CHAPTER 1: "Shut-in NEET"**
**Daniel's POV**
What's left to hope for in a world consumed by chaos? A world entangled in broken systems, endless issues, and the same relentless problems that greet us every day. It's loud, messy, and filled with the toxic behaviors of people around me. Sometimes, I wonder: What's so great about living in this world that we keep enduring it?
If you look at most people's lives, it's the same monotonous cycle—wake up, go to work or school, get stressed, go home, sleep. Repeat. They spend over a decade studying, hoping for a better life, only to end up trapped in a dull, predictable routine.
*"Sigh..."*
A heavy sigh escapes me as these thoughts swirl in my mind. This world, to be blunt, is boring and meaningless. Yet, no matter how much I resent it, I have no choice but to go with the flow—until I grow old, until the world crumbles.
My name is Daniel Muntingbato, 25 years old, and a NEET. In simpler terms, a jobless shut-in. I spend my days doing nothing but indulging in distractions, as if I'm just waiting for the world to end—whenever that might be. It sounds harsh, I know, but that's how deeply I've grown tired of life.
The one thing that keeps me going, my sole "will to live," is my love for Japanese anime and manga. Yes, you heard that right. If I were to tie the noose hidden under my bed and end it all, I'd miss out on the epic anime episodes and manga chapters I've been eagerly following. For now, that's reason enough to keep going. Anime has become my refuge from loneliness, my savior.
I'm not your typical otaku. I'm not the die-hard fan who attends conventions or screams about their favorite characters. I'm a silent fan, quietly enjoying my fantasies. To me, being an anime fanatic is my escape—a way to flee the complexities of reality.
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When I rise from my bed, I head straight to the kitchen to prepare food for my housemates before they leave for work. After that, it's back to my usual routine. I'm the "house boy" here—cooking, doing laundry, cleaning. Once everything's done, I settle in front of my PC, catching up on new anime episodes or browsing for updates. My life is simple, and though it's boring, it's comfortable.
But why did I end up like this? I wasn't bullied as a kid or anything dramatic like that. I'm not angry at the world or its people. I'm just an introvert. I have friends, but I chose to be alone, locked in my room with my anime and games. It's more comfortable this way, even if I know deep down it's just an excuse I tell myself.
I close the windows and turn off the lights as I wait for my computer to boot up. Sitting on my soft chair, my fingers dance across the keyboard, browsing the internet for something to entertain me today. While clicking away, my hand accidentally knocks over a small book on my desk—a red book with a black-framed design.
*"Huh?"*
I frown, puzzled. I don't recall owning a book like this. Could it belong to my siblings? No, they never come into my room—not even my nagging mother would dare, knowing it'd spark a fight. Curiosity gets the better of me, so I pick up the book and pause my internet browsing. On the cover, I read the words: **"Book of Life."**
At first, I think it's some kind of anime merchandise, but no matter how hard I rack my brain, I can't recall any famous book with this title. The name feels strange, so I flip it open to a random page to see what's inside.
The moment I do, a powerful gust of wind slams into me, forcing my eyes shut. How could there be wind in my room when all the windows are closed? I don't know, but right now, I just want it to stop. As the cold air brushes against my skin, strange noises grow louder—clashing metal, collapsing buildings, and screams that sound like a battlefield.
Slowly, I open my eyes, and what I see sends a chill down my spine: a city in ruins, ravaged by nature's wrath. I'm clinging to a pole, desperately holding on as a massive tornado looms just half a kilometer away, tearing through houses and buildings. The streets are cracked, the structures around me reduced to rubble, as if the infamous "Big One" earthquake had finally struck.
Explosions echo in the distance, coming from burning parts of the city. I'm not sure if they're grenades or something else, but they grow louder and more frequent. My eyes widen as I spot blood staining the streets—bodies buried under collapsed debris. For the first time in my life, I see the dead, and I don't know whether to feel repulsed by their exposed flesh or pity for their fate. All I know is the fear creeping into my chest.
*"If this is a dream, please let me wake up..."*
I want to run, to scream, but my legs refuse to move. Maybe it's the fear, or maybe I know there's nowhere to go with that tornado raging nearby. In the midst of the chaos, a loud crash erupts from a building beside me. Something like a meteor smashes through, destroying half the structure. Instead of running, I grip the pole tighter, my mind too overwhelmed to think clearly.
From the thick smoke, a figure lands in front of me. A woman with short blue hair, adorned with white flower ribbons as a headband. Her sapphire eyes glow with an otherworldly light. She wears a black-and-white maid outfit, clutching a chain connected to a spiked iron ball.
A goddess has descended from the heavens—no, something beyond a goddess, something breathtaking. The world around me seems to slow as I take in every detail of her, from her head to her toes.
*"This... this can't be real..."*
I can't believe it, but I can't be mistaken either. It's her—Rem, from the Roswaal Mansion, the character I've followed through every episode of my favorite anime. My waifu. The one who brings color to my gray existence. But how? How is she here, standing before me, in the middle of this apocalyptic chaos?
The fear that gripped me moments ago vanishes. My heart races, not from the tornado, but from her presence. Is this heaven or hell? All I know is that she's here, real and alive.
*"Is this real? My waifu is alive..."*
As I stare at her beautiful face, she speaks, her voice soft yet tinged with sorrow. "I'm sorry, Daniel. I hope you can understand what I have to do. Forgive me."
I freeze. She knows my name? How? My heart pounds harder, but before I can ask, she points at me, her eyes filled with resolve. "I'm sorry, but I have to kill you to end this."
*"What?"*
Her words pierce my chest like a dagger. She's serious. My waifu, the one I've adored through every episode, is saying she needs to kill me. She grips the chain tightly, and in a swift motion, swings the spiked iron ball toward me.
I scream, panic overtaking me, and I let go of the pole. By some miracle, I dodge her attack, and the iron ball smashes into the concrete pole, obliterating it. I collapse to the ground, crawling away in terror. "W-wait! Why? What did I do?" I shout, barely able to breathe.
But she doesn't answer, only staring at me with cold, predatory eyes. She's not joking—she truly intends to end my life. The pain in my chest is unbearable. My waifu, the one who gave me purpose, is now my executioner.
"Please, Rem, have mercy..." I whisper, tears streaming down my face.
She swings the chain again, and this time, a glowing horn appears on her forehead, wrapped in crackling blue energy. The street cracks under her step as she prepares for another attack. But before the iron ball can hit me, a hand grabs my shirt and throws me aside, saving me just in time.
I skid across the pavement, rolling painfully. My arms are scraped and burning, but the pain confirms this isn't a dream—it's real. "Am I going to die here?" I mutter, fear consuming me.
I glance around and see a woman with black hair wielding a katana, locked in combat with Rem. I don't recognize her, but what shocks me more is the chaos around me—people and creatures that look like monsters from anime, fighting fiercely. Are they characters too? Allies or enemies? I don't know anymore.
In that moment, only one thing is clear: "Please, someone, anyone, save me..."