System? A woman?

What the fuck? Aizen stares at the screen that appears before him—a system has been installed. Tearing his gaze away from the glowing display, he looks at Naomi, who is sobbing as paramedics load her into the ambulance. His eyes shift downward to his own body—it's a mangled mess.

Like someone had stomped him into the ground.

Shuddering, he averts his gaze and focuses on the screen before him. No one seems to notice him. He's glowing blue. A ghost—that's what he has become.

The screen displays a message:

[The System has been installed]

He is about to be isekai'd to another world.

A world of fantasy.

Aizen has never heard of such a thing before and struggles to comprehend what is happening. Is this what happens when people die? Do they all receive this strange system before being transported elsewhere?

A countdown begins.

Aizen glances at Naomi as she is taken away by the medics. Poor girl. Well, at least he saved her. It seems the gods have plans for him.

A thought strikes him—what if his sister also received this system? What if she had been sent to the same world he was about to enter? A small smile tugs at his lips, and for the first time in a long while, he feels a spark of energy. Maybe she's waiting for him there. And if she's not… then he will do his best to survive.

For her.

The countdown reaches zero.

Aizen found himself standing in the middle of a dense forest near the entrance of a cave. He blinked in confusion. Looking down at himself, he noticed his clothes had changed—a clean gray shirt and baggy pants replaced what he had worn before. Where was he?

A screen suddenly appeared before him—it was his status.

It felt like a game.

A notification popped up, and he tapped on the inbox. Four messages were waiting for him. The first was a welcome message containing basic instructions. The second detailed his starting points and gems. The third message provided him with a map, a healing potion, and a sword.

The final message contained three silver keys and additional gems.

All items were automatically sent to his inventory. He opened it and selected the sword. Instantly, a blade materialized in front of him, floating in the air. Reaching out, he grasped it—the weapon felt surprisingly light in his grip.

He had never wielded a sword before.

Another screen appeared, displaying details about the weapon—it was a simple, level-one sword.

His gaze shifted toward the cave when yet another notification flashed before him.

E-Level Dungeon.

"Status," Aizen muttered, and his status screen reappeared. His rank was displayed clearly: E

"Ah, my rank is E… Could it be that dungeons are assigned based on rank?" He dismissed the screen with a thought, recalling the instructions from earlier.

"I just got here, and I'm already being thrown into danger. Wow. I have no fucking experience—damn it! How the hell am I supposed to survive? No information, nothing, just a basic guide on how to use the system. Damn whoever brought me here, you—"

He let out a deep sigh.

"Okay, easy, Aizen. Getting angry won't help. For now, let's just see what happens."

"I don't think I'll do well in this…" Aizen muttered as he stepped cautiously into the cave. Surprisingly, it wasn't dark. Shouldn't caves be pitch black? He pushed forward, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly when he heard a noise ahead.

His heart pounded. Narrowing his eyes, he halted, bracing himself for whatever was approaching.

To his disbelief, a small blob-like creature emerged from behind a rock. A screen appeared before him: Slime.

Staring at the harmless-looking creature, he hesitated before lightly poking it with his sword. The slime burst instantly. Another screen popped up:

One Slime Slain

+5 Points

Where the slime had been, two items appeared—a small glowing crystal and a potion bottle. Two more screens materialized:

Slime Piece

Healing Potion

Opening his inventory, Aizen examined the new potion alongside the one he had received earlier from his inbox. There was a clear difference—this one only restored 10% HP, while the original potion in his inventory recovered 50% HP. Storing the items, he continued deeper into the cave.

More slimes appeared. He dispatched them just as easily, earning small rewards for each one.

Eventually, he reached the cave's end—where four goblins awaited him.

One goblin snarled and rushed at him, wielding a crude wooden club. Aizen sidestepped and slashed across its chest. The creature collapsed, but the remaining three attacked immediately. He dodged, countering with precise strikes.

It took two grueling hours, but he finally defeated them all. As their bodies vanished, items materialized in their place.

A screen popped up, displaying his newly acquired loot: 4 Goblin Leather Skins, 1 Goblin Horn (Summons a group of goblins), 2 Daggers, and several pouches of gems.

"These leathers have fire resistance…" Aizen noted, inspecting the items. "Nice, I guess." He stored them in his inventory before scanning the area.

His eyes landed on a wooden chest tucked away in the corner. Curious, he walked over and opened it, revealing a pile of gems, several green stones, and an old, worn piece of paper resembling his map. Without hesitation, he stashed everything into his inventory.

Right now, he needed to leave and find a place to rest.

Turning around, he cautiously made his way out, keeping his guard up in case anything else decided to attack. However, nothing did. The path remained eerily clear as he exited the cave.

Just as he stepped outside, considering his next move, a piercing scream echoed through the forest.

Without a second thought, Aizen sprinted in the direction of the sound.

It was a woman's scream.

Deep in the woods, a woman with purple hair, red eyes, light brown skin, and dark purple robes was surrounded by a group of goblins. She had ventured out to gather herbs, only to be ambushed.

Panting, she raised her hand and unleashed a lightning spell, striking down several goblins. Only five remained.

"There must be a dungeon nearby," she muttered, sweat dripping down her forehead. "Oh no… I'm running out of mana!"

Gritting her teeth, she steadied herself. "I won't go down easily!!"

Just as she prepared to cast another spell, a figure rushed in—Aizen.

Without hesitation, he lunged at the goblins, slashing at them. However, he was caught off guard by an attack from behind. A sharp pain seared through his shoulder, and he let out a cry of surprise.

The woman, momentarily shocked by his sudden appearance, snapped back to reality.

She extended her hand, and a bright purple light surged from her fingertips. A magic array materialized in front of her palm, unleashing a crackling lightning bolt that struck the goblin. The creature convulsed before collapsing, its charred body vanishing into thin air.

"Whoa!" Aizen stared in awe—his first time witnessing magic firsthand. The goblin barely had time to react before it was reduced to nothing. A foul, burnt stench filled the air, making him cover his nose in disgust.

As the last goblin disappeared, loot scattered on the ground.

The woman hurried to Aizen's side, concern in her eyes. "Are you okay?!" She quickly examined his wound. "Oh, thank Alakazam, your injury isn't serious."

Alakazam? Aizen blinked. Did this woman just say… Alakazam? What the hell was that?

"I can't tell if you're brave or just a fool for jumping in unprepared," she giggled before placing her hand over his wound. "Stay still."

A warm light spread from her palm, and within moments, the pain vanished.

Aizen flexed his shoulder in disbelief. "Oh… thanks."

"You're welcome, stranger," she said, pulling back with a wide smile. "My name is Pi Mayasi! What's yours?"

"Aizen," he replied. "Are you okay?"

Pi chuckled. "A gentleman, I see. Yes, I'm all right. I came to these woods to collect herbs for my potions, but I got ambushed… I wasn't aware there would be a dungeon nearby." She let out a small sigh before brightening up again. "Please, come with me. I'd like to properly thank you for saving my life, Aizen."

Well, how could he refuse? Besides, he needed a place to rest and make sense of his current situation.

"Thank you," he said.

"Not a problem! And you can keep the loot," she added, gesturing toward the scattered items on the ground. "Consider it a thank-you gift."

"You sure? You don't need anything?"

"Nope! Goblins don't have the things I need. Though…" She tapped a finger against her chin. "I wouldn't mind taking some leather. I could use it to craft armor."

"Oh, sure!" Aizen nodded, pulling out the Goblin Leather Skins from his inventory and handing them over.

"Thanks!" she beamed.

After gathering the loot and sharing some with Pi, she led Aizen out of the woods toward her home. Though, calling it a "house" didn't seem quite right—it was a giant tree, larger than anything he had ever seen.

Inside, the tree had been hollowed out into a cozy living space. Birds perched on branches that extended from within, small animals scurried around freely, and even some strange-looking creatures He couldn't recognize the area.

"What do you think?" Pi asked as they stepped inside. "Beautiful? Cozy? I love living in giant trees! Many people do, but as a Mistress of Potions, this place is perfect. I get a free supply of ingredients right outside my door!"

Aizen glanced around. The place felt like a fantasy alchemist's lab—though everything was crafted from wood, glass, and cloth, it had a certain charm. "It's a cozy place," he admitted.

Pi clapped her hands together, delighted. "Hehe! I knew you'd love it! Anyway, let me show you to your room so you can rest." She gestured for him to follow, leading him deeper inside.

As they walked, she turned to him. "Where are you from? The East Kingdom? The West Kingdom? The South? The North? Not many people come to the West—monsters have been increasing in this area."

Aizen hesitated for a brief second before deciding to lie. "Uhh… I was raised in a cabin for a long time, so I don't know much about the outside world." He kept his voice casual. "Can you tell me where I am? And… what do you mean by 'Kingdoms'?"

"Huh! That explains why you're so polite!" Pi looked at him in surprise. "And humble. I've never met anyone like you before."

Aizen tilted his head. Really? Was this world… bad?

Pi stopped at a door and pushed it open. "Here! You can stay here. I don't get many guests these days." She smiled. "I'll go get you some clothes. I'm sure I have something that will fit you."

"Thank you," Aizen said sincerely.

The room was simple but nice—sunlight filtered through the leaves above, casting a soft glow. A glass orb in the corner floated slightly above the ground, emitting a gentle light. There was a bed, two shelves filled with books, a desk, a chair, and a door leading somewhere else.

"That door leads to the bathroom," Pi explained. "Go ahead and freshen up. I'll bring your clothes. Once you're done, find me in the kitchen. See you later, Aizen!"

She left, cheeks slightly flushed as she bit her lip. She wasn't lying—she had never met a man as humble and polite as him. And… he was handsome.

Meanwhile, Aizen stepped into the bathroom and stripped down, sinking into the warm water. He let out a deep sigh, finally able to relax.

His day had been insane.

First, he died. Then he appeared in the woods. He fought monsters, gathered loot, and met a woman.

Of course, he couldn't stay here forever. Hopefully, Pi could answer his questions about this world so he could find his place in it.

Could his sister be here, too?

He closed his eyes. No… He couldn't be hopeful.

But maybe… he'd keep an eye out for her.

He had chosen to keep his first name, Aizen, but not Takashi. He didn't want to tie himself to his old world anymore.

The name Aizen was for one purpose only—to find his sister.

Leaving the bathroom, Aizen ran a towel through his damp hair, drying himself off. As he stepped into the room, he noticed a set of clothes neatly placed on the bed—a black half-sleeve shirt, boxers, and baggy leather pants. Without hesitation, he put them on and left the room.

At first, he wasn't sure where to go, but the sound of movement and chatter coming from the right caught his attention. Following the noise, he walked down the hall, and to his surprise, he found the kitchen on his first try.

Stepping inside, Aizen blinked.

Was it just him, or did Pi look… different?

Then again, she had been wearing robes before, which concealed most of her figure. Now, without them… he struggled to find the right words.

She was—well, sexy.

Her B-cup chest filled out the tight dress she wore, hugging her curves perfectly. The pink apron tied around her waist added a strangely cute contrast. Her long purple hair was pulled into a high ponytail, revealing more of her slender neck and delicate features.

Realizing he was staring, he quickly looked away before she could notice, clearing his throat to snap her out of whatever thought she was lost in.

Pi turned toward him, beaming. "Aizen! Oh wow, I was right—those clothes fit you perfectly!"

"Yeah, thanks," he replied. Then a thought struck him. "Wouldn't the person these clothes belong to mind?"

"Don't worry, Gaji wouldn't care," Pi reassured him, returning to stirring the pot on the stove. "It's been a while since he last visited. With the increase in monsters around this area, he can't come as often. He's probably busy with the guild."

"Oh, I see," Aizen said, taking a seat at the table. After a brief pause, he asked, "Can you tell me more about the guild?"

"Of course!" Pi's eyes lit up with enthusiasm as she continued stirring. "As I was explaining about the kingdoms—there are four major ones, each located in the South, West, North, and East. Each kingdom is home to different races of people. There's no law banning anyone from moving around, but most people prefer to stay in their own regions."

She glanced at him, making sure he was following before continuing.

"In this world, there are Humans, Mixed Breeds, Mages, Elves, Dwarves, and lastly—Celestial Beings."

Aizen raised an eyebrow. "Celestial Beings?"

Pi nodded. "Yeah, the Gods and Goddesses. Like the Goddess of Lightning, the Goddess of the Sea, the God of Fire, the God of Light, and the Goddess of Darkness… and so on."

She let out a small sigh before adding, "However, they're no longer here. They once lived among us, but they eventually left the mortal realm. Now, all that remains of them are the temples where people still pray and receive their blessings."

"I see. Which kingdom am I in?" Aizen asked.

"Mage Kingdom," Pi replied. "This place has a great source of herbs and ingredients that we use for potions… but with the increasing number of monsters—like I keep repeating—it's becoming harder to find rare items."

"Okay… but why have the number of monsters increased?"

Pi turned off the stove and sighed. "We're not sure. The hunters are doing their best to investigate, but… it's not going as well as it should." She leaned against the counter. "I make potions and sell them for a living. The area I'm in doesn't have many mages. Most of them move to places where they can access richer resources… and, well, safer locations."

"Then why are you here? If this area is dangerous, I mean."

"Because they need my help—the hunters and the villagers. Dungeons appear here frequently, and there's a lot of activity."

Aizen nodded, impressed. "You're kind, Pi."

Pi blushed and quickly turned away, grabbing a ladle to pour the stew into bowls. "I-I'm just doing what I can! Besides, I like living here. People mind their own business, and I enjoy the quiet."

Aizen chuckled. "I see. Do you have history books? Or does the village have a library where I can check things out?"

Pi blinked, then smiled. "Huh? Oh, sure! I can take you there tomorrow." Walking to the table, she set two bowls down and took her seat. "I have some books and maps you can read in the meantime."

"Thank you, I'd appreciate it." Aizen picked up his spoon and took a bite. His eyes widened. "Mmh! It's good."

Pi shyly looked down, stirring her own stew. "Thanks."

As he ate, Aizen's thoughts drifted. First things first—he needed to understand this world. The history, the abilities people had, the guild system… and most importantly, the places he should visit.

Not only that, but his own strength.If he wanted to survive—and if his sister was here—he had to get stronger.

It was going to be tough.

Pi finished her stew and looked at him. "Would you like another bowl, Aizen?"

---

"Hm?" Aizen blinked, realizing his bowl was empty. "Oh, yes, please."

Pi took the bowl and went to refill it. As he waited, Aizen absentmindedly opened his status screen.

Level: 5

Rank: E

Strength: Increased

Sword Mastery: Level 1

Mana: Level 2

His strength had improved, but he still had a long way to go. Maybe Pi could teach him about potions… or even magic?

Mmh, This is getting interesting.