“I need a progress report... Tabuchi, what’s the status?”
Ryoma woke in the heart of a dense forest, nestled in the shadows cast by towering, lush trees. He was in the form of a boy not even ten years old, dressed in simple linen clothes, slumped against the gnarled root of a massive tree just as the gods had promised.
He opened his eyes, muttering words entirely ill-suited for his youthful frame. Squinting against the sunlight filtering through the canopy, he looked around in a daze, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
“The forest? So... it wasn't a dream.”
As the scent of damp earth, foliage, and the mountain breeze filled his lungs, the memories of how he had come to be here gradually returned.
“That’s right. This is the other world. Hm?”
His gaze fell upon a leather bag and a notebook-sized volume lying near his waist. He picked up the book; the word “Letter” was written on the cover in a script that was decidedly not Japanese. The senders were the three deities who had invited him to this world.
“Gain, Kufo, Lulutia...”
He read the names aloud as naturally as if they were his own. He thought back to the gods who had looked after him.
(They gave me such a thorough explanation before sending me off, and they were supposed to have granted me the knowledge and power to survive, yet they even provided a follow-up in writing. Though, this feels less like a letter and more like an instruction manual...)
When he flipped the cover, he found three points written on the first page.
First: This location was the Gana Forest, situated within the Reefaul Kingdom on the world of Seailfall. It was a relatively safe area with few powerful beasts or magical creatures.
Second: "Relatively safe" did not mean "absolutely safe." He was instructed to immediately test his new body’s capabilities and move to a secure location where he could establish a base. A small, detailed map was even provided.
Finally, the first page concluded with a specific instruction: “Read the rest only after you have reached the designated location.”
A wry smile touched Ryoma’s lips as he considered how attentive the gods were being. He moved to stand up, but as he did, a profound sense of dissonance struck him.
“I really am in a child’s body. Ryoma Takebayashi, thirty-nine, single, system engineer by trade. To think only my memories would stay the same—I feel like a certain famous detective.”
Despite the prior explanation from the gods, experiencing the physical transformation firsthand was startling. He performed a quick self-diagnostic, confirming that both his physical health and his memories were intact. Once satisfied, he let out a breath and began to put his body through its paces.
He started with simple movements—flexing his joints and opening and closing his fists—before moving on to stretching and radio calisthenics. Gradually, the intensity increased. Finally, he ran through a series of martial arts forms that his father had hammered into him in his previous life, performing each one with practiced precision.
His eyes locked onto a slender tree nearby. A moment later, he unleashed a sharp, snapping kick against the trunk.
With a sharp crack that echoed through the quiet woods, the sapling snapped cleanly in two despite being green wood. Birds resting in the nearby branches took flight in a panicked flurry as the tree slumped to the ground. Ryoma paused to analyze the result.
(It’s subtle. My power is equal to or perhaps even greater than what I had in my prime, but it’s completely out of proportion with this physique. I’m too light, I move too fast, and the reach of my limbs is totally different. My sense of distance is shot. Basic movements like walking and running are fine, but... I’ll just have to adapt as I go.)
Reaching that conclusion, Ryoma returned to the tree where he had woken. He checked his position and the route to his destination on the map before stowing the letter in his bag. He buckled a knife he found to his waist and began the trek toward the location the gods had suggested.
Two hours later.
He had spotted a few small animals and creatures known as "magical beasts" that didn't exist on Earth, but they were all weak. They either fled at the sight of him or were easily ignored.
Though it took time with his shorter legs, Ryoma had enough composure to use the knowledge granted by the gods to gather medicinal herbs and edible plants along the way.
Eventually, the dim forest began to thin. Ryoma reached a clearing deep within the woods where a high, sheer cliff face of exposed rock rose before him. After scanning the area to ensure it was safe, he set down his pack and sat, opening the gods' letter to read the next section.
“Heh, so there’s a river nearby. This will make an excellent base of operations.”
As Ryoma read, talking to himself occasionally, there wasn't a hint of desire in his voice to seek out human civilization. In fact, the thought of leaving the forest hadn't even crossed his mind. Just as he had discussed with the gods, he fully intended to begin a quiet life as a hermit here in the wild.
“The bag supposedly has a tent, but given the magical beasts, a cave would probably be more secure...”
A tent offered little protection against large predators. With that in mind, Ryoma approached the cliff and pressed his right index finger against the rock. He looked back at the letter in his left hand. The current page detailed the fundamentals of using magic.
“First, calm the mind and concentrate on the center of the body... Is this it? Ugh, it feels disgusting, like there’s a water balloon under my skin.”
Despite his complaints, his voice was laced with excitement. Even as a man who had enjoyed games and light novels as a hobby—someone who had spent countless hours during his grueling shifts imagining such things—the reality was something else entirely.
“Right. Once you feel the mana, imagine it flowing through the body and then project it outward.”
Checking the instructions point by point, he looked like an old man fumbling with a new gadget, manual in hand. However, as Ryoma visualized the mana flowing from his core to his fingertip, the energy began to release—slowly, but surely.
Magic in this world was divided into twelve attributes: Neutral, Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth. Ice, Thunder, Wood, and Poison. Light, Dark, and Space.
These were categorized by difficulty into lower, middle, and upper tiers. Magic was cast by visualizing a specific effect while releasing mana to convert its attribute, then speaking the incantation—the name of the spell—to trigger it.
Ryoma selected an Earth Magic spell from the list and gave it a try.
“Visualize the mana soaking into the cliff face, crumbling it into soil... Break Rock.”
As he spoke the words, the rock beneath his finger crumbled slightly, turning into loose earth and leaving a small hole. It was only about as wide as three fingers and no deeper than his first knuckle. It was more of a pit than a hole, but seeing the tangible result, he let out a quiet, private laugh.
(How long has it been since I felt this kind of thrill? My old life was just a cycle of all-nighters, overtime, and mandatory drinking sessions with the boss. I won't say it was entirely devoid of joy, but... I think I’d forgotten what this felt like.)
Keeping an eye on his surroundings, Ryoma continued to practice Break Rock with a grin on his face. Eventually, however, the engineer in him took over.
“This is inefficient.”
(I’ve managed to make it big enough for both my wrists, but I won’t be finished by sunset at this rate. Besides, I must have a limit to my mana capacity.)
He decided to take a break and headed to the river to fetch water. Upon returning, he resumed reading the letter.
(I hope there’s something useful in here... otherwise, I’m stuck with the tent. On Earth, I could handle two or three days without sleep if I had to, so I could manage a night watch, but... Oh, hello.)
Searching for a solution, Ryoma found a page that quantified his current abilities and technical skills.
(A status screen. Handy. This should tell me exactly what I'm capable of.)
Ryoma looked over his stats.
Name: Ryoma Takebayashi Gender: Male Age: 8 Race: Human
(Name and gender are the same, though the order is flipped. Eight years old. What was I like back then? All I remember is my old man training me. Well, whatever. Next.)
Health: 10,486 Mana: 102,300
(Note: Average health for an adult male is roughly 1000. Trained soldiers or adventurers average 2000 to 3000.)
“Am I some kind of physical monster?”
(I was certainly in better shape than the new hires or my potbellied bosses, but this is an absurd difference. I knew my mana would be high since I’m acting as a conduit, but I don’t remember asking for a boost to my physical strength.)
The mana also came with a note: the average person had 100. Warriors who used magic as a supplement had 500 to 700. Typical mages had 1000 to 5000, and court mages averaged between 10,000 and 50,000.
(Well, having more isn't a problem. Next are the skills.)
Daily Life Skills: Housekeeping Lv10, Etiquette Lv7, Instrument Performance Lv3, Singing Lv3, Calculation Lv5
Combat Skills: Taijutsu Lv7, Swordsmanship Lv7, Dagger Techniques Lv6, Hidden Weapon Techniques Lv7, Spearmanship Lv4, Archery Lv4, Staff Techniques Lv6, Weighted Chain Techniques Lv4, Throwing Techniques Lv7, Stealth Lv6, Traps Lv4, Body Manipulation Lv5, Qigong Lv5
Magic Skills: Taming Magic Lv1, Barrier Magic Lv1, Healing Magic Lv1, Alchemy Lv1, Fire Magic Lv1, Water Magic Lv1, Wind Magic Lv1, Earth Magic Lv1, Neutral Magic Lv1, Thunder Magic Lv1, Ice Magic Lv1, Poison Magic Lv1, Wood Magic Lv1, Light Magic Lv1, Dark Magic Lv1, Space Magic Lv1, Mana Perception Lv1, Mana Manipulation Lv1, Mana Recovery Speed Increase Lv1
Production Skills: Pharmacology Lv6, Blacksmithing Lv1, Construction Lv2, Woodworking Lv2, Sculpting Lv3, Drawing Lv4
Resistance Skills: Physical Pain Resistance Lv8, Mental Pain Resistance Lv9, Health Lv7
Special Skills: Life Strengthening Lv3, Super Regeneration Lv3, Endurance Strengthening Lv6, Mental Concentration Lv5, Survival Skills Lv3
Titles: Overthrow One Who Ended an Unlucky Life Disciple of the War God Disciple of the Sage Favorite of the Gods
Divine Protection: Protection of the Creator God Gain Protection of the God of Life Kufo Protection of the Goddess of Love Lulutia
(The level guide says Level 1 is the basics, 2 is apprentice, and 3 is a professional. Level 4 is a veteran, 5 is top-tier, and 6 and above are for masters... My thirty-nine years of experience really translated over. I recognize almost all of these from my work or my old part-time jobs. Programming and other skills that don't exist here aren't listed, though. Titles and protections probably won't help right now... So, how can I use these stats to dig this hole?)
Ryoma spent ten minutes cross-referencing the skill descriptions. Finally, one caught his eye.
Qigong — A technique that uses life force to enhance the body. By sensing the Qi below the navel and circulating it throughout the body like mana, physical functions are drastically improved. Qi can also be infused into weapons to increase power and sharpness. Long-term physical and combat training can lead to the unconscious acquisition of this skill.
(So that’s why my body was moving so well earlier. If I use this consciously, it should work. And there was something in Earth Magic as well... here it is.)
Lower-tier Earth Magic: Rock Solidifies earth into stone or rock. The shape can be adjusted according to the caster's will.
“Rock.”
Ryoma cast the spell on the pile of loose dirt he had created earlier. Instantly, the debris transformed into a collection of stones.
“Good. Rock. Rock...”
He used the spell to create a short stone rod, then used Break Rock to taper the end into a sharp, fang-like point. He gripped the makeshift tool in a reverse hold, took a deep breath, and activated Qigong. Wrapping his arm and the tool in Qi, he slammed it into the cliff face with all his might.
“Hah!”
The reinforced stone tool struck the towering cliff. The blow carved a groove into the rock reaching as deep as his second knuckle.
He continued to hammer away. With this method, he could dig far faster than by using spells alone.
“Tch, it broke. Rock!”
Repairing his tools whenever they shattered, Ryoma worked until dusk, successfully carving out a cave large enough to house himself and his gear. However, the continuous use of Qigong and magic left him feeling a wave of fatigue.
(I think I’ll call it a day.)
As he turned to bring his food and water inside, Ryoma froze, breathless at the sight before him.
“Wow...”
The world outside had been painted in the hues of a burning sunset. The leaves of the forest trees were dyed a brilliant crimson, while the foliage in the shadows remained a deep, vibrant green. He stood there, captivated by the beauty, watching as the orange sky slowly deepened into a star-studded night.
(It’s beautiful... I can see so many stars already. When was the last time I actually looked at the world around me?)
He couldn't find an answer, but he felt a strange sense of contentment as he carried his bags into the cave. He spread out a blanket, leaned against the wall, and ate some of the raw fruit and herbs he had gathered. It wasn't a feast, but it was enough to satisfy his hunger.
(I’ll save the rest for tomorrow. I need to get some sleep. Tomorrow I’ll start gathering more food and supplies... It’s going to be a lot of work, but I think I’m going to enjoy this.)
Once finished, Ryoma sealed the entrance to the cave, leaving only a small air hole for safety.
“Gain, Kufo, Lulutia... I am truly, truly grateful for your kindness.”
He wrapped himself in his blanket, his voice echoing softly through the dark cave before fading away. Within minutes, the sound of peaceful breathing filled the small space.
Meanwhile, in the Divine Realm, three pairs of eyes watched over the sleeping Ryoma. These were the gods Gain, Kufo, and Lulutia.
“Everything seems to be going well so far.”
“Yes, he’s using the powers we gave him without any trouble.”
“He’s found a place to stay. He’ll be fine.”
The three deities shared a moment of relief within the infinite, white expanse.
“Indeed. But let us continue to watch over him for a while,” Gain suggested. “Even if he consented to this, it would weigh on my conscience if he met with further misfortune. Besides, I find myself rather curious about him. Is that acceptable, Kufo? Lulutia?”
“Yeah. I agree with Gain,” Kufo said.
“As do I,” Lulutia added, though her expression soured as a memory surfaced. “Honestly, I still can’t fathom what the God of Earth was thinking, toys with the fate of a living soul like that.”
“Calm yourself, Lulutia. There is no use in complaining about it now,” Gain replied.
“But it is fascinating, isn't it?” Kufo mused. “Even you feel it, Gain. It’s rare to see a human whose fate has been meddled with so thoroughly. It’s supposed to be common sense that even we gods don't touch destiny lightly. To actively strip away someone's happiness... it’s deplorable.”
“And I see no reason to go as far as using 'Trials' to do it,” Lulutia muttered.
Trials were intended as a divine intervention, a way for the gods who managed a world to grant salvation to those below when a crisis threatened an entire race or nation. While the timing was at the gods' discretion, overcoming a Trial always resulted in the mortal gaining significant power.
“The goal was to inflict suffering, but a Trial is still a Trial,” Kufo noted. “If you survive the hardship, you end up with the power as a result.”
“Each event was kept small enough to seem like everyday bad luck, but the sheer duration of it...” Gain sighed.
“Dust piled up into a mountain,” Lulutia said. “And it was so insidious—ensuring the power he gained wouldn't help him improve his career or his luck. Fortunately, it made his physical body incredibly durable. If not for that...”
“That durability is how we noticed him in the first place. And looking at his memories, even his father—”
The gods’ conversation continued long into the night, lasting until the man who knew nothing of these divine machinations finally opened his eyes to a new day.