Chapter II

A tree stood alone atop a small hill, with branches stretching further to cast a cool shade beneath it. Looking up from where it stood, the rays of sunshine shone in its gaps and gave it a vibrant color of nature.

There, a boy was standing with his eyes closed, holding a wooden sword. His red blood-like hair was a huge contrast to the green scenery before him. He raised his sword and opened his eyes, and swung rapidly in front.

There was no technique or whatever methods. He just swung, thinking of a person in front of him. The falling leaves effortlessly dodged in between his strikes and danced in the wind it left behind.

Eventually he stopped and stared at the clear blue skies. He had been swinging his sword in this place for several years already for only one reason. That is to prepare himself for an impending disaster that will come. A disaster only he knew. However he already doubted it in his mind long ago, just seeing the scenery before him spoke how peaceful the world is right now.

But that peace was short-lived as a figure slowly approached him, holding the hem of her dress as the wind carried fallen leaves. It caused her prim and proper hair, painstakingly done by her mother, to be untangled in its braids, only adding further to her annoyance.

Even so, she mustered herself to approach the boy and call him, so that she doesn't have to deal with any of this further.

"You're still doing that here, Lotte?"

But a different word came out from her mouth, with a sharp tone unsuitable for kids talking to each other at their age.

Lotte remembered that they used to play together, but after a certain incident all that was left in her heart is resentment. It was a long time ago when they were truly just kids who didn't understand a thing in the world.

"Hey idiot, didn't you hear me?"

"…"

Still, Lotte remained standing and closed his eyes as once again, he took a stance.

Seeing that she's being ignored, her already high pitched voice rose even further in irritation.

"... Hey!"

"…"

Even so, Lotte didn't flinch one bit and kept his eyes closed, as if the surroundings were serene and calm.

"You're still ignoring me!?"

"…"

"Hey, you idiot!"

***

A kick on his shin finally came, as a slight pain ran through his nerves making him flinch. He turned his head towards her with a dumbfounded expression.

Lotte thought about this girl disturbing him.

They used to be close playmates, but that was the 'former Lotte' not him. After becoming Lotte he had been careless with his attitude towards his 'playmates' and they started treating him like a weirdo.

It was at the time when he had just transmigrated and was still unable to come to terms with it. Everything felt unfamiliar and he couldn't feel a shred of comfort due to the difference in living conditions he used to have. The longing he felt of the hobbies he enjoyed didn't help one bit either.

Just like that, those thoughts silently filled his mind as he felt anxious about what's going to happen from then on.

Lotte, thinking that she was just a random kid pestering him, chased her away by yelling and calling her an annoying idiot.

Shocked with the unexpected yell from Lotte, she ran away crying, after all she's just a spoiled kid that rarely got scolded even by her parents. Apparently she bawled quite hard to her mother, and if it weren't for his father he would've been hit by a rolling pin by the madam.

"Hey! Bastard! Idiot! Bastard! I'm talking to you!"

Ever since then, whenever they met, she would stare at him hatefully like she wants to rip him apart. It was only a few years later that she mellowed down, but the grumpy and hateful attitude remained to this day.

He partly felt responsible for her change, but it's not like he can do much, and didn't really need to. But one thing did bother him a little.

'Whom is she learning those words from? She called me a bastard twice.'

"What? You're being an annoying idiot again!"

She trembled upon hearing that as that very phrase jogged an unpleasant memory of hers.

You could say that he never learned his lesson, because when he had enough of her hateful attitude, he called her an 'annoying idiot'. In return she also kept calling him an idiot.

"Haa…"

She took deep breaths and eventually her creased brows relaxed.

"Dad… Father wants to see you."

With that she turned around. And thus, that's the story of why they call each other an idiot. Well, no one else probably calls her an idiot as much as he does, her mom and foster father are doting parents that would fluster upon seeing a little bit of discomfort on their daughters face, and the other kids quite like her due to her family being one of the richest in the village.

Nevertheless he found her reaction quite funny and felt that it didn't matter even if she got angry, since we were still children. Sooner or later it'll be just some annoying memories.

"Alright, let's go."

"Hmph."

Occasionally, a merchant would come to this village once every few months carrying items he requested. Depending on the scale of the request he would in return help him with his business.

Specifically food recipes or just ideas in general. As someone who lived from a modern era, there's a couple of useful knowledge in his head that's bound to be useful for a merchant in this world.

From afar they saw a green tent embroidered with an insignia of a bull wearing a black gold eye patch. With a few guards whose faces he recognized, they let me and Yeona through with a smile and slight bow.

Lotte quickly went inside since those smiling guards always gave him the creeps. He still greeted them properly like he always did and they would respond with a slight nod. But not with anything else, they would just stand there on guard.

They were always the same set of guards as far as he remembers, so they must be quite the trusted subordinates.

Inside the tent a man was admiring an ornament, he wore an elaborately patterned green robe and a dark gold eye patch similar to the bull in their insignia. He stood up and was almost twice taller than me and Yeona with a slightly plump body and long hair reaching to his waist.

"Father, we're here."

Yeona said with a respectful tone and admiring gaze, at which Rugner turned towards us and got up from his seat, leaving the ornament on his desk.

"There you are Lotte, it's good to see you again!"

He greeted us with a hearty smile revealing his one golden tooth and stood up to clasp both our shoulders.

"It's nice to see you too, Mr. Rugner."

It was a quite formal greeting, but that was only because Yeona was here. Usually, I'd get straight to business and ask if he brought what I asked for.

"Thanks for calling him Yeona. We'll have a talk for a bit so you can go and have fun choosing the gifts I brought this time."

Perhaps knowing that I liked to keep things brief, he tried to dismiss Yeona right away.

The transaction between us is being kept a secret from everyone in the village, by his request. It didn't matter to me since some people are bound to see me carrying stuff I requested, especially my father, but he insisted that it must be kept a secret. Especially from Yeona and her mother.

"Huh? Where are you going? Can I go too?"

Perplexed, Yeona had an expression like a kid excluded from playing with others.

"Kids shouldn't meddle when adults are talking, you know?"

"But you are a kid!"

She retorted with the usual high pitched voice she had, the polite and calm tone long gone from before.

'A kid should act like a kid, and not try hard to be like an adult. Except me.'

Lotte thought to himself as he found Yeona's reaction amusing.

Meanwhile Rugner only chuckled seeing the two of us 'get along' so well.

"Don't worry Yeona, he's not getting better gifts or something. We're just gonna have some small talk."

It was a sloppy excuse by Rugner as he said that with a bright smile.

We eventually got out of the tent, leaving Yeona with a resentful expression.

"Small talk… What bullshit.."

For a moment I almost stumbled when I heard her say that. I recalled that Yeona's mom is quite the swearer when she argues with Rugner that even I can hear it from afar.

Of all the things she could pick up from her mother…

We went into the tents further back. In a separate tent filled with boxes of wares he took a chest and brought it in front of me. I stared at it, finding the presentation a little too overboard.

"Is that it? Why is it inside a chest?"

I said with a questioning tone and excitement. He couldn't have acquired a whole chest of potions right?

Rugner coughed and lifted his chin high proudly.

"Well, it's quite precious for a small-time merchant like me. These can be found only in rich cities, but I met a retired mercenary with an excess supply. He gave it for an expensive price due to its rarity, and of course it's still in good condition."

Bullshit. This must be as common as cabbage somewhere in this world. If this world is really that of a fantasy themed one, there must be a huge demand for these potions. Then again, the only proof I had was that I know this is a fantasy world based on a novel.

It might be his attempt to make it seem more valuable than it is.

I opened the chest and a bluish glow filled my sight. Somehow, it looked more beautiful than any jewels or gold I've seen, not that I've seen a lot anyways.

However it all faded away and what was left was a very small vial. Satisfied, I closed the chest and carried it.

'Sorry Yeona, but I do get better things than you.'I thought and smiled bitterly, but there was one more question on my mind I had to address.

"I won't get an upset stomach right?"

This is for the consumption of those who practice magical energy, I don't know if it will have any adverse effect on a normal human but I have to try it regardless.

Rugner's smile faded as he held his chin in contemplation.

"You should be fine. The seller told me he doesn't know if it ever had side effects on a normal person but it should be safe to consume even for a kid."

"Yeah, or else I'll be damned… Anyway, here you go."

I handed him a piece of paper. It's a recipe for a new food to sell. He would take these recipes to a chef and add it to a menu of a restaurant he owns in town somewhere out there.

 Simple knowledge like these became one of my bargaining chips to get what I want even if it's out of my reach. I've gotten a trove of collections of items from outside because of that.

"Huh, this one is… similar to what you gave me before? Is it really good?"

"Yeah, it would be even better if you can add the bits of jerky..."

What I gave was a recipe for a pasta I randomly decided to learn how to cook to impress my friends. Who knew it would come in handy in another world.

Most of the food here was different from where I came from. But one thing didn't change, and that is, everyone loved delicious food. My recipes to impress my family and friends paid off well.

"Well, I trust your recipes. Just come find me again if you want something from the 'outside'."

"Sure."

The 'outside' referred literally to the outside of this village. During the time I spent in this world nothing much happened but there was a weird belief that anyone who tries to leave far away from this village would never be able to come back.

As I gathered information about it, there's been one recent case before I transmigrated which is Yeona's real father before she was born. No one told me how it happened, only that he once attempted it and never came back. Leaving all the wealth behind and his family.

In my opinion he might have left to start a new life outside.

But Rugner is someone who can go and forthwith in the village despite coming from afar. I had asked him several times but it was a secret he's unwilling to part with. There was also a time that I tailed them, but they use the same exit everytime. The one guarded by the village chief.

So for now, making transactions with him is enough.

I found his appearance quite strange as he was one of the visitors of the village who also happened to fall in love at first sight with Yeona's mother. I had thought that a scenario might be starting.

But if I take my age into consideration, it must still be the early stages of the novel. Well, the later a tragedy comes the more time I have to prepare so I didn't think too much about it. Life had been peaceful in this world and it numbed me of the initial fear I had coming here.

At first my life was a constant fear of what incident will happen over the coming days, afraid that monsters will suddenly raid the village, or bandits razing it to the ground and enslaving us.

Yet it didn't happen. So there was no choice left but to train mindlessly, like a broken doll doing the same thing again and again. I call it training but it was just me basically exercising and learning to read and write the language, which apparently is an impressive feat in the eyes of the villagers.

Studying seems to be less of a trend in this village, everyone would rather focus on farm work and chores, than how to read and write. Because of that symbols were more widely used to identify places.

But it was a small village, so small that I knew everyone who lives here and can recite their names. A hundred and thirty-one residents, Rugner, a merchant, and an old man living on the outskirts and the village chief being the most notable of them all. They are the top three on my list of suspicious people.

I had to take note of formidable 'characters' especially those in power, or the village chief who will most likely be one of the key to get out of this closed off village.

Rugner was on the top simply because of his freedom to come in and out of the village when the village chief vehemently forbids it, and everyone against it. I think the key in leaving the village lies in convincing him. Every elder in each household apparently hands down a saying to never leave the village, or else tragedy will follow.

But then again, I might be the one who's going to break that very rule. Tragedy will come eventually and I don't plan to live here for the rest of my life. I'm scared of the future but also unwilling to remain stagnant in this village.

At fifteen I will come of age, then I will leave this village. It was far earlier coming of age than the common sense I'm used to but it's better for me. The earlier I could reach the outside world, the more time to establish a foundation. Maybe once I'm more established I can try and find out whether there's others like me.

I arrived in our house and immediately headed inside my room where a myriad of items I collected were stored. I even had a two-handed sword and a short sword I tried to swing with difficulty as training. But it pales in comparison compared to this potion in front of me.

According to Rugner this is the potion that fits what I described the most. A potion that emits a unique energy and is used by people wielding formidable power to achieve their means.

I thought that if I drink this, it might cause something to change in my body. If I can acquire power before there's any escalation in my life then I'm gonna take it.

Without further ado, I uncapped the vial of potion and it made a crisp popping sound as bluish smoke rose from its mouth and faded into sparks. It reminded me of carbonated drinks I've been missing for a long time.

"Here goes…"

And so I drank it all in one gulp. The vial is only as big as an adult's finger and was easily drained of its contents, it went down my throat like an iced liquor, cold and hot at the same time.

***

"Uh… Ah.."

Lotte couldn't help but let out a moan because of the refreshing feeling that spread on his chest. It was like drinking liquor, and he thought maybe that's why mages sometimes had potion addiction.

Relying on his shallow knowledge, he sat crossed legged on the floor and meditated by breathing and emptying his mind. But it was easier said than done, since he didn't know how to achieve a result he desired, even more so if that result is vague.

"This isn't it…"

There was a frown on his brows as he stood up while rubbing his chin, and after some sort of what seemed to be deliberation he went outside in the middle of the night. He did some stretching movements before taking a stance to sprint, he thought that if his body became tired some effects would take place.

And so, under the moonlight and torch lamps lighting his way around, he ran as fast as he could to tire his body. The ground was uneven with stone and dirt mixed together, but with the long time he'd spent walking on these roads, he adeptly ran without stumbling on a rock.

After a few times circling around the village he was finally out of breath, Lotte focused on the changes in his body and didn't notice anything different than usual because he was so focused on running so much.

"Did I fail?"

There wasn't any response or reaction at all, apart from achieving more distance than what he usually did and even that was because he pushed himself to the limit. He thought that it's really hard to test it, since all he knew about Mana were from novels he read.

"Sigh… I got too excited."

With disappointment he went home and splattered onto his bed like a rag. He was too excited to test the potion that he didn't think about the methods at all, so he wasted a precious opportunity that he could've used to awaken some sort of power.

Like a magic power maybe? Or summoning some monster pet… Or maybe a magic swordsman.

With those thoughts he fell asleep…

…

Lotte woke up in a bad mood and stank of sweat. He immediately gathered a well water outside and poured a bucket of water on himself and despite the usual feeling that it was not enough, he just convinced himself and went on with the day.

If there was anything more unique in his life, that would be the triplets his mother left before perishing in this world.

Which were coincidentally born the same time he woke up in this body. He thought that there must be some sort of connection but doesn't have any way of confirming it.

His father meanwhile was a large man and also the strongman of the village. He was able to lift two logs with ease. Due to that strength he was drafted as a member of the village militia, but militiamen in this peaceful place did nothing but walk around donning armors and holding spears.

So more often than not, they hunted in the surrounding mountains carefully for any wild deers or boars.

Most of the things in the village went on as usual, old people talked among themselves, the relatively young ones did their chores while kid's played around.

As Lotte witnessed these regular people live their lives, that familiar sense of stagnation crept up again. As a child he bore no heavy responsibilities apart from looking after his sisters and playing with them.

Therefore he had a lot of time to himself to do whatever he wanted. Including his makeshift training sessions to get stronger.

'At the very least I still have more ways to pass time.'

His feet led him to his spot where he pondered his thoughts. A small hill with a large tree on top of it, conveniently on the west side of the village, and also the direction where the outside world exists.

He laid down comfortably in the same spot as usual. The winds blew coldly, a sign that autumn is ending and snowflakes will soon cover the ground again.

One of his most dreaded seasons, he became sick whenever he went out to train his stamina or cold resistance. He had been chastised by his father several times because of that every winter.

"You're here again."

He was jolted awake in the middle of his thoughts upon hearing the familiar voice and looked above him. There, Yeona was peeking out behind the tree holding a book close to her chest.

"Shit, why did you suddenly pop out over there?"

"What do you mean 'shit'? Also I've been here since earlier you idiot."

With the occasional remark that she refuses to leave out of her sentences she sat besides Lotte who was sighing.

"Just behave this time okay?"

"You're not the only one who likes this place."

"… Fair enough."

Usually any kids he would chase away noisy kids he found playing in his special spot, but since Yeona has been rather behave apart from hating on him he let it slide.

He wasn't really in the mood to tease her too. Now that he thought about it, Yeona always found wherever he is, which is quite a feat.

'Is she a stalker?'

This place was supposed to be his sacred resting grounds as he enjoys the breeze and cool shade. At first he thought that this place has some significance in the story so he frequented this place but that was yet to be seen until now.

"Hey… I have a favor to ask."

She had a calm tone and relaxed expression, unlike the usually frowning brows she had when dealing with Lotte.

"… What favor?"

"About this book. You've read it before right?"

"I didn't."

"The Chief told me."

"Tsk."

The village chief. He used to be fond of Lotte for the reason that he's the singular diligent child in the village that studies.

Seeing him cooped up in the library, made him think highly of him. Unfortunately ever since Lotte expressed his desire to leave the village, the chief's been aloof to both him and his father.

He did read a lot back then for gathering information about this world. Lotte wondered why Yeona suddenly wanted to read too.

"Really? From me? Didn't you hate my guts?"

Yeona flinched a little hearing that as her eyes darted around. She seemed to be preparing to say a lame excuse. Lotte thought that she must've let go of her grudges and is just acting difficult.

"I… I want to learn and help my father. If I learn to read, then I can help too! A-and replace you…"

Resoluteness can be seen in her eyes and she seemed to be resolved to see her goal through. Well it is good to learn but why bring a story book?

"Maybe father will even take me on trips outside!"

Lotte stared at her, twirling her hair and felt that it was somewhat adorable that she's willing to put down her hatred in order to help her foster father, Rugner. But there was no chance that it would come true, madam would never let her leave so does Rugner.

All the elderly here are opposed to the idea of going outside, so as their offspring grew up they were taught to not have any ideas. It's just that, when Rugner came, there was a domino effect that occurred. Knowing that a merchant can go in and out, some younger people started having ideas to go with Rugner and work for him.

Unfortunately he flatly refused them no matter what, Lotte was a bit lucky since Rugner valued delicious food recipes and especially liked what he cooked.

After that an old man came, donning a rag-like cape and tied up gray hair. Although ragged, his demeanor and speech spoke of his stature.

He was basically the picture of a wandering old knight. He settled on the old manor outside the village that used to be a house for the lord and at first it was peaceful. But after a while rumors circulated that he's an insane killer that took refuge here. But that is another story for another time.

Unfortunately Yeona's bound to be disappointed since knowing how to read won't make a difference.

"Yeah, so what do you want to ask?"

"Ah! Right there, how should I read this?…"

"By the way, why not ask the village chief ins-"

"I don't wanna."

"I think he can teach bett-"

"You agreed already. Shut up and teach me."

"Uh… Okay."

Lotte felt lethargic the whole time due to the comfortable environment and boring book. They read a story book of how a certain fruit came to be, written in the only language spoken by the villager. Unfortunately they only knew how to speak it, not how to read and write. Those who knew how to read can be counted in both hands, including Lotte.

Before succumbing to sleepiness, perhaps Yeona's enthusiastic drive ran out and she went home to rest. Lotte didn't have any teaching experience but he found Yeona's learning speed rather fast.

The sun was almost setting by that time and Lotte had one more place to go before going home. Every other day, there's a place he has to go to.

That is, to talk to an old man on the outskirts of the village. He lives in a fenced manor which can be easily breached and a dilapidated house. He basically screams the background of an old knight.

As for the reason for bothering him, it would be none other than to watch out for any plot that may happen around him. Lotte had an instinct that he shouldn't dismiss an old man that seemed to carry a story on his shoulders.

At the distance a dilapidated manor came into view. The fences were all broken down and had vines hanging on it, while the house itself seemed to be on the verge of falling apart. Yet it stood there despite the ravages of time.

There someone sat silently, facing the campfire.

"Hey! Oldman!"