As Ethan entered Lork the carpenter's small house, he was greeted by a cozy atmosphere that instantly embraced him. The scent of fresh wood mingled with the comforting warmth of a crackling fire, creating an inviting ambiance. The interior exuded a sense of comfort and familiarity.

The main living area served as both a living room and kitchen, efficiently utilizing the space. Though not grand, it felt cozy and well-lived. Lork's tools of the trade adorned the walls, neatly hung on hooks and racks. Wooden carvings and trinkets added a personal touch to the room.

A gentle glow emanated from the hearth, providing both warmth and a focal point for the room. The furniture was modest but functional, featuring a worn yet comfortable armchair and a wooden dining table that bore the marks of years of use. The nearby kitchen area boasted well-worn utensils and cookware, evidence of delicious meals prepared with care.

Two small bedrooms were tucked away in a corner of the house, offering privacy and a retreat. The beds, humble yet inviting, were adorned with hand-stitched quilts and pillows. A small shelf held a collection of books.

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Lunch was served—a roasted bird accompanied by boiled roots and bread generously spread with butter. Normally, Ethan would be cautious with high-calorie foods, considering his sedentary lifestyle, but he had lost weight since arriving in this new world. Besides, his body was still recovering from injuries, so he indulged without reservation.

As they ate, Ethan decided to gather some information and casually asked Lork, "So, Lork, I was wondering, what's the closest city?"

Lork glanced at Milda and then back to Ethan. "It's strange that you don't know that. Well, the closest city would be Bilgrad. It's about a week's journey on foot from here."

Ethan smiled. "I see. And is Bilgrad one of the larger cities in this region?"

Lork snorted. "Region? This isn't a region ruled by a king. Bilgrad is a free city, just like Dervin's Rest. We don't kneel to any king, but we do pay for a small garrison from Bilgrad."

Raising an eyebrow, Ethan inquired, "So, in a way, this area is unclaimed?"

Milda looked confusedly at Ethan, and Lork set down his utensils. "We claim it, Ethan. Dervin's Rest belongs to its people. Let me ask you something: How did you end up here without knowing anything about the area?"

Ethan pondered for a moment, then decided to be partially honest. "Well, to be honest, I don't even know how I got here. I woke up in a stranger's bed, had some encounters with goblins, and was brought here by Bolg when he found me. I'm not even sure where I am. I'm amazed we can communicate so easily."

Lork and Milda stared at Ethan for a while. Lork finally picked up his fork and skewered a piece of bird. "I thought something was off..."

Ethan looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean?"

Lork shrugged. "Your wheel design. You appear out of nowhere and effortlessly invent an entirely new way to construct a wagon wheel. Not to mention your appearance, the way you speak... It's all peculiar."

Ethan sighed. "I suppose I do stand out."

Milda giggled. "Stand out? That's quite an understatement."

Ethan smiled, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Well, now you understand why I lack knowledge about most things. Honestly, I'm not sure how to proceed from here. I can't help but feel a bit out of place, so maybe making my way to Bilgrad should be my next objective."

Lork pointed at him, his curiosity piqued. "I can't say whether you're unwanted or not, but I'm interested to see what else you can show me. This new design of yours ignites my passion for my craft."

Ethan smiled back. "I'm glad, Lork. I'm also looking forward to seeing the final result myself. Where I come from, I'm what they call an engineer. Basically, my job is to figure out how to make things work, whether by using traditional methods or creating new ones."

Lork nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like an interesting job. We could use a thinker around here."

Milda chimed in with a smile. "Aye, most folks here are good-hearted, but not many are sharp-witted."

Lork gave her a reproachful look, but Milda simply shrugged. "It's true, Dad. You know it."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Lork hesitated but eventually shrugged. "I suppose so, but in a place like Dervin's Rest, such skills aren't as essential. Most people are farmers or hunters. There are plenty of dangers out there, so our focus is on safety rather than contemplation. No offense, Ethan."

Ethan shrugged. "None taken. This place is very different from my home. Sure, we have dangerous animals, but you have to venture deep into the wilderness to encounter them. I might be able to assist you in making things safer, though."

Lork looked interested, and Milda stared at Ethan with anticipation. They seemed eager for more, so Ethan continued. "Well, I'm not sure what I can do right now. I'd need more information about the challenges you're facing. But once I gather that, perhaps I can come up with a few ideas."

Lork nodded with encouragement. "That sounds great. Things have been getting worse lately. There seems to be an increase in goblin activity, for instance."

Ethan sighed. "Plenty of them in that damn mountain, at least..."

Both Lork and Milda froze, their eyes locked onto Ethan. Milda cleared her throat and asked quietly, "You were in the mountain?"

Ethan nodded cautiously. "Yes... Like I told you, I woke up in a cave, some sort of workshop. When I tried to find my way out, I encountered a group of goblins—or rather, a pack of them. There were quite a lot. Their leader..." Ethan paused, trying to recall the name, but Lork interjected with a whisper.

"Gachuk?"

Ethan snapped his fingers. "That's it, Gachuk. Well, that bastard seemed delighted to see me, in a way that wasn't good for me. I had enchanted an old shovel with lightning, so I zapped a few of his buddies. That really made him mad, so I ran and managed to escape back to the workshop."

Both Milda and Lork stared at Ethan, captivated by his story. Milda mouthed the word "enchanter" with an awestruck expression, and Lork asked, "And then what happened?"

Ethan cleared his throat nervously. He wasn't much of a storyteller, but he had started, so he might as well finish the tale. "As I said, I made it back to the workshop but found myself besieged. I had no way out, so I managed to learn a new enchantment—one that would make the item explode. I enchanted a crystal, well, the first one almost exploded in my face, but the second one worked fine, and um..."

Ethan hesitated, his mind filled with images of the dismembered goblins, and his appetite suddenly vanished. Lork motioned for him to continue, so he took a deep breath and nodded. "I threw a makeshift explosive out the door and took out a bunch of them, including Gachuk."

Lork slapped the table and burst into laughter, while Milda's jaw dropped in astonishment. Ethan looked at both of them, taken aback by their reactions. Lork exclaimed, "That's fantastic news, Ethan! That little bastard has been causing us trouble for god knows how long. Well done, lad!"

Ethan felt a bit awkward. Blowing up goblins didn't seem like a cause for celebration to him. But he reminded himself that this was a different world, where these people might have lost friends to the goblins. "Anyway, I tried to escape the cavern but got caught in an ambush. I took an arrow to the shoulder and ended up being swept away by a river. Eventually, I was thrown out of the mountain, and a few days later, Bolg found me after I survived an encounter with a large fox."

Ethan had been lost in his thoughts while speaking, but as he glanced at his audience, he noticed tears in Milda's eyes and a joyous grin on Lork's face. They were both smiling so wide that he fidgeted with nervous energy. Lork stood up and slapped Ethan on the shoulder. "This calls for a celebration, Ethan! Milda, where did I put the good ale?"

Milda stood up and gently pushed her dad back into his chair. "You didn't, I did. It's in the pantry. I'll get it."

As Milda left the house, Ethan heard her footsteps and a door opening before she began rummaging around downstairs.

Lork continued to smile. "Ethan, my boy, this news will bring happiness to many. Someone will eventually take Gachuk's place, but he was a particularly nasty little bastard."

Over the next hour, they drank and talked. Lork shared information about the surrounding area, Bilgrad, and other cities further away. After Ethan's story, both Lork and Milda seemed much more willing to share details, and Ethan absorbed as much as he could.

He learned that Dervin's Rest was located in the central part of the continent called Pantia, nestled within a vast mountain range that stretched from coast to coast. According to what he gathered, there were a total of seven continents, and what surprised him the most was that humans were the dominant race only on this particular continent.

While Lork and Milda weren't well-versed in knowledge about the rest of the world, they had some understanding of Pantia itself. To the south, there were human kingdoms united in some kind of alliance, and to the north of the mountains, there existed a sprawling multiracial empire that encompassed a vast territory. In between lay a few independent city states, and Bilgrad was one such city. Beastmen were a noteworthy presence on this continent, humanoid creatures resembling animals, initially brought to Pantia as laborers but now forming their own population across Pantia.

Most of the information shared was of a general nature, but to Ethan, every piece of knowledge was mind-boggling. It became clear to him that this world was vast, far beyond his previous imagination, and it was inhabited by more than just two sentient races. This was a shocking revelation, and it would be interesting to see how it changed the dynamics of society.

Despite everything, Ethan couldn't help but feel excited at the prospect of exploring and traveling. He wanted to see this world firsthand, especially encountering another sentient race. It felt like discovering aliens, even though he himself was probably the true alien in this context.

After a lengthy conversation, Lork returned to work on the wagon, and Milda attended to her own tasks. Ethan stepped outside the cozy little house and found a bench. He lay down on it, closed his eyes, and smiled to himself. He had never yearned for adventure before, content with his mundane existence. But now, his mind raced with possibilities. With his modern knowledge of technology, science, and physics, he could become this world's version of Leonardo da Vinci. The thought amused him, wondering if perhaps the old Da Vinci himself was from another world. With the revelation that other worlds existed, who knew how many were out there? It was an exhilarating idea!