" If you want to take over my store today, you’ll have to step on my giant sword!”

“Debbie, why are you making this harder than it has to be? Your father has passed, and you’ve borrowed a lot of money to settle his affairs. According to the contract, if you can’t repay your debt, you’re supposed to surrender Anthony’s shop. Those contracts are binding—are you really going to regret this now?”

“Busca, you know I can pay the money, but you’ve been driving away my customers, ruining my business! Everyone knows you’ve had your eye on Anthony’s magical lodge for a long time!”

“What are you talking about? The contract is right here. If you don’t want to give up the shop, I advise you not to make any foolish moves.”

Martin's consciousness flickered back to life, and he was jolted awake by the heated exchange.

What is happening? Is this some kind of film? A shameless display of bullying the poor girl? Where is the public decency?

He opened his eyes and instinctively tried to sit up, only to cry out in pain as he collapsed back down. His body ached, and he was disoriented.

But what shocked Martin even more was his surroundings. He found himself in a hut filled with bizarre objects, exuding an unmistakable magical aura. In the center of what appeared to be a cluttered shop, two men were confronting a girl.

The men were imposing figures, led by a portly man with prominent ears, a long nose, and wild red curls. He wore gaudy golden robes, clearly the boss in this situation. The other two were muscular brutes, brandishing weapons and sneering as they watched the girl.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Across from them stood the girl—a slight figure, perhaps no more than fifteen or sixteen, with short black hair. Despite her delicate appearance, she wielded a massive sword that looked impossibly heavy for her frame. Yet, she held it with an ease that astonished Martin.

What the hell is going on? Where am I? Who are these people? They look like they’ve stepped out of a fantasy novel, and I was just in my rented house! Did I somehow die and end up in another world?

As a hacker who had spent his life navigating the depths of the internet, Martin had encountered countless stories of fantastical realms. But this felt different.

Then, an intense wave of pain surged through his head, and suddenly, memories that weren’t his own flooded in like a torrent.

This was not just any world; it was a realm dominated by magic—the continent of Aigendas. The owner of this body, also named Martin, was an orphan taken in by George Anthony, the proprietor of the magical lodge. This Martin had shown a knack for magic from a young age, and George had hoped to groom him as his successor. However, he had also hoped for a union between Martin and his daughter, Debbie.

But George’s health had deteriorated, leading to his untimely death. In a desperate bid to save him, Martin and Debbie had exhausted their savings on medical expenses. After George’s passing, they found themselves deep in debt and had to turn to the local loan shark, Buska, who had maliciously driven away their customers to force them into default.

Martin's identity was now entwined with this new life—a life of magic.

A sudden clang interrupted his thoughts; the two thugs had begun their assault on Debbie. Although she was slim, she wielded the enormous sword like a seasoned warrior, making Martin realize that this was not as unusual in Aigendas as he initially thought. The world was filled with various professions, including swordsmen, who could excel even without magical talent.

Debbie was a second-tier swordsman, and while that made her formidable, the two men accompanying Busca were also second-tier fighters. The odds were stacked against her.

As Martin watched the confrontation unfold, he could no longer remain passive. He had to act. This was his chance to reclaim control of his life—or rather, the life of this body he now inhabited.

“Debbie!” he shouted, his voice breaking the tension. “You don’t have to fight them alone!”

All eyes turned toward him, surprise etched across their faces. It was now or never.