Author's Preface
(This is a English translation, and my English is not the best. So if there are any errors, let me know and i'll fix them)
Completely exhausted, I opened the front door of our house.
When I came into the living room, 20€ were laying on the table.
Usually my parents would already be here, but this morning they told me something like “Sorry David, you're on your own this
Good for them to go on vacation, but to only leave 20€ for the week is harsh, even for them.
And this apprenticeship isn't any better.
I stand up at 5 in the morning, get treated like a slave and come back at 4 PM.
David: “Well, nothing to change about it now.”
I said, as I walked over to the fridge and opened its cool door.
It was completely empty.
Of course.
With a big sigh I closed the door and looked at my phone.
David: “5:28 PM. The Supermarkets are still open.
With some luck they still have these stove dishes.
They weren't even bad.”
The 20€ went straight into my pocket and I left my wallet on the table.
With both hands in my pockets I left the house and made my way to the supermarket.
It was only 10 to 15 minutes away anyways.
Not many know it, but a walk cleans thoughts and Soul.
So I took the way through the small piece of the woods.
The sun also was already low and it rays perfectly hits my eyes.
David: "I should have brought some Sunglasses.”
Without noticing it, the city noises faded slowly into the background.
No cars, no noisy humans, more birds and the wind.
Somehow the air smells also more salty than usually.
And it also feels more…fresher.
Is that what people call “Overworked”?
Am I close to death without knowing it and on my way to heaven?
Or hell, whoever you wanna ask.
With a Confused expression I looked around, but my surroundings were the same as before.
No visible changes, even though the air quality is better and the light salty note on the Tongue.
David: “Hey, where is the path?
I wasn't that lost in thoughts, was I?”
When I looked at the ground, there was no path to see.
Scary, it's like the start of a bad horror movie.
Young man goes to the store to get something for dinner and gets killed by a killer clown.
Maybe a masked guy jumps out of behind that tree over there, with a chainsaw, and Makes David patties out of me.
Better not think about it, before it really happens.
I shook my head and tried to get some clear thoughts.
Or at least not bad ones.
Maybe I'm really just overworked, and since I know my parents are on vacation, I'm hallucinating to be with them at the sea.
GONG GONG GONG!
David: “What? didn't the church tell everyone that they switch to digital bells and wont use the real bells for unknown time?
Did they already finish?”
After I heard those bells, I decided to ignore them and tried as fast as possible to find the path, so that i can say bye bye to that creepy horror walk.
But it didn't took long for me to question my mental state once again.
A path was right in front of me.
Not the one I came from, another one.
Usually there would be a red-white rod, so that no cars drive in here.
But there isn't a rod or a paved road.
Just an old boring forest path.
The question now is, which way should I go?
Left or right?
I once saw a youtube video, what did they said exactly?
Don't turn right at the crossroad?
I forgot, so I went to the left.
That's also the direction where the sound of the bells came from, so I would definitely find someone there who can explain all of this to me.
At least I hope so.
After roughly 15 minutes of walking on the mysterious forest path that changed to a field path a while ago, I came across a lake.
I took a look at it, and when I saw what was behind that lake, my jaw dropped.
I was really by the sea.
Water everywhere I look, or whatever people say to this.
That also explains the salty air.
To be honest, I was really surprised and already thought that I was dreaming the whole time.
I watched so many isekais in my free time to get away from work related stress, that I can proudly say that I have some good knowledge about situations like that.
I bet my whole 20€ on it, that out of that bush will jump a slime every moment now!
I stared at the small bush full of anticipation, but when nothing happened I just sighed, relieved that I don't have to fight such a cute little Slime ball.
Maybe even a slime would be too much for me.
But then my eyes drifted down the path, and I saw a paved road!
Or at least it looked like one, because when I came closer to inspect it, I noticed that it was just black stones that act as a road.
Well, they're better for my sneakers anyways.
It didn't took long for me to find the church, belonging to the bells I heard earlier.
I also heard really old music from a building on the other side of the road.
And I don't talk about music from the 80s or even 70s.
Sounds more like a harp and lute.
I didn't recognize the church, and it definitely wasn't the one I knew from home.
But the building with the music made me curious.
But the sun is already setting, and I really don't want to spend the nights in the streets.
At night the forest is also scary.
So I ignored the church and went to the entrance of the building with the music, in the hopes of finding a place to sleep.
It looks really old, to be honest.
Way too much wood in it for kassel.
Maybe it's a building that survived world war two?
Nah, they were mostly made out of stone.
When I took a turn to the entrance, I saw an outdoor terrace.
From there you could look directly at the sea, and a wall made of stone made sure you wouldn't fall in.
Well, I don't know if the wall is even necessary for that, the distance from the ground to the sea isn't really that deep of a drop.
I walked over and leaned against the wall to look down.
4-5 meters, I would say is the distance you would fall, if you jumped over the wall into the sea.
But when I looked left, I was left amazed.
Not by that black wall, that was in front of some higher buildings behind it, but I was able to see the backside of a ship there.
An old ship.
And there was a tower behind that black Wall, roughly 200 meters tall.
I think the backside of a ship is called Rear, right?
Whatever you wanna say, it definitely looks old.
It even has sails and ropes.
I must say, for a dream there are many details.
Respect.
I'm even able to hear some of the conversations behind that black wall.
At least it seems like it's a peaceful place, so I don't think I'm in danger right now.
But I can already see the first stars in the sky, so I should properly go find a place to stay the night.
I wonder if they take euros here?
So I went back to the entrance, where I saw the sign above the door.
Lizas bar, hm?
Never heard of that one.
But a bar?
I still remember how I got beaten up by a drunk guy, because I looked too long at him through the window, even though I was only passing by.
Oh well, I have to forget that and get it over with.
Maybe the heavy drinkers are better souls here?
Carefully I opened the door and looked at the ceiling.
Almost instantly the smell of alcohol and cigarettes filled my nose.
But I wasn't really surprised by that.
I was more surprised about the electric lamps on the ceiling.
I can't see the insides, because it's painted yellow, but there is surely a light bulb inside.
On my way to the counter, I overheard quite some conversations.
“Are you even listening? A whole group of tree monsters, defeated by me alone!”
“Stop Lying, you cant even swing your blade without dropping it.”
“You will get over it.
My first love wasn't interested in me either, but there are many men in the world.
You will find the right one sooner or later.”
“I know, but I loved him… I don't know what to do now.
I just wanna go home and cry into my pillow.”
“The music is bad today, I liked the other band more.”
“Hey, it's better than no music.”
“Hey, are you already drunk?
5 silver coins, that I can drink more than you.”
“What? Just give me the money when you don't want it.
HEY, TWO MORE BEER FOR THIS TABLE!”
Really interesting stuff these people talk about .
Finally arriving at the counter, I took a seat and looked around.
The bar looks really old, mostly made out of wood.
It also smells like fresh bread and something like soup.
What did this guy say?
A silver coin?
Might be the currency here.
It's crazy how detailed everything is for a dream, some of the people here even have swords and staffs, maybe even wands?
Many people also wore leather and iron armor.
Maybe they are Mercenaries?
But what about the staffs?
It would be cool if there is magic here.
Wouldn't these staffs than be wands?
I groaned by all these thoughts and closed my eyes to get some other thoughts.
Is this even a dream?
Maybe I got drugged and now I'm just hallucinating.
???: “Rough day?
Anything I can get you?”
While my eyes were closed, a waitress came to me.
When I opened my eyes, an older woman stood behind the counter.
She was around 40, brown hair bound into a ponytail and soft Blue eyes.
She also wore a white apron, so she might be a cook?
My clothes didn't seem to be distracting here, but If that's a bar, then surely many people walk in daily, so maybe she saw worse than me.
When I didn't answered, she smiled and kept speaking with her gentle voice.
???: “It's fine, if you had a long day then i won’t force you to speak if you don't want to.
My name is Liza, I'm the owner of this bar.
Just let me know when you need something, okay?”
Oh, she's the owner of the bar?
And here I was, thinking she just was a cook.
At least she seems like a nice person.
Lia was about to turn away, when I remembered that I needed a Play to stay for the night, so I decided to ask her if she even rents out rooms.
David: “Ah sorry, i would like to know If you also rent out rooms for the night?
I wasn't even able to finish my question, When she turned back to face me with a smile.
Liza: “Of course.
A room costs 26 silver coins per night.
For how many nights do you need a room for?”
That was actually a really good question.
For how many nights do I need a room for?
If all of that is just a dream, wouldn't I wake up in my bed tomorrow?
So one night?
But how much is 26 silver coins in euro?
Would I even be able to afford that with my 20€?
David: “Then I would like to get a room for one night.
But is it possible to pay with this?”
I pulled the 20€ bill out of my pocket and laid it down in front of her onto the counter.
She looked confused at it and picked it up to inspect it.
Liza: “I never have seen paper like this before.
It even feels different than normal paper.”
She turned it around and looked at the other side of the bill.
Based on her reaction im not able to pay with it.
Great.
Just great.
So im totaly broke.
After a while she puts the money back down and looks compassionate at me.
Do I really look so broke?
Liza: “Sorry, I cant accept that paper.”
Okay, now she surely thinks im crazy too, for trying to pay with “paper” as she would call it.
David: “Okay, would it be possible to work up the money for the room?
I can helo in the kitchen, even though im bad at cooking.
I can clean really good though.”
Shit, arent you supposed to sell your weaknesess as strenghts?
Something like “i cant cook that cook, but that way many unforseen delicious dishes come out?” ?
I really look desperate right now, her gaze tells me as much.
But to stay Out on the streets the whole night at a place I dont even know?
No thanks, not me.
Liza: “Sorry, but I really don't like letting strangers into the kitchen.
Ah, i got an idea.”
She claps her hands happily together, still smiling gentle.
Liza: “How about it give you a room for tonight and you pay for it tomorrow?
At the Quest board over there you can take jobs, that the people Of the city left here.
Maybe you find something that suits you.”
I followed the direction her finger was pointing at.
At The wall was a wooden board with many pieces of paper put on it.
So its the classic isekai rules With Quests and rewards?
Surely there are ranks for it too, like S, A, B, C and how many ranks there are.
So I turned my head back to Liza to ask the next Question.
David: “Dont i need to be a registered adventurerer first, before it can take on Jobs?”
But i barely spoke that words out, when i noticed the confused look on her face again.
Was ist wrong?
Ranks are normal at adventurerer stuff, isnt it?
Liza: “Well, the jobs dont have ranks like that, just like the people doing them.
As far as i know the people from Zwillings kap do this with ranks.
But i thought you are from Claymore, because of your Clothes.
Arent you?”
Zwillings kap?
Claymore?
This is really detailed for a dream.
So, Claymore is a city and zwillings kap a country?
Never heard of both.
So I shook my head.
David: “Sorry, but I dont know what you are talking about.
Is Claymore a city?”
She again looked confused at me.
Im sure for her im just saying random stuff.
Liza: “You arent from Claymore?
Its a country in the east, which became popular after they found large ammounts of clay within their borders.
Almost every country gets their bricks from them.
So you can imagine the changes claymore currently makes.
And because of your clothes and paper i thought you came from claymore.
They would surely do something like that.”
Ah, i see.
So Claymore isna country which is making a ton of money because of clay.
Wait, clay?
Are the houses here build with bricks?
Whatever, its not so important, I guess.
Lets get back to the main problem.
David: “Okay, im not from Claymore, but can i ask how these jobs work?”
Damn, this is my dream!
Why the hell am i so broke?
Shouldnt i be walking around with a ton of money in my pockets?
What kind of dream is this even?
Foreign countrys, Quests and a bar with an extreme helpful owner?
Whatever, i just take that room and tomorrow i wont need to think about the Money for it anyways.
Liza: “Have you never taken on jobs before?
Okay, Jobs are really easy.
Listen.
When someone has a problem or need something he himself cant get, he comes here and puts a job on the board for others to complete them.
Most of them are simple, like plugging weed, collecting stones or help to fish.
But there are also some harder ones, where you have to fight monsters Or collect monsterparts.
A few adventurerers make a living trough that.
Before you start though, you have to go to the client and inform him, that the job will be taken on.
Easy, right?”
She still smiled at me, after giving me this lore drop.
She could have just said, that its a simple quest System.
Go there, do this, get reward.
But I just nod, Because right now i just wanted to lie down and sleep.
David: “Okay, i will look over it tomorrow.”
I dont really care anymore what i have to do for the room, i just wanna rest.
When I wake up tomorrow, I will definetely take a break from work.
But liza looked happy.
Why?
As if i would know.
Liza: “Alright, under what name do you want to rent the room?”
David: “David”
She wrote something into a small book, before handing me the keys for the room over.
I took them with a yawn and a nod.
Just thinking about a bed made me sleepy.
Then Liza showed me the room on the first floor.
It was a small, but cozy one.
A table, a chair, a small closet and a bed.
The window was closed, but I was able to see the sea outside anyways.
But before Liza left, she turned around and looked pretty serious for once.
Liza: “You shouldn't go outside at this hour anymore.
Currently theres a monster on the run, which already killed farm animals and even people.
The knightly guards are already working on the case and have put a huge bounty on its head.
Alright, no bad dreams now.
Good Night.”
Clearly in a good mood she closes the door.
What was that about the monster killing humans?
If she intends that i should kill that thing, then no.
Hell no.
Absolutely not.
i rather clean swords the whole day before i hunt down something like that!
I sat down at the bed and looked out of the window.
I laid down, resting my head on the cold pillow.
I dont know what this is all about, and why Im dreaming all of that, but tomorrow it will be all over.
Hopefully.
I closed my eyes, and with the sounds of the sea and the people still drinking below me, i fell into a deep slumber.