WebNovels

Chapter 1 - THE KEEPER

If someone asked me when my life derailed—like, really flipped-off-the-rails and exploded into a flaming disaster—I'd probably say it was the exact moment my phone lit up at 2:14 a.m.Because unlike normal people who sleep like sane human beings, I was awake, face-down on my futon, doomscrolling and trying to forget that I existed.

My name is Aki Fujimori, sixteen, painfully average, occasionally stupid, permanently tired.I'm the kind of guy teachers forget to call on and classmates forget to invite. Half the time, even my mom forgets I like my rice soft, not "break your teeth crunchy."

So yeah—nothing about me screamed "chosen one."

Which is why when my phone suddenly buzzed with a notification I definitely did NOT download, I frowned at it like it owed me money.

[Congratulations! You've been selected as a Keeper Candidate!][Download complete: Eternity Summon—Soulbound Edition.]

"…Huh?"I blinked at my screen.I swear I didn't hit anything suspicious today except a quiz link and like two memes.

The icon pulsed—a shimmering gold crest shaped like an eye. Kind of ominous. Kind of cool. Kind of "this app is gonna steal my kidneys."

But I opened it anyway. Because I'm a teenager and we make terrible decisions at 2 a.m.

The loading screen flashed white, blinding me like I got hit by a holy flashbang. Soft music played. A voice whispered something unintelligible, like ancient chanting mixed with ASMR.

Then the draw screen appeared:"First-Time Bonus: One Free 10x Summon."

"Oh yeah. This is definitely a scam."

Still. Free is free.

I tapped the button.

A rainbow circle spun. Colors rippled. My room vibrated like someone turned on an earthquake machine. My phone grew hot—like, "I'm about to explode and take your eyebrows with me" hot.

And then—

BOOM.

Light. Sound. A shockwave that knocked over my manga stacks.

A figure dropped from mid-air, slamming onto the tatami with a force that made my teeth rattle.Metal clanged. The temperature spiked. Something like divine pressure filled the room, pushing down on me like a giant invisible hand.

She stood up.

A girl.

No—wrong word.A being.

Tall, silver-haired, glowing faintly like she swallowed a star. Her eyes were cold blue fire, ancient and terrifying, yet… heartbreakingly beautiful. Her armor gleamed—white, gold, celestial. Not practical armor either. More like "fantasy illustrator gave up and said screw it, make it hot."

She turned slowly. Her gaze landed on me like a physical impact.

I swear my soul hiccuped.

"W-Wait—who—what—why—" I sputtered, trying to find my voice. "Who are you?! How did you—why are you in my ROOM?!"

She took one step forward. The tatami cracked underneath her.Okay cool, awesome, terrifying.

Then she knelt.Like full-on dramatic knight kneeling before royalty.

Her voice was deep, melodic, powerful.

"You performed the Rite of Summoning.""Therefore, I am yours."

"Y-YOURS?"My brain rebooted."No no no no, I'm not that guy! You've got the wrong house!"

She lifted her chin, eyes steady, burning with something fierce.

"I am Celestia. Level 10,000. Supreme SSR.""I respond only to my Keeper."

The app pinged on my phone.

[You have summoned: Celestia, the Eternal Blade.][Bond established: irreversible.]

Irreversible.

You know that thing people say?That moment where you realize your life just got yeeted off a cliff with no warning?

Yeah, that.

But before I could panic any further, Celestia rose. She approached, slow, graceful, terrifying. She reached out and gently touched my cheek with a gauntleted finger.

The metal was warm, humming with power.

Her eyes softened for a single, fleeting moment.Something ancient. Something lonely. Something that almost made my chest ache.

"You called for me, Keeper.""And I… came."

My heart slammed against my ribs so hard it hurt.

I wanted to say I didn't call her.I wanted to say I was just a dumb kid who pressed a shiny button without reading anything.

But the words died.

Because her expression—the way she stared at me like I was the first star she'd seen in centuries—it wasn't fake.

It was real.

And somehow, stupidly, irrationally, I didn't want to break that look.

"…Okay," I said quietly. "Then… what happens now?"

Celestia straightened, lowering her hand. Her voice deepened.

"The universe has chosen you as a Keeper.""You, Aki Fujimori, will guide the fate of realms.""And I…"

She hesitated.Just one second.Just enough for something like vulnerability to flicker across her face.

"…am bound to protect you with my life."

A soft breeze swept across the room even though my window was shut. The aura around her dimmed, just a little, enough to breathe again. Enough to think again.

I swallowed.

"Protect me… from what?"

Before she could answer, my phone buzzed again.

[WARNING: Dimensional Fluctuation Detected.][Hostile summons inbound.]

Hostile what now???

A portal tore open in the air above my closet, swirling with dark violet energy.A clawed hand emerged.

"OH HELL NO."

Celestia's eyes blazed. She pulled a sword from thin air—a massive, radiant blade crackling with cosmic fire.

She stepped in front of me.

"Keeper," she said, voice low."Stay behind me. No matter what."

"B-But—"

She didn't let me finish.

She charged.

What happened next was a blur of impossible movements, divine light, and the kind of violence you only see in final boss cutscenes. The creature lunged; she cleaved through it with one merciless swing.

The portal closed. Silence returned.

Celestia turned to me, chest rising with heavy breaths. A faint crack ran across her armor.She'd protected me. Completely. Without hesitation.

"Aki," she said softly, using my name for the first time.Her voice wasn't cold now.It was warm. Tired. Almost… desperate.

"Please don't be afraid.""I don't want you to fear me."

My heart clenched.

And I realized something.

She wasn't just some OP warrior goddess dropped into my room for fun.

She was alone.She was scared.And she had been waiting—maybe for years, maybe for centuries—for someone to summon her.

Someone she could belong to.

Someone she could protect, not because she was ordered to, but because she wanted to.

"Aki," she whispered again, voice trembling just barely.

"Am I… unwanted?"

That hit me harder than the monster attack.

"No," I said instantly.Too quick. Too honest.

Celestia froze.

I swallowed, cheeks burning.

"I mean—uh—no. You're not unwanted. I just… I'm confused and overwhelmed and kinda freaking out, but I'm not pushing you away."

Her eyes widened slightly.Something gentle, warm, almost fragile flickered there.

Then she bowed her head.

"Thank you… Keeper."

I exhaled shakily.

My life wasn't normal anymore.It wasn't quiet.It wasn't simple.

But as Celestia stood before me, her silver hair glowing in the faint moonlight, her presence filling my tiny room with divine warmth…

…I realized something terrifyingly real:

I didn't want her to leave.

Not now.Not ever.

And whatever this Keeper thing meant—whatever danger came with it—I was already in too deep to back out.

My story had already begun.

A nobody kid had summoned a god-tier girl.

And I had absolutely no idea what would happen next.

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