The Darkness was Comfortable for me

Chapter 1: Day of Descent and the 1,000 Chosen

Hiding in the dungeon filled with silence and death, I would strip the equipment from the now voiceless corpses of the explorers, and sell them to the black market. That’s how I somehow manage to get by in my meals.

At the burial chamber that’s intimate with death…

Cloaking myself in darkness, I curl up and hold my breath today as well.

So that no one sees me.

So that I don’t gather the attention of anyone.

And…

So that everyone forgets about me…

◇◆◆◆◇

From amongst the earthlings of various ‘births’, ‘upbringings’, ‘genders’ and ‘ages’; God has chosen 1,000 people to be sent to a different world —an isekai— that’s like the embodiment of swords and magic.

This madness, that enveloped the whole Earth and still continued to do so, began one morning in June when I was finally starting to get used to my high school life.

For me, Kurose Hikaru, this event will be a turning point in my life.

No, to be more specific…it would be the ‘incident’.

A humanoid shape that could only be described as a light silhouette suddenly appeared in ‘all the unused displays’ around the world and stated this…

[I am God.]

At that time, I was in my classroom, in the middle of my first class of the day.

The first one to notice what was displayed in the big TV of the classroom was a female student, and the next instant the sudden scream surprised everyone in the class, the words of ‘God’ had resonated in the weak speakers of the television.

[Descending in this manner must have been surprising for you all. I have been waiting for my dear children to grow, you see. The time has come.]

It was a tone of voice that felt as if it were seeping deep inside my heart.

A voice that could be taken as male or female. I couldn’t pinpoint an age from the voice either.

Even the female student that screamed had a dumbfounded face as she froze in place.

The teacher doing the class until now was suspecting it was some sort of prank or a malfunction, so they tried to use the controller to operate the TV, but ‘God’ didn’t disappear, and it was the same even when plugging it off.

The teacher went to check the state of the neighboring classroom, and it seems like that class as well had ‘God’ displayed on the screen of a smartphone someone had taken out.

[I have chosen 1,000 people from amongst you all. Selected people from the countries around the world mostly blindly. Of course, with no distinction between male and female either. Those that have experience in society, those that could still be called young boys, those at an advanced age; a variety.]

By stating 1,000 people, it confirmed that this phenomenon was not only happening in our school. This school doesn’t even total 1,000 students after all.

Even so, it is saying that this encompasses the countries around the whole world from all races and nations. This must be happening in the whole world in the literal sense of the word. It doesn’t feel real, but there’s no way something like this would feel real in the first place. To the point that I am even suspecting if I fell asleep in the middle of class out of boredom and am dreaming now. There were even students who pinched their cheeks to confirm.

[I will have those 1,000 people go to that ‘one other world’.]

Those words of God stirred up the class.

Another world.

Meaning, an isekai.

[By that one other world, I mean a different world that’s outside from this one that’s within my jurisdiction —a parallel world. To be more precise, ‘the one other world that was made reflecting your likes’.]

The classroom grew noisier at those words of God.

But I myself couldn’t get that excited.

Because if you think about it calmly, the likelihood of getting chosen, and the likelihood of someone in this school getting chosen, are like the chances of winning the lottery.

Babies and elderly are most likely going to be excluded, but there’s 7 billion people on Earth.

1 in 7 billion. If put in terms of the lottery, it would be like drawing the winning ticket in 1 or maybe 2 tries. On top of that, if there’s division between countries and races, the more disadvantageous you are if the population is high. It is on a level that you could even consider the chances to be 0.

1 or 2 japanese high school students might get chosen, and it is not like I am not interested at all in a world of swords and magic though…

[I will have the transferred people live their lives in that other world as they wish. There will be no demanding or forcing from us. You are free. However, the price of freedom is that there’s obviously the chance of death.]

Looks like this is not a story where they tell you to become a hero and defeat the demon lord.

I can’t tell what’s the aim of this ‘God’, but it can’t be helped to think of it as a being that’s outside human intellect.

[Of course, I don’t intend to have you go just like that. I plan on providing you with ‘Gifts’ that will help you in surviving.]

By the time I noticed, everyone in class was silently listening as if they had been entranced by the words of God.

When I glanced at my childhood friend who is sitting diagonally in front of me, she had a shocked expression just like everyone else, and had her eyes nailed at the television.

[I have also prepared entertainment for the many who will be left here. You will be able to watch the adventures of the ones who have journeyed off Live…in real time broadcast and cheer for them. I have created a specially set up site that everyone can access through a computer. Your support will directly become their strength. Isn’t that fun?]

This was the first time a sign of emotions was shown in the words of God.

By specially set up site, they must be referring to a website.

God is utilizing the internet to make a website?

I thought at first that maybe it might be God, but now it sounds like an ill natured joke.

Anyways, I am on the side that doesn’t want to go to a parallel world.

I can’t even function properly in this world, so I am not such a mature person that could live a fun life thrown in a world I don’t know anything about.

[The Chosen that gather specially high attention will be getting a variety of benefits, and will be assisted in ways that will make things easier for them. If you want to know more in detail about this, please check the specially set up site… Now then, about those most important 1,000 chosen people, I have placed a mark on them in a part of their body so that everyone can tell it is them. It is something that cannot be replicated with your technology by any means, so it should eliminate the possibilities of fakes showing up.]

The moment God said this, the whole classroom grew noisy in an instant.

A mark somewhere in their bodies…

I feel like it is devious how they didn’t even tell us the shape of it, but it is most likely something that you can tell it is that once you see it.

A number of the male students were even taking off their shirts to confirm.

[You are asking why I suddenly appeared and thought of this plan? Fufu, actually, I thought of this from the very beginning. The moment your civilization reached a certain level, I was thinking about giving you an interesting service, you see. For you people, a being like me with transcendental powers existing must be driving your religions mad, but…anyways, I don’t mind you considering this a reward from me to you. Enjoy it to its fullest. If you have any requests, I will receive them on the special site. I say that, but I am not taking requests to become a Chosen, okay? You might have suspicions of foul play in regards to the selection of the Chosen, but I swear to God that it was random. Fufu…get it?]

Despite calling itself God, it has quite the friendly personality.

Or maybe it is just acting that way.

Even while God was speaking, my classmates were searching for the ‘mark’ that might have shown somewhere on their bodies.

I knew the probability of me being one was close to zero, and most of all, only mood riders that get easily influenced by the atmosphere would go along with a sudden event like this, so I kept it to just flipping my sleeve a bit to confirm.

I am the type that doesn’t stand out in class.

The so-called anti-social guy.

Showing myself getting super excited from hearing the word ‘isekai’ would be ‘way too fitting’ for me.

[Right right, I forgot to say something. The mark is at your palm.]

Those added words made everyone -even the teacher- look at their own hands to confirm as if by reflex.

I also gave it a good amount of time before confirming myself.

(…Well, figures.)

There was no mark on my palms.

The probabilities were as low as winning the lottery in one try. The chances of not a single one in this whole school, or maybe even in this whole city being chosen are higher.

That’s how it works when it is on a scale of 1,000 in the whole world.

(Eh?!)

I am sorry for my classmates who are all excited here, but that’s why I thought not a single one of them in this classroom…no, in this whole school would be chosen.

—That is, until I saw the face of my childhood friend.

That girl -Souma Nanami- was looking straight ahead, placing both her hands on top of the desk as if she were hiding her palms.

Even though she was facing ahead, she wasn’t looking at anything —it is the face she makes when something unexpected happens and her brain blanks out.

And then, she turned my way as if making a *gigigi* sound.

A pale white face as if her blood had been completely drained from it.

With eyes on the verge of tears.

“Hi-chan… I…” (Nanami)

Within this still noisy classroom, there wasn’t anyone who was paying attention to Namami who was the same plain type as me.

That’s why there was no one who noticed her slowly raising the palm of her left hand this way, that has a mandala-like geometric pattern that was constantly changing its colors and even its shape as if it were alive.

God had, at some point in time, disappeared from the television.

Chapter 2: Tumult of the world and childhood friend

An uproar that was as if heaven and earth had turned upside down spread around the whole world soon after.

God had made its appearance after all.

For the countries that respect religion, it had enough impact to overturn common sense itself.

The internet, television, newspapers, and almost all forms of news media were talking about ‘God’.

‘Just what was that?’ ‘Was that really God?’ ‘In the first place, what even is God?’

It was a discussion that had no answers at present, but it was certain that this was the biggest ‘incident’ of the century. We are talking about God appearing in the displays of the whole world -apparently didn’t show up in the ones that were being used though- at the same time.

It was morning in Japan when it happened, but there were apparently places where God appeared late at night or early morning due to the time difference.

The countries and religious organizations were giving their respective statements regarding God.

The only thing that they shared in common was that all religions and all countries didn’t acknowledge that as being the true God.

It has God-like powers -that point alone was certain. Even so, using this as the reason to acknowledge that as being God would apparently destroy the notion of religion from its very roots.

One religion said that’s the devil, and one country claimed it was international cyberterrorism.

In one country, there was even a tragic incident where a group of people had killed a ‘Marked’ boy stating that he had been seduced by the devil. They said things like ‘the ‘Mark’ disappears once they die’, and ‘the ‘Mark’ is passed to the person that killed them’; news that lacked any sort of credibility…

Most people easily accepted that as being God, and their interest mostly shifted to the parallel world.

43 people were chosen from Japan.

It is apparently on the high side when considering the population, but I can’t really tell.

The problem for me is that my childhood friend Nanami has been chosen.

“Uuuuh… This is the worst… The worst… Can you return from this…?” (Nanami)

“I don’t know, but according to the information we have now, it doesn’t sound possible.” (Hikaru)

It has already been half a day since then, and yet, Nanami was still crying in her bed.

Nanami is the gentle and calm type, so it was a bit surprising that she already had a life plan, but what’s certain is that she now has been cut off from all things like university and employment -even if there’s the chance to go to school or get a job in that other world.

God has been uploading bits and pieces of information since then.

But, putting it bluntly, there’s currently no information that would bring her peace of mind.

There’s not much time left for Nanami.

She has only been given half a year in order to prepare until she is transferred.

There’s no way the mass media and the countries would leave the ‘Chosen Ones’ alone in that half year span.

When Nanami went to school, all the students gathered to spectate this ‘Marked’.

There’s only 43 japanese people who have the ‘Mark’, so of course they would find it intriguing, but it was a situation where it was almost impossible to have classes.

Curious onlookers would come even from outside the school too, and the mass media would lie in wait in front of the school gate. It didn’t even take 3 days for the principal to tell Nanami to be on standby at her house which was just another way of telling her to stay away.

I could only watch my childhood friend crying without being able to do anything.

The most I can do is gather as much information as possible so that even when she goes to that other world, she can still manage to live there.

◇◆◆◆◇

The days passed by together with the same noise.

My life didn’t change much, but the life of Nanami was already changing drastically exactly because it is before going to the parallel world.

Because her face has been shown around now, even more onlookers have come to the school. Nanami has technically dropped out, so she hasn’t come to school.

A special program was made by gathering the 43 Chosen, and Nanami showed up in her usual school uniform on tv.

Her presence at school was thin just like me, and if I had to put her on one side, I would say she is on the bullied side, but right now she is completely the favorite child of the era.

Due to the parallel world information that was slowly being disclosed by God, the gears of the world were turning even faster.

I would note that information down and explain it to Nanami.

God has allowed the chosen 1,000 to ‘bring one thing that they can hold in one hand’. The countries have put their all to create the products for their own country’s ‘chosen’.

From Japan, they would be provided a high spec body armor developed in America.

There should be no guns in an isekai, so it is resistant to blades, impacts, fire, and electricity; a product tailored for a fantasy world. It is apparently the kind of product that would easily go over 10,000,000 yen if you were to purchase it normally.

However, God has given the strict order that the item they bring can’t go against the will of the person themselves, so to not force them to. They are technically free to choose. It seems Nanami is troubled over what to bring.

“Hi-chan, about what to bring, I think I would get homesick, so I am thinking photos would be a good idea.” (Nanami)

Nanami said this and took out an album.

An album filled with memories that she herself handpicked.

“No, it definitely would be better to go for the body armor. There’s no knowing what will be there, you know? There’s no assurance that it will be a peaceful world like Japan.” (Hikaru)

“Eeh… But that thing’s not cute… It looks stuffy too…” (Nanami)

“I honestly would want you to bring a proper weapon. Just bear with it.” (Hikaru)

“Eeh, but won’t that stand out instead?” (Nanami)

“Isn’t it okay to just hide it with a cloak?” (Hikaru)

Right now the only choice is the body armor.

It is like being able to bring an armor that can let you fight the last boss right away after all. If it were me choosing, I would choose that.

Nanami made a slightly sad face, but in the end, maybe because of the country, her parents, and advice from outside, she chose the body armor.

Her wanting to bring photos is just like her, but it has already been settled that she will be sent to a different world. Even if Nanami doesn’t want to go to another world, even if I wish from the bottom of my heart for someone else to take her place…

There’s already no escape.

Then, I would like her to make the choice that will have the highest probability of survival… I do feel bad for Nanami, but she has been chosen by God. There’s no way to stop the transfer.

To be honest here, I even want to insult God that they should be choosing more suitable people.

But in the eyes of God, you could even say that choosing people who are ‘unsuitable’ like Nanami would be more amusing. It is an ill natured plan of broadcasting the humans that will be going to that world after all.

I doubt there were no such intentions in play when they were choosing the ones to be transferred.

Anyways, it has already been settled.

She may not like it, it may be unexpected, even so, she has no choice but to prepare herself ahead of time.

Thanks to my two little sisters who are proficient in languages, we also managed to gather information from overseas.

How to say it, it is like their personalities showed in the items they were bringing. Contrary to all the japanese people that had chosen the body armor, in the other countries (even America) the items they were bringing were very varied. There were unexpectedly a lot of people who were bringing musical instruments, most likely due to their expectations that music will overcome communication.

I am pretty worried about Nanami being thrown into a parallel world, but I also feel a bit jealous… I am honestly feeling conflicted here.

As for Nanami herself, she was cursing while crying at first, but it seems like she had come to terms with it in her heart as time went on, she had somewhat gotten more positive about going to a parallel world.

Even so, it is not like she is proactive like the other Chosen. It seems like this side of her resonated well in the tv and magazine interviews, in social media, she had been cemented as a loved character despite being teased as well.

In the official site managed by God, exclusive bulletin boards and chat rooms for the respective chosen were made, and due to it being translated to all languages, it had traffic flooding from the whole world, and they were all writing whatever they pleased.

I myself checked the page of Nanami out of curiosity, but the personal information of Nanami had been exposed completely, and it was content that I just couldn’t stomach to look at any longer.

She had already lost any privacy, and I was repulsed at how they were treating her like a panda on display, but there’s already no method to stop this development.

The broadcast of God was being done once every week.

The parallel world that was being unveiled steadily.

The ‘benefits’ for the chosen that were steadily being made clear.

The special official site that God had prepared was being accessed by people from all around the world everyday without end, and it managed to get the world rank 1 website in the blink of an eye.

Despite there still being 1 month before the people are transferred, popularity polls were being made, and the number 1 was a french girl. Nanami also put up a good fight and got 79. She was 8th among the japanese. The person herself was surprised and humbled herself like crazy, but she is already a worldwide celebrity.

I was feeling somewhat proud as her childhood friend.

And so, explosive days passed and…

That day finally came.

Chapter 3: Different World Bulletin Board [Country: JPN – C] 3679th

–1: Anonymous from Earth

Summary of things until now.

1,000 were chosen. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a way to substitute with others.

The Chosen will be starting with all of their diseases cured. Even their eyesight will be recovered to 2.0.

Your resistance to illnesses will be adjusted to the level of the locals (you won’t die instantly from an unknown virus).

43 japanese people have been selected.

Before arriving in the parallel world, they will have to assign their provided skill points, and strengthen themselves. You can even change your age apparently.

Everyone will be getting an automatic isekai language translation ability. They will be able to read and write as well.

That world is apparently the very same as a medieval fantasy game. They use magic with something that’s called Spirit Energy, and it can even strengthen your body.

The item you can bring is something that you can carry with one hand, and it is limited to one thing. A gun which is made of several different parts is passable, but you can only bring the magazine that’s already in the gun.

–2: Anonymous from Earth

Is there possibly going to be a development where God themself has mixed into the group of Chosen and going all overpowered MC on us?

–3: Anonymous from Earth

That would really kill the mood.

–4: Anonymous from Earth

Nanami-chan is so cutie cute.

–5: Anonymous from Earth

I am worried about whether Nanami-chan can actually survive in a world of swords and magic as a plain female high school student.

…That girl was frozen stiff the whole time in stuff like television shows and didn’t say a word.

–6: Anonymous from Earth

If I were her parent, I would be so worried I would be dying inside.

–7: Anonymous from Earth

Kuh! If only I could take her place…!

–8: Anonymous from Earth

As if I will let you take that…! I will take her place…!

–9: Anonymous from Earth

Everyone feels that way.

–10: Anonymous from Earth

But things are developing fast. This is not a bulletin board anymore, it is more of a chatroom.

–11: Anonymous from Earth

No, today is actually on the slow side. It is real late in the night after all.

–12: Anonymous from Earth

Threads have been divided by countries, and on top of that, Japan is divided even further by ABC.

–13: Anonymous from Earth

Even with that, it is still crazy fast. The A group is specially impossible to keep up with.

–14: Anonymous from Earth

There was the urban legend that if you kill a Chosen, you get the right passed onto you…

–15: Anonymous from Earth

That one was completely refuted. In China, the murderer was actually given the death sentence. This is an overseas story though.

–16: Anonymous from Earth

At any rate, I am looking forward to it. So 1 more week, huh.

–17: Anonymous from Earth

The internet has been all about the isekai in the blink of an eye…

–18: Anonymous from Earth

There’s way too many characters that I can’t even get a grasp of them all though!

Is there a player you guys recommend?

–19: Anonymous from Earth

Talking about ‘characters’ and ‘players’…

They are all going to be going there with their lives on the line, you know?!

–20: Anonymous from Earth

It definitely gotta be the France representative, Jean-chan!

–21: Anonymous from Earth

The popularity rank 3, Maximilian Marshal-sama, is definitely the one I am interested in.

I want him to crush everything with power.

–22: Anonymous from Earth

Sounds nice; muscles.

He seems to be an SP on active duty, so I would like him to show the power of earthlings to the isekai natives there.

–23: Anonymous from Earth

Jean-chan is cute, but didn’t she say she was a gamer…?

Is she gonna be okay…?

–24: Anonymous from Earth

You can apparently increase your body specs, so it should be okay…probably.

Also, it is not like Jean-chan is the representative of France.

She is simply the most popular among the french.

–25: Anonymous from Earth

By the way, are they going to show the gorey parts too?

–26: Anonymous from Earth

Maybe even what happens after you lose to goblins…?

–27: Anonymous from Earth

According to God, they will be showing everything as it is.

–28: Anonymous from Earth

I’ve heard that there’s people who are looking forward to seeing the beautiful ladies facing tragic situations…

–29: Anonymous from Earth

We are talking about the whole world watching, so of course there would be those who would find enjoyment in those kinds of things.

–30: Anonymous from Earth

I just want to see them fight some monsters.

–31: Anonymous from Earth

But fighting monsters means there’s the possibility of dying.

If you were to see that, wouldn’t it normally be traumatic?

This is not a movie, you know.

–32: Anonymous from Earth

I bet 2,000 sol that the screen will turn black when a player dies and there will be bloody letters spelling GAME OVER!

–33: Anonymous from Earth

That would be really tasteless.

–34: Anonymous from Earth

There’s apparently a lot of Chosen in other countries that have begun to learn martial arts in preparation for their journey to the parallel world.

–35: Anonymous from Earth

They can learn to fight against humans, but will those martial arts work on monsters…?

–36: Anonymous from Earth

It is a whole lot better than doing nothing.

–37: Anonymous from Earth

Wouldn’t it help them more to learn parkour for when they have to run away and stuff?

–38: Anonymous from Earth

They can bring firearms, so a rambo mode with an assault rifle for a strong early game might be possible.

–39: Anonymous from Earth

In some countries, they are making people carry magazines. Speaking of the limit one can carry in one hand for magazines, I would say 300 rounds?

–40: Anonymous from Earth

In the eyes of the people in that world, we would totally be invaders.

–41: Anonymous from Earth

Wouldn’t that plan blow up completely if the one carrying the gun and the one carrying the bullets start in different locations…?

–42: Anonymous from Earth

You can’t choose the place you start at?

–43: Anonymous from Earth

You can’t. You can choose from [Safe], [Normal], and [Dangerous], but it is by default random.

–44: Anonymous from Earth

My utmost condolences to the guy that has to carry 100 kilograms worth of bullets to the parallel world.

–45: Anonymous from Earth

I can only see a future where they safely reunite and the gun wielding one shoots the bullet carrier to death…

–46: Anonymous from Earth

I am looking at the information of the players, but I can’t tell the difference between the overseas players. They must also be thinking all the asians look the same.

–47: Anonymous from Earth

No matter what happens, you would still want to root for the Chosen of your own country, and I am even smelling a representative war broiling.

–48: Anonymous from Earth

But a 24 hour real time broadcast, huh…

I am going to quit my job for the sake of this…

–49: Anonymous from Earth

I get ya. I also quitted.

–50: Anonymous from Earth

Stop putting your life more on the line than the Chosen, lol.

–51: Anonymous from Earth

What about Japan’s most popular Ikakin-san?

–52: Anonymous from Earth

A youtuber is strong as expected. He will be able to make programs that gather attention from the viewers after all.

–53: Anonymous from Earth

Programs, you say…

It will be a real time broadcast, right?

–54: Anonymous from Earth

Even if that’s the case, having that sort of experience is big.

In other words, it is basically a live stream.

–55: Anonymous from Earth

By the way, what’s that about Viewer Points?

–56: Anonymous from Earth

The one granted to the Chosen? We won’t know for sure until it begins, but isn’t it like Youtube? The kind where you get points from the bookmaker depending on the channel subscriptions and the amount of views.

–57: Anonymous from Earth

Don’t call it a bookmaker.

–58: Anonymous from Earth

Then that’s the Youtube style. Ikakin is going to be super strong.

–59: Anonymous from Earth

Won’t it be more like an Isekai Reality Show?

–60: Anonymous from Earth

The popular players will monopolize the points, get stronger, and by getting stronger, they get more attention from the viewers…is what will happen, right? Resources are finite, and with this system, won’t you get checkmated if there isn’t some sort of lifesaving measure for the weak ones?

–61: Anonymous from Earth

You can get potions with points, right?

–62: Anonymous from Earth

Everything related to items. You apparently can get stuff like weapons, armors, and magic scrolls, and you can even increase your own abilities with points. The minute details of it have not been announced yet, but anyone can tell that the playstyle will change depending on whether you got the points or not.

–63: Anonymous from Earth

The bookmaker must have thought about something for that stuff.

–64: Anonymous from Earth

Don’t call it a bookmaker.

Chapter 4: Nanami and One Ending

When that time comes, the 1,000 that have been chosen by God will be sent to the parallel world.

The time is at midnight GMT on January 1st.

Due to the time difference, the departure will be at 9 a.m. in Japan.

That day was unfortunately rainy, and the morning news said it was rare for it to be raining on new year’s day.

I left home with an umbrella in hand in order to give my final farewells to Nanami.

As I exited my house, there was a TV crew slightly further away that must have just arrived. I saw them directing their cameras at me, and I simply bowed at them lightly.

My house is not only small, but is also facing a busy road, so with several TV station crews blocking the way, traffic jams happen.

On the day Nanami was chosen, there was quite the trouble regarding that, so they have decided to take their positions at a sidewalk slightly further away. Well, today will be the last day they chase after Nanami.

God didn’t unveil more information than necessary about the parallel world.

What we know is that it is a similar world to Earth, and that it is a fantasy world of swords and magic. The Chosen will be given Bonus Points to strengthen themselves, exchange for items, and start in a state you desire to a certain extent… That’s at most what we got.

There wasn’t much advice I could give Nanami.

Even if she can strengthen her body slightly, I can’t imagine Nanami fighting monsters. Then, does she have any other choice than living her life safely in a city?

In that case, instead of putting points into strengthening herself aimlessly, it would be better to change it for items and money. But if she were to have money and good items while still being weak, she might end up getting robbed and killed… Then, there really is a need for strength…? I went around in circles and couldn’t get a clear answer.

My little sisters said that putting the necessary points in strengthening yourself is big because there’s a high chance that you won’t be able to get them later, so they said that you must take those kinds of things, but we are not robust game characters to begin with.

That’s why, in the end, there’s no choice but to decide what ability to get after having a look at them. With that in consideration, you can then distribute your points in a balanced manner. That was the safest way.

That was the conclusion we reached.

“…Did I get here a bit too late? Even so, it is pretty silent in the house of Nanami…” (Hikaru)

It is still 8 in the morning though.

Are they still sleeping despite it being the day of departure?

The Chosen were originally supposed to gather in the Tokyo Dome where the people would oversee their departure, but Nanami declined it. She refused in a tv program saying she wanted to pass her last moments with her family.

Well, there’s the chance that the mass media that can’t read the mood will be showing up at the last minute, but there’s currently no one. They might unexpectedly respect the last moments of the Chosen.

Or maybe they are not pushing it because they are scared of the divine punishment of God.

“Good morning, it is me, Hikaru!” (Hikaru)

The entrance was open, so I just entered, but this is strange.

Even though the lights are on, there’s no sound.

I am acquainted with the family of Nanami due to our families being friends. It is hard to believe that they would still be asleep the day her daughter is going to be departing.

I take off my shoes and go in while having a bad feeling.

The door leading to the dining room was closed and the light was on, but there was only silence ruling the place.

“Good morning! …This is strange.” (Hikaru)

Has she already been transferred?

I head to the room of Nanami while still carrying this bad feeling.

Her room is on the second floor.

It was as if the only sound in this house covered in silence were the sounds of the rainfall, my heartbeats, and my clattering teeth.

“Nanami…? Are you there?” (Hikaru)

Even when I knocked on the door, there was no response.

I steel myself and open the door to the room of Nanami.

And there she was.

Eyes closed, and her body laying down as if leaning on the bed.

Her abdomen…no, her whole upper body was dark red from what was the remains of blood, creating a sea of blood that dyed the carpet red.

“Na…nami…?” (Hikaru)

I ran to her on the verge of falling.

“Nanami! Oi! Wake up! Nanami…!” (Hikaru)

I shook her by the shoulders, but her head was swinging powerlessly.

Without any strength as if she were a doll.

I felt blood was draining from my face.

…She is dead?

……Nanami was killed…?

My brain couldn’t process this.

She said that going to a parallel world was scary.

My childhood friend that was sobbing as she pleaded for someone to switch with her?

Even though she was energetic yesterday.

She hasn’t had any big injuries ever either.

That Nanami had died the very day she was going to be transferred.

I don’t know for how long I was spaced out here.

It might have been an instant, and it may have been an hour.

My brain couldn’t even process to check whether the aunt and uncle of Nanami are okay. My whole body was trembling, and I couldn’t even breathe properly.

It was as if my brain, heart, my whole body was trying its hardest to deny this reality.

“A-Anyways…I have to call an ambula—” (Hikaru)

Just when I had regained a bit of calm and took out my smartphone, a voice rang from my back and the feeling of something hot being driven into my body happened almost at the same time.

“…Gah?! W-What’s…this?” (Hikaru)

My vision is dyed bright red.

Heat began to spread from my back as if my blood was flowing in reverse. My consciousness flickered as if matching the rhythm of my heart.

My back was burning hot.

It was as if a scorching iron pipe had been driven into me.

“Good grief. Don’t scare me. You are…Kurose, was it? Were you dating? Sorry for killing her.”

When I look back, there was a man around the same age as me.

A guy from the same school that I have seen before.

We have never been in the same class. A guy I don’t remember the name of.

I think he was the kind of guy that would go ‘yay yay’ outside the groups of popular people.

Even though he is from a different class, he would sometimes come to our class, so I somewhat remember his face.

The guy that was lamenting exaggeratedly in a loud voice about not being chosen.

Why did he kill Nanami…?

Why does he know my name…?

“Well, I will be disappearing to a parallel world. Just consider yourself unlucky and give up, Kurose. You are going to be dying together with your beloved Nanami-chan, so it is okay, right?”

The man was laughing hysterically with a pale face, but only his eyes were shining dangerously, and he by no means looked normal.

“W-Why…?” (Hikaru)

I wrung out what little strength I had left and spoke.

Why did he kill Nanami?

“Huuh? Don’t you know? If you kill the Chosen, the right is passed to the person that killed them. I wanted to go to the parallel world no matter what. Well, I feel sorry for Nanami-chan, but she did say that she was scared of going to a parallel world, right? She was going to die instantly there anyways. Then, everyone would be happy if I was the one achieving big things over there.”

“…You…idiot…!” (Hikaru)

If you kill the Chosen, the rights are passed.

That was the rumor that was circulating in the internet at the beginning, but that was merely an urban legend.

There were several Chosen who were killed, but not a single story about the killer getting the rights passed to them.

It simply goes to a random lottery again.

This idiot believed that urban legend and killed Nanami.

“Who~ is the idiot? What are you getting all cocky here, you loner.”

I was kicked, and fell on top of Nanami.

I am not in a state where I can fight back. My consciousness was already fading.

The burning feeling in my back was already gone, and I now only feel cold.

I could tell instinctively that death was approaching.

“Now then, just about 1 hour more, huh. It would be a pain if someone else comes, so maybe I should lock the entrance?”

The man left the room as if saying he had no interest in me and Nanami anymore.

“Guugh…at the very least…a call…” (Hikaru)

I tried to at least call the police.

But I had dropped my smartphone, and I don’t even have any remaining strength to pick it up.

“Nana…mi…” (Hikaru)

My vision was hazy from my tears and my fading consciousness.

But my eyes caught the thing that Nanami was hugging closely to her chest.

“Nanami…you idiot…” (Hikaru)

It was a pastel colored pocket album.

She must have chosen that so that it wouldn’t be difficult to bring around. This album that was the size of a notebook was clearly something she had prepared in order to bring to the parallel world.

Nanami said that rather than some body armor, she wanted to make an album with her memories of this world.

Saying she would get homesick.

Rather than that other world where she doesn’t know anyone, what was important for her were the people she treasured in this world.

I stretch my trembling fingers and touch that.

…In the end, Nanami went to heaven with an album filled with memories as the girl that feared getting homesick, huh.

But I will soon be following behind.

I didn’t manage to go together with her to the parallel world, but we have been together since the time we were born.

If possible, God…

Please let me continue being her childhood friend in the next world…

Chapter 5: White Room and Skill Design

“U…Uh…?”

How long have I been asleep?

I awakened my hazy consciousness and opened my eyes.

It is a white room.

A pure white room with no doors and not a single stain.

I was wearing white hospital patient-looking clothes, and was lying on the floor.

“Am I alive…? Hospital…?” (Hikaru)

There’s not even one bed if this really is a hospital room.

There’s a desk and a chair, and on top of the desk there’s something that looks like a computer.

“The wound…” (Hikaru)

I reflexively touched my back, but I couldn’t feel anything resembling a wound. Or maybe I was hit by a blunt object and there was no stab wound in the first place?

Whatever the case…I am alive.

“…No, am I in the world of the dead?” (Hikaru)

That would sound more plausible.

“…I died…no, I was killed. Just like Nanami… Nanami…” (Hikaru)

I had flashbacks of what happened before.

The fact that Nanami was killed weighed heavier than my own death.

With me being in this mysterious room, the death of my childhood friend was more saddening and painful than my own health.

“Everything was a dream…? There’s no way that would be the case, huh…” (Hikaru)

Even when I am in a mysterious place like this, I could say for certain that what happened there was without doubt reality.

The stench of blood that overwrote the scent of Nanami’s room.

The sight of that expressive Nanami turning into a motionless body that had its life cut off clean.

“Guuh…ugh…!” (Hikaru)

Tears overflowed.

I don’t know if it is because I am sad about Nanami being killed, or because I am sad about being killed, or maybe both.

Being overwhelmed by a feeling that I can’t even describe in words, I couldn’t get up for a while.

Why was there a need to kill her?

Nanami was the kind of girl that couldn’t even kill a bug.

Why…Why…Why…

Memories of Nanami crying saying she didn’t want to go to the parallel world.

Memories of the culprit that’s a student of the same year who I don’t even know the name of.

Why am I even in a place like this?

The inside of my head was a mess.

Sadness, questions, and resentment were buzzing around inside my head, and I curled up for a while without moving.

I don’t know for how long I was like that, since there was no way to tell the time here.

There were no signs of someone coming to the room.

After crying myself dry, I stand up unsteadily and look at the screen of the computer placed in this room.

What was written there was plenty enough to cool down my head.

“…You gotta be kidding, right…?” (Hikaru)

This is what was written.

[You have been chosen to be transferred to a parallel world. Finish allotting your Bonus Points and let’s depart to the parallel world.]

…Looks like my life still continues.

◇◆◆◆◇

“Why…? Why was I chosen…?” (Hikaru)

Are you telling me her right passed to me since I was the closest to Nanami?

No…that theory should have been refuted already.

When a Chosen from a country somewhere was killed, a person from a different country with absolutely no connections with that person would be chosen. In other words, if a Chosen dies, they simply do the lottery again.

Of course, it is not like there’s zero chance that I coincidentally was chosen in that lottery after Nanami died, but…that’s a chance of 1 in 7 billion. It is a number I even considered as being zero, and in the first place, I should have died before that.

There was still 1 hour before the arranged time for the transfer when I was stabbed and had lost consciousness. I find it hard to believe that I survived for 1 hour after that.

There’s also the chance that I was caught in the re-lottery of someone other than Nanami…

“…Could it be that Nanami is also in a different room from me?” (Hikaru)

I, who supposedly died, am now here, so there’s the possibility.

The one doing the parallel world transfers is God after all. A literal God.

It could be that the dead Nanami was actually her empty shell, and the real one had already been healthily transferred to the parallel world a long time ago…

Or maybe Nanami was still alive.

It is not like I checked for her pulse. She might have just looked dead.

I remember reading somewhere that humans unexpectedly don’t die that easily.

Also, right before dying, I prayed to God.

Maybe God heard my prayer and saved both me and Nanami from the unreasonable death.

Even when I know that’s just naive hope, I still wanted to cling to that possibility.

Nanami and I haven’t been killed and the two of us will explore this parallel world…

Just how fun would that be…

I smack both of my cheeks, and grab the mouse.

Now that I have decided that, I must survive at all cost and reunite with Nanami.

The moment I look at the screen with renewed resolve…

A *pon* sound resonated, and a message was displayed on the screen.

[3 minutes before transfer.]

“Eh?!” (Hikaru)

Now that I look closely, there’s a timer on the top right of the screen, and those numbers were slowly going down.

Most likely…no, most certainly, that timer had begun counting down the moment I appeared in this place.

“With just 3 minutes, I can’t…” (Hikaru)

Anyways, I can’t take my time choosing.

I should choose instinctively, and if I have the time, I will adjust it… That’s the most I can do.

I must avoid at all cost the scenario of getting troubled over a choice and ending up choosing almost nothing.

[Please allot your Skill Points. Your total Bonus Points are: 73.]

“73 Points, huh.” (Hikaru)

I can’t really tell, but I feel like that’s a lot -unexpectedly.

There wasn’t that much preliminary information about these points.

What I know is that your initial points are decided by a V shaped graph with 24 years old as the lowest.

In other words, you could say God prioritized your current ‘experience’ and ‘body maturity’ over the ‘potential of youth’.

According to God, the higher effectiveness an ability has, the more points it will require…

Anyways, there’s no time. I must allocate my points quickly.

Name: Kurose Hikaru

Age: 15 years old ▼

Gender: Male

Special Ability ▼

Physical Ability ▼

Resistance ▼

Spirit Ability ▼

Items ▼

Transfer Point ▼

Disadvantageous Factors ▼

Remaining Bonus Points: 73p

It was unexpectedly simple.

With this, I might be able to choose properly even with only 3 minutes.

I hovered the cursor over the places and explanations showed up.

For example; in the Special Ability one, it showed [Special Powers that surpass human intellect].

It is straight to the point, but that must be the intention of God as well.

I skim through each one of them.

First, the age. To my surprise, it can be changed.

When I click the ▼ mark, a window opens. By plussing my age, I get points; and by using points I can lower my age (in other words, I can be younger!).

I am currently 15 years old.

Depending on the situation, it might be a good idea to raise my age a bit to increase my points.

Next, I open the Special Ability window.

“Ugh…! There’s such high point requirements?!” (Hikaru)

●Special Ability

・Courage 20p

Gain the ability to face fears and difficulties, and advance forward.

・Super Concentration 30p

You can concentrate and forget about sleeping and eating.

・Detect Presence 15p

Gain the ability to detect the presence of living things.

・Night Vision 15p

You can see even in places where there’s practically no light.

・Intuition 20p

You can somewhat choose the option that will lead to advantageous situations for you.

・Breathless Activity

You can act at full potential without breathing for 2 minutes.

With training, you can stay underwater for around 15 minutes.

・Wide Vision 10p

Have a wide vision impossible for a human to have.

・Communication 30p

You can communicate with animals.

・Affection of Spirits 30p

All Spirits will love you.

・Charm 50p

You will have a constitution that makes the person you are interested in like you.

・Parallel World Language 0p ▼

You will be able to speak and write the common language of the area you are teleported to.

It is true that they all sound important, but the descriptions are, how to say it…vague.

For example; for Courage and Detect Presence, there’s differences depending on how good they are. If what you thought was Courage ended up being just foolhardiness, it wouldn’t even be funny, and if Detect Presence doesn’t actually detect anything until they are super close, then it would be pointless.

By the way, when I opened the ▼ of Parallel World Language, it showed [If not chosen, you get +20p]. Not being able to communicate is a complete landmine. This alone is definitely a no.

I glance at the time and 1 minute has passed.

I think for a bit and choose [Night Vision] and [Affection of Spirits].

It is 45 points for the two, and I am now all the way down to 28 points, but these two are clearly things I can’t achieve with effort.

And most of all, my instincts were telling me they were important.

It is also because I remembered my youngest little sister said: “In these kinds of games, taking the things with the highest cost is the safe choice. Also, there should be a number of abilities that have a low cost, but are pretty important abilities, so you should choose those too”.

I don’t know if she has a basis for that or not, but my little sisters are actual geniuses.

It should be okay to trust them.

I open the next one, the Physical Ability tab.

●Physical Ability

Increases physical ability regarding Spirit Energy.

・Physical Strength Up. Level 1~5. 5/7/10/15/20.

・Vitality Up. Level 1~5. 5/7/10/15/20.

・Spirit Energy Up. Level 1~5. 5/7/10/15/20.

・Eyesight Up. Level 1~3. 3/7/10.

・Hearing Up. Level 1~3. 3/7/10.

・Smell Up. Level 1~3. 1/3/5.

・Taste Up. Level 1~3. 1/3/5.

The numbers at the right seem to be the cost as the level goes up.

In other words, if I were to choose level 3 of Physical Strength Up, I would be using 10 points.

I read the notes of Physical Strength Up.

[Level 1 is 2 times, Level 3 is 5 times, Level 5 is 10 times the power. Recommended in close combat. Even in other scenarios, it is one of the basic human strengths, so it is recommended to take at least Level 1 of both this and Vitality].

The explanation for Vitality was…

[Vitality is hard to show in numbers. You are harder to kill and have more endurance, you will also be more tenacious mentally. In gaming terms, it would be the equivalent of HP. For the ones that don’t want to die].

It says it includes your mental fortitude, so I feel like this will be quite advantageous when acting in an unknown world.

And so, the unknown power for us that is Spirit Energy says this…

[Spirit Energy is the power that is expended when using Spirit Abilities. Increases the aggregate amount of Spirit Energy that you can have in your body. The Spirit Energy a person can have in their body differs by individual, so it can’t provide a fixed amount, but if you are going to be using Spirit Abilities, it would be best to take Spirit Energy Up].

It is hard to understand, but if they mention Spirit Energy differs by individual, it most likely means that…if a person with low innate MP increases it, it would be bad…

Spirit Energy has that fantasy element to it, but it looks safer to put points in Physical Strength and Vitality.

It takes an unexpectedly long time to read the explanations.

1 minute and a half remaining.

Whatever the case, there’s a high chance that I can ‘increase it later’. The Level Ups that isekais are so famous for. In that case, I should consider whether to take it first or not.

Before putting any points, I decide to check Resistance.

There’s times when you can’t get resistances naturally or they are incredibly difficult to get.

●Resistances

・Poison Resistance. Level 1~3. At Level 3, Poison Immunity. 3/7/10.

・Disease Resistance. Level 1~3. At Level 3, Disease Immunity. 1/3/5.

・Aging Resistance. Level 1~5.

At Level 5, Eternal Youth. Level 3, aging speed reduces by half. 3/5/7/10/15.

・Natural Recovery Up (Wounds). Level 1~5. 3/5/7/10/15.

・Natural Recovery Up (Spirit Energy) Level 1~5. 3/5/7/10/15.

“The cost for eternal youth is cheap!” (Hikaru)

This might be what my little sister Karen said about ‘the required points are low but it is an important ability’.

Anyways, the required points are low compared to the other areas.

I can easily reach Level 5 even with my remaining points.

The Disease Resistance being strangely cheap must be because it wouldn’t be fun if the Chosen were to die from a disease. Or maybe because it is a world without that many diseases.

I feel like the Natural Recovery Up is especially important, but this also falls into the category of ‘it depends on how good it is’. For example; if taking Level 5 can recover you from even fatal wounds after a while, there’s point in taking it, but if it is just recovering faster from small wounds, it would be questionable.

“There’s no need to doubt here.” (Hikaru)

I take Aging Resistance Level 3 (7 Points), Disease Resistance Level 2 (3 Points). And then, I immediately opened the age tab and raised my age from 15 to 17.

I got 6 more points from increasing my age by 2.

My lifespan increases by twice with Level 3, so it is a pretty fair exchange.

By the way, I don’t have the resolve to take Eternal Youth. I have a bad feeling about it.

With this, I have 24 points remaining.

I am pretty low on time already, but I should also check the Spirit Ability tab.

[You can obtain 1 of any Spirit Ability. Any of them are useful in their own ways. The only one that doesn’t have attack methods is Healing Magic. You can only make a contract with 1 Spirit Ability and it won’t be at peak performance].

●Spirit Ability

・Fire Spirit Ability: 10 Points.

・Water Spirit Ability: 10 Points.

・Earth Spirit Ability: 10 Points.

・Light Spirit Ability: 10 Points.

・Dark Spirit Ability: 10 Points.

●Magic

・Healing Magic: 50 Points.

“50 points?” (Hikaru)

Only Healing Magic is ‘Magic’. I don’t know what’s the difference, but there might be a difference in rarity. 10 points is quite the normal cost until now.

For example; Spirit Ability can be obtained even when you are over there, but healing magic is pretty difficult to get? Or maybe plain impossible.

…Anyways, 50 points is too out of reach.

“How about Items?” (Hikaru)

●Items

・Basic Items Assortment for the Chosen: 10 Points.

《Money (Medium)・Assorted Recovery Potions・Beginner’s “Ability” Scroll Pack（[Fire Spear] ×1 [Wind Blade] ×1 [Earth Wall] ×1 [Water Healing] ×1 [Phantom Light] ×1 [Dark Fog] ×1 [Small Healing] ×3 [Medium Healing] ×2 [Large Healing] ×1 [Dispel] ×1 [Fear] ×1 [Short Teleportation] ×1）・First Aid Kit・Map of Surroundings・World Map・Compass・Adventurer’s equipment set（Shirt・Cloak・Pants・Belt・Underwear x3・Socks x3・Boots・Hat・Leather Gloves・Leather Chest Guard・Short Sword・Short Spear）・Note・Writing Set・3 days worth of food (boxed lunches/water bottle)・Long term food storage set・Tableware Set・Towel x5・Handkerchief x5 Pocket Tissue x10・Knife・Blanket・Lantern・Oil・Match・Hand Mirror・Portable Shovel・Rucksack・Belt Pouch・Nylon Rope・Wire・Cloth Tape・Sewing Kit・Hemp Bag x2・Every type of Spirit Stone x1》

There’s items you can’t obtain anywhere but in the Basic Pack, so be careful when not choosing it.

“I see, can’t just go naked after all. Or more like, if you don’t choose the Basic Pack, I would be going there with these hospital clothes?” (Hikaru)

That would be Super Hard Mode.

But 10 points is too heavy. I only have 24 points left.

If we start in a city, clothes and money are more important than the Adventurer Pack.

It is most likely cheaper than buying one of each of those items, but 10 points is still too much.

There’s a variety of items below the Basic Pack, and it seems like you can exchange for anything you want.

I skim through them. There’s weapons, armor, tools, magic scrolls, potions, maps, bags, and even money can be exchanged.

There isn’t that much variety in the weapons and armors, but it seems like you can exchange for items that match the size of the Chosen.

There were magic swords and armors, but they were all 10 points, and I don’t think I will be able to get them.

Whichever the case, if it is the items with low cost, I can just get them later.

“With my remaining points, I will get clothes and money. Then, I will put all the rest of my points in Physical Strength and Vitality to finish it.” (Hikaru)

There’s only 40 seconds remaining in the timer, but it looks like I will somehow make it in time.

Just in case, I open the Transfer Point tab.

●Transfer Point

・Transfer to a relatively safe place: 27 Points.

A place with low danger and has been worked by humans to a certain extent. There will be a human village closeby.

・Transfer to a safe place: 30 Points.

A place where most dangerous wild animals have been exterminated. There will be a city in front of you.

・Random Transfer: 0 Points. (It is the default choice)

There’s no knowing where you will be transferred, but you won’t be transferred to instant death places like the sea, lava, or the very center of giant forests. However, if you are really unlucky, it is pretty dangerous.

The lucky ones have the chance of being transferred close to a human settlement.

For the early laughs. Not Recommended.

“E-Eh?!” (Hikaru)

I couldn’t understand what was written there for a second.

There’s two pretty costly choices? Is what I ended up thinking carefreely.

And then, I understood after my second reading.

The default is Random Transfer.

To think there would be a trap like this set.

“How many points do I have left?!” (Hikaru)

24 points remaining.

It is only enough for the ‘Transfer to a relatively safe place’.

I have to redistribute my points or I will be transferred randomly to the parallel world at this rate.

Now that I think about it, the people in the whole world will be watching in real time.

I should have thought about the possibility of God setting something like this playfully.

“This is bad this is bad this is bad! It doesn’t matter what, I have to redistribute the points!” (Hikaru)

At this moment, I was in a complete panicked state.

If I had calmly operated it, I should have been able to make it in time.

And yet, I didn’t remember what I put points in and ended up opening the Physical Ability tab.

“Ah?! Eh? Which one did I put points in? If I remember correctly, it was Physical Strength Up and Vitality—” (Hikaru)

My mistake was only for an instant.

I soon noticed I still haven’t put points in Physical Ability.

The lost time was most likely around 5 seconds.

—But those 5 seconds were fatal.

I immediately closed the Physical Ability and opened Special Ability again.

I was about to erase Night Vision and open Transfer Point…

But at the corner of my vision, I see the remaining time at a single digit.

Erasing an ability to increase something else.

If I don’t make it in time, I would have simply lost one Special Ability pointlessly.

The moment that possibility flashed in my mind, I stopped moving the mouse.

The number of the timer had coldly reached 0.

[It is now time for the transfer. If there’s remaining points, you can resume your build after the transfer. Some of the abilities can’t be selected after the transfer.]

The screen grew darker, and that message was displayed mercilessly.

And then, just like that, the PC didn’t respond at all as if it froze, and only the words [Remaining time for transfer: 30 seconds] were showing there.

“…I should have placed more importance in my feeling of 73 points being a lot.” (Hikaru)

My whole body was chilling at the reality that I will be teleported randomly.

“If I remember correctly, I stopped in the middle of my point redistribution, so I have 24 points remaining, right…?” (Hikaru)

You could say it is the fortune within the misfortune that I can still exchange my points even after the transfer.

There was also the possibility that all remaining points would be lost after all.

—Anyways, the dice has already been rolled.

[10 seconds remaining].

[5 seconds remaining].

[1 second].

[Now then, have a wonderful life. May fortune be with you.]

And then, I was covered in a blinding light.

・Name: Kurose Hikaru

・Age: 15 years old ▽

Added Years – 2 years + 6p

・Gender: Male

・Special Ability ▽

・Night Vision: 15p

・Affection of Spirits: 30p

・Physical Ability ▼

・Resistance ▽

・Disease Resistance: 2 -3p

・Aging Resistance: 3 -7p

・Magic ▼

・Items ▼

・Transfer Point ▽

・Random Transfer: 0p

・Disadvantageous Factors ▼

Remaining Bonus Points: 24p

Chapter 6: Transfer and the Scent of the Forest

I was covered in a dazzling light at the same time as the countdown hit zero. I couldn’t endure it and ended up closing my eyes.

Right after, I felt like I was floating in the air, as if the floor had disappeared.

I reflexively flailed my arms in order to grab onto something, but there was nothing to grab onto, and I ended up falling without being able to do anything.

The next instant…

I was standing in a forest with lush tall trees covering my vision.

The rustling of trees shaking with the wind, the dense scent of green.

I can’t see a single human aside from me.

I understood the situation here and gulped.

—Random Transfer.

Unluckily…no, you could say it was inevitable that I have been transferred deep inside a forest.

It is not like there isn’t the chance for there to be a city if I were to walk for a bit, but…that would be way too optimistic.

[Pin Pon Pan! Welcome to the parallel world, Chosen Number 1000, Kurose Hikaru. I will give a simple explanation of the Status Board! First, please bring out your Status. It is okay to say it out loud or think of it in your mind.]

That voice suddenly resonated in my head.

There’s no one around.

Looks like the God side is going to be giving a tutorial to the Chosen.

“Status.” (Hikaru)

A half-transparent window showed up in the air.

It is of decent size, about the size of a PC screen.

[In that Status Board you can obtain a variety of information: exchange for Items, Skills, and Gifts; check your popularity rank, real time viewer numbers, remaining points, and the amount of Crystals in your possession.]

Looks like I can get a variety of info by changing tabs.

I ran out of time in the middle of allocating my points, so I still have 24 points remaining. Looks like I can use these points in the parallel world too.

[You can use Crystals themselves to trade for Items, but you can also exchange 30 for 1 point. You can obtain Crystals from your viewer popularity and events.]

I see, the more popular you are, the easier it is to get points, and it would make the isekai life easier.

[For the exchange of items, please push the button for the item page. If you have leeway in points, you can exchange them now.]

“…More importantly, is it safe right now?” (Hikaru)

I ask what I was wondering at first.

I am in a deep forest in who-knows-where after all.

There’s the chance of suddenly being attacked by a monster.

Even just staying here might have dangers approaching.

[Your safety is secured when in the middle of the tutorial. There’s a barrier to keep away the living beings around.]

I see. If a Chosen were to suddenly appear in a city, it would shock the inhabitants after all. This must be their consideration in those parts -this also applies to monsters.

“Then, is it okay to take my time choosing my items?” (Hikaru)

[It is.]

My remaining points are shown in the status window.

24 points; that’s my lifeline.

“I want clothes and shoes, but…” (Hikaru)

Maybe this was the service from God, I am not barefoot. I don’t know when, but I am wearing sandals. My clothes were also not that hospital gown, but cotton up and down. I even have underwear.

It does feel like the bare minimum, but I am grateful.

In that case, there’s other items with higher priority.

I got Random Transfer after all. I won’t be able to do anything if I don’t know my current location.

I opened the items page and chose the map.

[World Map: 1 Point]

[Highly Efficient World Map: 3 Points]

[Map of Surrounding: 1 Point]

[Highly Efficient Map of Surrounding: 5 Points] x4.

According to the explanation, all maps have the ability to show your current location, so it should be enough to exchange for a world map with 1 point. The map of surroundings is a map that shows information in a radius of 10 kilometers, so I won’t be exchanging points for it right now.

The problem is whether to make it the normal world map, or the highly efficient one.

The difference of 2 points is big. For the Chosen that didn’t get the Basic Pack, the remaining points are their literal lifeline.

It is better to think that using points carelessly will push me closer to death.

“I say that, but being frugal here is a bit…” (Hikaru)

Just before I pushed the button to exchange it, I stopped.

Because I thought of the possibility of there being a city or a village right around the corner.

It is a Random Transfer, so the chances are low, but it is possible.

I can’t use my points so easily when 1 point might be the result of tears ahead. I should be more careful here.

I should at least confirm my surroundings. It wouldn’t be too late to decide after I have obtained as much information as I can.

I stop the exchange and decide to confirm all the items I can currently exchange for. If I don’t act properly according to the situation, what awaits me is death.

“If I exchange for something, will it appear immediately? From out of nowhere?” (Hikaru)

[Yes, it will instantly appear from above the Status Board. It is advised to avoid being seen doing this by the inhabitants of the world as best as possible.]

It casually gave me a hint of this world.

What I can at least gather from that was that, in this world, it is unnatural for items to show up from nowhere. It is common sense, but not common sense.

This is not Earth. I am in a parallel world with mysteries everywhere.

“So, where is this? Is there a village closeby?” (Hikaru)

[I can’t answer that.]

“Can I get a hint?” (Hikaru)

[You can use Crystals to get hints. It will be after the explanations here are over and your adventure starts though.]

“In other words, it hasn’t started yet.” (Hikaru)

[That’s right. Not all earthlings have basic knowledge of isekais after all.]

I confirm the status window again. It has been a decent amount of time since I have been transferred here, and yet, my real time viewer count is still zero.

I see, it is still in a state where they can’t see, huh. Or maybe they can see, but the numbers aren’t showing. Or it might be that no one has taken notice of me because I wasn’t originally a Chosen.

…Well, I don’t really want to be seen though.

[What will you do about the item exchange?]

“I won’t for now.” (Hikaru)

[Now then, the explanation for the Status Board is finished. And now, for the last thing, we will be granting you a random special favor as a beginner from the Physical Abilities category or the Resistance category.]

They are unexpectedly generous.

When I check, I see that I got Poison Resistance Level 1.

“Poison Resistance huh. I would say this is a win?” (Hikaru)

Poison Resistance is 3 points.

The 5 point ones would be a jackpot, so this would be an average win.

Anyways, my survival rate has increased with this.

[You are free to live however you please in this world. The viewers will always be with you. If you obtain their cooperation, you should be able to lead a fulfilling life. Good luck.]

After wishing me luck one-sidedly, the voice went silent.

At the same time as this happened, I felt the rustling and the presences of the forest had gotten denser.

A strange feeling as if something unknown was brushing my skin.

It really hadn’t ‘started yet’.

We have now started.

In that case, I have no time to waste.

I took off my sandals and began to climb the large tree nearby that I had locked on beforehand.

Fortunately, it is a strange tree with branches jutting out in complex manners, and it was tall. The surface of the tree is similar to a japanese beech. I think I can somehow climb up this.

There was the fear of poisonous bugs, but let’s believe that the Poison Resistance I got is doing its work here.

Anyways, what’s important here is the speed.

“Guh, yoh, hah!”

I barely have any experience climbing trees, but I am currently terribly desperate. When I looked down, my stomach flinched, but I somehow managed to climb up pretty high.

And…

“Haha… Seriously…?” (Hikaru)

What spread before my eyes was a forest as far as the eye can see, and mountains.

There were no human settlements in sight.

Nature everywhere without a single trace of human hands in 360°.

Of course, there might be a settlement somewhere, and if I were to cross the mountain, there’s the chance I could find a city.

But overcoming this forest with dense presence and a mountain…just that alone will be an adventure on thin ice -I clearly understood that here.

I went down a bit and sat at a thick branch, brought out the Status, and exchanged Highly Efficient World Map for 3 points.

The status window tab shone, and the [World Map] entry appeared.

It looks like the Highly Efficient Map isn’t an actual physical item, but an ability that is expanded into your Status.

“Now then…this will decide whether I live or die, huh.” (Hikaru)

My hand pointing at the Map tab was trembling.

And yet, it was strange that there was a part of me that was strangely calm.

Just how much distance would it be in order to safely arrive at a human settlement?

I have used 3 points, so I have 21 points remaining.

Can I do something with just that much?

I don’t have any physical buffs, and am just your average person with [Affection of Spirits] and [Night Vision].

I am a bit resistant to poison, hard to fall ill, and don’t grow old as fast, huh.

I have no survival skills, and it is not like I can run fast.

Of course, I have no combat capabilities either.

“Please…!” (Hikaru)

I pray to God as I open the map.

“…Fufufu! …So the Random Transfer is for the early laughs, huh. Haha…” (Hikaru)

…A dry laugh that expressed my despair came out from my mouth.

The Highly Efficient Map is certainly highly efficient.

It is telling me where the closest city is and the distance to it; there’s no power as reliable as this.

But that’s exactly why it had plenty enough destructive power to crush my hope.

I am currently in the Ringpill Continent, at the Demonic Lands of the East.

Surrounding Population Density is 0 out of 10 levels.

Danger Level 4 out of 6 levels.

The closest human location is the East Fortress and it is 373 kilometers in a straight line.

I was transferred to the center of a deep deep forest.