I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World, Too: Chapter 1 (Vol. 1)
Chapter 1: To a Different World
Having endured the hell that is my daily existence, I am currently enjoying a brief moment of respite.
I've just graduated from middle school and am in the middle of the short spring break until my high school entrance ceremony.
Ordinarily, I'd be spending this break at my various part-time jobs, but I don't have any work at the moment.
It's all thanks to the beating Araki and his goons gave me.
I was fired from the job I was supposed to go to that day because I failed to show up without calling ahead, and I'd been let go from my other jobs because of the litany of injuries I'd suffered.
It isn't fair and it isn't right, but no matter how angry that makes me, there's nothing I can do about it.
Maybe I should try lifting weights over break? I canìt imagine it'd make much of a difference.
There's still a lot I have to process, but more than anything, I need to find new jobs.
That being said, since I have nothing to do at the moment, I suppose I can use the time to clean the house.
With that thought, I take out some rags and the vacuum cleaner and begin a thorough cleaning of the house.
While I make a habit of tidying up as much as I can on a daily basis, it's surprising how dirty things can get without a deep clean.
Besides, Gramps's house is pretty large, so if I don't make a concerted effort like this every once in a while, there's a bunch of rooms that I don't really have a reason to go into or clean.
...No, I know the truth. I'm just trying to distract myself...
With dark thoughts clouding my mind, I bring the bucket I'm using to the sink and can't avoid seeing my own face in the mirror.
Beady little eyes. Small nostrils and a piglike nose. Even though I have clearly defined cheekbones, my face itself is bloated with fat and covered with pimples and freckles.
Thick lips and crooked teeth.
Thinning hair, like I'm already balding.
This is my face.
It looks nothing like those of my parents or the twins.
I feel something rush out as I study my reflection in the mirror.
"Rah... Raaah... Raaaaaaaaaaaaagh!"
I repeatedly punch my reflection.
Out of desperation to erase the person in front of me, I rain blows on the glass even as I start bleeding from my knuckles.
Then I draw back the bucket and slam it into the mirror. It shatters easily under the assault.
"Huff...huff..."
I feel some of my calm return once the mirror is gone, but I can't shake the gloom that clouds my thoughts.
The floor is littered with glass shards and spatters of my blood.
...No matter how much I scream, it isn't going to change my current situation.
If it was an option, I'd get cosmetic surgery.
But seeing as how I have no money, that's not happening.
It's all I can do to just earn enough for my day-to-day living expenses.
My heart sinks as I grapple with the harshness of reality.
—Just what do I want to be?
I can't see a future for myself right now. I probably won't be able to get any decent jobs.
I've always been so preoccupied with surviving that I've never given any real thought to what I want to be in the future or what my dreams are.
A dream...dreams... There's no point hoping for anything, never mind dreaming of something bigger.
I don't have the strength or the will to make anything like that come true...
"Dammit!"
Despairing over my impotence, I slam my fist against the wall. That's when I notice something.
"Huh...?"
The wall is rotating like some sort of hidden door in a ninja house. An unfamiliar room appears before me.
"Wh...what the...?"
I've been living here for a while, but I've never seen this happen before.
"Why is there a room here...?"
Stumbling upon the mysterious hidden alcove, initially, I feel some trepidation, but my curiosity quickly wins out, and before I realize it, I'm inside the room.
"This must be..."
The room is full of things that Gramps must have collected in his travels around the world.
Gramps always brought back souvenirs after his trips abroad, but I didn't know where he stored all of it.
That's why finding this hidden room filled with his entire collection is so surprising.
I stare in shock at items clearly hailing from all over the world. Then an odd sensation comes over me.
"Wh-what's going on? Is that...?"
Although I'm confused by the strange feeling, it draws me farther into the room.
As I go deeper, I catch a glimpse of things that Gramps showed me when I was a kid, along with a whole bunch of stuff I've never seen before.
"...Huh? That mask... It's like the face of some demon. Creepy... Hmm? What...sort of doll is that?"
A demonic-looking mask and a mannequin that's bigger than I am.
There's also a red object about the size of a basketball and a weird rock that's hovering and spinning above a stand. How is it doing that?
There's even what looks like an Egyptian pharaoh's sarcophagus.
My gaze wanders across the room as I look around. That's when I realize something seems to be calling to me.
I venture deeper, guided by that feeling.
...Gramps is the one who collected all this...right?
I remember Gramps used to brag about his adventures, but I was too young to understand at the time. Tears well up in my eyes as I recall those little conversations with him.
Sure, this is his collection, but since I have no idea what any of it is for, it's really just a lot of junk. I wish he was still alive. Gramps could've told me all about them...
"What should I do with this stuff...? Hmm?"
Wanting to avoid touching something carelessly and triggering a weird reaction, I start fretting about what to do with this hoard of stuff, when an object in the back of the room catches my eye.
It's a wooden door that looks like it's missing the wall that should be around it.
There's a carving of a large owl on it, and the frame is decorated with more engravings.
"Did he bring this back with him, too...?"
A whole door?
If he did, where in the world did he get it?
I mean, even if I open it, all I'd see is the wall behind it...right?
But the moment I peer at the door, the strange feeling from earlier grows stronger.
"Wait... Could that be the reason why?"
I've never seen this door before.
But I can't peel my eyes away.
There's no doubt about it: The door is calling to me.
"Is there something more to this door?" I murmur to myself in wonderment as I reach out and turn the knob, pulling it open—
"...Huh?"
On the other side is yet another room I've never seen before.
It looks like the interior of a log cabin, furnished with a large table and a single chair along with a wardrobe. Weapons like axes and swords fill the room as well.
"I— What?"
My brain starts shutting down as I struggle to make sense of these inexplicable sights.
Right then, a half-transparent board appears without warning.
"Whoa!"
It's so sudden that I let out an embarrassing yelp and fall flat on my butt.
However, the half-transparent board follows me down, staying in front of my eyes.
"Wh-what the hell is this...?!"
I start stammering and turn my eyes to the board, which has some writing on it.
"Appraise skill acquired. Endurance skill acquired. Master of the Door title acquired. Master of the House title acquired. Stranger from a Different World title acquired. First-Time Traveler to a Different World title acquired."
"Huh?"
It looks like video game text.
A-Appraise? Endurance? And what do you mean a different world...?
I stand up, dust myself off, and return to my own house to gather myself.
"I-it isn't connected to anything, is it?"
I check the other side of the door, but the only thing there is the wall of my house.
Yet somehow, the door opens up into a room that looks like it's in some unknown cabin.
"You gotta be kidding me, right?"
What could this door possibly be...?
The moment that thought occurs to me, the translucent panel that had vanished reappears.
Door to Another World―A door that connects to a different world that appeared on Earth. Why and how it appeared is a mystery even to the gods themselves. It randomly links to another world and, once linked, becomes permanently connected to that world. The Master of the Door may make use of its various features. Impossible to destroy.
Well, now I know.
I mean, I'm glad I learned what it is, but that's a lot to take in.
At this point, I'm finally calm enough to reach a conclusion.
"Ahhh... Is this the Appraise skill at work?"
But wait a minute... I'm not in the log cabin right now. It's my house.
...Hold on. Why is the weird half-transparent screen showing up here?
"...I'm not gonna figure out anything by just thinking about it... Oh, I wonder if I can use it to check my skills?"
As I murmur that to myself, the screen reappears, and this time it reads:
Appraise―A skill to appraise various things.
Endurance―Provides resistance to status effects, mind control, and physical pain.
"...There they are."
That cinches it—the door description came from the Appraise skill.
Man...this got real weird, real fast.
"Does this mean I can also check my titles?"
I'm pretty sure I've figured out how this works, and just as expected, the information I requested appears on the board.
Master of the Door―Master of the Door to a Different World. Allows the use of the menu's functions.
Master of the House―The new master of the house that once belonged to a great sage. Grants ownership of the house.
Stranger from a Different World―A person who hails from a different world. Gains an experience point bonus and different growth progression. Furthermore, provides a bonus to gaining skills. Removes level limits.
First-Time Traveler to a Different World―A person who has traveled to a different world for the first time. Provides a more powerful version of the bonuses provided by the separate skill Innovator, which provides a bonus to creating new skills and spells. Directs growth in a useful direction. Furthermore, allows the use of Item Box.
"Hmm."
I don't exactly get what that all means, but it sure sounds impressive.
Apparently, First-Time Traveler to a Different World is strictly better than the title Innovator and it lets me use Item Box... Hold up, what's an Item Box?
Also, I'm not sure what Master of the House refers to. Which house?
While I'm trying to digest all this information, I notice the menu mentioned in the description of Master of the Door.
"Menu functions? What does that actually mean...? Whoa!"
Another new message appears in front of my eyes.
Door to a Different World
Owner: Yuuya Tenjou
Function: <Money Conversion> <Teleportation> <Entry Restrictions>
"Money conversion? I can exchange something for cash? And then there's teleportation and entry restrictions...?"
As I turn my attention to each item, the message changes to more specific explanations of it.
Money Conversion—Can convert any item into money.
Teleportation—Allows the door to be summoned to the owner's current location.
Entry Restriction—Only those specified by the owner can travel through the door.
"That's a lot more powerful than I expected!"
If I'm reading this right, even if someone else finds this place, they can't use the door.
On top of that, even if someone finds a way to steal this door, it'll come back to me.
"I honestly don't know what I'm supposed to use the money conversion thing for, but it doesn't hurt to have. I guess I can set that aside for now."
If it's this much like a video game, then maybe there's stuff like stats and attributes?
A surge of excitement wells up inside as a new message appears in front of me.
Yuuya Tenjou
Occupation: None, Level: 1, Mana: 1, Attack: 1, Defense: 1, Agility: 1, Intelligence: 1, Luck: 1, BP: 0
Skills: Appraise, Endurance, Item Box
Titles: Master of the Door, Master of the House, Stranger from a Different World, First-Time Traveler to a Different World
One look at it immediately sends me into a tailspin of despair.
I never even imagined that all of my attributes would be ones... I've never been that bad at anything, not even at school...
Then again, I'd already suspected this much.
Setting that aside for a minute, what's this BP thing?
Hmm, Item Box is also in my skills list...
BP―Acronym for bonus points. 10 are gained with each advance in level and may be distributed to the attribute of your choice. However, those with the title Stranger from a Different World receive 20 rather than 10 points. Those with the title First-Time Traveler to a Different World receive 100 points.
Item Box―Opens a special spatial dimension where you can store and retrieve items as desired. However, the Item Box may not store living things. No restrictions on storage capacity or item size.
"...Whoa."
Okay, for now, it's enough to know that I can assign points to my attributes as I see fit, and in my case, I get quite a few more points than normal.
The Item Box also makes sense if I think of it like a game feature.
Now then, I checked out a lot of stuff, but there's one more thing I need to do...
"That room... Yeah, no two ways about it..."
There wasn't anyone home at the time, but now that I think about it, what I did was basically trespassing.
It'd be pretty awful if someone got angry at me over it and decided to attack me.
I also got that weird Master of the House title, but I can't be sure which house it's referring to if I don't check...
Fortunately, I'm the only one who can go through this door, so I'm fine as long as I can escape through it.
"...Time to check it out."
With that, I decide to go into that room again.
***
"There's no one here...right...?"
I poke my head cautiously through the door and peer around, but there's no sign of life.
I can feel the floorboards under my feet as I step back inside.
As I enter the room, I spot that wardrobe again. Inside, there's shirts, pants, and some underwear that's clearly meant for someone much thinner.
They feel nice to the touch, so it's a little disappointing they won't fit me.
"Oh, I didn't notice it earlier, but there's a window."
I approach the window and peer at the world outside. I see a whole slew of trees.
The house I've been living in isn't deep in the rural countryside or anything. It's in a residential part of town, and there's plenty of traffic in my area.
But the only thing I see outside the window is forest, meaning...
"This really is a different world...or at least somewhere else on Earth."
For a moment, I wonder if it's just a super-realistic picture superimposed over the window, but that doubt vanishes the second I open the door.
Crisp, clean air fills my lungs. This definitely isn't the city. There's no sounds from traffic, construction, or the general buzz of people going about their lives. Everything around me is quiet.
As I close the window and take another look around the room, I notice a piece of paper sitting on the table.
"Wonder what it says."
I pick up the sheet and try to read it, only to find that it's written in strange letters I've never seen before.
"...Can't read it. Is this a language from this world?"
I stare at the paper for a while, despite knowing that there's no way I can decipher it. Then a message suddenly appears in front of me.
"Comprehend Languages skill acquired."
Hold up, that sounds convenient.
I immediately Appraise it...
Comprehend Languages—A skill that allows you to understand every language and read and write in those languages.
That's actually as convenient as it sounds.
If this works on Earth, English and every other foreign language is going to be a piece of cake.
Anyway, I turn my gaze back to the writing now that I can understand it thanks to my new skill.
To summarize, the letter basically says that the owner of this room is nearing the end of their life and has decided to leave behind their worldly possessions.
And since the owner has no family, whoever discovers this house can claim the house for themselves. Evidently, that extends to everything inside as well.
Additionally, since the owner of the house is automatically registered with magic, no one else can enter the house without permission...or so the letter claims.
Ahhh, the Master of the House title probably means that I'm the official owner of this house now.
And based on the description of the title, it seems that a sage used to live here, but that does make me wonder how powerful that person really was?
I'd wager that the ability to prevent anyone besides the owner from entering would be remarkable no matter where you come from, but then again, maybe that's considered normal in this world?
It seems awfully lucky that the door connected to this specific room. Not that I'm not thankful.
"On a separate note, I kinda glossed over it because of all these new developments, but...is magic real in this world?"
Really, this whole situation is so completely beyond my normal frame of reference that even the mention of magic doesn't feel particularly out of place anymore. I'm not exactly awestruck to hear it exists, but the idea of a mysterious, unknown power is undeniably appealing.
I wonder if I can learn how to use it?
"Anyway, it's good to know there's no one here and that no one else can come inside without my permission."
I guess I'm simpleminded like that. Now that I know the house is technically mine, I don't feel any trepidation or fear about being inside it whatsoever.
I figure the next thing to do is confirm what's actually in this house, but...
"These...are all real, aren't they?"
I'm looking at the panoply of weapons arrayed before me.
At random, I pick up a sword that's caught my attention.
"Whoa! Th-this thing's heavy..."
It seems like it'd be obvious, but I'm not particularly strong, so even holding up a sword is a struggle... I should probably do some training. I mean, there was a time when I worked out, but I failed to put on any muscle, so I quickly gave up.
"But man...this is one impressive-looking sword."
It has a glimmering, double-edged blade, almost like someone just finished polishing it. The thing's so clean that I can see my own reflection.
The hilt is almost completely undecorated, but even without knowing anything about swords, there's just something about this one that tells me it's an impressive piece of work.
Out of curiosity, I use my Appraise skill on the blade...
Omnisword―The greatest of all swords. The blade will never dull nor lose its luster, and its edge will always be as sharp as the day it was made. Legend says it can cut through anything, but whether that's true or not depends on its master. Not available for sale. Contractor: Yuuya Tenjou.
"Seriously?!"
Oh crap, this is even more amazing than I thought! And it's already tied to me for some reason! Not for sale? I mean, obviously! Who'd sell something like this?! It'd almost be sacrilegious!
Who was this sage?!
This sword was just hanging out on a weapon rack like some regular piece of gear!
The kind of person who'd treat an item like this so casually...
I marvel at the remarkable nature of the sage I'll never get a chance to meet, then feel the urge to try out the sword.
"Well, yeah, this is, like, basically every man's dream...right?"
I have no idea who I'm making excuses for, but I desperately try to justify my desires...and do a fairly bad job.
Well, I did want to see what it's like outside, so this is as good a time as any... I hesitantly approach the door and cautiously open it.
"Whoa!"
Turns out the house is situated on a much bigger piece of land than I assumed. What looks like a garden stretches out in front of the house, and there are fields in the distance.
"Is all this considered part of the house?"
If not, then maybe it's a bad idea to be stepping outside at random.
As I wonder about this, a message appears.
"All of the land enclosed within the fences of this property belongs to the Master of the House."
Oh cool, so no one can come into this yard, either! That means I can swing around my sword without worrying! I don't really get how any of this works, but thanks, messenger!
I offer a hearty thank-you to the message for clearing away my concerns and step outside with a boyish spring in my step.
Then I try to swing the heavy sword.
But...
"Gaaaaaah!"
Nope, can't do it.
It's more like the sword is swinging me than the other way around.
Even random swipes are totally beyond me... Yeah, I knew this would happen.
"Gasp...huff... Still, that was fun..."
Despite my failure, I still feel an odd sense of fulfillment as I lie down on the ground.
Another message appears.
"Swordsmanship 1 skill acquired."
"Huh?"
Swordsmanship skill?! I was just swinging it around at random!
And what's this number next to the skill?
As I turn my attention to Swordsmanship 1, a more detailed description appears. Thank goodness for Appraise!
Swordsmanship 1―Skill used for wielding swords. Numbers indicate skill rank, and the maximum rank is 10.
In other words, I'm a total novice when it comes to using a sword.
Honestly, maybe I shouldn't even call myself a novice...
Still, are skills supposed to be this easy to acquire?
"...Oh, right. The whole Stranger from a Different World bonus."
It's probably due to that title.
"Even so, this feels way too quick... Ah, whatever. What about the other weapons?"
With my curiosity piqued, I return the sword to the rack and pick up another weapon, taking it with me to the yard.
Appraise reveals that all these weapons are just as ridiculous as the sword. The highlights include:
Absolute Spear―The ultimate spear, more powerful than even the Divine Spear. Said to be able to pierce anything depending on the contractor. Will never break. Will always hit its target when thrown and will automatically return to the wielder's hand. Not for sale. Contractor: Yuuya Tenjou.
Deathscythe―A scythe that can kill even the god of death. Said to be able to cut apart anything its pledged wielder wants to destroy. Any wounds inflicted by this scythe, no matter how small, are fatal. Not for sale. Contractor: Yuuya Tenjou.
Infinite Gauntlet―A gauntlet that not only increases the power of the wearer's fists, but also provides unbreakable protection. One blow becomes infinite blows. Not for sale. Contractor: Yuuya Tenjou.
Void Bow―The ultimate bow that has no shape or form and creates infinite arrows. Its arrows can penetrate the very world itself and will always hit whatever the pledged wielder intends to hit. Not for sale. Contractor: Yuuya Tenjou.
It just goes on and on...
There are quite a few items in total, but I eventually get through trying all of them.
My conclusion?
They're all ridiculous.
I still have no idea why these things are just lying around in this house or who the sage was. Maybe the worst thing is that I'm somehow now the pledged wielder of all of them.
And my current stats are:
Yuuya Tenjou
Occupation: None, Level: 1, Mana: 1, Attack: 1, Defense: 1, Agility: 1, Intelligence: 1, Luck: 1, BP: 0
Skills: Appraise, Endurance, Item Box, Comprehend Languages, Swordsmanship: 1, Spear: 1, Scythe: 1, Brawling: 1, Archery: 1, Whip: 1, Ax: 1, Machete: 1, Staff: 1, Club: 1...etc.
Titles: Master of the Door, Master of the House, Stranger from a Different World, First-Time Traveler to a Different World
Honestly, I don't even know where to start.
This just happened after I finished playing with all of the weapons.
I couldn't help but just stare at my stats, slack-jawed.
"Prerequisites met. All combat skills have been combined into skill True Art of War 1. True Art of War: 1 skill acquired."
What the heck is that?!
I immediately Appraise it...
True Art of War―A realm only reached by those who have learned the use of all weapons and martial arts. Grants the ability to use any and all weapons and martial arts.
That doesn't sound right!
It's impossible! I mean, think about it! Who would see my performance and call that being in control?!
Still, regardless of how I feel about the matter, my stats are updated, and that sprawl of weapon skills has completely vanished, replaced by a single entry for True Art of War.
...Did the sage also have this ridiculous ability? ...The odds seem good, yeah.
Despite not knowing what I'm doing, I've acquired an insanely broken skill.
***
After my little experiment, I figure I should clean up the weapons that are scattered around the yard. Then I suddenly remember that I have the Item Box skill and decide to give it a try.
Except I don't technically know how to use it. On a hunch, I try silently calling upon the Item Box in my head. In response, a black void appears in front of me.
I jerk backward in surprise and fall down, but I quickly figure out that I can make it appear and vanish at will. As a test, I try tossing a pen I'd brought from my house into the inky blackness.
Then I dismiss the portal and resummon it. When I gingerly reach into the portal, the image of a ballpoint pen appears in my head.
After quickly grasping how it works, I move quickly, picking up and tossing the weapons scattered around the yard into the Item Box.
Of course, I've already checked to make sure I can store and retrieve the items at will. I admit I'm a little surprised I can retrieve them on Earth, too.
By the time I'm finished with everything, I feel drained, and there's a faint but distinct wobble in my step. I return through the strange door back to Gramps's secret room.
This isn't...a dream, right?
I stare into the distance, deep in thought—but then my stomach rumbles.
I check the clock and realize it's already lunchtime.
That reminds me... Time seems to pass at around the same speed on the other side of the door. I mean, I'm glad that's the case.
I go and open the fridge in my house to grab something to eat, but it's empty.
"Oh, whoops... Right, I kept putting off a run for groceries..."
If I don't eat anything, I'll pass out from hunger before long, so I grab my wallet and reluctantly head to the nearby convenience store to grab a bite to eat.
Even though it's still early spring, my body begins to sweat the moment I'm exposed to the midday sun.
Yep... This is what sucks about being terribly overweight...
I'm already winded by the time I reach the convenience store, and there, I run into a situation I would have preferred to have avoided.
"C'mon now, you can spare a little time to grab some coffee with us."
"For the last time, I'm not interested! Now please let me go home!"
"Don't be like that."
Some guys in flashy outfits are harassing a girl about my age.
There's a fair amount of foot traffic at this convenience store, but we're in the middle of a residential neighborhood. I can't believe they'd come here of all places and then just start pestering passersby.
The girl clearly doesn't want to go with them, and she's actively trying to get away from them, only for them to give chase.
When I take a look around, I notice there's other people nearby, but all of them are pretending they don't see what's happening.
A moment later, one of the men finally makes a move, grabbing the girl's arm.
"C'mon, let's get outta here."
"Relax, we won't hurt you."
"No! Let me go!"
"U-um!"
"...Huh?"
The men all turn to glare at me.
They're intimidating, and I can already tell they're looking down on me.
...Honestly, this is scary as all hell, and I would've just ignored them if it was an option.
But if Gramps were here, he would have immediately leaped into action.
Gramps was the sort who would go out of his way to help anyone in trouble.
Even though most people treated him like a hypocrite or a madman, I loved Gramps because he always upheld his principles.
Which is why I act before I really have a chance to think about it.
"The hell do you want, fatty? You got something to say to us? Huh?"
"Eep! N-no...uh... Well...she really doesn't seem to want to go with you..."
"Say what?"
Apparently, my words rub them the wrong way, and the men let go of the girl, quickly surrounding me instead.
"Who do you think you are? Some knight in shining armor?"
"No, that's not..."
"Shut up!"
"Gah!"
One of the men hits me in the face without a moment's hesitation.
I roll on the ground in pain, prompting the men to close in and start kicking me.
"Don't tell us what to do, you damned pig!"
"You're creepy, fatso!"
"Eat shit and die!"
My face, my chest, my stomach.
Each time a sharp kick lands on my body, the pain sends my consciousness reeling.
Suddenly, the beating stops.
"Shit, the cops are here!"
"Wha—?! Oh hell!"
"Somebody's snitching! Let's get out of here!"
Evidently, the police have shown up, sending the men scattering.
My whole body aches, but it's not unbearable. Doesn't look like I have any broken bones, either.
...Kind of sad that this is how my Endurance comes in handy.
Wait. Something's wrong.
I'm pretty sure any one of those kicks was strong enough to knock me out. Everything definitely hurts a lot, but I'm still conscious.
...Could this really be thanks to a skill?
I suppose I should have realized it when the Appraise skill worked at home, but it seems all my skills really do work on Earth. As I'm pondering this, the girl who had been accosted runs over to me and helps me up.
"Are you all right?! Let me go call an ambulance..."
"I-I'm fine... R-really, I don't need to go to the hospital..."
"A-are you sure...?"
"Yes... I'm fine..."
This girl is genuinely worried about someone as ugly as me. I feel my heart skip a beat as I force myself to stand up despite the pain.
"Ow..."
"Please lean on my shoulder..."
"N-no, it's fine... I'm all right..."
"B-but..."
"I'm all good... I'm sorry you had to deal with that... Please be careful from now on as well."
Although by all appearances, this girl is worried about me, I take a step back from her as I get up.
She's just been harassed by a bunch of men. I'm sure she's not comfortable dealing with another man just now. At least, that's the logic I'm following when I purposefully distance myself.
Then again, I suppose if she doesn't consider me human, much less a man, then maybe it doesn't really matter.
I go through various self-deprecating rationalizations in my head when the police run over.
There are three officers in total, two women and a man. Hopefully this girl feels more at ease now.
"We're responding to a call..."
"Oh yes. Some men wouldn't leave me alone, and when they started getting more aggressive, he stepped in to help me! And then..."
The girl explains the situation, and because I appear to be the only victim here, it seems this'll just be treated as a minor incident and nothing more... Though that's a teeny bit weird considering how I ended up.
Once the police finish interviewing the girl, they decide to escort her home.
They then turn to me.
"We'll accompany you home as well. Which way do you live?"
"U-uh, I'm fine... I came here to buy some things, so..."
"I see... Then be careful on your way home."
As the police begin to set off with the girl, she stops, turns to me, and bows.
"Thank you so much for saving me!"
"Wha—? Oh, no, please don't worry about it... I mean, I ultimately didn't do much."
"That's not true! I was so relieved when you helped me! I'm really grateful! I'll make sure to return the favor somehow."
"P-please don't worry about it... A-anyway, um, take care..."
In general, I don't speak to other people a lot, and I choke on my words as I try to wrap up this conversation and turn around to leave.
...I couldn't bring myself to look her in the face.
Can you blame me? I basically never talk to women of my own accord, and even when they initiate conversation, it's almost always to launch a barrage of one-sided insults.
Because of those incidents, I have virtually no experience interacting with women.
Still, that girl was worried about me, even if it might have been for show.
She seems like a good person... I hope she'll be all right.
As I mull over the incident and think about the girl, I decide to venture a little farther to the supermarket to do a little shopping before returning to the convenience store on the way home.
***
Having finished lunch and cleaning the house, I once again make my way to the strange door.
After stepping into the cabin, I walk out and look around the yard.
"It really is massive... I still can't believe this is all mine..."
I don't just mean the yard and the house. The fact that this is a different world is a beautiful mystery.
Quite the mystery. The Appraise skill says not even the gods know the reason why the door connects this world with Earth. Oh, hold on. That straight up says there are gods! Huh! So supernatural beings are real here!
I let my thoughts wander as I take in my surroundings—until I'm suddenly seized by a feeling of dread.
My entire body tenses. Breathing suddenly becomes difficult, and I instinctively want to suck in air.
Sweat streams out of every pore of my body as I try to figure out why I'm reacting this way. My eyes dart back and forth in a panic.
Then I spot the source of my dread standing at the entrance separating the garden from the outside world.
"Gasp... Wheeze...!"
"..."
It stands over two meters tall with black-red skin the color of dried blood.
The creature sports thick arms, practically the same width as my own bloated body.
It has the face of an oni straight out of Japanese mythology, with two sharp fangs jutting out from its lower jaw.
Projecting the aura of an overwhelmingly powerful hunter, it is entirely focused on me.
As its hungry gaze burrows into me, I quiver even as I use what little composure I have remaining to activate my Appraise skill.
Bloody Ogre
Level: 300, Mana: 100, Attack: 5000, Defense: 5000, Agility: 1000, Intelligence: 500, Luck: 100
The hell?!
What's up with those ridiculous stats?! All of mine are at 1!
Even dreaming about taking on a level-300 opponent when you’re level 1 is beyond stupid!
And the name Bloody Ogre... I can't help but remember now of all times that Araki, my tormentor, belongs to a group called the Red Ogres, and I sink even further into despair.
I freak out even harder as the difference in stats sinks in. That’s when the Bloody Ogre lets out a roar.
"Graaaaaaaaaaargh!"
"Aaah!"
The sheer volume makes my knees give out.
I come dangerously close to wetting my pants, but my badly depleted pride helps me hold on to a shred of dignity.
With my knees still like jelly, I'm helpless as the Bloody Ogre charges me.
The moment I see it move, I figure I'm done for.
However—
"Grah?!"
The Bloody Ogre stops in mid-stride as an invisible wall keeps it from going any farther.
"Oh..."
That's right... I'm the only one who can enter this property!
I finally remember that fact. That said, it's not like I can do anything just because I realize this.
The Bloody Ogre's still trying to get into the yard, slamming its fists against the invisible barrier with terrifying speed.
"Graaaaaaaaaargh!"
But just like how I'm unable to do anything, the Bloody Ogre can't do anything to the house and simply continues its pointless attacks. I don't know how else to put it. Apparently, I can just leave the monster alone.
The moment I catch my breath and feel a little relief, the Bloody Ogre stops its assault and reaches for a nearby tree.
It easily yanks the tree out of the ground and hurls the whole thing at the house.
"Wait! What?! Aaaaaaaah!"
Can an inanimate object pass through the barrier even if it stops living creatures? A new wave of terror grips me, but the house's defenses turn out to be much more powerful than I first assumed, easily deflecting the tree.
...It seriously can't do anything to this house.
After all, the defense system completely neutralized its direct and indirect attacks.
I finally understand that the Bloody Ogre can't lay a finger on me, but even then, it shows no sign of giving up and renews its attacks.
Even if I know it can't hurt me, this isn't good for my heart.
Is there anything I can do...?
The moment I start thinking about my next step, a natural question slips out.
"...Will my attacks go through the barrier?"
Yes, it seems like the defense system stops any attacks coming from the outside world, but what'll happen when I try attacking from the inside?
To find out, I draw the Absolute Spear from my Item Box.
Why the Absolute Spear and not the Void Bow? Well, embarrassingly enough, I'm not strong enough to draw back the string on it. Simply making an attempt gave me the Archery skill for some strange reason, though.
On the other hand, while the Absolute Spear is incredibly heavy, and there's no way I could actually reach the Bloody Ogre by throwing it normally, once I decide on a target, this spear will fly toward it even if I only throw it forward a few millimeters. Even better, it'll return to my hand afterward.
I already confirmed all of those details while messing around with all the weapons after my first go with the Omnisword.
So...
"...Guess I'll try throwing it."
I decide, as a bit of an experiment, to hurl the Absolute Spear at the Bloody Ogre as it continues testing the house's defenses.
Throwing a weapon at a living creature is definitely something I wouldn't ordinarily do, but the fear from the Bloody Ogre has completely numbed me to the implications.
"...All right."
Having made my decision, I get a firm grip on the Absolute Spear.
The Absolute Spear has nothing in the way of decorations. It's a simple weapon that looks like it was made with nothing in mind besides piercing whatever happens to be in its way.
That's actually what makes it easy to use, and even a complete beginner like me feels totally comfortable with it resting in my hand.
That doesn't change the fact that it's heavy, and my body wobbles as I somehow manage to throw it.
"Th-there!"
"Grah?!"
The Bloody Ogre senses the threat approaching and puts up its guard.
Even though I use all the strength I can muster, the Absolute Spear is so heavy that my throw is all-in-all pathetic, more a clumsy lob that covers no more than a few centimeters rather than a proper throw.
The Bloody Ogre immediately registers how weak my throw is and lets down its guard, but...
"Grargh!"
The Absolute Spear flies out of my hand, paying absolutely no heed to my meager strength, and reaches the Bloody Ogre in the blink of an eye before easily piercing its body.
"Guh...gragh..."
The Bloody Ogre stares in disbelief, completely baffled by what's happened. Its eyes open wide in shock as it collapses, a huge hole gaping in its chest.
"I—I got it...!"
Ordinarily, those words would trigger something, but there's nothing for me to worry about, as the Bloody Ogre begins to turn into motes of light, vanishing from the spot.
I slump down to the ground.
"Heh. Heh-heh-heh..."
I bask in the relief that I'm still alive and reel from the fact that I just killed a living creature.
My only reaction is a weak, stunned laugh.
But I don't feel as guilty as I thought I would. I'm fortunate that I didn't actually have to experience the sensation of a spear sinking into flesh.
For a little while longer, I continue staring into the distance. Then I notice that there's a bunch of objects lying on the ground where the Bloody Ogre collapsed.
...I want to move, but my legs won't listen to me.
It's embarrassing, but my hips have given out from under me, and with my knees like jelly, it doesn't look like I'm going anywhere anytime soon.
As I sit there, a message appears in front of my eyes.
"You have gained a level."
"Huh?"
I once again find myself staring in shock.
***
G-gained a level...?
I stare blankly at the message that's appeared in front of me.
...On second thought, that makes a sort of sense.
A level-1 person just killed a level-300 creature.
Which reminds me—my attack stat is a measly 1, meaning the only reason I was able to kill an opponent despite the overwhelming level gap has to be due to the Absolute Spear's attack ability.
"...Wow, this spear's one hundred percent OP."
Aaand I have a pile of other weapons that are just as broken. Mastering all of them would be ridiculous...
But anyway, what does leveling up mean, exactly?
I bring up my stats and check to see what's changed.
Yuuya Tenjou
Occupation: None, Level: 100, Mana: 1000, Attack: 1000, Defense: 1000, Agility: 1000, Intelligence: 1000, Luck: 1000, BP: 10000
Skills: Appraise, Endurance, Item Box, Comprehend Languages, True Art of War: 1
Titles: Master of the Door, Master of the House, Stranger from a Different World, First-Time Traveler to a Different World
"Whoa, whoa, whoa."
This is unbelievable.
...Then again, I did just kill a level-300 opponent, so maybe this is about right...?
Huh... Looks like my stats go up by 10 each time I gain a level. Of course, I don't know if that's high or if everyone is like that.
Even setting everything else aside, I can tell at a glance that my BP count is way higher than normal. I know that's the effect of First-Time Traveler to a Different World, but still.
"I can spend the BP on whatever I want, right...?"
I suppose I could spend it right now, but I think I'd rather see what's lying around over where the Bloody Ogre fell. Let's check that first.
I feel my legs still trembling as I get up and walk with a wobbly gait.
"...What's this?"
The first things I find are a strangely colored gemstone about the size of my palm and a giant fang matching the Bloody Ogre's. There's also some black-red armor that's giving off a faintly ominous aura, but I have to admit it also looks pretty cool.
"...Guess I should pick up everything for now."
Fortunately, since I killed the Bloody Ogre near the entrance, it doesn't take long to collect it all.
There's only a few items, but they all have this weird...presence? Aura? Whatever it is, even I can tell at a glance that they're all powerful.
Then again, just staring at them won't tell me anything concrete, so I activate Appraise... I'm starting to get into the habit of just activating it whenever I see something new.
Great Fang of the Bloodstained Ogre―Fang of a Bloody Ogre. The fang is as impressive as it looks and, when combined with the Bloody Ogre's impressive jaw strength, can pierce the skin of anything the ogre considers prey. An artisan can use this as material to create tough, sharp weapons.
Magic Stone: B―Rank B. A special ore that can be obtained when killing monsters with mana. Quality is denoted by the following ranks in ascending order: F, E, D, C, B, A, S . The higher the rank, the greater the value.
Breastplate of the Bloodstained Ogre―Bloody Ogre item drop. Made of the tough hide and muscle fibers of the Bloody Ogre. Immense strength is required to even damage this breastplate. Provides an attack bonus to its wearer.
Gauntlets of the Bloodstained Ogre―Bloody Ogre item drop. Made of the tough hide and muscle fibers of the Bloody Ogre. Immense strength is required to even damage these guantlets. Provides an attack bonus to its wearer.
Faulds of the Bloodstained Ogre―Bloody Ogre item drop. Made of the tough hide and muscle fibers of the Bloody Ogre. Immense strength is required to even damage these faulds. Provides an agility bonus to its wearer.
Greaves of the Bloodstained Ogre―Bloody Ogre item drop. Made of the tough hide and muscle fibers of the Bloody Ogre. Immense strength is required to even damage these greaves. Provides an agility bonus to its wearer.
This is gear straight out of some fantasy game.
A magic rock, a fang... When is a regular dude like me going to use this? It's not like I'm in dire need of armor on Earth.
Besides, I don't have any idea how practical this stuff might be. I already have plenty of weapons, and as for the Magic Stone, it's got an alphabetic ranking of some sort, but that's all I know about it even after using Appraise.
On top of that, the armor isn't sized correctly for my bloated body, and there's no way I can wear it. Exactly what am I supposed to do with it?
All that being said, the breastplate resembles the Bloody Ogre's muscular torso, while the gauntlets have a sharp, menacing look to them. The faulds follow a similar design, and there's also a red cloak, while the greaves basically seem like the gauntlets adapted to work as greaves. All in all, the armor looks insanely cool.
"It's nice to have, but I don't exactly have a use for these..."
Maybe it wasn't so important that I had to postpone thinking about my BPs.
Might as well spend them now.
"Hmm... Seeing as how I can't use magic, I might as well focus on increasing my attack strength."
I'm the aggressive type of player, preferring to put most of my stats into offensive abilities. Or at least I would be if I could afford the luxury of video games, but still!
At any rate, upping my mana would be a waste since I can't use magic, but given that I'm bullied all the time, maybe I should increase my defense?
"...Then there's this luck stat..."
Ordinarily, unlike something like physical strength, luck doesn't change no matter how much effort you put into it. But here, it went up just like all my other stats when I leveled up.
In that sense, it might be a good idea to spend my points on luck.
"...Man, I'm starting to enjoy this."
I've never had the opportunity to enjoy any games or diversions before, so this situation's almost like a form of entertainment for me. Sure, there's a bunch of scary things involved, like getting stared down by an angry ogre, but there's an undeniable appeal to it all.
Anyway, I gained levels, and my various stats reportedly went up, but I don't feel any different, so I may as well spend my points like I'm playing a game.
Having made the decision to treat it all rather casually, I begin spending my BP as I see fit.
Here's the results...
Yuuya Tenjou
Occupation: None, Level: 100, Mana: 1500, Attack: 3000, Defense: 3000, Agility: 3000, Intelligence: 1500, Luck: 4000, BP: 0
Skills: Appraise, Endurance, Item Box, Comprehend Languages, True Art of War: 1
Titles: Master of the Door, Master of the House, Stranger from a Different World, First-Time Traveler to a Different World
Looks pretty good, right?
I didn't spend much on mana, since I can't use magic. As for intelligence, well, it'd be great if it would improve my ability to study and learn things, but I also considered the fact that it might just be a stat that only makes my magic spells stronger or something like that, so I didn't put all that many points into it.
Instead, I spent points equally on attack, defense, and agility.
After that, I poured the remaining points into luck, since I can't do anything to improve that stat otherwise.
I'm all done, but...
"...Nothing's happening."
Seems like the display really is just a sort of game system, and there won't be any real physical changes to my body.
"Well, whatever... Way too much happened today. I need some rest. Time to go home..."
I guess technically I'm already inside my house...
While making clever comments to myself, I head back to the Door to a Different World with my slightly improved body.
A message suddenly pops up in front of me.
"You have several items you can convert into money. Convert the following items into money: Great Fang of the Bloodstained Ogre, Magic Stone: B, Breastplate of the Bloodstained Ogre, Gauntlets of the Bloodstained Ogre, Fauld of the Bloodstained Ogre, Greaves of the Bloodstained Ogre?"
"Huh?"
C-convert into money?
I can't figure out what it means for a second, until I remember that one of the special features that I gained from becoming Master of the Door included converting things into money.
"Money conversion... I wonder how it works?"
I know nothing about the process, but it's true that I don't have good use for these items.
Still, I might try on the armor, gauntlets, and greaves at some point, so I remove them from the list and convert the rest.
Then...
"Items converted into money. Great Fang of the Bloodstained Ogre―500,000 yen. Magic Stone: B―1,000,000 yen."
"Excuse me?" I yelp in surprise.
As though to press home the point, bundles of paper fall out of thin air.
"........."
I literally don't understand what's happening.
Taking a closer look, I realize the bundles are all 10,000-yen notes.
Slack-jawed, I pick up the bundles and count out 1.5 million yen's worth of bills, just like the message said.
I use every method I can think of to check if they're counterfeit, but so far as I can tell, they're real.
Almost out of reflex, I use Appraise to confirm.
1,500,000 Yen―Money converted from items from a different world. Legal tender. 10,000-yen bills with legitimate serial numbers added by adjusting information in Earth's economy to avoid complications.
I find myself even more confused.
Wait, what does "adjusting information" mean?! I get that they're real, but come on!
I don't know how much I can trust the contents of the Appraise messages, but if it's right, then that means I just got my hands on 1.5 million yen.
Maybe I'm just inclined to believe it in my euphoria, but the messages seem trustworthy.
Besides, if the door is something that even the gods don't understand, then altering information on Earth or whatever seems totally plausible. Not that I can even begin to grasp what that means in practice.
Still...
"Whoa... So this really is more than a million yen... What should I do with this...?"
I mean, given that I'm struggling just to get by, this is a huge windfall.
Sure, some might say that this isn't morally acceptable or that I should think more clearly about the consequences, but it's not like I'm a particularly virtuous or smart person.
If there's profit to be had in front of me, of course I'm going to jump on it.
Which is why...
"...I'm keeping it."
Of course, I can't exactly deposit all this at the bank, so I toss it into the Item Box along with the set of armor. I'll just use it a little bit at a time.
I make the decision after recovering from the giant shock that waited right at the threshold and wobble through the door back to Earth.
Comments
Post a Comment