Episode 2: The start of an adventure

Taro works on his daily tasks for the church, this time, he is chopping wood. Just when he feels things are easy, he encounters a particularly hard log in which his axe gets stuck, he struggles to unstuck it as one of the younger priests from the church walks by.

priest guy: quit playing, take your job seriously, if you don't finish your holy tasks, you won't get to eat or sleep here, remember that

Taro: yez… (it’s clear that this guy doesn’t like me, he’s always on my case, but what can I do, haters gonna hate)

he finished chopping the wood, cutting the grass, bringing water, sweeping the floor, by the time he was done, it was mid-day. Taro laid down and stared at the sky

Taro: (today is the day things will be different; I refuse to give in to sadness and routine)

He headed to the guild office at the same usual time, on the counter, the secretary was paying Ari and another girl, Shizuka, for their night patrol quest.

guild secretary: the report here says that Shizuka singlehandedly killed the monster boar, is that true Ari?

Ari: …yeah

guild secretary: impressive, here’s a bonus for that, despite being a Transported, you got the hang of things very quickly Shizuka, perhaps you’re a genius. oh, but don't get carried away, or you’ll end up like me ha-ha!!

Shizuka: hehe! I’ll be careful, thanks

Ari: if there’s nothing else, I’ll leave now

Ari looked different than her usual smug or prideful self, her expression was serious, her mouth tense. When she and Taro walked next to each other, she didn’t even bother greeting or teasing him like always, she just walk past

guild secretary: speaking of geniuses! here comes my best forager.

when Taro and Shizuka’s eyes met, she looked away

Taro: goomo-goomornin mazter, Shizuka

Shizuka: g-goo'mornin'

Taro: (is she still embarrassed that I saw her naked? what can I even do, it wasn’t my fault)

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A memory came to both Taro and Shizuka, from the first months when they were transported to the world.

When Taro was finally able to walk, he used to wander around the church. One day, he peeked in a room where the priestesses that treated him used to go often. There was a person covered in bandages like a mummy, her wounds were probably worse than his, judging by how many people it was taking to heal her. This person eventually woke up, with no memories, all she could remember was her name, Shizuka.

Apparently, she didn’t remember decency either because she would often run around naked, roll around, climb things, do all sorts of acrobatics, and be a source of chaos for the staff.

Despite everything, she picked up the language quickly, and even learned mana control very early, earning her the attention of the guild. By the time she was under their tutelage, she had learned to behave and properly wear clothes.

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both Taro and Shizuka blushed in embarrassment

Taro: (I guess this is the so-called second-hand embarrassment)

guild secretary: What's it gonna be, champ, the usual?

Taro: mazter, I na… (how do you pronounce it again? oh right) need, nu quezt

guild secretary: a new quest? feeling daring today huh, alright them, I’ll read you the ones I can give you and you tell me if there’s something that catches your eye

the secretary started reading from the lowest rated requests, Taro was paying special attention both to understand properly and to be able to copy the words

Taro: delivari, pleaze

guild secretary: the delivery quest hm? All you gotta do is go deliver this package to the neighbo--the town next to this one.

as he explained, the secretary used gestures and a map

guild secretary: all you gotta do is walk from the south entrance until you get there, follow the road, go to the guild, give this package, come back with the note. got it?

Taro: Eazy

guild secretary: alright champ, I’m counting on you. get going already before it gets late, remember, don't travel at night. We have people on patrol, but we never know

Taro: tank you mazter. I… (how does one say this? oh well) I go

Taro left on his way to his new mission, and Shizuka chuckled

Shizuka: Despite your appearance, you’re a very nice old geezer, aren’t you? hehe

guild secretary: hah! What do you mean by that? kids these days don’t have any respect, I’m a tough and rough badass carved in the battlefield

Shizuka: You took the trouble of reading slowly and explaining with simple words, not many people would bother

guild secretary: heh… I learned the hard way. I didn’t understand the importance of being kind to people who can't catch up until I myself become one of them

the secretary stared at his prosthetic hand nostalgically, there was a moment of silence

guild secretary: so, you better be kind to others, you hear me? don't think you’re at the top just because you have talent. Taro is a Transported just like you, he’s like your brother, so don't leave him behind alright?

Shizuka: … so you can also say wise things, I'm surprised. alright then, I promise, or maybe not? hehe

Guild secretary: hah! take a quest and get to work or go bother someone else ha-ha!

Taro’s first stop was at the church, he went to give notice that he would travel to the next town, just in case, but sister Sunny, the old priestess that supervised him was nowhere to be found, in fact, most of the staff was absent, only a few people were around, including the priest that didn’t like Taro

priest guy: what do you want? the others are in a meeting right now

Taro: (why did it have to be him? oh well) I go, quezt in other tawn, zizter zunny… uhh (I forgot how to say it!)

Priest guy: you what? you’re going on a quest?

Taro: yez!

priest guy: and why is that relevant?

Taro: quezt in other town

priest guy: I see… ok, I’ll tell the others when I see them

Taro: (I hate to say this but) tank you

Taro then went to the edge of town at the south entrance, he stared at the sky with excitement

Taro: (today I make the change, I will level up! I will carve my own destiny!... my first time outside town, I’m a little nervous but, it’s also my first adventure, perhaps I too can be an adventurer)

the journey had started, taro advances and rehearses the instructions of his mission

He is surprised at how well maintained the road is, the terrain is even and the weeds are well trimmed. he notices things he hadn’t before, like the mountain ridge on the horizon

Taro: (I wonder if there’s wyverns and dragons over there. hmm, on second thought, I hope not, life sucks already, it would be terrible to have to face dragons on top of that)

occasionally, he crosses people who are on the way to the village, he tries to greet them, but they just stare at him for a bit, ignore, and keep walking

Taro: (I don’t know if that’s just the culture, or if people don’t like me because I’m a Transported… no! don’t fall into despair, this is my first adventure, I won’t let anyone ruin it)

The journey continues, the afternoon sun is bright and hot, but not as hostile as the sun from Taro’s original world. The heat is making him a bit thirsty, he is also starting to feel hunger coming, and his shoes are not appropriate for the long walk. The little discomforts start piling up one by one. Taro sits down under a tree shade to rest

Taro: (damn, this is longer than I thought, I really should have prepared for this with food, water, I wonder how expensive hats are)

something rustles the bushes nearby, it’s a rabbit-looking creature

Taro: (oh? is this my chance to obtain free food? it hasn’t noticed me yet)

Taro picked up a rock, and slowly adopted a pitcher position

Taro: (I wonder if I can still do this, I used to be pretty good when I played baseball, but it’s been a while)

the creature remained unaware of Taro’s presence, he was in the perfect position and range for the shot

Taro: (I just need to make the shot… but come to think of it, I’ve never killed an animal before. sure, I have helped clean and chop animals for meals at the church, but that's different from actually taking a life… to take a life of an innocent being, it didn’t even do anything to me…)

Taro put the rock down, and continued his journey

Taro: (I thought I could farm experience killing low level mobs, but I guess that’s not how it works here. aren’t I pathetic?... oh well. I will be stronger, I’m not even hungry anyway)

as he walked, he felt a strange sense of pride, imagining the creature going back to its family