The flash of cameras lit up the studio one last time for Hana Lysandra. Her heels clicked across the polished floor as she posed, every movement precise, elegant, and perfect.
"Beautiful, Hana! Tilt your head just a little to the left… perfect, keep that gaze," the cameraman called, adjusting his lens.
Hana smiled softly, holding the pose as the bright lights reflected off the glossy magazine covers and fashion posters that adorned the walls.
"Wow, that's amazing! The energy you're giving this shot is incredible," he added, snapping another picture. "That one's going straight to the cover!"
"Thank you," Hana replied, her voice calm but tired. Long days of shooting had left her exhausted, but she always pushed through. She knew every slight shift in posture, every subtle glance mattered—perfection was the standard, and she was determined to meet it.
"Okay, now give me a playful smile, like you just got a secret," the cameraman instructed. Hana tilted her head, a faint sparkle in her eyes. "Yes! That's it! You're a natural. Seriously, every shoot with you feels effortless."
She chuckled lightly, letting the moment sink in. The lights, the cameras, the constant praise—it was familiar, comfortable… almost soothing. But tonight, as she packed up her things and waved goodbye to the staff, she felt an unusual chill in the air, as if something beyond this world were waiting for her.
Hana Lysandra leaned against her apartment door, letting out a tired sigh as she kicked off her heels.
"Ugh… it's tiring," she murmured, rubbing her temples. The day had been long—a nonstop whirlwind of flashes, poses, and compliments. Finally home, all she wanted was a warm bath and bed.
But before she could even set her bag down, a blinding light erupted around her, white and searing, filling every corner of her apartment. She froze, heart hammering in her chest.
"What… what is this?!" Hana whispered, shielding her eyes.
The world spun violently, her body lifted off the ground by a force she couldn't resist. The apartment, the city outside, even the walls of her home—everything dissolved into an endless void of light.
When the brightness faded, Hana found herself sitting on the forest floor, her legs folded beneath her, the soft scent of moss and earth filling her nose. She instinctively reached up, touching her arms.
"W-what… what is this?" she stammered, panic creeping in. "Where am I? Why am I on the forest floor?"
Her eyes darted around. Towering trees stretched into the sky, their leaves whispering with the wind. Strange, distant sounds echoed in the distance—birds, creatures, and the occasional rustle she couldn't identify. Hana's perfectly styled black dress from the photoshoot was now slightly wrinkled and speckled with dirt, but the fitted fabric still clung elegantly to her figure. She brushed some leaves and soil from it as she slowly stood, her heels gone, bare feet pressing into the soft ground.
Before she could even take another step, a soft, mechanical chime echoed in her mind.
Name: Hana Lysandra
Age: 19
Rank Level: F Points 0/100
HP: 100
Mana: 5/5
Stats:
Strength: 3
Agility: 3
Vitality: 4
Intelligence: 4
Charm: 100
Skills:
- Subspace
Type: Utility / Storage
Description: A personal pocket dimension that allows You to store items, weapons, or creatures summoned from her Gacha cards. The subspace has no known size limit and can keep items safe without affecting the world outside.
Extra Skills:
- Infinite Gacha
Type: Summoning / Randomization
Description: You can pull cards from the Infinite Gacha, each card summoning an item, weapon, creature, human, or even rare objects. Cards have ranks from E → SSS, and the higher the rank, the rarer and more powerful the summon.
Mana Cost:
F Rank – 2
E Rank – 5
D Rank – 10
C Rank – 20
B Rank – 30
A Rank – 50
S Rank – 100
SS Rank – 150
SSS Rank – 200
Storage & Usage:
Cards can be stored in a card pouch or inventory until needed.
To use a stored card, simply hold it and say "Use". The summon will manifest according to the card's rank and type.
Higher-ranked cards require more mana to summon.
Notes:
Summons can range from items, weapons, creatures, humans, or rare magical objects.
Cards are reusable if specified, but some rare summons may disappear after use.
"Huh… w-what is this?" Hana gasped, stepping back instinctively. Her eyes widened at the floating screen in front of her.
"Where… where is this? What am I doing in this forest?" she muttered, panic rising in her chest.
She looked around once more. The sunlight filtered through the leaves above, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. Strange plants, mossy rocks, and a few unfamiliar flowers surrounded her. Everything was alive.
The system chimed again.
SYSTEM NOTICE
Welcome to another world. Congratulations on your arrival.
Please survive, and enjoy your new life here.
Hana blinked, reading and rereading the words.
"W-what? Another world? Who… who are you? What… what am I doing here?!" she shouted into the silent forest, her voice trembling.
A moment later, the system replied.
SYSTEM NOTICE
Cannot provide further information.
The message vanished, leaving a sudden quiet. But then, a map and a compass materialized in front of her. The map glowed softly, showing various locations—forests, mountains, rivers, and structures she couldn't yet identify. Hana picked it up, staring at the intricate details, feeling a strange mixture of awe and dread.
The system chimed once more.
SYSTEM NOTICE
Recommended action: Flip 1 card.
Hana froze. She stared at the glowing cards hovering in the air.
"Flip… a card? Do I… do I even dare?" she whispered to herself, hesitating. Her fingers trembled slightly as she extended her hand toward a random card floating before her.
The moment her fingers touched it, a blinding light erupted, swirling around her in dazzling brilliance. Hana shielded her eyes instinctively. When the light faded, a single card floated before her.
GACHA CARD
Item: Sword
Rank: F
Description: A beginner's short sword, suitable for basic combat.
The Sword card floated in front of Hana. She stared at it for a long moment, hesitating.
"Do I… really have to pick this up?" she muttered, unsure.
After a deep breath, she finally reached out and grabbed it, gripping the hilt.
"Maybe this should be good for now," she whispered to herself. Then, her mood shifted, and a sigh escaped her lips.
"After all… I'm tired of pretending to be okay with everyone else," she said softly, a small smile forming. "I want to break free from modeling… from all those endless shoots, cameras, and expectations."
But her relief was short-lived. She looked around at the forest stretching endlessly in every direction, her eyes narrowing in frustration.
"My wish… granted, but what is this? Why am I in another world?!" she shouted angrily, her voice echoing through the trees.
Hana planted her feet firmly on the ground, sword in hand, glaring at the alien forest. "Seriously… what is happening?"
The wind rustled the leaves, as if mocking her confusion, and Hana took a deep breath. "Alright… fine. I guess I'll have to deal with this… somehow."
Hana unfolded the map and studied it carefully. Her eyes traced the paths and landmarks until she spotted a small settlement just beyond the forest.
"A town… finally," she muttered, a mix of relief and curiosity in her voice. "Looks nearby… maybe if I keep going, I can reach it before nightfall."
She slung the sword over her shoulder, adjusted her slightly dirt-streaked black dress, and began walking through the dense forest. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Birds chirped, leaves rustled, and Hana occasionally stumbled over roots, muttering under her breath.
"This forest… it's beautiful and… kind of annoying at the same time. I really hope I don't meet any monster here like goblins or giant spiders. Or worse… bugs that bite," she said, swatting at a stray branch brushing her arm.
Her stomach growled loudly. She rubbed it and muttered, "Ugh… I'm so hungry. After that exhausting photoshoot, I didn't even have time to grab lunch. And now… I don't even have money to buy anything."
She swung the sword lightly in her hand, mostly for comfort. "Seriously… how is survival supposed to be this dramatic? First, my fancy modeling life is gone. Then, I'm stuck here."
After a while, the trees began to thin, and Hana's eyes widened. In the distance, she saw massive walls rising high into the sky, completely enclosing the town. The stone glinted faintly in the sunlight, and large wooden gates marked the entrance.
"Whoa… that's… huge," she whispered. "Looks… fortified. Definitely not a small village. This must be the place the map showed."
The moment the two guards laid eyes on her, their expressions changed. Their eyes widened, and they nearly forgot to breathe.
"W-wow…" one guard muttered, his face turning slightly red. "You're… so beautiful."
The other guard's jaw nearly dropped.
Hana blinked, tilting her head politely. "Uh… excuse me?"
The taller guard cleared his throat, trying to maintain composure. "Ahem, by the way… what brings you here, miss? And… why are you alone?"
Hana hesitated, looking a little flustered. "Uhm… the truth is… I got lost."
The guards' eyes widened in shock. One of them leaned slightly forward. "You… got lost?" he repeated, clearly surprised.
"Yes…" Hana said softly, a little embarrassed. "I… I don't know how I ended up here, and then I saw this town, so I thought I'd come here."
The guards exchanged a glance, slightly confused but intrigued. They asked carefully, one after the other:
"Lost…? Are you hurt? Did something happen in the forest?"
"No, fortunately i didn't encounter any monster and as you can see I'm fine," Hana replied, shaking her head gently. "Just… a little tired and hungry, I guess."
The taller guard nodded slowly, then asked with curiosity, "And… what exactly are you doing here, miss? Are you traveling alone?"
Hana straightened her posture slightly, trying to sound confident despite her nervousness. "Uhm… well, as I said, I got lost. I'm trying to find my way. That's all."
The shorter guard leaned in a bit, eyes sparkling. "You're… really beautiful, miss. Are you perhaps from a noble family?"
Hana's cheeks warmed. She tilted her head politely, trying to remain graceful. "Ah… yes, you could say that. I came from far away."
The guards relaxed, their curiosity mixing with admiration. The taller one smiled warmly. "Alright then… welcome to the town of Emberbrook."
The shorter guard gestured toward the gate, his expression suddenly serious. "That will be 1 silver for entrance, miss."
Hana froze, eyes widening. Omg… I don't have money! She held her hands up, muttering nervously. "I-I'm sorry… I don't have any money. I got lost and didn't bring any with me."
The guards' expressions softened immediately. The taller one smiled kindly. "It's okay, miss. Don't worry about it. We'll let you pass."
The shorter guard added with a warm grin, pointing toward a distant building, "By the way, if you plan to stay here for a long time, you might consider registering at the town's guild. You can earn money by taking quests there, and it's a good way to get started."
Hana let out a relieved sigh. "Ah… thank you. I'll… think about it."
The guards exchanged approving glances. The taller one added, "The adventurer's guild is just down the main street. You can't miss it."
Julian, the shorter guard, leaned in with a teasing grin. "And… you really are stunning, miss. May we ask your name?"
Hana's cheeks flushed, and she gave a small, shy smile. "Ah… my name is Hana."
The guards' eyes sparkled. "Wow… such a beautiful name!" William said.
Hana felt slightly awkward under their praise, but she smiled politely. "T-thank you."
William extended a hand, introducing himself. "By the way, I'm William."
The other guard gave a slight bow, adding playfully, "And I'm Julian… beautiful lady."
Hana blinked at that, almost laughing, and covered her mouth with her hand. "Ah… thank you, Mr. William and Mr. Julian. I should… get going now."
The guards waved enthusiastically. "Goodbye, miss! Take care!"
As she put some distance between herself and the gate, a small, amused smile appeared on her lips. She shook her head slightly and said aloud, laughing quietly to herself:
"Those two guards… they're handsome, but they're not my type. Haha."
Hana walked down the cobblestone path of Emberbrook, her heels clicking lightly against the stones. The morning sun warmed her back, but her legs were already beginning to ache. She spotted a large, flat stone by the roadside and decided to take a short rest.
She plopped down, letting out a long, dramatic sigh. "Ugh… so tiring," she muttered, rubbing her aching feet. "I really need to change out of these heels… they're killing me. Why did I even wear these? Oh right… modeling life."
Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her that breakfast this morning had been a rushed affair at the studio. "And now… nothing to eat either," she mumbled, scowling.
As she leaned back against the stone, a faint chime echoed in her mind. The familiar system notification appeared, floating in front of her eyes:
System Notice: Recommending to flip another Gacha card.
Hana groaned, letting her head fall back dramatically. "Really? Again?" She opened her hand reluctantly and drew a random card. Light flashed, bright and warm, bathing the forest floor in a soft glow.
Gatcha Card
Item: Coin Pouch
Rank: F
Description: A small pouch containing 15 silver coins.
Hana's eyes widened, and her shoulders relaxed. Then, a huge grin spread across her face. "What? Omg! Yes! Finally!" she whispered, holding up the pouch. She felt her stomach rumble approvingly.
Clutching her new pouch, she stood up, patting the bag as if it were a small treasure chest. "Alright… now, let's get some food before I pass out," she muttered.
Soon, she spotted a small, cozy-looking restaurant tucked beside a narrow street. Smoke curled from the chimney, and the smell of fresh bread and stew wafted toward her. Her stomach growled again, louder this time.
"Ow… beautiful lady! Planning to eat?" The owner, a round, cheerful man with flour on his apron, practically bounced toward her.
"Yes… yes, I am," Hana replied politely, trying not to blush at the overly eager expression on his face. "How much for your food?"
The man's eyes gleamed. "One silver for a bowl of stew and one bread, miss. Freshly made, still warm!"
Hana opened the small pouch she got from the Gacha card and counted the coins. Perfect… just enough. "I'll take one," she said confidently.
"Okay, please wait a moment," the man said, grinning from ear to ear.
Hana sat on a small wooden bench outside, enjoying the warm breeze and watching townsfolk pass by. Children ran around, chasing each other and laughing. She smiled faintly. So this is… normal life here. Peaceful. Not bad.
A few minutes later, the owner returned, balancing a steaming bowl of stew and a fresh loaf of bread. Hana handed him one silver coin.
"Here you go… thank you for the food," she said as she took her first bite. The aroma alone was enough to make her eyes widen. She chewed slowly, savoring the rich flavors.
Finally… after everything… I'm really, really hungry, she thought, enjoying the warmth of the stew and the soft bread. Her stomach growled again, but this time it was satisfied.
The owner waved as she got up. "Thank you for coming! Come back anytime, beautiful lady!"
Hana waved politely. "Yeah, yeah… I'll remember this place."
"Okay… next step: find the adventurer's guild." she muttered under her breath.
As she walked, she finally caught sight of a large stone building with a massive wooden sign above the entrance: "Adventurers Guild".
"This must be it," Hana said to herself, taking a deep breath. She could hear faint chatter and the sound of people moving inside.
Stepping through the doors, she immediately noticed several adventurers stopping mid-conversation to stare. Some whispered:
"Who is that?"
"She's so beautiful…"
"Woah… is she a goddess?"
"Ooh… my… so beautiful."
Hana heard them but didn't let it bother her. She walked confidently toward the reception desk, ignoring the whispers and stares.
The receptionist, a young woman with a neat braid and sparkling eyes, gasped. "O-oh… my, so beautiful!"
Hana tilted her head politely. "Uh… excuse me."
The receptionist blinked, snapping back to focus. "Ah! Ahem… how may I help you, miss?"
"I… I want to register as an adventurer here," Hana said softly, her voice polite but firm.
The receptionist's eyes widened in surprise, and she fumbled with her papers for a moment. "O-okay… wait here a moment." She disappeared behind a small door and returned a few minutes later, carrying paper and a quill.
"Please fill in your information here," she said.
Hana carefully wrote her name, age, and other details. Although the language was different from Earth, she could understand it perfectly thanks to her system.
"Okay… registration complete," the receptionist said, handing Hana her adventurer's card.
"Thank you," Ms Hana replied politely, taking the card.
The receptionist smiled warmly. "Ah… by the way, my name is Lara. I handle most of the newbie adventurers here, so don't hesitate to ask if you need something."
"Ah… okay, Ms. Lara. By the way, can you explain what adventurers do here?" Hana asked curiously.
"Alright, Ms. Hana…" Lara's expression turned slightly more serious. "For beginners, I recommend starting with herb collection quests. They're simple, safe, and will help you get used to adventuring."
"Thank you, Lara. By the way… I'm looking for an inn," Hana added.
"Ah! We have an inn here in town," Lara said, pointing toward a street to the left. "1 silver for one night, 5 silver for ten nights. We also have a VIP room for 10 gold coins a month, including breakfast and dinner."
Hana counted her coins from the small pouch she had gotten from the Gacha earlier. Perfect… I can actually afford this.
"I'll take the ten-night stay," she said confidently, placing 10 silver coins on the counter.
"Very well, Ms. Hana. Please follow me. I'll guide you to your room," Lara said with a smile.
When they finally reached the inn room, Lara opened the door and gestured inside.
"Here is your room," she said. "It's a bit small, but it's perfect for one person."
Hana stepped inside, glancing around. The room was modest but cozy: a single bed neatly made, a wooden table by the window, and a small wardrobe in the corner. Sunlight spilled across the floor, making the space feel warm.
"Okay… thank you," Hana said softly, a tired smile forming on her face.
Lara nodded. "I'll get going now. If you need anything, just call for me."
Hana waved, and Lara left, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
She let out a long sigh and sank onto the edge of the bed, her heels finally off her feet. "It's really… tiring," she muttered, stretching.
A faint chime rang in her mind. Hana instinctively tilted her head. "System… open," she said aloud, more out of habit than expectation.
Instantly, a floating window of light appeared before her eyes.
Status Window
Name: Hana Lysandra
Age: 19
Rank Level: F 50/100
HP: 100/100
Mana: 5 → 8/8
Stats:
Strength 3 → 4
Agility 3 → 5
Vitality 3 → 5
Intelligence 4 → 6
Charm: 100
Skills: Subspace
Extra Skills: Infinite Gacha
Hana blinked in surprise, staring at the numbers.
"Wait… mana +3… stats +2… I leveled up?" she muttered, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "Huh… just by flipping card? That's… kinda convenient."
She leaned back on the bed, thinking. If I just flip and flip cards here… maybe I can get some items that'll help me survive in this world. Maybe food, weapons… anything useful.
Her fingers hovered over the floating Gacha deck. "Okay… let's try this." She drew a card, and light flared in the small room.
Gatcha Card
Item: Adventurer's Clothes
Rank: F
Description: A set of plain adventurer clothes, includes pants, robe, belt, boots.
Hana's eyes lit up. "Wow… perfect! Finally, I can replace these annoying heels." She reached for the clothes, and they materialized in her hands. The boots alone were enough to make her grin.
She quickly changed into the outfit: brown-and-white plain clothes, robe, belt, boots, pants. She looked at herself in the small mirror on the wall.
"Perfect. This should be enough for now," she said, twirling lightly. "Comfortable, practical… and boots! Yes!"
Her excitement barely had time to settle before she reached for another card. Light flared again, and the new card hovered in front of her eyes.
Gatcha Card
Item: Wooden Shield
Rank: F
Description: A simple wooden shield, beginner level.
Hana squinted at it, tilting her head. "What? What am I going to do with this? Ugh… maybe… i should flip again."
She reached for another card, but as soon as her fingers brushed it, a sharp, painful jolt surged through her body.
System Notice: Warning: Your mana is low. Cannot flip another card.
Hana yelped, clutching her arm. "Ugh… it hurts! Why didn't you tell me it had restrictions?!" She winced, pressing her hand to her chest.