Thanks to the positive comments, I decided to continue this story.
And don't be surprised if you see some words in portuguese, the protagonist speaks like that from time to time.
Ps: I need a beta reader, if anyone is interested in helping me with this story, send me a message.
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[Edith Nivia]
BEEP! BEEP!
"Um?" I murmured, waking up tired.
BEEP! BEEP!
"Damn alarm clock." I grumbled, turning off the infernal device.
Despite being tired, I quickly got out of bed to get ready.
As I brush my teeth I remember last night's dream. A knight in shining armor, his face obscured by a gleaming helmet, had saved me from an assault. It was exciting, exhilarating and totally embarrassing.
"Good grief Edith." I spoke to myself looking in the mirror. "You're a grown-up Anthro, for Goddess's sake, not a little human boy dreaming of fairy tales."
I shook my head, trying to forget the ridiculous fantasy.
"I'm a mechanical engineer, working for the government." I spoke, puffing out my chest with pride. "Other Anthros would kill to be in my place, I don't need a knight to save me."
Quickly, I put on my overalls and grabbed my backpack, leaving the room.
[Image]
"Silly dream." I said, shaking my head. "Like a man could fight off three hyenas and then come to a single anthro's house to drink all night."
"HAAAAARRRR!"
"Iiiipe!" I screamed in fright, throwing myself behind the sofa. "Wh-what is that?"
The noise sounded like a wild boar being drowned in a puddle of mud.
"Die… Demon…" A slightly familiar male voice stammered.
I get up shaking from behind the sofa, and see the being responsible for the frightening noise.
"Impossible!" I exclaim with my jaw dropped. "It wasn't a dream."
My knight in shining armor was lying there snoring on my couch, covered in beer cans and empty fast food bags.
"Jeez." I mutter under my breath. "I thought he would be an elegant nobleman, but now he looks like a drunken hobo."
He sleeps still dressed in his armor and when I get closer I notice that it is all damaged with claw marks, punctures and stains of dried blood in abundance.
"What kind of life does he live?" I asked in a whisper.
The Poor guy was hungry and tired yesterday. I think I will let him sleep.
"I'll leave a note before I leave for work." I commented on taking paper and pen.
I quickly scribbled a message and placed the note on the coffee table, only to then I walk out the door, taking one last look at the unconscious knight. Despite his current state, there was something undeniably attractive about him. I could still see the fierce warrior who saved me from those hyenas. I blushed, pushing the thoughts away.
As I was still saving money to buy a car, I had to go by bus once again.
'Which is always…fun.' I thought ironically.
After all, an Anthro rabbit like me always suffers in crowded places, like public transport, just because no one respects the little ones.
After a long, cramped and stinky journey I arrive at my destination.
Anthrostate's research and development building towered in front of me, an imposing structure of steel and glass making the building look like a fortress. I walked in waving to security as I passed. They were both anthros, a rhino and a bear, their uniforms straining against their muscular bodies.
"It must be good, being big and strong like that." I smiled with envy.
After taking the elevator down in silence, I arrive at my laboratory floor.
Despite being a laboratory, it was more accurate to call it a workshop or a garage, because even though we had state-of-the-art technological equipment, the place was dominated by a familiar smell of oil and metal that I was already so used to and relaxed my body.
As soon as I turn on the lights I hear a groan.
"Fuck me." Complains a female voice, hoarse from smoking too much cigarettes. "Just five more minutes."
"Did you sleep here?" I asked, approaching the person lying in the middle of two armored vehicles. "What's your problem?"
"A virgin dwarf rabbit screaming at me." Gorete, the fat raccoon, grumbled.
I looked at Gorete disapprovingly as she stood up. She is an Anthro raccoon, her fur was a patchwork of gray and black, with the distinctive mask around her eyes. She wears a grease-stained uniform that was open showing off his large belly and large breasts being held up by a red sports bra. She stretched, yawning widely, displaying a mouth full of sharp teeth.
[Image]
"Gorete, you can't keep sleeping here." I said, exasperated. "This is a workplace where we do research for the government, not a motel."
Gorete shrugged, scratching her belly.
"Eh, what's the matter?" She said turning her back "I do the work, don't I?"
I sighed, knowing she was right. Gorete was a lazy, foul-mouthed, and often irritating co-worker, but she was also one of the most talented mechanics I've ever met. She had a knack for understanding machines, an intuition that couldn't be taught. She could hear an engine and know exactly what was wrong with it.
"You're lucky you're good at your job." I muttered, walking to my workstation. "Otherwise, you would have been fired a long time ago."
Gorete laughed, following me.
"Yeah, yeah." She repeated tiredly. "I know you love me, bitch."
[POV: Marcus]
An icy wind whispered past me through the wooden planks carrying the rotten odor of the swamp. The smell was no worse than whatever was being prepared in the large black cauldron in the center of this cursed hut.
"So you are the legendary Marcus Carvalho." A voice cackled in front of me.
Sitting on the other side of the table was a hunched figure, old, skinny, with a wrinkled face. Classic look of an evil witch.
"What brings you to my humble abode, great hero?" She murmured looking deep into my soul.
"I know your fame Cuca the Fate Weaver." I stopped as the witch laughed at her own title. "I need your help."
"Rumors are not always true, young hero." Said the witch, leaning back in her chair. "Perhaps my powers are not up to your request.
Facing the old creature, I swallow hard, preparing myself for what it might ask for in payment.
"I want the power to locate anyone."
The witch stared back at me with wide eyes, surprised by my request.
"You know you're asking for a lot, hero?" I replied, nodding my head. "To give you this power, I would need to give up my greatest treasure."
I lowered my eyes, staring at the table, overcome by a familiar melancholy.
"I will keep my promise to Eira." I responded, staring at the witch more intensely. "Name your price."
The old woman laughed loudly as if she were the villain in a fairy tale, not ashamed to show her rotten and broken teeth.
"Your emotions touched me." She said, calming down. "But as payment I want you to 'really' touch me."
…
"Say what?" I asked confused.
"I want you to touch me…" She said slowly, getting up from the table. "HERE!" Shouted the witch, opening her tunic revealing the horror.
"NOOOOO!" I screamed waking up from the terrible nightmare.
I woke up jumping up from the couch, knocking empty beer cans onto the floor and my heart pounding like a war drum. The remnants of the nightmare still tormented me, the laugh of that damned old woman echoing in my mind.
"Get your hand off my dick velha tarada!" I shouted, still agitated.
But luckily for me the smell of old beer and fast food filled my nostrils, calming me and bringing me back to reality.
"Fiuuuu…" I sighed in relief. "That was the worst mission ever." I grumbled, stretching. "I deserved a Harem just because of that one."
Looking around I remember that I slept in the white bunny house I met yesterday being robbed by the Lion King's hyenas.
"And her name is… oh shit I forgot, is it racist if I call her Lola or Judy Hopps?"
As I was rambling about matters of extreme importance, I noticed a note on the coffee table.
"Hmm." I murmur, taking the note.
{Esteemed Lord Knight,
I address Your Lordship to express my most sincere gratitude for the noble act of saving my life.
I also ask that you accept my most humble apologies for the discourtesy of leaving you alone in a stranger's home. However, my presence at work is essential, which forced me to leave urgently.
I ask that you feel completely free to enjoy the comforts of my residence and help yourself to everything you find available in my refrigerator and pantry. My return is only scheduled for nightfall.
With high esteem for your person,
Edith Nivea}
"Aaaaaaah!" I exclaimed in realization reading her name. "But why did she do this elaborate letter, the girl said all this to say that she had gone to work, that I can eat what is here and that she will be back in the evening."
It took up the entire page to write on, I even turned the gloss over to see if there was anything written on the back, but it was blank.
"Why did she write like that?" I questioned myself in astonishment. "It even seemed like she was talking to some kind of king or noble…"
And that was when I noticed that I was still wearing my shiny empyreanite armor.
The armor glows in any light like a radiant and soft white, like moonlight reflected off water, emanating a soft but constant luminescence. The color of the metal itself is a pure silvery white with pale gold tones, almost as if sunlight and starlight are woven into the very essence of the metal.
"He-he." I laughed awkwardly at the situation. "At least I wasn't wearing my Hellsteel armor, she might have sacrificed a goat as thanks."
Putting down the letter, I come across the mess I left at the poor bunny's house. The 24 cans of beer that I had drunk were littering the place, while the packages and bags of fast food certainly attracted cockroaches if I didn't get rid of them properly.
"Wow, this girl is an angel." I mumble embarrassedly. "She took me home, spent a lot on beer and doordash and on top of that gave me access to her fridge."
I look around once again, noticing the trash.
"And how does this animal here reward her? Trashin her living room…"
The mature and right thing to do is to clean everything carefully, showing my consideration for her.
…
"Fuck that noise! I will use magic."
I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths to access my mana reserves. My inner ocean was completely chaotic due to my fight against Demon Lord Lilium, but for a simple activity like cleaning this wouldn't be a problem.
"Mana that inhabits my being, hear my call,
Shape the trash into a sphere, compact it small.
Gather the waste, compress it tight,
By magic's will, let clutter take flight."
The room shook and hummed with energy reverberating throughout the room. Beer cans and fast food wrappers rose from the ground, floating in a chaotic dance before merging and compressing into a small sphere.
"Perfect." I muttered, picking up the sphere of trash smaller than a tennis ball. "Armazenar."
The sphere disappears from my hand, being stored in the portable dimension of the inventory.
"Morwen would be bitching my ear off about the 'negligent use of magic', but it's quicker that way." I murmured, remembering my old teacher.
Looking around, I see the clean house and with a feeling of accomplishment, I finally start to process the situation I find myself in.
"After being reincarnated from Earth to Galbraza, I was transported to this new world." I muttered to myself.
A melancholy feeling came over me, finally realizing that I was alone again. And this time, I don't even have a new father or a mother to help me adapt to the new circumstances.
"Why does everything have to be so complicated?" I grumbled, sitting down on the now spotless couch.
The room was silent except for the ticking of a wall clock. Each tick seemed to echo my thoughts, amplifying the loneliness.
I've lived in Galbraza for so long that I can barely remember my college friends from my first life. Thank God I still remember my parents and brother.
"At least for now I have a roof over my head." I thought, trying to find a positive point. But the reality was that I was lost, without direction.
In Galbraza, I had a purpose, a mission. Here, I was just a stranger in a land that didn't belong to me.
"Now, what do I do?" I asked myself, looking into space. "If this world is like my original Earth, I will need documents, a cell phone and of course money."
I got up from the couch and walked to the window, looking at the street outside. Cars passed by, people walked quickly, human men and furry women.
"Do they call themselves Furries?" I questioned myself uncertainly. "I think the bunny used some other term."
I try to remember how she 'defined' herself, but yesterday I was very tired, injured and hungry. I don't even remember what I did to her robbers.
"I hope I didn't kill them." I spoke in a somber tone. "Unlike a fantasy world, I don't get rid of a murder conviction with the excuse that 'it was a duel' or 'he was the one who pulled the sword first'."
I continued observing the street until inspiration appeared in my mind.
"First I need money, then I'll have to figure out what the hell I have to do in this world." I say puffing out my chest, deciding to act instead of crying depressed on the couch. "I've been through this before, just do the grind to get the money, get contacts and pick up some hot girls along the way."
With my spirits renewed, I turn around, walking purposefully towards the door of the house, where I stop as soon as I notice a small problem with my plan.
"If there are no monsters and demons for me to kill and get rewards… how am I going to make money?"
[Edith Nivia]
I leaned over the touch screen, blueprints for the silent electric tank lay open before me. The intricate drawings and calculations usually held my attention, but today my mind was elsewhere. The image of the knight roaring like a V8 engine while sleeping on my couch kept invading my thoughts. The man who saved me from those hyenas and then passed out in a sea of empty cans and fast food wrappers.
I tapped the screen, adjusting a small detail on the blueprint, but my heart wasn't in it. My fingers traced the lines absentmindedly as I tried to decipher the armor puzzle pieces sleeping in my house.
I knew he was exhausted, because the moment the food arrived, he devoured it without even taking off his helmet and then collapsed on the couch. The bloodstains on his armor were dry, but still looked fresh. You mean he had a big battle recently?
"Edith, are you okay?" asked Gorete, who approached without me noticing.
"Yeah, just… a lot on my mind." I replied, forcing a smile.
"It's normal for you to be a little disconnected, but it's usually because you're focused on a project." She said, crossing her arms, examining me with suspicion. "But that pen barely touched the screen… what's distracting you?"
"N-no-nothing much." I replied stuttering. "Rent and other personal things, you know."
Gorete raised an eyebrow, his expression turning mischievous.
"Personal stuff, huh? Like a guy?"
I felt my cheeks flush and quickly looked away.
"No, it's not like that." I tried to deny it, but it was too late.
Gorete laughed triumphantly, approaching me.
"There's no point trying to hide it from me girl, I know that look. You have that vibe of a virgin girl in love, hurry up and spill it to your gal here."
I sighed, knowing there was no point in denying it.
"Maybe there could be someone, but it's complicated."
Gorete's eyes widened with excitement.
"Complicated?" She asked, smiling. "Even better! Tell me everything."
I sighed, feeling the weight of the previous night's events settle on my shoulders. Gorete's eyes were wide with anticipation, his tail twitching with excitement. I knew she wouldn't let this go until I told her everything.
"Okay, okay." I conceded, rubbing my temples. "I'll tell you what happened."
[Marcus Carvalho]
If killing monsters to get rewards wasn't a valid alternative, then I went after the second option for an RPG hero to get money.
Selling items.
"I already told you kid." Said the old boar in front of me. "I'm not buying that shit from an unmarked man."
"Fuck who I am, these pearls are legit." I replied with a frown.
I thought it would be easy to get the money, since I had an absurd amount of gold and jewelry in my inventory. In fact I had an absurd amount of things like weapons, armor, potions, scrolls, magical items, summoning crystals, vehicles. I had everything in my inventory... everything except normal clothes, that's why I was still wearing armor.
"Listen here you canned nerd." Boar said mockingly. "I don't want the eyes of the state on me for buying merchandise from a single male. And to make matters worse, you don't have a certificate or even a receipt for that necklace, I'm not going to risk it for some crazy slut like you."
Groaning irritably, I took the necklace back.
"And how about gold?"
"Hmmm." She murmured showing interest. "Much better, I can melt it down to make it harder to trace back to you. I can also check the authenticity of the gold right here, but if it's fake or just a few crumbs you'll have to pay me for the loss of materials to check the authenticity."
Facing the disgusting fat woman, I pretend to take 10 gold coins from my waist, as if they were in a pocket.
"Take it!" I declared dropping the coins on the counter.
The boar's eyes dilated looking at the cupholder-sized coins.
"I will be back in a moment." She said taking the coins and going to test them in a room at the back.
I stood there, alone in the store, while the boar tested my coins. The place was a mess, crammed with all sorts of junk on shelves and scattered across the floor. Old TVs, dusty laptops, and a hodgepodge of antiques filled every corner.
I scanned the room, taking in the details. Old movie posters and concert flyers covered the walls, their edges yellowed with age. A clock on the wall ticked loudly, its hands moving in a slow, steady rhythm. The air was thick with the smell of dust and old electronics, a stark contrast to the fresh, open air of the battlefields I was accustomed to.
My eyes fell on a stack of newspapers near the counter. I caught one with the headline screaming something about a political scandal. But it wasn't the headline that caught my attention, it was the date and currency symbol.
"Caralho porra!"
The date was 2024, and the prices were all in dollars. I flipped through the pages, my heart pounding, but I found nothing that contradicted this information.
"So does that mean I'm in the United States?" I asked myself in surprise. "Or at least a furry version of country."
I put the newspaper back, my mind racing.
"Why did I end up here?" I whispered confused.
The boar came out of the back room, her eyes shining with excitement.
"These are real." She said, holding up one of the coins. "These are 100 gram 24k gold coins, I can offer you a thousand dollars for each one."
I nodded, suspicious that they were worth more, but for those in need, half is worth two.
"Deal."
Her hand went to the cash drawer, but I stopped her.
"Before you give me the money, I would like to buy some things."
She smiled at me, pleased that she was going to get rid of some of the merchandise with me, instead of giving it all to me in cash.
"What you need, boy."
I smiled, leaning over the counter.
"What everybody needs, money, a cell phone and of course documents."
"Documents?" She repeated confused.
"Yes." I responded by nodding my head. "Do you know anyone who can forge them?"
Surprised by my question, the boar stopped to look around to see if there was anyone else in the store, and as soon as she was sure we were alone, she asked me.
"You have no idea of what you are asking, boy."
"Bitch please! I've played poker with demons… and a fairy."
In response, she stares at me with her mouth open, shocked by my statement.
"Did you forget to take any medicine today?" She asked with genuine concern. "Or took it more than you should have."
…
"Fuck you, you rotten piece of bacon."
The boar's nostrils flared and her eyes narrowed as she placed a small box on the counter.
"Here's your damn phone and in that box in the corner there's some clothes, feel free to have a look."
After spending a few minutes looking through the box that didn't have any good options, I separated 4 t-shirts and 2 jeans.
"Don't you have any sneakers?"
"I have no shoes that fit a male's foot." Said the boar, reading the newspaper without looking me in the eye.
Noticing that she was already fed up with me, I took my money, clothes, cell phone and a wallet to store the money.
"Do you have a place for me to change?"
"This isn't a mall." She replied dryly.
'Breathe Marcus.' I thought to myself. 'Remember that you can't blow up this store claiming it had a volcanic slime infestation.'
"If you've already finished, fuck off!"
…
'Is a gas leak a good excuse?'
[Edith Nivia]
I pushed open the front door, my shoulders slumped with the weight of the day. My mind buzzed with the remains of Gorete's incessant chatter, her laughter still ringing in my ears. That damn that fat racoon had turned a difficult day into an unbearable one, her constant interruptions destroying any hope of concentration.
While mumbling mentally I enter the living room, I was prepared for the chaos of cans and fast food packages.
"My goodness!" I exclaimed in surprise.
But the place was impeccable. No cans or fast food packaging in sight. The coffee table sparkled, and the sofa cushions were neatly arranged.
'Had the knight cleaned everything up?' I thought to myself.
The thought seemed absurd, given that he would have a bad hangover today after drinking so much.
As I take another step, something else catches my attention, something written in orange chalk on my wall, I approach it and read it out loud.
"ShadowM4rcus69." I speak out loud in confusion. "It looks like an mmorpg username."
Suddenly without warning the letters began to glow.
I took a step back, my heart pounding as the orange letters pulse with a neon orange glow. The light intensified, casting frightening shadows across the room.
A sudden flash blinded me and for a moment everything went white. When my vision returned, I gasped. Standing before me, as if materialized out of nowhere, was the knight. His armor, despite being damaged, shined proudly.
[Image / No Sword]
"Sir Knight?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "What is happening?"
He looked down, staring at me with those emerald green eyes shining through the slits of his helmet.
"Hey Lola!" He said with a smile.
…
"Lola?"
"I'm sorry… Edith." He said with a sarcastic laugh. "But I needed to make that joke at least once."
Finishing speaking, he bent down and picked up a cardboard box with clothes and some plastic bags.
"Do you mind if I use your kitchen?" He asked, turning his back, walking towards the kitchen.
"Of course not, sir knight."
He stops halfway and turns to me.
"So…" He began to speak in an awkward tone. "Don't call me that, my name is Marcus, Marcus Carvalho."
I widened my eyes, embarrassed that I had only now learned his name.
"Yes, it's a great pleasure to meet you Mr. Knight-, I mean Mr. Carvalho."
"Come on Coelhinha." He said entering the kitchen. "You saved my life yesterday, you can call me Marcus."
"Did I save your life?" I repeated confused.
Marcus began unpacking the groceries, placing the ingredients on the counter with a precision that surprised me. He moved with a familiarity that suggested he was no stranger to the kitchen. I leaned against the door, watching him, still processing the strangeness of the day.
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have survived yesterday." He said, without taking his eyes off the vegetables he was cutting.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice drenched in uncertainty.
He paused, turning to me. His green eyes had a gravity that made me catch my breath.
"I didn't look like it, but I was in bad shape." Marcus said in a more serious tone. "Punctured lungs, broken ribs, broken leg and arm, stomach and some other organs were destroyed as well."
"But you looked so strong." I protested, remembering how he had resisted those hyenas.
Marcus smiled, with a hint of sadness in his eyes.
"Appearances can be deceiving." He turned to the counter, continuing his work. "I could only move because of the magical enchantments on my armor and some buffs from other items and potions I had taken before."
"Magical enchantments ?" I murmur, widening my eyes. "What are you talking about?"
I watched Marcus as he continued to season the meat, his movements fluid and confident. The smell of garlic and herbs filled the air, making my stomach growl. The kitchen, once a place of solitude, now seemed alive with his presence.
"The kind you find in magical items." He said it like it was no big deal.
"But magic doesn't exist." I responded in disbelief.
"It doesn't exist?" Curious Marcus asked. "My magical items work normally and…" Pausing, he raises his own thumb which is then engulfed in a pale white light. "My spells also work, but I noticed that there is no mana in the air, doing rituals in this world must be a pain in the ass."
No matter how much he continued talking, I heard nothing, because my jaw dropped, at the revelation in front of me.
"MAGIC!?" I screamed in surprise.
"He-he." He laughs awkwardly in my direction. "I think it's best to start with a formal introduction, but I'll give you the short version of it."
Marcus moves away from the bench and approaches me, with his right fist clenched he hits his chest and begins to speak.
"I am Marcus Aurélio Rubro Carvalho chosen by the Goddess Hemiliara, champion of the White Steel Vanguard, defender of Galbraza, liberator of dwarves from Grakofin, master of the Luminous Vorpal Sword, chief of the Black Fang tribe, conqueror of the bloody plateau, duke of the Iron Alps, the anathema of hell, chosen of the Elder Dragons, emissary of the ethereal Fae, and my last and now favorite title, the executioner of the Demon Lord Lilium."
Once again my jaw dropped, I had so many questions, but I couldn't organize my thoughts to ask them.
"Would it be easier to understand if I said I was an Isekai Hero?"
My jaw started to hurt from falling so much today.
"Are you like one of those heroes who is reborn in a fantasy world?"
He just smiled and nodded.
Unable to contain my excitement, I approach him and excitedly grab his arm.
"You mean you learned magic, faced dragons, saved princes, met elves and dwarves?"
"Yes to all." He responds laughing loudly, caressing my head.
The affectionate gesture makes me realize how close I am and that I'm also holding onto his arm, I jump back.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Carvalho." I speak in a sincere tone.
In response he just laughs saying it's no big deal. He quickly finishes cooking and sets the table.
"For dinner today we have potatoes au gratin, picanha steak, lettuce salad with tomato and steamed carrots."
GRRRRR!
My stomach growled, wanting food.
"Sorry." I spoke completely embarrassed.
But once again he smiled saying it was no big deal.
I cut into the tender meat, the juices pooling on my plate. I took the first bite to my lips, the flavors exploding in my mouth. It was unlike anything I had ever tasted rich, flavorful and perfectly seasoned.
"This is incredible." I murmured, savoring the taste. Marcus smiled, his eyes shining with pride.
"I'm glad you liked it." He said, cutting into his own portion.
I took another bite, the flavors dancing on my tongue. It was a meal fit for a king, and yet here it was, on my humble dining table. I swallowed hard, the heat of the food spreading through me, and then a thought occurred to me.
"Why did you do that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Marcus looked up, his fork stopping in midair.
"Did what?" he asked, genuinely confused.
"This meal." I said, gesturing to the table in front of us. "You cleaned my house too, why?"
Marcus set down his fork, his expression softening.
"I made the mess so it's only fair that I clean it up myself, the meal is a way of saying thanks to you, but…" He paused with his voice changing to a heavier tone. "I do admit, I have ulterior motives."
I swallowed hard, the delicious meal suddenly turning to dust in my mouth. Marcus's words rang in my ears, 'I have ulterior motives.' My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and excitement coursing through my veins. No man has ever shown interest in me before. I was always the shy and quiet one, overshadowed by my taller, more confident and stronger colleagues.
"Ulterior motives?" I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible.
Marcus leaned back in his chair, his green eyes fixed on mine. The intensity of his gaze made me squirm, but I couldn't look away.
"Yes." He said, his voice steady and calm. "You need to understand Edith that men have certain…needs."
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!' I screamed mentally.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted this." He said almost purring at me.
'By the Goddess, his husky voice is so sexy, I'm going to end up sliding off my chair if he keeps talking like that.'
"Eat a well-seasoned meal."
…
Marcus's words hung in the air, and I couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and disappointment.
"Eat a well-seasoned dish?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.
Marcus leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips.
"You have no idea how rare spices are where I come from. In the other world, magic may be abundant, but trade was not as developed. Spices were a luxury, even in the kitchens of royal castles."
I blinked, trying to process his words.
"But you had magic. Couldn't you just… conjurate them?"
He laughed, shaking his head.
"Magic can do many things, but it cannot replace the flavor of fresh herbs or the kick of a good pepper. Believe me, I tried."
"Really?" I asked, still in disbelief.
"Yes." He responds between bites. "I conqueror a tribe of orcs just because they had access to garlic."
I looked down at my plate, the rich aroma of the meal rising. The thought of a world without the simple pleasures of good food seemed almost unimaginable.
"So, have you known how to cook for a long time?" I said, trying to change the subject to something lighter.
Marcus nodded, his eyes shining with a memory.
"Before I was Isekai, my father taught me in my original world, one that didn't have Anthros."
I looked at Marcus, my fork halfway to my mouth, frozen in disbelief.
"Didn't have Anthros?" I echoed the words sounding strange and impossible. "But how…how could this be?"
Marcus shrugged, taking another bite of his meal.
"In my original world, everyone is human. Men and women are all human."
I put down my fork, my appetite suddenly disappearing.
"But that's… that's impossible. How can a world function without Anthros? We are the backbone of society, the leaders, the workers, the-."
"I noticed that today." Marcus interrupted, his voice gentle but firm. "My original world is different from yours in some ways. We have our own struggles, our own strengths. But Anthros? They don't exist there."
I shook my head, trying to understand the concept.
"But how do you…I mean, how do men and women…interact?" I asked, my cheeks flushed slightly at the implication.
Marcus laughed, a hearty sound that filled the room.
"I think the biggest difference is that in my world women are the fair gender, here it seems to be the opposite."
I sat back in my chair, my mind racing. The idea of a world without Anthros was terrifying and fascinating. How did they manage without our strength, our leadership? How did they deal with the absence of our unique perspectives and skills?
"It must be so different." I muttered, more to myself than to Marcus. "A world without Anthros... is almost unimaginable."
I wanted to ask him so much, but I decided to eat in silence, enjoying the mild weather. I don't need to ruin this wonderful moment with more questions, tomorrow we can talk more.
"By the way, are you single?"
"Iiiipe!"
Marcus's question caught me off guard, and I almost choked on my food. My cheeks burned, and I felt my heart race once again.
Luckily for me the shrill sound of the phone ringing broke the silence.
BEEP! BEEP!
"Saved by the bell." I murmured, relieved.
To my surprise, the device was ringing from Marcus' side of the table.
"Just a second." He says getting up from the table.
I strained to hear, but the person on the other end of the call spoke too quietly for me to understand any words even with my bunny ears. Marcus's expression changed, his eyes narrowing as he listened intently.
'When did he buy a phone?' I questioned mentally. 'Did he go out alone today?'
It was very dangerous for a male to walk alone on the street, especially if he didn't have a scent or bite mark.
"I understand." He murmured, his voice firm. "I'll be there soon."
He ended the call and turned to me, his face unreadable. I couldn't help but feel a pang of worry.
"Is everything fine?" I asked curiously.
Marcus nodded, but his eyes held a hint of concern.
"I have good news and bad news." He said, giving an embarrassed smile. "The good news is that I found someone to forge documents good enough to open bank accounts."
"My goodness." I commented happily. "That's amazing, but what's the bad news?"
Giving a forced laugh, Marcus responds awkwardly.
"Pretty sure they're the chinese mafia."
E aí gurizada?
I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
My original plan was to make their dinner shorter, but for some reason I kept writing and adding details.
Once again I would like to reiterate that I am looking for beta readers for this story, if anyone is interested just send me a message.
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-Comments:
EMCM:
'HoW dArE YoU CriTicIzE FeMiNiSm YoU HeTeRo InCeL MaChIsTa FaIlEd MaN?????? Let's Go Girls, LeT's cAnCeL tHiS moNsTer 😡😡😡' hahaha anyway, be careful with this topic, man.
The people who sympathize with this nonsense tend to be real parasites. If they see the story, they'll want to cancel the fic just because of that.
Avip:
I understand that it's a very 'sensitive' subject, but I did it more for comedy than for criticism, the protagonist is very anti-woke and there will always be many hilarious interactions because of that.
Maki12:
You were not lying when you put 'Overpowered Protagonist' in the tags.
Avip:
He-he, wait for more.
NOOB935:
I really do enjoy this take on isekai like that one anime called "my uncle from another world" I hope to see what silly adventure our hero will and how others will react to maybe seeing magic. Overall I really hope this gets more updates and if possible I be even willing to support it.
Avip:
I love this manga, and it was one of the inspirations for this story.
dak456:
You need to proofread a little more closely, characters change genders all over the place
Avip:
You're right, one of the reasons I want a beta reader is to have help with that part.