The first thing I noticed was the vast, unending expanse of space surrounding me—an infinite void filled with stars and swirling galaxies, glowing softly against the dark, boundless canvas. It was breathtaking, almost surreal, as though I’d been torn from reality and placed in the middle of the universe itself.

Then, I realized something was off. I couldn’t feel my body. No hands, no feet—nothing physical. I felt light, weightless, almost like I’d become a spirit, drifting aimlessly through this celestial sea. Panic began to creep in, but before I could think too much about it, my attention was drawn to it.

A figure loomed ahead, massive and ethereal. It wasn’t just a being—it was the being. Its form radiated light, pure and brilliant, cascading outward in shimmering waves that danced like flowing water.

Its body seemed made of translucent threads of energy, rippling and weaving together with a grace that left me stunned. Surrounding its head was an aura so radiant that it rivaled the brightest stars, casting an almost divine glow that felt warm, despite the endless void.

Wings. I saw wings—vast, unearthly wings that stretched endlessly behind it, formed of glowing, liquid-like strands of light. They didn’t just sit still; they pulsed gently, as though they were alive, shifting and flowing in mesmerizing patterns.

Every movement it made was slow and deliberate, yet impossibly elegant, as if the figure were in perfect harmony with the universe itself.

I couldn’t look away. My thoughts, my fears, everything faded as I stared. Its presence filled the space, not with words but with something deeper, something that pressed into my very soul.

I felt small in its presence—not in a humiliating way, but in awe, like I was standing before something far greater than anything I’d ever imagined.

It turned its gaze to me. I didn’t know how I knew—it had no face, no eyes that I could see—but I felt it. The moment its focus fell on me, it was as if the universe itself had stopped to take notice.

A warmth spread through me, a light that seeped into the deepest parts of my being, yet I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. All I could do was float there, caught in its endless glow, as its presence consumed everything around me.

I looked at it.

It looked at me.

The figure didn’t speak in words, not in any way I could explain. Instead, it broke into my mind like a flood of sensations—images, emotions, and something deeper, something I just knew.

It wasn’t like hearing a voice or even thinking my own thoughts.

It was as if the understanding was placed directly into me, bypassing everything I’d known about how communication worked.

It felt… alien, invasive even, but not in a bad way. Just different.

I recoiled instinctively, trying to shake it off, but the knowledge settled in, undeniable and clear.

This is not a game.

The words weren’t words, yet they echoed through me all the same. I felt my stomach churn as the realization hit.

My breathing—if I was even breathing—grew heavier. “What… What do you mean this isn’t a game?” I stammered, my voice trembling in the endless void.

The being pulsed, light rippling outward like a living ocean. It didn’t need to explain further; the meaning was already there, unraveling inside me.

I hadn’t opened a game. I’d opened a portal—a portal to a world that needed me, one in a galaxy so far from my own it might as well have been a different reality altogether.

My thoughts raced, a jumble of confusion and panic. “A portal? What? Why me? Who—what even are you?”

We are the one who formed you, who knew you from the womb, and who watched your every step

The being answered, and I felt the weight of those words in my chest, heavy and undeniable.

You are here because The Origin has chosen you.

The mention of “The Origin” stopped me cold. My mind tried to reject it, tried to rationalize it away.

“The Origin? Like… the creator of everything? The one who made the universe? A God?”

The being pulsed again, and I knew the answer without needing to hear it. Yes.

“No, no, no,” I muttered, shaking my head. “You’ve got the wrong guy. I’m not the hero type. I stock shelves. I spend all my free time playing games and reading manga. I’m not exactly ‘chosen one’ material.”

You are needed, it said, the message wrapping around me like a blanket.

There is a world in peril, a world that cannot survive without your help.

“But why me?” I pressed. “I’m not a hero. I’m not special. I’m just… me. Why not someone smarter? Stronger? Braver? Someone who actually knows what they’re doing?”

The being didn’t seem offended, its light steady and patient. My doubts and confusion didn’t faze it in the slightest. As I questioned, the answers came—not in detail, but in truths I couldn’t ignore.

The Origin had a plan, one that required me specifically.

Why? That part wasn’t clear, but the being didn’t seem concerned about my disbelief or lack of qualifications.

It didn’t feel like it was forcing me. Instead, it waited, letting the weight of its presence sink in as I struggled with the idea of leaving behind everything I knew.

I thought about my life at home—my dad’s disappointment, my dead-end days at school, my unspoken dreams that never seemed to go anywhere.

There wasn’t much to hold on to. No future, no girlfriend, no chance of becoming anyone significant. Nothing but the same, dull routine.

And yet, there were things I’d have to leave behind. My mom. My room filled with manga and games. The familiar, predictable rhythms of life, even if they were miserable at times.

Could I really give all of that up for something I didn’t fully understand?

But then again, I thought about the chance this was offering me. The kind of chance that Otaku NEETs would literally jump in front of an automobile for.

This wasn’t just escaping into another story—it was living one. It was everything I’d dreamed of, everything I’d read about in countless light novels. A fantasy come to life.

I hesitated for just a moment longer, weighing everything. And then I made my choice.

“I’m not saying I believe all of this,” I muttered, crossing my arms.

“But… I mean, I’m not exactly doing anything worthwhile back home. So, sure, let’s say you’re telling the truth. Let’s say This Origin guy is really giving me this chance.”

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

I swallowed hard.

“What happens next?”

You take the step, the being replied. And walk in faith.

I frowned. “Walk in faith? That’s it? What about powers? Am I gonna get some cool ability? Magic? Super strength? Something?”

The being seemed almost amused, its light rippling softly. Faith is all you need.

I groaned, throwing my hands in the air. “That’s not a power! That’s not even close to how this is supposed to work! This isn’t how Isekai adventures go! I’m supposed to get a cheat skill or a legendary weapon or—”

The light flared suddenly, cutting me off mid-rant. Everything around me—the void, the stars, the being—shattered into blinding brilliance.

I barely had time to flinch before the world disappeared, and with it, every last trace of the figure.

Then, just as suddenly as it had all begun, I opened my eyes.

And I was somewhere new.

- - -

The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was the light—a soft, golden glow that blanketed the world in warmth.

The air smelled fresh, like spring after a rainstorm, and a gentle breeze carried the faint, sweet scent of flowers.

I blinked a few times, adjusting to the sight of a massive cherry blossom tree towering over me, its pale pink petals dancing in the wind.

I was leaning against its thick, knotted trunk, the rough bark pressing into my back. Above, the branches stretched out wide, shading me from the sun as petals drifted lazily to the ground.

All around me, a vast meadow stretched out in every direction, painted in vibrant greens and dotted with splashes of color—wildflowers in pinks, blues, and yellows swayed gently in the breeze.

A crystal-clear stream snaked through the grass nearby, its water sparkling as if tiny stars had fallen into it. It looked like something out of a dream or a painting, like the idyllic setting of some fantasy world.

Which, I guess, it probably was.

I sat up slowly, my muscles stiff from lying on the ground. A quick glance down confirmed my suspicions: I was still the same short, pudgy guy I’d always been, wearing the same school uniform—white shirt, black trousers, tie, blazer, glasses.

None of it had magically transformed into some epic hero gear or battle armor. I patted my chest and stomach, half-hoping I’d find abs under my shirt. Nope. Still squishy. Figures.

I stood up and dusted myself off, squinting against the sunlight. It was a little hot—warmer than I’d expected. Not uncomfortably so, but enough to make the blazer feel like overkill.

Shrugging it off, I folded it neatly and placed it by the base of the tree. It seemed smart to leave it there for now. If I got lost or ended up doubling back, it might help me find my way.

Turning around, I noticed the road behind the tree. It was a dirt path, uneven and dusty, winding its way through the meadow and out toward the horizon.

It stretched far in both directions, disappearing into the distance, flanked by rolling hills and clusters of trees.

It looked like the kind of road you’d see in a medieval village, the kind traveled by horse-drawn carts and wandering adventurers.

My first thought was how out of place I’d look walking along it in my school uniform. If I was going to survive here—wherever here was—I’d need to figure out how to blend in.

I loosened my tie a little, letting it hang loosely around my neck, and rolled up my shirt sleeves. Not much of a disguise, but at least it made me feel a little less like I’d wandered straight out of Japan.

For a moment, I just stood there, staring down the road, wondering which way to go. Both directions seemed endless, stretching into nothingness.

Then I felt it again—that pull. The same kind of force that had brought me here. It wasn’t words or even a thought, but an instinct deep in my soul. It told me to wait by the side of the road.

I couldn’t explain it, but it felt… right. Like it was guiding me, the same way it had guided me earlier.

With a resigned sigh, I walked to the edge of the road and sat down, leaning back on my hands as I gazed out over the endless expanse.

“Guess I’m hitchhiking now,” I muttered to myself. Not that I had any other options.

The breeze picked up, carrying with it the faint rustle of leaves and the gentle babble of the stream.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel trapped or weighed down by anything. I didn’t know what was coming, but for now, all I could do was wait.

The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting the meadow in shades of warm gold and deepening shadow.

I sat there by the road, the air cooler now, carrying the soft rustle of the cherry blossom petals that occasionally drifted by.

The peaceful serenity of the place made it easy to lose track of time. But it had been hours. I could feel it.

My stomach was grumbling, and the patience I didn’t have much of to begin with was wearing thin.

Sighing, I got up, brushing the dirt off my trousers and stretching. The blazer I’d left under the tree seemed like a good idea now, so I walked back to retrieve it.

Just as I stepped back onto the road, tugging the blazer over my shoulders, I saw it.

At first, it was just a shape in the distance, cresting the far hill on the dirt path. But as it came closer, the details sharpened, and my breath caught. It was a carriage, but unlike anything I’d ever seen before.

Lavishly ornate, its golden frame gleamed in the fading sunlight, intricate carvings of flowers and swirls decorating every inch.

Deep blue curtains trimmed with gold hung on its windows, swaying gently with the motion of the vehicle.

Lanterns adorned its sides, their soft glow adding a magical touch against the growing dusk. And at the helm sat an old man, sharply dressed in a black suit with a top hat, his white gloves gripping the reins with precise control.

But it wasn’t the carriage or the old man that truly captured my attention. It was the creatures pulling it.

They were velociraptors—at least, that’s the closest thing I could compare them to—but they were the size of horses, their sleek, muscular bodies covered in glistening scales of green and blue.

Their powerful legs churned the dirt beneath them as they charged forward, their claws digging deep into the road with every step.

Their harnesses were made of leather adorned with silver buckles and gemstones that caught the light as they moved. Their eyes, bright and intelligent, gleamed like polished amber.

I froze, half in awe, half in disbelief. This was it—the first true fantasy I’d seen since arriving in this strange world.

My brain scrambled to process it all as the carriage came to a smooth stop in front of me. The old man atop the carriage tilted his head, looking down at me with an air of curiosity.

“Well, now,” he said in a refined accent, his tone calm but commanding. “What’s a young man like you doing here on the road, all alone?”

I opened my mouth, but the words caught in my throat. After a moment, I managed to stammer, “I… I’m lost. And confused.”

The old man raised a brow, looking me up and down. “Lost, you say? Hm.” He adjusted his hat slightly before calling over his shoulder.

“M’lady, it seems we’ve found a young man, perhaps a few years your junior. He appears… uncertain of himself.”

A soft, sweet voice responded from inside the carriage, carrying a tone of warmth and authority. “Does he seem like a threat?”

The old man glanced back down at me. “Tell me, lad, do you carry any weapons? A blade, perhaps?”

Before I could even think of an answer, I felt it again—that pull deep within, that instinct that had guided me here.

Without hesitation, I reached into my blazer pockets and turned them inside out, then patted down my trousers to show they were empty. “No weapons,” I said, holding my hands up.

The old man studied me for a moment before nodding, seemingly satisfied. “Unarmed,” he announced toward the carriage. “He doesn’t seem dangerous.”

“Then he can join us,” the woman replied, her voice soft but firm. “Let him in.”

The old man motioned toward the carriage door. “Go on, then. Get in. We haven’t got all night.”

Hesitant but with no better options, I stepped to the side of the carriage, reaching for the handle. When I opened the door and climbed in, my breath caught in my chest again.

Sitting across from me was a girl, no—a woman, just a few years older than me, dressed in an elegant gown of white and gold.

Her long blonde hair cascaded in waves down her shoulders, glinting like spun sunlight, and a delicate golden tiara adorned her head, nestled among soft curls.

Her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled with a warmth that felt otherworldly, framed by long lashes that gave her a serene, almost divine beauty.

Jewels adorned her dress and earrings, catching the fading light and casting soft, colorful reflections.

I stared, utterly captivated. She looked exactly like Selena Sawyer, my celebrity crush—but in this world, she was a fantasy princess, as if she’d stepped straight out of a dream.

Her every detail, from the curve of her lips to the soft glow of her skin, was flawless.

Her gaze met mine, and she smiled—a small, kind smile that made my chest tighten and my thoughts scatter.

“Welcome” she said, her voice as sweet as honey.

I could do nothing but stare.