Rain hammered steadily against the pavement outside Tokyo Metropolitan College, forming ripples in puddles that reflected the gray city sky. Students hurried out with umbrellas clustered like tiny mushrooms, laughing, chatting, discussing their plans. Among them walked Kazuki Arai, holding nothing but a worn-out backpack and a thin notebook he used for almost every class.
Kazuki blended into the crowd as though he wasn't even there. His short black hair was messy, his eyes quiet, and there was a lonely emptiness that accompanied each of his steps. Nobody asked him where he was going, what he was doing after school, or if he wanted to hang out. He was a shadow student—one who could disappear and no one would notice.
He was fine with it. After all, he had grown up alone.
An orphan since before he could speak, Kazuki knew little about affection or attachment. He lived in a government-run children's facility until he turned sixteen, then moved to a tiny apartment funded by a scholarship and part-time work. His dream was simple—live quietly, without causing trouble, without being hurt.
Yet today, things were different. Two boys and a girl walked beside him.
Ryuji, a tall and lively athlete, grinned as he complained about homework. Hina, the popular beauty admired by everyone, smiled gently while listening. Takumi, a smug and sharp-tongued genius student, scrolled on his phone while talking as though he held the world's answers in his palm.
Kazuki never understood why they included him sometimes—maybe because he helped with homework occasionally, or maybe because he was just convenient to have around. But part of him thought they were friends.
I'm not alone, he told himself as they stepped outside the school gate.
Just as Ryuji cracked a joke and Hina laughed, a strange sensation crawled across the ground like static. The air felt thick, then suddenly—everything turned blindingly white.
Kazuki tried to scream, but he couldn't. There was no sensation of falling or flying—only drowning in light.
A New World
When the light cleared, they were standing in a grand hall with marble floors polished to a mirror shine. Gold-trimmed pillars towered overhead, and arcane symbols glimmered beneath their feet like constellations. Dozens of robed priests surrounded them, holding glowing staffs. Their robes were embroidered with a crest depicting a winged lion.
A regal woman stepped forward from atop a dais. She wore a crown polished with emeralds and diamonds. Her beauty was undeniable—sharp, elegant, and powerful.
"Welcome, heroes from another world," she declared, her voice echoing. "You have been summoned to save our kingdom from the tyranny of the Demon King."
Cheers erupted around them from the priests and royal guards.
Ryuji's eyes shone with excitement.Hina clasped her hands, overwhelmed by awe.Takumi smirked, as if destiny had finally acknowledged his brilliance.
Kazuki, however, felt only confusion and discomfort. Being transported, hailed, and celebrated was too sudden—too unreal.
He raised his hand timidly. "Um… we never agreed to—"
Before he could finish, a priest stepped forward holding a glowing crystal orb.
"We shall appraise your divine blessings one by one. Please touch the Orb of Revelation."
Ryuji eagerly pressed his hand to the orb first.
[HOLY SWORD HERO]
The hall erupted in applause. A divine glyph appeared above Ryuji's head.
Next was Hina.
[CELESTIAL ARCHER]
More cheers. She seemed startled by her own result.
Then Takumi confidently touched the orb.
[ARCANE SAGE OF ANCIENTS]
The crowd murmured in awe. Even the queen smiled.
Finally, Kazuki stepped forward. His hands trembled slightly as he touched the orb. It began to shine—then flickered—then turned black.
Not dim, not empty. Black. Like a swallowed void.
Silence swallowed the room.
One priest dropped his staff.
"I-Impossible…! No divine blessing… no talent at all! He is utterly mundane!"
The queen's eyes narrowed in disgust.
"A worthless summon. Remove him from the heroes."
Kazuki stumbled back."What? Wait— I didn't ask to be summoned! I don't want to fight anyone—just let me go home!"
Takumi clicked his tongue loudly.
"Don't embarrass us. Just be useful somehow as a servant or something. It's pathetic to expect more."
Ryuji avoided eye contact, stepping away as though Kazuki were diseased.Hina bit her lip, then turned her face away, joining the others.
"You should be grateful we even talked to you," Takumi added, laughing coldly. "Goodbye, talentless loser."
Guards seized Kazuki. He struggled, shouting, begging, but no one listened. He was dragged through stone corridors and out into the freezing rain.
The heavy metal gates slammed shut behind him.
No farewell. No apology. No regret.
Only abandonment.
The Forest of Beasts
Kazuki stumbled into a dark forest as night began to fall. Growls echoed all around him. He hugged himself tightly, shivering, drenched in rain.
"Why…? Why me? I didn't do anything…"
Lightning lit the sky for a moment, revealing monstrous shapes lurking between trees—creatures with glowing eyes, claws, horns, teeth like knives.
One stepped forward. A wolf-like beast with three red eyes and mangled fur. A Fang Wolf.
Kazuki froze, breath caught in his throat.
The wolf lunged.
He screamed and swung blindly with the first thing he could grab—a broken branch. The wood jabbed into the beast's open maw, piercing its throat. Blood splashed across Kazuki's face, warm and metallic. The wolf died instantly, collapsing at his feet.
Kazuki's hands trembled violently.
"I… killed it…"
He hadn't meant to—he just wanted to survive. He didn't want to die.
Just when he thought he might faint, a glowing blue panel appeared before his eyes like floating glass.
◆ SYSTEM ACTIVATED ◆
[CONGRATULATIONS: FIRST KILL][ULTIMATE EVOLUTION SYSTEM UNLOCKED][TITLE ACQUIRED: THE UNDISCOVERED ONE][ABILITY: LEVEL INFINITY](All skills hidden. Potential limitless. Growth unrestricted.)
Kazuki blinked, shocked.
So he wasn't useless. Not talentless. Not discarded. They simply couldn't see the ability he possessed.
Rain washed the blood from his face as he slowly stood up. His fear burned away little by little.
He clenched his fist.
"You abandoned me… You threw me away… But I'll live. I'll grow stronger. And one day… you'll all regret it."
Lightning split the sky again.
The monsters growled.
And Kazuki stepped forward into the darkness, no longer afraid.
His path of survival, strength, and revenge had begun.
End of Chapter 1