[I was boredđ]
Keep those PS pouring in!
***
Martha led me through the village streets, and I tried not to stare at everything like some kind of weirdo. But it was hard not to. After weeks of fighting monsters in a dark forest, seeing normal people doing normal things felt almost magical.
There was a blacksmith hammering away at something that glowed red-hot. A woman hanging laundry on a line between two houses. Kids running around playing tag while their mothers watched and chatted. An old man sitting in front of his house carving something out of wood.
It was so... peaceful. So normal. Nothing like the constant danger of the forest.
"Here we are," Martha said, stopping in front of a two-story wooden house with a thatched roof. It was bigger than most of the other houses, with a wooden sign hanging over the door that had a picture of a bed on it.
"You run an inn?" I asked.
"The only one in the village," Martha said with a smile. "We don't get many travelers out here, but when we do, they need somewhere to stay. Come on, let's get you cleaned up."
She pushed open the door and I followed her inside. The main room had several wooden tables and chairs, with a big fireplace on one wall. It smelled like bread and soup and other good things. My stomach growled again, louder this time.
"Sit down," Martha said, pointing to a chair near the fireplace. "I'll get you something to eat."
I sat down carefully, still not quite believing this was real. Back on Earth, nobody had ever been this nice to me. Especially not strangers. But here was this woman I'd never met before, offering me food and shelter just because I looked hungry and lost.
Martha disappeared into what I assumed was the kitchen and came back a few minutes later with a wooden bowl full of thick soup and a chunk of bread. She set it down in front of me along with a spoon.
"Eat up," she said. "There's plenty more where that came from."
I didn't need to be told twice. The soup was amazing - full of vegetables and chunks of meat and herbs that made it taste better than anything I'd eaten since arriving in this world. The bread was warm and soft and perfect for soaking up the broth.
As I ate, Martha sat down across from me and studied my face.
"So Rimuru," she said. "Where exactly did you come from? The nearest town is three days' walk from here, and you're awfully young to be traveling alone."
I'd been expecting this question, but I still wasn't sure how to answer it. I couldn't exactly tell her I'd died on Earth and been reborn in a fantasy world with a magical skill-copying ability.
"I... I don't really remember much," I said, which wasn't entirely a lie. "I woke up in the forest a while back with no idea how I got there. I've been wandering around ever since, trying to find people."
Martha's eyebrows went up. "You don't remember anything? Not even your family?"
I shook my head. "Nothing before waking up in the woods. Just my name and... basic things. Like how to walk and talk and stuff."
It wasn't a great story, but it was the best I could come up with. Memory loss would explain why I didn't know things about this world that I should know, and why I was alone.
"How terrible," Martha said, looking genuinely sad. "You poor child. No wonder you look so thin and scared."
"I'm not scared," I said quickly, then realized that probably wasn't convincing given how I'd been acting.
Martha smiled. "Of course not. You're very brave to have survived on your own for so long. Most children wouldn't last a day in those woods."
She was right about that. If I hadn't had the Archive, I would have died to the first goblin I met.
"But you're safe now," Martha continued. "We'll take good care of you until we can figure out what to do next. How does that sound?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice. This was way more kindness than I'd ever expected from strangers.
"Good. Now finish your soup and then we'll get you cleaned up. You can stay in one of the rooms upstairs for as long as you need."
As I continued eating, other people started trickling into the inn. A few farmers coming in for drinks after working in the fields. Some women taking a break from their daily chores. An older man who looked like he might be the village leader.
They all noticed me, of course. A skinny kid covered in dirt and wearing torn clothes wasn't exactly subtle. But none of them stared rudely or made mean comments. They just nodded politely and went about their business.
One of the farmers, a big guy with muscled arms and callused hands, walked over to our table.
"This the lost boy Martha?" he asked.
"This is Rimuru," Martha said. "Found him at the gates, poor thing. No memory of where he came from."
The farmer looked me up and down with kind eyes. "Rough break, kid. But you're in good hands now. Martha takes care of everyone in this village."
"Thank you," I said quietly.
"You know," the farmer continued, "if you're looking for work once you get settled, I could use some help in the fields. Nothing too hard, just basic stuff. But it'd give you something to do and put a little money in your pocket."
I perked up at that. Work meant I'd be around people more. More chances to observe their skills and techniques.
"I'd like that," I said.
"Great. I'm Tom, by the way. Find me tomorrow morning if you're interested."
After Tom walked away, Martha finished telling me about the village. It was called Millbrook, named after the old mill by the stream that ran through it. There were about two hundred people living here, mostly farmers and crafters. They grew wheat and vegetables, raised livestock, and made things like pottery and tools to trade with other settlements.
It sounded peaceful and simple. The kind of place where nothing exciting ever happened and people lived quiet, normal lives.
Which was perfect for what I needed. I could blend in, learn from these people, and gradually build up my strength without drawing attention to myself.
After I finished eating, Martha showed me upstairs to a small but clean room with a real bed and everything. She brought me some soap and a basin of hot water so I could wash off weeks of forest dirt.
"There are some clean clothes in the chest there," she said, pointing to a wooden box in the corner. "They might be a bit big, but they'll do until we can get you something that fits properly."
When she left, I stripped off my filthy rags and washed myself thoroughly. It felt amazing to be actually clean again. The clothes in the chest were simple - a brown tunic, pants, and a belt - but they were in good condition and only a little too big for me.
I looked at myself in the small mirror Martha had left on the table. Still skinny and young-looking, but at least I looked like a normal kid instead of a wild forest creature.
As night fell, I lay in the real bed with clean sheets and a soft pillow. It was the most comfortable I'd been since arriving in this world. But I couldn't sleep right away because my mind was racing with possibilities.
These people seemed nice, but I needed to be careful. I couldn't let them know about the Archive or my real origins. I had to act like a normal lost kid with amnesia.
But at the same time, this was my chance to learn human skills. Real magic, proper fighting techniques, crafting abilities, social skills - everything I needed to become truly strong.
Tomorrow I'd start working with Tom in the fields. I'd watch how the other villagers did their jobs. I'd listen to their conversations and learn about this world. And most importantly, I'd start copying their abilities with my Archive.
The monsters in the forest had given me a foundation. But these humans were going to help me build something much greater.
I smiled in the darkness as I finally drifted off to sleep. Phase two of my new life was about to begin.