Kazuki Haruto had always imagined that being transported to another world would feel… cooler.
Maybe some glowing portal. A goddess. A long, heartfelt monologue about saving the realm. Definitely a dramatic landing—preferably on his feet.
Instead, he landed face-first into mud.
Squelch.
The first sound of his new life.
"Ghhbbblehhh—?!" he gurgled, spitting out a suspicious amount of wet leaves. The air smelled like rain, earth, and something sweetly floral. It would've been kind of nice—if it hadn't filled his nostrils at terminal velocity.
He rolled over, coughing, soaked from shoulder to shin.
Above him stretched a green sky, streaked with floating white clouds that looked like they were drifting sideways. Trees with glowing blue leaves swayed gently in the mist. Insects buzzed, and somewhere nearby, a giant frog gave a deep, echoing bwrooonk.
Kazuki blinked.
Then blinked again.
"…Okay. Dream. Must be a dream," he muttered. "Or a vending machine-induced coma."
He sat up slowly, brushing mud from his cheek. His school uniform was splattered, his satchel was gone, and his shoes were now distinctly squishy.
Then he noticed the small floating icon in front of him.
[Welcome to Tenka, Traveler.]
"Wait what—"
The message shimmered, then unfolded into glowing blue text like a heads-up display.
[STATUS: KAZUKI HARUTO] –
Level: 1 – Class: ??? –
Title: "Accidental Arrival" –
Mana Affinity: ??? –
Inventory: 1 Melon Soda (Legendary), Mud (Common)
"…You've gotta be kidding me," Kazuki groaned, holding up the soda can now miraculously lodged in his blazer pocket. It glowed faintly. Possibly humming.
He looked back up at the floating screen.
"Class: ???"
"Title: Accidental Arrival?"
"Do I not even get to choose a sword or something?"
The UI vanished with a cheerful ding! and was replaced with a simple compass arrow pointing into the trees. Beneath it blinked a message:
[First Quest: Please Don't Die.]
"…Very comforting."
He stood—wobbled—then immediately yelped as something darted past his foot. A flash of white feathers. A screech. A sudden gust of wind.
Kazuki stumbled back, barely catching his balance.
SWOOSH!
A large, majestic bird swooped from the trees and perched on a crooked, glowing branch above. Its feathers shimmered like gold-edged snow. Its eyes were sharp, intelligent—judging.
It was a Philippine eagle. Huge. Regal. Beautiful.
And currently staring at him like he owed it money.
"…Hey there," Kazuki said slowly. "Are you, uh… native?"
The eagle blinked once. Then tilted its head in a very deliberate are you serious kind of way.
A soft chime echoed in Kazuki's ears.
[Companion Request Detected: "Tala" – Sky Sovereign]
Accept? Y/N
Before he could even react, the eagle flapped its wings and launched straight at him.
"NONONONONONO—!"
WHUMP.
It didn't attack—it just landed squarely on his shoulder. Somehow not crushing him, despite its massive wingspan and clearly judgmental aura.
The message dinged again.
[Companion Bonded: Tala – Sky Sovereign (Wind/Air Affinity)] – Warning: You are now visible to high-level mana beasts.
"Wait, WHAT?"
A roar echoed in the distance. Something very, very big moved in the jungle beyond the clearing.
Kazuki slowly turned to look at Tala.
"…You wouldn't happen to have a manual, would you?"
The eagle preened her wing with practiced elegance. Then, slowly… pointed her beak forward.
Kazuki followed the gesture to a small sign nailed to a mossy tree:
WELCOME TO AMAYU FOREST. TRAVELERS: DO NOT RUN. PREDATORS RESPOND TO PANIC.
SCREEEEEEEEE—!!
From deep within the woods, glowing eyes blinked open. Leaves rustled. Trees shook. Something howled.
Kazuki gripped the soda can like a grenade.
"…Yup. Definitely a bad day."
And then, he ran.