In the southern forests, a notorious human swordsman once cut down an opponent stronger than himself in a single instant. That legend still lingered in the minds of the local monsters.
To the wild boar before him, the human boy raising his eyebrow looked nothing like prey. Allen shifted into a forward stance, right foot sliding, weight sinking, hand on the hilt at his left hip. Firelight flickered in his eyes—full of interest.
"So the village really isn't far. I actually ran into the boar that kick-starts the original plot… Good thing I didn't wander out here at age four. Getting turned into pig droppings would've been a tragic joke."
He smiled.
"But times have changed. You picked the wrong target."
The earth cracked beneath Allen's feet as he launched forward. Though only as tall as the boar's waist and barely larger than a fighting dog, he charged the four monsters without hesitation.
Roaring, the boar barreled forward like a black freight wagon, shoving aside the dogs in front of it. Soil flew; man and beast closed the distance in a heartbeat.
And right then—
"Move!"
A sharp, young voice cut through the air. Wind brushed Allen's ear.
He glanced past the boar. A sphere—clear as crystal—shot out from the dark forest behind the monsters, soaring straight toward him.
His pupils contracted. A pulse of heat burst through him as the Dragon-Saint Battle Aura Core in his abdomen compressed and pushed fresh aura into his limbs.
The world slowed.
Wind died.
Moist air clung to his skin.
A cold gleam passed over the boar's tusks.
The stench of monster breath lingered.
Allen recognized the magic immediately.
Fifteen… no, closer to one meter fifty in diameter. Water Balloon—Beginner-tier. But the density and firing pressure are closer to Water Cannon. They compressed the spell to reduce cast time… Someone skilled.
He judged the angle. If he kept attacking, he'd be caught in the blast.
Did they warn me? No… they just didn't expect me to rush in.
No time to look. The boar's tusks were less than half an arm's length away.
The scabbard under his palm was cold.
Allen smiled.
I could dodge… but why bother?
Hokushin-ryū — Practical Form — Standard Draw Stance.
Twenty Cuts.
Muscles coiled. Allen leaned past the boar's tusks by a hair, ducked beneath the claws following the charge, met the stare of a fighting dog, and slipped through the narrow gaps between the four monsters like a drifting shadow.
Five flashes of light danced around him—rhythmic, precise.
He emerged on the other side, facing the oncoming water sphere, still in his draw stance, as if he had never moved.
The orange campfire reflected in the incoming sphere. It filled his vision.
A single white line appeared down its center.
The sphere split.
Water sheared past his cheeks, cool and clean, lit by shimmering orange light. Beautiful, almost serene.
He blinked—time snapped back.
Leaves rustled. Wind tugged at his clothes. The scabbard warmed in his grip.
Behind him—the water blast detonated. Trees snapped in half.
The four monsters stood frozen for a breath.
Then the boar's massive head slid from its neck and fell with a thud. Blood fountained, steaming in the firelight.
A small, hooded figure burst into the clearing, carrying a large suitcase. Blue hair glowed greenish under the flames. She sniffed sharply, staring wide-eyed at Allen.
He looked her over from head to boot, and the firelight revealed her black stockings over firm, pale legs. His admiration was obvious.
He smiled.
"What did you just say?"
Loki—Roxy Migurdia, as the canon reader in him instantly recognized—stopped, breath hitching. She glanced from the boy's small frame to the headless corpse behind him, completely at a loss.
The System Stops Pretending
Allen stared shamelessly at Roxy's calves, mind racing.
Her presence here meant exactly one thing: she had just left Buena Village. Which meant fate had handed him a prime opportunity.
His Transmigration Guide System required him to leave impressions on key characters throughout Rudeus Greyrat's life—earning "participation points."
And Roxy was central to everything.
After the Teleport Incident, she would spend years searching for Rudeus's family. Their bond, and eventually their child Lara, would directly influence the conflict with the Human-God. Her existence shaped the entire timeline.
Getting close to her meant racking up points effortlessly.
But Allen hesitated.
He had two advantages:
Knowing the original story, and the System.
Which also meant… he had to be careful.
If he meddled too much, and the Dragon-God Orsted detected the disturbance? Instant death. No conversation. No forgiveness.
He needed foresight, not recklessness.
Roxy shifted uncomfortably under his stare, twisting her foot, tugging her hair. Her eyes darted to the blood-soaked grass. She opened her mouth—
And smoke exploded into Allen's view.
He blinked.
Huh? System? Why now?
Bold red text materialized.
---
[Instant Quest Activated — "Jobless Reincarnation Guidance Program"]
[First Encounter With Roxy Migurdia]
Background:
The host has once again failed to meet Rudeus during his early childhood window. Two days have passed since Roxy left Buena Village.
This meeting is the host's final chance to correct that failure.
Task:
• Earn Roxy's favor within 1 hour
• Earn Rudeus's favor within 4 days
Rewards (partial unlock): Healing Magic Slot (2/4)
Healing Magic Slots correspond to:
• Healing
• Detoxification
• Barrier
• Divine Strike
Contact-based acquisition:
– The host must have cast a spell of that category within the last minute.
– Upon physical contact, the System records the host's magical wavelength, forming a rune that can auto-cast the effect internally.
(Effects apply only to the host.)
Quest Timers:
• Roxy — 00:59:59
• Rudeus — 95:59:58
---
Allen made the exact face of an old man reading nonsense on the subway.
"Seriously? This isn't an isekai guide—this is a dating sim walkthrough! And why does Rudeus have a favorability bar?! What is wrong with this system?!"
Roxy watched his expression twist through ten emotions and finally spoke, awkward and polite.
"I… saw fire in the forest while traveling. When I saw monsters attacking, I reacted on instinct and cast a spell. I didn't expect you to handle everything alone. It seems I was unnecessary—and almost hit you."
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