Let's Explore

Unbeknownst to our dreamer, the moment he realized he was dreaming… it stopped being one.

But in the vast green field he now ruled, Toma Yuuma,(former nobody, now ridiculously handsome fantasy protagonist, ahem,)was far too absorbed in his new power to notice anything off.

"Wait," he said, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. "If I’m going to explore, I’ll need money."

He snapped his fingers or maybe just thought about snapping and with a faint shimmer of light, a heavy leather pouch materialized in midair and dropped into his palm.

It jingled.

He opened it. Gold coins. Real ones. They sparkled like something straight out of a JRPG’s starting zone. He gave the bag a toss and caught it with the swagger of a man who had never touched actual wealth.

A grin stretched across his face. "Nice.”

Next, he looked down at himself. His outfit was exactly what he'd expect from a wandering hero: a traveler's cloak draped over a navy-blue tunic, breeches tucked into soft leather boots, and a utility belt with a scabbard—housing the wooden sword he’d used to cleave the stone golem earlier.

“A noble swordsman, huh?” he mused aloud. “Then obviously… I need servants.”

He closed his eyes, letting his mind sketch the idea. A beautiful swordswoman. Loyal. Cool-headed. A little bit shy. Definitely calls him Young Master. She needed to be elegant, omeone who moved like wind through silk but could split a tree with a swing.

It took more effort this time—like forcing a hazy image into focus. But then...

Boom.

The grass in front of him rustled. A gust of air circled the space, drawing light into a single point. And when it cleared, she was there.

She looked to be in her late teens, her posture straight, expression calm, hands folded politely over the hilt of a sheathed katana. She wore a dark green hakama and an open-sleeved top, layered in soft earth-tones that blended seamlessly with the natural world behind her. Her long black hair was tied in a low ponytail, and her eyes—sharp and intelligent—held just the faintest hint of worry.

She bowed deeply.

"Forgive me, Young Master. I should have arrived sooner.”

Toma’s heart did a little backflip.

*She really said it. 'Young Master.'Heck yes. That alone deserves an award.*

He gave a small nod, trying to play it cool. “It’s fine. We haven’t even left yet.”

The girl rose. “Then shall I prepare our supplies for the road? You need only command me.”

*Whoa. She’s fully programmed. Fluent. And respectful. I love dream logic.*

"Right. Uh, what’s your name?"

She blinked once, as if processing it. “As you wish. My name is… Shizuka.”

*Nice. Short. Elegant. Rolls off the tongue.*

Still, even as perfect as this was, something about having just one girl with him felt awkward. Or maybe it was the fact that he was seventeen and alone with a girl in the middle of nowhere.

*Gotta balance the party.*

Toma held up his hand again, imagining a second servant. This time: someone reliable. A strong, silent type. Maybe... a humanoid dragon warrior. Tough but not too intimidating. Cool horns. Sword user. Loyal. Calls him “Young Master,” too, but more like a knight than a butler.

The sky above shimmered faintly, and with a rumble of displaced air, a figure appeared.

He stood taller than Toma, with short, wild hair the color of seafoam and shimmering bluish scales across his arms and collarbone. A thin tail curled behind him, and small horn nubs peeked from his hair. He wore partial armor—pauldrons, light plating over flexible cloth—and a long blade rested against his back.

He dropped to one knee immediately.

"Young Master. Forgive the delay.”

*Oh. Heck yeah. Dream party secured.*

“And your name?” Toma asked, grinning like an idiot.

The dragonkin raised his head slightly. His voice was deep, but calm. “ Please call me… Kaien.”

Shizuka stepped beside him, arms folded, expression unreadable. “Kaien. Again, you’re late.”

Kaien didn’t even blink. “You arrived too early.”

Toma stepped between them. “Okay, okay, simmer down. We’ve got places to be.”

He turned toward the horizon, where the faint outline of a village sat nestled against a distant hill. A thin column of smoke rose from a chimney, and the rooftops glimmered like sun-baked tiles.

*A village. Perfect starting location. Feels just like a prologue zone.*

“Let’s go,” he said, his wooden sword bouncing at his side. “We’ve got a world to explore.”

And with that, the trio set off, unaware that the village ahead would be far more real than anything Toma had ever imagined.