The group entered in through the large wooden gate serving as one of the few entrances into the gigantic walled city. Sharlan first took notice of a multitude of commonplace fantasy world characteristics that did not exist in his homeland. He saw people with animal ears and tails dragged by some noble's servant using a metal chain. Not too different from my own situation, he thought. Sharlan was once again wearing cuffs but followed obediently to try and prove that he is truly innocent. The group headed to the Military Station. Here, he was questioned by multiple officers and although he was answering all the questions honestly, none were willing to drop the charges. They waited until the evening of the next day to perform the execution so that news of it could spread and attract a crowd. When morning came, they all headed out to the platform to prepare for the execution. Sharlan kept looking at the guard, Jake, who promised to talk to the generals about his innocence but had yet to deliver. Jake, when meeting Sharlan’s glance, looked away as if he was afraid that he would be wrongly accused of plotting with the criminal. The time had finally arrived and the Generals started the execution.
Sharlan exited onto a wooden platform situated just outside the building. In front of him stood what looked like the entire population of the world watching intently as the guards led him to where he was supposed to be executed. Sharlan placed all his hope on the words of Quinci. A bag was placed over Sharlan’s head and the rope was placed around his neck. The head officer began to speak.
“All gathered here today will now bear witness to the death of this spy from the Empire. This man dared to cross the border without permission, pretended to have lost his memories to claim that he was an ordinary citizen of the Great Theta, and refused to reveal his motives during the questioning, which means that he is still loyal to the Empire. Based on these charges, we shall now commence the hanging.”
“Wait!” a faint voice rang out among the huge crowd of people.
“Oh, is there an objection to this man’s guilt?”
“Oh look! It’s a fairy.”
“Stop the execution! Saitou is my friend! I can attest to his innocence!”
“What’s your proof?” the head officer questioned, immediately suspicious of the newcomer. Fairy or not, anyone could be a spy or their accomplice.
“I have his birth certificate right here.” Quinci flies up to the head officer and triumphantly hands him the paper.
“What a strange thing to carry around. Hmm, I doubt you're his caretaker, are you? What unearthly reason would prompt you to do so?”
“U-uh, w-well. I-I’m…As soon as I heard that the execution was happening today, I rushed to his house and grabbed Saitou’s documents.” the fairy stuttered while trying to think on the spot. Having proper documentation should provide enough authenticity to the testimony she pled, should it not?
“Huh, seems legit. However, I would need more evidence.” said the officer after looking over the document for a moment. He also looked at the soldiers who escorted Sharlan into the city.
“Wait! I’m not Saitou! I’m Sharlan!”
The officers, guards, and the fairy all looked at the man being executed.
“Eeehhh?!”
After a moment, the head officer faced the fairy and spoke.
“Normally, I would have assumed that you were acting as his accomplice due to the supposedly fabricated nature of this document. However, I cannot fathom the reason behind meticulously constructing such a detailed record but failing to accurately label his name.”
“You see officer, what he said about losing his memories was the truth. He doesn’t even recall his own name!”
“You think I would just forget my own name like that? Who do you think I am? Of course I’d remember my name even after losing my memories. I am Sharlan and nobody else.”
“What about the name that’s written on your uniform name tag?”
“What do you mean?”
The officer took the cloak off of Sharlan’s head and grabbed his shirt at the location of the nametag and raised it up so that Sharlan could see.
“Oh, that must’ve been a translation error from when I crossed ove…I mean….”
“So you admit that you are a spy from the Empire then?”
“Wait no! Ok I admit I am not from this country but I am also not from the empire. Believe it or not, I actually came from a parallel world.”
“Why would someone from a parallel world wear the exact same uniform as someone in the Empire?”
“Well, that, umm….I’ll prove it to you! You see, in the language of my home country we use a logographic system of writing. My name should be spelled with the Kanji for uh…wait…Why can’t I remember?!”
“Clearly you can’t back up your lie on the spot. I believe we must proceed with the execution.”
“That man saved my life!” yelled Jake who had finally resolved himself to stand up for Sharlan’s sake.
“What do you mean by that?” asked the head officer.
“On the way to the capital for his questioning and execution, we were attacked by trolls, and due to unfortunate circumstances, Sharlan and I ended up in a cave with the troll. I was missing my leg and my arms were broken so Sharlan could have easily escaped and left me to fend for myself against the troll. But instead! This man valiantly fought the troll and used magic to heal my injured limbs!”
“Healing Magic?!” everyone in the previously aggressive crowd started chattering about what this could mean.
“Healing Magic you say?” said the head officer.
“Yes sir! I am telling the truth!”
“Okay, that changes a lot of things. I now announce that this execution must be postponed!” yelled the head officer.
The crowd did not seem too happy with this verdict. People started clawing their way onto the platform screaming things like “I’ll kill him myself!” and “Forget healing magic! What good is it if it can't bring back my loved ones?” and “Burn him before the empire uses his ability to gain a lead in the war!”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Enough!” the head officer’s remark quickly quieted a huge portion of the crowd however some still resisted. Other soldiers were handling the situation as best as they could.
“No further discussion of this topic until his majesty gives his opinion! This could be a solution to help and recover her majesty’s health!”
This last statement finally silenced even those who were still resisting. The platform and the surrounding area was quickly cleared as the show had ended. Sharlan was taken down from the gallows and brought to a waiting room with new guards placed near to guard him. He was forced to wait until the next morning during which he was scheduled to have an audience with the king. Sharlan was taken into a carriage and the group headed deeper into the capital to where the palace was located. Sharlan was now in the same carriage as Jake and Quinci. He noticed that now Jake also had his hands cuffed.
“Hey Quinci, aren’t you also being suspected? Why don’t you have cuffs on?”
“They don’t make them in this size.” she extended and waved her tiny arm while resting her head on the palm of her other hand and faced the other direction. She didn’t seem to be in a good mood, most likely due to Sharlans very perceptive and fitting remarks for the life threatening situation they just recently overcame.
The group entered the castle, and then the throne room. The boss should be spawning about now thought Sharlan. As per Sharlan’s predictions, the ever idling sovereign NPC sprite located himself in the lone position where any isekai ruler must always be present. On the throne sat the king, waiting patiently for the guards to bring Sharlan and the others inside and mumbling something to himself. Once everyone…Oh wait what’s this, we just barely stepped into the throne room when the king despawned? I swear I just saw him in his only available location. Wait, could this be one of those cool isekai kings who has super speed and extreme fighting skill? Suddenly, the king respawned, this time with another person, seated in a wheelchair, who seemed to be in a spousal relationship with the king. They spawned on the far corner of the room and then walked to their correct locations. Then the king spoke.
“Words?”
“Actions?” said Sharlan, not knowing exactly what the king meant by that statement.
“I hear you have the ability to heal the injured? Heal my wife and I shall compensate you.”
“Ok, sure thing.” Sharlan’s bindings were loosened and he started walking up to the king and his wife.
The throne was situated on top of a short staircase. The queen sat in her wheelchair next to the throne. Sharlan visualized having the rock in his hand and it appeared, just like he expected magical items to work. He gripped the rock tightly in apprehension. I shall rely on the rarely incorrect assumptions drawn from the correlation-causation implication. If this doesn’t work, I’m dead. He chucked the rock at the queen. It hit her in the face and caused her to fall out of her wheelchair and tumble down the staircase.
“Hold him down!”
“Don’t let the spy escape!”
“Halt.” said the king who was patiently waiting and watching the nonmoving body of the queen.
Suddenly, within the timespan elapsed by the blinking of an ordinary human eye, two new legs grew from the stumps of the body. The bloody scar marking the location of the collision of the rock and the face instantly vanished and then the eyes opened. The queen stood up and started sprinting.
“I can walk! I can run!” She started doing flips and other elite gymnastics movements.
“Thanks man. I put my trust in you and you delivered. Here, what do you say about this reward?” the king started writing something down on a piece of paper. He then approached Sharlan and handed him the paper.
“Sure! Sounds good. Thanks, king…I mean your highness.”
“I greatly appreciate what you’ve done for me. You’re a free man now, so guards, you can head out. However, I do need you to do me a favor. I heard that you’re a really strong warrior. You should join the guild and help fight off the monsters in the forests. I’m sure you’ve already heard of the war that is currently going on with the empire. But that isn’t the only threat faced by the kingdom currently. Monsters have been popping up quite a lot and they are no less of a threat than the Empire.”
“Oh, sure, I was planning to do that anyway. I really wanted to go on an adventure.”
With that, the charges were dropped and Sharlan finally became a free man. Sharlan was led out through the castle doors and found himself in the middle of the street along with Quinci.
“Hey Quinci, how did you get that fake document?”
“Oh, you mean the birth certificate? I have a couple of dwarf friends who are really good at forging things.”
“Huh, I thought that would only apply to metallurgy.”
“Anyway, now you have to hold up your end of the agreement. Go join the guild and start providing for me.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Sharlan and Quinci started heading in the direction of the guild. As they walked through the street many glances fell on them. Most still suspected Sharlan of being a spy but the news of the queen’s recovery soon circulated among the citizens. It was getting dark and going to the guild would probably result in nothing more than a return trip from the guild. Sharlan spoke.
"You know, we should probably go tomorrow, I kind of feel tired, being chained up and stuff for like 2 days. How about we stay at that inn for tonight."
"Ok sure, you have money?"
"Recall my humble service for his Highness awarded me with not only the reactivation of my free trial of life but has concurrently granted me a suitable reward."
"Oh yeah, and how much did you get?"
Sharlan took out the folded piece of paper that was given to him by the king. "Let's find out, shall we?"
Upon unfolding the congealed, processed, and segmented dead tree paste, Sharlan's face showed a rather unsatisfying outcome after glancing at the day's earnings.
"Tax exemption? Really? That's it? How am I gonna pay for an inn with this?"
"Wait, could you repeat that?!"
"What? Is there something special about it. I'm just exempt from paying taxes. Why do you look so thrilled? Isn't it like only five percent on items? Well, I guess the tax season definitely takes a toll on earnings throughout the year, but still. I was kind of hoping for like a direct monetary reward."
"I can't believe he did that!"
"You mean the king? Yeah, I know, right? Like, I did so much for him, like using my amazing power to heal his people and here he is, not really providing equal compensation. I mean, I guess I shouldn't complain thought. It is probably still pretty good."
"Never tell anyone about this." Quinci hovered in the air right in front of Sharlan's face. She possessed an air of seriousness that people usually only exude in extreme or dangerous situations.
"What's the problem?"
"Don't pay with normal currency either."
"Would you please stop dragging out the reveal like I drag my balls across your mom's face!"
"Ha!? What? Okay. I'm just going to ignore that strange remark. I'll just mark it off as a translation error from your supposed 'other worldly language ability.' Either way. Here's the deal. You're probably going to get killed."
"Why?" said Sharlan, now slightly on edge after Quinci's warning.
"For foreigners like you, a tax exemption might not seem like a very big deal, but once you see the final prices paid after taxes are collected, you will realize that you're probably the richest man in the country right now without even having a single coin."
"Ok. So I guess that means that taxes are extraordinarily high then? But how does this have anything to do with me being killed?"
"Huh? I think we have a tail. Let's go to that inn. I'll pay for the room this time and explain everything."
"Ok then. Should I act natural?"
"Yes, do so if you don't want whoever is tailing us to figure out that we are aware."
The two entered the building. Quinci pulled out a piece of paper from a pocket in her tiny dress. She then started unfolding it until it became almost bigger than her. After sliding it across the counter to the inn employee, she received a room key that she naturally hinted for Sharlan to take as it was actually bigger than her.
They headed to the room that the fairy paid for with what seemed to be a credit card? Isn't this supposed to be a fantasy world? Why do they have credit cards? Maybe it uses magic or something?
Once they entered the room, Sharlan told the fairy to spill all the info that had been being kept from being cognitively stored and interpreted by our protagonist and transitively, the audience.
"I think the king wanted to get rid of you. There is no way he would have given you such a non standard reward as a tax exemption. If you told someone that you are exempt from taxes, expect to die within the next minute. The people would simply gang up on you and kill you."
"Oh, so that's what it is. But like why would he do that? Like, I healed his wife. Also, can't I just use that credit card thing you used to pay for things so that no one knows that I have the exemption."
"Credit card?"
"Oh, well, that thing that you gave to the inn employee. In my country that would be called a credit card."
"Oh this?" Said Quinci while pulling out the foldable card out of her dress once more. "This is a mana board."
"Mana board? So is that like a way to transfer your mana to other people as payment?"
"Yeah, pretty much. I'm surprised you know what mana is. Also how did you know about the guild earlier if you've never been to this country?"
"Oh, well, you see, I have another special ability called my Int Factor. It let's me make very accurate judgements based on situations in this world. I call these situations cliches." Said Sharlan after coming up with a relatively cool moniker for the ability to use intuition and state the outcomes of cliche scenes he recalled.
"Cliches. Huh. That's a weird sounding word. Do your special abilities need mana to work?"
"No. Well, I don't think so. I'm not entirely sure what using mana feels like since I've never used it before. But I feel like I'll get used to it pretty quickly with my Int Factor."
"Huh. Honestly, that's pretty impressive. For most people, it takes a long time to completely grasp a basic understanding of how mana works."
"Don't worry. I'll get right into it and start providing for you so I can keep up our deal."
"You better. Or I'll tell everyone about your tex exemption and then you'll die."
"Huh, seems like you found another way to threaten me."
"Mhm. Sure did. I'm pretty practical when it comes to seeing my deals through."
"What would've happened if I didn't get such a terrifying reward from the king? I could've just left you and gone somewhere without you after you saved me. Well honestly, I feel like Jake did most of the work there. Without him saying that I could heal people, I would've been dead for sure. Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to the deal with you anyway."
"Remember what I said about letting others know about your tax exemption. Just accept your situation already. I did technically just save you a couple of minutes ago. If you would've gone and blabbed to someone about not having to pay taxes, you would have been gone for sure. So if that situation where I had fake documents made for you to keep living wasn't enough of a reason to stick with me and provide for me, then add what I just did to the list of things you should be thankful for. And had you not received the tax exemption as your reward, I had plenty of things planned to keep you from running away. But I obviously won't tell you in case I do need to use them." Quinci ranted and then turned her face away from this story's very curious and rude protagonist. "Hmph."
"Okay, okay. I was just pointing things out. I didn't intend to leave you and abandon my promise. I always keep my promises."
"Okay then. You better. Anyway, tomorrow we will head to the guild where you will sign up and become an adventurer. Then they will quantify your mana level and place you in a ranking. After that, you will be able to take on certain quests according to your level."
"Seems pretty standard. Okay then imma hit the sack." Sharlan jumped onto the bed and fell asleep almost immediately. Quinci watched him for a bit and then went outside for fresh air.