Individual strength might not be able to change the world, but that was only because that strength wasn't yet great enough to shake the world's foundations.
While Haruki Aizawa's Sword Saint System was damaged, its primary leveling mechanism remained. Unfortunately, to level up, the system required an immense amount of combat to gain experience—something impossible in this peaceful, everyday world.
Only by traveling to more dangerous dimensions and grasping the art of combat in life-or-death struggles could he reach a higher domain.
So, when he learned the Infinite Multiverse System could take him to different worlds, Haruki's spirit reignited. His previously bored demeanor vanished, replaced by an aura as sharp as an unsheathed blade.
"?"
Sitting nearby, Yukino Yukinoshita felt a sudden, inexplicable chill. She shuddered involuntarily, but by the time she looked up, Haruki looked as ordinary as ever, as if the intensity she felt had been a mere hallucination.
The after-school hours passed, and Haruki's first day in the Service Club came to an end. Just then, the door swung open.
"Yukinoshita, I'm coming in."
"Sensei, you forgot to knock again..."
"Hahaha!" Shizuka Hiratsuka walked in, ignoring the sigh. She looked toward Haruki and smiled. "So, how is the Service Club treating you?"
"It's interesting," Haruki replied with a smile.
While the club activities were mundane, joining had triggered the binding of the Multiverse System. For him, this room was now a lucky charm.
"Hmph. Don't think your pleasantries will change my opinion of you," Yukino muttered, assuming he was trying to get on her good side.
"Oh? You two are getting along quite well. Good."
"Exactly where did you draw that conclusion from?" Yukino asked, wide-eyed.
Shizuka ignored her and turned to Haruki. "Since you're settling in, you'll be participating in club activities together. By the way, the Service Club is different from other clubs. It's not a hierarchy—it's a competition."
"A competition?" both Haruki and Yukino asked.
"Heh. Simply put, you'll compete to see who can perform better service," Shizuka explained, looking like a mastermind. "For the rest of the semester, the one who completes more requests will win the right to ask a major favor from the loser—anything within reason."
"Why would it come to this?" Yukino looked appalled.
"Because I love this kind of development. It has a real classic manga feel to it," Shizuka said firmly. "Besides, when two differing ideals clash, a duel is the only way to settle things."
"But..." Yukino still looked resistant. She instinctively slid her chair further away from Haruki, looking wary.
Shizuka added dryly, "Don't worry. As the referee, I won't allow anything inappropriate to happen. If Haruki tries to ask for something sleazy, I'll handle it personally."
"I have no intention of doing anything like that," Haruki said, waving his hand.
As someone with the soul of a mature adult, he wasn't interested in harassing high school girls. He wasn't some cliché protagonist who thought about nothing but romance. In fact, if he truly wanted to cause trouble, his martial prowess would allow him to do so before anyone could even react.
"Hmph. People who say such things usually have the most suspicious thoughts," Yukino said, still keeping her guard up.
"It seems Yukino Yukinoshita has a weakness after all... Are you afraid you can't beat him?" Shizuka used the ultimate weapon: a direct challenge to Yukino's pride.
It worked instantly. Yukino sighed. "Fine. I dislike being manipulated like this, but I accept the contest. I'll help 'correct' this person's attitude along the way."
"And you, Haruki?"
"I'm in," Haruki nodded. A little competition was better than a boring routine.
"Excellent. The winner will be decided based on my own observations. Good luck!" Shizuka laughed and left the room.
Yukino quickly packed her things and left as well, clearly wanting to avoid more conversation with Haruki. Haruki followed shortly after, slinging his cloth-wrapped wooden sword over his shoulder.
On the way home, Haruki focused on the Infinite Multiverse System. The "Service Competition" was just a distraction; the real prize was the upcoming "Chivalry of a Failed Knight" world. Based on his fragmented memories, that world was full of superpowered warriors—exactly the challenge he needed.
However, the countdown still had three days. He just had to endure the boredom until then.
"Hmm?"
As he walked toward his apartment, a sudden drizzle turned into a heavy downpour. Not wanting to get his gear soaked, he ducked into a nearby bus stop.
There, he saw a girl from a different school—black hair, light dark circles under her eyes—running through the rain. She reached the shelter, drenched and shivering, and began wringing out her wet sleeves and skirt, trying to stay warm and dry.
Miko Yotsuya was a student at a nearby girls' high school. She lived a perfectly ordinary life—until recently.
Lately, horror-themed variety shows had become popular among her peers. Even though Miko hated anything scary, she watched them just to keep up with school conversations. She had even bought a small "ghost" keychain as a souvenir.
Earlier that day, she had left the keychain at school and went back to find it. By the time she did, the sun was setting. On her way to the bus stop, everything felt unnervingly dark. Weird shadows seemed to flicker in the corners of her vision.
She ignored them, wanting only to get home, but then the rain started. By the time she reached the stop, she was soaked.
"This is the worst. I should have brought an umbrella," Miko sighed, wringing out her skirt. "Everything is wet..."
Thinking she was alone, she tried to adjust her damp clothes for some comfort.
"Ahem..." A light cough came from the side.
"Eek!"
Miko jumped, nearly losing her footing. She looked over and realized a plain-looking boy with black hair was sitting on the other side of the bench. He had a school bag and a long, cloth-wrapped object at his side.
He didn't look threatening, but Miko was already on edge. She shuffled to the far end of the station. Seeing that he didn't move or look at her, she finally exhaled.
The two of them stood at opposite ends of the platform—one waiting for a bus, the other just waiting for the rain to stop.
When is the next bus... Miko, who rarely interacted with boys, just wanted to leave. She pulled out her phone to check the time and see if it had been damaged by the water.
She saw a message from her best friend, Hana. Hana was worried about her being stuck in the rain. Miko snapped a quick selfie to show she was safe under the shelter and sent it.
But then, something strange happened. Hana sent the same photo back to her.
Ping!
Miko stared at the screen. Then, more photos appeared—the same one, over and over.
Ping! Ping! Ping!
Thinking her phone was glitched, she tried to close the app, but it wouldn't respond. Then, a voice—mechanical and distorted—came from the speakers.
"I'm sorry—I can't hear you—"
"I'm sorry—I can't hear you—"
"I'm sorry—"