Chapter Text
“My chest is bursting with gratitude, Lord Rimuru,” said the man. His dark hair was distinctive, marked by streaks of yellow and red, and he stood tall in his butler’s attire.
“Uh, yeah. Good to hear,” replied the figure before him - a youth with long, shimmering light-blue hair whose gender was impossible to discern.
“I, Diablo, would be delighted to serve you faithfully.”
“What a weird dream,” Mikami Satoru muttered as his alarm jolted him awake.
Was that supposed to be me? Did I turn into a hot girl... or a boy? He made his way to the kitchen, the image of the blue-haired figure lingering behind his eyelids. Is this some subconscious desire? I mean, I don't really have any serious problems with my current life, he thought, the kettle beginning to whistle as he prepared his morning coffee.
Mikami Satoru lived a typical life. He’d graduated, found a decent spot at a large general contracting firm, and stayed there. Since his older brother was taking care of their parents, Satoru was free to enjoy the quiet perks of the bachelor life.
At 37, he was still single. He felt like it should bother him, but it didn't. He was past the point where finding a "significant other" felt like a requirement. Work kept him busy enough, and he liked his peace.
Today, however, that peace was being interrupted. He was meeting his junior colleague, Tamura, and Tamura’s girlfriend, Sawatari. They’d asked for a meeting to discuss their upcoming marriage and seek his "advice." Satoru was convinced they were just rubbing it in. After all, he’d never even had a girlfriend.
He arrived at the meeting spot and waited.
“Senpai, sorry we’re late!”
There he was - the ever-bubbly Tamura. Beside him stood the “it girl” of the company, Sawatari.
“Nah, it’s fine,” Satoru replied with a practiced smile.
Tamura introduced them, though it was a formality. Satoru was well aware of who Sawatari was, even if they’d never spoken more than a few passing words at the office.
“Wanna get something to eat? My treat,” Tamura offered. Ah, What a good kid, Satoru thought.
Then, the screaming started.
“Move! I’ll kill you!”
Satoru spun around. A man was sprinting toward them, a knife clutched in his hand. He was heading straight for them. Straight for—
“Tamura!”
Satoru lunged, shoving his kouhai aside. A sudden, white-hot searing sensation tore across his back. His body buckled, collapsing to the pavement as his nervous system struggled to process the shock. He tried to move, but he couldn't.
A crowd surged around them. He could hear Sawatari’s frantic sobbing and Tamura’s voice cracking as he screamed for an ambulance.
Beneath the chaos, a different sound emerged. A cold, mechanical voice. A woman? He couldn't tell.
What are you talking about? I can’t hear you...
Dying in my 30s and still a virgin... I should be a sage. No, I’m almost 40. I should be a Great Sage.
[Confirmed. Extra Skill “Sage” successfully acquired. Evolving Extra Skill “Sage” into Unique Skill “Great Sage”. Successful.]
Are you making fun of me?!
The voice in his head continued its nonsense. Summoning the last of his strength, Satoru looked up at Tamura to deliver his final, most sacred request.
“Take my computer... put it in the bathtub. Turn it on... and just fry everything on the disk for me, man...”
Tamura let out a wet, shaky snicker. “That’s just like you, senpai.”
Satoru turned his head, his breathing growing shallow and heavy. His vision blurred into a grey haze, but just before the light faded, he saw him. Standing among the panicked crowd was a tall man with fair skin and dark hair streaked with yellow and red. He wore dark clothes and stood perfectly still. No one else seemed to notice he was there.
That was the last thing Satoru saw before the world went dark.