The first sensation I noticed was the soreness in my muscles. I groaned, forcing my eyes to stay shut for just a minute longer. The damage was already done, though. My body was already waking itself up faster than my brain was prepared for.
Even in a different world, I just want to sleep in but I can't. How unfair is that?
The sheets were noticeably less comfortable now that I'd gotten some proper rest. I must have been so exhausted that any relatively soft surface felt like heaven. Now, though, the bed felt flat and hard. Whether the mattress had any springs or material to cushion one's body was up for debate, and at this point I was too annoyed at the discomfort to care.
I think I knew without looking, anyway.
A yawn forced its way from my throat as I stretched my arms high above my head. I stood and wiped the remnants of sleep from my tired eyes. Almost immediately, my body uncontrollably shuddered.
It suddenly dawned on me that I hadn't been wearing shoes for over a day. I need to fix that, and quickly. I probably need a set of armor as well...or just a spare set of clothes so I'm not wearing the exact same dirty clothes for a week at a time. Speaking of which, I need to find a means of washing the ones I have.
Armor sounds a bit more necessary though, and I know just the man to go to for it. The only problem? Armor is expensive, and money is something I'm short on these days.
I looked down at myself and a thought appeared. Everyone I've seen was wearing average clothing, as far as I can tell. The material didn't look extremely comfortable, maybe being made of cotton but more than likely woven together with some other kind of material, but it looked practical enough. My current attire, on the other hand, was much more for comfort than any other purpose.
My jeans are especially durable, at least compared to other clothing from Earth. Maybe they would fetch a good price at a tailor's shop somewhere? The only issue is the risk of being ripped off. I'd never forgive myself if I wound up without enough money to even buy a pair of pants from this world. Out of all the things I'd been subjected to since being summoned, at least I've kept my decency mostly intact.
Only one way to find out, though. I'll have to track down a tailor's shop or something similar as soon as possible. If I can't communicate with the owner or the prices are too outrageous, I can always find an alternative. Or I could just return after a couple more days when I could afford it.
I stretched, hoping it would shake the morning chill off of me. My legs in particular were unwilling to wake up, groaning with each and every movement. I wasn't sure what time I had to be out of the room, or if this world tracks time the same way we do on Earth, but I'd be gone within the next few minutes with all of my belongings anyway. Not that I had any belongings other than my body and my sword. When I put it that way, it sounds like I'm some kind of loner knight on the run with nothing but himself and his weapon as his only companion.
It made me feel cool for a second, until I realized how my situation wasn't very cool at all.
With my stretches finished, I grabbed my weapon and left the inn. Rather than the Innkeeper, there was a young woman manning the front desk. Must be an employee. I set the key down on the desk and waved goodbye as I walked out the door.
The morning was chilly and I shivered a bit as my body started to warm itself inside of my clothes. I began walking toward the gate, intent on making the most of every hour of daylight that I could. The sun was barely up, but many villagers were actively moving around already. I guess in every world you'd have the early risers.
I guess I'm one of those early risers today. That's new. Normally I have to smash the snooze button on my alarm half a dozen times before I manage to get out of bed.
I retraced my steps back to the main gate, and before I knew it I'd left the city gates behind. Having an entire day to myself is pretty liberating, if I'm being honest. I can technically choose my own hours to work and do as much or as little work as I want. As long as I'm happy at the end of the day, nothing else really matters.
It's a level of freedom I never had back on Earth. Back then, my job felt like it consumed every aspect of my life to the point where I wondered if I had much of a life at all. At least this way I feel like I'm experiencing a type of life that was impossible before.
I stretched one more time and drew up a mental plan for the day. I'll warm up by killing a bunch of Balloons for maybe an hour or two, then move a bit further away from the city. Not too far, mind you. The last thing I want is to run into something far above my level and wind up fighting for my life again.
I just found a semblance of stability! I don't want to die yet!
Sure enough, the Balloons swarmed me as soon as I entered the meadow. I dropped low and dodged the first attack while slashing at the second. Is it just me, or are they slower than before? No? Maybe I'm just getting used to it.
Regardless, I found it significantly easier to avoid their attacks while destroying one after another. Within an hour, I'd either eradicated all of the Balloons in the area or they'd started to fear me.
Hmm...Flynn Blackwood: Balloon's Bane...
Not a very prestigious title, but if the shoe fits...
Walking through the tall grass occasionally rewarded me with a small swarm of Orange Balloons, and very rarely I'd find a Balloon of a different color. The Red Balloons were noticeably faster and a bit tougher than their orange counterparts, and took more than a single slash to take down. The added challenge was a breath of fresh air as fighting the exact same opponent over and over had started to lose its appeal.
Hopefully their scraps would be worth more, too. The number of bite marks on my skin had better be worth it.
I cleaved my way through the tall grass like a Pokemon master on a grinding rampage; not a single Balloon survived my onslaught. Maybe a little exaggerated, but based on how stuffed my pockets already were, I might need to make an early trip back to town. I may want to invest in some kind of coin pouch or a backpack. These jeans only had two pockets and they could only hold so much stuff.
Why is it that I suddenly need a million things the moment I don't have the money to pay for them? I mean seriously! I couldn't even think of Christmas gifts for myself before.
I decided to double back around and retrace my steps, finding a few more Red Balloons along the way. At this point, I wonder if I'm committing some kind of crime against nature. Are there poaching laws in this world that prevent you from exterminating an entire species for profit? It would be pretty unfortunate if I accidentally broke a law I didn't know about and was thrown in jail.
I couldn't even argue my case if that happened. Oh well. I'll cross that unfortunate bridge if I get there.
This time, I actually recognized the knights that stood guard at the main gate. I waved, and one of them tried to speak to me in their unknown tongue. I just smiled and continued onward without answering, not wanting to waste precious minutes trying to fumble through an awkward exchange. It was more than likely just a passing greeting, anyway.
The Monster Buyer seemed especially happy with my business since I'd brought some Red Balloon Scraps along with the usual Orange. Using the same strategy as yesterday, I learned that a single Red Balloon Scrap was worth a whopping eighteen copper pieces. That's nearly double the value of an orange one!
I only had four of them, but all together I netted another two silver in an hour or two of effort. This adventuring gig is getting more and more lucrative by the minute! This is exciting! I might be able to afford things now! Like pants!
I decided to stop by Elhart's shop since I was in the city. As usual, he greeted me with a smile and his usual "Yusoya Devo!", which I'd started to assume meant something like "Welcome back!" It felt nice knowing that someone was happy to see me. Still, I had business to take care of. Then I needed to get back to work, so to speak.
Wanton slaughter of Balloons is my job now. That's a little depressing to think about.
There weren't any other customers at...whatever time of day it was right now. It was definitely before noon, at least. Still, I don't feel as bad about occupying the man's time when there isn't another person waiting on him to finish helping me.
"Uh...How much for some armor?" I asked, pointing to a set of leather armor. It looked like some kind of full upper-body protection, with chest and shoulder pads connected with some small metal rings. I think it's called a jerkin? I could be wrong about that, though. Still, it looked protective enough to keep my vital areas safe from anything that managed to get there. The Balloons certainly couldn't, but I'd already considered moving past the meadow and into the forest that lay beyond the tall grass.
There would surely be tougher creatures there, and the last thing I want to do is play Russian Roulette with my limbs at stake.
The blacksmith appraised me with a raised eyebrow. "Dovere? Hmm...Va nieta sareno la pueli, Niyo," he said. His tone made him sound uncertain, most likely wondering whether I could afford something like that at all. I probably can't, but there's only one way to find out.
"Yeah, I'm not sure either. But I want to know what the price is. Uh...How...many...Juyo?" I stumbled over my words, trying to figure out how to ask my question properly.
At least I know the number ten, right?
It made me feel genuinely stupid, but Elhart was a good sport about it and didn't laugh at my expense. Pulling out a piece of silver helped my question strike home...I think.
"Juyo, eh?" He smirked at me, and it made me slightly shrink away from him. Then the man belted out a laugh and clapped a hand on my shoulder before saying something indecipherable again. It sounded...congratulatory? Proud? I couldn't place the emotion he gave off. Regardless, it felt like he was making fun of me.
"Hmm...Iken, Flynn," He waved for me to follow him behind the counter, where he pulled out a piece of parchment and a pencil of some kind. Elhart drew a symbol that looked like a straight line that was sideways. "Fie," he said, holding up one finger. Then, he drew a second line through it to make a cross. "Sia," he said yet again, adding another finger.
Ah, so he's teaching me numbers in their language? Absolutely fantastic idea, Elhart! You're a genius!
He must have a lot of experience dealing with language barriers in his business. This amount of flexibility and understanding is uncanny. Or maybe he's actually a genius at communicating, who knows.
By the end of my impromptu lesson, I'd learned that the armor would cost me nearly a hundred silver pieces. That was so far out of my price range that my jaw nearly hit the floor when I figured it out. Elhart laughed at me once more, but I was still in such a state of shock that I didn't react.
I scratched my head in thought. Even if I worked for an entire week while barely spending any money on food, I'd still struggle to afford it. That wouldn't be so much of an issue if Balloons were edible. If I want to find something to eat in the wilderness, I'll need to fight something that actually has meat. Eating leathery Balloon Scraps doesn't sound very appetizing - or nutritious.
Do they even have bathrooms here? Now I'm paranoid about eating anything that might upset my stomach.
"Muso," Elhart signaled for me to wait, and he went into the back room for a moment. He returned with a dark gray cloak, handing it to me and holding up a single finger. "Fie salgan,"
I'm not an expert, but it sounds like the cloak alone would cost a whole silver piece. A whole silver piece for this flimsy thing? I guess it's thick and has a fuzzy neckline, so it might keep me somewhat warm if I need it. The weather at night gets chilly enough that my current clothing isn't going to cut it, so I decided to purchase it from him.
The man treated me like a child despite being a fully grown adult. He leaned down and helped me buckle the brooch that would keep the cloak from choking me, even going so far as to ruffle my brown hair afterward. He gives off a fatherly vibe for sure. He even acts just like my own father had before he passed away.
But that's not relevant now. That was almost a decade ago and I've had more than enough time to mourn.
I checked my status to see how much of a boost the cloak gave me. Oh, look at that! It nearly doubled my Defense stat and I'm not even wearing real armor!
That's partially because my current clothing gave zero defensive bonuses whatsoever, but how does Defense even work in this world? Does it apply to just the areas that are covered, or something else?
It wasn't an experiment I wanted to test anytime soon, so I'll just guess until I find out the hard way.
Thanking Elhart and feeling extremely awkward with my mismatched outfit, I tried to find a tailor's shop. With nearly half of my money from this morning already spent, I'd need to be a bit more frugal with my spending if I wanted to afford the things I needed. Luck must have been on my side, however, as I quickly spotted a sign with a spool of thread and a needle.
My experience inside that shop was...memorable.
Almost immediately I was accosted by the shopkeeper, a relatively young woman of roughly my age, maybe a bit older. She had sandy blonde hair and round glasses that admittedly framed her face nicely. If it weren't for her hyperactive personality, she would have been pretty cute..
Manic - or insane - might be a better description for her, but I digress.
She picked at my clothes and marveled at the material, feeling it between her fingers with sparkles in her eyes. I felt violated as she grabbed my pants and felt around my legs, presumably to see how they fit. All the while, she rambled in her mysterious language so quickly that I doubt I would have understood her even if she'd been speaking English.
"Are you...done?" I asked, slightly unnerved by this woman. I'm sure she could sense how uncomfortable I am based on the tone of my voice, but I get the feeling she doesn't care. She seems like one of those socially awkward people who never catch social cues so everyone around them just lets them do their thing and prays that they eventually stop.
"Vu toilo diya muler! Av nera y lodrec?" she said, making my head spin from the sheer speed of her words.
"I have no idea what you just said."
The woman seemed completely unbothered by my lack of understanding, or my lack of response to her question. She merely kept talking and talking...
...and talking...
"Okay okay, that's enough! Chill the fuck out, lady!" I half-yelled at her, silencing the woman for the first time since I'd arrived. "I'm looking to buy some clothes, not play twenty million questions with you!" For emphasis, I walked over to what I assumed was the men's section of the store and pointed at some clothes.
She seemed to understand, and though her eyes drifted toward my jeans again she withheld her questions. I sifted through the different articles of clothing, from undergarments to shirts and pants. Nothing jumped out at me as anything extraordinary, so I was forced to assume that this was about as nice as clothing got.
Not counting whatever royalty wears, I mean. Their outfits are probably made of silk and pure gold.
I struggled to find anything that looked good on me. The Tailor walked up with some sort of measuring tape and took my measurements, and I allowed her to do her job without much of a fuss. At least this time she was being productive rather than nosy. Anyway, I found a dark blue collared shirt with no emblems or designs on it aside from the collar itself having a nice, golden outline. It was simple, and the fabric was a bit softer than the others in that it didn't rub roughly against my fingers.
I tried it on, but found that it was far too small. The shop didn't have any sizes of that particular shirt that fit me, sadly. With a sigh of resignation, I moved to put it back on the rack where I'd found it.
"Ah! Iken, iken! Mi bravie san linier," the Tailor said, gesturing for me to hand over the shirt. I did, and she took it to the back room of the shop. I raised an eyebrow at how she left me in the front of her shop unattended. What if I tried to steal some of these clothes? Would she be able to track me down if I skipped town? What was her plan if something like that happened?
Maybe she's just overly trusting.
I barely had enough time to find a pair of boots that would fit before she returned, shirt in her grasp. She held it up to my chest, nodding to herself before pushing me toward a fitting room. I wasn't sure what alterations she could have possibly made in such a short period of time, but I obliged. Needless to say, I was shocked when the shirt fit perfectly.
How did she do that?...
It hugged my frame in a way that wasn't intrusive or restricting, but it still looked good. For once, my expectations for a piece of clothing were exceeded. Whoever this crazy woman is, she's good at her craft.
I smiled as I picked out a pair of pants, knowing how to fit my own signature brand of style. I went with black, and I aimed for something durable enough to withstand a bit of combat without being torn to shreds. Eventually, I walked out of the store without a single copper piece to my name.
I had to haggle as best I could, considering I couldn't speak her language. If the cloak from Elhart had cost me one silver, and the clothes had cost me nearly the same amount, then maybe it made sense. The clothes themselves didn't have any defensive bonuses, so that might be why they were less expensive. In the end, having clean clothes - and shoes - felt like heaven.
Still, the Tailor herself is an enigma; a mystery that I really don't want to have to solve. Ever.
I changed, keeping my usual clothes folded under my arm as I walked back toward the fields. If I wasn't completely broke, I would have considered buying a small backpack to store them in. A luxury like that will have to wait until after I've made some more cash from killing monsters.
Speaking of monsters, I returned to the meadow and massacred some more Balloons. There were noticeably less than before, probably because I'd cleansed the area earlier this morning. My findings were small but I was surprised when I killed a Red Balloon with a single slash of my blade.
Am I really that much stronger already?
A quick checkup on my status told me that I'd already reached level 4 somehow. It was barely noon, meaning I'd gained multiple levels in a few hours of grinding from this morning. If that isn't a sign of improvement, I don't know what is. My stats were all double what they were at level 1, but that begged a new question.
How does the scaling work? Based on the fact that it required an exponentially larger amount of EXP to level up each time, I could assume that my stats would rise accordingly. But on the off chance that they don't, I have no idea how to tell whether I'm stronger or weaker than the average person. What would happen if I reached some kind of level cap and was pathetically weak?
It would be pretty hard to feel proud of myself, that's for sure. That's like being born ugly and there's nothing you can do about it. At least I don't have that problem.
I think.
Putting my personal insecurities aside, my lack of real armor was starting to become a concern. Although the bite of a Balloon was little more than a slightly painful sting to me now, I'm still wary of bumping into something a little stronger. If there's anything I learned from my first few days in this world, it's that there are things and people far more powerful than I could possibly imagine.
Still, my chances of running into one of those is hopefully pretty low. With a little more confidence than I had any right to have, I journeyed past the tall grass and into the forest beyond. A canopy of branches and leaves covered the sun from above. Small rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating a beautiful dance of light and shadow along the ground. Every brush of wind made the scene look like something out of a movie or a painting. I shook my head.
No time to be poetic, though. Beautiful or not, this place is dangerous.
I tiptoed carefully across the grass, stepping over the occasional fallen tree or branch. Every crunch of leaves underneath my feet made me flinch. Never before had I been so cautious, aside from the rare occasion where I'd tried to sneak downstairs to steal snacks as a child without being caught by my parents. Hopefully my practice kept me from becoming a snack myself.
A shriek caught my attention from afar, though I couldn't see what made the sound. I held my sword at my side with a white-knuckled grip. I cursed my hands for shaking so much. Aside from my most recent experiences, I'd never been in a life-threatening situation before. This time was different, though. I had a choice this time. I could stay and possibly get torn apart by some gigantic beast, or leave and dedicate the rest of my life to slaying Balloons for a living.
I tossed the second idea away with barely a second thought. That lifestyle would be barely any different from my boring nine-to-five back on Earth, and I sure as hell won't go back to it even if I have the chance.
A quiet rustle of leaves to my left made me jump and turn quickly toward the source of the sound. What appeared was not what I expected; a bunny, not unlike the one I'd seen that one guy drag in yesterday. Its white fur was pristine, and the way it tilted its head to the side was adorable. The creature hopped a single step toward me, sniffing to see whether I was friendly or not. I was half-tempted to turn my back to it and move on, but the strangle glint in its eye made me pause.
REEEEEE!
Dammit, I knew it wasn't friendly!
With its strong legs, the Usapil - at least, that's what my Status Magic called it - bounded forward and closed the distance between us in two quick leaps. I bent my knees to dodge, eyes frantically surveying the area for more. Rabbits aren't pack animals as far as I know, but in another world with man-eating bunnies, I'm better safe than sorry.
I barely remembered to pull my sword arm away as it snapped its jaws, sharp teeth reflecting the sunlight with a flash. My breaths came in quick spurts, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I gripped my blade tighter and grit my teeth.
My life won't end because of some stupid little rabbit. I've been through far too much to die such an embarrassing death.
A few moments passed as the two of us eyed each other. I was waiting for the moment it would jump at me again, while it was probably doing the same. Or maybe it could sense the prey instincts within me and felt the rush of the hunt or something. Thankfully, it signaled its next jump with a squeal. I sidestepped and met it with my sword in midair. The creature must have spun, or I was angled improperly, because the blade merely cut into its side. Blood poured from its wound and its teeth chattered aggressively.
Is it just me, or are its eyes redder than before?
I barely had time to think of another plan before it attacked again. My first plan worked the first time, so it might work again. Surprisingly, I was right. The Usapil ran straight into my sword and I gouged a deep slice through its hide. Its stance was weaker and more sluggish, so it was probably on its last legs.
Now is my chance!
With a small roar, I stabbed my sword toward it. However, it managed to dodge and nip at my ankles. My foot barely pulled back enough to evade it, and I used every ounce of strength in my body to punt the small creature as hard as I could. The Usapil was sent flying into a fallen log with a resounding THUD! It barely moved aside from some weak twitching and squeaking. I breathed out a long-winded sigh.
I won. I survived. So why don't I feel proud of myself?
The Usapil's noises of agony made me want to cry. Even if it had been coming after my life only a few moments ago, I didn't like what I'd done. Deciding to put the animal out of its misery, I thrust my blade deep into its head and it stopped moving entirely. The squeaks of pain finally stopped. I removed my sword and blood began pouring out of the new wound like a small river.
I wanted to throw up from the sight but I slammed my eyes shut and looked away. To think that I took the life of another living thing was horrid, unthinkable until now. I was disgusted with myself.
But I have to move on. This is a whole new world that plays by different rules. If I can't fight for my own life, I'll be killed. Even if it makes me feel like a bit of a monster myself, I have to get strong enough to survive in this cutthroat place. I can't afford to live in fear of everything here.
That's right...This world isn't as safe as Earth. My daily life here isn't sheltered and protected, and I don't have an easy source of income that doesn't require me to leave my house. This world isn't so easy, doubly so because I can't even speak their language.
I'm sure I could find some kind of job that doesn't involve killing or being killed, but it would take me forever to find work if I can't talk to anyone properly. How would they tell me how they do things? It just wouldn't work out.
This is my only option for now.
I forced myself to breathe through my mouth to avoid the stench of blood. The sun was still high in the sky, but this battle had sapped me of my desire to fight. With heavy footsteps and the Usapil's carcass in tow, I quietly made my way back to the city. I barely reacted as the Monster Buyer enthusiastically traded the body for nearly three silver pieces, too drained from my life-altering experience to care.
My mind flitted from despair to outright disgust. It took a nice dinner and some wine at a tavern to calm me down. The innkeeper's daughter must have noticed how depressed I looked, since she came to check on me several times throughout my meal. She may have been the waitress for the evening and that should be expected, but it felt like she came to my table more often than anyone else's.
Maybe it was because I was all alone. Or maybe it's because I sat there for nearly two hours in silence.
Regardless, I silently purchased the same room as the night before and let myself fall into a troubled sleep. It was hard to get comfortable now that I wasn't on the verge of passing out from exhaustion. My recent run-in with danger certainly didn't let my mind rest. It was running a mile a minute, but it was empty at the same time.
I awoke the next morning and couldn't bring myself to be motivated for work. It took until the afternoon for me to muster the courage to return to the forest again. Knowing that I'd burned through quite a bit of money on food and lodging the night before was a pretty good motivator. The only way I'll survive is to brave the waters, so to speak, so I have no choice but to face my fears head on.
Thankfully, my second encounter with an Usapil was far less stressful than the first. The third was less so than that, and the fourth and fifth were little more than an adrenaline rush.
With five bodies clumped together in my arms, I returned to the Monster Buyer and dropped them on the table. He seemed overjoyed at my return, though probably disgusted by the sheer amount of blood that covered me from head to toe.
I know I smell awful, okay!? If I had some way to wash it off, you can bet your ass I would!
With almost twenty new silver pieces stuffed into my pockets, I managed to crack a smile. That should be enough to keep me covered for at least a short while, provided I don't buy a ton of extra things and stick to the necessities. Though...
I pulled my sword halfway from its sheath and grimaced. Its blade was chipped and dull, covered in dried blood, and was probably on the verge of falling apart. I doubt it would survive another day's worth of fighting before it breaks. The last thing I need is a broken weapon in the middle of combat, so I should do something about that.
The bell above Elhart's door jingled. It was quickly becoming one of my favorite sounds.
"Ah Flynn! Yuso-oh..." Elhart cringed and pinched his nose when I entered. He said something that was muffled by his nose being covered, though his body language told me he was disgusted by my stench. I wasn't proud of it at all, aside from the fact that it meant I was still alive.
Stinky is better than dead, in my book.
A quick game of "gesture wars" later, I purchased a sword that was a bit longer than my last one. Better quality too, but my Status Magic told me it had a level requirement of 6. My most recent excursion into the woods netted me enough EXP to reach that level, thankfully. It was called a Steel Longsword. Simple, but effective. Even though Elhart only charged me ten silver pieces for it, I had a feeling he was giving me the deal of a lifetime. If that leather jerkin was nearly a hundred silver pieces, this blade probably costs quite a pretty penny as well.
This game of owing debts is getting old. I just paid back my last one, dammit!
A strange sensation flowed through me when I held the blade in my hands. It was almost like drinking water mixed with energy powder, but the effect was instantaneous - and extremely potent. I swore I could feel my level of strength increase just by holding it, and a glance at my stats showed that my offensive stats had shot through the roof.
After the initial sense of wonder wore off, I also purchased a pair of leather gauntlets for five silver pieces. They weren't much, but they'd protect my hands as I gripped the sword. Most of my enemies aimed for my vitals like my neck and chest, but sometimes they'd go after my arms or legs instead. I needed to save enough money for supplies, so unfortunately I was forced to forgo additional protection. In the meantime, though, I don't have to worry quite as much about my hands being cut by claws or fangs.
Elhart tried to tell me something about...a shower? His gestures were much more vague than usual, and my attempts to understand his drawings ended in failure. To be honest, I couldn't pin down exactly what he was saying. All I knew is that he repeatedly had to hold his nose to keep my smell from suffocating him.
...Maybe finding a river should be a priority. I could just wash myself off there.
With a bit more pep in my step, I left the blacksmith's shop and bought a backpack at a vendor's stall near the main market square. It had taken some convincing, but I managed to get a decent sized one for only a few silver pieces. That would help me carry things both to and from the city, which essentially increased my efficiency per trip.
As a business major myself, I'm well aware that efficiency is key to any operation. I may have hated my old job, but the lessons I learned are practical even in a world like this one.
I returned to the field to practice on Balloons, but they weren't enough of a challenge to even be a warm up anymore. My level and stats were simply too high to be threatened by them now. Their movements were slow and their attacks were unusually weak. Their defenses were even less so; I had half a mind to try punching one to death to see how long it took. I didn't, of course, but the thought was there.
Back into the forest I went, and so far I'd avoided any larger creatures that might consider me lunch. Walking silently is a lot more difficult with these heavy boots on, but the fact that my feet are safe from the elements is worth it. I just have to adapt.
A deep roar in the distance caught my attention. I crouched low, head peeking just above the bushes. I could hear the sound of branches and twigs being crushed along with heavy footsteps to my left. I stayed silent and listened.
It's getting closer!
I felt a rush of wind and the bushes ahead of me parted to reveal some kind of elk. Time slowed as it gracefully leapt over my head, landing on the other side and continuing its escape. That moment stunned me long enough to forget about the other sounds I'd heard.
ROOOOOAAAAARR!
I stumbled back in shock. A Forest Bear parted the bushes once more, sniffing around for its prey. Desperately, I scrambled to my feet and backed away with my sword raised. I wasn't completely certain if this was true, but I'd heard that you're never supposed to turn your back on a predator. For some reason, they get pretty murder-y when their prey runs away. Thrill of the hunt, or something like that.
I probably don't stand a chance in a fight with something like this, though. Running might be my only chance at survival.
The bear seemed confused, most likely sensing the elk's scent mixed with my own in the area. It had already stopped chasing its original prey, so the only thing left that it could find would be me.
I have to get the hell out of here, and fast!
My feet slowly inched carefully backwards as I kept my eyes trained on the bear. Steady...steady...
My effort was all for naught, however. I flinched as a twig snapped loudly beneath my feet. I stared fearfully into the bloodthirsty eyes of the bear who'd found me at last.
It roared and charged, barreling toward me like a train. It took every ounce of willpower I had just to move out of the way, and every ounce of strength to jump to a safe distance. Christ, that thing is fast! I scrambled to my feet and did the only sensible thing I could do at the moment.
I fucking RAN.
There's a type of person who's naturally acclimated to moving through the uneven ground of a forest, but I certainly wasn't one of them. It felt like I was constantly getting slapped in the face with low branches or nearly tripping over an exposed tree root. Smaller creatures darted away as I sprinted through, so at least I didn't have a horde of little monsters chasing me on top of the big one.
The bear's thundering footsteps felt far too close for comfort. It was faster than me and I knew it. The beast's huffing breaths were close enough that I swore I could feel them on my back. I wasn't great at math, but I calculated my risks and decided the only option was to make sharp turns. If it works for alligators, it might work for bears...right?
The moment I passed a massive tree trunk, I darted off to the right. The bear roared and slid through some bushes in its path before giving chase again. That short moment it had to adjust its course gave me enough space to breathe a little.
I can do this. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's running away from my problems. This one's just a bit too literal for my tastes.
The adrenaline rushing through my body kept me going. I couldn't climb fast enough to get out of its reach, and I wasn't sure if the monster could climb trees itself. That wasn't a risk I was willing to take at the moment, so I was forced to dodge and weave over and over. More than once, I heard the snapping of its jaws right behind my head. It was an eye-opening experience to know that humans are so damn low on the food chain in this world.
What I wouldn't give for a gun or something to shoot it with. Adventuring is all fun and games until you're running from something several times your size that could squeeze you to death between two fingers!
Eventually I broke through the bushes to see a large river. The rushing water would have been music to my ears if I wasn't running for my life. There was no time to stop and admire the scenery. I sprinted through the river, nearly tripping on a rock beneath the water. The bear reappeared with a snarl, bounding forward with heavy footsteps and a primal hunger that made my body scream at me to keep running.
My head was still turned back toward the bear as I felt something slam into my chest. My body burned, chest heaving as the air refilled my lungs with weak breaths. As the spots in my vision slowly faded, I looked behind me to see a flock of deer running past me and away from the bear. I was done for.
At least that's what I thought.
Maybe it sensed that the deer were more worthwhile prey, or that I was boring now that I couldn't keep running. Regardless, the beast turned and stalked back into the underbrush. I would have breathed a sigh of relief if my lungs weren't struggling to fill with air. My heart pounded in my ears, adrenaline slowly fading from my system as the danger to my life walked away without a care in the world.
I laid back down and let my head rest on the slightly damp grass. How long have I been running? Where am I? More importantly, how do I get back?
WIthout an answer to any of those questions, I closed my eyes and took a moment to thank whatever deity was watching over me. After this many brushes with death, the thought of a guardian angel keeping me safe doesn't sound so ridiculous.
After I caught my breath, I walked back into the water and began rubbing the dirt and dried blood off of me. It wouldn't get rid of it all, but at least it would be better than letting it be permanently stained. The simple act of washing and rubbing my clothes gave me time to think.
With all the stats and levels, it's easy to think this is some kind of video game world. I'd eventually reach a level where nothing could kill me and that'd be that. That's what I hoped for, anyway, but the reality is more complicated. There are things that go beyond levels and numbers here that don't translate well from a video game perspective. It's all a bit too real for me to believe that's the case.
However, some things do translate well between this world and video games. Sometimes, a skilled player could defeat an extremely tough enemy using basic equipment simply because they know how to fight it properly. I'd been one of those people who liked the extra challenge of beating an entire game at level 1 sometimes. It was exciting, challenging, and showed just how much your knowledge and skills made a difference as opposed to just jacking up your numbers until you couldn't lose.
But in a world like this, where the mechanics aren't fully clear and enemies don't behave according to predictable lines of code, I'm sure as hell not going to try my luck.
I knelt down and cupped some of the water from the river in my hands, splashing it on my face. The cool liquid helped calm my beating heart as I surveyed my surroundings. This river definitely doesn't lead back to the city I've been staying in these past few days. I'm sure I would have seen it before if it did.
The fear of being alone in a dangerous place started creeping in again. Without any real armor, I can't go toe-to-toe with anything large like a bear. I'm nowhere near skilled enough as a fighter to do that. If I knew the language a bit better, I could probably ask Elhart or someone at the Guild to teach me.
Steeling my resolve, I wrung the water out of my clothes and grabbed my sword. Going back through the forest without a plan seemed like an easy way to die, so following the river was a much better idea. With any luck, it would lead straight out of the forest and I could find my way home from there.
The monsters in this world were more like animals, to be honest. They behaved just like I'd expect a wild animal to behave on Earth, so it's safe to assume that I'll encounter some along the river as they drank. That could be good or bad, depending on what I run into. Another bear, or something similarly powerful, wouldn't be good. I don't particularly need to kill anything along the way; it's more important that I simply escape the forest alive.
Still, it's the best option I can think of.
The leaves and small rocks crunched beneath my boots as I trekked beside the river, listening intently for any sounds above the rushing waters. All that I heard was the occasional call of a monster off in the distance. The light filtering through the trees grew dimmer as the sun began to fall. I gulped and quickened my pace. Everyone knows that predators are more active at night, and the last thing I want is to be chased when I can't even see.
Surprisingly, my body still felt alert and healthy. Normally I would be huffing and puffing on the ground after this much exercise. This must be the mysterious Status Magic at work, subtly affecting my physical abilities according to my stats. If I increase my stats high enough, would I be able to run extremely fast or lift extraordinarily heavy things? Would it be like having superpowers?
It might be crazy, but hopefully I'll live long enough to find out for myself.
As the trees thinned and I finally emerged from the forest, I gazed up at the darkening sky. The sun's orange glow was barely visible through the thick blanket of clouds. I shivered as a chilly breeze blew past, and I remembered the spare clothes in my backpack. The shirt I'd purchased wasn't designed with warmth in mind, and it was still a bit damp from being washed in the river. Plus, without the adrenaline of running for my life, I was starting to get cold. I quickly swapped shirts and patted myself on the back for my preparedness.
Ah...Sweet relief.
Nothing in my immediate surroundings looked familiar. Am I on the opposite end of the forest? I can't see anything over the trees and the massive castle of the city is nowhere in sight. I groaned. My luck must have run out for the day, but it's far too late in the evening to find my way back now.
Thankfully, I could see the slightest outline of a village out in the darkness. It wasn't too far away, either. If I kept a decent walking pace, I might be able to reach it in an hour or so. I adjusted the backpack on my shoulders and started walking.
I clutched my cloak to myself tightly and shivered again. I could hear the distant rumble of thunder and the wind was noticeably stronger than before. That isn't good. I need to hurry up or I'll risk being caught in a storm. The village seems big enough to have an inn somewhere, but I'll have to search until I find it.
Nothing in this world is ever that easy.
The temperature sharply dropped as night fell, and my teeth started chattering against my will. What season is it right now? Does this place even have seasons? If it does, I imagine it's close to Fall or Winter. The days are warm enough that moving around keeps you warm, but the nights can get pretty brutal.
There wasn't a huge gate or anything to walk through when I reached the village. No guards either, so I simply walked inside and onto the empty streets. It was much smaller than the two cities I'd been in so far, less than a quarter of the size. If I sprinted, I could probably make it from one end to the other in ten minutes or less.
My stomach growled. It's definitely past my usual dinner time and I haven't eaten anything since my lunch in the other city. I considered eating an Usapil, but quickly decided otherwise. Without the proper tools to cook and without the skills to properly skin and flay the beast, it could be dangerous to eat.
Another set of skills I'll undoubtedly need to learn somehow. My list just keeps growing.
My heart soared as I came across a pub, walking inside and shuddering as the warmth covered me like a blanket. Whether it was from the kitchen or the sheer number of bodies in the building I couldn't be sure, but I didn't care. I was warm and safe, two things I couldn't have said for myself earlier. I excitedly sat down at the bar to sample the local alcohol and get myself a hot, well-earned meal.
Within minutes, a gruff-looking man walked up to me from behind the counter.
"Muavo ti puel?" he asked as he cleaned a glass with a rag. His dark beard contrasted sharply with his pale skin, making him look even more pale than he probably was.
"Uh...I'll have a beer and something to eat," I said as I mimed myself taking a sip of a beverage then eating food with a fork. This isn't my first rodeo in Mime Land, so I was starting to get more comfortable with it.
"Ti puel? Y drava?" he asked again, eyebrows raised. I had no way of saying exactly what kind of beverage or food I wanted. Ugh, getting specific with things is going to be difficult too, isn't it?
I looked around for someone else who was eating, and eventually found a group of people obnoxiously laughing together. They seemed drunk, so who knows what they were laughing about. Alcohol can make just about anything funny. I gestured for the bartender to follow me, and I moved over to point at the meal on the table.
It's a bit...basic, but it looks tasty enough. It's just a slab of beef with some kind of garnish on top.
"I'll take one of those, and one of these," I pointed from the half-eaten meal to the drink in the random man's hand. He seemed offended, and spoke with an irritated tone. I held up my hands placatingly. I hope he doesn't start some kind of fight over this.
Sorry, man. I'm hungry.
"Hmm. Puel a drava," The bartender scribbled something down on a sheet of paper and handed it to me, most likely the bill. How much is this going to cost me? Is that a 4? But it also looks a bit like a 7...
The next time I'm in the big city, I need to get another Elhart-brand Math Lesson tm.
I sighed tiredly and slinked back to the stool at the bar. It seemed like everywhere I went, I encountered another major problem with the language barrier. Elhart had taught me the basic numbers and I'd picked up a word or two on my own, but there's so much basic knowledge that I still don't have. If I could just learn the words for "How much does this cost?" or "What is that?" I would be in much better shape.
All of a sudden, an arm slung itself around my neck. "Ayyy, jalona! Coma yur tchaiga lo mentraol! Hahahaha!"
I scrunched up my nose at the stench of alcohol that was breathed into my face. The man was one of those at the table I'd shortly visited to choose my meal. His buddies crowded around me, speaking over one another in their strange tongue and giving off a threatening vibe. Something about how they acted was more than just a group of drunks, but it's not my place to deal with it. Wordlessly, I shrugged off the man's arm and ignored them.
"Eh? Vu prawn da stravitz, putoga!" he said, angrily. Aside from the tones of their voices, their jeers and taunts were lost on me. I tried my best not to react, knowing that people like this thrived on watching someone lose their cool. I sat there for several minutes and listened to them throw verbal jabs at me until the bartender returned with my food and beverage.
Thankfully, he got my order right. In an effort to distract myself, I grabbed the mug of ale and downed it as fast as I could.
"Ohhhh! La putoga du alen balegi! Hahaha!" They seemed pleased or impressed, I wasn't sure which. I cut into the meat using the utensils I'd been given, shoving the food into my mouth with gusto. Not only am I hungry, but I want to get as far away from these idiots as possible. Idiots are annoying. Drunken idiots are dangerous.
I focused my attention on my food, but a sharp crack of thunder and a bright flash of lightning snapped my head toward the window. The various sounds inside the pub stopped for a moment, which finally let me hear just how hard it was raining outside.
I'd made it indoors just in time, apparently.
Even the four men that were taunting me stopped their taunts in favor of quietly talking amongst themselves. If I were one of them, I'd be suggesting we head home pretty soon. It's cold, wet, and they were already more than drunk enough to consider it a good night. Nothing is worse than being stuck out in the rain and being hammered at the same time.
Another crack of lightning lit the pub, and a few seconds later the thunder came. This storm reminds me of the hurricanes that we used to get back home sometimes. If the rain isn't bad enough, the wind is just as freezing. I kept eating my meal, however. I'll worry about that when I'm finished. This pub doesn't seem like it has an inn like the one back in the big city, so I'll wind up outside in the storm eventually.
No need to rush.
"Yo, putoga," one of my tormentors grabbed my attention before saying something else that I couldn't understand. "Yn dalvi na polte scani?"
I spun around on my stool and shook my head with a shrug. "Sorry, but I don't know what you're saying. You should get home, though; it's getting pretty bad out there," I replied. They mumbled amongst themselves in confusion. One of them scoffed and rolled his eyes.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Whatever he said next was cut off by the loudest crack of thunder I'd ever heard. Every single person in the pub jumped. For a few moments, everyone stayed silent as if a second one would follow. Nothing happened, and so we all returned to our own business. Even the group of men quietly returned to their table.
Just how close was that lightning strike? There was no delay at all between the bolt of lightning and the thunder.
I finished my meal and, after a bit of confusion over the price, paid the relatively low cost. Between the meal and drink, I paid less than twenty copper pieces. That was more than affordable, and left me with plenty of money to pay for a room at an inn tonight.
Speaking of an inn, I need to find one.
The bartender wanted nothing to do with me after I'd paid my tab. My attempts to ask about an inn with gestures were ignored and he walked away without another word. The bastard isn't even going to help someone else! He's just standing there ignoring me!
Whatever. Screw him. I'll find an inn on my own, even though I'll be soaked to the bone by the time I do.
Strapping on my backpack, I opened the door back into the outside world. My eyes caught an unusually bright light coming from the other end of the village. What is that?
Along with the scent of rain and mud, my nose picked up the heavy smell of smoke.