[Congratulations Host, you have obtained the 2-star character Arataka Reigen Template]
As my consciousness slowly awakened with the system's notifications ringing in my ears, I squinted my eyes because of the lights shining in front of me.
The light was irritating, and although it bothered me just like it would any normal person, I fought to open my eyes again when I remembered that I had last closed them right after breakfast, immediately after waking up.
The light was still there, and if I wasn't mistaken, it was suspended from the ceiling, dangling close to my face, held only by the length of its cord.
Just a light bulb, not attached to any chandelier, was hanging over my head.
I felt like I was lying on a table in one of those interrogation rooms from classic detective movies, but as far as I could tell, the room I was in was too big for an interrogation room.
As I tried to turn my head, I realized my entire body was tied down with ropes. Deep in my heart, the thick wall I had been hiding behind for years was showing signs of collapse.
I had been kidnapped. That was certain, but the question was: Why me?
The only thing that makes me special is that I am rich. Oh, and that I'm a Uzumaki. And that I own Konoha's largest store and have access to a lot of confidential information because of my close relationship with Konoha's top executives.
DAMN IT!
Huff... Huff...
Using a little more strength, I forced my neck to turn and looked around to see where I was. At that moment, the damn lamp above my head somehow felt brighter than before.
Even though the light is so strong, I can't see any walls. Either the walls are made of a material that doesn't reflect light, which is unlikely because those damn ninjas learned the meaning of the word "technology" just a few years ago. Or this is really a large room, maybe a cold storage room.
They wouldn't forget to turn off the damn air conditioning, would they?
What should I do, damn it!
[You have a new template task: Stay calm]
[Time limit: 5 minutes]
I can hear some notifications coming from the system, but the light is so irritating that I can't even open my eyes.
In a situation like this, I don't want to get some stupid penalty from the system. Damn it, I need to open my eyes right now.
Even though I suspect the ninjas who kidnapped me are probably standing in a corner, enjoying watching my movements, I'm not too worried because they can't see the system, and I forced myself once more, turned my neck to the side, and checked the system notifications.
I wish I hadn't bothered. The damn system is probably messing with me.
System, pray to the god who created you that my captors only kidnapped me for ransom.
[A hint from Arataka Reigen: Listen boy! It's not the strongest who survives, but the calmest...]
The moment I heard the voice of this guy named Arataka Reigen, coated in fake seriousness, I remembered who he was.
Of course, just another damn ordinary person! How could a fucking con artist help me survive? Even now, I can hear the tone of boasting and deception in his voice.
DID THIS FUCKING SYSTEM EVEN CONSIDER HELPING ME SURVIVE IN THIS WORLD FOR A SINGLE SECOND?
DAMN IT!
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- 4 minutes later
Although the system irritated me, the advice it gave was quite sound, and when I thought about it logically, I realized it immediately.
After taking a few more deep breaths, I closed my eyes and found myself completely calm.
Immediately afterwards, the system sent me a notification that I had successfully completed the task.
There were no surprises, and the only reward I got was a 10% increase in template similarity.
I spent the next few minutes checking to see if there was any weakness in the ropes tying me to the table.
I should curse my luck, because for some unknown reason, I've always struggled to untie even a simple knot since childhood.
I was never very skilled at tying or untying ropes, but I can't say I was very upset about it.
After all, considering that there was a Jonin among the ninjas I hired to protect me, the people who managed to kidnap me were definitely ninjas, and skilled ones at that.
I heard that ninja schools teach people how to tie up hostages, so even if I were good at this kind of thing, it wouldn't really make a difference.
And then came the minutes of helplessness, which gradually turned into hours.
I waited and waited and waited and kept waiting.
I don't know if the reason they made me wait so long was to make us give up mentally, but I was very close to giving up hope for my own life.
After all, if all this was part of a kidnapping-for-ransom scenario, which was the only scenario in which I could survive, they would at least come and ask me who to demand the ransom from, or they would make fun of me, right?
But for some reason, I still feel like I shouldn't give up. It's as if there is a way out of every situation.
[A hint from Arataka Reigen: If they had kidnapped you for ransom and truly planned to release you once they received it, they would avoid showing their faces to you.]
Unexpected...
Considering Arataka Reigen's personality, I thought he'd be of no use to me, but unexpectedly, he's speaking logically.
Actually, I should have thought of this myself. Apparently, I still haven't calmed down enough.
*sound of a door opening*
The moment I heard the sound I'd been expecting since I was brought here, I turned my head toward the source of the sound in fear. Because my expectation had completely reversed after Reigen's reminder.
As I slowly turned my head, I received no warning from the other side. Damn it, he really doesn't care if I look at him.
When I managed to turn my head as far as the knots allowed, what I saw, or rather the person I saw, made me forget all the fear I had felt since opening my eyes in a single second.
"Hehehe, Little Eren. It seems you still remember me."
Shit! Orochimaru!!!
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