wall, casting a large silhouette upon them.

"THAT'S A TITAN?!"

"Impossible!"

"That wall is over 50 meters!"

The boys heard people start screaming in fear.

"Boys, take cover!" Miyuki shouted as a loud crack followed.

The boys started to run, watching debris from the wall fly into the sky.

Bang!

Bang!