“What happened?” I asked myself.
I was in a city. Not in a normal city. Where once were cars, there were now horses. Where once people in suits were walking, now were folks in medieval clothes. I looked around, and among normal humans, there were not so normal ones. Elves, demihumans, dwarves and many different races.
They walked in the sunshine, minding their own business.
What is this? I thought it was a dream, or a stupid joke. It can’t be happening!
As I looked down, I saw that I was still wearing my grey t-shirt, and jeans. Thank god that I’m not naked. Other than that, I had nothing. Well, not including a glass of water in my right hand. I looked at it, and after that I looked around.
It was warm, and the roads were full. People were smiling as they walked under the sun. Some of them talked, and I could understand every word.
“W-Whoa...” I said quietly to myself, not to make a scene. I always wanted to see a place like this.
It was all true. I’m now in the new world. I died, and I was reborn. And now I have to fight a demon king, with a glass of water.
Wait, I have to fight a demon king, with a glass of water? How in the hell am I supposed to...
No! Maybe this glass is magical after all? It must have been a joke.
I took the glass, and raised it to my eyes, making sure that I don’t spill even one drop of the liquid inside of it. It can’t be water. It must be something else. Maybe it’s a potion?!
Yeah, a potion! It will make me strong. I looked at the glass. It was normal, without anything on it. Just a normal glass. Then I looked at the liquid inside. It must be a potion, or something that will make me stronger.
That’s what I thought, but when I took a better glance at it, I realised it was just a water.
“It can’t be water…” I said, and took a sip. After that I took another one, and then another one. I was a little thirsty, so I drank everything.
It was water.
No, I can’t be negative now. It might be a potion, that takes time to activate. Yeah! Now I will only wait, and the potion…
Who am I kidding?! I was cheated! Where is my special ability! Where is my super weapon! Why was even Santa Claus there!? What is this place, where am I now!
I grabbed the glass stronger, thinking about throwing it at the ground, but I decided not too. Who knows, maybe it will become useful.
Once again I looked around. This city looked like something from a fantasy game. It didn’t look like a medieval one, with all the dirt, and filth, but it was rather nice. Buildings were high, made of wood and colorful. There were many small rivers, flowing through it, and because of that there were also many small bridges.
People were wearing nice, and light clothes, because of the warmth. I even saw some of them wearing armors, and wizard clothing.
Ahh, so this is it? This is my new fantasy life? Fighting with demon king, to free this land?
I could give only one answer.
“I’m not doing this.” I said, and started walking.
I don’t know where I am, but I know that I need a place to stay. I will just live the rest of my life, working in a shitty job, trying to survive. I don’t care. I don’t care about the demon king, and I don’t care about anything.
It’s all because of that stupid dog! “Oh, I will stand there, not listening to you, hehe”. I should have left him to die. And now, what? What good comes from helping others? “Oh, look at me, I’m a dog and I can’t even speak human language. Oh, you died because of me? Too bad.”.
Man, I hate dogs now.
“Free test for an adventurer! See if you can do the job!” I heard a girl’s voice, as I was walking through the city.
When I looked at her I noticed few things. She looked nice, and cute. A little smaller than me, and with nice body. Her medium length, black hair, highlighted her big green eyes, and small lips. She was wearing an apron, and a green dress, that was reaching to her knees. Yeah, she looked cute, and all, but there was one problem.
Dog ears.
“C-Customer, is there a problem? You seem to be glaring at me?” she finally said, with a little scared look.
I didn’t really listen to her words. I just looked at her, and then I looked behind her. She was standing in front of a big, wooden building. It had a beautiful, blue roof, and big door leading to the inside. On the top of it, there was a sing. A big sign, with a sword, and a staff on it.
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“What is this about?” I asked, still thinking about the dog, that brought me to this situation.
“T-There is no reason to be so angry customer. Anyway, I’m talking about a test for adventurer. If you want, you can go inside, and look for yourself.” she said and smiled.
Is this a trap?
You think I will just go there, and do the test? What is next? Killing a goblin, after that a dragon, and everything will end with a demon king? I’m not doing this. I’m sure, that I’m not doing this.
I’m not going to risk my life. It’s not even a risk. It’s a suicide!
“I don’t need things like this.” I just replied.
I need to get out from there. It’s a trap, designed to lure me in. They think that I will go on an adventure now? I need to just turn around, and...
“Ehhh, okay… By the way customer, why are you carrying this glass everywhere?”
I looked at her, and something snapped in me.
“You think I wanted this glass? You think I cared about this dog?! Why did they even gave me a glass? I didn’t want a glass! And what’s with that water? Couldn’t they just give me some water, without cheating me?” I started speaking, and everyone around me started looking at me.
“I understand customer. You must be a very sad person.” she just replied, and smiled.
What? What did she say?!
“Okay! I will go inside! But don’t think even for a moment, that I will help you. Don’t think that I will deal with demon king. I’m not a hero, and I’m not strong. I will just look around, and after that I’m gone.” I said, and passed her.
“Good luck customer.” I heard behind me, and then I opened the door.
When I walked inside, I was greeted by a nice atmosphere. People of many races, were sitting at many tables, talking and laughing. They were wearing many kinds of gear, from bows, and swords to staffs and daggers. Some of them in light clothing, and some of them in thicker one.
As I looked around, I noticed that the place was beautiful. It looked like something from a game, or a painting. Like an inn, but more colorful, and with many decorations. The room was big, but I quickly noticed that the girl behind the counter was staring at me.
She was a normal human, wearing the same kind of clothes like the girl outside. Her long, blonde hair was made into a ponytail, and she was smiling at me. She looked young, maybe twenty years old, and she was about my height.
“Is there something I can help you with?” she asked, when I approached her. Her smile was nice, and her body too. Is everyone in this world good looking?
I know it’s a fantasy world, but it doesn’t seem normal.
“What is this place?” I asked, and she responded immediately.
“It’s an adventurer’s guild. In here you can rest, get a quest or eat something.”
Ahh, I understand. Now it’s obvious why people here are wearing clothes like this. Anyway, I won’t be cheated again. There is no reason for me to lose my life again. I won’t fight with the demon king.
“By the way customer. It seems that it is your first time here. Maybe you would want to do a test?” she asked, and looked at me.
A test? I won’t fight with the demon king, but I can hear her out. Maybe it’s something interesting, who knows. Or maybe I have a hidden power? This might be the case.
“What test?”
“Oh, the test is simple. You just need to write your name on this sheet of paper. Ooo… at this place.” she said, and pointed at a rectangle drawn on the paper “After that, the magical paper will show your skills, and stats. It’s really easy.” she responded, as always with a smile.
It’s that easy? I thought that it might be some combat test, where I need to fight. But something like this isn’t half bad. I always wanted to see, how talented I was. I’m sure my stats are high. Especially intelligence.
“But it’s free, isn’t it? There is no catch? You aren’t going to cheat me?”
“Of course. So, do you want to start?” she asked, and handed me the paper with a pen.
Well, let’s see. I slowly signed it with my name. Then, as if by magic, letters started appearing on it.
Ryan Smith
Attributes
Intelligence 5/10 Strength 3/10 Dexterity 4/10 Luck 0/10
Skills
~~~~ You don't possess any skills ~~~~
Wait, what? What is that? Why are those stats so low? Why I don’t have any skills? I didn’t…
I looked at the girl behind the counter. She was trying not to laugh, with her hands on her mouth. When she saw, that I was looking at her, she quickly regained composure.
“I-I’m sorry customer. It s-seems that you don’t have any skills…” she took a deep breath “I don’t think, a-anything like this has ever happened before.”
Why are you laughing at me?! Is this that bad?! Why are even those stats that low?! Isn’t this some kind of mistake? This must be a mistake!
“Y-You might not be able, to be an adventurer.” she started speaking, and after that, she immediately laughed. It wasn’t a small snicker, but a loud laughter.
“What is so funny?!” I asked angrily, and she looked at me with watery eyes.
“No one… No one before, had “skills” like you… hahahah… You can’t even cook, who are you?! And what is the matter with this glass?! I didn’t ask before, but…” she didn’t end her sentence, and started laughing once more.
It seemed that people in this place were looking at us.
I didn’t need to listen to this. I didn’t need to listen to any of this.
As I turned around, she called me.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! There is no need to go. I have a way for you to change this!” she said, and I looked at her.
A way to change this? What was she talking about?
When she was sure, that she picked my interest, she grabbed a pink bottle from from the counter. It had a weird shape, and the liquid in it was fizzy.
“What is that?” I asked, and she smiled.
“It’s an experience potion.”