James stood among the villagers, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. The adrenaline of the battle had worn off, and now he felt the physical and emotional toll of the day.
"Food and drink," he said lifelessly, his voice barely above a whisper. The villagers, eager to please their new hero, quickly scrambled to fulfill his request.
As they brought him an abundance of food and drink, James ate and drank mechanically, too tired to notice their enthusiasm. The villagers watched him with a mixture of awe and gratitude, thinking that their hero must be in need of great sustenance after the battle.
After gathering his thoughts, James decided to use some of his funds to build himself a house. He accessed his HUD, selecting the appropriate options for construction.
House: 50,000 coins
Furniture and Essentials: 10,000 coins
As the house materialized in front of him, James felt a small sense of accomplishment. He walked through the newly built home, noting the modest but functional design. It was a far cry from the grand castles and keeps he had imagined in games, but it was his.
James entered his empty room, I guess a bed isn't "essential" he thought he sat on the floor, the weight of everything catching up to him. He thought back to his life on Earth, his unfulfilled desires, and the drastic changes that had brought him to this new world.
He thought about Dionysius, Kurothrax, and the villagers who looked up to him. The pressure of being a leader, a hero, and a manager all at once felt overwhelming.
The HUD flickered in the corner of his vision, a constant reminder of his responsibilities. He looked at his reflection in a polished piece of metal, seeing the dark elf face that had become his own.
"Is this really me?" he whispered, feeling the disconnect between his old and new selves.
The exhaustion, the fear, and the immense responsibility finally broke through his composure. James curled up on the floor, tears streaming down his face.
"I can't do this," he sobbed quietly. "I don't know what I'm doing."
The darkness of the room seemed to close in on him, and for the first time since arriving in this world, he allowed himself to fully feel his vulnerability. He cried until he had no more tears left, the emotional release leaving him drained.
Eventually, sleep overtook him, and he fell into a deep, dreamless slumber.
The next morning, James woke up feeling bloated and uncomfortable. He realized the villagers had overdone it with the food and drink. He sighed, regretting his lack of communication but understanding their intentions.
"They really think I'm something special," he muttered to himself, feeling the weight of their expectations.