An Ordinary Occupation Makes the World's Strongest Author: Bai Miliang
Nanyun Hajime, the "bullied child," is summoned to another world along with his classmates. While his classmates gradually display special abilities oriented towards combat, Hajime possesses only the ordinary ability of a refiner. Furthermore, being the weakest in this other world, he is maliciously pushed into a deep ravine in the maze by a classmate—!?
In the abyss of despair with no way to escape, Hajime met Vampire Moon as if it was destined, and found the path to become the strongest as a refiner.
"I protect Yue, and Yue protects me. That way, I will be the strongest. I will sweep away everything and surpass the entire world."
A boy who has fallen into the abyss and a vampire who lives in seclusion in the deepest part of the world, the two have joined forces to create the "strongest" fantasy story in another world, and the prologue has officially begun!
Volume 1, Prologue
In the darkness, the light source rapidly dwindled, and even if he instinctively reached out, he couldn't grasp it. The intense feeling of falling made Nan Yun Hajime tighten his hips, his expression twisted with fear as he stared at the fading light.
Hajime was now plummeting rapidly down a cliff resembling the eighteenth level of hell, a light visible on the ground. Having fallen into a massive crack in the ground while exploring the maze, Hajime had continued to fall, finally reaching a depth beyond the reach of light. In the pitch blackness, Hajime listened to the humming of the wind, while a revolving lantern of events flashed through his mind.
Since arriving in this rather harsh world, which cannot be described as a fantasy world full of dreams and hopes, he, as a Japanese, has experienced all kinds of injustice and even suffered an unfortunate fate in the present tense.
Monday is the most melancholy start of the week. Facing the coming week, most people will sigh and miss the paradise they had until yesterday.
Nanyun Hajime was no exception. However, in Hajime's case, besides being bothered by the school environment, the main reason was the depression caused by the extremely bad school environment.
As usual, Hajime arrived at school just as the bell was about to ring, and with his shaky body after staying up all night, he managed to open the classroom door.
Instantly, most of the male students in the classroom either clucked their tongues or glared at him. The female students also had unfriendly expressions. Indifference was still considered acceptable, but some even gave Hajime a look of obvious contempt.
Hajime tried his best to ignore the looks from others and walked towards his seat, but people would often tease him.
"Hey, nerd! Staying up late playing video games again? It must be some 18+ game, right?"
"Wow, this is disgusting~ Staying up late playing 18+ games is really disgusting."
I don't know what was so funny about this, but the boys burst into laughter. The one who started it all was Hiyama Daisuke, who, as usual, took the lead in picking on Hajime. Three people were sneering nearby: Saito Yoshiki, Kondo Reiichi, and Nakano Shinji. These four were the ones who constantly harassed Hajime.
Hiyama was right; Hajime was an otaku. That said, his appearance and demeanor were respectable, undeserving of the stigma of being a geek. His hair was cropped close, not frizzy. He had no communication issues, and though he wasn't proactive, he was able to engage in conversation fluently. While he had a gentle personality, he didn't come across as gloomy. He simply loved creative things—manga, novels, games, movies, and so on.
It's true that society generally has a negative view of otaku, but it's usually limited to ridicule, not to such strong resentment. So why do the male students show hostility and contempt towards Hajime?
The answer lies with her.
"Good morning, Nagumo-san! I'm just in time for today. You should come early too."
A female student walked towards Hajime with a smile on her face. She was one of the few exceptions in the class, no, in the entire school, who was kind to Hajime, and she was also the cause of the current situation.
This beautiful girl, Shirasaki Kaori, is known as one of the school's two goddesses, enjoying immense popularity among both men and women. She has waist-length, lustrous black hair, and large, slightly droopy eyes that create a gentle, almost ethereal look. Her high nose bridge, delicate tip, and pale pink lips create a perfect balance.
She is always smiling and caring, and has a strong sense of responsibility, so students from all grades often ask her for help. She always accepts requests seriously and never looks bored, showing a broad mind that is really unlike that of a high school student.
For some reason, Kaori always looked after Hajime. Due to his late nights, Hajime often dozed off in class and was considered a lazy student (though his grades remained average). Kaori's natural caring nature probably gave her special attention to him.
If Hajime's class attitude improved, or if he was handsome enough, Kaori might have accepted his concern. Unfortunately, Hajime's appearance was quite ordinary, and his motto, "Life is about hobbies and interests," meant his attitude remained unchanged. The equally ordinary male students couldn't stand Hajime's closeness with Kaori, and angrily wondered, "Why does that guy have such good intentions?" The girls, on the other hand, seemed simply annoyed that Hajime was causing Kaori trouble and showing no interest in improving the situation.
"Ah, ah, good morning, Shirosaki-san."
Under the gaze that made one wonder, "Is this murderous intent!?", Hajime replied with a stiff face.
Kaori's face lit up with joy at hearing that. "Why is she looking like that?" A sharp glance from the side made Hajime break out in a cold sweat. Hajime always found it strange. Why would Kaori, the school's most beautiful girl, care so much about him? It seemed to Hajime that there was something else going on besides Kaori's personality.
But there was no way he could be so arrogant as to think Kaori harbored romantic feelings for him. Hajime knew he'd sacrificed many things for his own interests, and his looks, grades, and athletic abilities were all average. She was surrounded by a man he couldn't compare to. Therefore, her attitude was truly unbelievable.
"By the way, please pay attention to this storm of murderous eyes!" Hajime pleaded in his heart. But he didn't say it out loud. Because if he did, he would definitely be taken to the back of the gymnasium in an instant...
As Hajime was considering the right moment to end the conversation, three men and women approached. Among them was, of course, the "good man" mentioned earlier.
"Good morning, Nagumo-san. You must be working hard every day."
"Kaori, are you still taking care of him? I can't stand it. Kaori is really gentle."
"That's absolutely right. Nothing you say will help a guy like that."
The only female student among the three who greeted Hajime was Yaegashi Shizuku, a close friend of Kaori's. Her long black hair, tied into a ponytail, was her trademark. Her eyes were narrow and sharp, yet they shone with a gentleness that gave her a rather cool impression.
Standing 172cm tall, she's considered tall for a woman. Her sturdy frame and imposing presence give her the air of a samurai. In fact, Shizuku's family runs a renowned Yaegashi-ryu swordsmanship dojo, and she's been an undefeated champion in kendo tournaments since elementary school. She's been featured in magazines as a contemporary beautiful swordsman, and even has a fervent following. Shizuku's face often twitches when she's greeted by her junior schoolmates with enthusiastic glances, calling her "Onee-sama."
Next, speaking to Kaori in a somewhat contrived tone, was Amanokawa Kouki. With a name as bright as a hero's, he was a perfect superman with handsome looks, excellent grades, and all-around athletic prowess.
He has fluffy brown hair, gentle eyes, stands nearly 180cm tall, and has a slender yet sturdy physique. He is gentle with everyone and has a strong sense of justice (though he's also quite self-righteous). He has been a student at the Yaegashi Dojo since elementary school, and is a national-level warrior alongside Shizuku, with whom he's childhood sweetheart. It's said that dozens of female students admire him, but because he's always with Shizuku and Kaori, many seem to be put off and ultimately never confess their feelings. Even so, at least two people confess their love to him every month, regardless of whether they're in school or not, making him a true heartthrob.
Finally, the casually dismissive male student named Sakagami Ryutaro was a close friend of Kouki's. He had short, close-cropped hair and eyes that held both a sharp and energetic look. He was 190 centimeters tall and built like a bear. As his appearance suggested, he was a simple-minded, unconcerned person.
Ryutaro loved hard work, passion, and perseverance, so he hated people like Hajime who were unmotivated and always slept in school. In fact, after Ryutaro glanced at Hajime, he sneered and ignored him, as if he was not interested.
"Good morning, Yaegashi-san, Amanokawa-san, Sakagami-san. Haha, I can't help it, this is all my fault."
After greeting Shizuku and the others, Hajime gave a wry smile. "Why are you casually chatting up Yaegashi-san? Ahhh!?" This unspoken gaze pierced Hajime repeatedly. Shizuku also possessed a popularity rivaling Kaori's.
"Now that you know, you should correct it, right? It's not good to always rely on Kaori's kindness. After all, Kaori can't always take care of you."
Guanghui offered Hajime some advice. In Guanghui's eyes, Hajime seemed like a mischievous person who had exploited Kaori's kindness. Although Hajime wanted to loudly protest that he didn't rely on Kaori and instead hoped she would stop meddling in his affairs, he feared he would end up under forced supervision. Guanghui's self-righteousness convinced Hajime that rebuttals were pointless, so he kept quiet.
Moreover, even when he was told to "correct," Hajime had no hesitation in following his passions as his life's purpose. After all, his father was a game developer and his mother a shojo manga artist. To pave the way for his future, Hajime even worked part-time at his father's company and his mother's workplace.
His abilities were already recognized as ready for combat, and his future path, centered around his interests, was a surefire path. Because Hajime lived life with such seriousness, he saw no need to change his lifestyle, no matter what anyone said. As long as Kaori didn't mind him, he could have remained a quiet and inconspicuous student.
“Oh my~ Ahahaha…”
Therefore, Hajime was planning to just laugh it off. However, today our goddess still dropped a bomb without realizing it.
"? Kouki-san, what are you talking about? I, I just wanted to talk to Nagumo-san."
The classroom erupted in commotion. The boys glared at Hajime, gnashing their teeth as if they wanted to curse him to death. Hiyama and the other four even started discussing where to take Hajime during lunch break.
"Huh? ...Ahh, Kaori is really gentle."
It seemed as if Kouki had interpreted Kaori's words as a sign of concern for Hajime. While Kouki was a perfect superman, perhaps because of this, he had a flaw: an overconfidence in his own legitimacy. "This is really tricky," Hajime thought, escaping reality as he gazed out the classroom window at the blue sky.
“…I’m sorry. They didn’t mean any harm…”
Shizuku, who understood everyone's moods and interpersonal relationships best, secretly apologized to Hajime. Hajime shrugged with a wry smile, saying, "It can't be helped."
As they were talking, the bell rang and the teacher entered the classroom. Perhaps accustomed to the unusual atmosphere, the teacher casually announced the morning's instructions. Then, as if it were normal, class began, and Hajime departed for his dream world as usual.
Kaori smiled faintly at this. Shizuku looked dumbfounded at Hajime, who was, in some ways, a genius. The boys clucked their tongues, while the girls cast scornful glances.
After a while, the classroom began to get a little noisy. As a habitual dozer, Hajime's body had memorized the time to wake up. It felt like it was already lunchtime.
Hajime lifted himself from his slumped position on the table and rustled out his standard lunch, which replenished his energy in ten seconds. He glanced around, wondering if the shopping group had already rushed out of the classroom, as the number of students had dwindled considerably. However, most of Hajime's class had brought their own lunches, so about two-thirds of the students remained. Meanwhile, the fourth-period social studies teacher, Hatayama Aiko (25), was standing at the podium, chatting and laughing with a few students.
——Swoosh, chirp!
After quickly replenishing his afternoon energy in ten seconds, Hajime planned to lie down on the table and take a nap. However, our goddess—a demon to Hajime on some level—didn't let him have his way and came to his seat with a smile.
"It's over," Hajime groaned inwardly. Since it was a Monday, he seemed a bit sleepy. Normally, before getting involved with Kaori and the others, Hajime would always leave the classroom first and find a discreet place to nap. But two days of staying up late seemed to have quietly taken its toll.
"Nagumo-san, it's rare to see you in the classroom. Are you eating your bento? If you don't mind, how about we eat together?"
The classroom was once again filled with a dangerous atmosphere, and Hajime screamed inwardly. "Honestly, why do you care so much about me?" Hajime almost blurted out a meaningless dialect.
Start trying to resist.
"Ah~ Thank you for inviting me, Shirasaki-san. But I've already finished eating. Do you want to join Amanogawa-san and the others?"
Having said that, Hajime gently held out the package that had been drained of its contents like a mummy. If he refused, he'd probably be considered ungrateful, but it was better than sitting there on pins and needles during lunch break.
But the goddess continued to pursue relentlessly, as if this level of resistance was meaningless.
"Eh!? Is this all you have for lunch? This isn't good, you need to eat properly. I'll share my lunch with you!"
(Please, spare me! At least pay attention to the atmosphere around you!)
As Hajime sweats profusely under the increasing pressure, the saviors appear. They are Kouki and Ryutaro.
"Kaori, come over here and eat with us. After all, it seems like Nagumo hasn't gotten enough sleep yet. I won't allow anyone to carelessly eat the delicious food that Kaori specially prepared."
Kaori was stunned when she heard Guanghui say these words with a cheerful smile. For her, who was a little slow or lacking in common sense, Guanghui's handsome smile and words seemed to have no effect on her.
"Huh? Why do I need Kouki-san's permission?"
Shizuku couldn't help but chuckle at Kaori's blunt question. Even though Kouki offered a bewildered explanation with a smile, the fact that the school's most famous foursome were gathered around Hajime remained unchanged, and the pressure of their gazes remained undiminished.
Hajime sighed deeply and grumbled in his heart.
(Can we just summon these guys to another world? These four people look like they're going to be caught up in something... Can we summon them to some other world, a god, a princess, a miko, anyone?)
In order to escape reality, Hajime sent radio waves to another world. Just as Hajime, with a wry smile as usual, was about to stand up and say a few perfunctory words to leave... he froze.
——Before Hajime’s eyes, circles and geometric shapes gleaming with silver-white light appeared beneath Kouki’s feet.
The surrounding students immediately noticed the unusual situation, staring motionlessly at the glittering totem, what was likely a magic circle.
The magic circle grew brighter and brighter, expanding to a size that filled the entire classroom. Only when the strange phenomenon approached their feet did the students finally come to their senses and scream in agony. Teacher Aiko, still inside, immediately shouted, "Everyone, get out of here!" But at the same moment, the magic circle flashed with a brilliant light, like an explosion.
After a few seconds or minutes, when the classroom, once dominated by white light, regained its color, no one was there. The kicked-over chair, the half-opened lunchbox, the scattered chopsticks and plastic bottles, and all the other classroom supplies remained intact, but the people were gone.
This mass disappearance in a high school in broad daylight shocked society, but that is another story.
Volume 1 Chapter 1 Another World Summoning and Ordinary Vocation
Hajime had originally covered his face with his hands and closed his eyes, but after sensing numerous commotions around him, he slowly opened his eyes and looked around blankly.
The first thing that caught his eye was a massive mural. Ten meters long and wide, it depicted an androgynous figure. A halo emanated from his back, his long golden hair flowed softly, and a faint smile clung to his face. The background was a backdrop of grasslands, lakes, and mountains, and the figure's arms were outstretched, embracing everything. It was a truly magnificent and beautiful mural, but for some reason, Hajime felt a slight chill and couldn't help but look away.
Taking a closer look around, Hajime realized he was in a vast hall. Was it marble? The building was constructed of smooth, gleaming white stone, its surface beautifully polished. Massive pillars, also intricately carved with reliefs, supported the domed ceiling. Gazing at this solemn and majestic hall, the word "cathedral" came to mind.
Hajime and the others were perched on a pedestal at the back, higher than the surrounding area. Their classmates, like Hajime, looked around in bewilderment. It seemed as if all the students in the classroom were caught up in this situation.
Hajime glanced behind him and saw Kaori, also slumped there in a daze. Seeing that Kaori was unharmed, Hajime breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, he turned to observe the crowd around the pedestal, who seemed to explain the situation. Indeed, Hajime and his companions weren't the only ones in this hall. There were at least thirty people standing in front of the pedestal where Hajime and his companions sat. They knelt on the ground, their hands folded in front of their chests, as if in prayer.
They were all dressed in white clothes with gold embroidery, resembling Taoist robes. Beside them stood something resembling a staff, the front end of which was fan-shaped, with several discs hanging from it instead of rings.
An elderly man, approximately seventy, stepped forward. His attire was particularly extravagant for the group of Taoist priests, and he wore an eboshi hat, approximately thirty centimeters tall and of an ingenious design. Yet, he exuded a powerful aura that defied description. If it weren't for the wrinkles that etched his face and his sophisticated eyes, he might have been in his fifties. (Editor's note: A black hat worn on kimonos from the Heian period to the modern era.)
He jingled the staff in his hand, and in a calm voice that matched his appearance and was full of meaning, he spoke to Hajime and the others:
"My dear hero, and my fellow comrades, welcome to Todas. I am Ishtar Langobard, Pope of the Holy Church. I look forward to your guidance."
Having said this, the old man who called himself Ishtar smiled the kind smile of a good grandfather. And then, perhaps because a peaceful conversation couldn't take place in such a place, the old man urged the chaotic students to a quieter place—another hall furnished with several long tables and chairs.
The hall Hajime and his companions arrived in was equally magnificent. Even the uninitiated could tell that the furniture, paintings, and wallpaper were all the work of renowned artists. This was likely used for banquets. Hatayama Aiko and the four students, including Kouki, sat near the front seats, while the other students took their places at the rear. Hajime sat at the very back.
No one had raised a fuss before being brought here. Perhaps it was because everyone hadn't had time to comprehend the situation. Ishtar's explanations and his charisma were also a welcome reassurance. Seeing him lead the students with even more masterful demeanor than a teacher, Teacher Aiko was moved to tears.
Once everyone was seated, the maids arrived at the perfect moment, pushing carts. Yes, real maids! Not some knockoff from some sacred place on Earth, nor some old, overweight maid from abroad. It was like the boys' dreams had come true; they were genuine beauties, beautiful maids!
Even in this situation, the adolescent boy's boundless curiosity and desire remained alive. Most of the boys in the class stared at the maids. However, the girls, upon seeing this, gave them cold stares, as if the ice age had arrived...
Hajime almost glanced at the maid who had come to pour him a drink... but then a chill inexplicably ran down his spine, and he immediately fixed his gaze straight ahead. When he glanced in the direction of the chill, he saw Kaori, for some reason, staring at him with a smile on her face. Hajime decided to pretend he hadn't noticed.
After making sure everyone had their drinks, Ishtar began to speak.
"I'm sure everyone must be feeling incredibly confused. I'll explain everything from the beginning, so please listen to me until the end."
Having said this, Ishtar began to explain, which was typically fantastical and highly arbitrary.
To put it simply, it is like this.
First, this world is called Todas. Todas is broadly divided into three races: humans, demons, and demihumans. Humans rule the north, demons the south, and demihumans live in seclusion in the vast forests of the east.
Throughout this period, humans and demons have been at war for centuries. While demons outnumber humans, each possesses immense power, and humans have always relied on numbers to overcome this power gap. While both sides are said to be evenly matched, large-scale warfare has stagnated in recent decades. However, recently, unusual phenomena have occurred in which demons are commandeering demonic creatures.
Rumor has it that monsters are ordinary wild animals transformed by absorbing magical energy. Even the people of this world seem unaware of the true nature of monsters. These pests are ferocious and difficult to deal with, each wielding powerful magic unique to their species.
In the past, few could control these creatures, which followed their instincts. Even if they could, it was only for one or two at most. But now, this common sense has been overturned. This means that humanity's advantage in numbers has completely collapsed. In other words, humanity faces the danger of extinction.
"The Lord Esid, who summoned you, is the patron saint we humans worship. He is not only the sole god of the Holy Church, but also the supreme god who created this world. Lord Esid has likely long since realized that if this continues, humanity will perish. To prevent this, Lord Esid summoned you. Because the world you belong to is higher than this one, you possess greater power than the humans of that world."
At this point, Ishtar paused. "But this is just me learning from the oracle and applying it on the spot," he continued, his expression relaxed.
"Please demonstrate your abilities and defeat the demons under the command of 'Lord Esid', and save us humans."
Ishtar had a slightly dazed expression, probably recalling the time she heard the oracle. According to Ishtar, over 90% of humanity was a member of the Holy Church, which worshipped the Creator God Esid. Those who had heard the oracle repeatedly held positions of high power within the Holy Church, without exception.
Hajime felt an indescribable sense of crisis at the twisted reality of this world, which not only did not question "God's will" but instead happily submitted to it. At this moment, someone suddenly stood up and protested strongly.
It’s Teacher Aiko.
"Don't be ridiculous! You're planning to send these children to war! I won't allow that! That's right, the teacher will never allow that to happen! Please let us go back quickly! Our families must be worried! What you're doing is simple kidnapping!"
Teacher Aiko said angrily. She was a 25-year-old social studies teacher and very popular with her students. She had a youthful face and a petite figure, about 140 cm tall. The sight of her running around with her bob haircut for her students was truly captivating. The contrast between her constant dedication and the often disappointing results of her efforts sparked a protective feeling among many students.
Although everyone affectionately calls her "Xiao Ai," she gets angry when someone calls her that to her face. She seems to be trying to be a teacher with authority.
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