My head hurts,It feels like someone is pulling at my scalp, yanking my hair strand by strand.
The sun hasn't even risen yet, but everything feels so noisy.
"Ugh… it's hot…"
My throat is dry, my body drenched in sweat, and my vision blurry,It seems the aftereffects of yesterday's drowning haven't faded yet.
"Water…"
No matter what, I need to find some water first,But there's no mineral water or anything safe to drink here.
"Oh right… yeah, there's no other way."
Water from the tap, that's the only source I've got, even if it gives me a stomachache,But right now, I need something refreshing more than anything.
gulp gulp
"Phew, I feel alive again."
The wooden cup isn't that bad, and the tap water tastes surprisingly fresh,I silently give thanks for this small blessing.
"Alright then…"
I sit back at my desk with a full cup in hand,I should've written quite a bit yesterday.
"Why I ended up in the world I created is a question I might never answer."
That's the first line I wrote.
I'm still not sure how I ended up crossing worlds,People usually get isekai'd after getting hit by a truck, through a screen, or maybe a magic door.
"But why… through a dream?"
Yeah, I entered this world through a dream,Which could mean that the dream I saw might've been reality, or even a prophecy.
"Or maybe the past…"
My suspicion is that the Ethan I saw was Ethan from the future,Not only had he already formed a party, which only happens in Volume 6, but there's another reason too.
"The Solarist Blade."
He only gets that sword after a delegation from the Dwarven Kingdom visits for a diplomatic alliance,As a symbol of support, the Dwarves gift the Solarist Blade to Ethan.
Ethan doesn't just get it because of his connection with the Princess,but because he saves the Dwarven Princess herself from an undead dragon that was terrorizing the mines.
So yeah, it's truly a coincidence that I realized this isn't even the first episode yet,since Ethan, at this point in the story, is still weak as hell,But fine, let's grow stronger together so I can survive and return to my world.
"Never try to actively interfere."
That's rule number one.
My presence here, even if I don't fully understand it, could trigger a massive butterfly effect,And as the author, the last thing I want is to mess up the story I painstakingly built,If I try to stand out, I might die the moment I draw attention from the demons.
But today, I've decided, I'll do whatever it takes to survive,Main storyline, key characters, upcoming enemies, come at me,I'll endure, and I'll find my way home.
chatter
Oh? People are already up this early?
Outside, I can see others jogging and practicing swordplay,while I'm still sitting here.
"Ugh… maybe I should start moving too…"
My modern soul is going to suffer for this.
"Ugh…"
Of course, after just ten push-ups, I'm already exhausted,I shouldn't have gotten up this early, this isn't my habit at all.
"I knew this body was weak… but I didn't think it was this bad. Enough, I'll just take a bath and go to class."
Bathing does refresh the body and mind, I agree with that,But cold water… yeah, that's another story.
Sometimes I shiver like a dying mouse,and sometimes I move so fast I warm myself up instantly,Right now, I'm definitely the dying mouse kind.
"S-s-s-screw it, w-w-w-why did I set it to E-e-e-European weather."
It shouldn't be this cold, but whatever, I'll get used to it.
Thanks to sheer willpower, I finally get dressed and tidy up.
"Yeah… the face looks plain enough, and the hair's a bit long… but manageable."
This hair is way too long, it even reaches my shoulders,Just managing myself now feels exhausting.
But before that…
"....Terrifying."
I try to smile, and what looks back at me feels like a predator.
____________________________________________________________________
"Thank goodness I found it easily this time," I mutter in relief.
I glance around, but no one's arrived yet,Seems like I came too early.
Oh, if you're wondering how I found the classroom,I used the student card I found in my pocket,Luckily, this guy wasn't stupid enough to take it with him when he fell into the lake,If he had, I'd already be expelled.
"Thank God…"
With gratitude, I take another breath and decide to sit,
"…"
I must sound crazy, but the desk in the far corner seems to be glowing,as if calling out to me.
"…"
I'm not joking, it feels like it's whispering,
[Hey, sit here, this is the main character's seat, you know!]
Heh, foolish, I'm the author, there's no way I'd sit there.
chatter chatter
"!!!"
People start coming in, one by one,But… why isn't anyone greeting me?
chatter chatter
"…"
They all take seats except the glowing one in the corner.
[Hey~ sit here~]
There it is again, that voice, that damn desk.
[People might think you're weird~]
"…"
In the end, I give in and sit there alone,To avoid standing out, to not seem strange, scratch that,to not bother anyone,No, that's not true, I just don't want to be alone,I want friends, I want someone,Please God, don't let me be alone again.
"Everyone, sorry to keep you waiting."
A loud, cheerful voice echoes from the front door,and I already know who it belongs to.
"Starting today, I'll be teaching you how to survive in the wilderness as beginners."
She's our survival instructor,A woman with a slim build, brown hair, green eyes, and a bright voice.
"I hope you're all still excited even though we've only met twice, oh, and just to be sure, my name is Melissa De Salonne."
Melissa De Salonne, or should say, one of the main villains of Volume 1.