How did it come to this?
Before my eyes stretched an endless grassland. In the distance, there were vast mountain ranges that you would never see in Japan. It was like a scene from a fantasy game, the kind of place where you wouldn't even know what the "ending" was supposed to be.
C-calm down. First, count prime numbers. 1, 3, 5, 7… huh? Did prime numbers start from 1? …Well, whatever. The important thing is to calm down. Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
Suuuuu—, haaaa—… Yep, even after opening my eyes, it was still pure wilderness.
D-don't panic. A high school boy doesn't panic! Right, first confirm the current situation.
…My name is Akira Kitajima. A regular high school student attending a school in Tokyo. Okay, my consciousness is clear. Next—why am I in a place like this? Let's recall things step by step.
I woke up in the morning like usual, ate breakfast my mom made, roughly fixed my hair, then left the house as late as I could and started walking to school. Then, without any warning, there was just this grassland in front of me. No tunnels, no shiny mirrors. Since when did my school cross over with a fantasy world? If you're going to cross over, at least notify the students! I'll be late at this rate… Such thoughts of escape from reality filled my head as I just stood there.
…How did it end up like this?
◆
It's been about half a year since I came to… this other world? Yes, other world. I concluded that this world is not the one I came from.
After I finally calmed down back then, I decided to start walking to find people. Looking around, I saw smoke rising in the distance. Thinking that people might be there, I headed toward the smoke. Fortunately, the area wasn't steep mountains but gentle fields, though it was still tough for a city kid like me. After walking for maybe 2–3 hours, I finally arrived at what seemed to be a town. I was dead tired. I'd never walked that much in my life…
The smoke I saw from far away was probably coal or something burning. It was black, thick, and suffocating—kind of like the mining towns I'd seen on TV. Yeah, that's exactly what it felt like.
The reason I thought this was another world is because the people here clearly weren't Japanese—they all looked foreign—yet I could understand their language as Japanese. On top of that, the writing on the shop signs was definitely not Japanese.
…What the heck is this? Everything feels so off.
Anyway, I had to gather information by talking to the locals. I'm a bit shy, but my life was on the line here, so I didn't have that luxury. At least I could understand Japanese… Wait, why can I understand Japanese? Oh, right. Plot convenience. If we're doing plot convenience, then I want some cheat powers while we're at it!
From what I heard, this town is called Gorshe, and its main business is coal mining.
Japan? Never heard of it. America, China, Europe? Also no.
This is the Aizien Continent. …Yeah, that's definitely not Earth. Okay, other world confirmed. LOL.
How did it end up like this—
Anyway, I had no money. Without money, I couldn't eat or get a room to stay in. My entire fortune was 3,652 yen, which, of course, was useless here… Damn it, what the hell is a "Jenny"?! You're all speaking Japanese—can't you just take yen?! Fantasy worlds, I swear…
Complaining wouldn't help. I was broke. I had to work. …But I really didn't want to do hard labor.
After asking around, I found a job with room and board: digging coal in the mines. Yep, full-on manual labor. But I couldn't complain. They were willing to hire an illiterate stranger with no ID and feed me three meals a day.
...And so, half a year passed. Honestly, I'm surprised. I want to pat myself on the back for surviving in this environment.
At first, I was completely useless. My body was wrecked after just the first day, and I could barely eat. The next day, I had muscle pain so bad I could hardly move and got yelled at by the foreman. I begged him in tears not to fire me because I had nowhere else to go, and he forgave me…
…Though he cut my pay, of course!
After 2–3 months, I got used to the work. Actually, I felt like I'd gotten way stronger. Sure, manual labor builds muscle, and I couldn't overeat here, but could muscles really grow this fast?
Definitely not back in my original world. Must be that "other world bonus." Maybe someday I'll be able to do that legendary OP thing.
Well, I'm still one of the weaker miners, though.
...Another year passed after that. By the way, this world also has 365 days in a year and 12 months.
I'm still amazed I survived more than a year without the internet, TV, or manga. I'd considered myself a bit of an otaku, so it was rough at first. But humans adapt. "Home is where you live"—the old saying was right. I even learned to read the local script, though it's like reading everything in hiragana—annoying, but manageable.
I've gained a lot of strength, but I've plateaued recently. It feels like I need more resistance, like strapping on weights while working—but nah, too tiring. My current strength is enough for mining. It's not like I need to slay demon lords—there aren't any here. Though there are magical beasts. Classic isekai.
I became friends with my coworkers and even got juniors. Nowadays, my joy in life is having a drink and making small bets with my buddies after work. …Hm? Underage? Doesn't matter. Even 15-year-olds drink here. Different world, different laws. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Self-justification complete.
One day, while drinking with my friends, I overheard some dangerous gossip: the town's mayor had been assassinated.
Wait, assassins exist here?! Well, probably—fantasy world and all.
Rumor had it that the assassin was from the legendary Zoldyck family.
Ha, the legendary assassin family Zoldyck? Sounds like such edgy chuunibyou nonsense.
…Zoldyck?? …Wait, seriously?
It seems this world is the world of Hunter × Hunter. Or at least, something extremely close to it. After some digging, I found terms like "Hunters" and "Hunter Association." The currency here is Jenny—same as HxH—and the universal script is called Hunter Script.
No wonder I got stronger so quickly. This world's air really is like protein. Pretty much confirmed: this is Hunter × Hunter's world.
How did it take me a year and a half to notice? I'm an idiot. …No, I was too busy trying to survive. That's all.
Now that I know I'm in HxH's world, what should I do? Honestly, this world is dangerous. Death flags everywhere.
Maybe I can live quietly, but getting involved with the main plot will skyrocket my death chances. Even popular characters lose their heads in this series. But avoiding the story entirely has its downsides too.
Let's list the pros and cons of getting involved:
Pros
Possibly return to my original world.
If this really is HxH, then Greed Island exists. Using the cards could let me return home. To get them, I'd have to tag along with the main cast—I have no illusions of solo-clearing it. Best to ride on Gon and the others' coattails. If I want to go home, I'll need the reward card Biscuit plans to claim.
Witness the story firsthand.
I love HxH, especially Nen. Creating your own unique ability and being able to defeat stronger opponents—it's not purely talent-based (though talent helps). Nen is well-thought-out and consistent. Experiencing my favorite series in person is incredibly tempting.
Meet my favorite characters.
Especially the female ones: Machi, Shizuku, Bisky, Ponzu, Neon… Meeting beautiful, cute girls in 3D is a dream. Real life doesn't have manga faces. This is basically live-action Hunter × Hunter. They must be stunning!
Of course, touching Machi or Shizuku is a death sentence unless I reach Hisoka-level strength. Bisky… I'll just look. Neon is off-limits—touching her means mafia trouble. Only Ponzu might be a safe bet… even though Machi's my favorite.
Cons
High chance of dying.
Death flags everywhere. Maybe only the Zoldyck visit and Heaven's Arena arcs are relatively safe. Chimera Ant arc? Forget it. How do you even beat the King?! He's in the wrong series. Probably stronger than a B-class yokai. He could probably take down a certain weak Saiyan. Someone call a demon-powered Spirit Detective—I might stand a chance then.
…None.
Other than death, no other con. Yep.
The pros are tempting, especially the chance to return home. Even if I've gotten used to this world, I still miss home—Japanese food, the internet, games, manga, and goofing off with friends… my family…
Yeah. I really want to go back now.
Alright, I'll intervene in the main story!
Sure, I might die, but I have a unique weapon: knowledge of the original story. If I use it well, I can avoid many death flags.
I don't know the exact timeline yet, but if it's before the main story, I can train my body and learn Nen. That should at least get me through the Hunter Exam. After that… I'll just adapt as I go. I'm feeling optimistic. As long as I avoid the Chimera Ants, I'll be fine. Once the Greed Island arc ends, I can leave this world.
Plus, if I get close to Ponzu under the pretext of teaching Nen… well, who knows!
To think my first time might be with a manga character… (I'm only imagining success.)
Yes! I've decided! I'll join the main story, and I will… lose my virginity!!! (Unaware that my goal has shifted.)
…There was a time I thought like that.
Currently: February 7, 1872. About 127 years until the original story begins…
The original story? …What's that?
.................................It's over.