Ch 4: First Impressions (3)
Evelyn
I couldn't come up with a good plan…
So I settled for a bad one.
“Grr…”
After ducking through the underbrush so the lions wouldn't be able to see me, I quickly laid flat on the ground and stopped my breathing.
This course of action may appear no different than serving oneself up on a silver platter and asking to be lion chow, but it's actually a hunter's survival tactic that my dad once taught me!
Although Topaz Lions tend to act like normal animals, they are still powerful monsters with intelligence. This means that you can trick them by playing dead, they will probably still eat me if I stay still for too long though. Thankfully that's where phase 2 of this amazing plan kicks in. While the lions are confused and left wondering how I died mid chase, I'll jump up and attack them while they're distracted!
After they're stunned by the genius of my strategic attack, I would be able to easily escape through their broken-down formation.
Or at least that's how it was supposed to go…
“Aaah~ I feel relaxed!”
Until this psycho showed up!
I mean, what kind of maniac beats up a bunch of monsters and then just laughs it off while they run away!?
The worst part is that even despite his clear mental issues I was still going to thank him since he got me out of a dangerous situation just now–until I opened my eyes and saw what he was wearing.
“NUDIST!!! STAY AWAY FROM ME!”
He wasn’t wearing anything!
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
“HEY! GET BACK HERE!”
And now he’s chasing me!?
***
“Just wait and let me explain myself!”
“No!!”
What the hell…
It's not that I don't understand their feelings, I'd run as fast as I could too if I met a naked man in the woods. Even knowing that, though, I still feel wronged. It's not like I wanted my clothes to disappear!
Also, I'm getting really tired of all the legwork I've been having to do since entering this world. First hiking through the forest with no guide, then chasing that lion, and now running after this random thought to be a dead rat? If this were a transmigration novel, I would surely have dropped it by now after the author padded the word count so much with all of these chase scenes.
Luckily for me and any unlucky readers still here this one wouldn't last much longer.
The trees slowly parted as the forest shade gave way to a bright and sunny horizon. A large green meadow filled my vision as I continued forward, and even further than that I could see large mountains towering over this valley just a short distance away.
The target I was pursuing hadn't stopped to appreciate this scenery, however, off into the distance towards the direction they were running I could see it. Down at the base of the mountain stood a large stone brick gate, a structure often known to be the entrance to medieval fantasy towns, manned by what looked to be a few rats in guard uniforms. After running in the forest naked for an entire afternoon, I had found it.
It may not be ideal, but this was civilization.
woosh-
“!”
After increasing my running speed, I easily passed the rat ahead of me and continued toward the gate.
“Oh no! The monster's going after the village now!”
While ignoring the mildly irritating fanfare coming from behind me, I soon came face to face with the structure. Looking about thirty feet tall the walls on its sides appeared to be embedded into the cliffsides surrounding the gap it was placed in.
With all of the past hardships behind me the only thing left to do was to be welcomed back into society.
“Hey, do you know where I can get some clothes–”
“What the hell? Don't you know any shame!?”
Or not…
“Halt! Put your hands in the air and surrender peacefully.”
Ya, getting arrested at the town entrance. That works too, I guess…
***
After causing a commotion outside of the village I was quickly escorted into a private house near the perimeter and given a worn-out looking set of clothes to change into.
While getting dressed I was silently hoping that they would end things here and let me off with just a few words advising me not to get into trouble again.
“So, let's put aside why you're here or what you were doing outside the gate for now.”
I could tell that wouldn't be the case however after being guided to a small and enclosed room with only a table and two chairs placed within.
“How about we start with your name?”
I've never been “good” around law enforcement. Not because I've committed crimes or anything, I just tend to freeze up around authority figures out of fear.
And this intrinsic fear of mine seems to only be even more pronounced when the authority in front of me looks more monstrous than the lions that tried to eat me.
“f… f-frank…”
Hold on, do rat people here have names like mine in this world or are they rat themed like Rathael?
“So, your name's Frank?”
“Y-Yeah.”
“Alright.”
Guess he was just eccentric.
“Now, why were you–someone we've never seen at this village before--running outside the gate naked.”
“...”
“...”
…
What am I supposed to say to that?
I can’t exactly tell someone who's already looking at me like I'm crazy that I'm actually a human and was magically transported to a forest before getting attacked by monsters…
Of course, monsters!
“*hiccup-* I-I was trying to travel through the forest for work, b-but I got lost and was ambushed by monsters sniff. M-My clothes ended up getting torn apart while I hic tried to find my way out.”
Brilliant performance, me.
If I play the role of a sad and pitiful day worker, he'll have no choice but to sympathize with me!
“Hmm…”
Right?
“*sigh* Ok. You're an adventurer, right? Normally I'd send a request to the Adventurer's Guild to confirm your identity, but since Evelyn put in a good word for you, I'll let this mishap go for now.”
“He bought it!”
“Huh?”
“Oh shi-Thank you! I meant to say thank you.”
That was supposed to be my inside voice!
But Adventurer's Guild, huh? I intentionally left the work part vague, but I guess this place really is just like a typical fantasy world. Only the beastfolk seem to lean more towards beast than folk.
There was one strange thing that came up in what the guard said though.
“Who's Evelyn? If you don't mind me asking.”
“You don't know her? She said you saved her from a group of Topaz Lions after we were able to calm her down.”
“Oh! So that was her.”
“Well yeah. She usually helps keep the forest monsters away from town so we're real grateful to you for helping her. Just make sure to pack an extra set of clothes for yourself next time you go out and you're free to go.”
“O… oh, ok.”
Uggh… I hope this doesn't become something that follows me forever…
Anyway, after ending my first ever interrogation I was shown outside the house by the rat man, only to immediately want to walk back in and slam the door shut.
‘Is that him?’
‘What do you think he's doing here?’
‘I thought you said he was naked?’
In front of the house was a large crowd of… people, if you could call them that.
Long unnerving fingers, tails that stretched across the ground, and fur coats that flowed out from their limbs and heads. A hunched back as they stood up on their hind legs and a head that could never be mistaken as human with black, glossy eyes that hid just as dark pupils.
“a… ah…”
If they were more human looking like beastfolk from web novels I would've been ok. Hell, even if they just looked cartoony like a certain little chef I could've handled it better.
But this… this…
“This is nauseating…”
And I also must look like them now.
‘How long do you think he's gonna stay?’
‘Did he really defeat those monsters like Evelyn said?’
‘He does look pretty strong…’
The crowd parted as I moved forward but they didn't stop whispering to each other about me as I passed.
Whether it was because I was eye level with them or because my advanced hearing could pick up everything they were saying, my skin began to crawl.
Everywhere I look I just see more of their unnerving faces. My eyes keep darting around trying to ignore it until…
“A… skier?”
A figure in what looked to be at least five winter jackets, three differently colored beanies, snow boots, gloves, a scarf, and a full skiing mask with goggles appeared through the crowd and stopped in front of me.
“You…”
Huh? The voice coming from this ghost of winter's fashion sounds familiar.
“They said I should show you around the village since you're new here. I'm Evelyn.”
As she said this, she rose up her heavily garbed arm into a position for a handshake.
“Ah, hello. But why are you dressed like that?”
‘Yeah, isn't it pretty hot out today?’
‘I'm pretty sure winter passed a while ago…’
‘How big did the guards say the new guy was?’
Huh?
“Hey! Who said that last one!?”
I was trying to ignore it for my mental health but there were definitely some unwelcome comments coming from this crowd!
“Aaaahhhh!”
“Run from the new guy!”
“I was only asking for a friend!”
However as soon as I was about to call them out on their inappropriate comments the crowd began to scatter.
No… why are they running from the victim here?
“This suit is for protection.”
And why do I feel like this girls’ gaze just became as cold as the weather they're preparing for?
***
Fleeing along with the crowd a cloaked man broke off from the scattered group and ducked into a darkened alley.
After making sure no one else was entering the man made a calm gesture with his hands.
With this gesture the alley began to darken as it and the man were engulfed by a deep abyss.
When all the man could see was darkness, he moved his palm over his eyes and spoke.
“Was that him?”
Although the man kept his eyes shut, a red, viscous ooze began to manifest within the darkness that he should be seeing. As it rippled it began to flow through the air before forming into letters.
‘No. Although I could see the wizard's gaze on him, I sensed no trace of mana. Even that man would not be able to disguise himself from me in such a way.’
“So should we postpone the plan?”
After the man's question the red letters stayed eerily still, palpitating as if taking a moment to ponder this question.
Then it shifted.
‘Continue as scheduled. Even if he's not the wizard he must know where he is hiding. Make sure to capture him during the battle.’
“All for Eternity.”
After saying these words, the red ooze was once again swallowed by the abyss, followed shortly by the man himself fading into its folds.
As nothing was left in its space the darkness slowly dissipated.
And the alley was empty.
