Interlude: "The Carriage."

The horses pulled the carriage along a packed dirt path: the brown one walked with a steady, calm step, while the white one moved its head from side to side, clearly bored with the slow pace imposed by the drivers. Their hooves struck the ground in a regular rhythm, and the four wooden wheels creaked and jolted each time they passed over a pothole or stone. The crunch of earth and gravel was the only constant sound on the journey toward the village.



The weather had changed noticeably since the start of the trip: the scorching midday heat had subsided, especially at the back of the freight carriage, where the vehicle’s structure provided complete protection from the sun. If one touched the side wood, it felt warm to the touch, as if it had retained heat from hours earlier. There, piled among crates of supplies and tools, was Tsumiya. He sat on the carriage floor, leaning against one of the walls, silently analyzing what had happened to him since the day before. He knew he was in the "Hyulkran Forest," within the territories of the "Astelford" monarchy.



The possibilities of being an OP character or even a prophesied hero had him absorbed. His mind was overflowing with unanswered questions, and he knew that asking them out loud would seem strange—they might even see him as some kind of madman if he was quite wrong. But some questions stood out above the rest: What cheat ability will I have? How do I activate it? Where are the beautiful companions who should be by my side? And where is my legendary sword?



To those looking from the outside, Tsumiya was a reserved person. He did not look like a vagrant, but nor did he have the imposing air of the noble bureaucrats from regions beyond the forest. With his simple clothes and manner of carrying himself, he fit more into the category of strange foreigner from the south—people known for their unconventional way of thinking.



Tsumiya rested his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands, calmly watching the landscape slip by behind the carriage. His brown eyes had a glassy sheen, fixing on every tree or rock they left behind. The hood of his red sweatshirt covered his head, and the white zipper was open to his chest, letting the forest’s cool air brush his neck. He remained still, save for the slight sway transmitted by the vehicle’s movement, and that stillness gave him a strange sense of well-being.



???: [—Is everything alright back there?]



The calm, serene voice came from the front seat, where Matthew held the reins of the white horse. He spoke softly, leaning back a little as if trying to see the passenger, and concern was evident in his words over Tsumiya’s prolonged silence.



At the unexpected question, Tsumiya jerked his head up and sat still for a few seconds, looking at the carriage ceiling as he searched for what to say. In the end, he just shrugged and said a quiet "Yes," making sure it was clear enough to be heard without needing to repeat it.



—They were traveling along the official trade route of the Merchants’ Guild, a popular association that accepted any merchant of legal age, regardless of origin.



The tall, leafy trees of the forest rose on both sides of the path, creating a green canopy that filtered the sunlight. The song of small birds could be heard everywhere—a characteristic sound of the Hyulkran Forest, especially at this time of day when diurnal wildlife was in full activity. On the forest floor, ferns, moss, and small shrubs grew among the tree roots.



Varzgax, the bearded man guiding the brown horse, sat upright in his seat, legs apart and shoulders squared. His strong, calloused hands gripped the reins firmly, adjusting them now and then to maintain the animal’s pace. The combat axe strapped to his back with a leather belt let out soft metallic creaks each time the carriage passed over a bump.



Returning to Tsumiya, he remained in his corner of the carriage, keeping practically the same posture since he had climbed aboard some twenty minutes earlier. He closed his eyes for a moment and thought calmly about his situation, imagining the possibilities of becoming a powerful hero once he awakened his cheat ability.



...This or that. Even if I could stop time, my life would be much easier. Being an excellent mage wouldn’t be bad either—I could cast spells from afar and not take unnecessary risks. But the ideal would be to have a legendary sword with a special glow and emblematic armor that protects me from any damage, defeat the Demon King in an epic battle, and prove that teamwork is the key to bravery. Even though battles must be very stressful, in the end I’d like to live happily and carefree... probably with several beautiful women by my side. That would be great, right? After all, I’m the protagonist of this world. My modern knowledge will be a big help—things like agriculture or medicine could make everyone admire me. I’m excited to discover my power; it doesn’t matter if it’s not the strongest, but it has to be really useful. In anime, protagonists are quite peculiar, but I’ll have my own style and help others when I succeed. That’s my duty as the protagonist.



—Tsumiya’s thoughts were quite confused even to himself, jumping from one idea to another while the others focused on the task of reaching the village on time.



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At the front of the carriage, the two men maintained a relaxed conversation to pass the time. Matthew rested his elbows on the front rail, reins in one hand, as he looked at the horizon with a dreamy air. Varzgax, on the other hand, kept his firm posture, watching the path and his horse attentively.



Matthew: [—Hey, old man, why do we have to work today?]



—They were supposed to go to the village tavern to rest for a while.



Matthew spoke in a relaxed tone, slumping his shoulders slightly and yawning. Despite his lazy demeanor, his fingers never let go of the reins and he kept complete control of the white horse.



Varzgax: [—We can do that another time, Matthew. Today we have to deliver the tool order to the native community that lives on the outskirts of the village.]



Varzgax turned his head toward his companion for a moment, smiling slightly before looking back at the path. The movement made his dark beard shift, and his voice conveyed calm and confidence.



Matthew: [—You’re always so boring with your responsibilities... I even remember when we were kids and you already worried about everything.]



Matthew replied in his usual style, resting his head in one hand as he looked at the trees. He felt hungry again and yawned, then a doubt crossed his mind. He turned fully toward Varzgax, leaning a little to speak more quietly.



Matthew: [—Hey, do you remember if that kid ate anything since we found him lying on the road?]



—Even I’d be worried if I got bitten by all those bugs at once.



Varzgax: [—You’re right... It hadn’t occurred to me. But we must respect his silence for now. When we reach the village, I’ll invite him to lunch with us at the inn—he’s sure to be hungry.]



Varzgax adjusted the reins with one hand as he spoke, and his gaze briefly turned toward the back of the carriage before returning to the path. His response was so quick and decisive that it surprised Matthew, who fell silent for a few seconds, nodding slowly.



Matthew: [—I understand. You’re right, as always.]



After saying this, he turned his body forward again, adjusting his posture and gripping the reins with both hands to pay closer attention to the path.



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Tsumiya straightened up abruptly and slapped his palm with his fist, as if he had just realized something important. "Wait, what am I saying? I’m supposed to be someone cool, and this way I don’t look like anything." He looked down at his sweatshirt and shook his head disapprovingly. "First of all, I need to change my clothes: a hero needs shiny armor or at least an elegant tunic with some emblem. Yes, that’s right, Tsumiya—think like a winner. You’ll be successful if you get your abilities as soon as possible. I just need to learn how the XP system works here, and use my knowledge to create strategies in my favor... I hope no one’s invented lighters yet, because I should definitely be the first to do it. I’m really smart, right? Of course I am, I’m someone cool. I even have some martial arts experience just in case I need to defend myself..."



—Though the circumstances of my arrival were very strange. Normally in anime, a goddess appears to explain everything and help at the start—even the summoning is a more formal process. I just felt something warm enter my body through my back... Or maybe it’s an even more OP ability than usual. I might even be an omnipotent god who doesn’t remember his powers; that would be the best option of all.



Tsumiya’s messy thoughts did not cease, and he began moving his hands as he spoke quietly to himself, comparing himself to the protagonists he had seen in his favorite series. His fists clenched so tightly with excitement that his knuckles turned white, and his eyes shone with enthusiasm as he imagined all the possibilities.



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The carriage continued on its quiet way, carried by the two horses toward the village already visible in the distance. The three occupants had very different thoughts about the journey: the drivers thought of the delivery and subsequent rest, while the passenger was lost in his dreams of greatness.



Ahead, Matthew and Varzgax kept their usual postures—one relaxed, the other firm—and looked at the trees along the path now and then, enjoying the forest’s cool air. The sun was no longer so high, and the tree shadows stretched across the path.



Matthew sat up suddenly and pointed forward with his hand, leaning a little to speak closer to his companion’s ear:



Matthew: [—Look, we’re here at the village. You can see the houses from here.]



Varzgax nodded gently and pulled the reins firmly to slow the brown horse’s pace, while the white one also reduced its step following its companion’s example.



To one side of the path lay the village: some thirty or forty houses spread along narrow dirt streets, with a central space that seemed to hold a small market or square. The dwellings were of dark wood or white stone, and none were more than two stories high. In the farthest part, right at the foot of a low hill, a large field stretched out with neat rows of corn and vegetables. From a distance, the place’s tranquility was evident: some children played with a leather ball in the square, women hung laundry in their yard, and men worked in the fields or repaired tools in front of their doors.