[Chapter 2 - Unexpected Encounter]

Kenji watched as the guards who escorted him rode away, their figures becoming smaller until they eventually disappeared into the horizon. The dust kicked up by their horses hung in the air for a moment before eventually settling back to the ground. Once he was sure they were gone, he stood up and sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Idiots,” he muttered. “Did they really think I was dumb enough to walk straight into a forest with a danger sign slapped on the front? No way. I’d rather die of boredom than face whatever danger lurked deep inside there.

He turned in the opposite direction, glancing briefly at the cracked sign still half-stuck in the dirt. It was clear enough to make out the warning, but also old enough to show no one really bothered to maintain it. Probably for a good reason.

Kenji wasn’t in a mood to test his nonexistent combat skills on whatever lurked in there. With stats that made a newborn baby look like an Olympian compared to him, the last thing he needed was to wander into a death trap. Instead, he started walking along the narrow dirt road that ran through a smaller, much less dense section of the forest. This wasn’t exactly a hostile environment, but there was an unsettling quiet. No birds, no animals scurrying around, just silence.

Hands stuffed in his hoodie pockets, he tried to think of a plan. "Okay, Kenji. What’s the first rule of survival? Find shelter. Or food? Wait... water, right? Crap, I should’ve watched more survival shows." He kept walking, head lowered as he went over his options. "Maybe I can learn a skill that doesn’t involve swinging a sword or using magic. Alchemy? Cooking?" He snorted to himself. "Come on, there has to be something."

The path stretched on.. His mind was still racing with ideas, none of them good when he heard it.

A rustle.

Kenji froze. His eyes darted to the side, scanning the trees and bushes. That wasn’t just the wind. The sound was too deliberate, too close. He tried to move quietly, but the moment he took a step, his legs gave out. Panting heavily after a few steps, he collapsed, his hands clutching his knees as he gasped for air. “Damn it... I knew... I should’ve gone to the gym more.”

The rustle came again. Louder. Closer.

Kenji scrambled to his feet and dashed behind a nearby tree. He pressed his back against the bark, trying to make himself as small as possible. It wasn’t a big tree, and he wasn’t exactly hidden well as his shoes and part of his hoodie were clearly sticking out. But he wasn’t thinking about that right now. His heart pounded in his chest as he held his breath, listening.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Of course," he whispered, his voice shaking, "first day in a new world, and I’m already hiding behind trees like an idiot."

Another rustle. This time, it came with a soft crunch of leaves underfoot. Whatever it was, it was getting closer. Kenji glanced around the tree, his pulse racing.

He couldn’t see anything at first. The forest seemed empty, but his instincts told him otherwise. Something was out there, and he wasn’t about to stick around to find out what.

"Please let it be something small... like a squirrel," he whispered. "Or a harmless bunny. Something that won’t eat me."

The noise stopped suddenly, replaced by a suffocating silence. Kenji stayed crouched behind the tree, barely daring to breathe. His eyes scanned the surrounding bushes, waiting for whatever was out there to make its move. His whole body was tense, ready to bolt even though he knew full well he couldn’t run more than a few steps before collapsing again.

"Why me?" he groaned quietly. "Why do I have to be the guy who gets zero stats and dumped into a death forest?

Meanwhile, at the King's Castle...

A banquet was being held to honor the newly arrived heroes. Lavish food covered the tables, and guests in elegant attire mingled in the grand hall, their glasses filled with sparkling drinks. The atmosphere was bright, festive, and filled with laughter. But Yumi, Kenji’s childhood friend, stood off to the side, her arms crossed, her expression distant.

“Yumi, what’s wrong?” Mei, a classmate, asked as she approached. “You’ve been quiet this whole time. You’re not even enjoying the party.”

“Yeah,” another classmate added, sipping their drink. “Everyone’s celebrating, but you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Yumi’s usual cheerful demeanor was nowhere to be found. She looked over at them, her eyes clouded with worry. “It’s Kenji,” she muttered softly.

“Kenji?” Mei repeated, confused.

“The guy who got kicked out of the castle,” Yumi clarified, her voice tight with concern. "I can’t stop thinking about him... he’s out there all alone.”

Mei blinked, then let out a laugh. “You’re worried about that loser? The one with zeros across the board? Come on, Yumi. He’ll be fine... or, well, if not, it’s not like we lost much.”

Yumi’s expression darkened, her jaw clenching. "Don’t talk about him like that," she said, her voice cold.

The room went silent. Everyone turned to look in her direction, eyes wide at the sudden outburst. A murmur spread through the room. The festive atmosphere had been disrupted, and all eyes were now on Yumi. She stood tall, defiant, while Mei and the others stared, stunned.

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Back in the forest

Kenji remained crouched in the grass, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel it, something was out there. He stayed perfectly still, trying to listen for any signs of movement. Then, in the distance, he saw it.

A shadowy figure moving between the trees. No, two figures. No, wait... more. Suddenly, a glowing screen flickered to life in front of him, displaying a description that sent a cold chill down his spine.

His eyes went wide as he read the word:

“Goblins.”

“Crap,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.