There really isn’t a status UI after all, huh?

It made sense, but I was still a bit disappointed. When you get the opportunity to go to a fantasy world, that’s something you expect, right? But sure enough, everything about me was exactly the same. No new skills, no cheats - nothing. But I had been told this world would be fairly “low-spec” to begin with. I couldn’t be too upset about it. 

More importantly — Trees! Grass! The incessant buzzing of insects, the comforting warmth of the sun, the chill of a spring breeze. It was quite nice to be back in nature after so long. 

This is where humans belong. Not in that nast– 

Urgh. I should not think about that place. I’m definitely going to enjoy my time here. I might be a bit of a shut-in, sure, but even I could get into explor–  

“Ow!” 

I had been flicked on the forehead. 

“Oh, you’re actually alive in there?” the source of the pain said, not at all attempting to hide her annoyance. “Stop spacing out or I’m gonna leave you here.”

The gorgeous woman in front of me was none other than my partner for this expedition. Fortunately, I had forgotten about her until just then. Unfortunately, she still existed.

I was stuck exploring another world with someone who hated me.

“Then you should just lea– Ow!”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Another flick. My rebuttal was swiftly countered.

“Yeah, no. You know just as well as I do that we have to do this together. Check your things so we can get out of here.”

I nodded. She had a point. Did my belongings all make it here with me? Not that I had much, but still. 

Pistol? Check. Definitely the most important thing. Not sure how useful it’ll be against magic and dragons, but at least I know how to use it. 

Smartphone? Check. No service, and I’d be shocked to see cell towers in a fantasy world, but it’s still able to connect to Claire’s phone. Even over long distances, which was pretty nifty. And I made sure to put a ton of isekai novels on it before we left, just in case. 

One last thing. I dug into my pocket, desperately wishing for nothing to be there. Of course, life isn’t that convenient. Ick. 

“Uhm, Claire…”

“What.” 

“Can you hold onto this thing? It creeps me out.”

I held out a “seed.” That’s what it was supposed to be, anyways. Plant this and it’ll send us back home, they said. But I wanted nothing to do with it. Not only was going home the last thing I wanted to do, the seed just plain creeped me out. All wriggly and weird and gross and stuff. 

“Creeps you out…? It’s just a normal acorn.”

Yeah, I’m sure it looks like that to you. Curse these eyes of mine. 

“Just take it, please?”

“Yeah, fine, whatever. Done yet?”

I nodded. 

“Then we’re leaving. I already checked the map, the closest town is this way.”

She pointed in a seemingly random direction. All I could see were trees. But I suppose even though we don’t get along, she’s still reliable. We won’t get lost, probably. 

I followed her through the sparse forest, her brilliant blonde locks leading the way. The sun reflecting on them made them stand out more than usual. I didn’t realize her already striking natural beauty could be made… more beautiful. 

I’m glad I came to this world.