It was an ordinary morning, with bright sunshine. The bustling streets were surrounded by tall buildings.
A young man with short black hair, a handsome face, and a well-built physique walked down the street, a bag of groceries in his left hand and his right hand fixed on his phone.
However, his handsome face was etched with the marks of exhaustion, and heavy dark circles under his eyes were clearly visible.
"Ugh, I definitely need to get some good rest when I get home. That whole night was just… unbelievable. Who works overtime until the next morning? Today I truly witnessed the sinister face of capitalists."
The young man mumbled as he walked, as though he had suffered a great injustice. The mere thought of the previous night's busyness still made him shiver slightly.
The young man's name was Kaito — a name that carried the charm of a novel's protagonist.
He had given himself this name. He disliked the name the orphanage director had given him, so he changed it himself once he came of age.
He had wanted a life like a novel's protagonist, but alas! He had the body of a young master yet the fate of a servant. After graduating from university, he couldn't find a decent job and had been living a laid-back life ever since.
Occasionally, he would watch anime, complain about the female lead's misfortunes, and say what he would have done if he were in her shoes.
Fortunately, he had received a proper upbringing from the orphanage director since childhood, and had retained a kind heart.
He would even help elderly ladies cross the road, even when they had already just crossed it. Overall, he was an otaku with no great ambitions.
"Ugh, when will these 'beast of burden' days end? I'm toiling day and night."
Kaito was lamenting the difficulties of life when he suddenly heard someone shout from a distance:
"Look out!"
Kaito looked up toward the source of the sound, only to see a large cargo truck speeding straight toward him.
"Bang!"
Kaito felt his body launched into the air. What was all this? He had just been complaining! He truly hadn't intended to end his 'beast of burden' life this way!
As Kaito was struck and fell to the ground, he vaguely heard a voice say:
"This year's quota has been met, young man. It's time for you to reincarnate in another world!"
Then he lost consciousness.
After an unknown amount of time, in a sun-drenched dense forest.
"Hiss, ouch, ouch… I'm actually not dead. By the way, where did that truck come from in the middle of the city? This time, I'm going to extort a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment out of him!"
Kaito rubbed his head, feeling a dull ache all over his body. After a while, the pain gradually faded, and he sat up, looking around.
"Holy crap, where did they send me? Is this even still Japan?!"
All around him were lush green trees, tall and dense, blocking everything from view. He was clearly deep within a forest, its edge nowhere in sight.
[Ding. Host detected to be awake. Strongest Sign-in System activated. Does Host wish to claim the Novice Gift Pack?]
Hearing the voice in his mind, Kaito's heart instantly trembled.
'My goodness, a System!!! Did I transmigrate?'
Having read many novels and watched plenty of anime, he naturally knew what a System was. This sort of thing was practically a must-have for transmigrators. He quickly asked:
"System, did I transmigrate? What functions do you have?"
[Host can communicate with the System mentally. This System is the Strongest Sign-in System. As the name suggests, Host can obtain rewards by signing in daily. Rewards are completely random!]
[In short, as long as Host plays it safe, even the weakest being can rise to the top. Does Host wish to open the Novice Gift Pack?]
[One more thing: given the current situation, doesn't Host already know whether he transmigrated?]
"Uh… alright, open the [Novice Gift Pack]!"
As Kaito opened the gift pack, a blue light screen suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on obtaining Dimensional Gate (Seven-Colored) × 1.]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on obtaining Basic Cultivation Method (Seven-Colored) × 1.] (T/N: WAIT!! He won't do any cultivation, no tribulation, and NO OTHER CHARACTERS WILL DO CULTIVATION!!!)
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on obtaining Ultimate Marrow Cleansing Pill (Gold) × 1.]
"Holy crap, a Gold-rank item! But what is a [Dimensional Gate]? And does 'Seven-Colored' represent item quality?"
[Ding. Sign-in reward qualities, from lowest to highest, are: [White], [Green], [Blue], [Purple], [Gold], [Red], [Seven-Colored]. [Seven-Colored] is the highest quality reward tier.]
[Dimensional Gate]: Automatically charges over time. Once fully charged, it will randomly anchor world coordinates across the myriad worlds. After obtaining coordinates, the [Dimensional Gate] can be opened to travel to that world.
[Basic Cultivation Method]: A miraculous cultivation method that integrates divine abilities, artifact refinement, formations, and other techniques. As the Great Dao is simple, the name matters little!
[Ultimate Marrow Cleansing Pill]: As the name suggests, it is the finest among marrow cleansing pills. It can perfectly transform the Host's physique, making cultivation as simple as eating and drinking!
"System, open the panel!"
[Ding. Opening panel for Host.]
Host: Kaito
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Realm: [None]
Items: [Basic Cultivation Method], [Ultimate Marrow Cleansing Pill], [Dimensional Gate]
Overall Rating: A weakling with combat power less than 5. You can't even beat a certain chicken that trained for two and a half years. What's the point of you still being alive? ┓(´ー`)┏
Looking at the System's evaluation, a drop of cold sweat involuntarily ran down Kaito's forehead. 'Who said I can't beat a chicken? Do you know how many chickens I've eaten?! Do you know?!'
[Ding. Does Host wish to use the Basic Cultivation Method and Ultimate Marrow Cleansing Pill? It is recommended that Host use them together!]
"Mm, use them."
Kaito was astonished to find that vast knowledge of cultivation suddenly surfaced in his mind.
He felt that his path to cultivation should be smooth sailing from here on. Could he be that one-in-a-million cultivation prodigy?
Just as he was feeling smug about it, a golden pill materialized in his right hand. Understanding that this was the [Ultimate Marrow Cleansing Pill], Kaito swallowed it without hesitation.
The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth. Kaito only felt a warm sensation spread throughout his body as the medicinal power continuously transformed his physique.
Drawing on this medicinal energy, Kaito quickly sat cross-legged and began cultivating according to the [Basic Cultivation Method]. [Qi Condensation — First Layer]… [Qi Condensation — Second Layer]… [Qi Condensation — Third Layer]… [Foundation Establishment — First Layer]… [Foundation Establishment — Ninth Layer]… Just as he reached the peak of [Foundation Establishment], Kaito shouted:
"Kidney stones… no, [Golden Core], condense for me!"
He seemed to hear a sound similar to metal solidifying within his body, and then a shimmering golden core slowly took form in his lower [Dantian].
"Phew, I've reached the [Golden Core] stage! But why does the sound of this [Golden Core] condensing sound so much like blacksmithing? It wasn't hammered into shape, was it?!"
[System, open panel.]
Host: Kaito
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Realm: [Peak Golden Core Stage]
Items: [Dimensional Gate]
Overall Rating: In the myriad worlds, you are merely a lowly minion. Be careful not to get accidentally stepped on! ┓(´ー`)┏
Looking at the System's evaluation, Kaito fell into contemplation. 'So even in the myriad worlds, I'm still a small fry.'
'Forget it, I won't dwell on it. I'll first find out what kind of world this is. If it's too dangerous, I'll find somewhere to lay low for now!'
"Watashi wa, uchūjin da!" (I am an alien!)
Kaito, who had been pondering his future, suddenly heard a cute, playful voice from a distance. Although it wasn't Japanese, strangely enough, he could understand it perfectly.
Looking toward the source of the sound, he saw a light blue, jelly-like mass bouncing toward him.
"Hey, hey, hey! There's actually a person!"
The bouncing jelly seemed to have spotted Kaito. Two wide eyes suddenly appeared on its translucent body as it cried out about seeing a person, then quickly bounced toward him.
Looking at the jelly bouncing before him, Kaito couldn't help but think how much it resembled a Slime. Had he transmigrated to a magic world?
"Hello there! Are you also lost in the forest? My name is Rimuru, and I'm not an evil Slime!"
Hearing the self-introduction from the jelly — no, the Slime — Kaito instantly understood which world he had transmigrated to.
'So I transmigrated to the world of Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken? And isn't this the protagonist of this very world standing right in front of me!'
'It's said that he is also the reincarnation of the Star King Dragon Veldanava, the Creator God himself, and possesses the [Unique Skill: Great Sage] as his cheat ability. Looking at him now, he must have just come out of the cave where the Storm Dragon Veldora was sealed.'
"Hello, my name is Kaito. I'm not sure how I ended up in this forest, and I'm currently trying to figure out how to get out."
Listening to Kaito's self-introduction, Rimuru extended her small hand and patted her round body, asking in return:
"I see. But aren't you scared seeing me like this? I'm a monster! Awoo~!"
[Notification! Individual Kaito detected to contain unknown energy. The unknown energy is too vast. It is strongly recommended that Master distance herself immediately. Target is extremely dangerous!]
'O(ﾟДﾟ)っ Is that… really how it is?!'
Rimuru, who had been putting on a show of menace, instantly froze upon hearing the [Great Sage]'s words.
'Am I going to meet my end right after coming out? Waaah! I haven't even had a proper look at this world yet!'
"Hahaha, how could I be scared? You look so cute. I think you must be a cute girl."
"Eh, eh, eh?! How did you know I was a girl in my previous life?!"
Rimuru snapped out of her daze upon hearing Kaito's words, and stared at him with wide eyes.
"What do you mean by 'previous life'? And are you really a girl?"
Kaito asked, feigning ignorance. According to his memories from before transmigrating, Rimuru's previous life should have been a middle-aged salaryman. So how had she turned into a girl? Was this the legendary butterfly effect at work?
Rimuru then explained her origins in response to Kaito's question, though she made no mention of Veldora Tempest.
'It seems she's still holding back from me. But that's fair — who would tell a complete stranger everything upon first meeting?'
After figuring that much out, Kaito squatted down and extended his right hand toward Rimuru, asking:
"It seems the two of us are quite fated to meet, then. I also don't know how I came to be in this world. Would you like to come with me?"
Looking at the right hand extended toward her, and then at the gentle smile on the handsome young man's face, Rimuru thought for a moment before extending a small hand and grasping Kaito's large one.
"Then, yoroshiku onegaishimasu! (＞ω＜*)ﾉ" (Please take care of me!)
"Mm, you too! (^_−)☆"
The warm sunlight of the jungle fell upon their joined hands, mingling with the rich natural atmosphere of the forest to form a beautiful and heartwarming scene.
Unfortunately, no one could witness it — except for a certain [Dimensional Gate] quietly charging in the background.