The night passed in silence, and the first ray of sunlight was already filtering through the window.
I sat up slowly, stretching reluctantly. The Imbibitor Lunae uniform—which I had left neatly folded beside me—seemed to almost glow in the morning light.
(...Well, maybe I should try dimensional travel. I haven't tested Mitsuha Yamano's ability yet.)
With that thought, I stood up, putting my outfit back on. I closed my eyes, focusing.
(Mitsuha's ability allows travel between worlds... All it takes is a thought.)
I focused on activating that energy, but I forgot one critical detail:
(I didn't specify a destination.)
Before I could correct myself, a sudden pull yanked me out of reality. A cold sensation ran through my body, and the world around me unraveled into threads of light.
*****
*???'s Perspective*
After a long day working at my shop, I returned home with a quick teleportation.
(I can't believe Sabine-chan is a princess… Ever since the attempted kidnapping incident, she's been frequenting the shop. She even found that DVD I had behind the counter…)
A sigh escaped my lips as I slumped my shoulders. "Onii-chan… if you were here, what would you say?"
Suddenly, a shiver ran down my spine. Something—or someone—felt familiar. Before I could react, the air in front of me distorted, and in the middle of the room appeared a tall, slender young man.
(A bishōnen!? No, wait… that's not the important part!)
The stranger had night-black hair, pale skin, and striking green eyes lined with a captivating red. His ears were slightly pointed, and from his forehead emerged bluish-green horns, like those of a legendary dragon. His clothes were… peculiar. A white, sleeveless shirt with a daring neckline, long sleeves adorned with gold and emerald, black fingerless gloves, and a green sash holding a gleaming seal surrounded by golden leaves. Even his knee-high black boots had white and gold detailing.
(Where did this fantasy character come from…?)
With an instinctive movement, I took a step back and drew my stun gun, aiming it straight at him.
(Where the hell did this guy come from?! And in my house!… No matter how handsome he is, if he moves, I'll shoot.)
"You! Who are you, and how did you get in here?" I demanded, keeping the weapon steady.
The stranger seemed surprised by my reaction but then raised his hands calmly, as if trying to soothe a startled animal.
"I mean no harm," he said, his voice composed but slightly cautious. "My name is Dan Heng. My arrival here was… accidental."
(Accidental? Yeah, right—like people just pop out of nowhere by "accident"!)
I frowned, weighing his words. He didn't seem to be lying, but that didn't make him any less suspicious. I slowly lowered the gun, though I didn't holster it completely.
"Accidental?" I repeated, crossing my arms. "Explain better. Because 'appearing in someone's house' isn't exactly an everyday occurrence."
Dan Heng nodded, as if he'd expected the question.
"Yes," he admitted. "It's a teleportation ability. But I didn't choose this place…" He paused, his green eyes scanning the air as if he could see something invisible. "It seems to have been drawn by your strong connection to spatial energy."
(Energy… what?)
"Uh… are you saying I pulled you here?" I asked, pointing at myself with my free hand. "Because that sounds like an excuse from someone who doesn't want to admit they're a stalker."
*****
*Dan Heng's Perspective*
"Uh... are you saying I pulled you here?" the young woman asked, pointing at herself with her free hand while maintaining a skeptical, slightly annoyed expression. "Because that sounds like a cheap excuse from someone who doesn't want to admit they're a stalker."
(...Well, I can't blame her. If a guy with horns, ceremonial robes, and a cold stare suddenly appears in your house, anyone would freak out.)
"Miss, I assure you this was an accident," I replied calmly, keeping my hands visible in a peaceful gesture. "You're the only person on this planet with magical energy strong enough to resonate with mine."
(Still, it's surprising to end up in a world like this—though infinitely better than materializing on a Warhammer 40K planet overrun by Tyranids. Small blessings.)
Mitsuha lowered her stun gun slightly, though she didn't holster it completely. "Alright... I'll believe you for now," she conceded cautiously. "But tell me, what exactly are you doing here? You don't exactly seem... human."
I nodded, noticing how her eyes scrutinized my horns with a mix of curiosity and wariness. "You're right to think that. I'm from a planet called Teyvat, and my race is known as the Vidyadhara."
"And just like you," I added, watching her surprise, "I have the ability to travel between worlds. Though usually with a bit more... precision."
"Travel between worlds!?" Mitsuha blinked rapidly, her initial skepticism giving way to genuine curiosity. "You mean you've met that maneki neko?"
I shook my head calmly. "While my ability was granted by a higher being, I doubt it's the same entity. Though..." I paused deliberately, "I should mention that in my world, there are beings who can traverse dimensions without needing anyone's permission."
(Technically, I'm not lying. This power was bestowed upon me by an unknown entity after my reincarnation... And as for interdimensional travelers, well, the Abyss Prince and Princess—Aether and Lumine—are proof enough.)
Mitsuha crossed her arms, her expression shifting to something more pragmatic. "I see. So, what exactly brings you to this world?"
"The truth is rather mundane," I admitted with a slight shrug. "Though my world has begun developing entertainment similar to what you call 'light novels,' we still lack many technological comforts. I'd like to establish trade exchanges—for computers, power generators, and... especially gaming consoles."
(This world seems at least 80% similar to the one I knew in my past life.)
"Wait, wait." Mitsuha raised a hand, her brow furrowing with complete disbelief. "If you told me you're not from this world, how the hell are you so familiar with our technology?"
A barely perceptible smile tugged at my lips. (Hah, this girl doesn't miss a thing...)
"Ah, does that surprise you?" I extended my hand with a theatrical flourish.
"Rasiel"
A golden flash illuminated the room for an instant. When the light faded, an ancient book with bluish covers rested in my palm, while my outfit transformed into an elegant white suit adorned with aqua-green and gold accents that shimmered subtly, paired with a black silk shirt. My black boots and gloves completed the look.
(Well... looks like I've got an astral suit too. Though it resembles Luocha's design a bit too much... just with these draconic touches. The system has peculiar tastes.)
"This is one of my abilities," I explained as the book floated above my hand, its pages turning on their own. "Rasiel. A grimoire that can provide information about any event that's occurred in this world... essentially, like an all-powerful search engine."
Mitsuha stared at the book with wide eyes, torn between fascination and skepticism. "So... you've got Google but in magical book form? And it even comes with a free wardrobe change?"
Exactly after those words, silence hung between us for a second. Mitsuha kept looking at me as if trying to decide whether to douse me in holy water or hire me as her shop's official miracle supplier.
"...Yes," I admitted, my gaze still fixed on the grimoire floating serenely beside me. "Quite convenient, don't you think?"
"Convenient, he says..." Mitsuha muttered, crossing her arms again, though all traces of tension were gone. "And here I am breaking my head over profit margins for salt and vinegar."
(Heh... so she's already in the expansion phase. This must be right after she opened the shop in the royal capital. She's still doing this alone.)
She sighed and sat on the bed, still eyeing Rasiel thoughtfully. Then she looked directly at me, much calmer now.
"This day has been... peculiar, to say the least," I commented while crossing my arms. "In the last world I visited, magic didn't really exist, though according to some local hunters, there were monsters." She paused dramatically before adding: "Though I could never confirm if they were actual supernatural creatures or just wild animals with bad reputations."
(Well, that sounded like the plot of a cheap fantasy anime... though technically, right now I look like I've walked straight out of one myself.)
A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I saw Mitsuha's bewildered expression. "But before we continue, could you tell me your name? After all, you've already pointed a weapon at me and seen me change outfits twice... I think I at least deserve to know my host's name."
"Ah, right, I haven't introduced myself," Mitsuha replied, rubbing the back of her neck with slight embarrassment. "I'm Mitsuha Yamano. A merchant... though today I seem to be more of an interdimensional receptionist."
"Pleased to meet you, Yamano-san," I said with a polite nod of my head.
With an elegant hand gesture, I dematerialized the Raziel grimoire, allowing my outfit to transform back into the distinctive Imbibitor Lunae suit. Mitsuha watched the process with a mix of fascination and resignation, like someone who's decided nothing can surprise them anymore
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Author's Note:
After much consideration, the first world our protagonist will travel to will be from Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World. Why? Because it's essentially the perfect place to acquire modern technology without risking life and limb. In the original novel, Mitsuha already interacted with governments and spies and came out completely unscathed - all while being just a normal girl with teleportation abilities.
Regarding the romance aspect, I'm still debating whether to keep it simple or give it a harem twist. If I do go the harem route, I promise it won't be excessive. I don't want the protagonist to become some sort of "Pokémon Master" of waifus, so there would be a maximum of three members.
The main candidates would be Ganyu and Raiden Ei (it's no coincidence these are the only characters I have with their signature weapons in the game). For the third spot, I'm torn between Yae Miko (imagine Ganyu's face if that happens), Greater Lord Rukkhadevata (just so the protagonist can tell Nahida "I am your father" Darth Vader-style), or Citlali (I loved her design but couldn't get her because she released too close to Liyue's regional banner).
But don't worry, these are just ideas for now. I might still change my mind and keep a more traditional romance.
PS: Cloud Retainer is already brewing her tea to enjoy the drama, whatever the outcome may be.