Chapter 1: The Confusion of a Drenched Salaryma

Haruki's abrupt arrival in this new world left him bewildered and gasping for air. As he swam toward the riverbank, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Where the hell am I? Is this some kind of dream?" The crystal-clear waters around him seemed too surreal to be real.

With each stroke he took, his heart pounded in his chest, and doubt gnawed at his thoughts. "Even if this isn't a dream," he reasoned, "I doubt I'll ever go back to my world." The prospect of returning to his mundane life as a white-collar company slave held little appeal.

Upon reaching the riverbank, Haruki staggered to his feet, waterlogged and disoriented. He peeled his wet clothes off, muttering curses under his breath about his ill-fated predicament. The chill in the air sent shivers down his spine, and he hugged himself for warmth, taking in his surroundings.

The landscape was unlike anything he had ever seen. Towering trees with leaves that glowed like emeralds stretched toward the sky, and the air was filled with a symphony of unfamiliar sounds. It was as if he had stepped into a painting, a world painted with vivid colors and strange beauty.

Haruki knew he needed to clarify what kind of world he had stumbled into. He ventured further inland, his footsteps echoing through the lush forest. He marveled at the flora and fauna that defied all logic, plants that seemed to hum with energy and creatures that looked like they belonged in mythology.

With each step, he couldn't help but wonder if this was all a hallucination, a bizarre dream conjured by exhaustion and stress. Yet, the sharp sting of thorns on his arm and the sensation of hunger gnawing at his belly were painfully real.

Determination flickered in Haruki's eyes. Whether this world was a dream or not, he knew one thing for sure: he needed to unravel its mysteries and survive in this fantastical realm. With newfound resolve, he pushed forward, ready to face the unknown with a mixture of fear and curiosity.