After half a day of relentless walking, still tracing the winding river, I finally spotted a massive tree laden with round, apple-like fruit. They were sweet and delicious, giving me a much-needed energy boost.
And then, finally! I saw them.
A group of five figures, armed like adventurers from a game: a massive man with a greatsword, two women holding staves, an archer, and a smaller, wiry man. They moved with purpose, and I immediately felt a surge of excitement. They had to be heading toward a town.
Unsure how to approach, I decided to follow discreetly, maintaining a safe distance.
Minutes later, they stopped. They began scanning the surroundings, their hands instinctively moving toward their weapons. My heart hammered. Had they seen me?
The small man suddenly spun around and looked right at my hiding spot. His eyes were sharp, accusatory. Panicked, I ducked behind a thick tree trunk, my nerves stretched thin. I took a shaky breath and peeked out again.
Too late. The wiry man was standing directly in front of me, a dagger pressed tightly against my throat.
My life, which had just begun, was now hanging by a thread.
"H-hi?" I managed to squeak.
He shouted a torrent of sounds that meant nothing to me.
"&#&¥℅$¶'£&q!"
The words were harsh, alien. A system? A language barrier? It was worse than I thought.
"I'm Miro. Nice to meet you," I introduced myself, my voice trembling but trying for maximum friendliness. I didn't want my first day in the new world to end with a fatal misunderstanding.
"₹&%€^¥×Π€!!!" he roared, his anger palpable. He gripped my shoulder hard while keeping the blade fixed on my neck.
His companions arrived—the massive swordsman and one of the women with the staff. They looked equally furious.
Wait. This is another world. Maybe I have a skill?
Desperate, I muttered the only spells I could think of: "Menu! Skill! Abracadabra!"
I must have looked ridiculous.
"&#%@×¥°!!!" they yelled, the foreign words slicing through my nerves.
"Wait, I think there's a misun—"
I tried to explain I wasn't a threat, but the big man's fist slammed into the side of my head. The world instantly went black.