Eight hours had passed since Runa arrived in this world.The events that followed the release of the elves were straightforward: Runa had them help gather the items scattered on the hill. While they were not many compared to the resources she had stored in chests during the game, she couldn't simply leave them lying around. Those items, along with what she currently had equipped, were the only possessions she had in this new world. She knew that starting a new life without contacts, money, or belongings would be extremely difficult, so she would have to be very stingy with everything within her reach. Moreover, she was now a lady; she had always thought about the benefits of being a woman, but in this world, she couldn't see how to take advantage of it. She resigned herself to the idea that she would have to live through the worst of both worlds, drawing unnecessary attention.Among the items scattered on the hill were two knives, a bow, several arrows, a strange-looking helmet, various vials with differently colored liquids, two rare gems, two rings, a necklace, and of course, her two main weapons: a crossbow and a shield. Although at first glance, it seemed like an unusual combination, Runa had developed a unique combat style in the game with these weapons. If one had to describe her role in Runes and Worlds, it would be that of a "Distance Tank Assassin." It was an unorthodox combination, and when added to Arata's reputation, who always resorted to dirty tactics to defeat his opponents, it was understandable that he had won the world tournament of Runes and Worlds twice and had retired undefeated. Of course, the early tournaments were not as competitive as the more recent ones, as the game had gained popularity over time.Despite being trapped in this new world, Arata had no desire to return to his previous one. At 27, he no longer considered himself a teenager, and he knew that what was left for him to live in his original world did not seem interesting. Perhaps the only new experience he had left was becoming a father, and while he was not opposed to the idea, he preferred to wait and see the "free trial version" when Kiyoshi and his sister had a child; then, he would be the fun uncle. But that is a story for another time.He had already lived romances, achieved milestones, resolved conflicts, and gone through hardships, but no matter how much he experienced that life, he knew it was the limit of emotions he could feel; one could not wish for more than that in that world. That is why he had always longed for the emotions promised by fantasy role-playing games: exploring the unknown, fateful encounters, challenging dungeons, deepening friendships, defeating demons and dragons, rescuing cute girls... and forming a harem. Boys, Be Ambtious. Of course, now that he was a woman, he would have to cross that last item off the list.Still... even if he had to live as a woman in this world, he wasn't going back. And suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted.Lynell: This way, Runa-sama. We are getting close.The one who had spoken was Lynell, an elf slightly taller than Runa, with blonde hair and green eyes. She had been captive of the traffickers and was now walking alongside the carriage driven by Runa, guiding her. The reason she wasn't traveling inside the carriage was simple: while collecting the items from the hill, they found one that not even three elves could lift together: Runa's shield, which was extremely heavy. Runa had to carry it herself and place it on one of the front seats of the carriage. But as she did so, the furry bull that had been pulling the carriage without problems until that moment began to struggle to move forward. Although its eyes were hidden beneath its dense fur, it was clear that it was exhausted.Runa decided that the three elves in better physical condition should get off the carriage to lighten the load and walk beside it. It pained her to see them walking barefoot, but she had no other option. She could have gotten off and carried the shield herself, but when she asked if any of them knew how to drive the carriage, none responded affirmatively.Runa, for her part, also had no idea how to drive a carriage, but she improvised, as always. With just one tug on the reins, the bull understood that it was time to move forward, suggesting it had been trained that way. The real challenge was turning left or right. She tried to do it like in a video game, pulling the reins in the desired direction, and although at first the bull seemed to ignore her, she eventually mastered the technique. She felt satisfied with herself for learning it so quickly.Runa: I see, it's this way.It was already night, and Lynell indicated to Runa, who was sitting in the driver's seat of the carriage holding an improvised torch, to steer the Olux toward the forest. This forest had enormous trees that gave it a fantasy vibe.The furry bull, known as Olux in this world, weighed approximately 2 tons and measured 2 meters tall and 4 meters long. It was a herbivorous and very docile animal used by people as a pack beast to transport heavy objects. If speed was prioritized, there were other options, but for transporting slaves, the Olux was the ideal animal. This particular specimen was very capable, although at this moment it was tired and missed its previous owner, who had treated it well compared to the treatment it received now.It was being mistreated, yanked on its reins left and right with inhuman strength. It had been active for a long time that day, and it felt fatigued and sleepy. It was nighttime, and it couldn't see anything. Throughout its life, it had only had to walk along easy paths, but now it was forced to go through a narrow forest filled with obstacles. It couldn't stop; after all, the person behind it was truly terrifying. If they thought it was no longer useful, they would see it as prey and eat its flesh. That's why, despite its exhaustion, it continued moving where it was directed.A little further back...Celine: Hey, are you sure it's a good idea to lead this girl to the village? Don't you think she's dangerous?Lynell, Celine, and Clara were the three elves that Runa had made get off the carriage. She could have told them all to get off to speed things up, but there were also girls and injured elves in the carriage. That would diminish her position as a benefactor upon arriving at the village.Lynell: Dangerous? What do you mean?Celine: Well, you know... Remember when she appeared? The first thing she said was as if she were trying to abandon us. I don't think she's a good person.Lynell: Ah, are you referring to when she tried to negotiate with the traffickers?Lynell: Goodness, Celine, you're so slow to catch on.Lynell sighed at her childhood friend's foolish statement.Celine: What do you mean?Lynell: Runa-sama probably wanted to make those guys let their guard down. Do you remember that in the middle of the conversation, she shot me a fierce look?Celine: Yes...Lynell: It was a signal for me not to act hastily and to wait for the traffickers to let their guard down. Thanks to that, while Runa was fighting, I took advantage of the confusion to grab and hide the dagger that the other trafficker had in the front seat.Lynell: Runa-sama must have realized that I could reach it from my position through the gaps between the bars.Celine: I see, that makes a lot of sense. As expected from people from the south, their brains work differently.Lynell: God, Celine, you can't act so carefree your whole life. We should learn as much as we can from Runa-sama while she's in the village.Celine: Wait, she's leaving the village? How long exactly? I don't think we'll learn anything if she only stays for 5 years.Lynell sighed again at how carefree her friend was.Clara: Hey, don't you think Runa-sama might be part of the southern royalty?The one who spoke was Clara. She wasn't as close to Lynell as Celine, but she was known throughout the village for her beauty.Celine: Royalty? Why do you say that?Clara: I've never seen anyone with her beauty. Also, she wears those expensive clothes and has beautiful crimson eyes. She gives off an aura of, you know... a princess.Runa's current appearance consisted of a red cloak with white fur on the inside, which made her look imposing, like a small king walking around. In contrast, she wore a high-quality black breastplate, typical of warriors, which accentuated her white skin and slender waist. While the silver and albino hair color was common among elves, Clara had never seen anyone with crimson red eyes, so she attributed it to a quirk of nature. Her face was much more beautiful than hers and anyone she had ever met. The only thing that didn't match her beauty was that fierce look she had; she was always frowning, giving the impression that she was always angry.As they thought about this, the three elves turned their gaze to Runa, who was driving the carriage. She was making strange gestures with her hands, but they didn't bother to ask her; surely, it wasn't something simple village girls like them could understand.Runa: System... stats... status...! Help... LOGOUT!She was trying, in every way possible, to summon some sort of interface, as typically happened in these kinds of stories; however, she didn't achieve anything. To be honest, she had already realized that this world was incredibly realistic. The only thing defying logic was her own body and the items she had brought from the game. As they moved through the forest, she saw some nocturnal animals that didn't exist in her old world. She was reflecting on this when she felt a strange presence approaching; Runa, in her current body, had all her senses sharper than she remembered.???: It can't be...A figure emerged from the shadows. It was a man wearing a hood and a face mask, giving the impression of being an assassin, armed with a bow. As he approached closer, he removed his hood and...???: Lynell, is that you?Lynell: Reinell!Runa did nothing, as Lynell had recently mentioned that they were close, so she could guess that the presence she felt was someone familiar in this village.Reinell: Thank the gods you're okay. Don't scare your brother like that again.It was easy to tell they were siblings by their resemblance, and with what he had just said, it was more than obvious. After both approached and shared a strong hug, ten more people appeared from the shadows. They were armed elves: seven men and three women. Eight of them carried bows, and two had spears.Runa observed Reinell's hand more closely and noticed traces of blood on his palms, probably from clenching his fists too tightly, digging in his nails. She could infer that upon learning his sister had been kidnapped, he had alerted the village and gathered a rescue group with the intention of saving the captive elves. The group consisted of eight hunters and two warriors.Reinell: How did you manage to escape? What happened to the kidnappers?Lynell: You see, when we were being taken to the human city, we encountered this girl from the south-Runa: I apologize for the late introduction. There's no need to strain yourself explaining the situation, Lynell; you must be tired. Allow me to do it.Runa interrupted. She couldn't allow Lynell to tell the whole story, as controlling the conversation would allow her to place herself in a more favorable position with the village. Moreover, if Lynell mentioned what she had done first upon seeing the carriage with the elves, it could be interpreted that she had helped them only because she had no other choice.She remembered that in stories, noble ladies tended to bow slightly, performed a little footwork, and lifted their dresses to introduce themselves. However, since she had never attempted it, there was no way she could replicate it correctly, and it might seem exaggerated given the seriousness of the current situation. So, she opted to simply place one hand on her chest and extend the other while speaking.Runa: My name is Runa; I am an elf from the southern lands. I was sent on a mission to create a more up-to-date map of these lands. While I was on my way to carry out my work, I encountered the slave traffickers and, upon seeing them trading elves, I fortunately managed to distract them and then subdue them. I wasn't aware there were elves further north than our lands. If you don't mind, I would like to stay for a while in your village to learn more about this place and its culture.She didn't know whether to introduce herself as someone from the south, but it would serve as a facade upon entering the village, as it was much less suspicious than saying she had appeared out of nowhere.Reinell: I see, you come from the south. I'm truly grateful for saving my sister.Reinell: No problem, at this moment our village is a bit agitated, but you can stay as long as you like. Besides, now you are our benefactor. If you need anything, feel free to ask. Follow me; I'll guide you to our village.After a bit of conversation, they walked further into the forest.Reinell: It's here.They had walked a bit from where they met, but upon arriving, Runa couldn't see anything resembling a village at first glance. Until... lifting her gaze slightly, she saw lights within the trees and what appeared to be houses built in the treetops. They were connected by wooden bridges, all converging in a specific place: the center of the village, which was located at the base of a giant tree that had been cut in half.It was truly astonishing. While the trees she had seen on the way were enormous, the central one was colossal, with a trunk that must have been at least 40 meters in radius. She wondered how they had managed to cut it in half. Even Runa, with her current strength, doubted she could cut such a trunk; or at least, it would take her a long time to do so. Moreover, she only had one doubt: how would they climb up? With her current body, she wouldn't have any problems climbing the trees, but not all the elves seemed to possess that skill.Her doubt was resolved when she saw Reinell make a sort of signal toward one of the trees. Shortly after, a kind of cabin descended from a hollow tree. This cabin operated with a pulley and a reel that spun from above, so they couldn't take many people up at once due to the weight.Finally, everyone had gotten on. Runa was the second to last to do so, leaving Reinell below to carry the objects and the shield, which he barely managed to place in the cabinet. This was because Runa was the only one who could turn the reel with the shield inside the cabinet.The only things they left behind were the carriage and the Olux.Lynell: Are you sure about leaving it like this?Runa: Yes, if any predator attacks it, it will make noise, and I'll be able to go help it.They couldn't take the carriage or the Olux that had brought them to the village. The elves didn't use the Olux as transport or pack animals, so they suggested releasing it in the forest. However, Runa refused. Since they didn't want to contradict their benefactor, they left it tied near the village and gave it some water.Lynell: We're finally in the village. Runa-sama, our house is over there; you can stay with us for as long as you want.Reinell: I really don't mind if she stays with us, but first, we need to discuss with the village chief where she will be assigned and also talk about her situation.They had arrived at the center of the village, and while they discussed where Runa would stay, a crowd of elves with relieved faces and tears in their eyes gathered around the newcomers. They were probably the families of the kidnapped elves. Among that crowd, a voice rose.???: So you are the newcomer from the south.???: On behalf of the village, I want to express our sincere gratitude for saving our people.The man who spoke was Fimas, the chief of the village. Unlike the other elves, his appearance was more mature, like that of a man in his 40s. Additionally, his eyes radiated an air of intelligence that set him apart from the rest.Runa: Nice to meet you, my name is Runa. As it seems you have been informed, I come from the south, and I would like to discuss some matters with you.Fimas: Don't worry about that. You must be hungry after a long journey. Come to my tree, and we will discuss everything after you've eaten something.Fimas shot a quick glance at Runa before stepping away...Lynell: Here, I hope you like it. We're a bit short on rations, but today's soup is especially good.They had gone to something resembling a dining area located at the center of the village, and at that moment, everyone who had just arrived from the carriage was sitting down to eat peacefully. What was served to her was something like mushroom soup with some vegetables and a piece of bread. Runa put on a slight grimace before trying it. With the first bite, she realized the soup lacked salt and was quite bland. The bread, hard and crumbly, resembled nothing like what she used to remember. The portion served to her was rather small; it probably wouldn't have filled her stomach in her previous body, but it seemed that both her stomach and her body had shrunk, and she managed to satisfy herself with that dish.Runa: Thank you for the meal.Having finished eating, she was about to go see the village chief to discuss important matters. She couldn't skip this part, as she urgently needed more information about her situation.Lynell: Will you be okay? The village chief may seem very strict, but deep down, he is a good person.Runa: Don't worry. I get along well with those types of people, and besides, we will only talk about where I will be assigned in this village.After saying goodbye, she entered the chief's house. It was no larger than the other houses, and upon entering, she noticed there was a table and two chairs placed opposite each other. Fimas was waiting in one of those chairs.Fimas: Please, take a seat.Runa sat in the chair facing Fimas and finally prepared to speak.Fimas: Well, let's talk with truth and honesty.Runa: I agree. You've already heard my situation. Right now, I'm here to investigate this area. Since I'm from the south, I don't know many details about where I am; I would love to...Fimas: LET'S TALK WITH THE TRUTH AND HONESTY.Fimas repeated, raising his voice. He seemed to have realized that the façade of "girl from the south" was false. Runa didn't understand what she had done wrong. Perhaps she had violated some custom or etiquette common among the southern elves. Luckily, aside from Fimas, no one else seemed to have noticed her act.Runa maintained her gaze on Fimas with a forced smile for a moment. After an awkward silence, she decided to speak again.Runa: Well, as you can see, I'm not actually from the south, but it's true that I'm not from here. I can't reveal too much about my situation; I hope you understand.Fimas: Can you promise that you won't do anything hostile against this village?Runa: I promise, I have no such intentions. However, I have come here to gather information. If you can answer some of my questions, I will leave, and you won't have to worry anymore. What do you say?It wasn't vital for Runa to stay in this village. At most, she planned to go to the human city, where there seemed to be more people and useful information after leaving here. Still, she had already made two mistakes since arriving in this world, and she couldn't continue accumulating failures without obtaining results. At the very least, she would ensure she obtained information from this elf, even if she had to force it if necessary.Fimas: Very well. I think I somewhat understand your point of view. What do you want to know?Runa: Well, I'll start with the basics then. Where exactly are we?Fimas: This is the Lughwood Forest, in the human empire of Algorythia. We are relatively close to the human city of Bytea, to the west of here. Our village has taken refuge here after a recent attack.Runa: An attack? By whom?Fimas: By another village of elves... but not just any village. The enemy village is called Zyrithia. They allied with the humans. We thought we were safe here in the north, far from human civilization, but the elves of Zyrithia betrayed their own people. They ambushed us, burned our old village, and we had to quickly move to this forest. Here we are relatively hidden, but the threat remains latent.Runa: So, were the humans the ones who prompted them to attack?Fimas: It seems so. The humans offer power and riches in exchange for the loyalty of certain elves. The people of Zyrithia, in their greed, accepted. Since then, we have been constantly on the move, hiding and trying to avoid further conflicts.Runa: I see... So, this village is in a precarious situation. Still, is there anything else I should know about the area or the nearby humans?Fimas: The city of Bytea is the closest human settlement and is a trading hub. We don't get too close to them, but we know it's a place where all sorts of goods are traded... including, unfortunately, elf slaves.Runa: I understand... Bytea will be a place I need to pay attention to. Changing the subject a bit, do you know anything about "levels" or "players"?Fimas: [Frowning] Levels... players... No, I've never heard of those things. What are they?Runa: [Subtly surprised by his response] Oh, it's nothing. Just a curiosity of mine, something I heard during my travels. Don't worry about it.Fimas: [With distrust, but not pressing further] If you say so...Runa: So, what about magic? Do you know anything about that?Fimas: Magic? Do you mean this?Fimas conjured a fire that sprang from his index finger, which surprised Runa a bit.Runa already knew that Runes and Worlds had a magic system; unfortunately, her character did not focus on that style of gameplay, and she had not raised her stats enough to learn any magic. There were spells from levels 1 to 6, but what Fimas had just done didn't even fit into any of those categories; it was either too weak or Fimas was simply trying to deceive her with some cheap trick, like the "wizards" from her world often did.Runa: Can you do more?Fimas: What?Runa: Do you have any other type of magic you can show me?Fimas was somewhat surprised, as Runa was finally showing signs of behaving like a young girl; perhaps she liked seeing things related to magic. For a moment, it reminded him of his late wife, who, when she was young, was obsessed with magic. But even if she asked him to do more, he was still a novice in this magic business.Fimas: Alright, I'll show you my best spell.Fimas conjured a fireball a little larger than the previous one in his palm and threw it at a candle on the other side of the room at a somewhat slow speed. It barely managed to ignite the wick, and then he turned his expectant gaze to the girl beside him.Runa: I see, that's very... very... elven.Fimas: Well, that's all the magic I can do. If you want to see more, you'll probably find better mages in the southern country you said you "came" from.Runa, with a somewhat disappointed expression, watched as the newly lit candle went out due to a light breeze that passed through the room. The spell he had just cast resembled the level 1 fireball spell from the game but was a much weaker version. However, thanks to this, Runa acquired an important piece of information: magic could be used in this world. Looking again at Fimas, who had become even more depressed than she was, she said:Runa: Alright, I have one last question.Fimas: What is it?Runa: The huge tree we're standing by now, how were you able to cut it down?Fimas: I see, that's undoubtedly a very good question. This is one of the advancements we are most proud of in the village. A friend and I came up with this from scratch. To cut the giant tree in half, we used a type of insect called Xurnida. They primarily feed on leaves and wood from trees; we place them at the tops of the trees, and they eat from the top down. To prevent them from consuming irregularly or too much, we use fabrics they cannot tear and control them every two months. Additionally, these insects are edible, so we also harvest them during each check. Once the tree reaches the desired height, we polish the imperfections, and there you have it. This process takes about 10 to 15 years. Currently, we are doing this with three more trees in the forest. The epitome of efficiency, don't you think?For the first time, Runa looked at Fimas in awe.Runa: I see. That is indeed quite an ingenious idea.Although Runa was amazed by the engineering of this fantasy world, she had other things to worry about at the moment.Runa: That was my last question. Thank you for everything so far. With that, I will fulfill my promise and leave the village.Runa walked toward the door, and just as she was about to leave...Fimas: Wait.Runa smiled a bit without Fimas seeing.Fimas: Surely you don't have any other thoughts than going to the human city, right? I know you're strong, but I don't want to have anything to do with others saying I sent a girl to her death.Fimas: You can stay in the village while you look for where to go. Use the house to the left of mine; it's currently unoccupied, but it has everything you need for your comfort and was cleaned not long ago.Runa: I see. In that case, I appreciate your hospitality.Runa quietly exited the room.Fimas felt as if he had just made a mistake. The new girl was truly suspicious; from what he had been told, she was extremely strong, which made her dangerous. Furthermore, she had brought several weapons with her and had lied about her origins. Fimas knew it was a blatant lie, as the elves from the south were forbidden from wearing black clothing, especially women. This was because this color represented the ancient enemy of the elven ancestors and the corruption of the world. He knew this firsthand because, in his youth, he had tried to gift a dark dagger to his late wife, and she had scolded him for it; she was a renowned mage from the southern elven country.Fimas: Goodness, let's hope this star doesn't bring misfortune to our village...After finishing their conversation, Runa went to retrieve her belongings from the center of the village and took everything to her new home. She moved all her belongings and her bed to the back of the room, closed all the windows, placed an obstacle in front of the door, and set up something that would make a noise when it opened.Runa: Done.The most important moment had arrived.In Runes and Worlds, there wasn't a leveling system where you progressively increased stats by class; rather, for each level you gained, you had to choose which stat you wanted to increase. This made created characters more versatile and unique compared to those in other games. It could be said that, unlike other games, this one was relatively modest with power scaling by level, where levels constituted 50% of the player's power and equipment the other 50%. Of course, Runes and Worlds changed worlds and items with each patch, but this didn't erase the items one had already obtained, because if it did, the developers would not only have incurred Runa's wrath but that of all players.At this moment, Runa was about to test how the items she had worked in this world.Runa: First, the most obvious...Runa was wearing two rings when she arrived in this world; additionally, she had two extra rings that she switched depending on the type of enemy she faced, as in the game she had a maximum of 2 rings she could equip, but that was only in the game.First, she tried to put on an extra ring that had the simplest effect: to increase health, something typical of first patch items. She immediately felt her vitality increase upon wearing it; this would mean that she could equip an unlimited number of items and boost her strength even more.As soon as she put on the fourth ring, nausea coursed through her body. Perhaps that was the limit, so she took it off. With three rings, she didn't feel anything strange, but it would be best to be cautious and not wear it; it could be something like overclocking, and using it all the time in the long run would drain her health. So she would only use it in emergencies.Then she looked at a crossbow on the floor; in the game, it was her main weapon. It could deal tremendous damage in a short time and could change its function to a small shield, in addition to the large shield she already had, a hidden blade, and a crossbow. This weapon was extremely useful in the game, but in this world, it lost quite a bit of utility since she couldn't recharge the magical arrows. She looked toward a quiver of arrows; it contained 65 arrows, not even half of what she remembered leaving behind when she quit the game. It was probably because her sister had been playing as Runa from time to time.Runa: That idiot.Immediately, an image of her sister came to mind, expressionless, saying:Arata's Sister: But brother, you're always stealing what's mine!She said this because, from time to time, Runa would steal the desserts she kept in the fridge. Abandoning the memory of her expressionless sister.Finally, she thought about how the potions would work. Runa pricked her finger with the knife and then tried to take the potion. Nothing happened; she simply felt a sensation of well-being and warmth in her stomach. Then she tried to apply a bit of the potion to her wound and saw how it began to heal.Runa: I see, this is how it works. Well, enough testing for today. Time to sleep.The moment she did that, she threw herself onto the bed. But she couldn't sleep; she was too excited, so much that she started spinning around her bed and let out some little excited screams, as if she were really a girl, even though she was one at that moment. If one of her old friends saw her, she would die of embarrassment. But if a tree falls when no one is around to hear it, does it really make a sound?Quickly, Runa remembered what she was doing before arriving in this world. If she woke up here again as Arata, she would regret it for the rest of her life; she didn't want to sleep. If she woke up again as Arata, the tomorrow that awaited her was going to work, maybe making some calls, trying to find a new MMORPG to play with Kiyoshi, and little else. Monotonous and boring things. But if she woke up as Runa again, a tomorrow full of millions of new things to do awaited her, an unknown future and destiny, and an adventure to live in the body of a hero. As she thought about this, she wondered if anyone else had been transported with her. If all the players had been transported, this world would probably be in shambles by tomorrow. But if she would like someone else to appear in this world, it would be Kiyoshi. Starting an adventure from scratch with her friend was what she wanted.Runa: Kiyoshi...As she murmured her friend's name, she fell asleep.Just outside her door, a shadow that had been listening to what was happening around her home began to depart. And with that, after 19 hours of arriving in this new world, she had fallen asleep.End of Part 2.