" Wooow, those are an actual armored guards."
After walking for a while, I am now just a few meters away from the village. And from here I can see the entrance of the village and in front of the entrance, there are armored guards, each of them holding a spear on their hands.
"They actually have walls and a proper gate, what's more there are actually people queuing, and the guards also check them. Could it be that this place is not a village but actually a town? ....Well, no use dilly dallying. Let's just do this thing."
Considering there are still more important things like where should I stay for the night, etc. I decided to just YOLO it.
"Next." (Guard A)
"Yes."
I reflexively replied to the guard because of my habit. After waiting in the queue for a while it is finally my turn to get checked.
"Show me your papers." (Guard A)
(Well, here I go.)
The moment the guards asked for my papers, I immediately knew or at least came to a conclusion these papers are definitely something they use for identifications. I told the guard who asked me before that I don't have these papers they asked for and told them a story of what just happened to me which contained half the truth and half lies for the reasons.
"Hmmm..., hey, I'll be going to the captain. Take care of things here for a bit." (Guard A)
"Got it." (Guard B)
"Hey you, Saito was it?" (Guard A)
"Yes."
"Follow me." (Guard A)
"Okay."
I follow the guards going inside. Both of us walk without talking to each other. After all, there is no way I can start the talk since even if I am a former NEET, it doesn't change the fact that I have near zero social skills. What's more, with how the guard also doesn't try to talk with me, it gives some kind of intense feeling coming from him and I feel like he will throw me into prison on the spot if try to start talking.
After walking for a while, we finally stop in front of a door. The guard then knocked the door.
"Excuse me Sir. This is Hugo, I'm coming with someone without identity. May we come in?" (Hugo)
"Enter." (???)
The guard then open the door and there is another armored man inside sitting behind a desk. Although, compared to the other guards, this man's armor looks a little grander. Added with how the guard in front of me whose name is Hugo talked formally with him, it is already obvious enough that this man is at least their captain if not on higher position than that.
"So, what's the problem?" (Captain)
"Yes, sir. This person doesn't have any papers with him. The problem is....." (Hugo)
The guard answered the captain while posing something like a salute and repeat what I have just told him to his captain. The captain then turn to look at me.
"Hmmm....., so you're saying that you are cleaning a mage's house in your village and then by an accident you suddenly find yourself here?" (Captain)
"Well, to be exact, I ended up on the outside, somewhere near the town."
I clarified to make sure because I'm afraid it might cause a misunderstanding.
"Right. Hmmm.... Alright, it's been a while, but let's do it this way." (Captain)
The captain stand up from his chair and go to the nearest shelves on the right of the room from his desk. From the shelves, he takes a crystal ball and place it on his desk. Then, one thought occured to my mind.
(Shit)
I thought to myself. As for why, that is because in fantasy transmigrated or reincarnated story, that crystal ball will have more than 50% chance to spell my doom because usually that crystal ball is actually a lie detector magic tools.
"Kid. Touch it."(Captain)
(SHIIIIIIIITTTTTT!!!!!)
I panicked in my mind while maintaining my poker face. But whether it is my luck or just my adrenaline rushing to my head from the panick. I suddenly got an idea and while the idea only has a little chance of working, at least it is still worth a try then just giving up to my fate and got thrown into prison or get executed just because of a stupid lie.
"Umm..., what is that?"
"Huh? You don't know this thing?"(Captain)
"No, I don't."
"Do you seriously don't know?"(Captain)
The captain asked me while putting on a scary face. At least, that is how I see it, if he isn't putting one.
"Yes, I don't know."
(DO YOUR BEST MY POKER FACE SKILL!!!!! DON'T YOU DARE FAIL ME NOW!!!!)
I screamed again in mind. A few minutes of silence pass, no one even myself utter even a single word in this room. Even worse, right now I am feeling cold sweat trickling on my whole body because of the scary stares the captain and the guard are giving me.
"Well, for now, try touching it."(Captain)
"Ummm, do I really have to? I mean, considering what have just happened to me..."
"No need to worry about that, this thing is not capable for that. It is only a tool to identify yourself and if you touch it you can immediately be granted to pass the gate, but if you don't...."(Captain)
The captain smiled. But I don't know whether it just my imagination or not, even though his mouth is forming a smile, there is no doubt his eyes are not smiling at all.
(HIIIIIIHHHHH!!! D-DAMMIT!!! JUST WHAT THE HECK IS IT WITH THIS GUY!!!!!????? HOW CAN A PERSON ACTUALLY MANAGED TO PULL OF THAT KIND OF EXPRESSION!!???)
"So?"(Captain)
(D-dammit!!!)
"I... understand."
"Thank you for your cooperation."(Captain)
(COOPERATION MY ASS!!!! YOU DON'T EVEN GIVE ME A GODDAMN CHOICE HERE!!!!)
I approach the crystal ball. I can feel my hand trembling even after it touch the crystall ball.
(Oh God!!! Oh please!!!! I'm not lying!!!! I don't mean any harm!!!! I really do arrived to this place because of magic!!!! I really won't try to hurt anyone!!!! LOVE. AND. PEACE!!!!!)
I said all kinds of things in my mind as if trying to appeal to the crystal ball that I am not a dangerous person. The crystal ball glows. I closed my eyes because I'm too afraid to look at the results.
After I feel the glows diminished, there is only silence and I don't hear the captain or the guard saying anything.
(W-why is there no one saying anything?)
So, I open my eyes slowly and I see on top of the crystal ball I see there is a small vertical line appear on top of the crystal ball.
(W-what?)
Since I can't understand anything from seeing the crystal ball I tried to look at the captain and the guard who have their jaw hanging right now. After a few more silence, the captain looks like he finally got a hold of himself then approach me and tap my shoulder with his hand while having a pitiful expressions while looking at me, as if he is seeing the most pitiful being in the world right now and then he says.
"I'm sorry.... for being insensitive."(Captain)
"Eh?"
"I never thought, that at your age, you are still a level one."(Captain)
"Eh?"
The moment I heard what he has just said. My mind is beginning to go blank.
"But don't worry, you are still young, don't lose your hope yet, there are still many things you can do, ......." (Captain)
Because of my blanked mind, I can hear the captain is saying something towards me, but I ended up can't comprehend it. After a few while, I finally managed to get a hold myself and ask him.
"Umm..., excuse me, sir?"
"Hm, what is it?"(Captain)
"Could it be, this thing is only used to check my level?"
"Hm? Yeah."(Captain)
"So, this thing cannot check lies or not?"
"HAHAHAHA!!!! If we actually have anything convenient like that then many of us would have lost our jobs."(Captain)
The moment he said that, my mind takes me to a trip of what happened a while ago, how panicked I was, how I was thinking like crazy as if I am some kind of strategist in a war, and also how stupid, embarrassing, and completely pointless it was.
"Heh....hehehe, hehehehehe...."
"Hm, is something wrong?"(Captain)
"$@%#^#&#^#&#^#^^#^#^#%@^@&#%#^#^@:#^#^#&^##&#&^#:-^#&#:##&&#&#&#£$¥$₩$*:$^#&%@&$¥£$€"
I swore and screamed at the top my lungs as if it was the last day of my life.