Currently I am walking on a dirt road. Where am I? I have no idea. This place is weird. I woke up a while ago under a big tree. It was the only tree around us and there's literally nothing.
It looks like a normal highland plains with a dirt road. Where am I?
(Aera, Aegis, are you awake?)
No answer. I summon Aera. A gun appeared in my hand. It feels like she has no power. Is my
So, I am somewhere but I am not sure if it's the right place or not. And my weapons are unresponsive. Great! What better way to start a journey than becoming powerless!
I ponder. I can only walk. I see nothing around me and I have to move. Maybe I should just walk on the dirt road. Which way? Left ot right?
For a journey, put your best foot. I am a right sided person so I guess I should start with my right foot.
I start walking on the road going right. It's daytime but the weather is nice. It's kinda cool and the sun isn't too hot. I have to get information. Let's just keep walking. Maybe I will arrive at somewhere eventually.
For the time being, I feel nothing special. It's normal except my powers. Did Strauss train me so that I can fight without my powers?
I keep walking on until I found something. I stop. There's a village ahead. I should put on my amulet. I can't take any risks after all. Language barrier is expected.
But I should be stealthy. I am unfamiliar with this place and I do not know how the people will react.
What's worse is that I am currently powerless. Do I have my weapons? Yes. But they aren't responding. Can they be used? Maybe I should try.
I bring out Aera again. Just like the first time I got her, she is attached to my right hand.
I focus on her. But no reaction. Aera uses
What about Aegis? She is hanging down from my neck in her compact form.
I take her into my hand. She extended and became a staff. I can't feel anything from her either. So, she can at lest function as a staff. I can beat people with her. That's encouraging.
I slowly walk towards the village. I see two men guarding the entrance. They are dressed like medieval soldiers however there are guns hanging around there waist.
The guns look just like Aera. This sense of dissonance is something. Medieval knights using guns to protect themselves. It's funny. I walk confidently to them.
"Halt! State your intention."
One of them asks. I have to lie. I am not good at lying so let's try my best.
"I am actually lost. And I have lost my possessions as well. Where am I exactly?"
Let's try to be a bit respectful and ask for help. Sometimes, they get easily fooled.
"This is the Helgerødtangen village. Known as the end of the world."
The end of the world? I came to the opposite direction. I have to walk the other way.
"Thank you. I guess I came the wrong way."
I was taking my leave when they stopped me.
"What is your destination?"
"I am supposed to be attending a big wedding. But for some reason, I have forgotten whose. And I have lost my belongings so I can't even check whose wedding I am attending."
"A big wedding? There's only one wedding that can be called big. That would be Princess Lilith's wedding. That should be in the capital. You should wait a bit. The capital is a month away from here even in a carriage."
A month away? That's way too far. But if I walk, it would take even more time.
"There will be a stagecoach going to the capital tomorrow. You can join them."
"But I have no money."
"Don't worry. It will be a pilgrimage. You don't have to pay for it."
They offered to shelter me for the night. The two introduced me to the village chief and sheltered me for the night.
So far so good. However, I am sensing something odd. The villagers looks rather impoverished. I have to spend the night here and leave. That is the priority now.
I was given some food. I just ate it. I won't refuse their kindness. But their eyes, they look crazed.
Every last of the villagers have a crazed look. I was given a place to sleep in the chief's house.
The houses in this village are pretty shabby. They are flimsy wooden huts. It would probably fall to even a gust of wind.
Anyway, my mind is tired. I should sleep.
My mind was jolted awake by a sound. Hmm…it's kinda loud.
I open my eyes and find myself being taken somewhere. A lot of people are taking me somewhere. I have been tightly tied to my bed.
They have wooden torches on their hands. I guess staying still would be better.
Soon, they entered a cave and put me down. I closed my eyes to pretend to be asleep. But I caught what some of them were saying.
It seems like I will become a sacrifice to their deity. Let's wait until all of them are gone.
Well, now they are gone. I open my eyes and try to sit up. The ropes just tore apart and I sat up.
My brute strength is still here. I guess in the end, your own body is your best weapon.
I look around. A dimly lit cave. But I see another person. A little girl, probably the age of Alyssa.
She seems to be unconscious. I go near her. She is skinny, probably malnourished. I touch her cheek to check. She seems a bit cold. Her clothes are old and tattered. I didn't see her in the village but she may be the sacrifice they had decided.
I am probably a bonus. I am wearing a t-shirt but I guess I should cover her. It is a bit chilly tonight.
So, I should probably kill this local deity and get out of here. I go inside. And I won't do any dramatic silence or stuff. The deity is nothing but a big lizard.
It's a big, azure lizard. Probably sleeping but I have to formulate a plan soon and take it out. What will I do about my weapon? I only have Aera and Aegis but they aren't even working.
If only I had that handy weapon. It sure was handy. Well, time to formulate a plan and kill it before it wakes up.