Chapter 1

Episode 1: If you’re reincarnated, shouldn’t you usually become a beautiful girl?

Turning into a beautiful girl is a dream shared by all of humanity.

Since ancient times, from the era when the Tower of Babel existed, it has been discussed in a common language.

— Wouldn’t a world filled only with cute girls be great?

If I could become a beautiful girl, there would be nothing better.

That’s why, at the brink of death, I made a wish.

In less than a second, as a reckless truck ran me over for ignoring the red light and turned my body into mincemeat, I prayed:

“Please, God, next time make me a beautiful girl… a beautiful girl… a beautiful girl…”

Spend big on reincarnation and prepare a plan to turn me into a beautiful girl!!

“But…”

I sighed deeply, unable to count how many times I had done so since being born into this world.

Let me cut to the chase.

I did not become a beautiful girl.

There are two bad pieces of news— which one do you want to hear first?

Okay. Let’s start with the bad news.

I was born as a man. No, I should say, when I woke up, I found myself as a man.

And here’s the next piece of bad news…

“Am I supposed to be some kind of stepping stone!?”

It seems like I have possessed the early-game fodder character .

Moreover, it’s after he’s already been stepped on.

■

I have undergone possession-reincarnation.

The host is a man named Na Takikai.

Judging by his name, he seems like the protagonist type destined for lifelong glory in a typical novel—but no, he isn’t.

This guy is the early-game fodder character who appears in SNS ads that promise results.

“I recognize this face.”

There was a manga I used to read, set in a modern dungeon. Its title was “Lutra of the Mirror World.” Though its source material was a rather ordinary online novel, the skill of the mangaka made me look forward to each weekly update. I even got hooked enough to buy several volumes of the novel’s spin-off.

The general storyline went like this: A protagonist expelled from a prestigious family teams up with a special girl capable of becoming a weapon in the modern dungeon, leading to a lighthearted adventure tale.

And I? I’m the rich family’s fodder character whose role is to create the trigger for the story.

He tried to throw the inept protagonist into the dungeon to kill him, but there happened to be a girl sealed inside who formed a contract with the protagonist, enabling a stunning dungeon conquest.

After returning from the dungeon, Kei challenges the protagonist to a duel but suffers a humiliating defeat. His previous harassment is exposed, leading to his condemnation. Support from his family ceases, and he loses everything.

Rescue measures? Nah, there aren’t any.

“My account balance… thirteen hundred yen.”

I threw the passbook aside.

This possession-reincarnation occurred three days ago. After the impact of the truck, I found myself standing in this body.

His room, presumably his own, was in complete disarray, likely due to his rampage after losing to the protagonist.

Over the course of three days, while tidying up the place, I’ve adjusted to the current situation.

“It’s almost over… Normally, these kinds of things start from infancy… It’s impossible to just say ‘ready’ after everything is finished!”

Why wasn’t I given a save file where everything was already screwed up?!

And most importantly…

“Why am I not a girl, Arghhhhhhhhhh!!!”

I was enraged.

I can accept being the fodder character. And I can somewhat tolerate the harsh reality.

But why must I be a man in such a wonderful world!

“I wanted to be a girl… I wanted to join a mysterious club and perform flashy jumps…!”

That was all I ever wished for in life.

“Crap crap crap!!! Why must I endure this fate?!”

Given that my current form fits the role of a fodder character, lines like these suit me perfectly.

Glad? I’m not glad at all.

“Ugh… The original protagonist has it good though. Even if I couldn’t become a girl, he still gets to enjoy his harem… But I know he works hard, so I can’t resent him…”

The original protagonist, Gata Toraku, is a hardworking hero. Moreover, he’s a manly figure who earnestly reciprocates the affections of the heroines. He’s practically a saint. Directing negative feelings towards him would be wrong. Be happy, Toraku.

“Considering I’ve already been condemned, it must be around May of my first year of high school… This is where the original story truly begins. There were quite a few events… Exciting ones.”

I suddenly remembered the original story.

A secret biological weapon-type dungeon. A school competition wagering the rights to conquer an S-Rank Dungeon. A war against beings known as angels. A full-scale conflict against a dungeon mimicking the entire Academy City.

As a reader, they’re all enjoyable events.

Though, Toraku often finds himself near death in every episode. Fans say it’s rare for him not to be injured.

“And then there are those lucky harem events… Actually, Toraku himself once turned into a woman too… Wait…”

A shockwave ran through my brain.

It felt like a massive lightning strike coursing through me.

“That’s right. There’s still a chance…!”

I realized something.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity arriving exactly one year from now.

“A dungeon that triggers TS should appear. Exactly one year from now, in this world!”

In the original story, it was treated as a comedic side event.

But for me, it’s different!

“This… With this, it might actually work!”

I don’t care about rising to prominence or clearing my tarnished name.

I have one colossal dream: to become a beautiful girl.

With this, perhaps I can reach it.

“Shall we begin… My modern dungeon academy life aimed at achieving TS!”

Before I knew it, I had clenched my fists.

The long-desired dream is approaching in just one year.

Then, there’s nothing left to do but strive toward that dream!

“Alright, let’s transfer schools!”

I quickly decided on a course of action.

The setting of the story is Hinotuchi Academy City, a massive artificial island floating in the Pacific Ocean. This city, home to over a thousand academies, is also an enormous educational facility for explorers aiming to conquer dungeons. Most governance within the districts is autonomously managed by students, operating independently in collaboration with external companies.

And where am I, Kei Na Takikai? At Mikage Academy.

One of the four major schools in Hinotuchi Academy City, it’s a mammoth institution with over half a million students, making it more like a small city. While it demands a certain level of skill and knowledge from its explorer students, Kei entered using money. Although technically from a family of talented explorers, he lacked ambition, and his strength in the story ranks among the lowest.

“This guy attended the academy thanks to financial support from his family, so he’s not a scholarship student exempt from tuition fees or anything like that.”

Living alone in a ridiculously large mansion already costs a fortune, yet he relied heavily on money, leaving him with no personal resources.

In the original story, he drops out of school due to unpaid fees and joins a delinquent group of similar individuals. Later, he attempts revenge against Toraku and is defeated.

However, with me here, I won’t let him follow the same path. Nor will I let him remain a man.

“A place with cheaper tuition… Cheaper tuition…”

I looked up a list of academies on my smartphone.

First, I need to transfer schools.

Transferring schools is fairly common within this academy city. Schools here are more akin to clubs or extracurricular activities than traditional institutions.

Finding an affordable option isn’t too difficult given the various styles and autonomous systems of this city.

“There it is! The cheapest option with free dorms, total cost zero yen! …Zero yen!?!”

What’s going on with this school?

“Is this real? Huh? Is it some kind of scheme where they sell us expensive stuff later???”

Looking further into the academy’s details, it seems the drastic reduction in student numbers has driven them to desperation. However, as long as it lasts for another year until the TS event, that’s all that matters.

To conquer dungeons, one must be enrolled in some school.

For the sake of acquiring the title of a student, I won’t judge whether it’s good or bad.

“Factom General Academy… Never heard of it.”

I don’t recognize it. It doesn’t appear in the original story, so it’s unfamiliar.

But that’s fine.

“Let’s go, Factom!”

For the sake of TS, I’ll do anything.

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