Feeling the warm sunlight on my eyelids, I slowly open my eyes.

In front of me a vast grassland spread far to the horizon. I am standing in such a place.

“ … “

A breeze blows. It isn't cold, rather warm. There is not many clouds in the sky, is it spring ?

My mind feels a bit hazy.

I start looking around. I can see a dirt path stretching across the green grassland on my right. There is only a few people and a something that seems to be a carriage far away. I can't make out any details since it's so far. It seems they are moving to the direction opposite to me.

I turn around, and see a forest a few kilometers away. There are mountains far away in the horizon. Aside from that, there is only an endless grassland.

(I don't know where I am.)

I look at myself. I am wearing a leather chest protector-like thing over a white tunic and brown pants made of rough fabric. I also have brown leather gloves on my hands and boots. At my waist, a weight can be felt.

(What is this ?)

I pull at the handle of the object on my left side to take a closer look, and a rather long object comes out.

(Is it … a sword ?)

The sword has a metalic shine and gives a dull reflection of the sunlight. The blade is quite short, somewhat large and is double edged, it would be a called a short sword I guess. The sword doesn't have any particular features.

– A common sword –

I check my others belongings.

There is a leather gourd filled with water and a poutch hanging on my belt on my right side. I open it and inside there are coins of three different colors. 2 gold coins, 12 silver coins and 15 copper coins.

(Money. Is this a high or low amount ?)

– Enough to live a few weeks –

Somehow, I can tell it is a decent amount.

(But how do I know it ?)

While pondering, I look at the small card hanging on my neck with a thin rope.

On the iron card the size of a business card, is written a name, Sakuta, and “Rank F” along with an engraved figure inside a circle. I feel like this name refer to me.

(What am I doing here ? … Am I dreaming ?)

While I was lost in thoughts, I suddenly hear a rustling sound. I turn toward the source of the sound and take a few seconds trying to understand what's before my eyes.

A greenish muddy round creature is moving slowly toward me, spreading the grass. Its jelly like boddy shake and change shape with its movements. Its about as large as a basketball.

– Slime –

For some reasons, the word appears in my mind.

I see the slime accelerating toward me by making a few small jumps forward and then jumping higher with more strenght toward my chest !

Well, although I am a bit surprised, its can't really be called fast. About as fast as a ball thrown lightly. I dodge the jelly ball by stepping aside. The slime land on the ground, making a thump sound like a ball thrown on the ground.

Without any reason, I decide to attack it.

The slime turn back to face me, or so it seems. I can't tell for sure since it doesn't have eyes …

Anyway, before it takes another action I pull out my sword in my right hand and swing it downward on the weird creature. The swing is completely amateurish but it reach the unmoving slime and the blade split its body in two, while splashing dropelets around.

– Skill : Swordmanship aquired ! Current level : level 1 –

– Level up ! Current level : level 1 –

(Hmm ?)

Just now I feel like a voice resounded in my mind. It is a clear voice which feels nice to hear. But I am not sure. Did I imagine it ?

Well~ it doesn't matter. Rather than that, I check whether the slime died from this strike.

The split body of the slime start to dissolve and make a puddle on the ground. In the middle of the puddle I find a small pebble the size of my pinky.

I take the pebble between my fingers to take a closer look. It is mostly of a dull grey color, slightly transparent whith a hint of blue. What is this ?

– The stone is produced inside the body of the slime, and is left behind at the death of the creature –

(Huh ? How do I know this ? I never saw something like this though …)

For the time being, I put the stone in my pocket and start walking toward the dirt path, then walk along the road on the side of the forest. I feel like I should go in this direction. While walking, I encounter a few more slimes, and collect the stones that drop. There aren't many peoples, and they are far away so I don't meet them.

…

*Slash!*

I cut down few more slimes I found and pick up their stone.

– Skill : Swordmanship leveled up ! Current level : lvl 2 –

– Level up ! Current level : lvl 2 –

I hear the voice again. So it was not my imagination ?

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(I have gotten a bit better at swinging the sword. Now I can strike more accurately with the sharp part of the blade.)

I have walked for a while now. I am starting to feel thirsty so I drink some water in the gourd but it tasted really bad. The water have a smell of leather. But I have to make do with this for now ...

Right now, I am close to the forest. The forest is on the right, parallel to the path.

Suddenly, I hear a weird scream from the forest.

“Giggya!”

I turn in the direction of the scream, and see two small humanoïd figures running out from between the trees. The figures have a green skin and reach a bit higher than my waist. They wear nothing but a dirty cloth around their waist and hold a wooden club in their hand.

– Goblins –

The name of these creatures flash in my mind while they run in my direction. My sight make contact with their yellow eyes. I can clearly feel their hostility. I tense up unconsiously.

I didn't feel in danger at all against the slimes before, and I can tell these goblins are a lot more dangerous for me. I could get injured against these if I am not careful.

I charge toward the goblin on the right which is closer. It stop in front of me and raise its club. I make use of my longer reach to slash at it first.

“Gii!!” (Goblin A)

A red line appear diagonally across its chest, and the goblins stumble backward, but the wound is more shallow than I intended it to be.

(Am I hesitating because its a humanoïd creature ?)

While I hesitate, the goblin on the left closes in and swing down its club !

“!!” (Sakuta)

(I don't have the time to avoid it !)

I lift my left arm in reflex to protect myself, and the club crashes onto my arm !

“Ouch!!” (Sakuta)

It hurt !! But it should not be enough to fracture my bones at least.

The pain pulls me out of the dazed state I was in since earlier. I feel as my mind suddenly cleared up.

While I take a distance from the ennemies, the goblin I harmed previously rush toward me.

“Are you alright ?!” (Voice)

Suddenly I hear someone's voice, and with a flash, the body of the goblin coming at me is split in two vertically !

(Geh~ disguting. Wait, now is not the time to think that !)

Behind the falling corpse of the goblin, appear a red haired woman wielding a long sword.

With a step toward the second ennemy, she gives a powerful slash at it and cut it down in a single strike.

“Are you okay ?” (Savior)

“Y-yes, thank you, you saved me.” (Sakuta)

(She is strong. There is no way I could cut down these guys with a single strike, even putting in all my strength. I couldn't see her swing her sword at all too.) (Sakuta)

The woman in front of me had mid-long scarlet hair tied up into a ponytail, blue eyes, and is quite tall. She wore metallic equipement over her body, which gives off a high quality feeling. Overall, she gives off a dignified atmosphere, like a western knight would look like in my imagination.

“No, I am sorry, I was hunting these monsters in the forest. If I didn't let them escape, you wouldn't have been injured. I am Leona, a B rank adventurer. You are also an adventurer ?” (Leona)

(I see a copper tag hanging on a thin chain around her neck. The card has the same size as mine, and the same pattern. I am also an “adventurer” I guess ?) (Sakuta)

“Yes, I am Sakuta, a F rank adventurer. Best regards.” (Sakuta)

“A beginner advanturer, I see. Lend me your arm, I'll give you treatement.” (Leona)

“Eh? Ah. Thank you very much.” (Sakuta)

I say, as I obediently pull up my sleeve and show her my left arm.

“Don't mind it.” (Leona)

She take out a pot and start spreading its content on my bruise. It sting a bit but it doesn't hurt at all compared to when I received the strike, so I bear with it.

“There, done.” (Leona)

Saying so, she walks upw to the monster's body while taking out a knife, and squat down.

Just when I was going to ask her what is she doing, she cut open the chest area and takes out a bloodied stone, similar to those from slimes, although a little bit larger. She also cut off an ear from each of the bodies.

(So there is also stone like these in goblin's bodies huh.) (Sakuta)

Then, she suddenly streches her hand containing the stones toward me.

“Here. It is not much but you can sell these at the guild for a bit of money.” (Leona)

“Eh ? These goblins were defeated by you though ?” (Sakuta)

“It's fine. It's apology for letting them escape and injure you.” (Leona)

“Is that so ? ...” (Sakuta)

I say as I place the stones in my poutch.

(I wouldn't mind though, since you already treated my injury. And it was my badfor not running away.) (Sakuta)

“Now then, you shouldn't overdo it, and take a rest Sakuta-kun. The town is not far so you should take a rest for today.” (Leona)

She point toward the end of the path, where I was walking to earlier. I can see walls over there.

“I'll do so. What will you do Leona-san ?” (Sakuta)

“I am on a, so I will stay and keep hunting. Well then, see you around at the guild” (Leona)

“Yeah. See you.” (Sakuta)

(Leona-san is such a nice person.) (Sakuta)

Leona walk away and I start going to the city after she turn away. It's a bit of a pity to part so fast, too bad.

As I start walking, I begin to think about my situation.

(I don't know where I am !) (Sakuta)

Getting hit earlier, I felt as thought I woke up in a jolt from a dream. I didn't realise before but I have no idea in which country I currently am, or even which continent. Even those creatures earlier are stranges. I don't recall having seen or heard of round jelly life-forms that pounce at you, or small green skinned humanoïd with enough intelligence to use weapon. Such things should have been well known.

(Also, Leona-san carried a sword like it's natural, and wear armor. I myself have a weapon and protective gears. Although I understand the necessity since there are monsters around, I never wore such things in the past... I think. Huh ? What was I doing before finding myself in the middle of that grassland ?) (Sakuta)

I stop walking and try hard to remember.

(I … can't remember my surname ... nor my age.) (Sakuta)

There are also other things I don't remember, like things about my acquaintances, such as their name or appearance ... I know they existed, and remember how I interacted with them but that's all.

(I can't recall where I lived. I have graduated from highschool. I still somewhat remember this period of my life. I think that at least a few years should have passed afterward, but I can't remember anything between graduation and now...Hnn...) (Sakuta)

I rub my temples.

(… I think I was planning to study sciences in a college. Have I graduated from college and found a job ? What job was it ?) (Sakuta)

It's a very strange feeling. I start getting uneasy and resume walking.

(Really, what happened to me ? Was I transported to another era ? It's unlikely to be the past since the monsters would have left a trace of their existence to the modern times. In this case the future ? There should not be a civilisation still relying on equipement like sword and armor in real fights. Then has the civilization regressed ? Was I frozen and sent here like in some SF movies or something ? No, I wouldn't appear in the middle of a grassland in this case ...) (Sakuta)

As I quickly think of many hypothesis, I suddenly hear that voice again.

– Skill acquired : Thought Acceleration ! Current level : level 1 –

“ –!” (Sakuta)

I stop my feets again. I think about the words I hear in my mind.

(Skill ? Level ? It reminds me of the games I used to play. Is it that after all ?) (Sakuta)

Unknown lands, monsters, skill and level. This situation is the same as in those novels which became popular at some point in time.

(Was I transported in another world ?) (Sakuta)

Although the idea is difficult to accept, it's the same for all others possibilities I could think of anyway. Actually, finding myself in another world seems to explain my situation better. I don't reject other possibilities, but for now let's go with the another world theory. Well, anyway it doesn't change what I should do.

(Surviving, and finding more information about myself, this world, why and how I got here.) (Sakuta)

So for now I will go to the town. As I decide my course of action, I find a slime some distance away.

(Novel protagonists usually have something in common if you think about it.) (Sakuta) 

That's...

Cheats skills !

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Summary of Sakuta's current status :

Sakuta

Level 0 → 2

Swordmanship

Lv0 → 2

Thoughts Acceleration

Lv0 → 1