A new destination, the Noxhollow Library

“You look pale… are you sure you’re okay?” asked a worried Liz.

No, I’m not.

Was I transported to another world!? How!? Why!?

How am I supposed to be fine when everything I knew has disappeared!?

Damn it! What the hell am I supposed to do now!?

“Come on, we can rest here if… Wait! What are you doing!?” Liz asked when she saw me drop to my knees, my head lowered and a dark expression on my face.

“…I want to go home.”

I had already decided I would apologize to my parents. I had already decided what path I would take from now on. Why does this have to happen to me?

Liz stepped closer, kneeling down so she was at my eye level, trying to comfort me.

“I-it’s fine! Don’t worry, o-once we get to my house you can prepare to go back to your home.”

“I don’t think that’s possible…” I replied in a monotone, depressed voice.

“Why do you say that? Are you from a foreign country or something?” Liz asked incredulously.

Should I tell her the truth?

I still don’t know anything about this world. I have no idea if people in my situation are treated well or not; they could very well capture me to dissect me or do something worse… But the truth is, I need help.

I need to learn the basics of this world just to survive until I figure out a way to return home.

Liz helped me even though I was a complete stranger, thinking I might even be a bandit. Maybe a little naïve, but that says a lot about her being a good person.

Yeah… I’ll tell her the truth.

“…You might think I’m crazy for saying this, but please, just hear me out.”

At my serious and somewhat dull tone, Liz understood that what I was about to say was important. She simply nodded, locking eyes with me, waiting for me to speak.

“I… it seems I come from another world,” I finally said.

Liz’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

It’s normal—if a stranger told me they came from another world, I’d definitely think they were crazy.

Her expression shifted from surprise to doubt, then to a thoughtful look. She stayed like that for a while, processing my statement, until she finally ended up with an expression of realization, as if she had just understood what I said.

“I see, I get it! Your strength is from another world, no doubt you’re really strong!” she said, giving me a thumbs-up with a smile.

“…”

We’re definitely not on the same page here…

“No, that’s not it. I really do come from another world,” I tried to explain.

“You don’t mean another country, do you?”

“No, no! This is definitely not another country!” I shot back.

At best, Australia could pass for having out-of-place animals, but as far as I know, there are no monsters or ruins like these.

Liz thought for a bit longer in the face of my constant denials. A few seconds passed, and if not for the sounds of birds and other animals nearby, it would have been complete silence.

Liz seemed to understand now, her face turning worried.

“D-don’t tell me…” she began with a trembling voice.

Could it be she’s concerned about my condition as someone from another world? She really is a good girl.

“Don’t tell me you went crazy from living in the ruins!” she suddenly shouted in worry.

I take it back—this girl is just an idiot.

Surprised by her outburst, I instinctively gave her a light tap on the head. It was something that came naturally to me when someone got on my nerves. I even remember doing it to some newbies at the gym when they asked me for help with their workouts.

Needless to say, they never asked me for help a second time…

“Why’d you hit me!?” complained a pained Liz, holding her head to ease the sting.

Sigh

“…Forget it. It was going to be hard for you to believe me anyway.”

Isn’t there some way to make this girl understand?

Wait. Actually, there is.

“Was that hit really necessary?” Liz shot back. “Huh? What’s that?”

“This is called a cellphone,” I replied.

It was the proof I needed!

I quickly opened the gallery and then my photo album.

“Look! Do you think this is from this world?” I asked with a slightly challenging tone.

“What are you tal…? Wha—!?” she exclaimed in shock.

Pictures of landscapes, sporting events, university life, cities. I might not have a signal or internet here, but I still have everything stored in my memory.

With every photo I showed her, Liz’s face grew more and more confused—the exact same expression I had when I first saw this place.

“Now you get it, right?” I asked, continuing to flip through the pictures. “I’m not from this world.”

Liz stared at the phone screen for a few more seconds before handing it back to me, her hand trembling. She didn’t even know what to say anymore.

“I see… so that’s why you said you didn’t think it was possible to return home.”

“Yeah…” I replied, a little downhearted. “Even so, I have no intention of staying here doing nothing. I have to find a way back home,” I added firmly.

Yes, I have to go back no matter what. I need to apologize to my family—that’s my decision.

“I understand… Ah! I think I know where there might be something!” Liz said, suddenly excited.

What? The girl who just a moment ago didn’t believe I came from another world has a lead?

“Come on, you didn’t even believe me when I told you I was from another world. How am I supposed to believe you have a lead?” I asked incredulously.

“Well, it’s not me who has it…” Liz replied.

At her answer, I gave her a judging stare. Could she be a liar? Have I gotten involved with a troublesome girl?

“Don’t look at me like that!” she shouted nervously. “I don’t know anything myself, but I know a place where there might be something. The Noxhollow Library.”

“The Noxhollow Library?”

If Liz says there’s a chance there might be something there related to my situation, even without knowing her well, it means that library must have a good reputation.

“Yes. It’s located in the capital, and from what I’ve heard, it’s filled with knowledge spanning thousands of years.”

Now that’s a good lead. I have to go there!

“And do you know how to get to the capital?” I asked eagerly.

“Yes! I go there from time to time to buy things I can’t easily find elsewhere.”

Perfect! I finally have a clear goal!

“Thanks…” I said with total sincerity. “Sorry for thinking you were a troublesome girl…”

“What do you mean by that!?” Liz protested, her face twisting in anger.

A moment later, she just sighed.

“Never mind. Once we get to my house, I’ll explain everything,” Liz said, now a little calmer.

“Yeah!” I replied. “By the way, where is your house?”

Thinking about it, we were in the ruins of a city overgrown with weeds and crawling with animals. I seriously doubted anyone could live nearby.

“My house is a few days from here. A carriage will arrive in a few hours to pick me up at the entrance of this place.”

I see. I guess having a way to travel to other places is important if you want to be an adventurer.

“Let’s go! The road is a bit tricky, so we’d better get moving now,” Liz said before starting her way forward.

As I watched her walk away from the castle ruins, I took one last look around.

Unknown animals, monsters, places completely different from those in my world. All that and more await me from now on.

I don’t know what will become of me. Things might be easy, or I might even end up dead, but one thing’s for sure—

Staying here won’t solve anything.

I took my first steps away from the castle that had welcomed me to this world, but…

“Sav…”

A whisper caught my attention.

The voice sounded like the same one I’d heard when I felt lost in the darkness, just before waking up here.

I turned to look, but there was no one there.

Instead, something else caught my eye.

When I finally faced the castle ruins head-on—so massive and imposing, just like in the novels I’d read—the most striking thing was a colossal tree. It stood behind the castle, yet it was so huge that even the sheer size of the structure couldn’t block it from view.

However, that tree seemed dead.

What once might have been a majestic, thriving tree was now nothing more than a hollow trunk, barely a shadow of what it used to be.

It was a somewhat depressing sight, but still impressive because of its size.

Anyway, it was time to keep moving, so I quickened my pace to catch up with Liz, who had already gotten ahead a bit.

And thus, my journey… my adventure through a new and unknown world, officially began.