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Chapter 1 – Fish Egg

CHAPTER 1 – FISH EGG

Dawn was breaking. Sunlight slipped through the curtains, casting a faint glow on my face. It wasn’t warm or cold—just a silent reminder that a new day had begun. I sighed and glanced at my computer screen, which displayed yet another defeat in my favorite game.

I was sad, sluggish, and drowsy, staring at the screen in frustration.

— I'm so unlucky... Maybe I should just sleep... Yeah, I’ll sleep... I’m tired of losing.

I shut down my computer and collapsed onto my bed without even bothering to cover myself.

— Hopefully, tomorrow will be better...

Out of nowhere, my phone chimed.

— A message at this hour? But I just want to sleep…

I rolled over, trying to ignore it, but then a thought crossed my mind.

— What if it’s finally the response for that job...? Ahhh... Damn it…

I grabbed my phone and opened the message, still half-asleep, struggling to focus my vision.

{Congratulations}

Hello, user. The company Aquamarine congratulates you! Your personality is exactly what we were looking for, which is why you have been selected for the position of King of Another Dimension. We eagerly await your response to proceed.

— ...

I read the text again, confused.

— This is a scam… Or am I so tired that I’m imagining weird stuff...?

I decided to ignore it and check again in the morning with a clear head.

— If it’s not a scam, I’ll accept it. But for now, I’m going to sleep... Must be that interview from last week.

I placed my phone on the desk beside my bed and closed my eyes. As I drifted into deep sleep, I heard a sweet voice in my head.

{Confirmation completed}

Prepare yourself, user. A new world awaits you. We wish you a pleasant experience.

I woke up slowly. Light touched my eyes, but everything around me was blurry.

Something was wrong.

I could barely see, but I felt oddly comfortable. My mattress, which was usually hard as a rock, now felt like… a water bed? I tried to move and felt something gelatinous surrounding me.

— What is this…? It’s everywhere... Wait... HOW AM I BREATHING?!

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Panic set in. I started thrashing around until I felt something solid. Scratching and pounding with all my strength, I heard a faint crack, crack.

I kept going until I made a hole big enough to stick my head through. My blurry vision caught the faint image of a woman.

— Who...?

{I am Luna, the tutorial guide. First challenge complete! Congratulations, user. You are now ready to begin the tutorial.}

She clapped her hands gently and smiled. As my vision cleared, I could see her more distinctly: platinum, slightly wavy hair with streaks of light purple. Warm brown skin, lilac-colored eyes that shimmered, long silver eyelashes fanning like a delicate brush. Lips so perfect they could make anyone jealous. A purple top… and were those fin-like ears?!

Tiny iridescent scales adorned her cheeks.

And…

— A mermaid!?

I was confused. And, to be honest, completely mesmerized. I had already forgotten about my predicament.

{Yes, a mermaid. This is the life form chosen for you, with the potential to dominate this world.}

— Hold up, what?! Dominate a world?! Lady, you got the wrong guy! I can’t even get a job, let alone rule a world!

{Of course, you can. Your primary mission is to dominate this world, and your secondary mission is to develop it.}

— When did I get dragged into this mess...?

{When you did the job interview.}

— Damn it... Since when do job interviews recruit world rulers?! And how much is my salary?

She smiled again… but this time, it was… unsettling.

{There was an error in the system. Our truck broke down, and we urgently needed someone. So, the interview was a desperate solution since other methods didn’t work. You were stubborn. You just wouldn’t die.}

She huffed, seeming slightly annoyed.

That scared me.

So that’s why that piano almost crushed me last month...

{It was necessary to have someone to develop this world and create intelligent life in this dimension.}

— This is way too much fantasy all at once... But you still haven’t told me how much I’m getting paid!

{Your salary is 1,000 dimensional coins (DC) per month. You can use them in the store to buy technology, pets, slaves, items, and more. Additionally, you’ll earn bonus coins for significant achievements.}

— And if I quit? Can I go home?

She smiled again.

A terrifying smile.

{No. Your original body died while you were sleeping.}

— YOU KILLED ME?!

{Correction: you killed yourself. Lack of sleep, unhealthy food, no exercise, and hours glued to a computer... What did you think was going to happen? That you’d become a superhero? Honestly, I’m impressed you lasted this long. You could have punched the computer screen and electrocuted yourself, it would have been faster...}

She sighed.

{That would have saved time and the money we spent on that interview to poison you.}

— YOU JUST ADMITTED TO POISONING ME!

{I didn’t say anything. You heard things.}

She averted her gaze, pretending to be innocent.

I could still feel the stabs she made at my already low self-esteem.

Suddenly, my stomach growled loudly.

{Well, the tutorial ends here. RIGHT NOW!}

She shouted, clearly trying to change the subject.

— Wait! You barely explained anything except the money and my death! If there’s gonna be a tutorial, at least do it properly!

{Nobody ever does the tutorial... Now, you must eat the eggshell. The end.}

— What?!

{If you need more information, use your basic skill, Analysis, to obtain knowledge about this world. Do not leave the starting area until you reach adulthood and have sufficient technology to defend yourself. This is the beginning of your grand journey, little idio— cough cough— user. Good luck.}

Before I could argue, she literally dissolved into dust.

I looked at the broken eggshell pieces around me.

Slowly, I picked up a piece and started chewing.

Reality finally sank in.

— I really did die...

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