Get out of here!

It was getting late, and the villagers began lighting torches to illuminate the road. I followed Flora to Mr. Roger's place. We passed through fields and continued walking until I began to hear the sound of rushing water. Soon I saw a river, and on the left side I saw a very high waterfall.

“Is this the waterfall where I fell?”

“Yes, I was quite surprised to hear that from Mr. Roger.”

Thinking about it now, I was very lucky to survive after falling from such a high waterfall. Especially since there were many sharp and hard rocks below. If I had landed there, I would have certainly died on the spot.

I followed Flora as she continued walking along the river’s flow, and soon I saw an old hut that looked cozy. Around the hut, torches were glowing, illuminating it.

*Knock! Knock! Knock* (sfx knocking on the door)

“Mr. Roger, are you home?”

From inside the door, a man’s voice sounded heavy, apparently quite old but still firm.

“Come in.”

Hearing that, Flora opened the door and gestured for me to come in as well.

Inside the hut, it turned out to be more complicated than it looked from the outside. Although it wasn't very big, I could see a lot of furniture that looked quite old, such as tables, chairs, and cupboards, and I could see that Mr. Roger liked hunting. I saw deer and bear heads displayed on the wall above the main room. My eyes focused on the red light glowing from the corner of the hut. There I saw Mr. Roger hitting a hot piece of iron with his hammer. We waited for a while until he placed the hot iron in water and his hammer on the table. He approached us.

“A person from another world.”

Mr. Roger looked at me with a sharp gaze.

“How did you know, Mr. Roger?”

Flora was surprised, just like me. How could this old man know that I came from another world? If he already knew, why did he save me?

“Mr. Roger, Flora told me that you are my savior. I thank you for helping a stranger like me. Would you explain to me how you knew I was from another world and why you saved me? And why is there a temple from my world in this village? What’s the connection between all this?”

I expressed my gratitude and all my confusion about what was really happening. But upon hearing this, Mr. Roger continued to stare at me sharply without answering.

Mr. Roger pulled out his chair and sat down, lighting a cigar and beginning to smoke it.

“Tonight, leave the village as quickly as possible.”

Huh? Why?

“Why are you telling him to leave, Mr. Roger?!”

I was surprised to hear Flora shout like that. But Mr. Roger didn't respond; instead, his eyes turned to me once again.

“You haven’t forgotten that you’re being chased by King Rapo XI, have you? That bastard won’t believe you’re dead until he sees your body with his own eyes. You know what you have to do now, right?”

I understood Mr. Roger’s meaning, but I still felt reluctant to leave the village that had treated me so well.

“But what about the village if I run away?”

“That’s not your concern.”

I looked at Flora, who was now silent. She seemed to want to say something but couldn’t.

“I’ll fight alongside this village too.”

As I spoke, an axe flew past my head and embedded itself in the wall of the hut.

“Do you even understand what I’m saying? Go, and never come back.”

After hearing Mr. Roger’s words, for some reason my heart ached. I knew he didn’t mean it that way, but this rejection felt the same as back then. It turned out their shadows still haunted me.

“Still… they came here because of me. At least I should take responsibility for that. Please let me handle this.”

“John. Shaq.”

After the village chief said that, I felt someone hit me from behind and suddenly everything went dark.

I felt my body being tossed around by something. I slowly opened my eyes and saw only darkness. I heard a sound flowing like water. Where was I?

I began to feel around and sensed the texture of wood. I focused my strength into my hands and struck the top of it.

*Brak!* (sfx of a hard impact)

The light was so bright it almost blinded me. I began to realize I was inside a wooden barrel stuck on a large fallen tree trunk by the riverbank.

I climbed out and jumped onto the shore. It seemed like I had been knocked unconscious and put into the barrel. Damn you, Mr. Roger. But where am I now?

I tried to explore the forest and find a path. I followed the path, hoping to meet someone or at least lead me to a inhabited area. I needed a lot of information about this world.

After walking for a while, I heard the sound of swords clashing. I walked toward the source of the sound and found a village nearly destroyed by bandit attacks.

“Die!”

*Slash* (sfx sword strike)

The last person still standing fell at the bandit’s hands. Though the village wasn’t very large, the bandits had defeated them with just five men. They were strong.

Is there anyone still alive in this village? From atop the tree, I looked around and saw a small child hiding behind the back door of a house. I saw the bandits begin to enter and loot the houses. If this continues, the child will surely be discovered. I don't know what terrible things will happen. But... I don't have a weapon.

“Huaaa!”

The bandit had found him and dragged him outside.

Damn you for hurting innocent children.

My foot accidentally slipped on a slippery surface, and I fell from the tree.

*Brak* (sfx of falling)

“Who’s there?”

The bandits’ attention immediately turned to me. Damn it, I didn’t expect it to turn out like this.

“I should be the one asking that. Who are you, and why are you attacking this village?”

They laughed at me.

“Hey, kid, it seems like you’re tired of living since you dared to show up in front of us.”

The five bandits walked toward me. Their hands gripped sharp swords.

“Wait a minute, I'm not holding a weapon, isn't it excessive for you to attack me all at once?”

“Huh? Why should we listen to the words of someone who is about to die?”

Damn, these bandits are impossible to reason with. If only they were moving individually, there would still be a chance. What should I do now?