episode_0003

“Rest peacefully, Blinia.”

It was decided that Blin’s funeral would be conducted as a natural burial.

After performing a solemn ritual where wild animals, fungi, trees, and nature united as one to return Blin to the earth, they departed.

They never intended to leave a body abandoned on the ground.

The only loot obtained was Blin’s wooden club.

[Achievement Unlocked]

[First Loot Acquired!]

[As a reward for achieving the achievement, the trait ‘Appraisal’ is granted.]

[Trait: Appraisal]

[Discerns information about items.]

An easy achievement.

The trait received as a reward is also a basic one.

However, despite being basic, it is not to be underestimated.

[Wooden Club (+1 Enhancement)]

[A club carved from wood, bearing the sorrow of one who has lost their family.]

Originally, apart from items provided by the system as rewards, it was impossible to peek into item information.

But now, using traits on items reveals their information.

Even details that cannot be discerned through mere observation.

In games, upon obtaining an item, its true nature is immediately known, unlike in reality.

Even when picking mushrooms, there’s no way to tell if they are poisonous or edible.

Appraisal makes that possible.

Being impressed by the game system here is as foolish as being moved by an open-book test, as the professor said.

“I’m starting to feel uneasy.”

Ominous.

This game, even when friendly, is excessively so.

It’s not like breaking a hidden achievement of killing 100,000 goblins and receiving a substantial reward; it’s practically a handout, yet the trait is at this level.

Perhaps the game isn’t overly generous with rewards due to kindness but because it’s a game where you can’t break through even if they are handed out generously.

Getting impressed by the game system here is as foolish as being moved by the professor’s words about an open-book test.

“Let’s head outside for now.”

Despite gaining more than expected from the tutorial, there is still much unknown.

Essentially, apart from ‘To clear this game, manipulate the heroines you’ve created,’ no meaningful information was obtained.

Information needs to be gathered.

To do that, it’s necessary to first leave this forest.

Finding the direction wasn’t all that difficult.

Once you determine the cardinal direction from the movement of the sun, it becomes endlessly westward from there.

Remembering that there is a forest where goblins reside to the east of the starting village, a decision was easily made.

After walking tirelessly for nearly an hour without seeing an end to the forest, anxiety began to creep in.

What if this isn’t the forest near the starting village but some other remote forest where there happens to be just one goblin?

As such suspicions started to arise, fortunately, the village began to come into view.

If someone unfamiliar with this game had come, they would have been stranded and died without a clue…

Thinking back on safely exiting the forest, thoughts of Blin came flooding back.

Without Blin, I would have wandered the forest with Luck Stat -1, encountering boss monsters at least six times.

From now on, this wooden club will be enshrined as a relic.

“Wow. Majestic. Truly majestic.”

Standing atop a hill and looking down at the village, words of admiration escaped naturally.

It wasn’t a city so grand that it elicited exclamations of greatness.

Simply seeing the village firsthand, which had always been seen as a vague background illustration, brought about fresh emotions.

‘It really feels like going on an adventure.’

Upon entering the village, it felt as if my heart was racing.

Things I had known only through a few texts and illustrations were vividly unfolding before my eyes.

Not just the green, ugly goblins, but even the people moved and spoke naturally.

Would anyone not be excited to see their game come to life and teem with activity?

‘Let’s proceed with caution.’

But one mustn’t be reckless here.

Is it really just me, the sole player who has come here?

It’s hard to say for sure.

Who can guarantee that?

This game allows players to customize everything from their name, appearance, occupation, initial equipment, etc., making it impossible to determine who the main character is just by looking at them.

There might be others like me who have just received a beginner’s item from Blin and entered the game.

It’s unclear whether this is a cooperative game or a winner-takes-all game.

If I were to reveal myself as a player here, there’s a chance I could be attacked by other players who have been lying low.

Since we don’t know what happens if we die yet, caution is necessary.

Hopefully, if I die, I won’t get some cheat skill or achievement for being the first to die.

“For now, let’s act like NPCs and observe the situation.”

You never know.

Players might suddenly appear shouting “Pleasure!” and causing trouble.

One must also consider the possibility of having to strike back at those individuals.

If no one shows any suspicious behavior after waiting quietly for a while, I might have to tentatively conclude that I’m the only player in this world…

That would be quite lonely.

So how should I act like an NPC?

It’s simple.

I walk through the town naturally.

Walking around the market allows me to gather information on the prices of goods.

My real name is Eugene, which conveniently fits the fantasy setting.

“The currency units are the same as in the game.”

A large, hard, unappetizing bread costs 3 gold.

An apple costs 3-5 gold each.

Sharpening a sword service costs 10 gold.

Armor cleaning service costs 20 gold.

Insane. This is ridiculously extravagant.

“Are you interested in doing business?”

“Oh, it’s tough. The economy hasn’t recovered since the war ended a few years ago.”

“Haha. How many years has it been since the war ended?”

“Wilhelm…”

“It was Wilhelm 8 years ago. Now it comes back to me. So, it’s Wilhelm…”

“It’s been 12 years.”

“Ah, right.”

The country’s name, the era, and the current year.

I confirmed them as naturally as possible without raising suspicion.

Surprisingly, the game’s starting point perfectly matched the background.

Wait, did I actually get possessed a hundred years before the game started??? No unexpected twists or turns, no excitement or emotion.

“Is this a wallet?”

Upon opening the pouch at my waist, I found it filled with gold coins.

Excitedly reaching in, a window popped up.

[Current Funds: 3000 gold]

I never expected the currency to be gold coins just because my name is Gold.

Wasn’t one gold coin supposed to cover a family’s monthly expenses?

Can I really exchange three gold coins for an apple…?

This is nonsensical.

Although briefly irritated, I managed to contain my anger.

Some clueless company that knows nothing about subculture made this otaku game thinking it would make a lot of money.

“Welcome.”

As I entered the familiar building, the familiar sight greeted me.

The Adventurers Guild.

A place where adventurers receive quests, rewards, and various services.

As soon as I entered, all eyes turned towards me, not because my actions were suspicious but because I was wearing armor loudly, unlike most adventurers.

To others, I probably looked like a reckless newbie who had invested all his assets in armor.

“Do you have any rooms available at the inn?”

“Yes, we do.”

I need a place to wash up and rest for a bit.

I’ve been sweating under this armor for hours.

It’s also better to test out my abilities in a space where no one else can see.

“Just for one night.”

“How much did you check before coming here?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked how much you checked before coming here.”

“…Crazy.”

Yongpali never expected to be subjected to a haggling session like this from an adventurer guild staff member.

In the game, I was belittled for being a protagonist of humble origins, but now it seems like there’s nothing worth belittling here.

This was clearly a den of incompetents.

When dealing with incompetents, one must respond as if they were also incompetent.

“1 gold.”

“Please leave.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking you to leave. Your rudeness is unacceptable, and we cannot serve you.”

The staff member said, clasping their hands together.

This person is completely insane.

I turned back in disbelief, but the adventurers gathered in the guild all sat nonchalantly, seemingly unperturbed by the staff member’s attitude.

“How much is this potion?”

“It’s for display only. Please check the notice board for prices.”

“Oh. My mistake. I’ll go check the announcement at Central Square and come back.”

Such conversations were exchanged without any sense of awkwardness.

If I stayed here any longer, I felt like I would gradually transform into someone leaving with a scratchy head, just like that guy, overwhelmed by a sense of dread.

“Goodbye, guest. We hope you won’t return.”

“······.”

I hastily left the adventurer guild.

Without a doubt, this was a den of crazy lunatics.

With a decent initial capital, there was no need to toil away, so I had decided not to get involved with these people in the future.

It would be advantageous to mingle with nobles.

There was no need to deliberately entangle myself with the group that played the role of suppressing the protagonist in the early stages.

‘But it might be good to know the performance and activation conditions of the trait.’

[Initial Trait: Guardian Knight]

[Stats are amplified when protecting someone. If not activated, a penalty reduces basic stats by 5.]

Trait, Guardian Knight.

The condition of ‘protecting someone’ was a bit tricky.

It’s best to understand the exact conditions due to the somewhat vague wording.

And I still didn’t know how much the stat amplification was.

It would be nice to recruit a companion and visit a hunting ground.

– Escort Knight Recruitment Competition

“······?”

At that moment, I noticed a conspicuous notice on the village square bulletin board.

– Recruitment of Escort Knights for Saint Jill Diner

– Race, ethnicity, status, education, gender are irrelevant

– Selection based solely on skill and character

– To be held in the capital city of Hameln

Finally, it’s here.

The main heroine’s appearance event.

If you win over the heroine, everything will be resolved. What’s the point of having freezing-to-death companions? Companions, huh.