This Isn’t the Type of Paradise I expected.

Chapter 2: That pretty boy stole my Thunder.

A collection of 1’s and 0’s. That’s what I was at the moment. That’s what we all we. So as I was floating through this seemingly endless world of numbers I took this opportunity to flip out.

Oh god, oh god, oh god. If I had arms, legs, or a head right now I would be scratching my hair right now. What did I just do? My body is kinda dead at the moment. I just left my entire world behind for an artificial one. Am I insane? Well?

“Araaaaagh.”

Calm down. There’s no use in freaking now. What’s done is done. The only thing I have to worry about is finding everyone when I get to the Ark. Ok all cool now. I wonder how that place will look anyway. It’s gonna be my new life after everything is done.

I lose myself in thought about the anticipation of the unknown world that lies before me.

The 1’s and 0’s around me begin to shift, showing me a tunnel of bright light.

“I guess I made it. All right here we go.”

I was enveloped by said light.

“Nhgh,”

I open my eyes and look around at my surroundings. I’m in a cabin. It’s a decent sized one, about the size of 2 studio apartments. It’s bigger than mine, that’s for sure. I see three pods by the door. Was that where we came in? I’m lying on a couch in front of a fireplace. Pretty warm in here. I start to get comfortable when I see white brush past my face.

“Owh ow.”

I pulled on it again.

“Owwww.”

Probably not a good idea in hindsight. If it hurt the first time, it’ll hurt again.

Is this…my hair? Come to think of it, I haven’t looked in the mirror yet. I wander around the cabin. There is a mirror right next to the door. I walk over and look into it.

I saw a tall male figure that had long ears that was covered by long white hair bound in a ponytail. He had this face that would make you do a double take, it was perfectly symmetrical. His body was slim, it wasn’t muscular, but you couldn’t deny that he was quite fit. No bulging abs, but it was an average build. I was wearing what seemed like an English nobleman would wear, along with a cape. My pants were baggy at the ankles and stuffed into my boots. I wiggled around in the mirror, pushed my cheeks together and did a backflip.

I started to blush. This guy was me. I was handsome.

“Yes!” 

I clenched my hands in a fist. I look just like some guy off of an anime.

 So now that I was done admiring my features, I decide to go look for Ericka and Kyou. I head on outside. As I looked around it appeared like I was in a forest. The forest was huge. One word for this forest would be… trees. Very tall trees. The trees almost enveloped the sky, I could only see green.

 It was a nice day. It was hard to believe this was all inside a computer. There was wind blowing, a sun, grass, and even something that looked like a deer poking its head out of the dense forest. Something told me I was going to love this place. I was wrong to freak out.

After I was done getting used to the area, I turned back towards the house and saw a bench with a human-like girl sitting on it, sleeping. I approach her.

“H-hello? Someone in there?”

I stared at her features. She had long hair so brown you would’ve thought it was black, eyes as blue as the ocean. She had large furry ears and a tail. Her figure was petite, she sitting down, but I could tell she was no shorter than my collarbone. Her breasts were hidden by trench coat. She was wearing a skirt with…

Thigh high stockings.

“Yes…”

Wait… there something off about these stockings. There was an E stitched at the top. Could this be… Ericka?

I dropped to my knees and smiled. I looked up at her and noticed she was awake.

Her hair brushed her face and tickled my nose. Her eyes looked like storm clouds ready to burst. She cared too much for me. My chest tightened. I felt upset. She opened her mouth and her voice cracked.

“S-s-so were y-y you just teasing me?”

I couldn’t joke around. I look into her eyes and said.

“Not this time. Sorry for making you worry.”

I embraced her fragile body to reassure her. My stomach growled. Was that an earthquake?

“Way to ruin the moment Ericka…” I tried cheering her up.

“S-sorry?” She looked confused.

“I was joking, it was me. I’m starving."

“Want to go eat something and catch up? You had us worried you know!” She was wiping her tears away with a smile.

“Y-yeah sure.”

I bit ferociously into the bread with an unknown meat and sauce with in it. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it was good and I was hungry so I couldn’t hold myself back. After regaining my composure after that embarrassing display, I looked up at Ericka and she looked as though she was enjoying herself, despite only watching me eat. Yeah. She cares too much. 

She began to open her mouth.

“Kyousuke and I arrived here in those pods right over there.”

She pointed by the door.

“But you wouldn’t arrive in there no matter how long we waited so we got worried. Then we decided to search around when we saw a bright light outside towards the lake. We searched the area and we saw an unconscious person in the waters. Kyousuke jumped in and took the man out and we brought him back to the cabin. As we were waiting for the man to wake up I thought it was you. After a day of waiting Kyousuke decided to go towards that giant town in the west for food and help.”

“And you stayed by my side the entire time.”

This girl is amazing.

“Thanks, so much. I don’t know what would’ve happened to me if you didn’t save me.”

“I didn’t do a thing Kyousuke’s the one wh---“

Overcome with joy, I grabbed her tightly. I owe these two a lot. I won’t lose anymore close to me anymore.

“Sh-sh-shinji! Wait I’m not ready for this yet”

“What did you think I was going to do?”

I asked with a grin.

“N-nothing…” she turned away from me.

This girl thinks I’m Kyousuke… I’m so sorry. I need to reconsider my life decisions.

“So how long was I asleep anyways?”

The words she said would surprise me enough to make me almost choke on my food.

“I was asleep for how long?”

“2 months.”

I jumped off the couch and got on my knees. I felt so bad for making her go through this. That must be why she cried when she saw me next to her. She thought I wasn’t going to wake up.

“I’m sorry!”

“It’s really all right, but since you’re ok and awake we need find Kyous--.”

“He’s fine.”

“But-.”

“Seriously, he’s fine. He probably got caught up in some dispute with someone else’s woman, claiming that he was, “caught up in the pursuit of real beauty.”

“You think so?” She needed to be reassured.

“I know so. That’s the type of guy he is. Stirring up trouble in other people’s relationships even if the guy’s around. He’ll be fine. It’s nothing new after all.”

“So let’s go.”

“Hmm?”

She wiggled her ears, waved her tail left and right and tilted her head while looking at me.

“Hnngh. I want to see the town. Get supplies for the road and also see the sights”

Keep it together Shinji.

“Ok, but remember you’re two months behind and you don’t know how to defend yourself here.”

Oh yeah. I almost forgot there was magic here. And believe me, I know to defend myself... Well, I’ll worry about that after we find some food and equipment. I put my hands on my waist and feel something familiar. It’s a katana. Its hilt was embroiled with a gold pattern.

“Where did this come from? Must be rare.”

“When we came into The Ark we came equipped with what you see now. But yours is different than mine.”

She showed her dagger at her waist and her wand.

“ooooo” I applauded.

She bowed and lightly lifted her skirt at its sides.

“Now for the grand finale!”

I drew my katana from its sheath.

Imminent silence…

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Eh?”

It had a rusted black blade, and it was chipped and broken in half. It was barely longer than half of my arm. What type of metal is this?

I recall what Delta said:

There is magic and superhuman strength within, you are given abilities based on personality, abilities, DNA, and potential. You can learn more if you try. You should not have a problem with this Shinji.”

Bull…Is this all you’re giving me to work with? I’ll show you!

“Ha-ha-haha- ha!”

And why do I hear that old man laughing at me?! What kind of joke is this?

“hhehe. I think it’s cute.”

“That’s not the point!”

Ericka was laughing at this. How was I going to fight with this? I was flustered.

I squinted my eyes and started at her and said the meanest thing I could think of…

“You suck.”

“Hey!”

She put her hands on her hips.

In summary: Shinji is not a mean person… No I am not.

We started walking on the dirt trail to the city. The path looked beaten, so it must be used a lot. And I see thin, straight lines leading forward on both sides of the road. Must be a carriage. So there are no cars in this world, obviously.

“So have you been inside the city before?”

“Yes, numerous times. I would get hungry and find my way there by asking the peddlers on their way there. And to make [1]Pas I would do favors for the people in the shops. I ended up really popular at a cafe and ended up helping out there a lot. It’s really fun.”

“Pas?”

“It’s the currency of the Ark.”

Ahh. I understand now.

I’m glad she got along great without me. I was sure she was sad all the time with me and Kyousuke gone. We were here only connection to the other world. I would really like to thank the owners who took care of her.

“That’s great Ericka. I hope they’re good people.”

“They are. They’re a middle aged couple with a 17 year old daughter named Laurie and I can tell she’s really kind but she doesn’t like showing it.”

“Tsundere?”

I thought out loud.

“Heheh. I wouldn’t put it like that but close enough.”

“And they have a 14 year old son named Joni who is just adorable.”

Yup, that’s what every 14 year old boy teen want to hear from a girl. Hey guess what!? That girl over there thinks you adorable. Get some playa!

I snickered at my own thought.

“Do you think we’ll find the rest of your friends? I wonder how the Falsas are doing.”

She seemed worried. Did she hear Kyou tell me before we were sent here?

“I’m sure they’ll turn up eventually. Despite what he looks like Sho and Ayumi took kendo classes as children. Ayumi has also won championships in Kendo. So you can guarantee that they are skilled with swords. I’m telling you they’re fine.”

Not sure about a real fight, but they’ll adapt… I did… but Ericka...

She worries about everyone, but herself. She really is a good person, but she needs to worry about herself more. Has she been taking care of herself? If this world is similar to ours then she could get sick. I try to ask.

“Hey Ericka are you---.”

“We’re here Shinji! Look!”

I look up to see what the commotion’s about.

It was like an old Japanese movie.

There were traditional Japanese houses everywhere. There was one large house that was built in the center, but it was different from the rest of them. It was supported by circular columns with stalls all over the middle. Think of a house with no walls and you’ll get it. I’ve never seen this before. As expected of a marketing town; it was loud with merchants yelling over each other to get their prices heard. There were poles with lanterns attached to the top going straight down the path starting from the front gate leading to a large castle-like building. A giant sign reading Café Falsa stood out to me. It looked like every other house, but bigger and had signs on the outside advertising the shop. It said: come on in all are welcome. Is that where Ericka worked?

“Hey is that where you worked?”

“Yeah, it’s nothing much, but it is a great place.”

We continued to walk through the crowded town.

“Out of my way boy!”

A roguish teen brushed past my shoulder and nicked my shoulder with his knife. He had a bulging sack cradled in his arms like a baby. He wore tattered clothes

A thief maybe?

“Help! A thief stole my gems!”

A merchant woman screamed for her items.

I decided to go a help despite my inexperience in this world. As I run ahead I get yelled at.

“Move aside civilian!”

A man in a blue noble’s uniform like mine and a white cape pushed me aside and drew his rapier. His men followed behind him and surrounded the thief. Despite coming from a different world I could tell that he was experienced.

I watched the situation unfold alongside Ericka.

“Those gems you have stole are property of the Gem Merchant Melidia. Either pay for them give them back or you will be arrested with appropriate force.”

The man stood strong with his sword facing the ground. His squad followed suit.

“I don’t think so, mate. I challenge you for these gems.”

Challenge? What is he talking about? And why are those gems so important.

“What’s he talking about Ericka? What’s that?”

Ericka’s eyes were glittering and her mouth was wide open. She was staring at that knight…

Just a pretty boy…but he does look kinda cool.

You win this round pretty boy. But my question.

“Any citizen can challenge someone who resides in Mercidia and do a duel for goods or services. A duel doesn’t have to be a fight, it can be anything that is fair to the parties participating. You can either accept or deny the duel. But our captain has never once lost a duel nor will his pride let him deny one.”

One of his men hear my question and kindly responded.

“These goods are not mine to gamble with, but…”

He turns towards the Merchant Melidia and kneels on one knee.

He grabs her hand.

“May I put this rebel in his place miss?”

“Y-yes sir.”

“Alright, I accept your challenge my good sir. First, may I have your name?”

“I dun think so mate, you won’t be NEEDING IT!”

He drew his blades, kneeled, clapped his hands together and touched his shoes. His shoes had a green aura surrounding it. He took off at a great speed towards the captain. He even kicked off the stone tiles off the ground.

“What the hell?”

My eyes could barely follow him. I looked at the captain. Was he…smiling? Sorry, when someone’s approaching me that fast with murderous intent I have a hard time smiling.

The captain sheathed his blade.

 He captain took off his white glove and rotated his hand in a circle twice. I saw green energy swirling around his hand.

"Draw your blade! He'll kill you!

He turned towards me and smiled.

“Too slo---“

 He rose his right hand past his shoulder and swung.

His hand connected to the now airborne rogue.

The rogue’s body spun in a circle and his blades flew into the sky. The crowd gasped in awe as a strong gale of wind blew through the town.

What power. This is what the people of this world is capable of? I can get stronger than I am? I need him to train me. I must become stronger, strong enough that I’ll be able to protect everyone without fail.

I can’t wait…. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Another one and done. Tell me all about it in the comments. It's not like i wanna see your replies you know... baka.