Wondering south from the plaza I soon learned my reliance on GPS had significantly reduced my already little spatial awareness making my actions reminiscent of tourist visiting a non-wifi zone.

The sense of this world being not mine own set in, in a perverse way. Videos of expats mentioning homesickness and a status of eternal foreigner seemed petty or whiny but experiencing this first hand; I realised the event in I return is so marginal that I probably had a higher chance of dying from a mugging tonight.

…

Mugging, scams, slavery, experimentation, and general lack of human rights were the main downsides to medieval life. Aside from the ever high mortality rate, which is somewhat relative in time and technology… or magic. Maybe there’s some magic Aids in this world.

Thinking so incredibly fast without walking and the night in full I came to a stop.

I am so damn alone again, but this time I’ll most likely be dead of a cough before I even get the chance to begin a friendship or fundamental human relations.

Why did I ever desire to be thrown in some random world’s slew of conflict?

Earth from a technological point would deem this place an archaeological heritage relic site.

Besides, magic…

I doubt magic is developed for non-militaristic purposes other than the commoner/scholarly groups who research and found new magic with the meagre finding they possess.

Damn, I started to tear up. No, I will not break on the first day. The second day maybe, but not the first.

Briskly walking after clearing my thoughts I notice something strange… although this was a whole different world with its laws of existence. Something instinctual made me stop after reaching the fifth inn thus far without seeing the Wooden Imp.

What is this line? Lines? Fractures? The weeds in the cobblestone are completely distorted like a scratched movie disc. Or as if used a real-life editor program and botched up the corners with magic.

Magic, anything is possible with a flick of a wand or chant… Tha receptionist seemed overly close too for a reason too strange and impulsive to combat the possible negatives of even torture…

On Earth had the capability to be generous to the point of bankruptcy and could still rebound their wealth within a reasonable timeframe

Here, I doubt such programs exist, knights not raping and pillaging the commoners is probably a blessing only this world can have due to magic since magic doesn’t seem partial to bloodlines or at least on the surface.

Meaning a lowlife could at any time use magic the do the same as a knight with magic as their justice to commit horrible acts.

“I think I've fallen into an illusion… Hello? Is anyone there?!”

“Hahaha”

“Fefefe”

Two hooded figures pass through a permeable wall as if it didn’t exist. Laughing like a joke gone wrong lead to a beginning of a grand inside joke.

“Who are you, people?”

“Haha, hah, Wow, every time a person falls into our trap it just gets better than the last time.”

“Yeah, the last bumpkin thought we were 'protecting' him after I cast Mirror’s Shroud and some small confusion charms till the very end when the light left he’s eyes. Hahaha, fool! This idiot looks a bit less stupid and recognises his death. That kinda spoils a little bit of the fun.”

Pulling back their hoods two slightly ugly men with the faces of lowlifes, broken and yellow teeth and all.

For the first time, I genuinely felt my life being held in another’s without any prospect of escaping.

The nasally sounding man seemed to talk and lot… maybe I can l buy some time?

“W-what are you talking about? I n-need to go the Wooden Imp name, g-goodbye now.”

To make me seem more believable with their current perception of me I forced my feet to trip on one another enough to send me sliding on the floor.

I need to run away, even its a couple of steps at a time.

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“Hahhahaahahha, this kids more of an idiot! The last was a fool, but this one is aware enough to see what’s occurring but not to act it out. We the Bloody street brothers, have never once let a prey go but this rat thinks if he runs away he’ll get away!”

The second man who had no chin but muscular body stood silent without speaking once aside from laughing spoke up with a tired smile.

“Alf, this is the third one this week, and I drank too much last night, you can deal with this one on your own.”

“Heh, thanks, I’ve been backed up for the last few days.”

“Gods, just don’t take to the inn. Last time we were nearly identified by an A rank party.”

The second man left the alley in a hurry.

The colour immediately drained from my already pale face to a white chalk colour.

“Y-you could just kill me please!”

Slap!

“How dare a fool to speak against such a reward and extended life I’ve rewarded you with scorn. You should be praising me! You… Piece of… Shit… Bumpkin, Ha!”

Kicking my ribs over and over with the strength of a horse, cracking and silent screams resonated off the cold cobblestone.

“Haah, Honey it seems you have drunk too much! I safely escort you to the nearest inn. Free of cost!”

A disgusting person and disgusting morals truly made a human vile, true scum.

A boundless rage dominated my heart. At this moment, once more, a new first occurred for me. An unbreakable resolution, I must kill this scum, waste of space, walking meat bag.

Staring into his face to remember every single detail, from pox marks to disgusting flaps of meat that curve into something that people did to express happiness but resembled a clown's mask.

No longer scared… scratch that, too afraid to notice my body conditions. I could not force myself to stop staring with murder in my eyes.

Words did not come to mind; words ceased to exist, only anger stirred fueled by the pain from my ribs and lungs.

“W-what the fuck are those eyes! You son of a bitch! Look at me a second more and I’ll-

“You’ll what? Kill him and violate his body afterwards similar to the other thirty victims? Alford and Tomis of Village Terk, you two by decree of the City Guilds are deemed criminals.”

Guards in heavy armour poured in from both ends of the alley, marching to metal clanking.

“Alford, lay down arms and surrender yourself and death by torture can be avoided. We possess 15, level 20 guards and 4 level 15 archers positioned to close off any escape. Your brother Tom has already been captured and is currently undergoing judgement.”

Stunned the Trash could not breathe, taking notice of the situation I raised my foot from underneath Alford.

“Die you piece of shit!”

Crack!~~

Like eggs cracked, liquid seeps out of armour and cloth pants of the Trash.

“AHHHHH! GODS, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

“Shut

…

The

…

Fuck

…

UP!”

I already ruin his spouse’s future children, why not finish off the half broken face!

“AH! Ump!”

“Cease the stomps! You’ve exact your revenge, but the rest of the public hasn’t. Justice must be had in front of the public.”

The leader of this self-imposed sting operation, an old man that resembled my Pop-pop. Intentional or not, grab my shoulders with an immense strength that was far more impressive than the Trash’s.

“Who are you! What going on!”

“Calm down. Young man, please calm down. Everything is under control, your safe now.”

Tears streamed down my face.

“I want to go home.”

“Don’t worry; you can stay in the guild barracks.”

“Thanks.”

“What’s your name?”

“Gale, Gale Virgil.”

“A noble?”

“No?”

“Hah, a fallen noble then? No matter, in this frontier city, strength is second to the rule of the Emperor. Regardless, the adventurer’s Guild will not leave to the defenceless to die.”

The old man escorted me out of the alley to the main street while the other guards dragged the trash away. Within seconds of small talk mostly regarding my journey so far to the city, I thought of what just occurred with a shiver.

“How did you find me?”

“Haha, you expect that such a measly level 7 illusionist can just waltz into the city’s merchant guild and cast spells wantonly like he owned the place? As soon as you, the target of the illusion encompassed that young receptionist for a couple of minutes, all the receptionist security alarms sounded off. It would be embarrassing if the adventurer’s guild couldn’t redeem the disrespect the merchants suffered today.”

So I’m just the cherry on top huh? Illusion magic sounds over power in this world. He said ‘cast’ so that means before I got to register I was somehow bewitched without me knowing.

“How did I get affected by illusion magic? And why do I still have a merchant card if I was under an illusion?”

“Hmm, I suspect that early today you were bumped into or touched somehow with a large impact, enough to scare you?”

“Yes, a couple of times… but one hooded figure nearly ran me over when I first enter the city.”

“Aye, Illusionists is a trash job for those degenerates who seek to exploit people that rarely ever grow stronger into a new job. Many restraints are with the illusionist job such the touch to cast requirement and can never affect higher levels above themselves. Since Alford’s level was only seven he could not initially control your moves 100% till later on when your mental strength was minimal. He could only minorly affect Miss Ayleth mental towards you, but on account of many shifts and late hours her mind was barely keeping up with her work. Ah, interesting.”

The old man stared at me with calculating gaze.

“Child, can you read and write?”

“N-no, sorry.”

A troubled expression grew on the old man’s face. Then a light bulb lit up above his head.

“Can you smile well?”

Okay, a smile… no way, whatever he is trying to confirm doesn’t matter since my smile is terrible if there’s not something funny to laugh at.

Here goes nothing.

“Uh, I think you can stop now, please. Cough cough, you’ll be in danger if keep smiling though so stop. If you offended some noble without a backing, you’d lose everything.”

Ouch, I know my smiles are terrible, but my new enhanced body should be idol worthy, right?

“Here we are, the guild is always open, so there should be some beds behind the reception. Aye, Ms Alys should be notified of your arrival.”

The old man said his farewells I guess I should as, wait no, what his name?

“Wait! Sir, what your name?”

“Jokin, sleep well now.”

Hah, one guild to another, what happened to the trope of sleeping the first night in an inn then eventually over time gain assets to buy a house. Whatever its a fantasy world, let just take these things in stride.

Kreeen!

“Ms Alys? Sir Jokin sent for me to stay the night... Hello?”

Snooorr…. Snor… Snooooor

Uh, why is an idol behind the desk? Wait, if this trope is all receptionists are beautiful women… then there should be the second trope of a personal receptionist only serving one customer.

…

“Goal number one, gain a personal receptionist after becoming an adventurer.”

Snor!…

Gale: … or maybe not?