This is fanfiction. I don't own copyrighted materials

My story begins with…

"Man, seriously, reading the novels is waaaaay better than watching the anime. There were many scenes being cut off. The studio butchered Arifureta so much that it wasn't funny. Tsk, I want my six hours and thirty minutes to return!"

…complaining about the anime adaptation of "Arifureta: From Commonplace to the Strongest in the World".

Truth be told, I'd held a high expectation for the anime adaptation of Ryo Shirakome's novels. When the anime airing date had come out, I endured the temptation to fuck it and just watch it. However, I'd wanted to binge-watch it, so I waited patiently for three months until it finished airing. I'd even shied away from sites that reviewed the series because I didn't want to get spoiled.

Alas, my expectation was crushed. Utterly and brutally. The anime adaptation was sacrilege for the masterpiece that was the novels. I thought Arifureta was a masterpiece because it was my first web novel. I was a hardcore fan and started reading it since the web novels version was translated into my native language. When J-Novel Club translated the light novel version, I have been never late for buying the official translated version. As of now, I have read the translated digital light novel up to the latest volume.

Before I continue, allow me to introduce myself and share a bit of my background story. My name is Ryan Schmitz, 18-years-old, living alone somewhere in California. I filed my emancipation paper when I was 16 years old right after my parent's death in a traffic accident. Since they only left behind a small sum of inheritance, I was forced to get an extra income and then went out for some odd part-time jobs while trying to get my High School's diploma. When my parents were alive, we were only an average mid-class family. Not too rich nor too poor. Since I was their only child, I needed not to think about taking responsibility for any younger sibling.

Living alone as an emancipated minor has its ups and downs, but I would like to think it wasn't that bad. There are people with the worst fate than mine out there. I ought to be grateful for my life, or so I always convince myself to ease my hard life. Of course, I still have some living relatives, but I chose to be emancipated because they were nothing but shameless leeches. I could see it, in their eyes, their greed to get their grubby hands on my inheritance. They didn't even care about me, the nerves those motherfuckers and cocksuckers had! Because of that, our relationship became estranged. But, I digress.

After the end of the credits, I stretch my body and look around. I am currently on a terrace of a small café with free WiFi, enjoying a cup of coffee and spending several hours in my lonesomeness, only being accompanied by a second-hand notebook.

Today is my weekly holiday from my job, so I came here. The place is currently packed with teens. There are even some couples, making me jealous due to my lack of a romantic partner. I silently lament my lonesomeness. I don't have close friends like typical teens. I don't have time to experience youth due to my situation. Still, I have a few acquaintances, but they are acquaintances from my part-time job. Nothing intimate. The last time I had been in a romantic relationship was in high school.

I inhale sharply before exhaling slowly. I then look at my notebook's monitor, put my finger on the mouse pad, and move the cursor to the small red button with a cross symbol in the upper right corner of the browser.

"What's this?" I mumbled faintly. When I was about to close my browser, an internet advertisement cropped up in the window. I blink my eyes in confusion and read the ad.

Congratulation! You have been chosen as one from countless candidates to enjoy the special privilege! You can ignore this advertisement, but I assure you that you will miss your only chance and come to regret it if you find out later! Click [here] to continue.

Such a suspicious text was displayed in the window.

"Is this a scam? Oh, well. I have time to kill and since I am bored…"

And so I decided to check out what it is. I click the hyperlink and wait for a moment.

Thank you for spending your time on this advertisement, but we assure you that you won't regret it. Anyway, do you feel unsatisfied with your current life? Do you wish to be something more? Do you want to have power beyond your wildest dream? Do you want to go in adventure to other worlds you believe as nothing but fictitious? Rejoice, you have been chosen to enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity!

I read the text silently, bemused.

Dissatisfied with my current life, is it? Wishing for more, you say? I'd be lying if I say I am satisfied with my current life. A small part of me always desires for more, wanting what I can't have, and I believe that it is normal.

Humans are greedy creatures that always want more in their lives. They can't obtain satisfaction easily. Well, there are some modest people who enjoy a modest lifestyle, but they will not mind getting extra.

Wanting power beyond my wildest dream, you ask? Again, it is only natural that I want it. Power, whether it is economy, authority or simple physical power, humans desire them due to their nature to be superior to others.

Going in adventure to fictional worlds? Are you kidding me?! Is this an Isekai Japanese Novels?! Are you out of your mind?! This is a reality, man. Not fiction!

However, I'd be lying if I say I have never thought about it once in my lifetime. It is due to my interest in the Japanese popular subculture. Whether it is anime, manga or web/light novels, I like them for killing my free time.

I started having an interest in Japanese popular subculture before my parents' death. It was started with the English dubbed mainstream anime. To name the few: Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, Hunter x Hunter, etc.

I then tried manga after discovering them were adapted. After discovering some manga were adapted from novels, I tried them too. Afterward, I checked out fan-made fictions on the internet and found a fanfiction site. Also, I visited Wikia of certain works to get a better understanding of the elements of the works. Before I knew it, I have become a Japanese popular subculture enthusiast, but it wasn't too far to be called an obsessive level like some individuals who were called "Weeabo" or "Otaku".

I couldn't stop my retorts and ridiculing when I continued reading the advertisement. Even so, I kept reading until I discovered a questionnaire. And due to my boredom and free time, I decided to answer the questions.

The questions and my answers are something like this-

Question: What do you think about your current life?

Answer: So-so. But it will be great if there is something more. Something worthwhile. Something FUN.

Question: Would you agree to leave your current life? If you agree, what's your reason?

Answer: If I can get a better life, maybe? Well, my life sucks. My parents died when I was a minor, leaving a small inheritance. I don't have time to enjoy my youth due to works to pay my bills. Also, my relatives are greedy fucks, so I decided to live alone.

Question: If you get the privilege to choose another world as your destination, where do you want to go?

Answer: The world of anime and manga. I like them. But, I won't mind going to Arifureta world since I like the series.

Question: In the destination of your choice, what kind of role you wish to have?

Answer: I don't mind to take the place of the protagonist. It's true that the protagonist of Arifureta has a shitty beginning, but he becomes badass later on.

Question: If you have a choice to pick out, what event/time you want to start in your destination?

Answer: Right after being summoned to Tortus.

Question: If you have a choice to pick up, what kind of power you wish to have?

Answer: A type of system like The Gamer. I won't mind if I get extra power to take other's power by eating them like what Rimuru or Goblin Rou has. It's better if I get the power to plunder other skills and stats. Better still, it can pillage the skills and stats from dead bodies. The good ol' Isekai Cheat. Muahahahaha! X-P

After I answered all the questions, I check my answers for the last time before submitting them. While waiting for the process to complete, I shake my head in exasperation. I think, "I am really bored if I took this seriously. Well, whatever. There is no harm from this."

Right at this moment, a new window crops up.

We have checked and approved your responses. Rejoice, your wish shall become true! You will be transported to your destination in…

5.

4.

3.

2.

1.

There is a countdown, and It goes down every second.

I snort at the advertisement and shake my head in amused exasperation. When I attempt to close the window for good, it keeps popping up. I repeat my attempt, but the window is very persistent.

I become annoyed quickly and wonder if the advertisement brought malware or a virus with it. But my anti-malware and the antivirus haven't warned me.

And finally, the countdown becomes zero. The screen of my notebook distorts suddenly.

I am starting to panic because I fear of harmful malware or virus infecting my notebook. I then feel woozy.

My awareness fades quickly, and my head then flops down and hits my notebook's keyboard.

ooOOoo

When my awareness returns, a blinding light hits my eyes. I unconsciously close my eyes and shield them with my arms.

"What happened? What's with this light?" I mentally wondered and realized that when I was about to freak out, the crippling emotion disappeared, leaving me puzzled.

It is abnormal because I deem myself to be an ordinary person, and like any ordinary person, I ought to have freaked out by this unknown predicament.

After a moment, when the light is still blinding my eyes, I see something popping up in my vision. And it is something very outrageous that it makes me think whether I am dreaming or not…

Transferring the user's soul… successful.

No adverse effect has been discovered by the system.

The system is running without any problem.

Your Character Name has been set into "Hajime Nagumo".

Welcome! Below here are the system's keywords to access your power.

Say/think "Open Status" to access your Status Window.

Say/think "Open Skills" to access your Skills Window.

Say/think "Open Storage" to access your Storage Window.

Say/think "Open Party" to access your Party Window.

Say/think "Open Settings" to access the Settings Window.

|Close|

I look at the holographic screen calmly. Even though I'm physically calm and fine, but inwardly…

"Holy shit! Did I get 'isekai'ed by internet advertisement? Yes. Yes, I am!" I mentally exclaimed.

Truth be told, I don't know how I ought to properly react to this situation.

Hehe, thank you for reading my story. Although self insert Gamer fanfictions were sprouting like weeds and something that couldn't be said to be unique, I hope this story still piqued your interest. It was one of a few reasons why I chose Arifureta as the beginning of this story. The other reasons were due to my love for Ryo Shirakome's novels and my desire to write a self-insert gamer to satisfy my delusion.

I don't know what will happen to this story at a later date. It may turn into another train wreck or may become my prided masterpiece. I just wrote what in my mind, according to my mood. Whatever is the outcome of this story, I want to find out myself.

Before I end this section, I thank you for your time. And I hope you continue to read this just to satisfy my ego. If you drop this story one day, I won't hold on to you. I wrote this for my own satisfaction.

Well, then. Let's meet again in the next chapter! See ya!