I blinked. "So, I'm a police man now, in a fantasy world." Whispering.
I'm standing, staring down at someone. My body feels like it's being weighed down by iron chains. Thank you, father, for forcefully taking me to the gym every day. Without that, I'd collapsed under this heaviness.
But who is this guy in front of me?
He's dressed in a sharp, grey detective outfit, hunched over a stack of reports like they'd personally wronged him. A spyglass dangled from his fingers as his emerald green eyes flicked up to meet mine. A grey service cap sat low on his head, its golden badge gleaming at the tip, hiding whatever hair lay beneath. The badge is similar to the one my dad used; the only difference is the engraved wording on the spot right beside his heart. 'Cleaners.'
His pale skin looked eerily similar to mine, and a trimmed goatee connected neatly to his mustache, probably in his fifties. He sat in a plain chair, both hands resting on an empty wooden table, silent and still.
"Chris Jackson," he uttered his first words. His voice had a cigarette tone. Low, raspy, and rough, like smoke had scraped through his throat for years.
I nodded.
"A fight at the adventurers' guild in Chine village just happened. Go ahead and check it out." He coughed, as his tone wouldn't allow him to speak normally.
"By myself?" I asked, politely, with a bright smile.
"No, you'll be partnered up with Emilia." He replied, letting out a slight cough.
Surprised he didn't scream in fear like everyone else does. Maybe they changed my appearance; that's what usually happens in these types of scenarios. I don't feel any taller, though. Back to the question at hand... Emilia.
"Which one's Emilia again?" I questioned the man in front of me, nervously smiling, placing my hands up in surrender. My smile was made of sarcasm, and my eyes were fully closed.
He coughed the question away like he thought I was a joke.
"Me silly!" A voice behind me screamed, elegantly. "We'd better be off now."
I turned around. She is drop-dead gorgeous. How do you achieve that level of beauty? Her body carried quiet elegance, curves that spoke more of beauty than desire. She had lightish brown, lavish hair, green emerald eyes, just like the old man behind me. Paler skin than even mine, which had me in shock.
"Are you alright?" She said, leaning forward, so close that her cleavage was made apparent.
I was about to cry tears of joy, seeing a beautiful woman right in front of me. But I held it in, it would probably creep her out with the way that I look. The best part was, she looked to be five feet five. Arguably, the best height for a female. The full blue police outfit suited her perfectly. But, on her shirt's badge, it stated the same thing as the old man's hat. 'Cleaners.'
"Are you just gonna stand there in shock, silly?" She said, so politely, her kindness spread to me like she is something otherworldly.
"Oh, yeah. I'm sorry, let's go." I said, nervously smiling, not knowing where to go.
"Come on," Emilia said as she turned around.
I nodded and followed her as she headed toward the exit of what looked like a small police station. Barely a single story high, and eerily empty except for the three of us. The walls were painted a dull off-white. The entire room couldn't have been more than two thousand square feet, stripped of everything but a single table, a lone chair, and a mirror hanging on the wall near the exit.
Click!
The door unlocked.
Sweep!
Emilia pushed it open.
Sunlight from the outside poured into the place. Moving to follow Emilia out, a glint caught my eye. A mirror, standing about my height, near the door.
I stopped, as I shifted my eyes towards the mirror, staring at my reflection. I couldn't believe it… is this real?
"Yes!" The word tore out of me. Emilia froze, eyes wide with shock.
"Hey!" She screamed at me, but it was more like a beautiful chant than a yell. "What are you screaming at for?" She asked.
"Just life Emilia." I replied, breathing in. "Just life." Then, I let out a slow, steady breath.
I was fully suited in a blue police uniform from head to toe. There was a handgun resting in the holster on my right hip like a cop would usually have. A black utility belt tightened around my waist, lined with pouches I hadn't gone through yet and didn't plan to anytime soon until I learned about this place. Beneath the fabric, the weight of body armor pressed hard against my chest, its weight explaining the heavy feeling.
Same blonde hair, same blue eyes. But one different thing was my wrinkles. In my old life, I had so many that they made me look unpleasant. Here, they were gone. Every single one of them.
"Ladies," I smiled, "Here I come!"
"Ready to go now, silly?" Emilia asked, whisperingly.
"Yeah, let's go," I replied.
But it was strange. If my wrinkles were still there, I would've looked exactly like my old body back on Earth. At first, the thought of transmigration into a different body had me hooked… but that couldn't be it. My appearance was the same, just without the wrinkles. And then there was the old man back there, sitting in his cozy blue chair. He called me by my full name from my previous world. That theory was out the window.
Could it be that the notification that was sent placed me here… actually forced me into the story of this world? I stared into the mirror nervously, the thought eating at me. But this wasn't the time for answers. For now, I needed to figure out where I was and how this world works.
"Come on, silly! We're gonna run late!" Emilia's elegant voice screamed at me.
"Coming!" I replied, proudly.
One step outside, and the sunlight hit me. I raised my left hand to shield my eyes, following closely behind Emilia as she led the way.
The streets were packed. Vendors shouting over each other, the smell of grilled meat mixing with sweet pastries. Adventurers strolling by in gleaming armor, their weapons polished like they were posing for a painting. Restaurants lined the street, each one looking like it belonged in a fantasy novel.
And then I saw it… people riding on green, two-legged dragons, their bodies strapped with leather armor. Instead of shock, I felt… curious. Fascinated, even. I mean, sure… it was a fantasy world. Things like this were supposed to happen. But then the thought hit me. Hard. Why the hell was there a police department in a fantasy world?
I've read dozens of isekai stories, played countless games, but not once did I see a modern-day profession included.
Going along with that thought, Emilia slowed down near a small boy in a tattered grey cloak that ran up to her like a little boy expecting a gift on Christmas day. He's staring up at her like she's a goddess. Which, honestly, was exactly how I looked at her when we first met.
Emilia crouched slightly and pressed a single gold coin into his hand. The young boy had brown hair that was raised all the way up to my knees and purple eyes that looked up to Emilia so brightly.
"This should keep you off the streets for a while," she said, smiling at the little boy.
He smiled, so brightly. "Thank you!" He began running away into a dark alleyway between two vegetable vendors side by side to one another, with a smile that looked so beautiful it would make a grown man cry.
"Hey," I said. "Aren't gold coins worth a lot? Why would you give him it?" I asked, curious.
The moment I saw the gold coin, I understood the currency system here. Classic fantasy setup, copper at the bottom, then bronze, silver, and finally gold at the top. Cheap to expensive, simple as that.
Emilia turned around, hands placed behind her back, smiling at me. "Well Chris, things like this is what I live for, silly."
I looked at her, and felt a tear falling down my face.
She looked at me worried, "Did I do something wrong?" She asked, apologetically.
"No," I said, snorting. "Not at all."
Emilia was too beautiful for someone like me. It felt like I didn't deserve to be near her at all.
"Alright silly, let's continue." She turned around, and began moving once again.
I followed behind, looking at her. The sun was shining, right at her. Like I was following the main character of this world. I smiled, looking at Emilia, the whole way until the adventurers guild.
A while later…
We arrived to the adventuerers guild inside Chine villiage. It was only about a twenty minute walk.
"Finally here! The adventurers guild!" Emilia screamed, opening her arms wide while staring face first at the front door.
It was decked out in oakwood with a metal sign at the top. 'Chine Fights!'
What a lazy name. That sounds like something I would think of. I don't have the most creative mind, but I do have pride. In this world, not too much in the other.
The entrance were two little wooden doors swung back and forth with a hollow clack, like two restless wings.
Creak.
Emilia went through the entrance, I followed along. Inside, it reeked with the smell of drunkies. As the doors flapped back in place behind us, we looked up ahead.
"Huh!" The human looking gator stepped forward, pressing his face right against the orca's. "Who are you to tell me what to do!?"
We came in, while two monsters were clearly in the middle of something heated. One was a demi-human looking gator, while the other was a demi-human looking orca. Honestly, they looked to be nine feet with male human faces and buff physique. The rest of their body exactly resembled their type of animal. Below, the brown wooden floor creaked. Four tables were at each corner of the guild. Many adventurers were watching them go at it against each other. Both had one hand to each of their weapons like they were about to slash eachothers' heads off.. Two long metal swords, almost about my height
"Give me my Goddamn quest back. Overgrown fish!" The Alligator demi-human yelled, spitting all over the Orca.
"Was mine first, swamp breath!" The Orca replied, spitting back.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Huh? Why are the other adventurers encouraging the fight? Do they want to reck this place?
I looked to the front desk of the place, it was a beautiful curvy lady with shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes who leaned over the brown table all across, and joined in with the crowd.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Does she not care? Isn't this where she works?
I turned to Emilia, anxious for a task.
"So, Emilia," I said. "What should we do?"
"Oh, nothing, we're just supposed to watch what happens, then clean after them. That's the point of a cleaner, silly." She replied, excitedly.
So they call 'Cops'. . . 'Cleaners.' Not inquisitors, watchmen, or Yamen , but Cleaners!
Cops are supposed to be heroes to the public, a role model. Are they paraded in this world to be glorified Janitors?
But, how to explain this uniform? It's exactly what a cop back on earth would wear, down to the last detail. Fabric, same buttons, same pockets, even the badge looked like it came straight from the Florida state police. Well, one difference was the title…
'Cleaners.'
"Then, what's the point of being a cleaner?" I then pointed at my gun, "What's the point of this?" I asked her. "My father was a hero to many people. I should help the same way he did."
She let out a little giggle. "Silly, it's because the royal capital wanted a sanction set up where we can get in close contact with stronger adventurers. What would we even do to beasts like those? Unless you're an awakened, you'd just get yourself killed. We'll just clean up after them. Isn't that the point of a cleaner?" She smiled while looking at me. "And about the Joyburst you're calling a 'gun'... It's just for the kids."
Cleaners? Like some insignificant cleaning company? If that's so, they don't deserve to wear this outfit. And what's this about a Joyburst? Meant for little kids, as in they shoot them? Then I don't deserve to wear this uniform. If all I'm going to do is stand here, I don't deserve to call myself my father's son. Or a person whose aspiration is to become a policeman.
"A fight it is!" Both the Orca and Gator agreed.
"We have to do something, Emilia. We can't just stand here. This whole place will crumble. People will get hurt." I said, nervously. "And one of them is going to die.."
Sure, I might be afraid, but the urge to do something erased that feeling. I guess it fits for a son of a top-ranked cop. Not wanting to be the same person as before was my goal. To do that, changing myself is necessary.
"Just listen to my orders, Chris. Why are you suddenly being a drag? You've changed." She said, angrily. "Th-this. This person is not you."
This was the first time I heard her become slightly mad. But, for some reason, I enjoyed it. I guess she's that type of girl. Kind when everything goes your way, and rude when it doesn't. Honestly, not much of my type.
Both the Orca and Gator pulled out metal swords from their leather sleeves.
"Well…" I smirked, "I'm not the Chris you once knew." I declared, not knowing about the one before me.
"Chris!" She screamed, almost as loud as the demi-humans. "Listen to me. Just do what you always did. Don't change." She begged me, almost like I was her toy.
I began walking forward to the fight ignoring her. It's not like I felt overpowered, but… glad. Glad I get another chance to help others. Glad that I could teach someone else what my father taught me.
"Hey!" I heard Emilia's scream from behind as I continued to walk forward. "You can not win! Get a grip, you're just a non-awakened. Nothing you could do about it."
Maybe in my old life, I would've accepted it. But not here.
I stopped walking to the Orca and Gator, as both of them were about to use their metal swords. I looked back at Emilia, smiling. I had to keep going. It's the only way to stay true to my morals.
"Hey, silly," I said with a grin. "If there's one thing I'll always live by, it's this… if you can do something, do it. And if you're not strong enough… do it anyway." I smirked, feeling like I was about to pull off something epic.
Emilia just looked at me, speechless, as I turned away and kept walking, hand on my gun, or what they call... 'Joyburst'.
As the Orca and Gator were about to slash, I reached just five feet away. Gasps filled the air, most of the other adventurers looked worried, for me.
"Hey! Animals! I screamed towards the Orca and Gator. Eyes closed with the most sarcastic smile on my face. I looked up to them like an insect to a human.
Swoosh!
They stopped as both swords were about to reach both of their heads. I felt the wind of the pausing impact blowing away my hair. Both the Orca and Crocodile looked down on me.
"What did you just call me!?" They roared, their breath reeking of goat cheese.
"Why don't you both take me on a two-on-one instead?" I asked, grinning. "If you win, I'll give you a gold coin." I smiled as I put myself into an orthodox fighting stance. "But if I win… both of you stop fighting."
I didn't know what I was doing, and I didn't understand why that was the best option I thought of.
But I couldn't back down now. I have my pride too. I will do what I can.
Both the Orca and Gator turned their attention towards me.
If cops are called 'cleaners' here… then I'll be the one to change that. I'll make 'policeman' mean something again, even in a fantasy world.