We open with a view of a Gaming Technician, deeply immersed in the virtual world of a popular MMORPG, Boundless Adventure. Known for his technical prowess, he's tampering with bugs and codes in the game, walking a fine line between player and hacker. His in-game character, ominously named "101" or "The Glitched One," is infamous, an unbeatable figure that defies the rules of the game. One day, while toying with the code, he makes a fatal mistake, unintentionally creating a "Glitched Warp-Rift." Unknown to him, this glitch spreads, multiplying rifts across the world of Boundless Adventure.
Our story pivots to an NPC known as "Alexis Tilt," the go-to strategist for dungeon raids. NPCs in Boundless Adventure are unique hires, each unavailable to others once hired, making Alexis a highly sought-after ally among players. A Triangle-Ranked Short Sword Swordsman, Alexis is, however, revered as a Square to Pentagon-Ranked Strategist, famous for his sharp planning and strategy.
Alexis Tilt, the sought-after strategist of Boundless Adventure, is hired by a novice party notorious for their reckless tactics. With little regard for planning, this ragtag group plunges into their next challenge: a Dungeon Mini-Boss, the Great Ogre. True to their chaotic style, their Greatsword Warrior and Shield Tank rush in without waiting for Alexis's orders. Within seconds, they're overpowered, slammed to the ground in a devastating blow.
Alexis quickly steps in, directing the party's Assassin to flank the Ogre from behind while he and the Mage provide suppressive cover. The Assassin, dual blades drawn, leaps to strike, but instead of aiming low to unbalance the creature, she attempts a flashy attack on the Ogre's head. Not missing a beat, the Ogre catches her mid-air and swats her into the wall, leaving her out of commission.
Thinking fast, Alexis fires off spells alongside the Mage, releasing his "Wind Sprite Combustion Volley" to keep the Ogre at bay while the Priest scrambles to revive the fallen players. But then the Priest, in a dangerous act of defiance, charges the Ogre directly with an enhancement spell, "Light Strike." The Ogre barely flinches, and the Mage, visibly frustrated, channels a high-powered, two-mix spell, "Aqua Shock Lancer," a risky move given the proximity of their injured teammates. Knowing the stakes, Alexis abandons his own casting to activate Agyl' Boost, enhancing his movement, strike, and reaction speeds. In a blur, he races across the battlefield, scooping up the fallen teammates and moving them to safety just as the Mage releases her powerful spell, scoring a direct hit.
With the Ogre momentarily staggered, Alexis and the Mage rally. But their advantage is short-lived; the Ogre retaliates, catching the Mage by surprise and sending her flying with a single, lethal hit. Alexis, alone and out of options, activates Agyl' Boost once more. With precision and ferocity, he strikes low to destabilize the Ogre, delivering a devastating point-blank "Wind Sprite Combustion Volley" to its back before following up with a series of attacks, ending with his signature move, "Precision Strike." Though he deals significant damage, Alexis is forced to withdraw, exhausted and defenseless.
The Ogre, seizing the moment, turns its attention to the injured players, crushing them in one brutal move. Alexis watches, helpless as his party is wiped out. With nothing left, he channels his remaining strength into one final "Precision Strike," aiming to blind the Ogre and buying himself just enough time to escape. "Third failure this month…," he mutters, retreating to the shadows of nearby rock pillars to avoid further confrontation with dungeon monsters.
Frustrated and exhausted, Alexis realizes the limits of his own world. Boundless Adventure no longer holds the thrill it once did; he yearns for something more—something different, something extraordinary beyond the familiar limits of his world.
As Alexis leaves the dungeon, disillusionment settles in. The world of Boundless Adventure no longer thrills him, and he yearns for something entirely new. That's when he notices a strange Warp-Rift shimmering nearby. Driven by curiosity, Alexis steps into it, only to find himself suddenly plummeting through the sky of a foreign world.
Quickly assessing his surroundings, he sees towering structures, bright signs, and color-changing lights—a far cry from the medieval fantasy he knows. Panicking mid-fall, Alexis grabs his Short Sword, stabbing into a nearby billboard to slow his descent. He finally lands on a sidewalk in Akihabara, Japan, bewildered and captivated by the bustling world around him.
Attempting to ask the locals where he is, he finds they don't understand him. But just then, a new skill appears on his HUD: "New Language Knowledge." Activating it, he begins to understand Japanese, though the locals mistake him for a cosplayer. Feeling uncomfortable in his armor, he slips into an alley and removes it, blending in a little more with the crowd as he explores the unfamiliar city.
Alexis's stomach growls loudly, a clear sign of hunger. In this unfamiliar world, though, he's uncertain what to do. Everything here seems to run by strange new rules, and he wonders if they use a different kind of currency as well. Just then, a young woman in an apron notices him and approaches, concern in her eyes.
"Are you alright?" she asks kindly.
Caught off guard, Alexis stammers, "Oh yes, I'm fine… stomach growls again... haha…"
She raises an eyebrow, smiling knowingly. "No, you're not. I can tell you're a bit hungry, huh?"
"Yeah… okay, I am a bit hungry," he admits sheepishly, "but I don't have any of your… uh…" He stops, thinking to himself, Should I say I'm from another world? Probably not the best idea. He finishes, "...any of your country's currency with me."
Her smile broadens. "Oh, so you're a foreigner! That explains it. But you speak Japanese really well! Don't worry, though; I work at a nearby café, and I can get you something to eat. My treat!"
Foreigner? Café? he thinks, puzzled. Could that be this world's version of a tavern? It sounds similar enough, and besides, she did say it was free. He nods. "That would be really helpful, thank you, Miss…?"
"Oh, call me Seika. Seika Itaboshi," she says, smiling.
"Ms. Seika, my name's Alexis Tilt, but you can just call me Al," he replies.
"Alexis Tilt… unusual name, but kind of cool! Well, Al, nice to meet you!" she says, cheerfully extending her hand.
Alexis shakes Seika's hand, marking the start of a friendship.
Al followed Seika into the café where she worked, grateful for the invitation. Seika led him to a seat near the window, handing him a menu with a bright smile. "Here, take your pick! It's on the house, so order whatever you'd like!" Al nodded his thanks and scanned the menu, settling on the "Omurice" or Omelette Rice.
"Great choice!" Seika beamed. "I love that one too! I'll be back with your meal." With that, she left him to his thoughts. Al gazed out the window, wondering, "This place really feels like a quaint tavern, but with some unique twists." He realized he'd need currency to survive in this world, something called "Yen," though he had no idea how to earn it. Sipping the water in front of him, he mused, "I wonder if anyone else from my world ended up here too…"
Seika returned with the steaming Omurice and set it in front of him. "Here you go! Please enjoy!" Al tasted it, and his eyes widened in delight as he experienced a flavor he had never known. Eagerly, he dug in.
"Looks like it's pretty good, huh?" Seika chuckled, noticing his enthusiasm.
"Absolutely! It's delicious!" he replied, his words slightly muffled by a mouthful of food. She laughed, "Well, I'll pass the compliments to the chef!"
Just then, an alarm on her phone buzzed—it was nearly midnight. Seika needed to go out for some groceries, both for her home and the café. "Hey, Al, I need to run out and grab some things. Can you stay here and wait for me?"
"Of course," Al smiled. "I'll be here."
Seika headed out onto the quiet streets of Akihabara, but as she rummaged through her purse for her wallet, she paused to glance at her phone—it was 11:59 p.m. Just as it turned to noon, the sky above began to rumble ominously. People around her stopped and looked up in shock as a massive, glitchy Warp-Rift appeared in the sky. From within the rift, a monstrous Worm Dragon clawed its way out, unleashing a blood-curdling roar that echoed through the streets. Smaller rifts opened at street level, spewing out creatures like wolves, slimes, and goblins. From a larger portal emerged a towering Nature Golem.
Seika froze, paralyzed with fear as a pair of goblins and a red slime moved towards her, while the Worm Dragon swooped down, aiming to devour her whole. Just as she closed her eyes in terror, Al suddenly appeared, standing protectively in front of her. His stance was ready, as he summoned his slime companion, Slu, he brung out his short sword from Slu, now gleaming in his hand. As the Worm Dragon descended, Al leaped into action, charging his Precision Strike skill and cleaving the beast in half with a single, powerful slash. For the first time, Seika saw him in a completely new light—he wasn't just a foreigner; he was a warrior from another world.
Al quickly dealt with the goblins, dispatching them with swift, precise strikes, and then crushed the red slime by grabbing it, then smashing its core down to the floor. Turning back to Seika, he asked with a gentle smile, "Ms. Seika, are you alright?"
Seika, still trembling but grateful, managed a small smile. "Yes… I think I'm okay…"
Just then, a Nature Golem loomed over her from behind, ready to strike. Al braced himself to defend Seika, but before he could act, a fiery arrow pierced the golem's head, knocking it back. Alexis then took the opportunity to kick the golem away from Seika, the golem crumbled after Alexis kicked it. They turned to see a silent Demi-Human Wolf Archer, who had saved them, disappear into the shadows without a word. Then a booming voice announced, "Wave Complete. Next wave begins at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow."
After the chaos subsided, Al looked at Seika and sighed, "I think it's time I told you everything. How about we go back inside, and I'll explain?"
Inside the café, Al recounted his story, describing how he'd come from a completely different world and how every new experience here fascinated him. Seika listened, wide-eyed. "So… you're from another world? I thought that was just something from anime and manga…"
"What's an anime?" Al asked, confused.
"Never mind," she chuckled. "So, you're new here and don't have any money?"
"Right. No Yen," he admitted.
After a moment of thought, Seika smiled. "Then stay with me, at least until you get on your feet. You'll need to find a job to earn some money, though. Sound good?"
Al's face brightened with gratitude. "That would be a huge help, thank you, Ms. Seika!"
She laughed. "No need to be formal—just call me Seika. Since we'll be living together temporarily, it's only fair."
"Alright, Seika," he said with a smile, feeling a sense of warmth he hadn't known in a long time.
Seika stretched and sighed, "But first, those groceries…"
"Right," Al chuckled, and they shared a smile.
After finishing their grocery run, Seika and Al reached her apartment building, each carrying several bags. Al looked up at the building, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"So… is this a house? A castle tower? Or maybe some kind of base of operations?" he asked, glancing at the high-rise structure.
Seika chuckled. "It's called an apartment building."
"Aah… but why call it a 'building' if it's already built?" he questioned, frowning thoughtfully.
Seika paused, then laughed. "You know… you make a good point."
They entered the building lobby, Al taking in his surroundings with a mixture of fascination and mild confusion. As they waited for the elevator, he gazed around the lobby, noting the clean lines and sleek design. When the elevator arrived, they stepped inside, and Seika pressed the button for the seventh floor.
"Oh, we're going up?" Al asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. "How are we doing that?"
Seika looked at him, a bit amused. "Hmm?"
"Is this metal box using Air Magic to lift us up?" he continued, his tone genuinely curious.
"Wait—you have magic in your world? Oh, well, you did come from a fantasy-type world," Seika replied, grinning at the thought.
"Sorry, what?" Al asked, looking puzzled.
"Oh, nothing," she said, smiling. "No, no Air Magic here—just electricity and technology."
"Ah… Electricity…" Al sighed. "Unfortunate I haven't learned that spell yet."
"Wait, seriously? Electricity is a spell in your world?" she asked, now intrigued.
He nodded, raising a finger. "Indeed. It's a challenging spell for sorcerers and mages. If not carefully controlled, it can backfire and shock the caster."
"Oh… got it," she replied, still processing the differences between their worlds with a confused comedical look on her face.
The elevator dinged, and they stepped out onto the seventh floor, making their way down the hallway until they reached Seika's apartment.
"So, this is my temporary living quarters?" Al asked, looking at the door with a smile.
Seika gave him a thumbs-up. "Yup!"
She unlocked the door, and they stepped inside. The apartment was cozy but practical, with a living room, kitchen, bathroom with a laundry area, one bedroom, and a guest room. She removed her shoes by the entrance.
"Wait, Al, please take your shoes off here at the entrance," she said, nodding to the row of shoes by the door.
"Why?" Al asked, curious.
"It's a custom here in Japan," Seika explained. "Leaving your shoes by the door keeps the inside clean."
"Ah, cleanliness… that makes sense," Al said, nodding in understanding as he removed his shoes. He walked in, carrying his bags of groceries into the living room and setting them down.
"Al!" Seika called from her room, where she'd gone to change her clothes. "Just leave the groceries by the table!"
"Got it!" he replied
Al dropped the groceries onto the table and sank into the couch, glancing around the cozy apartment as he waited for Seika to finish changing. After a couple of minutes, boredom crept in, and he stood up, eager to explore.
He wandered into the kitchen, spotting a knife and a pan lid. With a playful grin, he wielded them like a sword and shield, pretending to engage in a mock battle. After a brief bout of imagination, he set them back down and continued his exploration.
Next, he ventured into the bathroom. Curiosity piqued, he flushed the toilet, marveling at how it worked. He turned on the shower, watching in fascination as water cascaded from the showerhead before quickly shutting it off. Al then turned on the faucet, feeling the steady stream of water run over his hands before turning it off too. Spotting the plunger, he picked it up and waved it around like a staff, laughing to himself before placing it back where he found it.
Moving on, Al headed to the laundry room, where he peeked into the hamper. His eyes widened as he pulled out one of Seika's panties. "Holy undergarments!" he exclaimed, quickly placing it back and trying to shake off the surprise. He inspected the washing machine next, pressing a button that activated a light and sound. "Must be magic…" he mused, before noticing some detergent nearby. "An elixir of some sort…" he said, impressed. After a brief exploration of the laundry room, he returned to the living area.
Spotting another closed door, Al opened it to find a small room with a bed and a closet. Just then, Seika approached from behind him.
"I see you found your room," she said with a knowing smile.
Al grinned back. "Well, it certainly is a small living quarter, but I won't complain. After all, this is complimentary temporary."
Cut to Al sitting at the dining table while Seika cooked curry for dinner.
"So, if you're going to live here, you need to pay rent," Seika mentioned casually.
"What's rent?" Al asked, confused.
"It's like a payment for how long you can stay at an inn in your world. If you can't pay that payment, you can't stay at the inn," she explained.
"Ah, I see. I guess I need to find a job to earn some money then. Do you have any ideas, Seika?"
"Here, use my phone. I have a site for job openings open already. Just scroll down until you find something that interests you," she said, handing him her phone.
"This weird little magic tool? Alright," he replied, taking it.
As Al scrolled through various job listings, he saw positions for architect, designer, convenience store clerk, and butler.
"Oooh, a butler! That must be high pay, huh?" Seika chimed in.
"I guess that's true, but I don't think being a servant is what I'm into," Al replied, continuing his search. Then he stumbled upon a listing for a restaurant manager.
"Hey Seika? What's a restaurant manager?" he asked.
"Well, it's a person who manages a restaurant, giving directives to the workers on their roles, making everything run smoothly," she explained.
"So, like some sort of strategist or planner?" he inquired with a grin on his face.
"Yeah, exactly like that," Seika confirmed.
With that, Al decided to apply for the restaurant manager position, knowing that planning and strategizing were his strong suits.
Cut to them sitting at the dining table, enjoying dinner.
"What a powerful kick of flavor! And such a strong scent! It's so goooooood!" Al exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.
"Glad you liked it! It's called curry," Seika replied with a smile.
"Curry, huh? So tastyyyyyyy!!!" he said, relishing every bite.
Just then, Slu popped up on Al's shoulder. "Oh hey, Slu! Want to try some of this curry?" Al offered, holding a bit of food toward him.
Slu wobbled in excitement.
"By the way, Al, who is this jiggly guy?" Seika asked, eyeing Slu curiously.
"Oh, this little yellow guy is Slu, my familiar. He's a friendly storage slime," Al introduced.
"Hello, Slu! I'm Seika Itaboshi. You can call me Seika," she said, extending her hand.
Seika and Slu shook… fingers, because Slu was just that small. They all laughed, sharing a moment of warmth as they enjoyed their dinner together, the beginnings of a new friendship unfolding in this strange yet fascinating world.