The young man barely knew what hit him. One moment, he was internally cursing out the rabbit Administrator standing before him; the next, a wave of guilt crashed over him, like a teacher catching him mid-thought about skipping class.
The rabbit Administrator kept its head so low it looked like it wanted to dig a hole and disappear. Its tiny body trembled as it spewed out a desperate, rapid-fire apology, words tripping over themselves like a kid caught red-handed.
"I'm really, really sorry! Please understand—I was desperate! This was the only choice I had! I didn't want to do it, but if I didn't, I'd lose my authority as an Administrator and end up, I don't know, dying in a ditch somewhere! Please, I beg you, find it in your heart to forgive me!"
At one point, the rabbit broke into full-blown sobs, hiccuping and hyperventilating, its little lungs working overtime. It was like watching a stressed-out salaryman finally break down after a week of unpaid overtime.
The young man blinked. This… this wasn't like any Administrator he had ever encountered. Weren't they supposed to be all-powerful, borderline omniscient, and slightly condescending?
Seeing the rabbit struggling to breathe between its choked sobs, something inside him softened. He had a rule: be kind when you can. And right now, kindness meant comforting a blubbering, anxiety-ridden bunny.
Without thinking, he stepped forward and scooped the trembling Administrator into a warm embrace, rubbing its back in slow, soothing circles. "Shh—it's okay. I don't know the full story yet, but I promise I'll listen. So please, breathe, alright?"
The rabbit hiccupped but slowly started to calm down, sniffling into his shirt.
It took about thirty minutes (and some deep breathing exercises) before the rabbit Administrator finally composed itself.
Standing up with the young man's help, the rabbit wiped its face, dusted itself off, and, as discreetly as possible, used an inhaler before swiftly pocketing it. Clearing its throat, it straightened its tiny back and bowed elegantly, as if trying to regain its lost dignity.
"Ahem—once again, I deeply apologize for that… unprofessional display." Sniff. "I am your personal Administrator, Snow, and I will be assisting you with your orientation and any questions you might have—which I'm sure are many." Snow shot a glance at him before coughing into its paw. "But before that, let's move somewhere more appropriate for discussion."
With a snap of its fingers (paws?), reality warped, and in an instant, the courtyard they were in vanished. Instead, they found themselves in an elegant gothic gazebo, surrounded by an endless field of golden flowers swaying in the breeze. The whole setting screamed "VIP afternoon tea party."
Snow, fully embodying the role of a refined butler, pulled out a chair for the young man and presented him with a delicate cup of tea and a plate of pastries, as if this were some kind of noble gathering.
Deciding to roll with it, the young man took a tentative sip of the tea—only for his eyes to widen in pleasant surprise. Smooth, aromatic, and damn near invigorating. "Okay, gotta give you props for this. This tea is amazing—what did you spike it with? Liquid serenity?"
Snow smirked, finally regaining a bit of composure.
The young man leaned back, watching the Administrator closely. Then, unable to resist, he tossed out a casual observation. "I never thought I'd see a rabbit—let alone an Administrator—use an inhaler."
Snow visibly tensed, his fluffy cheeks darkening with embarrassment. Clearing his throat, he muttered, "I've always been sickly since childhood."
The young man's expression softened. "Well, guess we've got that in common."
Snow glanced up, a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze. "I know. I've been watching you."
The young man raised an eyebrow. "Not creepy at all."
Snow, ignoring the comment, straightened his posture and began his explanation. "Each Administrator has quotas—essentially, we need to successfully transport a human from Earth to another world in need of assistance. If we fail, we lose our status as Administrators. There are three primary methods: one, personal invitation, which most people reject. Two, deception—half the people in that courtyard were lured here with promises of power, wealth, status… you get the idea. And three, forced summoning." Snow's ears drooped slightly. "The guy whose head exploded? He was one of the forced ones. And… so were you."
The young man stilled, taking in the weight of that admission.
Snow let out a self-deprecating sigh. "Honestly? I'm new at this. Naïve, even. I swore I'd only invite people willingly, but all the veterans had already snatched up the best candidates. I searched and searched, hoping to find someone who'd accept… until I found you."
Snow hesitated before continuing, voice laced with shame. "I was so focused on watching you, so convinced you were the right choice, that I lost track of time. The deadline came, and in my desperation, I… accelerated your illness. It was the only way to get you here in time."
The young man processed that, nodding slowly. "So, out of all the possible people, why me?"
Snow exhaled, regaining a bit of confidence. "Administrators are judged on how well their chosen human adapts, what they contribute to their new world, their legacy—even infamy counts. Your potential fit all the necessary criteria." He gave the young man a knowing look. "You understand how corporations operate, right? It's all about results."
The young man huffed a laugh. "Great. Even cosmic beings run on corporate bureaucracy. Figures."
Then, after a beat, he asked a more serious question. "Was I going to die anyway? You know, from the illness?"
Snow's expression turned somber. "Yes. It would've eventually taken your life. I just… hastened the process."
The young man leaned back, exhaling. "Huh. Well. Good riddance, I guess." He downed the rest of his now-cold tea in one gulp. "Hospital bills are a scam anyway."
Snow blinked in surprise. "You're… not angry?"
"Nah. I mean, if I was gonna die either way, I'd rather go out being yanked into another world than rotting in a hospital bed." The young man's lips quirked into a smirk. "Besides, you're putting a lot of faith in me, huh? You really think I'm your ticket to promotion?"
Snow nodded, slightly flustered.
The young man burst out laughing. "Well, can't afford to disappoint that confidence, can I?"
And just like that, he accepted his fate. No more hospital rooms, no more beeping monitors. Instead, he was getting an isekai adventure.
And honestly? That was one hell of an upgrade.