I had a good life. My parents were perfectly healthy and I went to the tennis club every weekend. I had enough money for my studies and everything was pretty quiet and peaceful. And so it was until one very weird day…
But first I'd like to introduce myself properly. I guess? I'm Klei Smith, 18 years old. You know the age where you can change something in your life, you can drink, smoke and do other destructive things with your life. Time to have fun before the dull and tedious life of an employee.
I live an ordinary life, nothing remarkable really. Just a normal high school student in a regular world. Black hair, blue eyes and a white shirt and black trousers that I forgot to take off after school. Not that I was handsome, but I wasn't ugly either, I guess?
Let's transport to a day when my life changed, perhaps for the worse, perhaps for the better.
"What a shitty novel. Fly to the unloved ones." As usual, I was at my computer, reading another failed novel on the internet."Huh?" I stared at the screen, not understanding why it had turned so blue. I looked up and saw a blue table appeared in front of my face, with a framed clock on it.
I panicked, and tried to get up from my chair, but inadvertently caught the wire and fell with my face into the ground.
"Ouch"
Shaking my head from side to side, the screen didn't disappear. I was still in a panic.
…
After a while I looked at the screen. I guess looks won't kill me, will they? I hope thats so.
A square clock in front of me, displaying text I couldn't explain. —"Okay, this looks like something out of Isekai stories… What on earth is happening?..." — I gasped, gripping the table tightly.
The clock on it ran forward across the screen. This looks pretty funny, but firstly, am I hallucinating? Because, I don't remember taking any drugs?
*Clack clack clack clack* The screen clicked on.
"..." — I remained speechless.
…
— What is this? — I fall on my bum, still looking at a screen. It looks like my grandmother's watch, ugly and cheap, what the hell? A big square clock with letters with ugly typecast — "wait, is that Comic Sans?!"
I've never seen a cheaper font in my entire life, if the devil exists, he makes sinners read text with this font for eternity to torture them!
…
... After 3 minutes nothing changes, I try to hit it and even cut the ugly bastard, but still no changes. I don't know, maybe I should pray?
I walked around the room, left and right. Honestly, it's very annoying with this sign.
I shouted angrily, — Make the fucking machine work! Are your screws loose? Move the goddamn board, it's on my way!
It's incredible, but something started to happen. It was as if the mechanism had started to tune itself... Should I even say that this looks absolutely terrifying?
I fell to my knees and shouted, — Wait? Did it listen to me? Thank God!
— I thought I was going to live my whole life with a tablet in front of my eyes!
*Still clicking noises I've heard before, but I see slightly new melodies in it.*
After 5 minutes it seemed to stop tuning and showed me a text:
[Welcome user, we are a system that provides accommodation services in different corners of the galaxy, and you have been selected as the appropriate person to provide our services.]. You can consider that you have won! If you do not accept the terms of the contract for immediate relocation, say...*?:?5%&& .]
"What?"— I just stood there in amazement.
It's not what I expected to see on a strange blue screen? However, the last part was left unclear; what was he trying to convey?
…
— Hey, I don't seem to understand the last part?
— What do I need to say if I don't want to participate in something very odd? — I raised my hand and tried to chop the tablet again. It's so funny how it disappears and reappears again.
[You have been chosen in a new housing program, which we are going to apply for forcibly. Time for activation: 60 seconds]
"Hey! Wait a little!" —I standed from my chair.
"Oh? No talking? Just start without my permission! What a rude machine!"
When this digital clock began to count I started to fuss about it. What is he even talking about?! I look at my watches in the old fashionable style; however, time doesn't seem to go forward.
I pinch myself with all my power; "I am dreaming or anything?..." — Nope, I still feel pain in my cheeks, ouch.
[Don't worry, the program is absolutely safe and doesn't harm you in any way!]
[We have a reputation as a trustworthy housing firm; not a single user has a complaint against us! Just wait for 1 minute, and you will be in your new house, which is absolutely free only for you!]
I don't believe a single word of the above, me.
After thinking for a moment I say, — What if I leave a grievance?
As luck would have it, he ended the report on those very words.
[59…60. I hope you found your reverie and fantastic adventure in the land of dreams!]
— WHA-AT TH-E FU-UUU-K-…!? — I shout to the void. "Senseless…"
Time, by the feel of it, has gone backwards. I felt that I myself had become a clock, that clicked the mechanism, making the gears pletely unaware of the light that surrounded me, I felt as if I was disconnected from the world.
…
Wrapping myself in my own arms I look away again, — You know, it's not a bad feeling.
Suddenly, completely without expecting it, a selection screen appeared in front of my eyes.
[Congratulations on the transfer, but you need to make your final choice of accommodation; we don't want the user to be dissatisfied, right?]
You're wrong about that. I'm already dissatisfied, but that's for later. I fuck you up one day; believe my words!
After complaining about it for a good minute, I still look at the choice I've been given.
— Okay, what have we got here…
The house near a Scarlet Devil mansion? Devils? It looks like a really dangerous place; maybe something like it's some kind of Dracula mansion, eh…? I love vampires, but not so much. "Skip."
…(Choices such as a country cabin, a house on a sagebrush cliff, a house near a lake, and so on.) "Skip,skip,skip…"
"O, that's slightly better."
After looking at all the choices I was given I decided to choose a house in the woods. It's nice to experience nature, you know? Even if it's a bad choice, I'm sure I'll come up with something.
The screen lit up again after I pressed the select button. The gears spun slowly showing a new message.
Thank you for your cooperation. [We will try to create the best atmosphere among others just for you.]
That's what I'm hoping for.
…
"So loong… "
…
I waited in suspense for over 20 minutes; nothing to complain about, because I felt pretty cozy and warm.
"Finally something is happening!" — I said as I saw a light around me.
(After some time…)
Flash of light*
"I see a light…" — oh, too much light, AHH. That looks like that one fallout cutscene!
Unprepared for the sudden transfer, my eyes glazed over and closed on their own.
When I stop squinting I notice myself in a clearing in the woods, with a house that is covered by bushes on the sides, and a small path to it.
I see a small house with 4 what looks like rooms in a rather fancy style. Red tile windows with black inserts in them in the form of a cage and a small outbuilding for a paddock. It's a very cute little house, I love it!
*The sound of rustling leaves*
Looking around, I notice a rather tall mountain that juts out into the sky, cutting through them, and rushing upwards. I can notice a lake that is covered with a small smog of ice, which is quite beaten out, and from behind the trees there is a relatively old building with a dial going on different from my watch. If you define time zones, then I am somewhere in Japan? Pretty old building for one, so to speak.
Making a serious face and putting my hands on my waist, — I take a step on a new land… But I want to cry....
Quite a beautiful place; I can't complain about the location. But, I'm inclined to say I'm too dissatisfied with the current situation.
I guess I'll check the inside of the house first, maybe it's a total mess, I wouldn't be surprised honestly. As I walk up to the porch I notice a keyhole on the door, I try to turn the knob to open the door and it opens? What's the lock for?
Inside, the dimly lit wooden floor is laid out in the old style.
When I get into the apartment, the same blue, familiar tablet appears in front of me. What is it again?
[Achievement: home sweet home. 100 system points]
"What?"
[Congratulations on your housewarming! And to answer your question that you asked before, the keys are needed by other visitors to your building, you can buy keys with system points. I'm gonna go ahead and say that communication is only done in the house "Untitled."]
I almost pissed my pants with everything I had, how could I expect that as soon as I open a door, eh?
— Wuh, let me breathe.
After calming down a bit and straightening my hunched back, I asked him, — Why did you move me here?
— It's definitely a mistake, because this is the first time I've heard of your program in principle! How could I win in a contest, where I didn't participate! — this is really stupid! I can even be used for organs cut without my consent!
[I'm afraid I can't give out any user information about this. I can only assure you that we mean you no harm].
[If you are worried about your friends, parents, we have already sent a letter saying that you are participating in an undisclosed programme. Later, as the user gains system points, you will be able to write letters to your world.]
It's like a prison or something. Do I even have to pay for texting?
After thinking about the question for a while I ask the system, — Thanks for that, I guess. But how do I get these so-called system points? And what else can you do?
Without saying a word, he shows a screen with my level and skills.
▷Name: Klei Smith
▷Race: Human
▷Level: 1
▷Specialization: Owner (experience 200%)
▷Skills: Translation(A)
▷State: Normal
Hint: By repeating certain actions or situations, you gain a Skill. As your skill level increases, the skill's rank increases, and its power and effectiveness increases.