Chapter 1: The Usual Yap of a Normal Guy with a Slight Twist
Yep, that's me, going to school on a beautiful fall morning with leaves blowing all over the road as I resurface from the metro exit. You might think I'm a normal guy, and well, kind of, but I'm the type of person who prefers doing everything alone, to the point of being forgotten. But that’s not the point. As I make my way to the crossroad leading to the school, I just do the typical thing of a nobody—looking around aimlessly, like a weirdo. When I cross a road, I always check both sides, making sure no truck-kun is coming my way to isekai me. Although, sometimes I actually wish that could happen.
As I'm just in front of the main entrance, filled with a bunch of people talking about stuff I don’t care about—mainly friends' conversations or school matters—I continue walking and enter the school’s main hall. As the great student that I am, I head straight to my class.
“Hm, what do we have today?” I check my agenda on my phone. “Ah crap, French in the first period. That’s a good start to the day. It just gives me an opportunity to sleep in class.”
Alright, so room 227. Since it's in the 200s, it’s on the second floor. I make my way down the hall, which, as always, is filled with people leaning against the walls, waiting for something or someone. But I digress. I reach the staircase, and at the same time, I run into my Math teacher, who playfully reminds me that there's a test on Friday. I chat briefly with him, assuring him that I’m fine since I study a bit every day after school—although that’s not entirely true. I continue upstairs, still acting like a nobody, until I reach the second floor and open the door. From there, I walk straight down the hallway, which is still relatively empty since I’m pretty early, and in a matter of seconds, I make it to the classroom.
After all, it’s my third year at this high school, and I’m older than many of them because, yes, I had to retake some classes due to either sucking at them or just sleeping through them. The classroom is still closed, which is normal since the teacher isn’t even here yet. So I do what everyone else does when they’re waiting—I drop my school backpack on the ground and lean against the wall, pulling out my phone to check messages on Discord, see what's happening in eSports, and DM my online friends, asking them how their day is going.
Suddenly, a girl asks me a question.
“Um, excuse me, you seem like someone who knows the school well. Where is room 227 with Ms. Blackburn for French class?”
It took me a few seconds to answer, blown away first by how cute she is with her long, flowing black hair and her bright blue eyes filled with confusion, and secondly, because—oh my gosh—I’m talking to a girl. I just act normal.
“Oh, you’re at the right place. It’s right there,” I say, pointing to the room number above the door frame.
“Oh, great! Mind if I wait with you?”
“Eh, no problem, do as you please.”
A few minutes of silence pass, and she then breaks the silence again to ask me another question.
“We seem to be classmates, and I want to know what kind of people are in my class. Mind introducing yourself?”
Her English is a bit shaky, clearly showing it isn’t her native language. Confidently, I introduce myself.
“I’m Gabriel, but you can call me Gabe. I’m 18, and this is my third year at this school. So if you’re looking for anything, feel free to ask!”
With a soft voice, she says, “Oh, nice to meet you, Gabe. I’ll definitely come see you if I need help.”
How cute, she’s already calling me by my nickname.
“What about you? I’d like to know my new classmate too.”
“Oh, yeah! I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Matilde, 17 years old, and I’m new to this school.”
After that, her blue eyes look a bit curious as she glances at my left arm.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to your arm?”
I proceed to say what I always do, with a little chuckle at the end.
“Oh, that? I was just born like that.”
“Oh, how unique!” she says, her eyes full of curiosity.
And then the teacher arrives to unlock the door.
“Oh, Gabe, early as always.”
“Indeed I am, and I even got time to meet a new student this morning.”
“Oh yeah, speaking of that, I was supposed to introduce her to the class today, but it's nice that you already got to know each other a bit.”
She opens the door and lets us enter first. As a true gentleman, I let her go in first, then pick up my backpack and follow her inside. Once we’re in the class and choosing our desks, I go for the usual one in the far back, while she chooses to sit closer to the teacher. As she’s about to sit down, the teacher asks her a question in French.
“Alors, comment c’étaient les déplacements pour arriver à l’école?”
Surprisingly, she understands perfectly and replies with a flawlessly constructed sentence in French.
“Oui, pas pire, un peu de trafic, mais c’est Montréal,” she says without hesitation, letting me know that she knows French well. Maybe she’s even from France or Quebec, but judging by her accent, her French sounds more like France-French than Quebecois. Good thing to note—I guess I could speak French with her if she does not forget about me of course.
And with that said, as more time passes, the class fills up until the bell rings, signaling the start of the lesson. The teacher calls out our names for attendance, and two other things catch my attention about her:
1. Why am I so obsessed with her? I legit just met her.
2. Her last name is Kotone, which doesn’t sound French at all—it sounds more Japanese. So, I guess she has mixed heritage, with one parent from Japan and the other from France. Yep, never thought my anime knowledge would come in clutch for that.
The rest of the class was the usual. She introduced herself, also confirming my theory as she mentioned her parents are French and Japanese. We did some writing exercises to prepare for an exam, which was pretty easy. I myself speak French well, as I’m part of a French-speaking Quebec family, but for some reason, writing is a weak point for me, leading to so many grammar errors. That’s why I largely prefer speaking English.
Chapter 2: Lunch and Chatter Before the Drama
"Two hours later." Ding ding ding. The familiar sound of the bell for lunch rang, waking me up. Ah, great, finally, French class is over. Now, as a true nobody, I’m going to eat lunch at my usual spot—the park next to the school where nobody will find me. I pack my things into my backpack and leave the classroom, but just before I have time to disappear into the shadows of the school hall, which is filled with people going in every direction, Matilde asks me a question just as I’m about to leave the class.
“Gabe? Since you know this school so well, could you help me by showing me where the cafeteria is?” She smiles gently, her beautiful blue eyes looking up at me.
Now, seriously, how could any normal guy say no to that? Even though I’m a nobody and still wondering why she’s approaching me—it’s usually the opposite; I’m like a repelling magnet—but hey, I don’t mind. I simply say, “Yeah, sure, I’ll show you. Want me to hold your stuff?”
“No, I’m fine, don’t worry.”
As we leave, I realize my French teacher is looking at us with an amused glance, almost as if she’s saying, “Oh, she seems to be interested in you, the nobody.” Sigh. Okay, no more thinking, let’s go. I walk with her to her locker so she can grab her lunch box. Me? Going to my locker? How crazy! Everyone knows it’s better to keep your lunch in your backpack instead of your locker; it saves you the hassle and lets you get outside faster to your regular “nobody’s eating spot.” After she picks up her lunch, I lead her to the cafeteria on the first floor. Being really familiar with this high school, I navigate the crowded corridors with laser-like precision, avoiding people left and right. Surprisingly, she manages to keep up with me well.
“Alright, here it is,” I say, pointing to the entrance.
“Thank you.” But she seems a bit hesitant to enter. I don’t plan on questioning her further. I’m sure she’ll make friends there, unlike me, a dumb guy who prefers sleeping in class instead of learning. Yet, just as I’m about to disappear, she calls out my name with a French accent.
“Gabriel, où tu vas?”
I point to my back with my thumb. “Dehors, au parc à côté.”
She then asks, clearly awkward to bring it up, “Mind if I come with you? I don’t feel comfortable going to the cafeteria alone.”
With a relaxed smile, I reply, “All good, don’t worry. Come with me, I get it; it’s your first day.”
And with that, I save the day... well, at least for her. I can relate to what she’s feeling; discovering a new school without knowing anyone is hard. It was the same for me when I first entered high school, but unlike her, I was so scared to talk to others that I just learned everything on my own. Anyway, enough about my past. We head outside toward the park next to the road. Once in the park, I go to the bench I always go to. I casually put my bag down, get my lunch out, and start eating. Matilde does the same, though she seems a bit awkward. She starts eating her lunch too, until she breaks the silence, which was only filled with the rustling of leaves.
“Gabe, have you always been spending your lunch alone?”
For me, being alone is totally normal, but from the perspective of others, it’s not. Most of the time, teachers try to introduce me to others, but it never lasts long. That’s why I prefer being solitary, and I really insist on that—it doesn’t mean I’m depressed; I’m totally fine! Anyway, getting back to her question, I simply say, “Yeah, I have, but for me, it’s more a way to relax than anything else.”
“It must be boring, always staying alone. Do you do anything in your free time or during breaks?”
Crap, do I really tell her that I usually read light novels and manga in my free time? Maybe she’ll think I’m a freak? Whatever, call me weird if you want, I don’t care. I’ve always been a mystery!
“Yeah, most of the time I spend my time reading light novels and manga, but I forgot mine today.”
“Oh, that’s cool! I wasn’t expecting you to be intellectual. It’s rare these days to see young people reading books and light novels.”
“Speaking of that, I’m kind of curious. I watch a bit of anime and read manga too. What are your favorites?”
I had to expect that she was into anime; after all, she’s Japanese and French. But yeah, I just tell her my usual top three.
“Shangri-La Frontier is really amazing if you’re into gaming and funny adventures. Eminence in Shadow because I like how the guy tries to act like a background character, much like me. And lastly, a novel I started reading not too long ago, Free Life Fantasy Online: Immortal Princess. It’s similar to SLF, but this time it’s from the point of view of a totally new player discovering a full-dive MMORPG.”
“I can see you’re really a fan of video games. Sadly, the only one I know is Shangri-La Frontier. I do agree that it’s enjoyable, but the others you mentioned sound interesting.”
She caught me a bit off guard there. I thought she wouldn’t know any of them because they’re so underrated. Out of nowhere, I decide to ask her a question myself.
“What classes do you have this afternoon?”
“Nothing today. I only had a class in the morning. What about you?”
Surprisingly, it’s the same for me. What should I do? Keep her company?
“Me too, I’m free this afternoon.”
“Oh sweet! After we finish eating, could you help me navigate the metro so I can get back to Laval?”
Geez, this is starting to feel like too much of a coincidence. I also live in Laval, but hey, as the decent person I am, I’ll show her.
“Sure, I have to go to Laval too. Which station are you looking to go to?”
Now there’s no way she also gets off at the same station as me. After all, there are only three stations in Laval. Now that I think about it, it seems pretty likely she might get off at the same station as me.
“I’m going to Cartier.”
Alright, at least it’s no longer a coincidence. I get off at Montmorency, also known as Momo.
“Okay, so after we’re done eating, we’ll go to Sauvé.”
“Fine with me,” I say, just happy that for once, I can be useful to someone.
We then eat our lunch with only the sound of the fall wind and leaves rustling around us. When we’re done, we pack our stuff and head to the Sauvé metro entrance. We do the usual—use our student cards to enter—and then we wait on the platform for the metro. Then something straight out of an isekai beginning happens: a guy runs past us, colliding with Matilde, who loses her balance and falls onto the tracks just as I hear the metro coming from both sides. As everyone starts to panic, my heart races, and without thinking, I jump onto the tracks, trying to save her. But I was an idiot. There was a metro coming from both directions, and there was no way I had time to pick her up and get back onto the platform.
So, as you could guess, what happens next is that we both get crushed by the metro and die on the spot. The last thing I hear is Matilde’s panicked voice speaking Japanese, saying, “Baka!” (Idiot!) The only word I understand is “baka,” which means “idiot.” To be honest, she’s right. I’m kind of an idiot for trying something really impossible, but in the midst of all this chaos, I couldn’t let this innocent girl die without at least trying. And yet, trying wasn’t enough. I wish I could have saved her like a hero. After all, I think I deserved to die more than her. Nobody wanted me in this shitty world! I wanted to stay a nobody!
Chapter 3: Wait, No Game Over? But Instead Respawn?
Alright, it seems like my life has come to an end, but why am I floating in an empty void, almost as if I’m in space? I was expecting either hell or heaven, but what is this? This oddly reminds me of a certain black hole event from a battle royale game. Anyway, coming back to my situation, I guess I’ll just endlessly wander through the nothingness of space.
I’m still quite sad I couldn’t save her. It would’ve been such a heroic act. She might have even become my girlfriend after that. But hey, I’m no stranger to girls not being interested in me—after all, I’m on a record run of 18 years without a girlfriend. Do I care? Not really. I just hope that unlike me, Matilde made it to heaven, where an angel like her belongs. I can imagine how cute she’d look in a pure white robe with angel wings.
Sigh. So what now? Apart from wandering in the emptiness of space, I do admit it looks cool seeing the colorful stars and galaxies. Suddenly, a super colorful butterfly appears, shifting into a more human form—a god or goddess, I assume.
"Greetings, fragile human. I am Ambrosia, the Goddess of all life forms. Upon reviewing your short, sorry life, I’ve come to the conclusion that you’re kind of a loser."
Really? Even the gods are trolling me?
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"Okay, I get it, I’m a loser, but may I ask what you’re going to do with me?"
"Well, first, despite being a loser, I see that you’re kindhearted, even though you’re always solitary. Secondly, I saw that you’re a big fan of isekai adventures and video games."
"So?"
"That means I’m willing to give you a second chance in another fantasy magic world that works like a video game RPG."
"I mean, that’s nice and all, but can’t you send me back to my home world?"
"Don’t lie. Didn’t you say you hated your home world and wished to be isekai'd sometimes? Besides, you’re dead in your home world—I can’t bring you back to life."
"Ugh, yeah, you’re right. But what about that girl I died with, trying to save her?"
"Don’t worry about her. She’ll go to the same world as you."
"Okay, but will we get powers?"
"Yes, but unlike the usual gods of creation in isekai stories, I actually know my job. You won’t get a super overpowered ability, but you’ll still have decent power once you’re reborn."
"Wait, what do you mean ‘rebirth’?"
"Don’t worry. You’ll see. After all, this new world is now yours to discover."
Then, she pulls a picture of my internet search history out of her breast.
"By the way, what are these devilish websites? You know I’m not a goddess of pleasure, but why are there so many tabs about that?"
Now I’m really embarrassed. I quickly say, "Heeey! Instead of looking at my shady browser history, you could check out the good stuff on my PC, like my private journal or the three rookie novels I wrote."
"Sure, I’ll look into it if you wish. But for now, enjoy your journey in this new world with that girl."
And with a snap of her fingers, everything went dark, and for some reason, I fell asleep.
As I woke up in a green, hilly prairie, my head still spinning, I caught sight of a pop-up message floating in front of me: “Welcome to Ambrosia.” Great. So, the goddess wasn’t kidding about the video game world.
My body felt different—like something new was flowing through me. Mana, I guess? I was still processing this when I noticed Matilde lying beside me, still unconscious. At least she made it here too.
But just as I stood up, she stirred, blinking her eyes open. Her gaze darted around, confused, until it landed on me.
“Gabe? How...?” Her voice trembled, panic rising. “We were crushed by the metro.”
“Yeah, I know. But hey, I’m here, you’re here... we’re fine,” I said, forcing a calmness I didn’t entirely feel. My chest still felt tight from the weight of what happened.
Matilde’s panic grew, her breaths quickening. “Fine? How can you say that? We just lost everything—everything! Our families, our friends... How are you so calm?”
I swallowed hard, trying to stay steady for her sake, but inside, I could feel the guilt gnawing at me. I sat down beside her, looking straight into her wide eyes.
“I hated that world,” I admitted, my voice low. “That’s why I don’t care as much. The only friends I had were online. I doubt they’ll even notice I’m gone.”
Her brow furrowed. “You hated it? But why? You... you seem like a good person.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Maybe on the surface. But inside? It's different."
I hesitated before continuing, feeling the weight of what I had to say next. "Matilde... you weren’t supposed to die. I was. You just got caught in the crossfire. I... I’m sorry. I don’t blame you if you hate me for taking everything from you."
For a moment, her face was unreadable. I braced myself for the anger I thought was coming. But instead, her expression softened.
"Gabe... it’s not your fault," she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. “I was the one who fell onto the tracks. And you... you tried to save me. I can’t hate you for that. How could I?”
Her words felt like a small relief, but the guilt still sat heavy in my chest. "But... you lost your family. I dragged you into this. How can you forgive me?"
She reached out, resting a hand on my arm. “Gabe, we both lost everything. But you... you risked your life for me. No one’s ever done that before. I owe you an apology too. I called you an idiot for trying to save me, but the truth is, you were just trying to do what you thought was right. I don’t blame you. We need to move forward, together.”
I felt my throat tighten, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. Her forgiveness was more than I deserved. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and nodded. “You’re right. We have to look forward. There’s no going back.”
I stood up and extended my hand to her. She took it, and I pulled her to her feet.
“Alright, but what do we do now, Matilde? We’ve got nothing—just our backpacks and our clothes.”
“Gabe! Think about it. This world is based on a fantasy video game, right? There must be a way to check our stats or something. After all, we got a pop-up welcoming us to Ambrosia like we were in a video game.”
“Matilde, you’re a genius!” I say, and then I try, “Stats!”
A stat window opens. Matilde does the same, and we both look at our stats, which are pretty average. Just like the goddess said—decent, but not overpowered. But two things stood out: our race and class. We’re both listed as “Otherworld Beings” and “Classless.”
“Gabe, do you think it’s possible to change race and class?” Matilde asks.
“Probably. After all, this is a fantasy world. Maybe that’s what the goddess meant by ‘rebirth.’”
Suddenly, a window pops up, telling us we’ve both leveled up to level 1. I guess we’ll ‘rebirth’ at a certain level.
“Now what do we do? There’s nowhere to go, and we have nothing.”
Although I’m a bit scared, I try to act confident. “Let’s use what little we have in our backpacks and survive by going to that forest over there. We can make a makeshift shelter and maybe level up.”
“I agree! Let’s do that. I have a Swiss knife in my bag!”
“That’s great! It’ll come in handy for the beginning of our survival.”
As a massive nerd, I almost wanted to ask why she brought a Swiss knife to school, but I won’t right now. We need to focus on the adventure ahead. Not that I’m complaining—it will definitely come in handy.
Chapter 4: First Step into the Unknown
After grabbing our backpacks, we made our way toward the forest—barely a hundred steps from where we’d first “spawned.” Hopefully, this isn’t some level 100 danger zone, I thought, trying to keep the mood light.
As we approached the treeline, Matilde hesitated, her eyes darting around nervously. “I hope you know a thing or two about survival,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve spent my whole life in the comfort of a big city. I don’t have any experience, but... I want to help however I can.”
I shot her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this. I did a lot of camping when I visited my grandparents in the countryside.” She let out a small sigh, visibly relaxing.
“That’s good to hear. Also—” She pulled out her Swiss knife, holding it out to me. “You should take this. You’ll make better use of it than I will.”
I shook my head, gently pushing it back toward her. “Keep it. I’ll let you know if I need it. For now, focus on staying alert. We don’t want to get caught off guard by something sneaking up on us.”
Her eyes sharpened with resolve as she nodded. “Understood.”
We moved deeper into the woods, keeping our pace steady. The first rule when you’re lost is to find water. Staying hydrated is essential. Plus, rivers often lead to towns or at least to a lake where we might find more resources.
I scanned the trees around us. They looked familiar—similar to the ones back home. That was somewhat reassuring, though I couldn’t shake the eerie silence. No rustling animals or fantastical creatures. Only the wind, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and the occasional bird chirp.
We walked for what felt like a couple of kilometers. Still no sign of water, but we stumbled upon a small bush dotted with berries. I crouched down, inspecting them. They looked like blueberries. The real question was, were we brave enough to test them?
“Hey, Gabe, look!” Matilde’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Do you think we can eat these?”
I grabbed one, popped it into my mouth, and chewed thoughtfully. Matilde’s eyes widened in shock.
“G-Gabe! Are you serious? What if it’s poisonous?!”
I swallowed, then gave her a thumbs up. “Tastes like blueberry to me.”
“How can you be so sure?” she pressed, clearly exasperated.
“Well, considering how similar this world seems to our own, I think it’s a safe bet. It looks like a blueberry, tastes like one, and I’m still standing.”
She huffed, crossing her arms. “That’s a pretty thin assumption, but… you’ve made your point, I guess. Just—please don’t get yourself killed doing something stupid. I’d be screwed if I had to survive on my own.”
“I appreciate the concern, but we know it’s safe now. Let’s gather as many as we can find.”
We continued deeper into the forest, plucking blueberries as we walked. They weren’t exactly a feast, but they’d do for now. I kept an eye out for any water source—river, lake, anything—while making sure to stay aware of Matilde’s comfort level. It wouldn’t do to push her too hard on the first day.
After a while, I spotted a relatively flat area between a cluster of trees. It looked like a good spot to set up camp for the night.
“Matilde, hand me the Swiss knife, would you?” I asked. “I’m going to get started on our shelter.”
“Sure!” She passed it over without hesitation, then looked around. “What can I do to help?”
“Gather some dry branches and twigs for a campfire. We’ll need it to stay warm.”
She nodded and got to work while I picked up a thick branch, about my height and sturdy enough to serve as the main support for our shelter. I sharpened one end, though doing it one-handed proved trickier than I thought. Matilde finished her task quickly and, seeing me struggle, came over to help.
“Let me do that,” she said, taking the knife gently from my hand. “I’ve got this. You keep gathering materials.”
“Thanks,” I replied with a smile.
With her help, we soon had a pile of leafy branches and logs. I angled the sharpened branch at about 45 degrees, securing it against one of the larger trees. Then, I started placing the leafy branches at an angle, creating a tepee-like structure. The leaves would help insulate and keep us dry if it rained.
After a while, I stepped back to inspect our handiwork. It wasn’t exactly impressive, but it was sturdy enough for the night. Matilde glanced at it, her eyes widening in admiration.
“Sugoi! You really know your way around this survival stuff, huh?”
I couldn’t help but grin. “It’s basic, but it’ll hold up until morning. Now, we’ve got one more thing to do—light up a campfire for the night!”
“You’re right,” she said, her smile now confident. “We’re not done yet!”
There’s something uniquely satisfying about being complimented—especially by someone genuinely impressed by your skills. I turned my attention back to the shelter and began setting up the campfire. It was harder than I expected with just two sticks and some dry leaves. I spun one stick quickly against the other, trying to create friction. After a few attempts, a thin wisp of smoke appeared.
“Yes!” I muttered, determination surging. I continued until a tiny ember formed. Carefully, I placed it under the dry leaves arranged in a small teepee shape. A faint glow spread, and before long, a flickering flame sprang to life.
“Gabe, you did it!” Matilde exclaimed, clapping her hands softly. Her face lit up, as if we’d just discovered fire for the first time.
I slumped back, panting from the effort. “Yeah... finally. That took way longer than I expected.”
Her expression shifted, eyes clouding with guilt. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help more...”
“Don’t say that. You did help! You sharpened the tip of that log and gathered firewood. That made everything go a lot faster.”
She blinked, then gave me a shy but warm smile. “Huh... Thanks, Gabe. I appreciate that.”
“No problem,” I said, my grin widening. “We’re a team, right?”
We sat by the fire for a moment, basking in its warmth. It crackled gently, the flames dancing between us. I took a deep breath, letting the exhaustion fade. Before darkness fully enveloped us, I decided to work on something else—our makeshift weapons. If we were going to survive here, we needed some form of protection.
I began sharpening two long sticks, turning them into simple wooden lances. Wielding a lance with only one arm wasn’t ideal, but it was better than nothing. Matilde sat beside me, occasionally tossing a few blueberries into her mouth as she watched the fire.
“Hey, these berries are actually pretty good,” she said, holding out a handful.
“Yeah, I took a huge risk eating them earlier.” I chuckled, shaking my head at myself. “Guess I’m a bit of a madlad, huh?”
Matilde stared at me, her eyes wide in disbelief. “You could’ve been poisoned, you know! What were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t,” I admitted with a grin. “But hey, I’m still alive, right? That’s got to count for something.”
Despite herself, she laughed softly, shaking her head. “You’re unbelievable... but I guess that’s why you’re the leader here.”
We continued eating the berries and chatting quietly. Then, something unexpected happened. I felt a strange warmth spreading through my body. A faint glow surrounded both of us, and I noticed a small notification-like message in my peripheral vision:
Level Up! You’ve reached Level 2. All stats have increased slightly.
“Did... did we just level up from eating berries?” I asked, bewildered.
Matilde blinked, staring at me with a mix of confusion and excitement. “That’s a thing? We can gain levels by eating?”
“Maybe it’s because we discovered a safe food source,” I mused. “Or maybe it’s just how this world works. Either way, it’s a good sign.”
“Well, I’m not complaining,” she said with a smile. “I feel a bit stronger already.”
I nodded, flexing my fingers and feeling the subtle boost to my strength and energy. The fire crackled on, casting shadows around us. The night crept in, cool and calm, but somehow, I didn’t feel the chill as much.
Despite everything, or maybe because of it, I found myself smiling. I glanced at Matilde again, her breathing steady and even as she leaned against me.
The forest seemed less intimidating now. Maybe it was because we’d managed to set up a decent camp. Or maybe... it was because I wasn’t alone.
But then, something caught my attention. I wasn’t crazy—I definitely heard something. A branch cracked in the underbrush. Instinctively, I grabbed my makeshift lance, tightening my grip around it. Matilde looked at me, worry filling her exhausted eyes.
“A-are you alright? Is something wrong?”
“Yes,” I whispered back. “Something’s coming. Get ready.”
Without further explanation, she took up her lance as well, trembling slightly. “G-Gabe, j’ai peur,” she murmured, fear evident in her voice.
“I know,” I replied softly, trying to steady myself. “But we’ll be okay.”
“Daijoubu.” It felt odd saying it in Japanese, but the word rolled off my tongue with a strange sense of reassurance. Even though I was terrified, I couldn’t let her see that. I had to protect her—just like she had my back.
That’s when it emerged from the shadows. A massive wolf, easily twice my height, with gleaming red eyes and drool dripping from its fangs. Its sleek, midnight-black fur seemed to blend into the darkness as it stared us down with razor-sharp, predatory focus.
[Black Wolf - Lv 5]
Great… a high-level monster. And it’s alone. If it were in a pack, we’d be done for.
Without warning, the wolf lunged at us, claws bared. I shoved Matilde aside and braced myself, raising my lance in a desperate attempt to block its attack. The force of its claws deflected off the wood, but not before tearing through my shirt and grazing my shoulder. Pain flared as blood seeped through the wound, but there was no time to react.
The wolf snarled and snapped its jaws at my neck, and I barely managed to thrust the lance into its mouth, holding it back. My strength was fading fast—I couldn’t hold it off for long with just one hand. Just as I thought I’d lose my grip, Matilde dashed forward, striking its side. The attack was weak, but it was enough to make the wolf yelp and stagger back.
“Courage, Gabe! We’ve got this. I’ve got your back, you’ve got mine!” she shouted, determination flaring in her voice despite the way her hands shook.
Her words fueled something within me. Ignoring the searing pain in my shoulder, I tightened my grip on the lance refusing to let Matilde fight this beast alone and lunged forward, hurling it with every ounce of strength I had. It struck true, embedding itself in the wolf’s eye. A notification flashed before my eyes:
[CRIT!]
The wolf howled in agony, its health dropping to a sliver. “Finish it, Matilde!” I shouted as the beast turned back to me, its claws and teeth bared in a desperate attempt to finish me off.
Matilde moved faster than I expected. With a quick thrust, she drove her lance deep into its side. The wolf let out a final, agonizing scream as its body shimmered, dissolving into particles of radiant light. The light coalesced into a small crystal before falling to the ground with a soft thud. Two items shimmered in its place: a slab of raw meat and a sleek, dark pelt.
Panting and clutching my wounded shoulder, I stared in disbelief. “It… it turned into light?”
Matilde nodded, still catching her breath. “Yeah, and look, it dropped loot.” She crouched beside the items and held her hand over the meat. A translucent window appeared above it:
[Wolf Meat: A fresh cut of meat from a black wolf. Safe to eat and provides a boost to strength when cooked properly.]
I moved over, glancing at the description with a weary smile. “Well, at least we won’t have to rely on berries for dinner anymore.”
Matilde laughed softly, a relieved sound that cut through the lingering tension. She then hovered her hand over the second item.
[Wolf Pelt: A sturdy pelt from a black wolf. Can be used to craft durable armor or sold for a decent price.]
“I guess we really are in a game world,” she murmured. “This is incredible—sugoi! I can’t believe we beat it… and look—” She pointed to the top right corner of her vision. “I leveled up again… all the way to Level 5!”
I blinked in surprise. “Wow… I only went up to Level 4.” I then flashed her a proud grin. “But you did get the final hit. Nicely done.”
Matilde’s cheeks flushed, and she glanced away with a shy smile. “Thanks.”
I chuckled softly, the pain in my shoulder momentarily forgotten. “Alright, let’s cook this up before I pass out from hunger and blood loss.”
They set up the meat over the campfire, the savory aroma filling the air as it cooked. As we sat side by side, watching the flames dance and the stars peek through the canopy above, there was a sense of accomplishment—no matter how small—in the victory we’d just earned.
“Gabe,” Matilde murmured, her voice softer now. “Thank you… for fighting and protecting me at the beginning. I wouldn’t have stood a chance alone.”
“Don’t mention it,” I replied, poking at the meat to make sure it cooked evenly. “We’ve got each other’s backs. That’s how we’re going to survive this place.”
She nodded, a determined glint in her eyes. “Yeah… we’ll get stronger. Together.”
I watched the firelight reflect in her gaze. We were far from safety, but for the first time since being thrown into this world, hope flickered warmly between us.
Once I finished cooking the meat, I offered her some first, because I am a gentleman. “Here, for you.” I handed her a piece with a playful grin. “Also, I don’t know how good it’s going to be. I’m decent at cooking, but terrible at making meat unlike my dad.”
Matilde took it with a smile of her own and tasted it right away, chewing thoughtfully. “Hmmm, it’s alright. A bit overcooked, but who am I to complain? We’re literally trying to survive here, and it’s not like we have a stove.”
“Hehe, I’m happy you like it. As I said, I’m not really good at cooking.”
We ate together around the campfire, exchanging laughter and cheer from our hard-fought battle.
“Gabe,” Matilde murmured, looking sleepy and exhausted. “I’m going to sleep. Just… don’t stay up too late, okay? I know you want to protect me, but don’t overthink it. I can defend myself, but… I like the team we’re making.”
“Okay, I won’t worry too much. It’s just that I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Daijoubu. I understand your concern, but don’t overdo it. We’re a team, after all. If something’s wrong, don’t hesitate to tell me. We can only rely on each other for now,” she said, leaving to sleep in the makeshift shelter.
Her words definitely resonated with me, lingering in the quiet night air even after she had settled in. I sat alone by the campfire, gazing at the flames as they flickered and danced, lost in thought. A comfortable silence stretched around me, the adrenaline from our battle slowly ebbing away. The crackling of the fire was the only sound in the stillness of the forest.
With a sigh, I leaned back and glanced up at the sky. The canopy above parted just enough to reveal a scattering of stars. They weren’t like the ones I remembered from home—these were a vibrant, shimmering green, like tiny emeralds strewn across a velvet blanket.
“Green stars, huh?” I whispered to myself, letting my gaze drift from one twinkling dot to another. It was strange… beautiful, yet unsettling. Just another reminder of how different this world was. But as I stared, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace wash over me. Maybe, in a way, this place wasn’t so bad after all.
Matilde’s words echoed in my mind: “We’re a team after all… We can only rely on each other for the moment.”
I smiled faintly, my grip on the makeshift lance loosening. She had a point. I wasn’t alone here. We’d gotten through the fight together, and we’d figure out everything else together too. No matter how tough things got, we had each other’s backs.
Slowly, the exhaustion began to weigh on me, pulling at my eyelids. I stretched out beside the fire, letting its warmth seep into my bones as I stared up at the green stars. The night sky blurred as sleep began to take hold.
“Daijoubu… yeah, we’ll be okay,” I murmured, echoing the word she had used to comfort me earlier. My thoughts drifted, circling back to the way she’d smiled at me—shy but genuine, with a hint of something stronger behind it. Maybe… just maybe, we were going to be alright in this strange world.
As the stars twinkled above, I let my eyes finally close, the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of nocturnal creatures fading into a soothing lullaby.
And for the first time since arriving here, I fell asleep with a smile on my face, Matilde’s words warming my heart even as I drifted off into the unknown.