Chapter 1

There was a child's scream. It was so loud and heartbreaking.

I flinched trying to open my eyes.

Surely, I was the only child in the house. That tone is too high for me to...

Eh?

I rubbed my eyes.

What in the world?

As I stare at my hands—slender fingers, bonier than my own hands. It was dirty like coal, my dress was even tattered. My size and height seem smaller too. Slimmer figure rather than my curvy body. My chest was the only one that was full.

Dang. Why am I even worrying about my breast?

This is not good. I raised my head, and it surely screams I am not in my room! But this body... Wait. Currently, I am inside a cell along with other people.

Their apparel is comparable to mine. There were those who had it worse and even had too many bruises. I heaved a sigh. They resisted but were feeble and dragged away like a sack of potatoes.

However, isn't this the situation wherein a slave is ready to be bought?!

There were lots of women and children all cramped up in this small cell. The thick smell of sweat, yadda... We are held captives. Are we the spoils of war?

Observing these groups of people and men outside our cell dawned on me that they are marauders. There was another cell in front of us. One in front, and I think two from behind.

I looked at the lock in front of me, maybe I could do something about this?

-Kang-

Fudge! That startled me.

"Don't even think about escaping."

A guy sneered outside the cage as he points his sword dangerously at my back. I looked away.

Breath...

Heave. Ho.

I was thinking about how he will really cut me unconsciously touching my neck only to feel something. Realizing what I was grasping, my eyes glisten. It was my necklace. A mini guitar and a goldfish are attached on one string. It was... But I do not think that this is a legendary artifact.

I just bought this guitar necklace because inside it was a small knife and the goldfish was given by my father. Their origin was plain except for my love for the goldfish because my father rarely gives me gifts when he was alive.

"Ma...pa..."

My voice was soft and croaky, not like the way I mostly hear my original voice which was deep and strong.

I want to go home... Wake me up... Please wake me up...

As a reader, I already realize the gist of my situation. But this is too unreasonable! There's no truck-san for me to get isekai'ed or I did not die! I just slept! No nightmares!

"..."

Or did I use my phone too much? Is this the result of my binge-reading and binge-watching? So impossible I dare not believe.

Dang...

No. I need to be strong. I must hold myself with composure. Chill. I cannot afford to be emotional at this moment. I need to think rationally.

I should probably wipe my tears.

For now, what I need to do is to gather information about this world.

When I looked at the trembling woman next to me, I felt a wave of pity, but then I reminded myself that I was in just as much of a desperate state. Why should I feel sorry for her? I am such an asshole for thinking so.

"Excuse me,"

Feels alien speaking their language. "I am not that familiar with the places, kingdoms, and even the rulers in this place. Can you tell me where we are?"

The woman glanced at me, gulped, and said, "We, we are in the wilderness of S-Shriram. We've passed by the border of the Empire Fu."

I frowned. Fu Empire?

"Then what empire do you think are we heading to?"

The woman shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I don't think we could even r-reach the Dan Empire if these men decide to sell us at the next village ahead of u-us."

Dan Empire?

I thought deeply. It's so familiar.

Dan.

Dan. Dan...

Why do I have a bad premonition about this?

"Then, if I am not mistaken the previous Emperor of Fu is Li Guoliang?" The woman nodded.

"And the previous emperor of Dan is Chang Chonglin?"

"Yes."

"..."

Sorry. What information again?

I closed my eyes. "Son of a bvcth."

I dropped into a novel that I did not take seriously.

Just great.

'Beloved Wangfei Your Plan To Escape is Useless'

I face-palmed only to snort in disgust, smelling my palm. It reeks of sweat, mud, and piss. Bro, just how much was I dragged into this cage? Disgusting.

The question is, what is my role? I just hoped I am a mob character. Being part of the main characters does not make you a debonair even if it is a fact that they all have heaven-defying looks. It's better to say, it makes you devilish. Full of blood, face-slapping green tea bvtches.

No, mamma. Those thots are so OP. I just need to get out of this wretched place.

But to escape, there must be a sort of distraction to keep them at arm's length. This wilderness is flat and the rocks from above are not so promising to be used as an escapade.

Goodness.

I cannot just unlock this and run away. Most men hold a spear or wield a sword, and some men were equipped with a bow and arrow. I could bet my life that the edges of those arrows have poison. Look at that smear... Not so simple.

Not to mention, most of the men's swords that were situated on their belts looked like newly brandished weapons ready to cut me in half. This did not happen in the novel because it was not important. The female lead did not appear here. Right now, all I could do is skillfully work my way out.

But I need perfect timing. I will wait until we will arrive at the village at night.

"Ugh, I can't remember that village's name."

There was nothing to pull in my pocket. No identification, money, or something that could make me understand who I am. I am a slave with no marker. But my hands, the more I look at it and rub some dirt using my spit— I know it is disgusting but just a little to confirm my conjecture. It turns out I have pale skin. Plebians and other lower classes have sun-kissed type of skin due to working outside. Aren't all these people that are with me have a sun-kissed complexion? Moreover, this girl's palms feel soft which means she did not do many chores or something strenuous.

It looks dainty too.

Either this body is a daughter of a merchant, doted so much by her commoner parents, or she is a noble who was lost and kidnapped.

"This is troublesome."

I need to know who I am. I need to see my face.

My stomach growls. Thus, all I can do is just gulp my saliva. Now, I regret skipping breakfast with my mother. This is not only troublesome, but it is also making me extremely vexed!

I still need to attend our chapter quiz! My exams too! How can I graduate if I am here?!

My thoughts were interrupted when the horse made a terrible neigh. Then we heard huge rocks tumbling down in front of us. We arrived at the end of the narrow path to find it blocked by a cascade of boulders. The marauders felt something was amiss and drew their weapons, surrounded by the sound of stones clattering and a cloud of dust.

Sok.

"Ah!"

I was taken aback. The marauder that guards us was just hit by an arrow, and I felt the wind of it brush my face as it flew past me, just inches away from me.

Isn't this what they call an ambush?

More arrows were fired like bullets raining down on Earth.

"Yah- ack!"

"Die you bastards!"

No, the people who are coming are...

Soldiers.

Looking at their uniformed armor is legit, truly they are soldiers. Also, they are the soldiers of the Dan Empire. I remembered the author describing their symbol, 'An eagle spreading its wings covering the horizon'.

A desperate marauder opened the cell, and the nearest person was grabbed harshly.

Me.

The sword directly grazed my neck that made me tremble. This is a real sword! No matter how I want to act cool, this is still my first time feeling not a knife but a sword on my neck. So cold.

Brother, don't kill me. Wait, maybe this is a good way to return...

—Or not.

"Don't! Don't come near me or I'll kill this girl!"

This scum shouted, tightening his hold on me.

I cannot do anything but control my movements lest my head would be cut off. There was a man clothed in a blood-matted robe with more majestic armor, standing a few feet away from us. His face is covered in the likeliness of a Corinthian Helmet.* The man moved closer, the marauder put more pressure on his sword injuring my neck. Before it was only grazed, now, I could feel blood trickling down my neck. Should I stomp him? Elbow him? But what if he instinctively slit my throat? Sheesh, watching too much action anime is making me think of different scenarios! I look calm on the outside yet inside, I'm barely holding myself from doing something reckless.

What should I first hit? Manga-sama!

Kidding.

"Let the girl go."

His voice had a calming effect, and I was in a daze for one second.

"I warn you, one more step and she will die."

For Pete's sake, if I die, then I should not be the only one to die!

I glanced at the heroic guy in front of me, trying to communicate with him. I look at him intently before looking down and looking at him again. Man, I hope you can catch up with my signal. Please understand what I am trying to convey!

I lift my left foot and with all my might I stomped on his feet.

"Guh."

Thank goodness it worked!

The arm that locked me loosened a second yet it was enough for me to take a bite. Puu, hard but not so hard enough! I bite harder. It is the only tactic I have in mind right now. My height is not enough to headbutt this guy, nor can I hit his groin accurately.

Seriously, why did my height shrink?

The man in front of me was sharp, he was apt in attacking the marauder pulling me in his arms as he swiftly cut the man's arm that locks me. That ladies and gentlemen, live on the action and seen by my own eyes, the marauder's head—no, his entire body was cut into two with one quick clean slash.

So strange.

The marauder struggled to take a step aiming at us, a second longer his body is separated.

I cannot help but stare at the corpse in front of me, transfixed.

So, I did not die with him and that's, and that is how it looks like when our body is cut into two with a single flawless slash. Look at those organs in his body...

His blood...

Oh, my.

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*The Corinthian helmet originated in ancient Greece and took its name from the city-state of Corinth. It was a helmet made of bronze which in its later styles covered the entire head and neck, with slits for the eyes and mouth. A large curved projection protected the nape of the neck.