— Another novel coming to an end…
The light from my phone illuminates my face in the darkness of the room as I finish reading the latest chapter. It’s already past midnight, which is nothing new.
— The author mentioned a major plot twist at the end… — I murmur. — But the story is practically over, and I still can’t imagine what it could be.
The protagonist has defeated several enemies, conquered the continent, and amassed a harem that has completely stifled any character development.
At first, it was kind of interesting. I paid attention to the stories of the first and second girls, but… they just kept piling up, and it seemed like the author was just throwing new characters into the story without knowing what to do with them.
In the end, I just remember a few who seemed to have a decent backstory, while I barely paid attention to the others’.
— And still, I read all the chapters…
When I finish reading, I set my phone aside and slowly close my eyes, getting ready to sleep.
It was a novel that, despite not being the best, served well to pass the time.
— The last chapters should come out later this week…
While I’m waiting to fall asleep, I remember the beginning of the story. A standard hero and harem novel, with the same old clichés. The protagonist collects girls while saving the world from an ancient demon that can only be killed by the chosen one.
Honestly, I don’t know why I started reading it, since it seemed pretty boring. Maybe because of the simple writing, I ended up reading the whole story when I had nothing better to do.
By the way, for some reason, the author decided to make this world a place with a much larger female population than male.
Probably to justify the protagonist’s massive harem.
— There are even some girls who just disappear from the story…
At the point where the novel left off, the protagonist is fighting the demon and is likely to end up winning, even if it requires the power of friendship or something like that.
— Well, if he loses or dies, that whole part of the prophecy would go to waste... The plot twist must be something like the demon’s origin being connected to the hero… Maybe a relative?
Even if I try to speculate, in the end only the author knows the answer. The only thing I can do now is sleep and wait for the rest of the novel.
— Let’s just sleep… Ah, I forgot to comment…
I open my eyes and reach for my phone, but I notice something strange: my hand passes through the air.
I even get a momentary panic, wondering if the desk had fallen.
— …Hm? Where am I!?
I look around and realize that I’m in a small wooden cabin. Rough logs form the walls, and a simple window lets in a ray of light that illuminates the floor of worn planks. There’s an unlit stone fireplace in the corner and some simple furniture scattered around the room.
— I must be dreaming… — I think, as I lie back down.
This time, however, I don’t feel my soft bed or the comfort of my pillow, just a rough straw mattress covered by an animal pelt.
— ...Let’s have a look.
The air inside the cabin is warm and smells of damp wood. I’m wearing my usual clothes, but for some reason, I feel a slight discomfort with my vision.
— Hm… Better not worry about that for now.
Perhaps because I’ve read so many novels and watched so many anime, I remain relatively calm in the face of the situation. It’s as if something inside me is whispering that I’m in another world.
— Calm down… But what if it really is another world!? — I think, getting excited.
I get up and walk over to the small window to see what’s outside. I push the worn wood, which creaks under my hand, slowly revealing the scene.
What I see is water stretching to the horizon, accompanied by birdsong and a gentle breeze carrying a faint salty scent.
— … Is that the sea? Did I end up on the beach!?
As I watch, I feel increasingly intrigued by the situation and decide to check again if there’s anything useful inside the cabin, but I don’t find anything interesting.
— Maybe I should take a look outside… Hm?
As soon as I reach the door, a static screen appears before my eyes, forming words slowly, as if they were written in water and flowing through the air.
[Welcome]
[You have been selected to participate in the story “The Hero of the Prophecy Is the One Who Was Left Behind” and are now on a remote island where no one would notice the sudden appearance of a person.]
[You have 1 month before being discovered by a fishing boat. Try to familiarize yourself with everything you can during this time.]
[Note: This world is real, and the story was created based on calculations and probabilities of what could happen in the future. Your actions can completely alter the course of events.]
[Thank you for your support in reading the story.]
The words linger before my eyes for a moment.
— That title… Isn’t that the name of the novel I just finished reading!?
I look at the wooden walls, the straw mattress, and the window overlooking the sea.
— Why!? Just because I didn’t comment!?
After standing there in a daze for a few moments, I open the door to see what lies beyond the cabin.
As soon as I push open the weathered wood, the tropical climate and the salty breeze leave no doubt: I’m on an island. Outside, a few simple objects are scattered around, as if I’d been living here for some time.
I see a bucket weathered by the sun, a makeshift hammock strung between two trees, a wooden spear leaning against the ground, and other rustic items.
— Did you really have to send me to a place like this? — I ask myself as I walk cautiously.
I walk around the area a few times, examining the surroundings. I don’t find anything that looks dangerous and end up letting out a sigh of relief.
— Ufa… It seems like I’m the only one around here. — I think, sitting on a large rock. — Alright, let’s see what I’ve got.
In this world, there is a magical system that connects all inhabitants to the planet’s core. It is what defines and reveals each person’s unique characteristics.
Remembering how it worked, I recite in a low voice:
— Open panel.
In that instant, a screen filled with static appears before me. Gradually, the distortions disappear, and my data begins to form before my eyes.
═══════════════════════════════════
| [Name]: Rafael | | [Race]: Human |
| [Level]: 01 |
═══════════════════════════════════
— ...That’s it? You’re not even going to show me my skills or magics!? — I exclaim, but the screen remains unchanged. — ...Could it be because I don’t have any, and that’s why it doesn’t appear?
I let out a frustrated sigh and try to remember exactly how skills and magic work in this world, hoping to find a way to survive and not die alone on an island.
— Magic… It can only be trained if I had some magical affinity, but skills are another story. — I stand up and grab the wooden spear. — …What’s the right way to use a spear?
As I fiddle with the weapon, I remember that even a poorly executed punch could hurt me more than my opponent.
— I don’t want to twist my wrist when I thrust…
Despite my slight hesitation, it’s the only weapon I have right now, so I decide to carry it with me.
— Time to take a closer look at this island…
The forest isn’t too dense, so I manage to make my way in little by little, watching out for anything that might pop up.
— I need to secure some drinking water and food… And this weather is going to kill me.
I make my way across the island with pessimistic thoughts swirling in my mind, along with the difficulties I’ll face in the coming days.
— Survive for a month… I just want to go home!
Even if I say that, my situation won’t change. I keep walking through the woods until, finally, I hear the sound of water. Without a second thought, I head toward the sound and find a small stream that runs deep into the island, likely coming from a hill ahead.
— If I follow this, I should find the spring… — I think as I survey the surroundings. — Are there no animals on this island? I don’t see any, not even near this stream.
Maybe it’s thoughts like that which make fate play tricks, because as soon as I look ahead again, I see a creature that makes me tremble with fear.
— I-It’s not possible…
My eyes widen as the figure approaches. At first, I can’t understand what I’m seeing… until the horror takes shape before me.
A cockroach, the size of a dog, emerges from the vegetation. Its antennae twitch restlessly, and its stiff, brown wings glisten faintly in the light filtering through the forest canopy. Each step echoes on the damp ground, crunching dry leaves and snapping broken twigs.
The worst part isn’t its size; it’s its grotesque shape.
And, on top of all that… It flies.
—…Run! — I run away without looking back.
[To be continued…]
[???]:
— Eba, the story’s started… I gotta get the popcorn.
[+++]:
— Ei, if you’re getting popcorn, I want some!
[???]:
— Sure…