The Man Picked Up By the Gods (Reboot)Volume 1
Play Speak 1
A lone man stood dazed in an empty room. Signs of fatigue could be seen on his face and gray streaks could be seen on his hair; he was most likely in his latter 40s, though his figure seemed to deny that.
The man was dressed for sleep, wearing only a simple shirt and a pair of shorts, making it easy to see his figure. Contrary to his aged look, his body was tempered, overflowing with muscles and vigor.
âHuhâŠ? Where is this?â [???]
When the man uttered those words, three people appeared before him.
âHave you come to?â [Old Man]
âIs your mind clear now?â [Boy]
âYou know it would be nice if you said something.â [Woman]
âUmm⊠Yes. Iâm alright now. You suddenly came out of nowhere, so I was taken back a bit. My apologies. Let me introduce myself. I am Ryouma Takebayashi.â
âThereâs no need to be so formal. Letâs talk over tea.â [Old Man]
The old man waved his hand, and all of the sudden, a tea table appeared, atop which were cups filled with tea and pillows to sit on along the sides.
âCome, take a seat.â [Woman]
âThank you.â [Ryouma]
The young woman smiled and implored Ryouma to take a seat, which Ryouma promptly took. The others took their seats as well; the woman sat on the right, while the boy sat on the left, and the old man sat opposite Ryouma.
When they had all taken their seats, everyone, including Ryouma, took a sip of their tea.
âI hope you wonât mind if I ask some questions.â [Ryouma]
âOf course not. Thatâs exactly what weâre here for. But I already have an idea what is you want to ask, so how about listening to our story first?â [Old Man]
âWell, alright.â [Ryouma]
After Ryouma nodded to show his agreement, the old man began.
âWe are what you would call âgodsâ. I am Gayn, the God of Creation. The woman to your right is Rurutia, the Goddess of Love, and the boy to your left is the God of Life, Kufo. We are gods of a different world.
You might not know this, but last night, you died. When your soul left your body, we took it and brought it here to the divine realm.â [Gayn]
âI see. So thatâs what happened.â [Ryouma]
Ryouma matter-of-factly accepted Gaynâs explanation as he sipped his tea. The three gods were bewildered at his reaction, especially the youngest-looking of them all, Kufo.
âUmm, wait, is that it!? Shouldnât you be panicking a bit more and going âNo way!â âThat canât be!â âWhy did I die?â or something?â [Kufo]
âYou know⊠the others before you were all flustered when we talked to them.â [Gayn]
âOh, donât get me wrong, I am surprised, though I do admit that none of this feels real to me right now. Besides, if all this is nothing more than a dream, then I would eventually wake up, but even if itâs not, well⊠everyone will pass away anyway.
And Iâve already expected this to some extent. My work, you see, is really taxing. So taxing that many of my coworkers have had to retire early because their body broke down. Because of that Iâve always believed I would die an early death. Being able to live up to 39 or 40, depending which way you count, is more than plenty, all things considered.
Not to mention, as embarrassing as it is to admit considering my age, Iâm a huge otaku of games and manga, so Iâm quite fond of stories like this. I donât have any family or relatives anyway, so this turn of events is a lot better than just burning away.â [Ryouma]
Ryouma was truly satisfied from the bottom of his heart, but that only caused the gods even more confusion.
âR-Really? Do humans really think like that? Hasnât anyone ever told you your way of thinking is odd?â [Kufo]
âI donât think itâs got anything to do with your hobbies either. There were plenty of people with similar hobbies as you, and they were all really flustered. So flustered, in fact, that some of them wouldnât even listen. Just meeting someone who wasnât gloomy was a feat in and of itself.â [Rurutia]
âWell, in any case, this makes things easier for us. Though this also leaves us with too much time on hand. Is there anything else you want to know?â [Gayn]
Ryouma became thoughtful for a moment before speaking.
âHow did I die?â [Ryouma]
âHmm? Youâre starting there?â [Gayn]
âYes. I donât think thereâs anything odd about my question though. After all, I donât have any memory of dying.â [Ryouma]
âWell, you did die like that, so of course you donât remember.â [Rurutia]
âYou died from brain hemorrhage after hitting your head.â [Kufo]
âHuh!? Wasnât I just sleeping in my room?â [Ryouma]
âYep, you sure were. But then you sneezed while you were sleeping⊠A lot, in fact.â [Rurutia]
âYou sneezed four times. Each time your pillow slipped and your head slammed into the ground. Unfortunately, your futon was the cheap sort, so it was too thin to cushion your head.â [Gayn]
âThe impact wasnât enough to wake you up though, so the internal bleeding just kept on going, and when dawn came, you passed.â [Kufo]
When he heard that, Ryoumaâs eyes fell to the ground and he mumbled to himself, then suddenly, he bitterly cried out.
âI canât accept it⊠Why? Why of all thing did I die from a sneeze!?â [Ryouma]
âHuh?â [Kufo, Gayn, Rurutia]
âIâve survived the beer bottles of my boss, the iron pipes of middle-aged men, and even the countless abuse under my dad, and yet after all that, the one thing to actually take my life is a sneeze!?â [Ryouma]
Filled with grief, Ryouma lost sight of his surroundings as mumbled to himself.
âAh, heâs depressed.â [Kufo]
âEven though he was perfectly fine after being told he was dead, what an odd kid.â [Rurutia]
âIt seems heâs quite proud of his body. Well, he was forcefully trained by his father from a young age and driven right at the edge of death day after day. Hmm⊠Kufo, Rurutia.â [Gayn]
âWhat?â [Rurutia]
âIs something the matter?â [Kufo]
âThereâs something about this kid bothering me. Come help me out while we wait for him to calm down.â [Gayn]
Gaynâs expression quickly turned solemn as he spoke, while the other two gods, sensing that something was amiss, answered back in words that couldnât be heard by a human. Perhaps their efforts were wasted, however, as Ryouma was so depressed he couldnât hear anything.
âAh, sorry⊠I lost myself for a moment there.â [Ryouma]
When Ryouma recovered himself and lifted up his face, the gods were still there drinking tea as calm as ever.
âItâs fine. Weâre usually free, and we properly scheduled our time with you, so thereâs no rush. Moreover, weâre already used to people losing their minds after dying.
After all, human souls are connected to their bodies, so when you cut that connection off, a little bit of instability is to be expected. That instability usually results in oneâs emotions going wild.
Anyway, the point is we really donât mind, so donât sweat it.â [Gayn]
âTime flows differently here in the divine realm and souls donât starve. Having to wait four years before a human regains his sanity is pretty normal.â [Kufo]
â4 years!?â [Ryouma]
Ryouma was shocked.
âWe canât interfere carelessly when humans are panicking, or they might just needlessly put their guards up. Some humans also go crazy while weâre talking, but regardless, we usually just wait until theyâre able to calm themselves down. Waiting up to four years is normal, so youâre still alright, Ryouma-kun.
Anyway, since youâre back, I hope you wonât mind if we continue.â [Gayn]
âOf course.â [Ryouma]
Gayn nodded.
âRight, well let me explain why we called your soul. If I were to sum up the reason in one word, it would be: Cliche. Do you understand?â [Gayn]
âCliche? Ah⊠I believe I do. You wish for me to live in another world, yes? If so, will I be reincarnated or merely transmigrated?â
âYou really are quick to pick up.â [Rurutia]
Rurutia was shocked to see Ryouma so easily understand what was going on, but Gayn ignored her and continued.
âYouâll be transmigrated, in a sense. I will be creating a new body for you to inhabit in our world, so you wonât have any parents.â [Gayn]
âYour new body will be much younger, so you could say itâs like being reincarnated. If you have any requests, I could alter your body as you please.â [Kufo]
âExactly what age will my new body be?â [Ryouma]
âYouâll be less than 10 years old. At that age, you should be fine even if you get lost in a forest. Youâll look like a child to others, so they wonât be as suspicious and youâll be able to safely go into a city. Of course, weâll have some insurance too to ensure everything goes well.
Since youâre going to be an orphan in the otherworld, weâll be sending you to a country thatâs relatively tolerant of social statuses. With that there shouldnât be any issues for you to live a normal life.â [Gayn]
âThank you. For my appearance, just donât make it weird. Is there anything in particular I need to do in your world? A mission of some sort?â [Ryouma]
âNope. If thereâs any, well, youâve pretty much accomplished it the moment youâre transmigrated, so thereâs technically none. You going to the otherworld is your only mission.â [Rurutia]
âOur goal is to transfer mana from your world into our world, which is currently very low on mana.â [Kufo]
Ryouma nodded upon understanding, but then it occurred to him.
âCanât you just transfer mana by itself?â [Ryouma]
âNo. Putting it simply, there are walls between different worlds. Normally, mana canât go past these âwallsâ, so we have to create a hole first. The problem is that opening the hole and maintaining it both require energy, so if just do it normally, weâll run out of strength.
Fortunately, we have you! Youâll be unconscious during the process, but by stuffing your soul â reinforced by our power â in between the hole, we can keep it from closing while we transfer mana from earth to our world.â [Kufo]
âOur world relies on magic. If mana dries up, the daily life of the people will be affected, the monsters who feed on magic will die out, and the ecosystem will be destroyed.
Earth, on the other hand, does not use magic. They donât have monsters either. Since theyâre not using it, we figured weâd take some of it.â [Rurutia]
âIf thereâs no particular reason for mana to dry out, then could it be that the rate production of mana canât keep up with its usage?â [Ryouma]
âYes, exactly. There are a lot of reasons for it, but humans, in particular, find it very convenient to rely on magic. Because of that magic has experienced a lot of development, and gradually, the consumption of mana is getting bigger and bigger.â [Kufo]
âItâs not easy to reduce the consumption of mana. Moreover, if you use too much internal mana, your body will fall apart. So in the end itâs a lot easier to use mana from your surroundings. Itâs truly a sad thing.â [Gayn]
As the gods grumbled about the humans, Ryouma alone became excited.
âUmm⊠Can I also use magic?â [Ryouma]
âOf course.â [Gayn]
âYou bet.â [Kufo]
âYou can.â [Rurutia]
âReally! Ah, sorry.â [Ryouma]
âItâs fine, itâs fine. When youâre transmigrated, you will have the same body as the native humans, so youâll also be able to use magic. Of course, everything will depend on your training.â [Gayn]
âAlso, as I mentioned awhile ago, weâll be reinforcing your soul to keep the hole open, so as a result, some of that power will become a part of you. Even without any talent, youâll be able to use magic. Iâm not sure about becoming the best mage in the world though.â [Kufo]
Ryouma felt his face grow hot as the gods looked at him with amused expressions, but regardless, he was happy to find that he would be able to use magic.
âAs for what magic youâll be able to use⊠Letâs give you access to all the elemental magic.â [Gayn]
âUmm⊠Wouldnât that be a bit too conspicuous?â [Ryouma]
The three gods laughed when he said that.
âHeh, the humans who come here say that a lot. Especially, the ones who read a lot of light novels.â [Kufo]
âBut the thing is, while itâs not that common, itâs also not that amazing.â [Rurutia]
âReally?â [Ryouma]
âYes. The people born with the talent arenât few, and with enough effort, anyone can become proficient in all elements. In fact, there are about 10 to 20 people in any countryâs knight order born with the skill.
Thereâs also the fact that while you might have a lot of elements that you can use, unless you train them all, youâre not going to get good at them. If you do train them all, the progress is pretty slow. Between someone who can cast elementary spells of all elements and someone who can cast advanced spells of a single element, which one do you think is more valued? The latter.â [Gayn]
âIn other words, a jack of all trades and a master of none.â [Ryouma]
âPrecisely.â [Gayn]
âSince there are no downsides to it, donât you think itâs a perfect fit for you who wants to play with magic?â [Rurutia]
âThen in that case, Iâll take it.â [Ryouma]
After that Ryouma and the gods continued discussing about his would-be abilities.
ââGood, with this weâre done. But are you really sure youâre alright with all your bonuses being magic-related? We can also give you some close-combat skills if you want. Being able to use a lot of magic is nice and all, but consequently, you wonât be able to use strong magic right off the bat.â [Gayn]
âAs long as I wonât have any problems living, Iâm perfectly happy with what weâve discussed.â [Ryouma]
âAlright. The most important thing is that youâre satisfied. Letâs move on to the last part.â [Gayn]
Sensing Ryoumaâs resolve, Gayn took out a wooden plank on top of which were a sheet of paper and a feather pen and handed it to Ryouma. On the sheet of paper were everything theyâve discussed, and on the bottom-right was a blank space for Ryoumaâs name.
âSigning a contract after you die is a bitâŠâ [Ryouma]
âOh, you donât like it?â [Rurutia] đređŠđđČđŁđŻđ°ÎœâŻđ.cđŒïœ
âNot that I donât like it. It just feels a bit⊠odd.â [Ryouma]
âWell, we can just do away with the contract if you want.â [Kufo]
âHuh?â [Ryouma]
Ryoumaâs hand paused when he heard Rurutia and Kufoâs remarks.
âActually, weâre just making sure that youâre fine with everything weâve discussed and that you understand everything perfectly clear. The sign is just one method. If you donât want to sign, we can just do it orally.â [Gayn]
âReally?â [Ryouma]
âWe adjust our methods depending on the person. Oral is usually for little kids, as itâs easier.â [Rurutia]
After being told that, Ryouma read the contract carefully, and when he was sure everything was ok, he signed.
âThe moment he did, a faint light suddenly wrapped around him.
â!?â [Ryouma]
âCalm down. Thatâs just a sign that itâs starting. You wonât get hurt.â [Rurutia]
âUnfortunately, these are the rules. After everythingâs been decided, you wonât be able to stay long here.â [Kufo]
âSigh⊠I wonder why the annoying ones stick around so long, but the nice ones always leave so quick.â [Gayn]
Hearing that, Ryouma understood that the time for farewells had come.
âI see⊠Thatâs unfortunate. But regardless, I wonât forget this act of kindness for the rest of my life.â [Ryouma]
âDonât sweat it. Itâs your life, so just live as you please. Weâll do our best to send you to a safe forest, so rest assured.â [Gayn]
âWeâll always be watching over you. And you know⊠This is the last time, so you can be a bit more selfish. We wonât mind.â [Rurutia]
âYou really donât have to be so formal with your speech.â [Kufo]
âWonât you show us your real self?â [Gayn]
ââŠRight. Thanks for everything. I guess it really wasnât hard to see through someone when heâs only going through the form.â [Ryouma]
âWe are gods. Of course, weâd notice. And there were times when you stumbled on your speech.â [Gayn]
âYou could have just spoken informally from the start.â [Rurutia]
âI didnât think it would be polite to speak causally to gods.â [Ryouma]
âOf course, too much is bad, but youâre alright. Besides, my heart is big. Iâm a goddess, after all.â [Rurutia]
âRight.â [Ryouma]
âAny plans once you arrive at our world?â [Gayn]
âIf thereâs anything worrying you, just say it.â [Rurutia]
âWeâll listen.â [Kufo]
Ryouma appeared thoughtful for a moment, but not a lot of time passed before he naturally said.
âActually⊠Iâm not good with people. I lived for 39 years, but I never got along well with others. Even if I go to the other world, Iâll still be me. I donât really think that part of me would change after going to another world. Honestly, I find human relations are exhausting. Maybe Iâll just live alone by myself.â [Ryouma]
âYou can do that too if you want. Thatâs life.â [Gayn]
âI also think it would be a waste though. I mean it is an otherworld. It would a pity not to travel.â [Ryouma]
âThen why donât you live alone for a while, and then when you feel like it, travel?â [Kufo]
Ryouma asked if that was really alright.
âNo matter what, the first place youâll arrive in is a forest. If we just summoned you in the middle of a city, it would cause a huge commotion. So what you can do is to first live in the forest, and then afterwards go to the city. Besides, Iâm sure you want to mess around with your magic, right?â [Kufo]
âAh, now that you mention it.â [Ryouma]
âJust take it slow. You look like the type to diligently go through all the paths laid out before you, but this time, try going through them one at a time. And if in the end, you donât go through them all, thatâs fine.â [Rurutia]
Youâve already died once, so in one sense, you can really be reborn. You can live a life different from the life you lived on Earth. Especially since youâll be a child in our world. Aside from things you need to do to protect yourself, you can just play and have fun.â [Rurutia]
âOh, and letâs not forget that youâll most likely be fine even if you come across some bandits with your skills.â [Gayn]
âJust live as I please and go on my own pace, huh. Then in that case, I guess Iâll stay in the forest for a while, and when Iâm feeling like it, go out. Thanks.â [Ryouma]
âIf you do go to a city, make sure to visit the church. We wonât be able to meet, but if you get the Oracle skill, weâll at least be able to talk for a short while. The higher the level, the longer and more frequent.â [kufo]
âGot it. Iâll definitely drop by when I go to town. I donât know when, but I promise it.â [Ryouma]
âGood, weâll be waiting. When you drop by, weâll talk lots.â [Rurutia]
âWe have a lot of free time, after all. Ho Ho ho!â [Gayn]
When Gayn laughed the light on Ryouma began expanding.
ââŠItâs time.â [Kufo]
The light gradually grew stronger until it covered Ryoumaâs vision.
ââŠEverythingâs ready, it seems.â [Gayn]
âFarewell and live happily, alright?â [Rurutia]
âI will⊠Thank you⊠Thank you so much!!â [Ryouma]
âNow go! We canât keep the door open forever!â [Gayn]
âOur blessings are with you.â [Rurutia]
âMay light illuminate your path!â [Kufo]
âEnjoy your new life!â [Gayn, Kufo, Rurutia]
After that the light swallowed Ryouma.
When the light vanished, Ryouma was gone, and so were the gods.
Tl Note:
This is the reboot (the author calls it revised) of TMPG. It will be posted monthly. This is the chapter for last month, so thereâll be another chapter at the end of this month.
Also, the formal and informal speech the gods were mentioning were just the Japanese formal and informal speech. ÆđżeđŠđ đČđnđÎœđđč.đođą
âWork⊠Tabuchi-kun, the report is underwayâŠâ [Ryouma]
Ryouma woke up under the shade of the trees, deep inside the forest. Just as the gods told him, his body had returned to his tens. When he woke up, he was leaning on a tree with a set of hemp clothes on.
Ryouma woke up muttering. As he did, he looked around him, still half-dazed.
âA forest? It wasnât a dream, I seeâŠâ [Ryouma]
As the scent of the earth and the wind wafted to Ryoumaâs nose, he gradually remembered why he was here.
âOh, right⊠Iâm in another world. Hmm?â [Ryouma]
Ryouma noticed a leather bag and a book the size of a notebook placed in front of him. When he looked at the cover of the book, on it were words from a language clearly not Japanese. It read: Letter. The sender seemed to be the three gods who invited him to this world.
âGayn, Kufo, RurutiaâŠâ [Ryouma]
As Ryouma read out the names written down, he recalled the gods he met.
(They already explained things to me before sending me off. They even gave me knowledge and power. Yet they still went the extra mile and left me this letter. I guess itâs a lot closer to a manual than a letter, thoughâŠâ)
Turning the book, he saw three things written on the first page.
The first thing written was about the world.
This world is known as Seiruforu. There is a place known as Gana Forest in the Riforu Kingdom. Monsters are relatively rare here, making it a safer place compared to other forests.
The second thing written was about Ryoumaâs current situation. Though the forest was safe, it wasnât perfectly safe, so the gods suggested that Ryouma go to a livable place as soon as possible. The gods included a small map.
The last page was bound tight, and on it read: âRead the next page only once youâve arrived at the designated area.â
Ryouma smiled at the godsâ graciousness, then Ryouma stood up. When he did, he felt an odd sensation attack him.
âMy body really has turned into that of a kidâs⊠Ryouma Takebayashi, 39-years-old, single, occupation: systems engineer. The only thing I have left is my memory. Reminds me of a certain detective.â
Ryouma might have heard the gods inform him of what will happen beforehand, but he still couldnât help be shocked when he actually saw his body back to that of a kidâs. When he was sure nothing was off, he started moving his body.
Ryouma slowly moved his body, starting with the simple opening and closing of his hands and the bending of his legs, then he started stretching. Gradually, he made more complex movements. When he was finally able to perform the martial feats his father had taught him in his past life, he stopped.
Ryouma turned toward a nearby tree, then as his eyes narrowed, he sent a sharp kick toward its trunk.
âPI!â
âChi chi!â
An explosive sound resounded throughout the forest as the tree Ryouma kicked easily broke, causing the birds resting on the nearby trees to flee. In the ensuing panic, some of the birds even fell. Meanwhile, Ryouma calmly pondered on what had just happened.
(Strange⊠My current strength is either equal or greater than it once was. It doesnât make any sense, but for some reason my body moves a lot easier. Of course, the reach has significantly been reduced, but⊠In any case, it seems the only thing Iâll have to get used to is the reach problem. Walking or running doesnât seem like itâll be any trouble, but as for the rest, Iâll have to catch up with my new body first.)
With that, Ryouma went back to the tree beneath which he had been sleeping and took a good look at the map. On the map were two locations pinned. One indicated where he currently was, while the other indicated his destination. After gauging the distance, he stored the map into the bag. At the same time, he noticed there was a knife left for him, so he placed it by his waist for easy access, then he walked to the place the gods told him to go.
2 hours later.
Along the way, Ryouma came across some âmonstersâ, living organisms that didnât exist on Earth, but they were all weak and ran away on their own, so Ryouma just ignored them.
With his small legs, it would take him a considerable amount of time to traverse the distance he needed, but thanks to the knowledge the gods had given him, he was able to identify the herbal and edible plants along the way, making things that much more convenient for him.
After walking through the dimly lit forest, Ryouma finally arrived at its depths. As the trees opened up and bare rocks were revealed, Ryouma was greeted by a cliff. When he was certain that he was safe, he put down his belongings and did as the letter instructed him.
âOh? Thereâs a river nearby? This should be a good place to settle down.â
Ryouma would mutter to himself from time to time as he read his letter. He wasnât even thinking of going out of the forest, as he was intending to live in the forest first just as he had discussed with the gods.
âThere seems to be a tent provided, but I think a cave would be better considering there are monsters and all.â
With a tent, even a big animal would be enough to cause Ryouma trouble, so he approached the cliff and placed his index finger on the surface of the rock while he read the letter. On the page of the letter were instructions regarding the usage of âmagicâ.
âThe first step is to calm down, then one is to gather inside his body⊠Like this? âŠMy body fills like itâs being filled with water like a balloon or something, ughâŠâ
Though Ryouma complained with his mouth, he was still somewhat happy and excited, so he couldnât help but smile.
However, while he might have indulged himself with otaku hobbies like light novels and games, and while he might have imagined himself using magic countless times during break, Ryouma has never actually used magic.
âUmm⊠After sensing magic in the body, I am to⊠move it by imagining it moving, and I am supposed to direct it outside. There.â
Ryouma read the instructions aloud as he tried to follow them, giving off an atmosphere akin to that of an old man struggling with technology. As he imagined magic flowing out of his fingertips, magic power began to flow out.
Magic has 12 elements. They are:
Neutral, Fire, Water, Wind, Earth.
Ice, Electricity, Wood, Poison.
Light, Darkness, Space.
Mages are able to change the element of their magic power according to the image within their mind, and then invocate a spell with a chant.
When Ryouma read that part, he chose the earth spell out of the many spells listed in the letter.
âMagic power shall flow into the cliff and the crumbling rocks shall⊠âBreak Rockâ.â
With a clear image, Ryouma chanted those last two words, and suddenly, though only a little, a small hole was hollowed in the part of the cliff he was touching. It was only small enough for about three index fingers to fit in, making it more like a dent than an actual hole, but when Ryouma saw the spell take effect, he couldnât help but laugh to himself.
(How long has it been since I last enjoyed myself? I was always pulling all-nighters and overtimes and accompanying my boss to drink⊠Itâs not like I never had any time for leisure, but⊠Yeah, itâs been awhile, hasnât it? Since I last felt like this.)
Though Ryouma kept a tight watch on his surroundings, he casted Break Rock after Break Rock with a foolish expression on his face.
After casting spell after spell for a while, Ryouma muttered to himself.
âThis isnât very efficient.â [Ryouma]
(Iâve finally started to get the hang of it, but at this rate, I wonât finish before the sun sets. Besides, there should be a limit to the number of times I can use magic.)
As Ryouma thought that, he decided to take a break and draw water from the river. When he came back, he opened the letter again.
(It would be great if thereâs something I can use, but in the worst case, Iâll just have to use that tent. Iâve slept some in one back on Earth, so it should be no problem⊠Ah.)
While Ryouma was looking for a solution to his predicament, he came across a page that showed his status.
(Status, huh. Well, this should be convenient. At the very least, Iâll be able to understand exactly what I can and canât do.)
When he looked at the page again, it read:
Name: Ryouma Takebayashi
Gender: Male
Age: 8
Race: Human
(My name and gender is the same as in my past life. I donât really remember what sort of kid I was back then though. All I remember is that my dad beat everything into me. Anyway, moving onâŠ)
HP: 10,486
MP: 102,300
Note: For an average person, their HP would normally be around 1000, while an adventurer, a soldier, or a trained person would normally have theirs between 2,000 to 3,000.
âWhat kind of freak am I supposed to be then?â [Ryouma]
(I mean, sure, I might have worked out a bit more than most young people or those bigwigs with their bulging stomachs, but I donât think thatâs enough to make such a big difference. The magic power makes sense since the gods said my magic power would naturally increase as a side effect of their procedure, but that shouldnât apply to HP.)
MP had a note under it just like HP. Normal people had 100 MP. Warriors that bolstered their fighting abilities with magic ranged from 500 â 700 MP. A normal mage ranged from 1,000 â 5,000 MP, and a royal court magician ranged from 10,000 to 50,000.
(Well, more wonât hurt. Now about those skillsâŠ)
Domestic Skills
Domestic Chores LV10
Etiquette LV7
Musical Instrument LV3
Singing LV3
Calculation LV5
Battle Skills
Close-Combat Mastery LV7
Sword Mastery LV7
Knife Mastery LV6
Hidden Weapons Mastery LV7
Spear Mastery LV4
Bow Mastery LV6
Staff Mastery LV6
Weight Control LV4
Throwing Weapons Mastery LV7
Stealth Mastery LV7
Traps LV6
Body Control LV6
Spirit Cultivation LV5
Magic Skills
Familiar Magic LV1
Barrier Magic LV1
Healing Magic LV1
Alchemy LV1
Fire Magic LV1
Water Magic LV1
Wind Magic LV1
Earth Magic LV1
Neutral Magic LV1
Electric Magic LV1
Ice Magic LV1
Poison Magic LV1
Wood Magic LV1
Light Magic LV1
Dark Magic LV1
Space Magic LV1
Magic Perception LV1
Magic Manipulation LV1
Increased MP Recovery LV1
Production Skills
Pharmacy LV6
Smithing LV1
Architecture LV2
Woodworking LV2
Molding LV4
Drawing LV4
Resistance Skills
Physical Pain Resistance LV8
Mental Resistance LV9
Health LV7
Special Skills
Survival Skills LV3
Focused Mind LV5
Greater Vitality LV3
Greater Stamina LV6
Greater Regeneration LV3
Titles
Usurper
One Who has Lived Through Misfortune
Favored Child of the Gods
Disciple of the Sage
Disciple of the Martial God
Blessings
Blessing of Gayn, the God of Creation
Blessing of Kufo, the God of Life
Blessing of Rurutia, the God of Love
(Regarding skills, a level 1 means that one has learned the basics. A level 2 indicates that one is an apprentice, while a level 3 indicates that one is learned. 4 indicates proficiency, while a 5 means first-class. From 6 beyond is the mark of an expert.
I guess the 39 years I spent wasnât for nothing. A lot of the skills seem to have taken inspiration from the things I learned in work and school. Stuff like programming which isnât relevant to this world arenât written, though.
Titles and blessings donât really seem like theyâll be much use right now. Now, what to do?)
Ryouma turned to the next page and read the explanations written about various skills. 10 minutes later, one skill caught his eyes.
Spirit Cultivation, a skill that strengthens oneâs life force.
By sensing oneâs ki beneath the stomach and by letting it flow throughout the body like one does with magic, oneâs physical faculties are heightened. By allowing the ki to course through oneâs weapons, the sharpness of the weapon increases, making it much more powerful. The use of Spirit Cultivation can become second-nature after regular use, so there are cases when its practitioners use it unaware.
(This is probably the reason why I moved so much awhile ago. I should be able to use it well once I understand it. Now, where is that earth spell⊠Ah, found it.)
The elementary earth spell, Rock. A spell that hardens soil and transforms it into either rock or stone. The shape can be molded according to the will of the mage.
ââRockââ [Ryouma]
As Ryouma used the spell on the crumbled parts of the cliff, the earth and sand quickly turned into stones.
âGood. âRockâ. âRockâ. ââ [Ryouma]
Using the same spell several times, Ryouma created a short stone rod. Using Break Rock, Ryouma thinned its end, creating a shape akin to that of a beastâs fang. After completion, Ryouma held his newly made rod with a backhand grip as he walked toward the cliff.
Ryouma took a deep breath as he circulated ki from his right arm to his rod, then he slammed it down onto the cliff.
âHa!â [Ryouma]
Ryoumaâs hardened rod slammed into the cliff, boring a hole deep enough for half his finger to enter.
When Ryouma saw his rod take effect, he slammed the cliff again, boring holes faster than when he just chanted spells.
âTch! It broke! âRockââ [Ryouma]
Whenever Ryoumaâs rod broke, he would fix it and begin digging again. By the time the sun had set, Ryouma had only managed to dig out a hole big enough for him to store his belongings. Despite that, because Ryouma had to use Spirit Cultivation and Magic, which he was unfamiliar with, a wave of exhaustion hit him.
(This is it for the day, I suppose.)
When Ryouma walked away from the cliff to get the food and water heâd gathered, he suddenly found himself staring at the scenery.
âAmazingâŠâ [Ryouma]
Before Ryouma knew it, the world outside had been dyed in the color of the setting sun. The trees and the leaves reflected the red of the sun onto the leaves and plants outside of its reach. Ryouma was speechless at the beauty of that sight.
As the red sky began to fade, a resplendent starry sky filled its place.
(Thereâs so many stars. How beautiful. How long has it been since I last saw so many stars? In fact, how long has it been since I last had the opportunity to take in my surroundings?)
No one answered Ryoumaâs questions, but regardless, Ryouma was satisfied. And with a face full of satisfaction, he took his belongings and carried them into his cave.
Ryouma took a blanket from his bag and spread it over the ground, creating a place for him to rest, then as he leaned onto the wall, he took a mouthful of food. Heâd only gathered fruits and herbs he could eat raw, so there werenât much, but he was still able to fill his belly, while still leaving about half of everything heâd gathered.
(Iâll eat the rest tomorrow. I should sleep now. I have to gather ingredients and things I can use in my day-to-day life tomorrow. Thereâs a lot to do, but thereâs also a lot to gain.)
After eating his fill, Ryouma blocked the entrance of his cave.
âGayn, Kufo, Rurutia, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your kindnessâŠâ [Ryouma]
Ryoumaâs busy legs finally stopped, taking refuge in the embrace of the soft blanket around him. As his words vanished into the dark of the cave, the sound of snoring could be heard not long after.
Meanwhile, in the divine realm, three gods were peeping at Ryouma. These gods were â of course â none other than Gayn, Kufo, and Rurutia, the gods who sent Ryouma to Seiruforu.
âEverything seems to be going well.â [Gayn]
âYes, we have also managed to bestow him power without any difficulties.â [Rurutia]
âHeâs managed to find a place to live in as well. It should be smooth sailing from here.â [Kufo]
The three gods expressed their relief in the blank white space.
âIndeed, but letâs keep watching him for now. We might have made a deal with him, but it would ache my heart to see him happen into some unfortunate accident. And besides, heâs piqued my interest.â [Gayn]
âSure, Gayn.â [Kufo]
âI agree, letâs keep watching. That aside, just what on Earth is the earth god thinking? I canât believe he actually meddled with the destiny of a living person.â [Rurutia]
After showing their approval to Gaynâs proposal, Rurutia suddenly spat her disgust for the Earth God.
âCalm down, Rurutia. Grumbling here wonât do any of us any good.â [Gayn]
âBut Iâm concerned. You are too, right, Gayn?â [Rurutia]
âWell, yes. Even if itâs not always with malicious intention, there arenât a lot of people whose destiny has been tampered with. To begin with, the fact that gods arenât supposed to so easily tamper with a personâs destiny is common sense. And stealing a personâs fortune is just incorrigible.â [Gayn]
âHe even went as far as to use âTrialsâ. I canât believe he would actually have some reason behind all this.â [Rurutia]
Trials are a kind of opportunity the gods can give to the people living in the mortal world to help them; usually it is given when a great danger is looming over a great multitude, though ultimately, when it is given is completely up to the godsâ discretion.
When a trial is passed, the people who have undertaken the trial are given great power as reward.
âThat god might have intended to hurt him, but in the end, a trial is a trial. If you can live through it, you can gain power.â [Rurutia]
âAnd though the trials were suppressed to little misfortunes in his everyday life, after so many, the effect is bound to accumulate.â [Gayn]
âEven a little trash here and there can one day form a mountain, in other words. Though the power he gained never benefited him in his work or luck, his body ended up becoming freakishly strong. Itâs fortunate though, because otherwiseâŠâ [Rurutia]
âItâs because of that that we noticed. And from looking at his memories, it seems even his fatherââ [Kufo]
While Ryouma slept, the gods chattered among themselves about matters he did not understand.