It was a rainy day…
In the city of Peleria, located south of the kingdom — inside the Immovable Theater.
A strange thunderclap echoed across the skies, and with it came a new spectator.
The boy blinked, confused.
> "Ow… what was I even reading? As usual, just some manga and—"
He froze.
"No way… wait a second…"
Then he shouted with joy,
> "I'M IN AN ISEKAI!!! THIS IS AWESOME!!!"
He laughed out loud — until he noticed the crowd staring at him.
He immediately covered his mouth with both hands and dashed into a nearby alley.
> "Calm down, Arata Sakurai," he muttered to himself.
"You can't stand out too much. Let's recap what I know about isekai…"
Then, with a mischievous grin, he added:
> "The hero reincarnates… and then meets a super cute girl! Yeah, that's it!"
---
His stomach growled loudly.
> "Ugh, great timing…" he sighed.
He left the alley in search of food and ran into a small shop to take shelter from the rain.
The merchant, with a shrill voice, greeted him:
> "Welcome, new customer! I hope your day shines despite this awful weather!"
Arata smiled, wiping his glasses on his shirt.
> "It's more than a good day! I'd like a plate of your special dish, please!"
The merchant blinked.
> "Uh… this isn't a restaurant. It's a bazaar — you'll find the strangest objects here."
Arata put his glasses back on… and froze in horror.
Cages filled the room. Giant spiders the size of bears twitched inside, alongside other grotesque creatures.
He thought,
> "Calm down, Arata. That's normal in an isekai… totally normal…"
---
> "Excuse me," he asked, "do you have, like… a magic sword? Or maybe a staff, or some sort of artifact?"
The merchant nodded.
> "Of course, but do you have anything to pay with, young man?"
Arata chuckled awkwardly and dug into his pocket.
> "Do you accept trades?"
> "It depends on the item."
Arata raised his hand proudly.
> "Then behold! My most precious possession — my smartphone!
It can capture images! Bet you don't have that in this world, huh?"
The merchant looked unimpressed.
> "That's not impressive at all. Everyone has one."
> "Wha— WHAT!?" Arata's jaw dropped.
> "Indeed," said the merchant. "Everyone owns such devices, but they only work within the metropolis near the royal castle.
The only thing I can offer you…"
He lifted a piece of paper between two fingers — a 500 yen bill.
> "...is this ultra-powerful paper. The king himself blessed it. They say its true owner will gain immense power."
Arata, mesmerized, reached out.
> "I'll take it…" he whispered.
Suddenly, the door slammed open — and a female voice screamed:
> "DON'T TOUCH THAT THING!!!"