Shin stood up and walked to the gate of the academy, stretching his back as he yawned.
"I still have time. I can't wait to explore this kingdom and see what it offers!" he thought with excitement.
As Shin walked, he noticed a lot of structures very different from his own world. He continued until he saw a crowd gathered in a specific area. Curiously, he approached and read the sign: "Endure my punch for 50 gold!" He was shocked to see people fainting from the punch of a well-built man.
"Wow, can I take that punch? 50 gold must be a lot in this world's currency," he thought. Then, confusion hit him. "Wait, how am I understanding this world's language?" he wondered.
"It must be the goddess's blessing. WAIT, that's right! Maybe I can endure that punch because I have the goddess's blessing," he thought with a smirk.
Shin hesitated but eventually walked up to the man and asked if he could participate. The man agreed, and Shin stood there, focusing his muscles on his stomach. The man wound up and delivered a powerful, straight punch.
"ACK!!!"
Shin dropped to his knees, almost vomiting, but he clenched his gut. "Sh-shit, I can't vomit, or I'll be disqualified," he thought.
"And this guy won 50 golds!" the man announced as the crowd clapped and whispered among themselves.
"Here you go, kid. Good job enduring the punch," the man said with a smile, handing Shin the 50 gold.
Shin slowly left the crowd, panting, with his hand clutching his stomach. "Holy shit, that guy's punch is the strongest I've ever taken. Those bullies back home are no match for him. I thought I was going to die!" he thought.
He continued walking until he spotted a place called "Tavern."
"Tavern? Hm, it seems like a restaurant," Shin muttered as he pushed open the small door. Instantly, an overwhelming presence filled the air—big, burly men with beards and strong builds were drinking beer and eating meat.
"Holy shit, did I just walk into a bar?" he thought, feeling nervous.
"HEY!"
Shin turned around to see the tavernkeeper glaring at him. He froze in fear.
"H-hello, sir," he stuttered.
"Don't just walk away! Come back and order something," the tavernkeeper barked, shoving a menu into Shin's hands.
"Y-yes, sir," Shin replied, taking a seat and scanning the menu. He was shocked at the prices.
Tavern Menu:
Cow Meat Stew - 10 Gold
Grilled Pork - 8 Gold
Fresh Bread with Butter - 3 Gold
Roasted Chicken - 12 Gold
House Special Ale - 5 Gold
Fine Red Wine - 15 Gold
Apple Cider - 4 Gold
"Wow, I think it's pretty cheap, considering there are so many people eating here," he thought with amusement.
"Sir, I'll have the grilled pork and an apple cider, please."
"Is that all?" the tavernkeeper asked.
"Yes!"
After a few minutes, Shin's order arrived.
"Here's your food. That'll be 12 gold," the tavernkeeper said.
"Here's 15 gold. Keep the change," Shin replied with a smile.
The tavernkeeper was visibly shocked. "Hey kid, are you sure you want to give me these extra 3 golds?" he asked.
"Yes, why not?"
"I see. Thank you then!" The tavernkeeper walked over to another man and whispered, "Make sure to guard this kid when he leaves. We want him to come back often."
"YES, BOSS!" they replied in unison.
Shin continued eating. "Damn, the food here tastes different, even if it's made from the same animals as back home!" he thought.
After finishing his meal, Shin left the tavern, unaware of the men secretly following him until he reached the plaza. He looked around and spotted a stall selling fresh fruits. He walked over, intrigued.
"What is this golden fruit?" he thought.
"Miss, what is this fruit?" he asked, pointing at the golden apple.
"Oh, it's called an Elfple. It's a fruit that only grows on an elf's tree. It's just 5 gold. Would you like to try one?"
"Sure, I'll buy one," Shin said, handing over the gold.
He took a bite of the Elfple.
"Mhmm~"
"HOLY SHIT, THIS IS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER TASTED!" he thought with excitement. "The sweet and creamy juices! It's melting in my mouth!"
As Shin continued exploring the market, he noticed various shops: a butcher selling exotic meats, a relic shop, a luxury goods store, and finally, an adventurer's shop.
He opened his pouch and checked his remaining coins. "I've got 31 gold left. That should be enough to check out some more things," he thought.
He walked into the adventurer's shop, where a man greeted him with a smile. "Looking for something specific?" the outfitter asked.
"Not really, I'm just looking around. It's my first time seeing an adventurer's shop."
"Hm, seems like he's from some uncivilized country," the outfitter thought with amusement.
"Feel free to browse. Let me know if you find anything interesting."
"Thank you, sir," Shin replied as he looked around, spotting various weapons, armors, and hunting tools.
"Sir, do you have anything priced below 30 gold?" Shin asked curiously.
"We have this basic sword for 20 gold. Would you like to buy it?" the outfitter offered.
"Hm, it might be a waste to buy this now. I'll start training tomorrow, and they'll probably give me a weapon," Shin thought.
"Ah, no, sir. I'll probably come back if I need one. Thanks for your time."
"Ah, I see. Thanks, young man," the outfitter said with a strained smile, veins bulging on his forehead slightly.
Shin left the shop and noticed the sky had already turned dark. "Oh shit," he muttered, looking up at the night sky. He noticed a strange, colorful glow.
"Wow, this is amazing. Hey, what's that in the sky?" he asked a random woman.
"Oh, it's called the Azure. It's said to be a gift from the goddess to help us see when Apollo isn't here."
"I see, but who's Apollo?" Shin asked with curiosity.
"Silly boy, don't you know? It's the big circle in the sky that gives us light during the day."
"I see. Thank you, miss," Shin said, bowing respectfully.
"Apollo? But it's called the sun in my world," he thought. "This truly is a wonderful place."
"I should head back to the academy now. I don't want to get punished on my first day," Shin thought.
He made his way back to the academy, opened the door, and lay down in his bed comfortably.
"I'm excited for tomorrow," he murmured as he slowly drifted off to sleep.