CH1 She messed up my character!

Hello! I am Matsuda, the petty loser. Finally, here comes my chance to reincarnate in a normal world!

All the intricacies mentioned by Goddess will make things complicated, but I will do my very best to have a completely ordinary life in this amazing new world. I will now enjoy the experience I have prayed for many sleepless nights. I like it when the task is a little complicated and I can wake my mind from the everyday slumber. This time for sure, I will write my best story ever!

This peaceful world of Lyalia sounds so nice, but something must be very wrong if I have been entrusted with the task of clearing out the old ways. I'm scared of this undertaking, but I have no other option but to win. For that, I need to outsmart Hero at all costs.

Whatever be the situation, I have to protect the people endangered by the old ways. If I don't do it, I can not obtain the ordinary life I asked for.

Sadly, from what Goddess said it's clear - getting close to the girls of this world is the last thing I should do in this new life. That will be the last thing I do - a one-way ticket to Hell. No more second chances. I must be extra careful to not make any mistakes. I feel disheartened by this, who would not - it was supposed to be an important part of that great other world experience, but this alone will not spoil my pilgrimage!

This still isn't the otherworld. I am in the waiting room. Under my bare feet is whitish, level floor. In all directions, I see only white fog. It is an infinite space.

I'm in my birthday suit, but it feels pleasantly warm. Now that Goddess's voice is silent, I hear only heartbeat counting the seconds. Badump... badump... badump... mechanically like a clock.

A countdown has started.

If you are lucky enough to be the rare one getting to an otherworld, look for the "Menu". Many light novels mention a "menu" where access to important information, options, cheats, and tools is hidden. There's a good reason why we in our works imagine it existing. Some things do not change throughout the worlds and universes. But if you can't find it, I'm deeply sorry for you.

<: Menu

Indeed, as expected, there it is.

Lately, the theory of simulated universe had started gaining momentum in the world I come from. Discovering the Quantum Equation shook strongly those who believed in the existence of a physical universe. Many lives were taken by this finding, many more lost direction. I on the other hand, always instinctively knew that those white heads preaching the religion called science are spouting nonsense. It was just the final proof.

You can read "My Big Toe" by Thomas Campbell if you need more testimony. It should be published before the year when you are reading this. While you are at it, I will continue to explore the Menu.

There are many tabs orderly listed at the top of the Menu, but Character, Skills, Inventory, and Shop attract my eyes the most right now. I will go through them in that exact order.

<: Character

Humen of ancient blood Matsuda (Mao).

Level . . . . . . . . . . . .  255

Life . . . . . . . . . . . .  3000

Mana . . . . . . . . . . . 65535

Stamina . . . . . . . . . . .  70

Physical attack . . . . . . . . 69

Physical defense . . . . . . . 96

Magical attack . . . . . . 32767

Magical defense . . . . . 32767

These numbers, some look exactly like maximums of binary numbers I learned in a programming course. I am certain about it. If so, I have the highest level possible in this world. My Mana and magical attack/defense are maxed out too. My life and physical parameters, on the other hand, are miserable. That cursed loafer Goddess.

This will be troublesome in more than a few ways. Even I understand that this build is beyond unbalanced. My experience with role-playing games is basic, but I have plenty of knowledge acquired from light novels to be perfectly aware of it.

Vitality . . . . . . . 6

Endurance . . . . . 1

Strength . . . . . . 1

Agility . . . . . . .  1

Charisma . . . . . . 1

Command . . . . .  1

Intelligence . . . . 210

Wisdom . . . . . .  34

Excellent! I could not expect less from her! Seriously, these stats must have been set to 1 by default, otherwise, she would have left them at 0.

What does this "Wisdom" even mean?

"Wisdom – ability to make decisions, predict and affect events. World's average – 5."

That is not enough for a description, but I am grateful for the averages. Average Life – 500, Mana – 1000, Stamina – 120, Physical attack – 120, Physical defense – 100, Magical attack – 270, Magical defense – 190, Vitality – 3, Endurance – 4, Strength – 7, Agility – 6, Charisma – 4, Command – 1, Intelligence – 9.

No doubt - it's a world ruled by magic. Choosing Intelligence over Strength was the correct strategy. Even with so little life energy, I will not pass away immediately - I should be able to withstand a few blows. My magic ability is overpowered, as one would expect. With so much power, destroying a city could be truly effortless. Not that I plan on doing it, not yet at least. The overall lack of defense speaks of how peaceful this world appears to be. Goddess did mention something like that.

<: Skills

I have 255 skill points available to assign, but I know 0 skills. There is nothing here, the list is empty.

The timer is slowly, but inevitably ticking. 45 seconds have already passed. I still have 4 minutes and 15 seconds left. Probably, until I move to the new world. Be cursed the One who set this timer to only 5 minutes.

<: Inventory

Not much to see here. There is one silver coin, must be for the initial expenses, 100 of something called 'lais' - 100Ls, 255 skill points I currently have no use for, "Explorer's diary" - must be the book Goddess gave me, and "[Rare] Companion summoning scroll".

<: Shop

In the upper right corner, it mentions the 100Ls I earlier noticed in Inventory. I see multiple tabs like Skills, Scrolls, Equipment. A wide variety of goods to acquire. I take a look at the skills - expensive, extremely expensive. In the Equipment tab are listed some items I actually can afford.

"Novice armor" . . . . 50Ls

"Novice shield" . . . . 30Ls

"Novice sword" . . . . 20Ls

"Novice dagger" . . .  20Ls

"Novice bow" . . . . . 20Ls

"Novice staff" . . . . . 30Ls

I glance at my naked body and let out a long sigh. Basic armor and staff will cost me 80Ls. Appearing in the new world naked is not an option. I need to buy these no matter what...

In that exact moment, cutting my thought short, the timer hits 00:00:00. The room fills with white light. My body becomes completely unmovable. Frantic thoughts run through my head: Why would the timer suddenly end? It's impossible that I have somewhere lost so much time! What's going on? I am not ready yet!!!

Dissipating whiteness gives place to a gray pavement from craftily shaped stones. A sensation of debilitating cold all over the body makes me unconsciously shudder.

― Stop the carriage! Protect the princess! ― low, manly voice gives precise orders.

Horse steps and carriage wheels stop. Somewhere to my left, a middle-aged woman lets out a confused scream. Heavily armored soldier jumps off a horse and draws his sword. Two other follow his lead.

― Another scum! What is happening with this country? Do you really think that showing off your heavenly bells to the 2nd princess Nami will lead to something good?

Something cold hits my shoulder. Scorching pain engulfs all of my upper body. Only now my sight widens enough to eye the surroundings - a neat medieval city street. On both sides of the wide stone road, small groups of people have gathered.

Big soldier in shining plate armor is standing in front of me. In his hands, a longsword covered in red liquid. It's dripping down. A small paddle has formed under the tip. I feel something stream down my left hand, chest, stomach, back.

I had wasted it. Or was it taken from me. I don't have another one, isn't it.

― You two, clean up this mess!

― Will be done, captain!

All fades to black. Complete silence returns, but this time nothing is counting seconds. The body lifelessly falls to the ground and splits into two pieces.