Another world. A realm that exists only in fantasy, yet remains something people constantly yearn for.
Countless people have fantasized about becoming an Otherworlder, making their mark in a strange land, and embarking on a fantastic adventure. But does such a place really exist?
I imagine many people—even those suffering from chuunibyou—have their own skeptical answers in their hearts.
However, it was precisely under these cynical circumstances that it happened.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!"
The night sky was torn apart by the scream of a person in a state of extreme terror. That person was me.
"What?! What?! What is going on?!"
Just a moment ago, I was sitting at home. Then, in the blink of an eye, a strong sense of weightlessness hit me, accompanied by a violent gust of wind rushing from below.
The moment I opened my eyes, all I saw was a world shrouded in night. And I was falling from the sky at a terrifying speed.
Although it was impossible to determine the exact height due to the darkness, it was definitely several hundred meters. Once I realized my situation, fear took over. Extreme, suffocating fear.
'I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!'
The human survival instinct is a powerful thing; faced with life and death, my body released a massive surge of adrenaline. For a moment, time seemed to slow down.
Of course, that wasn't actually the case. My brain was simply operating at overclocked speeds, creating the illusion of dilated time. In those few short seconds of freefall, my life flashed before my eyes.
As I continued to accelerate, basic common sense told me I was facing certain death.
'!! !! ?'
My eyes widened.
Someone was there. Directly below me, standing on the ground, was a man. He had white hair, golden eyes, and was dressed in a neat white robe. He was looking up at me, his expression unreadable.
But by the time I saw him, it was already too late to react.
CRACK.
When the impact occurred, there was a sickening sound of shattering. The sound of bones snapping.
A full ten seconds passed in silence.
Feeling a strange warmth emanating from beneath me and the strong stench of blood filling my nostrils, I suddenly sat up.
"I... I'm not dead?"
I had fallen hundreds of meters from the sky without any safety measures, yet I had survived. Was this even reasonable?
My gaze fell upon my own hands—or rather, the pulp of blood and flesh beneath them.
My mind went completely blank.
"Haha~ Hahaha~ Dreaming. Yes, this must be a dream."
How could such a strange thing happen in the real world? 'I have to wake up from this dream quickly.'
The incredibly realistic touch and sensations brought a surge of terror to my heart. Driven by this fear, I raised my blood-stained hands and slapped myself hard.
Slap!
A bright red mark appeared on my face. The sharp pain stinging my cheek only intensified the feeling of reality.
I was completely stunned.
But at that moment, another object fell from the sky.
Thud!
It hit me squarely on the head. As I clutched my head in pain, a heavy object slipped into my hands.
It was a book. A black-covered book, heavy in the hand, covered with incomprehensible markings and strange runes.
The instant I saw the book clearly, a wave of agony washed over me.
"Ugh... Ahhhhhh!"
I let out another uncontrollable scream. Unlike the scream of fear during the fall, this one was filled with raw pain.
'It hurts... it hurts so much!'
The pain wasn't just physical; it felt like something was twisting inside my very soul. However, after the initial spike of agony subsided, the intensity became bearable. It settled into a dull throb.
"Waaah~"
I gripped the black book tightly with both hands, gritted my teeth, and slowly stood up.
'I have to leave. Now.'
That was the only thought left in my mind. After all, I was covered in blood, standing over a person who looked like they had been literally exploded.
Even if I tried to explain... who would believe that I inexplicably appeared hundreds of meters in the air, fell, and accidentally smashed a man to pieces?
They would either treat me as a murderer or a lunatic. And honestly, being treated as a lunatic would be the better option—at least then I might only be locked up rather than executed.
I had just narrowly escaped death. I absolutely did not want to die again, especially not in such an ambiguous way.
I began to move forward, my steps unsteady. Without a destination, and terrified of contacting anyone, only one choice remained: go to a deserted place.
But as I walked, the pain inside me intensified. Movement became increasingly difficult, and eventually, the agony was so severe I could barely keep my eyes open.
I groped my way forward for a few last steps.
I had reached my limit. My physical strength was waning, and the intense pain was blurring my consciousness. Coupled with the panic in my heart, my legs finally gave out.
I fell to the ground and the world went dark.
I don't know how much time passed...
"Ugh~"
As consciousness gradually returned, sounds began to filter in.
"You're finally waking up." A gentle, relieved voice reached my ears.
"Young Miss, I still think he should be sent to the guards. This man is too suspicious." This second voice was serious, yet filled with a touch of helplessness.
"I don't think so," the gentle voice replied. "Didn't you just check him yourself? You said that although his physique was healthy, he didn't seem like someone who practiced martial arts at all."
"That is... absolutely right. But his sudden appearance here is highly unusual. He should be handed over to the guards for questioning about his identity."
"It would be too much to hand him over to the guards."
"But..."
"Alright, alright, we'll question him when he fully wakes up. If he's really suspicious, we can hand him over later."
A brief period of silence followed.
"Ha~ Fine." A sigh filled with resignation.
What followed was a shift in atmosphere—a cold, sharp sensation that chilled me to the bone.
"If you're awake, get up now. Don't lie there and pretend to be dead, or else..." came the threatening words from the serious voice.
A chill ran down my spine; a sense of impending danger forced me to snap my eyes open.
I was stunned.
More precisely, the girl who came into view was so beautiful she left me speechless. Throughout my life, even figures in paintings couldn't compare to her.
We were very close, with only about twenty centimeters between our faces, making her features incredibly clear.
'Wait, my current position...'
I realized I was resting my head on the girl's lap. A lap pillow.
The girl smiled.
"Carol, look at this person. He looks so dazed... he seems really stupid." It wasn't mockery; it was just a gentle statement of observation.
"He does seem really stupid," the other voice agreed.
My gaze involuntarily shifted to the side.
I saw a very, very beautiful blonde girl dressed in armor, a long sword hanging at her waist. However, her gaze was as sharp as a knife. It was so uncomfortable that I was immediately forced to look away.
I looked back at the red-haired girl above me. She still had that smile on her face—a smile that made people feel incredibly at ease.
"First, let me introduce myself."
She tilted her head slightly.
"My name is Theresia. May I ask your name?"
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