Chapter One: An Unwanted Restart
I was sitting in my room bored out of my mind, I had just finished all the tasks that I wanted to do today, I studied a bit of programming (yes those 5 minute videos count), went to the gym and...damn were those the only things I did all day?
I sighed as I tried to think of something to do, I was too much of a procrastinator to actually do something productive and I had hit a block on both anime and reading fanfiction so I decided to just take a walk. I checked my phone and found out it was 11:47, it was a bit late but since the other option was being bored out of my mind I decided to go regardless.
I put on a black shirt and black pants and wore my favorite tracksuit, it was completely white with some black stripes on the side of the sleeves with a hoodie, easily the coolest piece of clothing I have ever owned.
I went down stairs and was greeted with the sight of a beautiful black haired woman with brown eyes and a little girl that looked like a younger version of the woman sitting on her lap, they were both giggling to each other while watching some kind of comedy play on the TV.
"Hey Mum, I am gonna go for a walk"
"This late? It's almost midnight", my mum replied in a voice filled with worry, despite the fact that I was almost 18 she still kept worrying about me like I was still 7.
"Don't worry I will be back in 15 minutes, 20 at most" I told her in my best assuring voice.
"Alright...but keep track of your phone so I can reach you, and don't lose track of time, okay? Also don't wander around alleys or areas with little traffic and-"
"It's fine mum, I can take care of myself. I am gonna go now bye!" I said hurriedly as I was putting on my black and white running shoes, if I had let her continue I would have been here for at least another hour or so.
I opened the door and waved back at my mum and sister before finally closing the door and going out. I started wandering aimlessly as my legs carried me through the roads that I am familiar with most of them were empty but some were still relatively full of people.
When someone is bored walking would probably not be their first choice but I found that for me it makes me feel more...calm, like I could just slowly detach myself from my problems as I continued walking.
It also helps me think more clearly, which caused me to develop the habit of pacing through my room whenever I like to think about something or just think about nothing.
I found my thoughts slowly wandering about random subjects, my future...my non-existent social life...and more random stuff (a lot were about anime), I winced when I checked my phone and found a missed call from my mum, I forgot I put my phone on silent when I went out.
I decided to head home and receive the lecture there in one go instead of receiving it on both the phone and when I get home, as I continued on my way home my eyes started feeling more and more heavy by the second, which was...weird to say the least, even though its past midnight this was nowhere near my sleeping time as I like to stay up late...and...
And my eyes closed then opened to a new sight.
One second, I was walking on a concrete road at night and then suddenly the...sun rose? No that can't be possible right? I mean it was just midnight...and the road it was paved with stone!?
I stood in my place for a solid 15 minutes, my brain not comprehending what in the sweet name of God just happened. Was I kidnapped? Did I fall unconscious? Did I travel through time?
I checked my body for any wound and found none, which means I wasn't knocked out...which made me panic even more, was my brain tampered with somehow!?
"Okay, take a deep breath, and remember panicking is bad, instead think logically" I pushed away all my current thoughts and started looking around and not at the ground...and I almost started panicking again.
Somehow, there was a freaking giant lizard.
A giant lizard that was standing on two legs was dragging a carriage around, and there were multiple lizards, each one dragging a different carriage.
Yet despite the complete absurdity of the situation he found himself in, he felt like the monstrous lizards he saw were familiar...almost like he saw them before, which considering everything should be impossible.
Another thing of note was that there were...animal humans? No demi-humans sounds much better which was less shocking compared to the giant lizards. He also just noticed how primitive the buildings around him compared to what he usually saw...anywhere actually, if he had to describe them, he would call them medieval.
There were demi-humans of all shapes and sizes and walked around normally without anybody even batting an eye to them, actually now that he was looking around, he noticed that people were giving him strange looks.
Giant lizards...demi-humans...medieval city...no.
This can't be possible. No. I refuse to accept it.
"I am not in a freaking Isekai damn it!"
After spending the better part of an hour roaming around this city and asking the local merchants some questions (before they realize I am broke and kick me out), I had to begrudgingly acknowledge the fact that I am not on Earth, though aside from that I have also managed to gather some valuable information.
First, I can thankfully communicate with the people of this world, though the written language was completely lost to me, which caused me a couple of misunderstandings (which involved a lot of running from angry people).
Second, I am in the capital city of a country named Luginca, which is the east-most nation of this world, and that Japan doesn't exist here or that no one ever heard of it.
Third, even though I kind of expected it, I still confirmed that my money is completely useless in this world, which reaffirmed my status as broke, along with homeless and clueless.
I sighed as I continued walking around the city, unlike my walks back home I was unfamiliar with the streets so I was trying to memorize the streets as I walked, I ignored the looks of every passersby as a million thoughts raced through my head, eventually I gave up on memorizing the streets of the city and just walked aimlessly through its roads.
Most of my thoughts were about home, my life back home was pleasant, sure I may not have any friends, but I had pretty good grades and a rough plan for my future, I would say I am better than most 17 years old in that department, I also had an athletic body since I go to the gym and used to practice karate up until my first year of high school, plus I have a supportive family, in other words my life was average but perfect.
I wanted to go back. I wanted to be with my Mum talking about our favorite books, I wanted to sit with my Dad and talk about random stuff, I wanted to continue pestering my sister and spend time with her.
Before my thoughts could continue spiraling down this depressing road I was snapped out of it when I heard a man in pain down by an alley in front of me, I froze in my place and debated whether to go help or not, I mean even though this is a fantasy world I don't feel some sort of extra power or some super strength so it's not like I can help in any way...
I clenched my fist as I steeled my resolve, I need to take action, this will be my first test in this new world, I will take every challenge thrown at me and overcome it, I will beat this goddamn Isekai world and go back home, no matter what it takes.
As soon as I entered, I immediately took note of the individuals in there, there was three shady looking men standing around a defenseless boy beating him up, the men looked like your generic trashy bandits, which should be easy to deal with if I play my cards right.
Though the most noteworthy individual between them was the young guy they were beating up. He looked like he was the same age as me, but his most defining feature was his clothes and black hair. His clothes were modern. He was wearing a tracksuit.
I grinned when I saw his clothes and then turned my eyes to the bandits who had stopped beating up the poor fellow so that they can observe me.
"Huh? Who the hell are you?", the biggest one of the men said to me in a vulgar and intimidating voice, and I tried not to show any visible reaction to his words.
"Listen here you brat, unless you want to end up like this guy over her get out of here!", the one holding a knife waved his knife at me as he threatened me.
"Yeah!", the last one-the shortest-just reaffirmed what his fellow thieves said.
I seriously considered turning back and running from them, I had never gotten in a serious fight before let alone against thugs armed with knives, but I have a plan that will—hopefully—work, so I won't back down now.
"Ah, please don't! I would really appreciate it if you save me!"
Besides, I also have my fellow Earthling to save.
I chuckled as I projected as much of my fake confidence as possible before speaking, "Hah! You people actually think you stand a chance against me? Well, I can't blame you for your ignorance, as such let me educate you! The one standing before you is the greatest wizard of all time! Igarashi Katsu!"
My first thought was holly shit, I said all that without messing up!
The bandit's reaction however was them looking at each other in skepticism with a bit of worry, it seems like my grand introduction worked.
The skinny man with the knife turned to me with skepticism clear in his eyes, but he still didn't approach me, my plan was working!
"I never heard of any wizard by that name, you trying to trick us?"
"Hah! I am not surprised you never heard of me, see I am not your traditional wizard, that is because I use a special and magical device-" I pulled my phone from my pocket and aimed my camera at them, "A phone!".
"Huh? Is that some type of Metia?", the guy holding the knife was on guard and after he saw my old flip phone, this plan was working better than I thought.
"Yes, it's a Metia! One that can be used to-"
"Hey, move move move! You're in my way!", an exasperated voice made its way through the alley, which startled everyone in the alley.
Before I could even react, a petite yellow haired girl with some pretty torn clothes passed by me and continued running without even patting an eye to the current mugging," Man, this is crazy. but I am busy, gotta get outta here! Live strong!".
"What!?Seriously!?"
The girl raised her hand apologetically to the young boy on the ground before she ran past them and leapt off a wall and disappearing as she scaled it to the top.
That was...weird and not in my favor, it completely ruined my moment and potentially ruined my whole plan, I gotta take control of the situation again before my bluff is discovered.
"Ahem, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, the Metia I have is a one of a kind! Indeed, as it can curse anyone I point-"
"That is enough Villans", a clear voice like a silver bell commanded with authority.
Seriously!? Can't I go on without being interrupted!?
The new comer-and second person to interrupt me- was a beautiful silver haired woman, her hair was long and her clothes were simple with an air of royalty.
"I won't let you run amok like that. Stop at once"
The woman looked no older than 19, if she was even that old, and yet her words caused quite the reaction from both the thugs and the young man on the ground.
The boy looked mesmerized by the girl. He looked as if he completely forgot about his predicament and instead just focused on the girl, this guy is seriously messed up in the head if he can fall in love while getting beat up.
The thugs became more alarmed when she issued her threat and they seemed to not favor fighting against their current odds.
An idea immediately made its way through my head and I decide to capitalize on this opportunity.
"Wait wait wait! Please wait! We don't really get it, but we'll let him go! So please forgive us…"
"It's good to see you're so gracious. It's not too late, so-"
"Haha! Yes, scurry over before my companion here and I make you pay!"
"What? I don't even know yo-"
I quickly walked over to the girl and whispered in her ear before she blows this entire thing off, "Please play along, I know you don't us, but I could really use your help, besides these guys are too second rate to have tangled with you, and I can help you with whatever you need!"
This was a pretty stupid gamble, I know nothing about the woman standing in front of me or about her connection to the thugs, but from her body language I can tell she doesn't personally know or recognize them, so whatever she wants it is probably not with them, I think, I hope.
The girl didn't respond to me, seemingly contemplating what I just said, until she was interrupted that is.
"I don't sense any malice coming from him, and aside from his anxiety he seems to be telling the truth", a new and androgynous voice suddenly spoke from seemingly out of nowhere
I tried not to panic so I stayed silent to not alert the thugs, who were for some reason watching the exchange between me and the woman instead of running away or attacking us.
"Hmm, I am still not sure, but I am going to trust your judgment on this one"
Suddenly the girl lifted her palm, on it lied a small silver-haired cat, whom she apparently just addressed. Great. I can add talking cats to the list of things that could get me in a psych ward.
The until now silent thugs seemed to finally break out of their trance and finally stopped focusing on the woman and I, instead shifting their full and undivided focus on the cat resting on her palms.
"You're a spirt user!", the thug with the knife screamed as he trembled at the sight of the cat, who is apparently some sort of 'spirit'.
"Correct. If you withdraw right now, I won't pursue you. Think fast, I don't have time for this"
The thugs didn't need to be told twice, they ran out of the alley while cursing us and their luck.
"Just you wait, you damned brat! You'd best be careful the next time you decide to wander around here!", they tried their best to threaten the girl while running away, which hurt my pride as a man, seriously, was my presence that forgettable!?
"If you lay a finger on her, you'll be tormented until the end of time. You'll be in the afterlife well before that, though", the spirit cat dismissed the threat easily, by threating them back with an even bigger and more terrifying one.
After that the thugs left for good.
I breathed I sigh of relief and then turned to the silver haired girl who was now looking at me expectantly, "Now, you said you can help me find my insignia?"
An Insignia? Ah she must have been robbed, "Well...these guys don't look like the type to do a quick hit and run, so I was pretty sure that they didn't steal something from you...the person you are looking for is probably the girl that just ran by here before you came by, she had yellow hair and a small figure with tattered clothes."
The girl looked at me suspiciously, which in turn made me nervous, until eventually she seemed convinced that I was telling the truth, "Alright, thank you for your information, I will consider that payment for saving you from those thugs."
I instantly felt relieved when she said that, this entire encounter felt surreal and rather intense for me, and it was something that I didn't want to repeat, I can only hope that the way back home wasn't through defeating some sort of demon king.
I then turned my attention to the third person that was with us, my fellow earthling, he had managed to sit up from his previous position which allowed me to make out his features and confirm that he was also Japanese, though his attention was completely focused on the girl.
"T-Thank you for saving me..." he then turned to me with his face (His eyes were still focused on the girl) almost as an afterthought before adding, "Both of you."
Oh, come on! I was here before here! Heck, I convinced her to help him! "Yeah, you're welcome.", I said in a frustrated voice, which he either missed or completely ignored.
The girl then turned her attention to the boy, she had similarly asked him if he knew about the girl that passed by, and of course he told her that he didn't, I figured getting beat up can make a person quite distracted.
The girl sighed in disappointment, which made the boy look guilty, probably because he couldn't offer any helpful info.
"Well, I am gonna go follow the description of the girl you gave me, farewell.", She then turned to leave the alley, which caused the boy to try standing up to catch up with her.
"Ah, you'd better not try to sta-, too late.", She tried warning him to not stand since he was pretty injured, however it was too late as he already fell directly on his face, causing me to wince, that must have hurt.
And finally, he lost consciousness.
"Well, what now?", the talking cat asked.
"Well, it's not like we know him we can leave him here. He won't die, so let's heave him be."
"Really?"
"Really!"
I just watched the exchange with a dump expression on my face, a talking cat and a silver haired girl were talking about whether or not they were going to help an unconscious Japanese teen in a deserted alley in a medieval city, that exists in a completely different plain of existence than the one I was born in.
Please tell me this all a dream, or take me to therapy, whichever one is cheaper.
So you reached the end of this chapter! Well first of all thank you for reading this story! And second I want to address a few things. first of all I want to say that this story is a side project I am doing to improve my writing, as such I would greatly appreciate it if you give me constructive criticism so I can improve. Second, even though I have a general idea of where this story is going to go, I am still not sure whether or not I will actually commit to it, as it will depend on the feedback I get. so with that being said I would again like to thank you for sticking until the end, and I Hope you have a nice day. Peace!
