Chapter One: En Route to Buiena Village!

Year 412 of the Armored Dragon Calendar.

At the time when Rudeus was promoted to Water Saint level magician, Roxy had paused her journey in Buena Village, marking her second year as Rudeus’s family tutor.

South foothills of the Red Dragon Mountains, northern Fittoa Territory.

Night cloaked the dense forest, shadows wavering in the moonlight. Mountain winds swept down from the dark ridges of the Red Dragon Mountains, threading through gaps in the branches and stirring the orange glow of the fire, brushing softly across a youthful face.

The flames of the campfire flickered in his dark gray eyes, reflecting with uncertain light.

A burning stick snapped suddenly, crackling sharply. Its owner blinked and lowered his gaze to the map of the Asura Kingdom held in his hands.

—In the center of his vision, the northern border of Fittoa Territory was circled in crimson ink, and within the circle, four characters were written.

Buena Village.

The owner of the map rested his cheek on his hand. Though young in years, his expression was composed. Sharply arched brows lent his face an air of determination.

“…With another day’s journey, I’ll finally meet Rudeus.”

—Ellen, a transmigrator.

Before his death, he was working overtime, conducting road tests on the autonomous driving system for an internet-based automotive company. Having participated in all phases of development and testing, Ellen had full confidence in his firm’s safety protocols.

He took out his phone to idle away time, continuing to read “Jobless Reincarnation—The Extra Chapters.”

Perhaps the furrow of his brow betrayed his passion for the series, for the driving system showed great sympathy for the overworked.

The speedometer needle shot up, breaking a hundred in three seconds, then a graceful drift into the curve!

Right into the side of a heavy-duty truck that had been idly waiting by the roadside!

When someone found him, his phone was embedded in his forehead; his eyes were wide open, and he did not die in peace.

He passed away at twenty-five.

Transmigrated as an infant into the world of Jobless Reincarnation, nine years have passed since.

Coincidentally, the name of this world was the same as his previous one.

Of course, not in Chinese, but in the homonymous “Human Language” of the Jobless Reincarnation world, its syntax akin to inverted sentences in Chinese. Unhindered by the influence of his mother tongue, Ellen mastered it swiftly.

He pinched his temples, his expression somewhat helpless.

“It’s a pity—when Rudeus was born, I was only four. I couldn’t travel to Buena Village and be part of the first ‘major event’ in the main storyline.”

No sooner had he spoken than lines of text, like drifting smoke, materialized before his face—solidifying in mid-air. After extensive examination, Ellen confirmed these words were not projected onto his retina but were an illusory hallucination, observed directly by his soul and invisible to others.

[Jobless Reincarnation Transmigration Guide.]

[The host must participate in the ‘major events’ of the Jobless Reincarnation world, leaving your imprint in the tide of the era and in the eyes of protagonists and supporting characters.]

[Based on Rudeus’s growth trajectory in the main volumes (childhood—tutoring period—adolescence—young adulthood), during each stage, you must achieve a participation score of 60 out of 100 to reach the passing mark. If you fail to do so by the deadline, you will lose your eligibility as a transmigrator, and the consequences are unknown—most likely temporal erasure.]

Ellen glanced at the system panel, his lips twitching.

When he realized he had transmigrated as an infant, he was elated. Though his previous death was somewhat tragic, the reset afforded by orphanage transmigration was an immense gift.

Who wouldn’t appreciate having a mother?

More importantly, transmigrating to a different world meant no more waking up early with dark circles for work, right?

But, before his eyesight had fully developed as an infant—unable even to see his mother’s face—his soul perceived the world’s reconstructive “wild mother”: the system.

The word “erasure” was highlighted in bold, underlined, and marked in red font.

How heartwarming.

Ellen banished his thoughts and let his gaze follow the lines of text:

[Current stage: Childhood, cumulative participation score: 2 points.]

[Available career paths for growth:]

[Path of the Magician (abandoned): Gain Laplace’s magic power factor, increased capacity, affinity for magic, doubled magic comprehension.]

[Blessing: Possess a wonderful head of green hair. Drawback: Body cannot channel fighting spirit.]

[Path of the Swordsman (chosen): Gain Dragon God Orsted’s Dragon Saint fighting spirit core, reduced magic consumption for converting fighting spirit, affinity for fighting spirit, doubled swordsmanship comprehension.]

[Blessing: Possess a robust muscular physique. Drawback: Magic recovery speed equal to Orsted’s.]

[Current swordsmanship school levels (based on average skill levels within Jobless Reincarnation world; when host’s skills reach within 10% below the next level’s average, system auto-updates):]

[Sword God Style: Intermediate.]

[Water God Style: Advanced.]

[North God Style: Intermediate.]

Over nine years, Ellen had viewed this system panel thousands of times. Yet whenever he saw “wonderful green hair” and “robust muscular physique,” an image would involuntarily surface in his mind:

A river goddess mother named Transmigration Guide rising from murky waters, left hand clutching a flamboyant green-haired man-woman, right hand gripping a muscular dark-skinned brute.

She would smile and ask, “Host, which one did you lose?”

Ellen was left speechless.

As for why he chose the path of the swordsman and abandoned Laplace’s factor, instead of becoming Rudeus II?

First, within the world’s lore, swordsmen were stronger. In light novels, “sword” refers to all cold weapons—single-edged, double-edged—so personally, Ellen preferred the directness of swordsmanship.

Second, the Dragon God’s fighting spirit was too enticing. The boss himself had demonstrated top-tier combat prowess in the main storyline; Laplace’s factor just didn’t compare.

It was definitely not the “wonderful green hair” clouding his judgment.

“According to the original story, Roxy will leave Buena Village this year. Delayed by a few months, hopefully I can still meet her…”

In the winter of year 411, Ellen had resolved to journey to Buena Village. Though he missed the major event of Rudeus’s birth, he was determined to witness the meeting of Rudeus and Roxy. Despite his young age, he had made thorough preparations to escape his original environment and participate in these pivotal events.

Yet unforeseen circumstances led him to wander the lower slopes of the Red Dragon Mountains for months, finally reaching the vicinity of Buena Village in late spring of year 412.

“If I miss this opportunity again, my childhood score will have to rely on Sylphiette, Rudeus, and his family. Risky—Roxy is too crucial in this world…”

Ellen waved away the smoky script before his eyes, smoothing the tangled strands at his temple.

He grasped his sword and stood.

The campfire illuminated him. Though only nine, he stood at a height of one-sixty centimeters, his well-proportioned figure filling out the battered swordsman’s attire.

He had no intention of admiring the “blessing” granted by the system, narrowing his eyes as he turned to the side.

Beyond the glow of the fire, thick darkness shifted in the wind.

Four figures stepped from the shadows, entering the circle of light.