《The Swordsman and The Wizard》
Chapter 1 - The Arrival in Another World
Darkness is the only thing I see. I can¡¯t see my feet, hands, body, or even feel them. I struggle to open my eyes, but it¡¯s useless since I don¡¯t even know if they are actually closed. My thoughts revolve around the only thing I remember: going to sleep last night.
But as time passes, new sensations reach me.
I feel a strong nausea coming from the depths of my stomach, as if I had gone through a long and unsettling journey, along with a pounding headache that makes my thoughts foggy.
After some time, which could have been hours or just seconds, I finally manage to open my eyes¡ªslowly.
The brightness of the sky fills my vision, and instinctively, I raise my arms to shield myself from the overwhelming light. As I sit up and glance around, I realize I¡¯m in a vast green plain, filled with blue flowers that I¡¯ve never seen before in my life.
Without a doubt, it¡¯s a breathtaking sight, capable of uplifting even the most hopeless soul.
As I take in the magnificent scenery, I notice that a young man with curly brown hair has fallen a few meters ahead of me. Without hesitation, I stand up and walk toward him.
As I get closer, I¡¯m startled¡ªnot because he is a stranger, but because of the opposite. In front of me lies Axel, a childhood friend whom I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to call a brother.
I stare at him for a moment. If he¡¯s experiencing the same thing I did, his mind must still be full of thoughts. Even if I tried to wake him, it probably wouldn¡¯t work¡
But apparently, he isn¡¯t sharing any of my unsettling feelings. He sleeps peacefully and serenely, even smiling at times.
This goes on for a while until I grow impatient and shake him to wake up.
He rolls to the side, turning his back to me, as if telling his mother to let him sleep a little longer. But I keep shaking him.
After a few seconds, he finally seems fully awake and glances over his shoulder at me. Then, as if his brain suddenly clicks back into place, he instinctively jerks away.
¡ªDante?? W-what? Where are we?¡ª He quickly looks around, his face filled with unease, but a few seconds later, his expression completely relaxes after looking up.
¡ªI thought you might know something, that¡¯s why I woke you up¡ª I reply.
¡ªAh, I remember playing games and then going to sleep, but that¡¯s all I recall¡ª he says, rubbing his chin as he slowly sits up.
¡ªI remember the same thing¡ªjust playing with you and the other two before heading to bed. But when I woke up, I was already here.
¡ªThat¡¯s strange... Looks like we¡¯re in an isekai, then.¡ª Axel says excitedly, though without any actual surprise in his voice, as if stating the most obvious fact in the world.
¡ªDude, stop talking nonsense. Do you really think something like this would actually happen?¡ª I question, baffled at how such an absurd statement could come from someone so rational.
¡ªOf course. Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t looked up yet?¡ª
Look up...? What is he talking about?
In response to his words, I tilt my head back, searching the sky for anything that might justify his claim. The glaring sun above makes it impossible to see anything he might be referring to¡ª
The sun¡
Or rather¡
The suns are an unsettling sight, serving as a celestial decree that we are no longer in our world.
My face is frozen in shock, my jaw dropped in disbelief. When I glance at Axel, he simply stands up, dusting off his clothes while looking around. Then, with a smile, he takes in the view.
¡ªAh¡ Wow, what a nice breeze...¡ª He closes his eyes, enjoying the gentle wind against his face.
¡ªBut the smell isn¡¯t the best, I have to admit.¡ª He says while rubbing his nose.
¡ªSmell?¡ª I ask, confused.
Paying closer attention, he¡¯s absolutely right. The scent in the air is far from what one would expect from such a lush and flowery field.
With some effort, I manage to pinpoint the source of the foul odor.
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¡ªI think it¡¯s coming from just beyond that hill.¡ª I say, pointing at a nearby hill that blocks our view of the rest of the landscape.
Without hesitation, Axel starts walking toward it.
It only takes a few seconds to reach the base, and with minimal effort, we climb the gentle slope.
Once at the top, we immediately understand where the burning smell is coming from¡ªa place that once seemed to be a small village, now reduced to nothing but ruins and dying embers.
We exchange silent glances, waiting for the unspoken confirmation from one another before making our decision. We nod in agreement and descend toward the site.
The scent, which was somewhat muted by the hill, now surrounds us completely. It seems like whatever happened here was recent.
We walk among the wreckage, taking in the surroundings¡ªor at least, what¡¯s left of them.
¡ªI think we should split up. If there¡¯s anyone still around, we¡¯ll cover more ground this way, and maybe we¡¯ll find something useful.¡ª I nod in agreement and head left, while Axel goes right.
The ruins radiate a deep sense of melancholy, which I can feel clearly. The thought that, just days ago, these streets might have been filled with running children, chatting adults, and elderly folks knitting makes the place feel unbearably heavy. For some reason, I feel a deep sorrow in being here¡ªalmost like nostalgia, even though I¡¯m certain I¡¯ve never been here before.
As I continue walking, I notice something strange¡ªthere are no corpses. Maybe this was an abandoned town? Or perhaps the bodies were burned to ashes.
In my search, I come across a house that, despite being mostly in ruins, still has a few walls standing.
Stepping through what remains of the doorway, I quickly realize this was likely a blacksmith¡¯s house. Scattered tools on the floor make it clear¡ªthis fire didn¡¯t have the intensity to melt metal.
Hammerheads scorched by the flames and a large anvil all but scream *medieval setting.* The kind of anvil I had only ever seen in video games or fantasy anime.
As I scan the room, my eyes fall on something¡ªa sword lying next to a fallen pillar. This was undeniable proof that we were in a medieval world, one with real threats.
I pick up the sword. Its blade is slightly blackened from the fire, but that actually gives it a certain charm.
Nearby, I find a large axe¡ªone of those massive war axes. Expecting it to be heavy, I prepare to lift it with both hands, but it turns out to be surprisingly light, nearly making me fall over from the force I had braced myself with.
A decent sword for me, and an axe for Axel¡ªdefinitely good finds.
I walk back to our meeting point, taking a final look around.
There doesn¡¯t seem to be a single spot where the fire originated. No suspicious marks anywhere. Maybe lightning struck the village a few days ago.
When I reach our meeting point, I see Axel returning in a hurry.
¡ªDid you find anyone?¡ª I ask.
¡ªNope. Which is actually good. It looks like the village was abandoned or something. But I found some stuff for us!¡ª
He tosses me a piece of fabric, and as I unfold it, I realize it¡¯s a hooded cloak.
¡ªDon¡¯t worry, it doesn¡¯t smell rotten or anything, so no one probably died in it. *Probably.*¡ª Axel emphasizes that last part.
¡ªAh, thanks, bro!¡ª I say, putting on the cloak. It isn¡¯t very large, lacking sleeves but reaching the end of my back.
¡ªDude, you look badass! Hehe¡ª
I grin, excited.
¡ªOh, I also found this for you.¡ª I say, handing Axel the large axe.
¡ªThanks, man!¡ª He says, thrilled.
He grips the axe with both hands but quickly notices how light it is.
¡ªIs this really for combat? It¡¯s so light...¡ª
¡ªMaybe just for intimidation? It seems perfect for that.¡ª
¡ªYeah, you¡¯re probably right. But thanks anyway!¡ª
I smile and ask:
¡ªYou said you found stuff for us, but so far, you¡¯ve only shown me the cloak. What did you get for yourself?¡ª
¡ªHehehe, my young grasshopper...¡ª He says, attempting a menacing laugh that utterly fails.
¡ªBehold¡ My very first magic tome!!!¡ª Axel nearly shouts in excitement.
In his hands was a black-covered book. I can''t say for sure if it was just a little burned or if it was actually meant to look like that. Its cover was wrinkled, as if it were an old book¡ªabnormally old.
¡ª Magical?? Does it have some kind of spell in it? ¡ª I ask in surprise.
¡ª No idea! Honestly, I don¡¯t recognize this language, and these characters I''ve only seen in made-up languages by people trying to seem different. I''ve literally never seen anything like this. ¡ª He explains while flipping through the book for me.
¡ª Then how do you know it''s magical? ¡ª I ask with a mocking look.
¡ª It has to be! Think about it: a strange language, a bizarre cover, and completely intact even after a fire. This screams "grimoire"!
The more he talked about crazy and strange things, the more I agreed with him. I wonder which of us should actually be called the weird one.
Surrounded by a destroyed and twisted landscape, a man sits atop a rock, observing the environment that apparently used to be a city long ago.
His eyes reveal the exhaustion weighing on him, emphasized by the deep dark circles beneath them.
Slowly and reluctantly, he pulls a small recorder from the pocket of his beige overcoat, turns it on, and speaks in a dragging voice:
¡ª Attempt number 265,949... another failure. Maybe it''s time for me to give up... no, I''ve come too far for that. ¡ª
Chapter 2 - Promisses
¡ª Well, I think we should get moving. We don¡¯t have much time before sunset. ¡ª Dante said, looking up.
Axel stopped, stretched out his hands in front of him, and began murmuring to himself.
¡ª What are you doing?¡ª
¡ª Just calculating. They say that if you extend your hand to the horizon, each of your fingers marks about 15 minutes on the clock. So, we have... roughly three more hours.¡ª The boy explained, his hands still raised.
¡ª Oh, that¡¯s a useful fact.¡ª The hooded young man replied, though he expected nothing less from Axel.
They walked together to the highest point of their surroundings and looked into the distance. The two boys scanned the landscape, but all they could see were plains, hills, mountains, and forests.
¡ª Which direction should we go? Honestly, they all look the same to me.¡ª Dante said casually.
¡ª Well, heading toward the mountains doesn¡¯t seem like a great idea, it could get really cold up there. Since we don¡¯t know exactly where we are in the world, the same logic applies to going north or south. That leaves us with east.¡ª Axel analyzed the situation.
¡ª Works for me, let¡¯s go east then.¡ª Dante said, barely finishing his sentence before heading off toward his next adventure.
Axel smiled at that and followed right behind him.
As they walked down a small slope toward the vast forest ahead, both hesitated a few steps before stepping in.
¡ª You know, Dante, I¡¯m not really a fan of the idea of dying¡¡ª Axel said, a serious expression on his face, which made his friend chuckle.
¡ª Hahaha, man¡ There¡¯s not much we can do. There are no fruit trees out here, so we¡¯d starve to death if we just sat around. And besides¡ didn¡¯t you say you wanted to chase after adventure?¡ª Dante grinned at his friend, then turned back to the path and used his sword to clear the way through the dense forest.
Axel simply nodded and followed. This wasn¡¯t the time to hesitate; they had no other choice anyway.
As Dante forged ahead, Axel stayed a few steps behind, scanning their surroundings for anything edible.
The forest was so dense that the three hours of daylight they supposedly had left made no difference. If they strayed more than a few feet apart, they could barely see each other.
¡ª Isn¡¯t it weird that we haven¡¯t seen a single animal?¡ª Axel asked.
¡ª I think it¡¯s a good thing, to be honest. I really don¡¯t want to run into a bear or something like that, haha.¡ª
¡ª Yeah, I guess you have a point, haha. But still, the forest is so thi¡ª Axel suddenly stopped speaking.
His friend, puzzled by the sudden silence, turned to look at him.
¡ª You okay?¡ª
Axel didn¡¯t answer. He was staring to the left, his face filled with fear. Dante followed his gaze.
A massive footprint on the ground. Not just the size of a bear¡ªan animal that would already be twice their height¡ªbut something truly enormous, at least 80 centimeters in diameter.
They exchanged horrified looks, at a complete loss for words. Instinct took over. Their bodies flooded with adrenaline, and they started running with everything they had.
They didn¡¯t stop to think about staying together or clearing a path. They just barreled through the branches, vines, and foliage, almost like two Olympic sprinters competing for gold.
They ran so much that night had fallen before they knew it. If it had been dark before, now it was pitch black. The thick leaves above barely allowed any moonlight to reach the forest floor.
They were completely exhausted. Dante wasn¡¯t out of shape or anything, even if he spent a lot of time playing video games and reading stories, but his whole body felt like it was shutting down.
Their throats burned from thirst. Their legs trembled. Their empty stomachs twisted in pain, begging for anything. And yet, they didn¡¯t stop running¡ªor at least trying to.
Eventually, without even realizing it, they both collapsed from exhaustion almost at the same time, unable to even tell where they were anymore.
Light¡? Why is there light¡?
I opened my eyes quickly. I was lying on the ground, my whole body aching from the strain of the previous day. But the fear in my chest was gone. What was strange, though, was that when I looked up, I no longer saw towering trees blocking the sky. Just a beautiful blue expanse above.
I sat up and looked around, realizing I was at least 20 meters away from the forest. I definitely hadn¡¯t walked or crawled here by myself, so this had to be Axel¡¯s doing.
¡ª Ah, finally awake, bro.¡ª Axel¡¯s voice rang out.
I turned toward him. He was approaching, carrying something wrapped in his shirt.
¡ª You carried us out of there?¡ª
¡ª Of course! You can always count on your big bro here to have your back.¡ª Axel said proudly.
Dante rolled his eyes and chuckled at his friend¡¯s words before getting up to see what he had brought.
¡ª Food?¡ª Dante asked.
¡ª Sort of!¡ª Axel said, placing his findings on the ground.
There was a pile of fruits I had never seen before, along with a few snails.
¡ª ...Dude, none of this looks edible.¡ª
¡ª Nah, don¡¯t worry! I ate a few of these fruits while picking them, and they barely gave me a stomachache!¡ª Axel said enthusiastically.
¡ª B-Barely? Man, you probably poisoned yourself.¡ª
Dante couldn¡¯t tell if he should laugh or be concerned.
¡ª Trust me, okay? Now here, take this!¡ª Axel held out a snail toward Dante.
¡ª You said you only ate the fruit. Are you trying to use me as a test subject?¡ª Dante asked seriously.
¡ª Hey, I got the food, the least you can do is try it for me!¡ª Axel replied with the same serious tone.
The tension between them lasted a few seconds before they both burst into laughter.
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¡ª Alright, alright, I¡¯m just messing with you. But the fruits really are safe to eat. I got the snails to use as bait for bigger animals. I only saw some squirrel-looking creatures, but who knows what kind of diseases they might have, and¡ª Axel rambled on about how much he hated rodents and how the mere thought of eating one would put him in a coma.
Dante laughed at his friend¡¯s exaggerated complaints¡ªuntil something in the distance caught his attention.
¡ª Dude, is that a city?¡ª Dante asked, pointing toward a distant point on the horizon.
Axel stopped talking and followed his gaze. At first, he didn¡¯t see anything, but with a little help from Dante, he finally noticed it.
¡ª Ahhh, now I see it! Yeah, I think it is! Man, we got lucky, huh?¡ª
¡ª Let¡¯s hurry up. I don¡¯t want to end up running for our lives again when night falls.¡ª
¡ª Shouldn¡¯t be a problem. The city¡¯s less than three miles away, so we should reach it in about an hour.¡ª
Once again, Axel provided an eerily precise estimate, making Dante smile as he wondered where he even got this information.
And just as Axel predicted, it didn¡¯t take more than an hour for them to arrive. A massive stone wall encircled the city, with a large gate granting access. As they approached the open entrance, armored guards merely glanced at them before nodding, silently allowing them through¡ªprobably assuming two ragged-looking boys weren¡¯t much of a threat.
As they stepped further into the city, it was like stepping into a medieval metropolis. Nothing in games, anime, or books could compare to this place.
¡ª Dude! ¡ª They turned at the same time to look at each other, fascinated like tourists, then quickly started walking around, checking out the stalls and shops. Markets selling armor and, most importantly, food stands caught their attention, but since they were completely broke at that point, they couldn¡¯t get anything.
The people around them looked at the two strangely. Neither of them had noticed, but their clothes were extremely tattered, making them look like they had just come out of a battle or something similar.
The boys were amazed by everything, staring with fascination when beings of other races passed by them. Men with bat-like wings, women with goat-like beards, children with elephant trunks, and many other species painted the fantastical city alongside normal humans.
They eagerly wandered through everything until they decided to enter a very inviting bar called "The Den," written in Greek-Roman alphabet, different from the book Axel had found earlier. Compared to the rest of the environment, the bar had a rather common name.
As soon as they stepped inside, they were met with knights in armor and mages. It was awesome¡ªno, more than awesome, it was absolutely spectacular for the two boys, who had always played RPG games together.
They spent some time just observing the place. The scent of something delicious filled their lungs, and the clinking of glasses in toasts and the laughter of patrons seemed to invite them in. They stood still for so long that a young girl in a dark blue dress with long white sleeves approached them to serve them.
¡ª Hello, knights. Welcome to The Den. How can I help you? ¡ª she asked in a cheerful tone, ready to serve them. The boys chuckled awkwardly. They really didn¡¯t know why they had entered the place without any money to pay.
¡ª You guys are rookie adventurers, huh? Don¡¯t hold back, you can order whatever you want, but I¡¯ll charge you interest later. Hahaha! ¡ª A tall man with dark hair approached the trio, laughing loudly.
¡ª Wait, we¡¯re not¡¡ª Before Dante could finish speaking, Axel nudged him and pulled him aside for a private conversation.
¡ª Hey, airhead, what are you doing? We haven¡¯t eaten anything in hours. Do you want to go hunt in the woods instead? ¡ª said the curly-haired boy, trying to take advantage of the situation. Even though Dante understood his point, he felt bad about taking advantage of other people¡¯s generosity. He was never the type to owe anyone anything.
¡ª Seriously? You really want to go through with this? And how are we supposed to pay later, huh, genius? ¡ª asked the hooded boy seriously, crossing his arms.
¡ª Just go along with it. We¡¯ll do exactly what he said and become adventurers. Haha! ¡ª Dante¡¯s eyes widened. Was his friend serious? They didn¡¯t even have any equipment, and more importantly, they weren¡¯t strong enough to do anything like that.
Before his friend could even agree, Axel was already explaining their situation, concealing the fact that they weren¡¯t even citizens of this world. To the man and the girl, the boys were simply refugees from a destroyed village.
¡°Well, we are kind of refugees since we don¡¯t have a home to return to.¡± Dante thought to himself. He quickly accepted the situation¡ªwhen Axel set his mind on something, there was no turning back. Both of them had that in common.
As they sat at one of the empty tables in the place, the bar girl, who introduced herself as Sofia, and her father, Max, the owner of the bar, served them roasted potatoes and a fine beer. In the real world, neither of them had ever drunk before¡ªnot because of their age, since both were old enough, but because they spent their days locked in their rooms, playing games, training, or studying.
The golden, foamy drink tasted surreal. The sweet flavor filling their mouths was nothing like the bitter taste they had always heard beer had.
¡ª Haha! What do you think of our specialty? Feels like it''s from another world, huh?! HAHAHA! ¡ª said the owner with his same boisterous laughter. He puffed up his chest with pure pride while his wife scolded him from the kitchen, and his daughter looked embarrassed, hiding her face.
Dante and Axel could only laugh. This whole place felt like a game cutscene¡ªit was surreal.
¡ª You guys should make fries with these potatoes. ¡ª Dante said, so excited that he didn¡¯t even realize that such a thing probably didn¡¯t exist in this world. Axel agreed, likely having the same thought.
¡ª Huh? Fries? What¡¯s that? ¡ª The owner approached, seemingly eager to create the dish. Dante spoke quickly, still chewing.
Max¡¯s wife, Bartra, was the cook of the establishment, and upon hearing what the boy said, she immediately set out to complete the recipe.
Her cooking skills were incredible. Dante felt nostalgic, reminded of his mother.
With the order ready, the boy asked for something else they didn¡¯t understand¡ªketchup. The place fell into an awkward silence. The people of The Den found the name strange; a pronunciation like that reminded them of forbidden spells. The tense mood was only lifted when Axel burst into laughter.
¡ª Dude, you¡¯re totally out of it today. Hahaha! ¡ª Dante ended up laughing along, embarrassed.
¡ª Ketchup? What¡¯s that? Is it tasty? ¡ª The girl asked, extremely curious. The boys smiled at that. They had never realized how interesting cooking could be.
After hearing Axel¡¯s detailed explanation¡ªwho, for some reason, knew the perfect way to prepare the condiment¡ªBartra immediately began crushing tomatoes and adding the necessary spices.
Once prepared, they placed a fine bottle of ketchup on the table for the boys to enjoy with their meal. They ate until they were stuffed. Secretly, the girl took one of their fries and some ketchup to try while her parents were distracted. It¡¯s no exaggeration to say she completely fell in love with the combination.
¡ª Let me ask you something, boys. You don¡¯t have a place to stay, do you? ¡ª
¡ª Uh¡ no, sir. ¡ª Both replied, and the man quickly asked his daughter to prepare a room. Dante found all this kindness suspicious, while Axel was completely swept away by the fantasy.
¡ª Why are you helping us so much? ¡ª The hooded boy asked with a serious expression.
¡ª Nothing special, but you two seem like you''re going to do great things. ¡ª Max said with a smile. He said it so convincingly that even the boys got emotional. Could they really live up to those expectations?
A few moments later, the girl came down from the second floor of the establishment, which also served as an inn. She called them, leading them to a room at the end of the hallway.
The girl opened the door with a smile, revealing a simple, rustic room. Two beds, one in each corner, two desks with chairs, and a lamp¡ªthat was all the decoration in the room.
Dante found the place cozy. His room in the other world wasn¡¯t very crowded with things anyway¡ªhe always preferred minimalism, though he still felt uneasy about this hospitality. Axel, on the other hand, was excited about the desk at the foot of his bed¡ªit was perfect for studying.
They bid the girl goodnight and immediately entered the room, closing the door.
The first thing Axel did was open the window in the middle of the room, enjoying the city¡¯s breeze. The scent of meals from downstairs mixed with the view of small houses and medieval-style buildings, refreshing his energy.
Then, he threw himself onto the bed, bouncing on it a little.
His extreme excitement contrasted with Dante, who had been standing at the door the whole time, looking deeply uncomfortable. He felt like he shouldn¡¯t even move another muscle inside that place.
¡ª What¡¯s with that face?? This is basic isekai stuff. The protagonists always find a place to stay and resources. Don¡¯t tell me you lost your memory when you woke up? ¡ª Axel said, looking at Dante. The boy finally moved, dropping his things beside his bed.
¡ª Dude, even though this is a fantasy world, don¡¯t you think we should be a little suspicious? ¡ª Dante asked seriously.
¡ª Oh, come on, look at this world! Don¡¯t you want to dive in headfirst? ¡ª Axel said excitedly.
Dante finally walked through the room, heading straight for the window Axel had opened. The view of the starry sky was simply breathtaking¡ªnowhere on the old Earth would it be possible to see a sky like this.
Dante clenched his fists seriously; he perfectly understood his brother''s words and didn''t want to disappoint such trust.
¡ª But what are we going to do here? Honestly, I don''t want to have to work to pay off this debt. ¡ª The hooded boy spoke seriously to his friend.
¡ª You already know what we must do. That sword of yours is your path. ¡ª
Dante didn''t understand, feeling confused by that, so Axel continued.
¡ª I will become the greatest mage of all! That''s what I''ll do. ¡ª He said with determination, standing up to stand beside Dante while looking out the window.
The boy pondered for a moment before responding:
¡ª If you''re going to be the greatest mage, then I''ll be the greatest swordsman of all! ¡ª
Finally, they shook hands firmly, sealing that promise not only with each other but with themselves.
Chapter 3 - Adventurers?!?
Another day begins. Waking up with the sunlight is becoming a habit for me¡ªsomething I never expected, since I used to stay up all night playing games.
I stretch in bed and look around, paying more attention to the small room that the kind couple at the inn gave us.
Looking to my left, Axel wasn¡¯t lying in bed but was instead sitting at the desk, mumbling something.
I get up and walk over to him.
¡ª Hey, bro, you woke up early. ¡ª
¡ª W-what..? Oh, is it already morning? I ended up not sleeping at all, hahaha¡ ¡ª Axel laughs with a tired expression.
I find that strange. Even though Axel used to stay up all night gaming with me, he was more careful with his sleep schedule than I was.
¡ª What were you doing? ¡ª
I look at what was in front of him. It was that supposed grimoire he found. The signs around the city were all written in Portuguese, so we could read them, but that book was written in a completely unrecognizable script.
¡ª I was researching! I''m almost done translating this book¡ªI feel like I''m so close to figuring out how this writing system works! ¡ª The boy speaks with extreme excitement, way more energy than he should have, given his lack of sleep.
¡ª Seriously?? But you just got it yesterday¡ ¡ª The thought that he¡¯s almost deciphered an unknown language in just one night is almost comical in how absurd it is.
¡ª Well, when you really try to understand it, it doesn¡¯t seem that hard. The language is made up of 26 different characters, and five of those characters appear more frequently, which probably makes them the vowels. And considering that consonants and vowels are based on the sounds we can produce, then¡ ¡ª
I just listen to Axel continue explaining, surprised at how competent he can be when he puts in the effort. But I can¡¯t fall behind!
¡ª I think I get it, bro. It¡¯s great that you¡¯re making such good progress in such a short time. ¡ª
Axel just smiles proudly at that.
We go downstairs to what would be the inn¡¯s bar area.
¡ª Good morning, boys! ¡ª The woman greets us as soon as we step into the room.
¡ª Hello, good morning, ma¡¯am. ¡ª I greet her.
¡ª Good morning! Thanks for the room¡ªthe desk and the lamp were really useful! ¡ª Axel says enthusiastically, not even seeming like he stayed up all night without blinking.
¡ª The desk..? ¡ª The woman asks, confused as to why he¡¯s thanking her for that, but she soon ignores it and goes back to her tasks.
We sit at one of the tables in the bar. The place was already open, even though it was still early. A few adventurers were around. Some glanced at us but quickly ignored us. I guess they¡¯re slowly getting used to the presence of outsiders.
¡ª How about we go straight to the guild? ¡ª I ask Axel.
¡ª To sign up as adventurers? Yeah, I think that¡¯d be a good idea¡ ¡ª Axel looked tired. His energy levels were definitely not stable.
¡ª Hahaha, alright, alright. ¡ª
¡ª Hey, ma¡¯am! ¡ª I call out to the innkeeper.
¡ª What is it, boy? ¡ª
¡ª I¡¯d like to know where the adventurers'' guild is. ¡ª
After the woman draws a small map leading to the guild, we head toward it.
???
Once again, the road there was truly breathtaking: knights in heavy armor, people carrying enormous spears, gleaming swords, and even a few mages. It doesn¡¯t take long before we arrive in front of the place.
A massive structure, three stories tall, with an imposing fa?ade. Ornate details decorated the pillars supporting the building. In our world, that place would definitely be considered a historical landmark.
I take the lead and step inside. Right at the entrance, I can see an information desk. To the right, there¡¯s a spacious area where people probably gathered to form groups. To the left, a staircase leads to the upper floor, but since no one seemed to be up there, it was probably a restricted area.
I head toward the information desk while Axel moves to the right area to "meet the people," as he put it.
Surprisingly, no identification documents were required to sign up as an adventurer. Maybe they don¡¯t even exist in this world, now that I think about it. I finish signing the paper, officially becoming an adventurer of Rank E. Even though I didn¡¯t know how the ranking system worked in this world, based on games and anime, this was clearly the lowest level.
¡ª Where¡¯s Axel? He should be here by now. ¡ª This thought runs through my mind, so I go find him in the other room.
Before I can see exactly what¡¯s going on, someone is thrown through the air, flying right past me, nearly hitting me.
I stare in shock. That definitely proved this was a fantasy world. Brawls in bars and guilds weren¡¯t surprising in these settings¡
I look at the person struggling to get up¡ªit was Axel.
I rush over to him.
¡ª Bro, are you okay?? What happened?? ¡ª I look at him worriedly. That fall was really bad.
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¡ª T-this is nothing, Dante, don¡¯t worry about it. ¡ª Axel tries to act tough, but he¡¯s clearly in a lot of pain.
I get really pissed off. Extremely pissed off. And I look in the direction Axel came from. From there, I see a group of adventurers. One of them was at least two meters tall, and five other strange-looking people were with him.
I start walking toward them, stopping right in front of the big guy who was laughing the loudest. He was probably the leader responsible for all this.
¡ª Was it you who did that? ¡ª
¡ª Ohh, how cute. So you¡¯re that little brat¡¯s friend, huh? Sorry, kiddo, I guess I got a bit carried away, but your friend was provoking us a lot here. You know how it is, right? Let¡¯s just leave it at that. ¡ª The huge man places his hand on my shoulder as he says this and starts pressing down. The pressure he puts on my shoulder is immense. I can barely stay on my feet under it.
¡ª What did he say that was so outrageous? ¡ª I manage to ask.
¡ª Ah, some nonsense about you guys just starting out and saying you¡¯d be the strongest and blah blah blah. I couldn¡¯t take so much crap and sent him flying before I could even stop myself. HAHAHAHA! ¡ª The man laughs, holding his belly as if it were the funniest thing in the world.
¡ª Ah, I see¡ so that¡¯s what happened. Alright. ¡ª
I draw my sword from my waist and press the blade against his neck.
¡ª He wasn¡¯t lying. We *will* be the strongest. In this situation, with my blade so close to a vital point, do you have the guts to do the same to me? ¡ª
¡ª Oh, you lunatic! Don¡¯t think you¡¯re getting away with this! ¡ª The warrior looked apprehensive, his group seeming ready to rush at me, but he gestured with his hand for them to lower their blades.
¡ª Then I guess this is ove¡ª
¡ª HEY, YOU PIECE OF SHIT! YOU SEND ME FLYING AND NOW YOU WANT TO RUN AWAY WITH YOUR TAIL BETWEEN YOUR LEGS?! ¡ª Axel shouted. I couldn''t tell if he had hit his head too hard or if the adrenaline was just kicking in now.
¡ª DANTE, GET OUT OF THE WAY NOW! I''M GOING TO FINISH THESE WORMS WITH A SINGLE ATTACK! ¡ª Axel said this to me while opening the tome he carried, stopping on a specific page he had been searching for.
A magic attack? Could Axel really pull something like that off? I definitely didn¡¯t want to be in the way to find out.
¡ª Look at me, Dante! This moment marks our first step as adventurers! What rank do you think we''ll reach if we defeat people of a higher rank?! My curiosity burns for an answer! ¡ª Axel was frantic, no doubt the adrenaline had hit him late.
The book''s pages glowed, and he shouted:
¡ª ILUMI¨¨RE!!!! ¡ª
A flash of light enveloped him¡ªthat was magic! Axel, on the second day in this world, had cast his first spell. He was already ahead of me. I CAN''T FALL BEHIND!
But¡ the flash of light quickly faded, the pages stopped glowing, and nothing happened beyond the brightness.
A silence filled the area for several seconds. Everyone exchanged glances, trying to understand what had just happened.
¡ª Looks like it wasn¡¯t an attack spell¡ ¡ª Axel, embarrassed, looked thoughtfully at the page in front of him.
¡ª HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ¡ª A wave of laughter filled the place. Even people who had nothing to do with the situation and were just observing were laughing. I didn¡¯t even know what to do, but I felt frustrated somehow.
¡ª HAHAHAHAHA, YOU REALLY SCARED ME FOR A SECOND, KID. ¡ª The large knight spoke hysterically, walking heavily with a crazed grin on his face.
Axel took a few steps back, frightened by the situation he now found himself in. All his excitement had gone down the drain.
¡ª Hey, don¡¯t ignore me! ¡ª I said, trying to get the big man''s attention. But he simply ignored me and kept walking.
¡ª I said, don¡¯t ignore me! ¡ª I tried to strike him with my sword, but he easily deflected it using the hilt of his weapon, then raised his blade above his head, preparing an attack that would probably kill me in a single slash.
¡ª Hahaha¡ the story of the two strongest adventurers ends today. ¡ª The man spoke with a crazed look in his eyes.
What do I do? Run? No, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll have time for that. Dodge? I didn¡¯t even have time for that either. So I just closed my eyes, waiting for the sword to strike me.
¡ª What is all this? ¡ª A voice echoed through the area, and the crazed warrior before me froze mid-motion.
I looked in the direction of the voice. A man who seemed to be around his 30s, with dark skin and a long ponytail made from his braided hair, stood there. He wore an extremely white suit of armor and carried two swords on his back.
¡ª S-Sir Kai¡ What an unexpected surprise to find you h-here. ¡ª One of the receptionists, with bubblegum-pink hair, who had just been watching the fight, spoke fearfully, stuttering through her words.
¡ª I was just passing by when I saw a flash of light, so I came in to see what was happening. ¡ª
¡ª A-ah, yes, yes, yes, the flash of light was caused by someone inside the guild¡ªthis young man here. ¡ª She pointed to Axel, who had been trying to hide behind a pillar the moment he saw the swordsman enter.
¡ª Did you know there''s a severe penalty for using magic inside the city walls? Even more so inside an enclosed space.
¡ª Ah¡ I didn¡¯t know that. I apologize, good sir¡ ¡ª Axel appeared surprisingly obedient.
¡ª And attacking others out of nowhere isn¡¯t something that deserves punishment too?! ¡ª I spoke loudly toward the swordsman.
He then noticed my presence, looking me up and down before responding.
¡ª Obviously, acts of violence and disorder are equally deserving of punishment. ¡ª The swordsman replied calmly, still gazing at me with a curious expression.
¡ª Then arrest this guy here¡ª ¡ª I gave light taps on the armored chest of the warrior in front of me.
The white swordsman looked at the warrior.
¡ª Should I understand that you were the one who attacked them? ¡ª
¡ª Y-yes, sir, but they¡ª ¡ª
¡ª You were the one who attacked them..? ¡ª The white swordsman interrupted him.
The once crazed warrior now looked like a scared rabbit. This swordsman was definitely not an ordinary person. It made my blood boil¡ Was this excitement? Excitement for what? A fight?
¡ª Yes, sir. I was the one who initiated the attack. ¡ª The warrior spoke reluctantly.
¡ª Alright, then. May I see your adventurer badge? ¡ª The swordsman asked, extending his hand.
¡ª Here¡ ¡ª
When the swordsman took the badge and examined it, he spoke to the warrior:
¡ª Rank B, not bad at all. ¡ª After saying that, he crushed the warrior¡¯s badge with just the grip of his hand.
¡ª As a high-ranked adventurer, you¡¯ve done a lot for our people, so I won¡¯t forbid you from being an adventurer. But to reconsider your actions, you will be required to start over from Rank E. ¡ª The swordsman said. The warrior didn¡¯t even seem angry¡ªhis face showed more frustration, sadness.
¡ª And you¡ ¡ª He pointed at Axel.
¡ª You are completely banned from entering the Adventurers'' Guild again. If you enter, anyone here will have the right to use force to remove you. ¡ª Upon hearing that, Axel was speechless. He had broken a rule, and we were still nobodies, so the punishment clearly wouldn¡¯t be lenient for us. But even so, I couldn¡¯t just let this slide.
¡ª I don¡¯t agree with this! ¡ª I said toward the swordsman.
Everyone fell silent again, but this time it was different. The atmosphere became so tense that I could almost hear people¡¯s hearts pounding with nervousness. This swordsman was definitely strong.
¡ª You don¡¯t agree with what exactly, boy? ¡ª
¡ª The punishment you gave Axel. That guy was demoted to the lowest rank, but you just BANNED AXEL. What kind of justice is that?! ¡ª
People became even more frightened and backed away. Now practically everyone in the entire guild was pressed against the wall, trying to escape from a potential confrontation. I felt it too¡ªhis power was overwhelming, thunderous. My legs trembled, and my voice barely came out. I had no ability to measure power, but I could tell as clearly as day that this guy was strong. But for some reason, every fiber of my being was begging to fight him.
The swordsman walked toward me, stopping right in front of me. Unlike the previous warrior, he showed no sign of anger or even mockery¡ªjust a calm expression.
¡ª What¡¯s your name? ¡ª the swordsman asked.
¡ª My name is Dante. I¡¯m a swordsman too. ¡ª I said, looking straight into his eyes.
¡ª If you¡¯re dissatisfied with my decision, let¡¯s settle it with a sword fight. You seem a bit more competent than that crybaby over there. ¡ª I said, pointing at the warrior with my last remark.
The swordsman gave a slight smile, as if he were listening to a child talk about wanting to be an astronaut.
¡ª Not yet. You¡¯re still too green. But I could give you some lessons if you¡¯d like. ¡ª The swordsman smiled.
¡ª Hah! As if I needed your help! ¡ª I stomped toward the guild¡¯s exit.
¡ª Axel, let¡¯s go! ¡ª
¡ª Right! ¡ª
Chapter 4 - On The Path of Strenght!
On our way back from the guild, we headed straight to the Den, hoping to calm down after the incident while I kept ranting non-stop.
¡ª Who does that jerk think he is?! ¡ª I fumed with rage, while Axel remained silent. Too silent. Maybe he was still shaken by what had happened. After all, if that guy had wanted to kill us, he could''ve done it in less than a second. Compared to that swordsman, we were less than ants.
¡ª You guys okay? Looks like you lost a pretty bad fight! ¡ª Bartra greeted us as soon as we entered the Den, probably noticing how defeated we looked.
When we told her about our encounter with that pompous, bossy swordsman, we received some unpleasant news. He didn¡¯t just have the right to order people around; he was the law and order of this place.
¡ª By Celestia, you should consider yourselves lucky that the Sword Saint is as merciful as he is. He¡¯s extremely strict about fights between adventurers. And even then, they say he¡¯s the calmest among the Royal Guard¡¯s elite members ¡ª Bartra said in a serious tone.
Axel grew curious and asked about the other members of this so-called Royal Guard.
A mage with nearly impossible powers. A giant-born amazon. A savage demi-human. And, of course, the Sword Saint¡¯s very own apprentice. A truly monstrous group.
¡ª That settles it! Man, it''s training time! ¡ª Axel declared with confidence, already back to his usual mood. And honestly, I agreed. Because, like it or not, what else could we do right now? Just sit around and wait for them to take even more things away from us? If this kept up, soon even holding a sword would be regulated¡ªif it wasn¡¯t already.
We needed to get strong enough to set our own rules. But the real question was: how? I mean, obviously, we had to train, but we didn¡¯t even know the right way to do it. How could we ever reach Kai¡¯s level? Or at the very least, climb out of the lowest rank?
When I shared my thoughts with Axel, he already had something in mind. Lifting his nose and striking a solemn pose, he said:
¡ª The answer to this question is as clear as day, my young squire. We must train relentlessly for a year. After that, we shall simply reap the glorious rewards.
His speech was pompous and refined. He was trying to imitate a noble¡ªand failing miserably.
¡ª Right, genius. Like a single year of training is really gonna change anything.
¡ª Think about it, bro. These people spend their whole lives fighting just to survive and eat. And that Arrogant Sword Guy doesn¡¯t even look old, maybe in his early thirties at most. Sure, he must¡¯ve trained, but fighting to survive and eat also played a huge role in his progress.
¡ª And? I still don¡¯t get how that explains how we¡¯re magically gonna become insanely strong.
¡ª Listen up, dumbass. We don¡¯t have to worry about food or a place to live. We don¡¯t even need to worry about making money for now. If we don¡¯t use THIS opportunity to get stronger, we never will.
¡ª Okay¡ I get your point. But how do we actually do that?
¡ª Well, first thing tomorrow, I¡¯m gonna start reading the city library¡¯s books. I haven¡¯t seen a library around here, but come on, it¡¯d be a crime for a fantasy world not to have one.
¡ª And I¡¯ll... figure something out.
With that thought in mind, we went our separate ways. Axel left to find out where the library was so he could start studying the next day. Meanwhile, I headed for an equipment shop. Obviously, I wasn¡¯t planning to buy a new weapon, but at the very least, I wanted to see if I could get my blade repaired or polished. If the monsters didn¡¯t die from my strikes, they¡¯d definitely die from tetanus.
By the end of the day, I¡¯d walked a lot. I almost considered skipping dinner because of the sheer amount of free samples I¡¯d grabbed from food stalls in the city center. But when dinner was served, it was like I hadn¡¯t eaten in days. Bartra¡¯s cooking was on another level.
As we ate, their little daughter, Sofia, kept us company. Axel made up all kinds of stories, acting as if we were seasoned adventurers. I, on the other hand, didn¡¯t make anything up, but I did tell her some stories from the cartoons I used to watch in my old world.
Honestly, for someone who spent most of their time locked in a room playing games, I wasn¡¯t missing technology as much as I thought I would. Axel, on the other hand, despite having adapted almost completely to this world, still complained about the lack of tech and called them backward for it.
Before I knew it, another day had passed in this new world. That night, I had a dream where I was doing military drills while a ¡°Marshmallow Sergeant¡± rushed me through a candy-covered training ground. It was fun.
When I woke up the next morning, bathed in sunlight, I got ready to train in the forest where we had first escaped when we arrived here. It was a quiet, secluded place. I preferred areas like that to enjoy my solitude.
Axel, being as shameless as ever, asked Sofia for a packed lunch to take to the library, along with two water canteens. I wondered why he needed two, but he quickly tossed one to me and told me to be more mindful of these things.
Finally, standing in front of the Den as the kingdom¡¯s streets bustled with life, we split up to start our individual journeys.
¡ª Good luck, bro. Hope to see you as a beast next time ¡ª Axel said, ruffling my hair like I was younger than him, even though I was taller and we were the same age.
¡ª Same to you, bookworm ¡ª I replied, giving him a firm handshake before heading off.
I made my way to the forest from a few days ago. The days here were scorching hot, thanks to the two suns. I mentally thanked Axel for forcing me to bring a canteen, or I would¡¯ve gotten heatstroke just walking there.
Once I reached a more wooded area and stepped further into the forest, I set my things down next to a rock and started training.
Push-ups, jumping jacks, sit-ups¡ªI trained a little bit of everything. Lately, I¡¯d only been gaming, but it¡¯s not like I was completely out of shape. I played a lot of sports when I was younger.
After a physical training session, I moved on to sword practice.
¡ª SHA! WAH! KATABLAU! ¡ª I shouted while swinging my sword. I¡¯d always seen protagonists do this, and I had to admit, it was fun.
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It was only the first day, so I didn¡¯t expect any spectacular results. The only thing I achieved was wobbly arms and legs from all the training.
I left before it got completely dark. So far, I hadn¡¯t seen any creatures that could really be considered monsters. Some horned birds and two-headed cattle were more like weird animals than anything else.
Pulling my hood up so no one could see my exhausted face, I noticed some strange looks as I walked back. I probably looked pretty suspicious, but I didn¡¯t take it off until I reached the Den.
When I walked into the place, a few adventurers who had been chatting and laughing suddenly went silent and started staring at me. Max, the bar owner, narrowed his brows in a threatening expression, but as soon as our eyes met, he broke into a wide grin.
¡ª Oh man, it''s just you! HAHAHAHA! ¡ª he said warmly.
¡ª Hey, Mr. Max. I didn¡¯t see you around today.
¡ª Good evening, kid. Today was ingredient pickup day with the merchants, so we¡¯ve got some special dishes for tonight¡¯s dinner! ¡ª Max spoke enthusiastically. Looking towards the kitchen in the back, I could see countless huge crates. If Max had carried all of this by himself, he could easily claim the title of the strongest man in the world where I came from.
Bartra and Sofia were carefully peeling vegetables. When they noticed me, they smiled and waved. Bartra was much more reserved compared to her daughter and husband, who both had the same playful aura. Watching them was... refreshing, in a way. I guess this is what a real family should be like.
¡ª Has Axel arrived yet?
¡ª Yeah, your bro has been running around all day. He¡¯s in your room now. Dinner will take a while, but don¡¯t forget to come eat. ¡ª Max said with a smile, giving me a thumbs-up. I nodded silently and headed upstairs.
When I entered our room, I was met with a... unsettling scene, to say the least. The room was split in half: my side was perfectly maintained just the way I left it, but Axel¡¯s side had hundreds of books stacked and scattered in every possible space. Among those books, sitting at his desk, drooling over the pages while napping, was Axel.
I slowly walked through the piles of books, careful not to knock them over. Even though I couldn¡¯t see any logical order in them, Axel was extremely organized... in his own way.
I gave his shoulder a few light taps, but he only mumbled something incoherent. ¡ª No... that¡¯s the wrong rune... let me... ¡ª I chuckled at him and went to lie down for a bit.
This routine went on for a long time. Every day, we got up at sunrise and started training, only returning when the suns set on the horizon.
The progress was slow, painfully slow, but each passing day, I could feel my training paying off. A path that once left me gasping for breath when walking, I was now crossing at a sprint just to warm up.
I didn¡¯t fully understand how it was possible to improve so much, but I could already say my strength had surpassed that of a normal human. Here, continuous training truly bore great results, just as Axel had predicted.
The days were peaceful... until he decided to pay me a visit.
¡ª Looks like you¡¯ve been training hard, huh? ¡ª that old geezer said.
¡ª That¡¯s none of your business, Kai. Actually, why don¡¯t you get lost? You¡¯re in my way.
¡ª Haha, so grumpy. I¡¯m just on patrol, kid.
In the middle of the forest? Yeah, right. He was probably keeping an eye on me and Axel to make sure we weren¡¯t up to anything. Or maybe he was just hoping we¡¯d mess up so he could get rid of us.
This guy pisses me off. But as quickly as he came, he left.
I was in a bad mood for the rest of the day after that visit.
Months went by, and again and again, he kept showing up or watching from a distance. At least once a week, he would be standing on the wall with a few regular guards, watching me. They were probably doing the same to Axel, but it¡¯s not like Axel ever left their sight. Bro rarely left the library.
On one of the few days I actually saw him practicing, his magic had grown to an insane level. He could now cast fire spells and water blasts effortlessly. Not only had he mastered elemental magic, but he could also use support spells like healing and reinforcement magic, though at a much more basic level.
The only magic he hadn¡¯t explored further was light magic, which, despite being his first spell, didn¡¯t interest him enough to dig deeper. As for ¡°dark magic¡± like in RPG games, he hadn¡¯t found a single mention of it in any book¡ªbut he still persisted in his search.
I was curious about how magic worked in this world. Even though I was always a gaming addict¡ªespecially RPGs¡ªI never played as a mage. Which is kinda ironic, since that¡¯s basically the most famous class in RPGs and MMOs.
When I asked how mana worked, I got an annoying response.
¡ª Well, well, what a surprise! The relentless swordsman wants to use magic, huh?
¡ª Haha, shut up. So, how does it work?
¡ª To use magic, you gotta understand how mana works in this world. I guess in our world, it¡¯d be kinda like life force or something, you get me?
¡ª I think so.
I didn¡¯t get it.
¡ª It¡¯s like an extension of yourself. Imagine a stream flowing through your entire body nonstop. All you need to do is take a little bit of that water and shape it however you want. Try picking an element¡ªlike fire¡ªand visualize that stream. Maybe that¡¯ll help.
The explanation was solid, but could I actually put it into practice? We went to bed with that thought lingering in my mind.
The next morning, Axel came to the forest with me to see my training results.
¡ª Step back a bit. I don¡¯t want the future greatest mage of the continent losing an arm.
¡ª Cocky, huh? Haha. Alright, show me what you got.
Gripping my sword tightly, I swung it diagonally, slicing a tree clean in half with a single motion.
¡ª Wait, was that wind magic? Damn!
¡ª Magic? Nah, I just swung my sword with all my strength. ¡ª I said, striking a cool pose while Axel looked equally impressed.
¡ª That¡¯s insane, bro! I think you¡¯re ready for your first guild mission.
¡ª What? Hold on, that was just a tree. Who knows what kind of monsters are out there? ¡ª I said, feeling unsure.
Eleven months had passed since we started training¡ªalmost a year. Was that enough to match up to the Saint? Bro placed a hand on my shoulder, telling me to keep my head up and have faith. He always knew the right things to say. Maybe it was worth a shot.
¡ª What about you? Still gonna keep studying and training?
¡ª Yeah, I¡¯m gonna test a technique up north where I won¡¯t accidentally hit anyone. If it works, it¡¯ll be an awesome secret weapon! ¡ª he said, eyes gleaming with excitement. I really hoped his special attack worked.
¡ª Alright, see you at the bar tonight.
We shook hands and parted ways. I headed to the guild, remembering that awful day. The adventurers were looking at me with pure hatred and disgust. Looks like I¡¯d really made a name for myself.
¡ª Look who decided to show up, boys.
That annoying voice was easy to recognize¡ªeven in my sleep. It was that former B-rank, now E-rank, and his little gang of bullies. This time, things would be different. Bring it on!
I was just thinking out loud but didn¡¯t say a word¡ªmaybe out of fear. I still didn¡¯t feel that confident in my abilities.
¡ªStop right there, or I¡¯ll call Sir Kai or someone from the guard immediately,¡ª said the same pink-haired receptionist from last time.
¡ªRelax, doll, we were just passing through. Let¡¯s go, guys!¡ª He walked past me, giving me a shove¡ªclearly looking for a fight. This time, I decided not to retaliate, but he¡¯ll pay for that later. I clenched my fist tightly at the thought.
That thought caught me off guard. Was I¡ excited to fight? No, no, I must be going crazy. That guy would still wipe the floor with me. I¡¯m not a thug¡ am I? I got lost in thought. Even after all this time here, we still had no clue why or how we arrived in this world. It didn¡¯t seem like we were summoned to save the kingdom or anything. There was no great threat that actually required two heroes. And even if there was, there were already strong people around to handle it.
¡ªHey, hooded guy, here for some missions?¡ª The receptionist asked, a little nervous. I had been spacing out while she was talking¡ªyeah, she was definitely annoyed.
¡ªOh, yeah. I¡¯d like a low-rank mission, please.¡ª She started checking the available quests.
¡ªWell, we have an E-rank mission to kill slimes, but if you want to rank up faster, I¡¯d recommend this D-rank one to hunt goblins. If you get the right equipment, it should be pretty easy.¡ª She was pretty friendly when talking about missions.
¡ªWhat about this one?¡ª I asked, pointing at an unranked quest.
¡ªWell¡ That one¡¯s just an investigation into a group of adventurers who went missing near the Black Forest. It¡¯s probably best left to the Royal Guard.¡ª
¡ªI¡¯ll take it. Just point me in the right direction.¡ª I pulled up my hood and adjusted my sword at my waist as she explained the different sections of the forest and how this part was called the ¡°Black Forest.¡± Most likely, the adventurers got lost and ended up killed by a group of monsters. From the way she spoke, she seemed a little sad about it.
¡ªDon¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be back.¡ª
I walked out of the guild and, in an instant, dashed out of the city at an insane speed. Anyone watching from a distance would probably mistake me for a rocket¡ªhaha, alright, Black Forest, here I come! I took off at an unmatched speed.
Chapter 5 - First Mission!
That path, which once took an hour to cross, now took me only a few minutes. Just this simple detail made me realize how much I had changed. But I definitely don¡¯t want to die, so being careless is not an option.
I move through the fields like lightning and soon find myself in front of the forest where everything began. According to the guild receptionist¡ªher name was Miko or something like that¡ªif I head toward the heart of the forest and turn left, in a few minutes, I¡¯ll reach what they call the "Black Forest."
That place wasn¡¯t as scary anymore, I must say. During the first few days I was there, I feared being attacked by a monster, but as we had already witnessed, the outskirts were relatively safe. The only problem with staying there was that Kai could easily find me, though I doubt he¡¯d lose track of me even if I tried to hide.
The forest was still so dense that it was impressive to think adventurers had been entering and creating routes through it for years. According to what Bartra and Max told me, the main source of food came directly from the hunters sent into this forest.
It had been a while since I had ventured this deep, and what bothered me most was that the further I walked, the more familiar the surroundings seemed.
I could hear noises around me! I had no idea what kind of creature it was, so I decided staying on the ground was definitely not the best option. I approached a tree and, with a single jump, landed on one of its branches¡ªI needed to test if I could reach it, haha.
Now, I leaped from branch to branch at high speed. If an adventurer saw me, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they attacked me, mistaking me for a stealthy monster. As these thoughts ran through my head, I spotted my mission target¡
A pack of large wolves¡ªmuch bigger than any that existed in the real world¡ªcircled a pile of decomposing human bodies. I could identify at least three, but the rest were so disfigured they looked more like a heap of bones and flesh in an abnormal shape.
It was a stomach-churning sight. What surprised me the most was how sharp my senses had become¡ªI could now see much more clearly in the darkness that gave the forest its name.
Wait a second¡
I looked around thoughtfully.
This level of darkness¡ I had only seen it once before in this forest¡ªthe day Axel and I first ventured in. Can you believe we walked straight into the most dangerous part of the entire region on our very first try? Bartra would say we needed to thank Celestia for getting out alive.
I quickly pushed these thoughts aside. The mission was to find the missing group, so at the very least, I needed to retrieve their adventurer crests to prove I had completed it.
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The wolves circled that pile of flesh¡ªit was probably the largest amount of food they had seen in a long time, so they were on guard in case a larger predator appeared.
Analyzing the situation, I counted seven wolves guarding the adventurers'' bodies. If an entire group had been wiped out, this wouldn¡¯t be an easy battle. But I had no intention of failing my first mission.
Without overthinking, I jumped down from the branch where I had been watching. The monsters turned toward me, making it clear they had heard my movement. They snarled and charged in my direction. I ran toward them as well, gripping my sword tightly¡ªif I fell, I¡¯d fall fighting.
The first wolf got close enough to engage me. The massive canine, with glowing red eyes, lunged at my face, baring its rows of sharp teeth. Surprisingly, its movements weren¡¯t that fast¡ªmaybe they were tired or something.
To prevent that mass of fangs from reaching me, I swung my sword diagonally from bottom to top. My plan was simply to push the monster back by clashing my blade against its powerful jaws¡ªbut that¡¯s not what happened¡
With a single clean motion, as if slicing through a thin layer of butter, my sword split the wolf¡¯s head in two. Its body fell a bit further away due to its momentum¡ªcompletely dead.
How was that possible? I had no time to think about it, as two more wolves were already charging at me, clearly enraged by their fallen comrade. Their formation, which had been a straight line, quickly changed¡ªone attacked from the right, the other from the left.
Their timing was synchronized¡ªterrifyingly so. When they struck, I¡¯d have to deal with both at once. A second sword would be really useful right now¡
To avoid their ambush, I lunged at the wolf on the right, hoping to eliminate one threat early.
The wolf didn¡¯t even react¡ªa single slash to its legs completely severed all four of them, leaving it entirely useless for the fight.
This was easy¡ªshockingly easy. A certain feeling crept into my mind¡ A feeling I definitely shouldn¡¯t be having in the middle of combat. Was this¡ boredom?
I looked down, lost in thought. The wolf on the left lunged at me, but this time, I didn¡¯t attack. Just before it touched me, I grabbed its neck, stopping it mid-air. It was light¡ªits throat in my hands felt as fragile as a simple pencil.
I stared straight into its eyes. It snarled furiously but was completely helpless. A mighty predator posed no threat at all.
I crushed its neck, snapping it effortlessly.
As the creature¡¯s body collapsed to the ground, I turned to the rest of the pack guarding the pile of corpses. They now looked terrified¡ªprobably because their alpha had died in the fight. But they were all so unimpressive that I couldn¡¯t even tell which one had been the leader.
Gripping my sword firmly with both hands, I sighed. This wasn¡¯t fun anymore. The feeling of tension was gone, so I¡¯d finish this in a single strike.
With a powerful horizontal slash, a cutting wind shot toward the small pack. Their bodies exploded into pieces¡ªorgans and bones torn apart by the mere force of the air. What kind of strength had I gained from my training?
Now, with that sea of blood before me, the adventurers¡¯ corpses were fully accessible. I walked toward them.
For some reason, the sight seemed far less grotesque now, but I still didn¡¯t want to stay there any longer than necessary. I refused to carry those bodies all the way back to the guild, so I stuck to my plan¡ªI took their adventurer crests.
I found five in total¡ªfour rank E and one rank D. I assumed that was their leader.
I was about to leave as fast as possible, but before departing, I bowed slightly to them. Then, I took off at high speed.
On the way back, I was deep in thought. I was carrying the identification of five people I had never met, yet I knew exactly how they had died and who they had fought. A bitter feeling settled inside me. Thinking about how their leader must have felt watching his companions die¡ªor how they must have felt seeing their leader fall¡ªdefinitely didn¡¯t make me happy.
I hurried back, and in no time, I reached the guild.
As I entered, my clothes were stained with blood. Some adventurers laughed, probably thinking it was mine, while the receptionist looked at me with concern.
¡ªThe blood isn¡¯t mine, don¡¯t worry¡¡ªI said quietly.
¡ªOh¡ right, so you must have run into monsters on the way.¡ªShe spoke with focus.
¡ªYeah.¡ªI pulled the crests from my pocket and handed them to her.
¡ªThese are¡ ah¡ I still had hope they were alive¡ Even so, thank you, adventurer. Here¡¯s your reward.¡ªShe was clearly saddened. It was interesting to see how much she truly cared about everyone in that place. Was it dedication to her job, or a deep appreciation for life? I wasn¡¯t sure.
I simply nodded silently and left. My body wasn¡¯t tired, but after what I had seen today, I felt like I needed some rest.
Chapter 6 - Tower of Wisdom
As I walked silently toward the Den, guards rushed past me, looking like they were worried about something urgent. Could it be an invasion? A bad feeling hit me, and the only thing on my mind was finding Axel.
I took off running. The guards bumped into me as they passed, but I didn¡¯t have time to apologize or anything¡ªI just kept moving, shoving aside anyone in my way.
When I got to the bar, I pushed the door open with a loud bang and shouted:
¡ª AXEL! Where are you?! ¡ª Some people looked at me with confused expressions, but my friend was nowhere to be seen.
¡ª What¡¯s going on, Dante? ¡ª Sofia asked, sounding nervous.
¡ª Have you seen Axel? I think we¡¯re in the middle of an invasion! ¡ª I blurted out, making her eyes widen in shock. Around us, the bar filled with anxious whispers.
¡ª H-he went to the library, like always. He¡¯s probably still there. Do you think he¡¯s in danger¡? ¡ª she asked, her voice trembling.
¡ª He better not be¡ Stay here with your parents. I¡¯ll go find him. ¡ª My expression was serious. If something happened to Axel, I didn¡¯t even know what I¡¯d do.
A little farther away, in the Adventurers¡¯ Guild, Miku was working at the reception desk.
¡ª Here¡¯s your reward, Rebecca! ¡ª I handed a small pouch full of silver coins to Reb¡ª
¡ª BANG ¡ª The guild doors swung open violently.
Everyone inside turned to look at the person who had just burst in. A red-haired man in a blue cloak¡ªone of the most important people in the kingdom, a member of the Royal Guard.
¡ª They told me I¡¯d find her here. Which one of you is Miku? ¡ª The guard asked, urgency in his voice.
¡ª I-I am, sir. What exactly does the officer need from me? ¡ª Anxiety crept into my voice. I had always followed the law and done my job as best as I could. Had I done something wrong? Did an adventurer complain about me?
¡ª I need to talk to you about what happened to your hometown, Felicia Village¡
Meanwhile, Dante was speeding through the city alongside the guards. Most of them were much slower than him, so he weaved through their ranks with ease.
The more I followed them, the more I realized they were heading straight for the library. That made me even more anxious, so I pushed myself to run faster, leaving everyone else behind.
Loud noises echoed through the streets¡ªdeep, powerful thuds. It didn¡¯t sound like clashing swords or anything like that. It was rougher, heavier. Screams rang out, full of both fear and frustration.
As I neared the library, the scene in front of me completely took me by surprise.
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Axel wasn¡¯t in danger¡ªat least that was good to know. But the problem was that he was the cause of all the chaos.
Right beside the library, in an open space to its left, Axel was floating in the air, using his magic to raise a massive stone tower, easily over ten meters tall. The booming sounds came from the giant rocks slamming into place as he built the structure. He had a huge grin on his face, while all the officers around him shouted furiously.
//YOU ARE VIOLATING THE WIZARD CODE OF CONDUCT, WHICH STRICTLY PROHIBITS THE USE OF MAGIC WITHIN CITY WALLS. IF YOU DO NOT CEASE IMMEDIATELY, WE WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE ACTION.// The commanding officer bellowed up at him.
Axel looked annoyed and shouted back:
¡ª Don¡¯t give me that nonsense! Just leave me alone. I¡¯m in the middle of something important. ¡ª Then, he simply went back to building his tower.
The officer signaled to the surrounding archers. They raised their bows, arrows aimed straight at Axel, waiting for the order.
I gripped my sword tightly, my blood boiling at the sight. If they dared to shoot, I¡¯d kill every last one of them, even if it meant making the entire city our enemy.
//STOP! DO NOT FIRE! DO NOT FIRE!// ¡ª A person in a black cloak pushed through the growing crowd and whispered something to the captain.
The officer, who had been furious just moments ago, suddenly looked pale and shaken. Whatever that cloaked figure had said, it was enough to make him lower his hand.
¡ª But sir, we have him in our sights¡ ¡ª one of the archers protested.
¡ª Shut up. Don¡¯t piss him off¡ ALL UNITS, FALL BACK! ¡ª
Despite their reluctance, the soldiers and adventurers withdrew. Most of them shot Axel dirty looks, unable to understand why he had been let off the hook. I didn¡¯t get it either. The only person who wasn¡¯t glaring at him¡ªbesides me¡ªwas the officer, who still looked deeply disturbed as he walked away.
The cloaked figure tried to slip away quickly, but as they passed me, I caught a glimpse of their face for just a second. Was that¡ the guild receptionist?
Why was she here? And what had she told the officer? The mysteries kept piling up.
But first, I focused on my bro. After the guards left, I sheathed my sword and approached the tower.
¡ª Hey, bro!
¡ª Dante, you¡¯re back already? ¡ª Axel¡¯s voice was bright and cheerful. I was glad to see he was in a good mood, but honestly, he needed to be more careful in this world.
¡ª What are you even doing? You remember what the Saint said, right? ¡ª I asked. Axel made a slightly annoyed face, but it was clear he didn¡¯t actually care about what the Sword Saint or anyone else thought.
¡ª Oh, come on. Like you¡¯re gonna listen to him? ¡ª Axel had a point. I didn¡¯t care about the Saint or the guards either¡ªI had almost killed them just a moment ago. Lately, death had been hanging around me way too much. We had chosen to be revolutionaries. We couldn¡¯t let something like this stop us.
I sighed, feeling a wave of melancholy wash over me. Seeing my face, Axel clapped his hands on my shoulders and grinned.
¡ª Come on, let¡¯s go inside! I gotta show you something! ¡ª His excitement never faded. He undid a seal on the door, and we stepped inside. The place was massive.
¡ª Hope you don¡¯t mind, but I filled the first two floors with experiments and books I found in the library and some ruins. But don¡¯t worry¡ªI made a whole floor just for you! And if you want more, I can build them. ¡ª
Axel was unbelievable. This tower was insane, like something straight out of a real RPG.
¡ª Bro, you still haven¡¯t answered my question¡ why did you build this tower? ¡ª I asked again.
¡ª Don¡¯t you think we should have a place of our own? I mean, don¡¯t get me wrong, Max¡¯s Bar is awesome, and the fries are great. But if people like that adventurer and the Sword Saint get their own places, then we deserve one too! ¡ª
He wasn¡¯t wrong. Arrogant people always seemed to have easy access to places like this in this world.
Axel floated upward with magic as I climbed the stairs he had made to the upper floors. On the third floor, I lay down on the ground, completely exhausted.
No matter how much I tried to shake it, I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about that devastated village. And then there was the receptionist¡¯s face¡ªwhy had she looked so terrified? Because of Axel?
¡ª Hey, bro, let¡¯s go get some fries at the bar. I need to refuel. ¡ª
There was no way that fear in her eyes had been directed at Axel.
As Axel opened the door, still floating, I pulled my hood up and jumped toward the exit. We were heading to the bar.