Author's Preface
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the sun.
I really hoped that the whole thing was just a dream and I would wake up back in my bed, but it doesn't seem to be like that.
Everything in the room I was currently in felt unfamiliar.
And since I still could hear the ocean waves, it surely wasn't a dream.
I closed my eyes and tried to calm down.
Maybe I will get back home, if I walk the path through the forest from this side?
But then, many people would have talked about this, if there was a way back to my world.
I mean, it's not everyday you set foot in another world.
So this option isn't the one.
But what am I supposed to do now?
If all this is reality, then my debts by Liza are reality as well.
I can just hope that she forgot about me.
With a big sigh I got out of bed, got ready for the day and left to go downstairs, where I still heard voices and mugs hitting each other.
I stepped into the room, looking around.
The same people from yesterday.
Looks like no one left.
Then I noticed that Liza was standing behind the counter.
Maybe she doesn't see me, when I walk out cautiously.
But once I moved she looked over with a smile and with a gesture of her hand waved me over.
Great, so stealth is not one of my strengths.
Liza: “Good morning, how did you sleep?”
Even today she looked happy as always.
Then she pointed at the Quest board and kept speaking.
Liza: “I think I explained it yesterday, but there you can take on Jobs and earn money for completing them.
I'm sure you find something suited for you on the board.
Sadly my daughter isn't back from her Job, so you have to do it alone.”
David: “That is no problem, I will go take a look at it.
There surely is something even I can do.”
I hope at least.
If it's only killing monsters, then I'm screwed.
So I walked over to the quest board and took a look at it.
How much do I have to pay her?
26 Silver Coins?
Yeah, I think that's it.
Looking at the jobs, it really has a wide variety of stuff to do.
-Cat escaped, please help.
-Help cutting some firewood.
-I got rats in my house, please help me terminate them.
-Need a partner for gathering herbs.
So, typical stuff, hm?
Well, these were the only jobs that catched my eyes, but on the first look there weren't many monster hunting jobs.
I like it.
But i dont have any ideas about herbs.
Finding a cat in a city I have never been to before would also not be the best idea.
At the end they would have to find me too.
Lumbering seems to be the best pick here.
I mean, I think I can hit wood with an axe.
So I took the Job request from the board, revealing another one under it.
Killing the beast in the woods?
Huh?!
The reward is 10 gold coins?!
So if I were able to get that beast, I would get 10 gold coins?
Well, I can just take a vague guess on how much 10 gold coins really are, but since I have to pay Liza 26 silver coins for the night, it has to be a lot of money.
But would I even be able to do that?
With zero fighting experience I would end up dead.
I also don't have a weapon, so I would have to fight with a stick.
Yeah no, the beast would definitely pack me up and I don't want to die right now.
Chopping wood is the safer option.
It's safer, yes.
Yes, absolutely.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I walked back to Liza.
David: “So, I found this job.
I think I can do that.”
I gave her the job request and waited for her reaction, which was, like always, a bright smile.
Liza: "It's a nice job.
I don't think you can finish it all in one day, but you will get paid well.
Do you know where to go?”
She asked me with a smile, that could burn wood easily.
Don't her cheeks start to hurt from all the smiling?
David: “Äh, no.
I don't know where to go.”
I would take a wild guess and say that it is near the woods, when I have to cut wood.
But where exactly?
How am I supposed to know?
Liza nodded and started talking again.
Liza: “Okay, then listen.
You follow the main road until you reach the market place.
It's hard to walk by without noticing, since the big tower is directly next to it.
Then you just walk up the stairs and follow the street past the black wall.
Then just turn left and go straight.”
Oh?
That's honestly a description I can work with.
David: “Alright, thank you.
I will go then, and don't worry.
I will definitely pay you back what I owe you.”
I told her, after she gave me the job request back.
Then I left the bar.
So I just have to go to the tower and then up the stairs.
Noted.
I took a last look at the ocean and then walked into the city.
The tower was so tall, it really was hard not to notice it, so I exactly knew where I had to go.
I wonder for what purpose they built such a tall tower in the first place.
But before I reached the market place I noticed a crowd of villagers in a street sideways from the market place.
I wonder what that group meeting is about.
Maybe I can get a better look if I go and see for myself.
Maybe it's something cool, like a street artist.
So I fought my way to the front, where I heard all kinds of talks between them.
“That’s so messed up. He was such a young, good behaving man.”
“When will finally be taken care of that beast.”
“My child doesn't even dares to go out after the sun sets.”
“Why are the holy knights doing nothing against it?”
Well, it doesn't sound like a street artist is at work here.
But what I saw when I finally reached the end of the masses, I stopped.
Blood.
And a lot.
On the wall and on the sidewalk.
At least there was no body.
Many knights were standing around the place and stopped civilians from entering the crime scene, while others tried to find some clues.
They must have brought the body somewhere else by now.
But deep down they knew that it was the beast's work.
It's a gruesome scene, and I felt my stomach turning all over.
That could have been me, if Liza hadn't taken me in for the night.
When I looked at a knight, that seemed to be a rank higher than the other knights, he stared right back, his blue eyes piercing right through me.
The knight next to him, with light brown hair noticed and looked over to me as well, but not with piercing eyes.
He seemed rather confused, why his coworker looked at me like that.
They spoke a few words with each other, then the blue eyed knight walked over to me.
???: “Do you have a moment?”
Completely irritated, I looked back at him.
Does he think I'm a suspect?
Hey, I'm just as clueless about the whole situation as you are.
And if it's because of this morning, where I tried to leave the bar without paying then I'm sorry.
I didn't manage it anyway.
So I nodded and followed him nervously.
David: “Ähm, Sir?”
No response.
Great, if he thinks I'm a suspect, then I can't really say anything to defend myself.
I would find myself also suspicious if I was in his shoes.
A face he has never seen before suddenly appearing at the crime scene, staring at the knights.
Are there even lawyers in this world, in case I get dragged in front of a judge?
He brought me a few steps aside from the other knights, who were still inspecting the sidewalk.
He never looked away the whole time, I was always in his field of sight and he never took his hand away from the handle of his sword.
The brown haired knight finally spoke.
???: “Bestos, do you have a suspicion?”
Bestos shook his head.
Bestos: “Just a few questions.”
He looked serious at me, and all I was able to do was look nervously back.
I felt like I was in deep trouble.
What question would he ask me?
If he asks where I am coming from, I couldn't tell him the truth.
He would think I lost my mind.
I could say that I am a traveler.
It wouldn't even be a lie, but would he take that as an answer?
He cleared his throat and looked me serious in the eyes.
Bestos: “Where are you coming from and where have you been until now?”