Chapter 1: Prologue
“Ah, so you’ve stayed here without being transferred… Did the Summoning fail, I wonder?”
“Huh…?”
A foolish sound escaped my lips, bewildered by the situation. I was sure I had been at school just a moment ago. After homeroom had ended, I was about to head home. …Right, the Magic Circle appeared in the classroom!
I had stepped out into the hallway to leave, but I must have been standing just inside the perimeter of the Magic Circle. I remember thinking it was bad and taking a single step outside of it…
“Did I miss my chance…?”
“I see, that explains it.”
The old man nodded knowingly, as if he had pieced something together. Suddenly, there he was before me—a man with white hair and beard, clad in a robe. The surroundings were a blank white space. This could only mean one thing: I had experienced what is commonly referred to as a class transfer. Having read countless light novels, I was well aware of this trope.
“Um, who are you…?”
He was probably some kind of god… or something like that. Is it okay to call him a person? I wasn’t sure.
“Indeed. You could say I am a god, more or less.”
“I-I see.”
It seemed he could read my thoughts. Still, there was no one else around. I could have sworn there were other students in the classroom.
“It appears a summoning ritual was conducted in some world, but the others have already been summoned to their respective countries.”
“Seriously…?”
Ahh, so I really was too late. Being left behind while everyone else got summoned? If I couldn’t escape, I would have preferred to be with everyone else. …Well, considering I’m a loner, it might not have made much difference.
“Is there any way to return to my original place?”
I had a feeling it was impossible, but I had to ask. If I could go back, my attempt to escape wouldn’t have been in vain. I had read various light novels, but I didn’t expect to be able to become overpowered in this world. Otherworlds were always filled with danger.
“That is impossible.”
“May I ask why…?”
“Simply put, Mizumoto Shuu is still living happily on Earth.”
“Huh…?”
Mizumoto Shuu was my name… but I was still on Earth? Then who exactly was I here?
“You are a copy of Mizumoto Shuu’s soul. If you’re worried about causing your family distress, you can rest easy.”
“Seriously?”
I felt anything but at ease. I instinctively stared at my hands, which looked just like my own. I touched my face, and it felt like the same small frame I always had. …Probably.
“But, what about merging with the self that’s still on Earth…?”
“Hmm, it’s not impossible, but it would be the same as you disappearing from here. It would be like being absorbed back into your original soul. The memories of this copy will not remain.”
Wait, isn’t that just like dying?
“Mom, Dad…”
I couldn’t help but murmur those words, and I felt tears welling up. What does it mean to have my soul copied? Am I really Mizumoto Shuu? They say I was summoned, but is it just my soul? What about my body back there…? I was overwhelmed by a sensation as if I had quietly died without anyone knowing.
“Now, don’t be so pessimistic. Our meeting here is a twist of fate. Normally, it would be random, but I’ll let you choose your skills.”
“Skills…?”
“Indeed. When passing through the realm of the gods to traverse worlds, various skills are automatically granted. However, I’ll allow you to choose.”
As I stood there in a daze, a translucent window suddenly appeared before me. It seemed to be a list of skills, featuring familiar names like “Swordsmanship” and “Spear Mastery.” As I scrolled, I found magical and support-type skills as well.
“Hmm…”
There were quite a few options… The classic choice would probably be Appraisal Skill. Maybe something for skill acquisition or growth rate boosts? But then again, Appraisal Skill can sometimes yield poor results… Considering there are classmates involved, the skill theft type might leave a bad impression.
“Ah, it seems time is running out, so you should hurry.”
As I was lost in thought, recalling light novel tropes, the god’s voice urged me.
“What!?”
Even under pressure, I wanted to think a little longer! For now, I guess I’ll choose this one. I reached for “Double Experience Acquisition,” but then I spotted “Tenfold Experience Acquisition” nearby. There couldn’t be a higher multiplier than that, right…?
As I scrolled quickly without panicking, I noticed options for growth rates of various stats like stamina and magic power at a hundred times. Yeah, I think I’ll go with “Tenfold Experience Acquisition.”
“You can still choose more, you know?”
“Wait, what!?”
My arms began to feel hazy as I operated the window. I could sense that I was about to be summoned to the other world.
“This one, and this one…”
I hurriedly tapped on the growth rate increase skills that caught my eye when suddenly, my vision darkened. In the fading consciousness, I thought I heard the god’s voice saying, “Take care.”