In an office at a company specializing in technology and human resources training, a 17-year-old young man named Al is complaining about the pressure from his boss. He begins to reflect on his past and grows frustrated, wondering why he ever chose to intern at this company.
"Dammit, why did I have to do my internship at this company? All I wanted was to graduate easily, attend a regular college, and spend my youth relaxing. Or maybe just start working to earn money and become independent sooner."
From beside him, another young man responds to his complaint:
"Take it easy, buddy. Isn't your internship almost over? What else is making you so frustrated?"
I feel even more irritated as I see the laid-back gigolo beside me. A few months ago, he was my comrade in arms. We used to complain about the insane pressure we were under, but everything changed when he found out that if he got fired, his teacher would find him another internship placement. Even crazier, his teacher offered to help him get a job after graduation. He's the lucky one with a kind teacher and a girlfriend who doesn't complain, even though he hasn't bought her anything in six months. In fact, she even buys him food when he's sick.
"Where is the comrade I knew? Dammit, our situations are so different. I don't know what would happen to me if I got kicked out. Fine, I don't care about certificates or anything else, I'm just afraid I'd have to repeat this internship for another six months. And as for my teacher, he's a good person. I don't hate him, even though he put me through this hell. I've asked for help, but he's too lazy to deal with it."
"You know," he says, "I think you're a bit strange. Shouldn't you want that certificate to help you find a job? You haven't even studied for college entrance exams. What's your plan for the future?"
Fyuhh, I exhale, trying to calm myself down.
What's my plan for the future? I guess I just want to live on my own, away from my family. Maybe find the right partner and build a simple life. But I doubt he'd believe me if I told him that.
"You know, I've been learning forex trading. I want to switch from being a programmer to becoming a forex trading expert. First, I'll work abroad to earn some capital and trade forex. The foreign exchange rates abroad and here are very different, so I think it's possible to live off trading as long as I have enough initial capital and the right skills."
"Hahaha!" He suddenly laughs loudly. "Hey, didn't you open a demo account? And didn't you already suffer huge losses in the beginning?"
That damn gigolo. I feel my hand tremble, wanting to punch him. "Listen, buddy, even though I had some losses, I also made some profits. Look at this," I show him the trade history on my laptop.
"Profit $3000 and loss $3500. Hahaha, isn't that pointless? And what is this you're drawing? Boobs? Hahahaha!"
Dammit, I'm getting even more disgusted, but I'm a cool guy, so I have to stay calm.
"I'm in the learning phase, so it's completely normal to experience losses. Like the saying goes, 'suffer first, enjoy later,'" I try to remain calm and put on a Buddha-like expression of patience.
"Your words remind me of the video you sent last night—the one with the porcupine mating."
"Pfttt! Dammit, you remind me again." I try to hold back my laughter. "It was so sad watching it try to insert his lil brother but end up getting pierced by the spines."
"Forget it, buddy, you're the only one who thinks it's funny. Now, pack your things. It's time to go home."
I glance at the clock on my laptop, which shows it's 5 PM. "Hey, that's really funny, but I'm too lazy to argue with you since it's time to leave work." I immediately shut down my laptop and put it in my bag.
After a brief prayer, I head down to the parking lot and grab my bike to head home.
Tsssssshh... ssshhh... Suddenly, I hear the sound of raindrops. I look at the road, now wet, and glance up at the dark clouds. "Rain, huh? Too bad I didn't bring a raincoat. But forget it, I'm so tired, I just want to relax at home as soon as possible."
Ignoring the rain, I quickly take my motorcycle out of the parking lot and speed off as fast as I can. My body gets soaked, and my eyes sting from the rain. "Another mistake. I guess I need to start bringing a helmet for rainy situations."
As I close my eyes for a moment, suddenly, there's a car right in front of me. "Dammit, it's really stopped in the middle of the road!"
Immediately, there's a loud crash: "CRASH!"
"*huff... huff*" My chest feels tight and painful. 'Damn, it hurts so much. Is this my blood? This feels too frightening.'
My body feels weak and my vision starts to blur. All I can feel is the cold rain and the pain in my head. 'Curse those foolish drivers in this country who love to hit the gas and brake at the same time. Don't they know it confuses the drivers behind them? I hope their engines break down so these idiots can't drive anymore.'
A small figure steps out of the car, looking very panicked, and immediately calls someone on their phone. 'Is she a little angel sent to take me away? No, you idiot, she's the one who put you in this condition.'
The girl looks panicked. I guess she's about 150cm tall, a normal height for girls in this country. 'Calm down, girl, this isn't your fault. If I had worn a helmet, this might not have happened.' It's unfortunate that I can't say this to the frightened creature in front of me.
My vision starts to fade and my eyes finally close. I can hear some commotion around me, but I no longer care. Maybe I should be grateful to be free from this cursed world. And if I die in an accident, will I go to heaven? Wait... don't I have too many sins compared to good deeds? Especially those videos on my laptop and phone - I hope they both go to the underworld with me.
'I guess I can die peacefully even if I might go to hell.'
[Sorry, but master, you forgot about the videos stored on your computer]
"Damn, I really forgot about that one. What would my family think if they knew about my actual school assignments?" I pull my hair very hard and suddenly realize something.
"Wait, what's happening here? Wasn't I dead? And what was that voice?"
[Master, I am a cultivation system that enables you to become the strongest being in this universe. As for what's happening and where we are now, we're in the system space, and your current body is just a virtual representation of your soul.]
This is really surprising to know that systems are real, but I don't want to say those cliché protagonist lines from novels/comics. "So system, can you bring me back to life?"
["I'm sorry but I can't do that, but master can..."]
"Wait, let me guess, I have to go to another world, complete some missions, become strong and then return here?" This is a standard plot of course a top graduate like me would know it.
["Master is correct. Once you become the strongest being in this universe, you can certainly do that."]
"For what? Return here just to delete those legendary videos I saved?" I hope this system has some human wisdom.
["Sorry master, but I can't bring you back to life."]
"Shut up fool, I don't care about this world at all, so I can go with you without regret, but for that I need to delete the videos on my computer." Isn't this a small thing? Can't this stupid system do it?
["Of course master, I can delete them for you, but master must follow every..."]
"Are you male or female?" I already knew the answer.
["I don't have a gender but if master prefers..."]
"Act like a female, and about your purpose, I don't really care as long as it doesn't harm me, and never give me threats. You know, I think this way we can be closer." I smile kindly. Who wouldn't like having a female AI companion following you everywhere?
["Understood. From now on, I will follow master's instructions and try not to harm or threaten the host's safety as long as the host also follows the instructions and missions given by the system."]
"Good, that's how it should be." I smile slightly knowing this system isn't as annoying as those in other comics. Maybe she's just acting, but at least she's better than any system I've known.
["The data on the host's computer has been completely deleted. Next, we will go to another world. Host can choose between these transfer methods:
Reincarnation into another world Transmigration or taking over someone else's body"]
"1, I don't want to take someone else's body because that's too disgusting."
["In that case, host can choose what to be born as in the next world:
Monster (dragon, wyvern, elf, etc.) Devil race (demon, vampire, incubus, etc.) Human race"]
"Elves are categorized as monsters? Aren't they too beautiful to be categorized as monsters? Then for devils, maybe devils are the strongest choice, vampires are the coolest, and incubus is the most hehehe... but I prefer being human."
["Confirmed. Are there any other settings and background that host would like to choose?"]
"I want to be born with white hair and purple eyes, or blue, or green, or red, I think they all look really good." You guys surely understand how difficult it is to create an initial character in a game, right?
["Very well then, host will have rainbow eyes."]
"Wait, I want to have straight white hair, with purple eyes and a handsome face." Only a fool would want rainbow eyes okay (sorry folks, I prefer women lol).
["Next, please choose the host's background."]
"I want to be born into an ordinary family without love, and if possible, become an orphan as soon as possible." I loved my previous family, but honestly, that love was too suffocating. I also want to be free and not bound by parent-child relationships.
["Understood. Next, please choose 1 element that the host will master:
Fire Water Wind Earth Lightning Ice Nature Magma Darkness Light"]
"There are quite a lot of choices, right? And there are advanced elements that sound cool, but I've learned from experience. Maybe light would be cool if I could shoot light swords while saying pika-pika, but I'll become a mob if the light element is only useful as a flashlight." The hardest part of creating a character is choosing.
I guess I need to choose more carefully, let's see:
Fire, I think it's too dangerous for myself, and I have no idea how to strengthen my attacks except by increasing the temperature of the fire I create Water, pretty good I could kill people by making them bloated with water Wind, I could imitate yun shan Earth, eww not an option at all Lightning, cool but wouldn't I die from electrocution, and can it be directed? Ice, good choice and looks like having a cheat at the start of the game, I might try cycling on the sea using ice element Nature, would I be able to approach elves if I take it Magma, no different from earth just with some fire seasoning Darkness, too risky to be chased by the church but that's just an assumption Flashlight, other advantages might be healing abilities
"Alright, I'll choose wind." I guess that's the best choice and the most flexible element I could use.
["Confirmed, initiating host transfer to new world."]
I can't wait to see what life is like in another world. Are the women there more beautiful? Is nature more stunning? Is it more enjoyable there?
"I hope I won't miss my family in the next world." I'm not crying, just a bit sad that I couldn't make my family happy and instead died early.
"I hope there aren't any idiots who ride without helmets."
["Transfer successful. Host is now in the new world. The system will shut down after a few minutes, so if there's anything host wants to ask, you can ask now."]
"Aren't you too weak of a system?" I try to be a bit sarcastic to my new friend.
["..."]
"Alright, where am I now and how long will you be asleep?"
["Right now we're in the host's subconscious, while regarding the host's body, you are currently in your new mother's womb."]
"Hey, will I be conscious and able to feel things while in the womb?" That's too disgusting.
["I can prevent that from happening. As for when I'll wake up, I'm not certain of the exact time but it won't be long."]
"Alright, but before that, can you leave some system functions that can be accessed and facilities for training? Because I think it's unlikely for an ordinary family to have access to proper magic learning."
["About that, host needn't worry. The system has placed host in an adventurer family, so host can learn magic quite well. But regarding system functions, I don't have inventory or other unique items like what host imagines."]
"Not surprising, evidently you can only give me 1 element. In that case, can you provide all the information you have about this world?" I hope this is like a search engine and not an encyclopedia.
["Understood, I will summarize all information I know about this world and make it like the tool host usually uses."]
"Thank you, system."
["If there's nothing else, system will begin hibernation."]
A few seconds later, the system enters hibernation.
"I hope this time passes quickly."