Kenichi looked around after he rubbed his eyes. This fantasy world was a sight for sore eyes. He had only ever read about places like this or seen similar things in the isekai anime he watched. The street felt alive. People shouted. Kids ran around. Beastmen walked past with baskets. Everything looked unreal.
He slowly walked along the street, still stunned. These clothes look nothing like the modern stuff I see every day. No jeans. No jackets. No sneakers. Just tunics, robes, belts, and boots. Even the beastmen have armor parts. What kind of place is this? He studied the buildings. Stone, wood, concrete here and there. Nothing modern at all. The roofs look old. Some windows have wooden shutters. This is straight out of a fantasy book.
He stopped at a market stall filled with bright fruit. The old merchant behind it eyed him with a bored expression.
Kenichi pointed. “Hey, can I buy these? What are they called?”
The old man lifted one of the spiky, dark-crimson fruits. “These are drakar berries. Fresh and not cheap.”
Kenichi leaned in. “Drakar berries, huh? That’s… kinda a weird name.”
The old man grunted, then eyed him up and down. “Weird name or not, that doesn’t matter. What matters is this.” He tapped the basket with a knobby finger. “You got any coin on you? Bronze, copper, gold, or at least a solrite?”
Kenichi stared blankly. “…A what?”
The old man’s eyes nearly popped out. “You don’t know the currency?! Bronze coins, copper coins, gold coins, and the highest value of them all, solrite coins! How can you not know that? Are you seriously that dense?!”
Kenichi raised his hands. “Okay okay! I didn’t know! It’s my first time hearing those names!”
The old man scoffed loudly. “Unbelievable. Look at you. Dressed like a commoner barely holding over, and not even a single coin to your name.” He jabbed a finger toward the street. “If you can’t pay, stop wasting my time and get moving already!”
Kenichi jumped at the shout. “Right! I’m going!”
He continued walking. He asked a couple of adventurers where he was, but they ignored him. He asked a woman carrying vegetables, but she rushed away. Finally he approached a cat beastman stacking crates.
“Sorry, but.. Do you know what this place is called?”
The beastman stared at him with disbelief. “How can you not know that? Are you dense? This is the Capital of Vautnatica!”
The beastman walked away without another word.
Kenichi blinked. Wow! Rude! He could have just answered normally! I am not dense!
He dragged his feet onward, shoulders drooping. If this is an isekai world, maybe I have some kind of power! Everyone in those anime gets something! Maybe I have magic or super strength! Come on, anything!
He wandered to a quieter area near the edge of the capital where trees grew naturally. He stepped into a small clearing and took a deep breath.
Two voices suddenly shouted, “Stop right there!”
Kenichi turned sharply. Two men stood blocking the path. One was huge and muscular, wide enough to block half the clearing. The other was a short guy with a smug, sharp grin and clothes that made him look like he thought he was royalty.
The shorter one stepped forward. “Listen up, kid. Hand over everything you got! If you do not, my friend here will smash you into the ground!”
Kenichi raised his arms. “Wait! Hold on! You want me to hand over all my stuff? Do you think I am just going to let you rob me?! That is crazy!”
The muscular man cracked his knuckles. Kenichi gulped. He stepped forward anyway and threw a kick at the man’s leg.
The moment his foot hit, he regretted everything.
It felt like kicking a concrete pillar.
The man did not flinch. Kenichi’s eyes widened. “What?!”
The muscular man grabbed him by the shirt and slammed a punch into his face. Another punch hit his cheek. Kenichi fell to the ground with a groan. After a few more hits, the two men laughed at him and walked away.
Kenichi lay there for a moment before pushing himself up. His left eye was bruised. His left cheek had swollen. His entire face pulsed with pain.
So I have no power?! No strength?! Nothing at all?! This sucks!
He limped back toward the city. The sky was turning orange as the sun started setting. People lit lanterns. Shops began closing. The streets calmed down.
He stopped in front of a tavern covered in wooden planks. A cluster of flyers hung on the wall. One stood out instantly.
It showed a beautifully drawn blonde half elf girl with bright blue eyes and a high ponytail. She held both hands over her head with a cheerful smile. The text beside her said something like:
“Hello. I am a half elf mage. I am looking for one or two companions to join my party. My mission is to defeat the Duskhand Occult. If you want to help, meet me between the exit of Nation Vautnatica and the entrance of Nation Eristalune.”
Kenichi stared at the flyer with wide eyes. “Woah… she is cute! Really cute!”
He felt excitement rush through him for the first time since arriving.
This is it! My first chance! I am not missing this!
He smoothed out his shirt, lifted his head, and smirked with shaky confidence.
“Alright! This is happening! I am going to meet her! Maybe I will even end up having drinks with a pretty half elf tonight!”
With sudden energy, he pumped his fist into the air and shouted into the evening sky, “I am going to team up with a cute mage tonight! This is my moment!”
Several pedrestrians stopped and stared at him.
Kenichi ignored all of them and walked off with new determination.