As I was getting up, I suddenly felt the air around me grow heavy. I opened my eyes, only to find myself in a completely different place—a completely different world, even.
Everything around me looked like it belonged to another continent. It had even suddenly become daytime, though I had just been lying under the moonlight by the river, lost in thought.
Snapping out of my daze, I realized I was standing before a large town, in a place unlike any I'd known.
Towering, beautiful green mountains with snow-capped peaks surrounded the town. Far off in the distance, I could barely make out wheat farms. The scenery reminded me of Europe.
I muttered under my breath, "Where am I…"
I was in complete shock. The peaceful place where I had just been resting had vanished without a trace.
I thought I might be hallucinating. I blinked repeatedly, hoping to return to the river. I even bit my tongue—but nothing changed. This felt real.
"Wait… what if this is some kind of fantasy world? If it is, maybe I can use magic or powers, right? But no, no. What if this is just another part of my world? What if I'm dreaming or hallucinating? Still… something about this atmosphere feels different." I kept muttering to myself.
It didn't seem fake at all. I tried several reality checks, but none worked.
With no other option, I decided I should at least try talking to someone inside the town. The gates were open, and people were moving freely in and out. The town seemed lively.
Even then, I was terrified. I had never been good with unfamiliar places. Now, standing in what could be another world entirely, my heart was trembling.
I feared that stepping into this town would immediately lead to danger.
After a few minutes, I calmed myself down—if only slightly. I took a deep breath and walked forward onto the cobblestone street. After all, staying in the same place wouldn't help me.
As I walked, I saw houses packed closely together. Their appearance deepened my confusion. They looked abandoned, yet well-maintained and clean. The windows were strange—designed in ways I had never seen before.
The people were dressed in unusual ways.
Some wore casual-looking clothes with cloaks draped over their backs. Others wore long robes.
I stood out like a sore thumb, wearing clothes completely unlike theirs. I still had no idea where I was. Though I was shaken by the strangeness of it all, the cheerful town, the smiling faces, and the sound of laughter helped calm my nerves.
I kept walking and observed the distinctive features of the people, yet surprisingly, no one approached me—even though I clearly didn't belong. Still, I needed to speak with someone, to learn even the smallest bit of information.
I was so caught up in the atmosphere that I completely forgot my main goal. As more time passed, I realized I had no idea where I was going.
"I'm lost," I muttered aloud by accident.
Suddenly, I felt someone tap me on the back. It was gentle—tender, even—but enough to make me jump.
I was terrified. I had been so focused on the buildings and people that I hadn't expected anyone to actually approach me. I wasn't even mentally prepared for an interaction.
I swallowed hard and turned around—only to see a girl who looked roughly my age.
She was short, with striking pink-reddish hair and large, colorful eyes. She wore a long black-and-white skirt, and her outfit bore a symbol. It looked like a school uniform.
"H-hello, sir…" she said, her voice low and stuttering.
It took me a few seconds to respond. I was surprised for several reasons. I thought to myself: How can I understand what she's saying? What does she want from me? Is it because of my clothes?
"Sir…?" she said again, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Oh… yeah, I apologize," I replied, pausing briefly. "Do you need something…?" I added, hiding my shaking hands behind my back. My heart felt like it was about to burst.
"Well… I just happened to hear you clearly say you were lost. I thought I'd come help!" she said, smiling warmly.
She seemed genuine and trustworthy, so I doubted she was lying. I needed information—any at all—so I couldn't waste this chance.
"I'm just a… lost… adventurer!" I said, forcing a wide, nervous grin.
"Oh, I see. Let me help you then! I can at least guide you around the place," she replied.
Though I was still petrified, I had no way of refusing. "I'll be right behind you."
She walked ahead, and I followed. It felt odd—I wasn't used to walking with women, much less in an unknown world. Everything around me was a complete mystery.
"Where are you from?" she asked suddenly as we walked.
I hesitated. "Why do you want to know?"
I was sure that telling her I was from another world would scare or confuse her.
"Well, it's the way you look—and the clothes you're wearing! It's nothing like what I've seen before. Perhaps you're from the Eastern Domain?"
After a short silence, I answered, "I'm from a very far place…" She looked confused but also intrigued.
"Well, alright. I won't press further," she said.
I didn't respond. My expression clearly showed I was terrified—nervous from head to toe.
"Oh, yeah!" she said suddenly. "You do have money, right? You'll need to rent a place for the night. It gets pretty dangerous once the sun goes down."
I gulped. I had almost nothing on me. She looked at me and saw me sweating buckets.
Letting out a sigh, she said, "I'll lend you enough to rent a place—but in return, I need you to do something for me—"
Before she could finish, a loud sound erupted nearby.
An even louder sound followed—it was an alarm.
"Oh no," she said, eyes wide and filled with worry.
"W-what's going on?! What is that sound?" I asked.
"No time to explain!" She grabbed my hand and began running toward the source of the noise. "W–what?!" I stammered, completely off guard, my face turning red.
While running, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes in concentration. In a barely audible tone, she said, "Activate."
In the blink of an eye, we were suddenly standing in front of whatever was causing the chaos.
It was a massive beast, resembling a grizzly bear—but far more terrifying and much larger. I was frozen. I couldn't move.
Already terrified, I was on the verge of passing out.
"Get a grip!" she shouted. "This is not the time to space out!" She seemed to believe I could fight—but I collapsed, showing just how helpless I was. I tried to stand and run, but my trembling legs gave out beneath me.
The beast roared, shaking the earth. It saw me—motionless, defenseless.
I accepted my fate. Here, in this strange new world, I would die. It raised a giant claw to finish me off.
But just then, the girl appeared—using her ability again, it seemed. She pushed me out of the way into a pile of rubble from a collapsed building.
She was struck instead. Unconscious. Barely alive.
I screamed at the top of my lungs. My head throbbed, blood dripping from a wound. The pain in my body—and the pain from old scars left by my father—flared violently. The beast roared, leveling everything around us. The girl lay there, bleeding.
She got hurt—because of me. Because of my own weakness.
It's always like this. I'm always useless. I can't even lift a finger—when a girl my age was willing to fight.
I don't want this. I won't allow it. I'll kill that monster. Even if I have to do it with my bare hands.
I felt anger. Pure hatred and frustration. Looking at the girl lying in the distance, I stood up despite the searing pain. I stared at the beast with madness in my eyes. I was ready to throw everything away—even my life.
To make up for what happened to her, I faced the beast. Its size made me hesitate. Still, I charged.
I yelled as I sprinted toward it, catching its attention again. "You bastard—!" I screamed.
The beast roared and lunged forward. Its massive fist aimed at my head. I screamed and threw my small, trembling fist toward it.
I thought I was dead. As our fists were about to collide, my heart pounded loudly.
Then, just before impact—
The air shifted.
A powerful, confident male voice rang from the sky. "That's enough."
A flash of silver fell from above—cleanly severing the beast's arm, which had nearly struck me.
My eyes widened. I didn't understand what had just happened. The beast roared in agony, its arm gone in an instant.
I tried to look up, to see who had done it—but I collapsed from exhaustion before I could make out the figure.
Before everything faded, I heard his voice—soft, almost regretful.
"Forgive me," he said.