My blurry vision slowly sharpened.
The first thing I saw was a pair of legs—black pants, white sneakers, and a white shirt. I straightened up in surprise. The scenery outside the window whipped by at over 300 kilometers per hour.
I took a deep breath to calm myself.
Relax. I'm not high. This is real. A new life. From now on, my name is Yamada Sasaki. A 12-year-old boy, soon to become a middle scholar.
Six months ago, I died. It wasn't peaceful, but somehow, fate handed me a second chance. Even now, this life still felt like a dream. Some mornings, I'd jolt awake expecting my old world—yet every time, this strange reality held firm.
Ding-dong...
I looked up. The chime signaled our arrival at Tokyo Prefecture.
I wasn't here for a vacation.
"Family affairs, huh? Funny. I thought I was an orphan…"
A law firm contacted me, saying I was needed to settle a family inheritance. According to the will, once I hit a certain age, the assets would be mine.
Hope it's not just a mountain of debt, I thought, chuckling. Half-joking. Half-dreading.
The train came to a halt.
Dragging my black suitcase behind me, I stepped into the bustling terminal.
There.
I spotted her—a woman holding a whiteboard with my name.
"Miss Eri, I assume?"
Her eyes widened slightly. "Yamada-san? Ara…" She lowered the board with a smile. "Kids these days really do grow up fast." Then, with a small giggle, "Pardon me. As you expected, I'll be assisting you with your family's legal affairs."
I matched her tone with a smile. "Please take care of me."
We headed to a nearby café in the station.
"It seems you're quite blessed, Yamada-san," she said once we sat. "Your family left you a substantial inheritance—no debts, no legal issues."
I blinked at the number she showed me. Stocks, real estate, other assets. I was rich. A rich orphan.
"Is my age going to be a problem?"
She shook her head gently. "That's the only complication. You can open a bank account, but the rest transfers when you turn fifteen. And since you have no close relatives, I'll act as your legal guardian."
"I see…" I muttered. Man, couldn't I have reincarnated older? "Nothing I can do about that."
"Fufu~," she chuckled. "Don't worry too much, Yamada-san. How about a little tour? I'll show you what your family left behind."
"Sure."
She was competent and professional—and she didn't treat me like a kid.
As we drove through the city, I stared out the window, still trying to absorb this futuristic, familiar world.
Magic-powered Tokyo. Automated cars. Cops using magic...
Magic had been fused with technology nearly a century ago, mainly for war. Now "magicians"—or technicians—channeled magic using gadgets like high-tech wands.
Wasn't that in The Irregular at Magic High School? I skipped most of it, though. OP guy pretending to be weak, simping for his sister. But damn, that magic system was fire.
"This is the last place, Yamada-san," Eri said.
I blinked back to reality as the car stopped in Hachioji.
The building ahead made me squint.
"This place needs serious renovation," I mumbled.
"It used to be a mansion," she said. "Converted into a dorm. Built in 1930. Once popular among First High students. Your family... were they magicians?"
I shrugged. "I… don't really remember."
Not an odd question. In this era, magician bloodlines were like nobility.
"I'll take a look inside."
"Eh? Are you sure, Yamada-san?" She looked uneasy.
She kept glancing at the building like it might bite her. Still, she followed me in. The lights flickered on as we stepped inside.
"The systems still work—huh?"
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"…It's nothing."
Walking the halls, I quickly formed a verdict: this place was a mess. Leaking roof, moldy walls, god-awful stench. But the bones were solid. Not bad for something almost a century old.
The layout was practical: central lounge, girls' dorm left, boys' dorm right, basement built to withstand WWII bombs. Pool and greenhouse out back.
Condition? Absolute trash.
Graffiti—mostly dicks—covered the walls. The smell could kill a roach.
Still, I thought, I can fix it.
When I stepped outside again, the sun was setting.
"Well then," Eri said, brushing off her skirt. "Please contact me anytime. Don't forget—you still need to take the entrance exam. As your guardian, I'll handle the paperwork."
"Thanks. Please take care of me."
She smiled. "My pleasure. We should find a hotel. Once you pick a school, I'll arrange accommodations."
"No need," I said. "I've decided—I'll live here. As for school, I'll leave that to you."
"Eh? W-why? No offense, but this place is…"
"I know," I cut in. "But the master bedroom and lounge are livable. Utilities work. I already plan to repair the rest."
She opened her mouth again, but I held up a hand.
"You can go. I'll be in touch."
She laughed softly. "Oh my, rejected by a twelve-year-old. How tragic. I'll find a motel nearby. But call me if you see a ghost and want someone to sleep with—uh, I mean sleep next to."
Then she left me alone. In this haunted-ass mansion.
But finally, I had a room of my own.
"What the hell? Dormitory System?" I muttered.
The glowing blue screen had appeared when I entered the gate. I'd kept it together while Eri was around, but this was the real reason I stayed.
Would you like to start?
"Yes," I replied.
Ding!Welcome to the Dormitory System!By inviting protagonists or heroines from across the multiverse to your dorm, you will receive Random Rewards!
I stared in disbelief.
A system? Like, a legit golden finger?!
Analyzing dormitory condition…
"Oh no… wait—"
Analysis complete!Occupancy: 13%Rooms Available:Girls: 1Boys: 0Current Residents: None
Please note: Host may not use third-party assistance for repairs.
"You're kidding! I have to fix this mansion myself?! This place is massive!"
Yes.
Host will receive necessary skills for renovation and maintenance.
I sighed. "Even a hundred million yen wouldn't be enough..."
Rejoice, dear Host. Your hard work will be rewarded.
"Alright… so how does this place connect to the multiverse?"
Please observe the main entrance door.
I turned to look at the heavy double doors. Something about them felt… off. Four handles. I reached for the left one and turned it.
Click.
"That's it?"
Please open the door and step outside.
"This better not be some knockoff Narnia… Isekai Dormitory, ha!" I laughed. "I was expecting a tsundere system, but honestly, I'll take it."
I wiped grime off the glass.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Snow blanketed the garden.
I cracked the door open—cold wind blasted my face.
"Chat, is this real?" I whispered.
Tokyo was gone. But it was still the same front yard.
I stepped into the snow, shivering as the chill reached my bones.
"Where am I, System?"
No answer.
I trudged to the gate. Beyond it, a glowing city sparkled beneath the night sky. Castles, towers, lamplight streets. Definitely fantasy. And I was in the uptown.
A man in a black coat approached on horseback.
"Excuse me, uh…"
He noticed me. First, he looked at me like a beggar. Then he saw my shirt—and the mansion gate.
"How may I help, young master?"
My eyes widened. He spoke a language I didn't know, yet I understood every word.
"I… what's that city called?"
"Oho, you must be new. That is Midgar—the capital of our kingdom."
Midgar? I nodded. "I see… Thank you, sir."
He bowed and rode off.
I turned back to the mansion, slammed the door shut, and sneezed.
"ACHOO! Dumbass… walking into snow without a coat…"
Shivering, I rushed into the bathroom, stripped off my wet clothes, and slid into the hot bath.
"…Hah. Better."
Steam curled around me. I leaned back, sighing.
Dormitory System… right. When do I start fixing this place?
Ding!
Whenever the Host wishes. Note: only one resident may be accepted before renovation mode begins.
"Got it. I'll find someone first. Also—you mentioned giving me a skill?"
Would you like to receive it now?
Yes.
You've received: Template - Alfred Pennyworth!
You've received: Dwarven Craftsmanship (LOTR)!
I shot upright in the tub. My brain flooded with new instincts.
"Alfred? THE GOAT, Alfred? That's sick!"
The legendary butler who ran Wayne Manor by himself, patched up Batman after every rooftop brawl, and operated with the efficiency of a high-end AI—but with ELEGANT. No wonder Bruce never bothered building a butler-bot. Why would he? Alfred was the goat.
I mean, he was a war vet. Spy. Cook. Pilot. Manager. Strategist. Best Dad.
Then came the second gift: Dwarven Craftsmanship.
"…This shit is OP."
Dwarves literally built their kingdoms under mountains—until a damn dragon pulled a "RAHHHH" and kicked them out. So yeah, fixing up a rundown mansion? Bitch, please. That's child's play.
"Still, this could be a good workout. I'd end up with the body of a Roman-era construction worker—minus the sandals and slave wages," I muttered, poking my soft belly. "What the hell was this kid eating?" By Japanese standards, I was chubby. That was about to change.
I stood up from the bath, water dripping from me, already planning the future.
"Alright. First things first—let's find my first resident."