In the distance, he finally saw it.
A huge wall stretching across the horizon.
Thick, tall, made of solid stone. There were towers at the corners. Guards lined the top.
Yep. That confirmed it.
Definitely another world.
Kazuki sighed.
What the hell did I do to deserve this?
He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and kept walking steadily forward.
I'm just a normal guy. I work a crappy job at a company that underpays and overworks everyone. I don't cause trouble. I don't chase drama.
And no, I don't have a girlfriend back home.
Well—I did. Until I caught her cheating with some guy at her gym.
But that's not important now.
He pushed that thought aside and looked at what was ahead.
Outside the big city gate, a long line of people stretched across the dirt road. Dozens of them, maybe more. Merchants, travelers, maybe adventurers. Horses, carts, wagons loaded with goods.
It wasn't chaotic. Just busy.
Kazuki slowed his steps, watching.
So they check people at the gate. That means IDs. Passes. Maybe money.
His stomach sank.
Because he didn't have any of those things.
What should I even do?
Kazuki paused for a moment, stepping off the road so he wouldn't get in the way of passing wagons.
He took out his wallet.
As expected, most of the cash inside was useless here, yen bills that wouldn't mean anything to these people.
But then he noticed the coins, a few hundred yen worth of change. Mostly worthless.
Then something caught his eye.
Tucked behind one of the card slots, where he'd left it months ago, was a small ring.
Plain gold. No gem. No fancy engraving. Just a simple, cheap ring he bought when he was planning to propose.
Back before he caught her cheating.
Kazuki stared at it for a second, silently.
Didn't think I'd still have this.
He held it between his fingers, feeling the faint weight of the metal.
It's nothing special. But maybe it's worth something here.
He slipped it back into his wallet.
If he was lucky, he could trade it for some local currency. Enough to buy food. Maybe even get into town.
Kazuki finally reached the edge of the city and stepped into the line outside the massive gate.
He joined the middle queue, keeping his hands in his pockets, trying not to stand out too much.
But he immediately felt it.
Eyes on him.
Not hostile....just… curious.
He looked around. People were glancing at him, whispering quietly. Some didn't bother hiding it at all.
Kazuki looked down at himself.
Ah… right. That explained it.
Office slacks, polished leather shoes, a button-up shirt. Not flashy, but in a place like this, he might as well have been wearing a business suit at a medieval fair.
Everyone else wore tunics, cloaks, armor, or travelers' gear.
No wonder he stood out.
He shifted his position slightly and moved forward in line.
He glanced to either side. One line had merchants, older men with wagons and crates. The other looked like locals, maybe residents, moving quickly.
His line? Mostly travelers. Outsiders. Adventurers.
Then something else caught his attention.
…Wow.
He didn't mean to stare, but it was hard not to.
Almost every woman around him was beautiful. Not the overly-made-up kind. They looked natural, healthy, confident, with sharp eyes. Their curves showed even under travel gear.
Even the women who looked like young mother, especially those, were total stunners.
Is this some kind of fantasy-world cheat code?
He shifted his eyes forward, trying not to get caught staring again.
Alright. Focus. No distractions by boobs and hips.
Next to his line, several girls had already noticed him.
He was tall, with black hair, and looked well-built under his slightly rumpled but clean clothes. His polished leather shoes gleamed in the sun. That kind of look wasn't common here.
They whispered to each other, some twirling their hair, others trying to act casual while sneaking glances at him.
"Who is he…?"
"Look at his clothes… Is he a noble?"
"No way. Maybe a traveler from the northern lands?"
"He's handsome…"
One girl grinned. "I wonder if he's single."
"With a face like that? Definitely not."
"Ahh~ I hope he notices me…"
Another girl shyly raised her hand and waved.
Kazuki, still looking around to pass the time, caught her eye.
He gave a polite nod and a small smile before turning back toward the gate.
Gotta keep the line moving.
"Kyaaa! He smiled at me!"
Several girls covered their mouths, giggling like schoolgirls, cheeks flushed with excitement.
Kazuki looked toward the group of girls.
They were smiling, whispering, some giggling quietly.
He couldn't catch what they were saying.
What the hell are they saying…?
He looked down at himself again.
Business slacks, a clean button-up shirt, polished shoes. Totally out of place.
Am I that weird-looking? Is it the clothes?
He frowned slightly.
Maybe they're looking down on him, laughing at how he's dressed…
He let out a small sigh, feeling tired and a little uneasy.
Then he heard it.
A burst of giggles from the girl group.
He turned to look, confused.
...Okay, yeah. They're definitely mocking me now.
His shoulders sank.
Crap. This feels just like high school. You stand out for five seconds, and suddenly everyone's laughing behind your back.
He faced forward, keeping his expression blank.
Just need to get through this damn gate.
( End Of Chapter )