Jobs.
Like in any standard Isekai light novel, when someone from the modern world was dragged into another dimension, they were usually gifted a special ability—a "cheat"—that allowed them to survive the harsh new reality.
In the world of Tortus, every native was born with a unique power known simply as a "Job." This designation dictated their physical growth, unlocked specific magical skills, and ultimately decided their place in society.
Naturally, a guy like Kouki—radiating that blinding, sickeningly righteous shounen manga aura—was destined to awaken the Hero class.
And Nagumo? The quiet, bullied otaku of their class? He received Synergist, a relatively common crafting class possessed by 1 in 10 people, focused heavily on alchemy and blacksmithing.
So, what about Suzuki?
Based on his initial observations, a Job was heavily influenced by an individual's deepest wishes, core personality, and inherent character traits. Kouki, the idealistic golden boy, desperately wished to save the world like a classic RPG protagonist, so the world made him a Hero. Nagumo, whose parents were famous in the creative industry, was naturally inclined toward crafting and creation, making him a Synergist.
The same logic applied to the two stunning girls currently clinging to Suzuki for dear life.
Kaori, overflowing with deep, boundless empathy and a desperate desire to heal others, had awakened as a Priest. Shizuku, the disciplined heir to a traditional sword dojo, naturally became a Swordmaster.
Even in the midst of this existential crisis, Suzuki couldn't help but be intensely distracted by their physical presence. As the terrifying reality of their situation set in, the two beauties pressed themselves even tighter against his solid frame, seeking the safety he projected.
Kaori's soft, incredibly generous curves were pressed flush against his right arm. He could feel the rapid, frantic beating of her heart against his ribs, and the sweet, intoxicating scent of vanilla practically drowned his senses. On his left, Shizuku had buried her face against his shoulder. The firm, athletic heat of her thighs brushed agonizingly against his own every time she shifted her weight. The friction of their pleated skirts and the delicate, helpless warmth of their trembling bodies was a deeply alluring, intoxicating temptation that would have shattered any normal teenage boy's focus.
But Suzuki was not a normal boy. He forced himself to ignore the rising heat in his lower stomach and focused his mind entirely on survival.
What would his Job be?
If Suzuki had to describe his own character, it boiled down to one word: Pragmatic.
He optimized everything. Whether it was studying, running marathons, or managing relationships, he meticulously calculated the most efficient path to becoming the absolute best. Why? Because when you are the best, you are untouchable. As an orphan, he had absolutely zero safety net. He didn't have wealthy parents to bail him out. If he failed, he would literally starve on the streets.
That crushing fear of poverty was his ultimate drive. It forced him to work himself to the bone to guarantee a stable, luxurious future. With the help of the Manager AI optimizing his brain waves, he managed to sleep only two hours a night, devoting every waking second to securing his elite life.
His future had been perfectly set up. He was already accepted into the most prestigious economics program in Japan. He didn't need to be a god like Gojo Satoru, and he didn't need magical powers. He just wanted to be quietly, securely wealthy.
Yet now? That meticulously planned future was entirely burned to ash.
Thrown into the savage world of Tortus, where humanity was actively being hunted by literal demons, Suzuki knew the modern laws of Japan no longer applied. The flimsy morals of his classmates would soon shatter. In a lawless world, desperate people resorted to violence, theft, and murder. He had to become strong, or he would be devoured.
Shit...
For a brief, desperate moment, he deeply wished his multiversal counterparts could physically share their abilities with him. Even the chakra of Ninja Suzuki would be vastly superior to being a normal human right now.
"..."
But their connection only allowed for the transfer of knowledge.
If he had awakened with the Jujutsu Suzuki's Projection Sorcery, he would have immediately found a way to open a magical brokerage account and made billions in high-frequency trading. But he didn't have superpowers. All he had was the Manager, a brain full of theoretical physics, and his own raw intelligence.
So, what was his actual advantage?
Hmm... Economics?
As an elite Tokyo University prospect, Suzuki had devoured textbooks on microeconomics, macroeconomics, high-yield financial diversification, corporate logistics, and game theory.
Could advanced corporate economics actually be weaponized in a magical fantasy world?
Suzuki slowly looked around. He observed the heavily armored knights, the archaic stone architecture, and the deeply religious, feudal society. This world was entirely stuck in the dark ages. Despite possessing literal magic, they were economically illiterate. They still used physical gold, fought in clunky armor, and lacked basic supply chain logistics.
Suddenly, a dark, brilliant epiphany struck him. The corners of his lips twitched upward into a cold, deeply predatory smile.
I know exactly what to do.
While Kouki delusionally plotted to save the world with a magic sword, and Nagumo desperately dreamed of finding a portal home, Suzuki realized he had been handed the ultimate blank check.
He was going to teach this world that they had kidnapped the absolute worst possible person.
Right now, he was physically weak. He was just a little shrimp in a massive ocean of monsters. But he wasn't a normal shrimp; he was highly venomous. This medieval economy was a pristine glass of water, and Suzuki was a single drop of deadly, invisible poison.
He didn't need to swing a sword to conquer a kingdom. He would slowly, quietly monopolize their trade routes. He would establish a chokehold on their corporate logistics. He would financially strangle this world from the shadows until every king, demon, and god owed him rent.
"Thank you all for lending me your ears, Brave Heroes!"
A gruff, booming voice broke through his dark thoughts. A heavily scarred, bearded man stepped forward, grinning warmly. "I am Meld Loggins, Captain of the Heiligh Kingdom's Knight Order! It's an honor to meet you!"
Captain Meld signaled his subordinates, who began walking through the crowd of trembling students, handing out small, metallic cards.
"I have something incredibly important for you all," Meld explained loudly. "These are called Status Plates. As the name suggests, these plates magically reflect your basic physical parameters and your Job as numerical values. They act as your absolute ID cards, so do not lose them!"
Meld held up a small silver pin. "Now, I need you to prick your finger with the pins we provided and let a single drop of blood fall onto the plate. That will magically register you as the sole owner. Don't ask me how the programming works; I have no idea. They are priceless artifacts left behind from the Age of Gods."
As the rest of the class nervously pricked their fingers, exchanging excited gasps or fearful whispers as their magical stats appeared, Suzuki remained perfectly calm.
He ignored the soft, distracting weight of Kaori and Shizuku pressing against his sides, casually pricking his thumb and pressing it to the cold metal plate.
The silver surface hummed, glowing with a faint blue light before his stats finally materialized.
Name: Suzuki Tanaka
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Job: Merchant
"..."
Suzuki let out a soft, amused breath.
Merchant.
It was the most mundane, non-combat Job in existence. The rest of the class would probably pity him. But as Suzuki looked down at the glowing letters, his predatory smile returned. The world of Tortus had absolutely no idea what kind of monster they had just unleashed upon their economy.