The journey to the eastern gate passed faster than Edo had anticipated.
As he traversed the streets of Inormi, he still couldn't get over how small the capital of Ero seemed. Being used to massive cities in his world, bustling with life and constantly expanding, he had expected something far more impressive. Instead, Inormi, while neat and orderly, felt more like his hometown—just surrounded by walls towering dozens of meters high.
When they finally reached the eastern gate, Edo raised his gaze to the monumental structure. It was one of the four main gates leading into and out of the capital. On the massive bricks of the wall was an enormous crest depicting air currents swirling on a green-and-black background. Beside it was a smaller shield in blue-and-red colors adorned with ten stars. Edo guessed that the first symbol represented the city of Inormi itself, while the second was for the nation of Ero. The sight held his attention for a moment, but what intrigued him more was the long queue of vehicles and people waiting to leave.
They joined the end of the line, which moved forward steadily but slowly. With each passing moment, Edo felt a growing unease. Finally, breaking the silence, he sighed heavily and scratched the back of his head.
- "Damn it…" he muttered under his breath, though loud enough for Leni, sitting next to him, to glance over with curiosity. "This country's name, Ero... it's way too similar to my own! How am I supposed to introduce myself? Edo from Ero? That sounds ridiculous! If someone were reading a story where the main character named Edo was staying in Ero, they'd lose their mind!"
He began gesturing dramatically, fully absorbed in his own thoughts.
"Maybe I should start using my last name instead. Yeah, Okamura sounds more serious. Mr. Okamura… although… that makes me sound old! If people start calling me 'Mr. Okamura,' I'll feel like a grandpa! Damn it, maybe I should just stick with Edo since that's what I already introduced myself as. But…"
- "Edo, are you okay?" Leni's voice interrupted him. Her expression was both concerned and slightly amused. "You look really deep in thought. Did something happen?"
Her words snapped him out of his internal monologue. He shook his head, trying to appear more composed.
- "Nothing, sorry. Just got lost in my thoughts…" he replied, glancing at the gate. "Looks like we're almost there. Just one more person ahead of us, and we'll be able to pass through."
At that moment, the carriage in front of them moved forward, and a guard dressed in heavy steel armor approached them. On his breastplate was the same shield with ten stars as the one on the gate. The man gave them a once-over, his gaze lingering a bit longer on Leni. However, he didn't say a word—only nodded and made a gesture that presumably meant they were allowed to pass.
Edo noticed they weren't asked for any documents, questioned, or even searched. He figured Leni's status as a mage played a significant role here. Her presence seemed to grant them the privilege of bypassing formalities. Edo glanced at her with a mix of admiration and uncertainty, unsure if he should feel comfortable with the situation.
"Well… maybe traveling with her does have its perks," he thought as he followed her through the massive gate.
- "Hold on tight, but remember—hands to yourself," Leni said with a slight smirk, glancing back at him over her shoulder.
- "Who do you think I a—" Edo began to retort, but didn't get the chance to finish. Leni abruptly spurred the horse forward, making it whinny loudly before bolting ahead. Edo, caught completely off guard, instinctively grabbed onto her tighter, desperately trying to maintain his balance. If he hadn't, he was certain he'd have been flung off, and the fall from that height wouldn't have ended well.
The first thing that caught his eye after leaving the city was the bridge spanning a wide river encircling the capital. He realized that, aside from the gates and bridges, there was no other way into or out of Inormi. The natural barrier of water surrounded the city like a moat.
- "Are you crazy?! Why are you going so fast?!" Edo yelled, struggling to make himself heard over the wind whipping against his face. Tears streamed from his eyes as the sheer speed left him overwhelmed.
- "I warned you!" Leni replied nonchalantly, not even glancing back at him. Her tone suggested she saw nothing unusual about the situation."What's the problem?"
Less than ten seconds later, the bridge ended, and the horse burst onto a dirt road winding through open fields. The path, worn smooth by countless hooves and wagon wheels, stretched southward. Edo was stunned by the horse's incredible speed—it galloped so swiftly that he felt every jolt and turn could throw him off the saddle at any moment.
Despite everything, when he dared to peek out from behind the mage's back, the sight before him took his breath away.
The landscape looked as though it had been plucked straight from the fantasy books he so loved to read. On one side of the road stretched lush green fields of cabbage, with the bent silhouettes of workers tending to them. On the other side, golden grains swayed gently in the wind, painting a serene picture.
In the distance, Edo spotted clusters of rural cottages—simple yet sturdy structures. Compared to the elegant, urban architecture of Inormi, these buildings appeared more modest, but they were well-maintained, reflecting the prosperity of their inhabitants. Further off, he could even make out shepherds guiding flocks of sheep toward the pastures.
- "Amazing…" he whispered to himself, unable to hide his awe.
Before he could immerse himself further in the beauty of the scene, he felt Leni suddenly tense. Glancing down, his heart sank as he realized that his hands, shaken loose by the horse's constant bouncing, had unknowingly shifted higher—landing on the mage's chest.
- "Do you really want to fall off this horse?" she said icily, her tone sharp despite the clear irritation on her face. "All men are the same."
"No! That's not it! It's the horse's fault!" Edo immediately dropped his hands back down, feeling his cheeks burn with embarrassment.
- "Always an excuse, typical…" she sighed, shaking her head.
Edo wanted to defend himself, but seeing her expression, he gave up. "It was really an accident!" he thought desperately, though he knew no explanation would help. Finally, he sighed heavily and resolved to focus on staying balanced, praying this awkward moment would soon be forgotten.
"Damn it, at this rate, I'll end up being seen as some kind of perverted creep!" Edo muttered under his breath, shaking his head in shame. The very thought of being perceived that way was unbearable. If he were to be written into an isekai story, he'd prefer to be the principled hero—not someone with questionable tendencies toward women.
"But clearly, fate has other plans," he thought bitterly.
The boy tried to calm his thoughts but instead found himself reflecting on his predicament. Memories of his previous world resurfaced, reminding him of everything he'd left behind.
"Honestly, my time here is one big mystery. Damn it, this could've happened to someone else, some lucky guy. I didn't ask for this! I could've at least gotten some cool powers—not these stupid visions of my deaths. What good is a power that just wrecks your mind? After three or four times, I pass out. It's pointless."
Edo gritted his teeth, visibly annoyed.
"I didn't complain about my old life, to be honest. It was tough, but things were finally starting to fall into place. Sure, I didn't finish school, but I found my path. Music production was really going well. I was even making decent money. Life was good, especially since Mom got that promotion. We could finally afford to live normally... we were ....just starting.... to."
-Mom.....
The thought of his mother hit him like a punch to the gut. A wave of sorrow and regret began to weigh him down.
"I left her," he whispered, swallowing hard. "I promised I'd come back…"
The silence around him suddenly felt suffocating.
"Fuck , what am I even doing? Who do I think I am? I don't belong here. I'm running around making contracts, chasing after some stupid crystals, and I haven't even thought about how to get home! I promised Leni I'd help her, but finding a way back should be my priority! And me? I'm forcing myself to help a girl just because I think she's pretty? What the hell am I thinking?! I'm such a damn fool…"
His thoughts swirled like a storm, until he couldn't hold it in any longer.
Tears welled up in his eyes, and a single one rolled down his cheek. He quickly realized what was happening and immediately tried to pull himself together. He wiped his face with his sleeve and forced the most neutral expression he could muster in that moment. Lowering his voice, though not enough to hide his emotions from the mage, he muttered under his breath.
- "Edo, are you alright?" Leni asked warmly, glancing over her shoulder at him.
Her tone and gaze were full of concern, which only threw him further off balance.
- "Of course! Why wouldn't I be?" he replied quickly, trying to sound carefree, though he knew his earlier sniffles might have betrayed him.
Leni studied him for a moment, her gaze thoughtful. Then, as if she'd suddenly understood something, she gave him a gentle smile. Her expression softened, and a note of sympathy entered her voice.
- "I understand how you feel," she said calmly. - "Boys your age have all sorts of things on their minds. I'll chalk it up to an accident this time, but next time, I won't be so lenient."
"Yeah, right, you don't understand a damn thing," Edo thought, pressing his lips together tightly. Still, he decided it was better not to say anything. He didn't want others to worry about his problems. After all, they were *his* problems—his alone to deal with. Yet, deep down, he couldn't ignore the faint sense that he wasn't entirely alone.
He sighed deeply, trying to calm his racing thoughts. A firm resolve began to take shape in his mind, grounding him once more.
"Alright, no more wallowing in self-pity. Promises are meant to be kept. I'll help Leni because I said I would, and once this is all over, I'll focus on finding a way back home. I can't forget that."
He looked back over his shoulder to take one last glance at the receding capital. This was the place where he had first appeared, suddenly drawn into this world. Now, from this distance, the capital seemed small, almost like a mere town. But one feature stood out—something that hadn't particularly caught his interest before.
To the west, within the city walls, a towering mountain rose, upon which stood an imposing castle. Unlike the castles he knew from stories or books, this one resembled a colossal fortress. Its massive structure and prominent defensive features gave it an aura of impenetrability and strength.
Hoping to change the subject and ease the tense atmosphere, Edo spoke up, though his tone revealed a slight uncertainty.
- "Pretty big castle… don't you think?"
His words sounded a bit forced, betraying his intentions, but Leni, instead of pointing this out, responded with a hint of pride in her voice:
- "Yes, it's a remarkable place. The castle isn't just the seat of power—it's also a fortress. It houses a forge where the best blacksmiths and craftsmen work, as well as the barracks of the Ten Court Knights. This is where they train their elite units, the strongest military force in the capital. Additionally, court mages like me have our quarters within the castle grounds."
Edo thought for a moment before recalling something Leni had mentioned earlier.
- "So, this is where you wanted to stick me in the unit led by the fourth Court Knight, Nolan, right?"
At his words, Leni's face fell slightly. Her usual confidence seemed to waver. Edo quickly realized he'd touched on a sensitive topic.
- "Yes," she answered softly, avoiding his gaze. "Nolan only recruits warriors with the fire element for his unit. Since fire is most commonly associated with demons, his unit is the smallest. But that doesn't mean it's weaker. Quite the opposite—every member is exceptionally skilled in combat."
Edo looked at her with slight confusion. Questions swirled in his mind, but he hesitated to voice them. He was certain Leni had her reasons for wanting him in that unit, but he didn't know why. One thing, however, was clear to him—he couldn't accept the offer.
While joining the unit might provide him with a place to sleep in the castle, food, and safety, it would be one big lie. He didn't have the fire element, nor was he a demon. His short stature and black hair—traits typical of demons—had led Leni to mistakenly assume his heritage. But Edo knew he wasn't one of them.
What Leni mistook for a combat instinct was merely the effect of his eyes—a power that showed him visions of the future. Yet even this ability, while powerful, was far from what a true warrior would be expected to possess.
He wanted to ask why Leni cared so much about placing him in that unit. But seeing her downcast expression, he decided to leave the topic alone. For now, he felt that pressing her on it might only make things worse.
The horse they were riding galloped faster and faster, passing buildings that gradually became sparser and more run-down. Edo noticed that more and more of them were abandoned, their structures showing signs of years of neglect. At the same time, the landscape slowly began to change—with every passing moment, they were getting closer to the Misty Forest, a place shrouded in mystery and dread.