Chapter 1.1
“Watch out! …huh?”
In instant, his environment had changed. Ken was floating in mid-air with his arm stretched forward. One moment, he was pushing his friend off the road to save her from an incoming vehicle. The next, he was transported in a bright room seemingly floating on the center. Upon this realization, he fell on the floor.
*thud*
“Aw… What’s going on? Is this a dream?”
Recovering from the fall, he heard a voice from behind him.
“Well some say that life is but a fleeting dream. Although, I guess, for you, this is what happens when you stopped dreaming since your life just ended. Too bad.”
Looking behind, Ken saw the figure of a small boy standing there. Aside from him and the boy, there was nothing else in the room, not even a window or a door. The floor, walls, and the ceiling were all white, and the room was brightly lit, even though, he couldn’t tell where the light was coming from.
“Wait a minute. I’m dead?”
“Well, what’d you expect? Jumping in front of a truck as you did, of course, you’re dead.”
“Um… So, this is heaven or something?”
“Kinda.”
“Hmmm… I thought it would be different. You know, like something up in the clouds, angels all around playing harps.”
“Like this?”
The boy snapped his fingers, then, in an instant, there really were angels playing harps, flying around, and playing with each other. And, it looked like they were floating above the clouds.”
“Whoa…”
“Satisfied?”
With another snap of the finger, they were back in the bright room as before.
“Wait!”
“Actually, you’re not in heaven yet.”
“So, where am I exactly? I am really dead?”
“You’re in this room. But, this room is not actually anywhere. What I can tell you for certain is that you died. Dead as a, um, a dead person.”
“So, you’re like the gatekeeper of heaven or something? Here to determine whether I qualify or not?”
“No, I’m actually a god, you know? Bask in my presence.”
“Right.”
“It’s true, you know? Believe it or not.”
“Okay then, so why am I speaking to a god?”
“Well, actually, I’ve watched your life on earth, you know? Losing your parents in such a young age was tragic, yet you never was paralyzed by the misery. You have a certain strength of character with you. But, you died in such an untimely fashion. Too bad, really.”
“What about Aya? Is she fine?”
“Tsk tsk tsk. Dying moments after seeing your childhood love like that. Tragic. Maybe it was a chance to rekindle some old affection. Now we’ll never know. Is that what you were thinking?”
“What? No! I just want to know it she’s got hurt or not.”
“Well, she’s fine. What does it matter? It has nothing to do with you anymore.”
“Well… I guess you’re right. Maybe It is better that I don’t know.
“So, on to the topic at hand.”
“What was it again?”
“Oh right, I haven’t told you. You see, you’re talking with me right now because I want to give you an option that very few people has. That is, how do you want to reincarnate? You can choose to reincarnate using the traditional route based on your accumulated karma, or, I can transport your into another world, just are you are right now.”
“Transport into another world?”
“Yes. A different world that this. A world where magic is possible. If you choose the traditional route, I’ll make sure you’re reborn with better circumstances than what you’ve experience. If you choose to go to another world, you can go as you are now and I’ll let you retain your memories for better or worse.”
“So I can use magic in this other world?”
“I’ll give you that talent. But, you have to learn how to use it yourself.”
“How about the traditional route?”
“You’ll be born to loving parents. You won’t be an orphan anymore. Plus, it’ll be to a wealthy family. It’s not bad at all, really.”
“If that is how it is, why would I choose to go to another world? I think I have a happy life waiting for me if I reincarnate.”
“That’s true. Actually, it’s more to satisfy my whim. I thought you had real potential, you know? However, because you became an orphan and you had an untimely demise, we’ll never know what could have been. Aren’t you curious? Don’t you want to give it a try?”
“Aren’t you god? Don’t you already know?”
“I’m not that kind of god. I’m just one of the uncountable gods that exists. I just happen to have some dominion in this world and that other one. I’m not all seeing, you know.”
“Right.”
“So? What will it be?”
Ken gave it some thought. If he decided to be reborn, he could have the life that he’d always wanted. Wealthy, surrounded by loving family. It would be a very good life. However, if he decided to be transported, he’ll be as he was. He could see new things, even try magic. And most of all, he could continue his life in a way and find out for himself what he was really capable of. He had never complained about it before, and maybe he had never realized it before, but he led a limited life somehow. His circumstances had something to do with it, but the fact was, he had decided to limit himself. It was natural for him to accept that there were only so many things that were available to him. If he could be given a chance to continue, even if in a strange world of magic, he’d like to give it a shot. No longer setting limitations for himself, he wanted to chase after his dreams, whatever it was.
“Before I choose, can’t you just return me to Earth?”
“Nope. You died, remember? We can’t have someone coming back to life all of a sudden. Maybe in a different world, it can be accepted, but not there. Although someone has died, your consolation is that you don’t have to mourn your own death. Ha ha! But make no mistake about it, your life in has ended. It’s time to start on a new one. Whichever you choose, think of it as a new life. Well, because it is.”
Ken was silent for a moment. He really died just like the god said. The headmaster, the children, Aya, he won’t be seeing any of them. But, just like the god said, you can’t mourn your own death. He had no regrets. He was glad he was able to save Aya.
(I will miss them. The old man and the kids are probably crying right now, but, I know they’re going to be fine. The old man will take care of them as always. There is really only one thing to do now.)
“I’ll do it. Take me to that other world.”
“He he. I had a feeling you’d say that. I knew you’d be up to the challenge. In that world, I’m known as Altea. Be sure to visit me sometimes in one of my temples.”
After making his decision, he was back to his normal disposition.
“Altea? Isn’t that a girl’s name?”
He grinned as he teased the miniature god in front of him.
“Well, you know, even gods have complicated circumstances of our own. Anyway, it’s not important, you know? I’m not bothered by it, you know?”
“It looks like it bothers you a lot, actually.”
“I said that it’s not!”
“Sure thing, Altea.”
“What? You’re still here? Buh-Bye!!”
***
His environment changed yet again. From what he can immediately tell, he was within a forest of some sort. All he could here was the rustling of the leaves.
(Wow… Is this really a different world? Looks like a normal forest to me, but, this can’t be a dream right? Anyway, that god was really funny.)
“Pffft… Altea… Ha ha ha ha-“
“Kyaa!!!”
As he was laughing out loud, Ken heard a woman’s scream from behind him. There he saw a girl who looked a couple of years younger than him. She was wearing a white dress that fit smugly on her body. Her chestnut brown hair was in a ponytail. She was carrying a small pack on her back and she was holding a short staff which was encrusted with some small gems.
“Oh, hey there! I’m a little bit lost, you see. Could you show me whe-“
“Don’t come any closer!”
“What?”
(What’s her deal? Why is she looking at me with fear? Wait, that doesn’t really look like fear. Is there something wrong here?)
And then, Ken finally realized it. He was completely naked and was standing there like an idiot.
“I said, don’t come closer to me, you pervert!”
“Wai-wai-wait! There’s an explanation for this! Really!! Hey! I’m not a pervert! Don’t run like that! Hey!”
The girl run as if she just saw an incredible monster. Ken was confused on what just happened.
“What the heck just happened? Why am I naked? Ah is it that? Only my body can be transported here? My clothes or anything else was left behind? Wait. Now that I’m thinking about it, this must be a new body right? I mean that god said that I died in that accident. He couldn’t just make my body disappear from there, right? So, this must be a different body that looked exactly like my previous one, right?”
During his ramblings, he noticed a small pack near to where he was standing. It was located in a spot that he couldn’t easily notice earlier.
“Hey what’s this?”
He checked the contents of the pack. In it he found one trouser made of some fibrous material, one shirt made of a lighter material, one underpants, some straps, one pair of leather boots, and one dagger.
“I’m saved! I guess that god put this here for me. Thank you, boy god! He’s not that bad, I guess. Wait, there’s more at the bottom.”
Removing the other contents of the pack first, then, he took out from it a small pouch. He heard some metallic sounds as he moved it with his hand, and when he untied the strap and checked what’s inside, he saw some shiny silver coins in it. But that’s not all, there was a small note in the pouch. He took the note out, unfolded it, and read the contents. It was written in a strange language that he had never seen before, but surely enough, he was able to understand it as naturally as his native language. The note read, “How does it feel being called a pervert?”
“What the- Damn it. He did it all on purpose. That brat! He could have transported me here already wearing clothes or to a hidden place where no one could see me, but he, argh.. I’ve never had a woman look at me like that before. When I see that brat again, I’m going to make him pay for this humiliation!”
Crying at the loss of his gentlemanly image, Ken grudgingly put on the clothes. Using the strap as a belt over the shirt that was too big for him, he looked like your regular peasant from some western medieval movie. The only thing that is agreeable to him was the leather boots that were, at least, comfortable to wear. He slid the dagger in the strap around his waist. Then, he folded the now empty pack and placed it in the strap as well. Not forgetting the pouch of coins, he put it in one of the pockets of his trouser.
(Well, at least I’m not naked anymore. I don’t have to lose my dignity as a civilized person every time I see anothe.)
(Now, what to do? Hmmm… I should have asked that brat of a god more about this world. All he said was that this is a world of magic. But, now that I think about it, I don’t know what to expect. That girl earlier… She was running in this direction. I wonder if I will find a city or town if I follow her. That’s what I’ll do for now.)
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
(I don’t have any other motive, right? This is just me looking for a settlement or something. This is not some guy following a girl after being seen naked in the woods, right?)
After walking for about 20 minutes, Ken had exited the forest. Looking far in the distance, he could see the outline of what seemed to be a walled town, so, he started walking to that direction.
Not too soon after, he finally saw some other people walking in the same or the opposite direction as him. Some were equipped in leather armor or robes. Some were even wearing full metal armor. All of them were carrying some weapons like, swords, bows, daggers, or staves.
(I guess this is what it’s like in a world with magic. Those with staves must be wizard or mages. It reminds me of the video games that I used to play. Warrior and mages forming a party going in some adventure, killing monsters. Monster? It wouldn’t be weird if there were really monsters around. I guess I should be aware of the surroundings all the time. But, I wonder what are these people doing? They are definitely dressed for battle.)
He wanted to ask the people he encountered, but, he hesitated. He would appear ignorant if he were to ask something that was obviously common knowledge. So, he decided to wait until he get to the town so he could make more observations about the life there.
***
When he finally reached the gate to the town, Ken observed that people were not required to show some form of identification to walk through the gates. It was a relief to him, since he didn’t have any identification with him. So, he tried to copy the others and walked as casually as he could so as to not garner any unwarranted attention from the guards.
“Stop! Hey you there, why are walking like that?”
“What me? I am not suspicious or anything. Just doing my casual walk as always.”
“It’s definitely suspicious when you say it like that, okay? Let us search you before we let you through.”
“What? It’s not like I have a dangerous weapon or something.”
“A dangerous weapon? We definitely have to search you right now, okay?”
He was taken to the side of the road and his belongings were searched thoroughly. But, it didn’t even take a minute, since, he didn’t really have anything noteworthy with him. Apparently, the dagger did not classify as a dangerous weapon.
“Well, sorry for the inconvenience, man. I’m sure you’ve been through a lot. Here, you can have this to add to your money, okay? Go to the inn and buy yourself some warm soup, okay?”
The guard handed him a brown coin.
“Really? Wow, thanks! You’re a good man after all.”
“Run along now. Don’t get into any trouble, okay?”
“Thanks, uncle.”
After Ken was out of their sight, the younger guard asked his senior.
“Sir, why did you give him a a large copper coin?
“He is obviously going through a hard time, okay? Just look at his clothes, they were practically rags. I found he only had 3 silver coins with him. Poor fellow, he was probably a victim of the Three Silver Bandits, okay? We’ve been lax in dealing with them since they’re known as a merciful bandit group that gives their victim three silver coins if they don’t resist. However, they are still a menace that must be dealt with as criminals. We have to be vigilant in out next patrol of the road, okay?”
“Yessir!”
“We can’t have things like this happening to our good citizens. But still that kid, even after experiencing hardship, he said ‘Thanks’ to me so earnestly. Such a good kid. You better not forget your manners even in times of hardship, okay?”
“Right.”
“Okay?”
“Umm… Okay, sir!”
***
Walking for the first time in that town, Ken was reminded of the European medieval towns that he saw from television, except, this town did not look as prosperous. One thing he learned from the guard that he talked with earlier was that there should be an inn somewhere in this town where he could get some food. He wasn’t particularly hungry, but, going to an inn seemed the only way he could learn more about this town. Not only was an inn a place a person can hear some recent news, the staff of the inn should be used to receiving people that are strangers to this town.
He asked a person nearby to point him to the direction of the inn. He was directed to a building that was relatively close to the gate. At a corner off the main road, he found it. The sign above the door read, “The Fancy Goblin Inn”.
Ken entered the inn without any ceremony. Across the entry way was the reception counter. A tall woman in her early thirties was behind the counter. She greeted Ken with a smile.
“Hello, are you here for a room or food?”
It was the only inn in this rural town and it accommodated both noble and commoners a like. It had a total of 8 rooms, 6 on the second floor, and 2 bigger rooms on the third floor that are intended for the use of nobles. The first floor housed the kitchen and the dining hall. There was a drive way that leads to the stables on the backyard.
The receptionist behind the counter spoke straight to the point but Ken still had a friendly impression of her.
“Can I ask how much are they?”
“A room cost 30 nims per night. That includes breakfast in the morning. A meal cost 5 nims.”
“Um… I’ll take a room and a meal for one. Will this be enough?”
He took out a silver coin from his pouch then handed it over to the woman. The woman received it without wondering why someone didn’t know if he’s paying enough.
“Yes, your change is 65 nims. Here is 6 large coppers and 5 coppers. Please take a seat over there. I’ll deliver the meal to your table.”
“Thank you.”
Ken sat down on the empty chair he was pointed to.
(From the exchange, one silver coin is equal to 100 nims which seems to be the common currency around here. There are also the small copper coins that is worth 1 nims each and the large copper coins that is worth 10 nims each. There is probably a gold coin as well with a higher monetary value. It’s a good thing that the woman from the counter is honest.)
In his mind, he counted how much money he had left. He had three silvers originally. Then, he was given what he just learned as a large copper coin by the kind guard at the town gate. Subtract from that 35 nims he paid for a meal and a room, now, he should have 275 nims. In his pouch he had two silver coins, seven large copper coins, and five copper coins.
With the money he had, he could afford to stay in this inn for 8 nights which include a room and diner every day with 30 nims remaining. He didn’t have a lot to play with. He had to find a way how to earn enough for his daily expenses. And, that is when he noticed the other people in the dining room.
On the table on the corner, there was a group of four men. Two of them wore full sets of metal armor, one with a longsword and a shield leaning on his chair, the other has a large sword leaning on the wall beside him. Their helmet was laid on the table. Another man was wearing light armor made of leather with a bow and a quilt full of arrows hanging behind his chair. The last of them was a man wearing an ornamented cloaked robed. His staff was leaning on the wall.
Ken listened in their heated discussion. He didn’t have to make an effort of eavesdropping on them as they were talking loud enough for everyone in the dining hall to hear. It seemed they were discussing a job they’re about to take.
“Like I said, we are not ready for a quest of this difficulty. Remember last time in the Hircen Caverns? You were almost killed by a were-bear!”
(Wear-bears? That sounds scary. Some kind of feral bear beast, probably.)
“I totally remember. That’s why I’ve been improving my skills, right? Look, if we accomplish this quest, we have 60 golds to split among us. And, that’s not counting the treasures.”
(60 gold, huh. I wonder what you can buy with that.)
“That is if we can live to enjoy the reward!”
(That’s right, it doesn’t matter if you’re dead. I should know.)
“Come on, where is your adventurer’s spirit?”
(So, their called adventurers, huh.)
“Don’t argue like this, you two. Eric, I understand your concerns. This would be a difficult quest for us to complete. But, with enough preparations, I think we can accomplish it.”
“A calm one, but he is siding with the loud one.)
“That’s right! As expected from our leader. Ha ha ha!”
“Well, if you think so. But we better be extra cautious this time.”
“We will. Now, Kyle, you will prepare the camp supply that we need for a month.”
“Got it.”
“Eric, you buy the potions and the rune stones that we need. Include a lot of holy magic rune stones. You can use our party fund as much as you want.”
“Okay, I’ll make sure we have more than we need.”
“Greg, you buy additional 2 horses. They must be suited to carrying our supplies.”
“Yeah. You got it.”
“Okay then, I’ll go to the Adventurer’s guild to talk with other party leaders and gather more information regarding this underground tomb.”
(Underground tomb? What sort of monsters are in there?)
They seemed to have come to an agreement. After having a toast and finishing their drinks, they all left the inn.
“They are a lively bunch, right? Don’t mind the noise. They are not bad people. Adventurers are always like that.”
It was the receptionist woman who said that. She was carrying a tray of food which she laid down on the table. Ken couldn’t help watching her as she worked. The meal consisted of a plate of meat stew with potatoes, half a roll of bread, and a bowl of salad. He grabbed the spoon immediately and had a taste of the stew. He liked the taste more than he expected. It wasn’t heavily flavored with salt, and the soup was thin, but there was a sweetness in it that binds all the ingredients together.
“It’s good!”
“You like it that much? I’ll tell my husband you said so. He’ll be happy to hear it.”
“Yes, please give my compliments to the chef.”
(Che, she’s married.)
“He he, you’re a funny one. Anyway, hear is your room key. The room number is written on the tag.”
“Thank you, can I ask your name?”
“It’s Mary. My husband’s name is Lloyd.”
“Mary-san, do you know how can one become an adventurer?”
“Mary-san?”
“Oh, it’s nothing important.”
“Oh, anyway, you want to be an adventurer right? I did not think so, you’re older than most novices. But, if you really want to become an adventurer, you have to go to the Adventurer’s Guild and register. You have to pay a fee. I don’t know how much it is these days. Then, they’ll give you your card there.”
“Oh, that’s how it is. Can you tell me where can I find the guild?”
“You can find it easy enough. Just continue on the main street from where you enter from the gate toward the center of the town. You’ll see a tall building with walls made of black stoned and a high pitched roof. You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks. I’ll go there after I finish my meal.”
Ken savored his meal. The flavoring were strange to him, but, they were very nice. After that, he exchanged a greeting with Mary before exiting the inn and heading towards the Adventurer’s Guild.