Misaka froze.
What was this?
A system like the ones in Japanese light novels where the protagonist gets transported to another world?
Or some kind of advanced technology unique to this world?
She cautiously extended a finger and poked the panel.
Her fingertip passed straight through it, encountering no physical resistance whatsoever.
Yet the panel rippled in response to her touch before displaying a new window.
[Welcome to the “Marvel Universe,” Player Misaka Mikoto.]
[This system exists to maintain the fundamental order of the multiverse. For reasons unknown, the “coordinates” of multiple worlds have overlapped, causing several “anomalies”—that is, beings like yourself—to be drawn into this Marvel Universe.]
[All players drawn into this world are divided into three major factions according to their inherent attributes:]
[Guardian Faction: Dedicated to maintaining the stability of the world and protecting life. Your actions will earn the favor of the World Will.]
[Raid Faction: Those who take pleasure in destruction, slaughter, and overturning the established order. They are the enemies of all Guardians. However, not every member of the Raid Faction is beyond redemption. Their actions are often governed by their own beliefs.]
[Neutral Faction: Those who act solely in pursuit of their own interests. Their conduct is unpredictable, and they may become either allies or enemies.]
[Reputation is the universal hard currency of this world. It can be obtained by completing faction missions, influencing key plot characters, changing the course of the world, and other means. It can be exchanged for anything you require.]
A flood of information poured into Misaka’s mind.
It took her several seconds to digest it all.
So being transported to another world wasn’t an isolated incident.
It was some kind of massive collective accident?
And there were factions, too?
It sounded almost exactly like one of those online games she’d played before.
“Players…” she murmured.
“Then that means there are other people like me?”
As though sensing her question, the system panel changed again.
[Yes. Please be advised that you may encounter players from other factions at any time.]
The system then explained that if she wanted to determine whether someone was a player—and, if so, which faction they belonged to—she only needed to be within a radius of five hundred meters of that person.
A faction marker would then appear above their head.
The other player would likewise be able to see the marker above hers.
“How do I tell the different faction markers apart?” Misaka asked.
[The Raid Faction is represented by the color red. Its symbol is a red skull.]
[The Guardian Faction is represented by the color green. Its symbol is a green shield.]
[The Neutral Faction is represented by the color white. Its symbol is a white set of scales.]
A chill ran down Misaka’s spine.
This world was even more complicated and dangerous than she’d imagined.
“Reputation can be exchanged for anything?”
Her heart began pounding involuntarily.
“Then… can it send me home?”
[Returning to your original world requires the “World Marker” to be unlocked. Required Reputation: ??? (Insufficient permissions to determine the required amount.)]
It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head.
But Misaka quickly noticed another line of text.
[System Shop unlocked. Players may use Reputation to exchange for items or summon bonded characters from their original world.]
Summon?
Misaka’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Almost impatiently, she used her mind to select the “Bond Summoning” option.
A long list immediately unfolded, displaying names and portraits that were more familiar to her than anything else in the world.
[Misaka Misuzu (Mother) — Summoning Cost: 5,000,000 Reputation]
[Misaka Tabigake (Father) — Summoning Cost: 5,000,000 Reputation]
[Shirai Kuroko — Summoning Cost: 4,000,000 Reputation]
[Uiharu Kazari — Summoning Cost: 4,000,000 Reputation]
[Saten Ruiko — Summoning Cost: 4,000,000 Reputation]
[Shokuhou Misaki — Summoning Cost: 4,500,000 Reputation]
……
Misaka’s eyes raced down the list.
But when she saw the long strings of zeroes, the excitement and anticipation on her face instantly froze.
Five million?
Four million?
She looked at her pitiful 8,000 Reputation and felt like a penniless beggar staring up at astronomical figures.
How many times would she have to save the world to save up that much?!
Unwilling to give up, Misaka continued scrolling, hoping to find someone a little more affordable.
Then a familiar—and headache-inducing—name suddenly appeared before her eyes.
[Kamijou Touma — Summoning Cost: 1,000,000 Reputation]
One million?
That was three-quarters cheaper than Kuroko and the others!
Misaka’s cheeks instantly flushed bright red, and her heartbeat skipped.
Almost instinctively, she waved her hand as though she could slap the panel out of existence.
She muttered in an embarrassed, tsundere tone:
“Wh-Who said I wanted to summon that idiot?! Spending a million Reputation on him would be such a waste! I wouldn’t… Hmph!”
Before she knew it, the image of that spiky-haired boy flashed through her mind—the way he always threw himself into danger for other people, and the way he’d used that right hand of his to stand against Accelerator.
If… if that idiot were here, too…
“No, no, no! Misaka Mikoto, get a grip!”
She slapped both cheeks hard, forcibly driving the boy’s image from her mind.
“Survival comes first! Survival!”
She took a deep breath, closed the Bond Summoning list that had left her heart in complete disarray, and opened the “Item Shop” instead.
An overwhelming selection of goods appeared before her, with all kinds of bizarre and wondrous items shimmering temptingly on the screen.
[One-Time Resurrection Token — Price: 10,000,000 Reputation (Limit: 1)]
[Description: Upon the player’s death, instantly resurrects them at full health at their location of death. Soul-bound and non-tradeable.]
[Peak Condition Potion — Price: 8,000,000 Reputation (Limit: 1)]
[Description: Instantly repairs all injuries and restores the user’s physical condition to the strongest peak state they have ever achieved. The enhancement is permanent.]
[Portable Gekota Emergency Medical Kit: Contains various medical products from Academy City. Price: 2,000 Reputation.]
[“Sisters” Military Goggles (Replica): Provides night vision and basic data-analysis functions. Price: ??? Reputation.]
……
Misaka stared at the items, especially the first two, and drew a sharp breath.
The Resurrection Token and Peak Condition Potion were practically god-tier trump cards for staying alive.
Their prices, however, were equally god-tier.
With her current Reputation, she couldn’t even afford a fraction of either one.
Still, they gave her something she desperately needed.
Hope.
As long as she worked hard to accumulate Reputation, she would not only have a chance to bring her friends to this world, but could also obtain powerful means of protecting herself.
“All right!”
Misaka closed the system panel, and darkness once again filled the room.
She lay back down on the bed, but this time, her mood was completely different.
The confusion and unease had vanished, replaced by a blazing fighting spirit.
So what if she had to earn Reputation?
She was the Railgun of Tokiwadai Middle School, one of only seven Level 5 espers in Academy City!
In this world that was practically a “newbie village,” once she figured out the rules, earning Reputation should be a piece of cake, right?
Misaka clenched her fist, a confident smile curling across her lips.
“Just wait for me, everyone.”
“In this new world, I’ll become the Player King—no matter what!”