(Two months later)
Allen walked hand in hand with Gwen and MJ across campus. Even after it became well-known in the university that there was some bastard who was somehow dating three girls, people still looked at them strangely.
There were envious and disdainful stares from both men and women. Some believed that a relationship like that could only exist out of lust, destined to break apart quickly. Others despised Allen for being a bastard and the three girls for "lacking self-respect."
However, some had already accepted it—not out of habit, but because the most powerful man in the world had his own harem—someone whose existence could never be influenced by what others thought.
"Look over there, that guy—who does he think he is, Allen Walker?"
"But isn't his name Allen too?"
"Don't you think it might be the same guy?!"
"Don't be stupid. Allen is terrifyingly attractive, and this guy is just… well, not bad, but those huge round glasses? Who even wears those nowadays?"
"You just don't get it. Mr. Walker is the strongest man alive. He's faced gods, demons, cosmic beings, and many terrifying things. So yeah, I can get why he'd have a harem, but this guy…"
Felicia, walking behind Allen, chuckled and leaned close to his ear. "I wonder why nobody notices you're Allen Walker. You just change your hair color, adjust your hairstyle, wear glasses, and hide your aura~"
Gwen and MJ always thought this was funny. They went by Gwen, MJ, and Felicia, yet no one suspected they were the same women known to be Allen's companions.
Allen smiled. "It's true the Anti-Charm spell isn't so omnipotent that people can't recognize us after seeing us so often. I suppose psychology plays a role too. People just refuse to believe that Allen Walker could be a normal student in his free time."
MJ smirked. "These people must think you've got a crystal palace in another dimension or something~"
"Maybe…"
The four of them laughed. At this point, they didn't care about what others thought. Their happiness was all that mattered. If this kind of "family" worked for them, that was enough.
[Host...]
"I see…"
Allen wasn't surprised. Sooner or later, the time to leave would come. Lucifer had been generous in giving him three months. That time allowed him to live a calmer life with his loved ones. That time allowed him to fix things with his girlfriends—many of whom already had engagement rings.
It also gave him the chance to visit other worlds, solve problems, and help his friends.
As an extra detail, New York was no longer a battlefield. Allen had created a separate dimension for heroes on both sides to fight. People enjoyed it so much that it was streamed online, becoming the second most-watched program—second only to Allen himself.
"Hello…"
A girl appeared before Allen, stepping out from behind a corner. Though it seemed like a coincidence, Sue had been following him since he arrived on campus. It was normal by now, and Allen didn't mind having a little stalker, as long as she respected boundaries.
"Hi, Sue."
The beautiful Sue Storm joined the group, while curses from countless men could be heard in the background. With that, the last day of vacation ended, and it was time to leave.
There were no tears, but worry showed on every face.
"I'll be fine…" Allen told the large group of girls who had come to see him off.
He didn't promise to return soon—that depended on Lucifer's conditions—but one way or another, he would return.
Allen stepped through the portal leading to Lucifer's bar. The devil was already waiting, sitting on a couch with a glass of wine and a deck of cards.
"Have a seat, Allen," Lucifer said with a smile, gesturing to the chair across from him.
Once Allen sat down, Lucifer's eyes gleamed.
"Shall we begin?" Allen asked indifferently.
"Of course…"
....
A new world, a new scent…
When Allen opened his eyes, he was confused.
"Ugh…"
A sharp pain struck his head. Holding it, he realized he didn't remember anything after sitting down to negotiate with Lucifer.
He didn't know what world he was in, what conditions he faced, what problems awaited him, who the enemies were, or what the victory conditions would be. But that was fine. This was part of the deal.
It was a fair game between Lucifer and Allen—one where even someone as strong as Allen could lose.
"Well, I'm in a bed. Judging by the place, I'd say it's a small apartment…"
It was simple: a desk, a laptop, a TV. The kitchen was small but functional, there was a bathroom, a closet, a little laundry room—everything a young single man would need.
Allen got up and walked to the window. Pulling the curtains open, the sunlight stung his eyes. That wasn't a good sign. Combined with the headache, it meant one dangerous thing—vulnerability.
"..."
Buildings stretched in the distance. It looked like a densely populated city. Glancing at a few street signs, Allen understood—he was in Japan.
"System, what can you tell me?"
[Good morning, you are in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, with an identity prepared by Lucifer. This time, it was part of your arrangement with him…]
"I just hope he didn't give me the identity of a wanted criminal or something weird…"
[As for the conditions of this world, they will be unlocked over time. This time you won't have to figure them out all on your own.]
"That's a relief. At least something good came out of this…"
[Don't worry. Remember, every one of Lucifer's requests is subject to negotiation. If a condition were truly unfair, you wouldn't have accepted it.]
That was true. Only one of Lucifer's conditions was mandatory; the rest could be debated and adjusted until both sides agreed. Even so, Allen looked at his hand, feeling strange. Just a few hours ago, he could shrink an entire dimension down to the size of a golf ball with a flick of his wrist. But now he was no longer indestructible. No longer able to alter reality. No longer the strongest.
"Oh, well" Allen smiled with pride and defiance. None of that bothered him. Whatever Lucifer threw at him, Allen would stand tall and overcome it.
When he opened the system's interface, it seemed he was livestreaming. But Allen realized he couldn't see the comments.
"What about the Chat?"
[Looks like Lucifer didn't like you cheating back in Fairy Tail…]
"Oh…" Allen grinned.
He knew why. The Chat wasn't supposed to give him direct information, but they had slipped it in through hints and implications. Maybe Lucifer had let it slide for the first world, but there was no way he'd allow Allen such an advantage again.
"So I can't talk to them anymore?" Allen frowned.
[Don't worry, Host. The Chat, the inventory, even the system shop—they'll all unlock gradually as the story progresses.]
"I see…"
[This time there won't even be missions. Just clues to guide you. It's up to you to find them. There won't be much support at the start, but don't worry—this was also something you agreed to. It's nothing you can't handle with your current abilities…]
"Easy for you to say…" Allen sighed.
He decided to check his apartment for clues about who he was in this world. The first stop was the bathroom mirror.
His reflection stared back—his same face, eyes, and hair. His body looked the same too. He had muscles, enough to be noticeable at first glance, but without being a bodybuilder.
Opening the bathroom cabinet, Allen found aspirin, cough syrup, and some antibiotics—nothing to suggest any serious medical condition.
Next, he checked the fridge. Meat, vegetables, and some sodas. Not too much junk food, but not overly strict either.
A wallet caught his eye in a half-open drawer. Pulling it out, Allen found his ID card. It listed his name, address, and—most importantly—his age. That surprised him. It felt strange, since his appearance hadn't changed. Wouldn't people find it odd?
The wallet also contained thirty thousand yen—about two hundred dollars.
"Doesn't look like I'm rich here…"
Allen looked around. No family photos, no personal memorabilia. Maybe he had no family in this world.
Just as he thought of checking the closet, his phone buzzed. Pulling it from his pocket, he read the message.
[Pony Tail]
– Allen, we need to meet. I'll see you at…
It was from a contact with a strange nickname. Allen laughed. He also used silly names on his phone, so that wasn't unusual. The real question was—who was Pony Tail?
He had no real clue about the story. Sure, it was Japan, but Allen wasn't naïve enough to think Lucifer had dropped him into a sports anime, a romcom, or a slice of life.
Allen grabbed a jacket, some keys from the shelf, and stepped outside.
The apartment complex looked ordinary. From inside one of the units, a man and woman were arguing loudly. Allen ignored it for now—it wasn't his business.
Crossing the parking lot, he stopped in front of a motorcycle. It was white, with a kanji painted on it. Holding his key, Allen thought it didn't fit the building. Out of curiosity, he pressed the button. The bike's lights blinked.
It was his!
[Suzuki Hayabusa sport motorcycle. Owner: Allen Walker. Storage/Modify/Sell]
"You couldn't have told me it was mine?" Allen smirked.
[Wouldn't have been a surprise, right?]
Allen strapped on the helmet and mounted the masterpiece of Japanese engineering.
....
"…" Allen drove through the streets of Tokyo, feeling strange.
This world didn't seem to have any supernatural anomalies. And yet, the cold air carried a subtle unease… like something bad was bound to happen.
Allen stopped at a traffic light and took off his helmet to adjust it. Next to him, a high-end car was also waiting for traffic to clear. He felt an intense gaze from inside, but couldn't see anything because of the tinted windows, so he decided to ignore it and keep going.
Allen arrived at a park next to a convenience store. Supposedly, that was where he was supposed to wait for Pony Tail.
The sun was already setting, which made Allen frown. Arriving in the evening often signaled the end of a journey. Maybe that's why, most of the time when he returned to his world, it was in the late afternoon.
"Hey, you~"
Across the street, Allen saw an overweight student with glasses and a bag being cornered by three thugs in an alley.
"In times like these?"
…..
"Fatso, give us the money!" one of the thugs said as he punched the student in the stomach. His hair was dyed yellow.
"Idiot, that's not how you ask for things!" Another one, with piercings on his mouth, smacked the first one on the head. "Lil bro, you know, we've been having... problems. We'd appreciate it if you lent us some cash."
The student clenched his teeth. Of course, he knew what would happen if he lent them money he'd never see again. And by asking for it as a "loan" they avoided being accused of robbery—a classic thug tactic.
"I don't have any…"
"Huh?!" The third thug, who had only been smoking so far, slammed a metal pipe against the wall.
The pierced one looked coldly at the student. "Brother, don't say that. We really need money…"
"I don't have any… I spent everything on a new Hatsune Miku-chan figure!"
At those words, all three turned their eyes to the bag he was carrying.
One of them snatched it.
"Wait, don't—!"
When he opened it, there was no Hatsune Miku figure but instead a Remington 870 shotgun. For a moment, the thug was scared. This was Japan—thanks to its strict gun laws, most civilians had never even seen a real firearm.
"What the hell?!"
"Wait, it's fake."
"It's a collector's replica…" said the student.
One of the thugs, pissed off, punched him so hard his glasses went flying. Then the others joined in, beating him down.
Allen picked up the student's glasses from the ground as he stepped into the alley.
"It's always the same everywhere…"
Hearing an unfamiliar voice, the thugs froze, afraid it was the police. Regular people, even if they witnessed the scene, wouldn't step in out of fear of retaliation. That's the harsh reality—people don't act like in the movies. There aren't that many good Samaritans waiting to save others. But that didn't mean they didn't exist. In the eyes of the student on the ground—and the thugs—that's exactly what happened.
"This is none of your business, get lost!" shouted the yellow-haired thug.
Allen smirked slightly, his eyes narrowed in mockery. "I don't want to."
The three thugs were stunned. Usually, their appearance alone worked as intimidation—people would give in to their demands rather than risk trouble. But the guy standing in front of them wasn't intimidated at all.
Looking closer at the young man, they realized why. Just one look was enough to tell—the white-haired youth wasn't just good-looking, his build radiated strength. He wasn't overly tall or muscular, but his aura alone told them he was strong.
"Bastard!"
Seeing that intimidation wouldn't work, the thug with the metal pipe attacked Allen. Normally, they wouldn't go that far. It was one thing to intimidate students for money and another to risk killing someone.
"Well, I'm curious to know…"
Allen didn't dodge. He extended his hand and caught the pipe, receiving the blow in his palm.
"I see…" Allen murmured with realization.
"What?—"
The thug didn't even finish speaking before Allen's punch shattered his teeth, sending him flying back, crashing into the wall between the other two stunned thugs.
"Who the fuck are you?!"
"Don't think you're going to get away with this!"
The two thugs tried to threaten Allen in hopes that he would let them go, but it didn't work.
"I was wondering how strong I am here… thanks in advance."
Allen stepped further into the alley, and the screams of the two thugs startled nearby pedestrians. Once it was over, Allen tossed his glasses back to the student.
"Hey, here's some advice—don't ever walk into alleys with guys like that. Better to take the long way around…"
"Thanks…"
Allen didn't wait to hear more and left.
My knuckles don't hurt, I'm not even particularly tired…
Allen hadn't intervened just to do a good deed. He had been curious to test how much strength he had in this world.
He stopped and looked up at the sky. I'm not a normal person, but…
At that moment, his attention was drawn to a girl approaching him. She had light brown hair tied into a ponytail, and eyes of the same color staring at him. But when Allen met her gaze, she looked away.
Do I have a girlfriend? Allen wondered, puzzled. But on closer look, the girl didn't just seem embarrassed—she looked cautious, maybe even a little scared.
She wore a sailor-style uniform with a green skirt and white blouse. She was beautiful, with a voluptuous figure that caught Allen off guard, making him think for a second he had landed in an H-world.
The girl stood silently in front of him, then pulled an envelope from her school bag and handed it to him.
"What's this?"
"It's this month's payment…" the girl said nervously. Though her cheeks were flushed, she seemed more worried about being seen giving Allen the envelope than about the act itself.
Allen stared, puzzled. Payment? For what?
Before he could ask, the girl turned and left, her large ponytail swaying back and forth over her hips.
Wait—what the hell just happened? Despite his considerable intelligence, Allen felt lost in that moment.
He didn't know what kind of identity Lucifer had given him. He lived in a modest apartment without many belongings but had a Suzuki Hayabusa. He only had a little cash in his wallet, but now a girl had just handed him an envelope. Opening it, he found 300,000 yen—about two thousand dollars.
Allen turned pale. "Don't tell me… am I a damn gigolo?!"
Even without watching the Chat, Allen knew everyone was laughing at him. Had he really sunk so low as to end up with a sugar mommy? No, sugar little sister?
….
Time passed, and by nightfall, the three thugs woke up from their "nap," courtesy of Allen.
"Damn it!"
"I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch!"
"Calm down. That bastard was too strong. He must be some kind of MMA fighter. I'm out."
Crunch
The yellow-haired thug, still pissed off, glanced toward a dumpster. A man seemed to be eating something inside it. Instantly, the three assumed he was a homeless bum and looked at him with disgust. Since they couldn't take revenge, venting on someone else was always an option.
"Bastard, why don't you crawl back under a bridge, huh?!"
The yellow-haired thug approached with a cruel smile but was ignored as the man kept chewing intensely. The sound of bones cracking could be heard.
"Hey… I'm talki—"
His words froze when he saw what the "homeless man" was eating. Before he could say another word, the man stopped chewing and turned toward the thugs.
….
Allen threw himself onto his sofa. The envelope the girl had given him lay on the coffee table in front of him.
Of course, he was not totally lost, as he found something interesting—both the student he had helped and the girl who gave him the money had floating tags, just like his motorcycle.
[Miyamoto Rei]
[Hirano Kohta]
The only difference was that these didn't display anything beyond their names. But it's a clue. Seems like people with tags are important in this world… I guess.
Allen felt a bit better and turned on the TV.
[Two more cases of hysteria have been reported, allegedly caused by a new virus. One of them resulted in an incident that required three officers to restrain the aggressor after he attacked a man before being subdued.]
[The United States announced that a new vaccine for the latest flu strain is ready and will be distributed soon.]
[China revealed that it had contained a mysterious epidemic spreading through Beijing. The type of virus is still unknown, but China adopted an isolationist policy, shutting down the capital's airports for twenty-four hours, causing multimillion-dollar losses.]
Allen turned off the TV, feeling confused. This world was full of mysteries. He didn't know what he was up against, so he couldn't prepare.
"I guess I'll just chill for now…"
[Allen, you asked me to give you a message before sealing your memories.]
"Really? And what did I say?"
[Be careful. He's serious this time.]
"I see…"
Allen pulled out his phone and checked the locations he had visited most often. Two came up—his home and a school.
Fujimi High School…
Allen now had a new objective.
====
A/N: The new arc officially begins and I will do my best to make it attractive and interesting. 😏
If you want to read more, there are up to ten chapters ahead on Patreon.
Patreon.com/_Aizen