🟠 chapter 04 :
I said to him, sensing my final moments in this white void:
"I just hope you won't send me to a forest... I don't want to get eaten in the first five minutes."
Noel laughed again.
"You and your novel fears... don't worry.
I'll send you to a city called Valoris.
Are you ready?"
I took a deep breath.
"Yes... I guess."
Unfortunately, I wasn't ready at all.
A strange energy began to surround my body, a kind of glowing aura, as Noel initiated the teleportation process to "Valoris".
My vision began to blur and the white void started to fade. The last thing I heard him say was:
"Good luck, Takashi kun."
What a dramatic send off... or so I thought.
Then?
Freefall.
From the sky.
No cushion, no effects, no dignity.
I crashed like a sack of potatoes onto a stone pavement.
"Ugh... Couldn't you at least make me look cool, Noel?!
Even the teleportation aura didn't look like those in the novels!"
I stood up, groaning, and brushed the dust off.
What I saw around me looked like a living version of medieval Europe:
Cobblestone streets, stone buildings, wagons, people in old-fashioned clothes... and a dog barking like it had never seen a human in its life.
I thought to myself:
"Of course... it had to be an old world.
Couldn't you send me to a modern one? At least I could use Wi-Fi... or order a pizza."
I paused and thought:
"Now... what should I do?
Explore? Or call the system?"
"Hello, system? How do I get experience points?"
The response appeared instantly:
There are two ways to gain experience points:
Defeating enemies most effective
Jobs less effective
"...So I either become a professional killer or a slow growth delivery guy...
Very tempting, thank you, system."
Then a more important question popped into my head:
"By the way, can I understand the people here? Or do I need an intensive Nevelirian language course?"
Yes. Automatic translation has been activated.
This ability is granted to all summoned individuals.
Great... finally, something smart.
That means I can begin my life project immediately...
I smiled and looked up to the sky like an evil businessman.
"I'll build a machine to mine gold and oil.
I'll gather wealth. Buy a castle. Marry a princess.
Become the richest man in this world.
Mwahahahaha!! I'm a genius."
Then the system slapped me with a reply:
Sorry. You cannot use the Factory skill for personal material goals.
At least... not at this stage.
"WHYYYYY why don't i get what i want ??
!!!
First step to survival... a job."
The first step I need to take? Easy... find a job.
Level up my skills. And after that... I'll decide if I want to be a businessman or just someone who doesn't starve to death.
I started walking through the streets of Valoris, observing vendors, people, and the strange smells coming from the stalls some good, others... made you question the meat's expiration date.
I recalled my humble job experiences back in Japan.
The furthest I had gone was working in a small shop...
Maybe I'll find a Nevelirian version of a supermarket?
As I was deep in thought, someone bumped into me.
"Oh! Sorry, young man."
"No worries... it's okay."
I looked up he was a man in his late forties, bald with a short beard, wearing simple but clean clothes.
He stared at my face for a moment, like he was trying to read my character sheet.
"Hmm... your features and clothes... you look foreign.
Are you from another place?"
"Yes. Actually... from very far away."
"Ha, looks like Valoris is starting to attract a new kind of tourist."
"Actually, I'm looking for a job not here for sightseeing."
"Really?" he said, genuinely surprised.
"Yeah, job first... staying alive second... the rest comes later."
The man smiled, then said:
"Well, actually... I can help you. If you're serious."