My name is Sorai Takeir, and today is the opening ceremony for my new life as a high school freshman.

"Don’t forget your lunch, Sorai!"

"Thanks, Mom! I’ll be leaving now!"

I quickly grab the packed lunchbox on the dining table, place my hand on the front door, and leave the house. It's been a while since I left the house. I spent my entire break mostly on VR gaming, so the whole two weeks flew by in a blink of an eye.

"Hah… Two weeks is just not enough I guess. I still have a number of unopened VR games to go through for this month."

I voice my thoughts as I watch the cherry blossoms in full bloom. It was a beautiful sight. When I arrive near the high school entrance, I see a large decorated sign welcoming the new 1st year freshmen.

I will be commuting to this school from now onwards, huh?

I see fellow freshmen chatting with their friends as they continue walking down the same direction as me. They were probably friends since middle school. I had a few friends when I was in elementary school, but we slowly became distant when we entered middle school. I never had someone you'd call a friend since then. I would help to the best of my ability if someone were to approach me to ask something, but I would never be the proactive one to start the relationship.

I sigh.

Maybe I should've been more proactive, then I wouldn't feel so lonely right now. That's why I've decided to start my own close-knit group of friends while I’m in high school, since things can't go on like this. Hopefully by then, I won't regret doing nothing. I followed the flow of the crowd towards the gymnasium and take my seat.

"Students, welcome to our school! It's been…”

I begin to doze off. This is bad… I slap my cheeks to motivate myself. I need to pay attention.

"Phew."

Just then, the ground beneath me starts shaking. Wait... eh?

"Uwah-"

Many of the students fell off their chairs including me because of the sudden jolt of the ground.

"E-Earthquake!?"

The magnitude of this earthquake feels completely different compared to the usual ones we have. I hear screams around me, and the teachers that were standing on the sidelines were panicking. At that moment, something overshadows me overhead. The roof has collapsed before I knew what was happening. Seeing chunks of concrete falling before my eyes as if in slow motion, my instincts told me that I would die if I were to be crushed by it. My life flashed before my eyes. I black out from the pain when the rubble finally reaches me, crushing me under its weight.

…

I open my eyes. As if I was resuscitated back from death, my body attempts to take in a huge amount of air in one breath, and I start coughing a heartbeat later.

“*cough cough*”

After settling down, I finally realize that my surroundings were completely silent. I look up to see I was in a beautiful forest surrounded by lush greenery. It was a scene that felt like it was taken straight out of a picture book. I was mesmerized for a moment, then my head started hurting from a sudden influx of coded information. I gritted my teeth in pain holding my head with a hand until the information stopped flowing into my head.

"...Hah, hah…"

〈Congratulations! You have been chosen through recommendation to take an available spot as a dimensional traveler. 〉

Eh?

"D-Dimensional traveler…?"

A robot the shape of a multi-sided sphere hovers towards me from the sky. It was about the size of my head. It begins projecting a high tech-looking interface, and signals me to approach it. What have I gotten myself dragged into? Where is this? What happened to the earthquake?...

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Sorry… I have a lot of questions right now. Can I...?"

〈As you wish, dimensional traveler.〉

“Dimensional traveler…”

I take a deep breath and organize my thoughts.

"...I am not dead, right? Right now, I can't believe it myself. I was about to be crushed by concrete. No, I thought I was crushed… and then the next moment I am suddenly standing here."

〈You are alive.〉

I felt relief. If I am alive, that means it's still possible to return to my mother and two sisters waiting at home.

"Where am I?"

〈4th dimension. Realm: YGGDRASIL〉

YGGDRASIL? Where have I heard that before… I just can't wrap my head on it.

"Wait, 4th dimension!?"

I read a lot of science fiction before, so I got a good grasp on the theories behind it. If I remember correctly, Earth exists on the 3rd dimension. If I am on the 4th dimension, that means I am either in a world of advanced technological society, or a world of unscientific influence. It seems in my case, it is likely the former. Various windows are within my field of vision.

❲Name: Sorai Takeir❳

❲Title: Dimensional Traveler❳

❲Soul Tier: 0❳

❲Granted Skill: None❳

❲Weapon Assigned: None❳

“Did you save me?”

〈No.〉

“Then who saved me?”

〈Dimensional traveler 7.〉

The one that recommended me…?

"Sorry, I now understand my life was saved. But how did I get all the way out here...?"

❲You were recommended by dimensional traveler 7 as a successor.❳

As I expected…

"Why did, umm... this ‘Dimensional Traveler 7’ recommend me?"

❲Unable to give an answer.❳

Only the person in question would know the answer to this question, huh.

"How do I return home to where I am from?"

❲Unable to give an answer.❳

I sigh and hold my head. What am I supposed to do from now on?

"Where is dimensional traveler 7?"

❲Location confirmed six meters northwest.❳

This guy still nearby!

"Which direction is northwest!? Lead the way for me!"

The spherical robot begins hovering towards a direction as I quickly follow it, making sure not to lose sight of it. When I arrive, I was left in shock from the scene. There was a young European girl with blond hair. She seemed to be a bit older than me. She was leaning against a tree on the forest floor, and there was a large gash from her left shoulder down to her waist. She notices a presence nearby and weakly moves her eyes to find out who it is in alarm. Once she saw my face, she relaxed her body. I quickly run up to her.

"W-What happened to you!?"

She smiles softly.

"I am glad I was able to save you in time…"

"Eh?"

She covers her mouth as she coughs a few times. When she lowers her hand, I see blood on it. She makes a grim expression when she also sees the blood.

"I have been watching you since you were seven years old… I know your family’s situation. I know how big a gap it will create if you were to die…"

Realizing that she is my lifesaver, she has my upmost gratitude for saving my life. Getting dragged away far from home might be the same as death if I have no way to return, but I would never voice this out loud... Even if my disappearance will cause a lot of worries for my family, all I need to do is figure my way back. I was granted a second life by her. As long as I am alive... If I was dead, everything would've become out of my reach to change.

"Watching me since I was seven…?"

I maintain eye contact with her with a complicated expression. She is connected to our family…?

"Thank you for saving my life."

I bow my head. I was baffled, but I made sure to show her my gratitude for saving my life before I ask anything else. She nods and weakly smiles at me. Time was ticking. I have to quickly help her for now.

"We need to quickly treat your injury. What should I do to help yo-?"

As I was about to move to quickly lift her up, she weakly holds up her palm to stop me from speaking and moving any further.

"...No amount of medical help will be able to heal this injury... with your current soul tier..."

She told me with a saddened expression.

"...I am running out of time. Just listen to me. You are here because I only found… out last minute you were in danger."

She takes in another breath.

"I saved you from here, dragging you all the way to my side… I am sorry for not… considering your feelings on this matter…"

She gazes at me with regret. I shake my head.

"I am very grateful just to be alive."

"I ended up getting you involved with my personal disputes… between me and another dimensional traveler… Because you were in my line of interest, he attempted to get rid of you along with the city…"

Her expression becomes pained as she grips her chest area.

"Why did you choose me?"

I felt no bitterness towards her. I was simply confused. Have I met her somewhere before? Although, most of all I was covered with worry underneath. How much time does she have left? She smiles after hearing my question.

"I am… an acquaintance of your family… I simply kept an eye out for your family line… and their children. Until you were born..."

She must be a lot older than I realize if she was still around even before I was born…

"...It seems you have some idea… of your situation. You did not seem surprised about me bringing up dimensional traveling… You are now a dimensional traveler... To get back to your home…"

She signals the spherical robot to approach her to arm’s reach. She begins to slowly move her fingers in the air. After a few seconds of movement, he breathes a sigh of relief as she lower fingers from the spherical robot.

"...I entered the coordinates to Earth. The missions you need to clear to give you… enough strength… Enough strength to return... It will be supported by this little guy..."

She looks at her hand. It was beginning to become transparent. I stare in shock.

"Y-You’re disappearing…"

She continues her explanation without pause.

"...It will take a while, but it won't be... any longer than 2 Earth years to return. Please, hang on… until then..."

She slowly gaze towards the sky.

"...I lived too long a life… Before I disappear, I am glad… I was able to speak with Jake’s descendants… Ahaha…"

She turns her gaze to me with eyes clear of regrets. I only barely got to know her, but I couldn't help but show a pained expression of helplessness. She might've been someone grandpa knew it seems... I remember he was always sharing very dream-like stories to me and my sisters when I was young. As if he was actually in a fantasy of his own. How he spoke of his stories really connected with my heartstrings. Could it be...

"Your name… Please tell me your name."

She hesitates for moment. After a pause, she finally decides to open her mouth.

"...Sara..."

I engrave the name to my memory.

"Sara..."

"...Promise me. Focus all your power… hah... to return home… Do not take any detours…"

She gives me a weak but hard stare, as a master would to his disciple. I take a moment to take in the meaning behind the promise.

"I promise. I won't."

I gave her a smile.

"Thank you."

I bow once more to her and voice my gratitude. Her expression changes to warmth and relief. She closes her eyes and moves her finger in the air a few times.

"...I will use my remaining time… to create a gift… It was a brief meeting…"

She begins glowing in a golden aura and her fading seems to have quickened because of it.

"...but take care of yourself… and farewell, Sorai..."

Her body finally disperses into small golden particles. The particles gather to a single point forming a golden orb of light the size of my palm, and enters my chest. My body gave off a golden aura for a brief moment, then settles down. I clasp my hand. I felt like the strength of my body was heightened by several levels. At the same time, I also felt lighter.

…