New World

The sun was shining brightly, causing the temperature in Lily Town to rise dramatically. A young man, around eighteen in age, sat down on a stone platform, wiping the sweat off of his forehead, while sighing.

It had been three days since he had suddenly popped into this medieval fantasy-esque world which upturned all his understanding of how the world worked.

This was a world of primitive technology. However, this young man named Dante did not dare to underestimate this world. It was because the people could wield all kinds of bizarre magical abilities and had strength far stronger than the average human back on earth.

He himself was just an ordinary human with subpar strength, which made it impossible for him to even defend himself against these terrifying townsfolk, and thus, he had been laying low. Not making a scene and trying to blend into his surroundings, but his alien like dress of a black t shirt and trousers were so different from the robe like clothes made of flax reed that the townsfolk wore, that it was impossible for him to avoid the attention of others.

An old man had appeared before Dante before circling around him and curiously observing him as if the old man had found a treasure.

"You seem to be another of those travelers, huh? Which town did you arrive from young man?" The old man asked in a gerbil like voice.

To his surprise, Dante realized that he could understand the old man's language, and some of his distrust of the old man reduced.

"Greetings old sir, I am a traveler from far away in the west, who lost my way and ended up here." Dante said after a cough and with a serious and humble expression.

"Eh? There are towns further west? Isn't that the land of isolation? You came from the land of isolation?" The gerbil like old man asked in shock.

Dante shook his head. "I don't know where I am. I was grabbed by a gigantic bird which flew for thousands upon thousands of miles, before I ended up being thrown here." Dante quickly made up a story. Since this was a fantastical world, such an excuse could be considered passable.

"Could it be the golden roc...?" The old man frowned as he looked towards the skyward horizon with a little bit of fear.

"Young man, you are quite lucky to survive such an ordeal. I am the town elder, Magnus. It doesn't seem like you have a place to stay, come with me, I'll take you to a decent place." The gerbil like old man said.

Dante saw the money grubbing glint in the old man's eyes and felt reluctant, but he was completely new to this town and this world. So he could only reluctantly follow the old man.

The old man led Dante around a few winding cobbled streets until they arrived at an old and dusty inn. The inn seemed to be empty.

"This is usually the off season for merchants and travelers and it is surprising to find someone like you enter our humble town. This is the only inn in town, Paradise Inn." The old man explained as he led Dante into the inn.

A chubby looking innkeeper was cleaning the tables as she raised her head to see the approaching old gerbil and a young man in an exotic outfit.

"A customer?" She asked in surprise as she looked at Magnus.

"Hehe, this young boy is a traveler from far away who ended up lost. He is looking for accommodation." The old man laughed as he looked at the innkeeper. "Martha, please help this young man out."

"The rent is 2 coppers a night, breakfast included. A further 2 coppers for very other meal." Martha calmly stated her price.

Dante heard that and coughed. Coppers? He had nothing on him right now!

"Um, I don't have any money..." Dante said apologetically.

"Eh, you don't have any money?" The old man was shocked.

Dante looked embarrassed. Back on earth, he was a rich second generation. When did he ever have to worry about money?

"Old sir, I already explained my situation to you. I was abducted by the monstrous beast. I have no money on me." Dante explained himself apologetically.

Martha looked at the apologetic look on the young man's face and felt a little bit of pity for him.

"You can stay here, if you are willing to work at the inn. We need help with repairs before the next incoming business season." Martha said with a serious face, before turning towards the old man.

"Magnus, you slimy money grubbing old man, don't expect me to give you any agency fees. The only potential customer you brought has no money." Martha snorted.

"Cough... Martha, you are getting a free worker. Don't I deserve a little something?" The old man began begging in a disgusting manner which instantly repelled both Martha and Dante.

Martha shooed the old man off with a scornful look before turning towards Dante.

"Young man, you can stay in room 104 on the first floor. Here is your key, after you settle your room, come down and help me with the chores." Martha ordered without any sense of ambiguity.

Dante nodded sadly, resigned to his fate. When had he, who lived like a royal, ever done such menial labor? However, he looked at the fading back of the old man asked in puzzlement.

"How did a money grubber like this old man become the town elder?"

Martha laughed out loud. "Did that old fart say that? Hahaha, he is no town elder. He once cured the daughter of the town elder from her illness and was made an honorary town elder for one day as per his request. He has been strutting around acting like the town elder in front of strangers since then."

When Dante heard that he did know whether to laugh or cry. The first person he met in this world was a crazy old man.