'Hopefully, he finds the Threshold Item I slipped into his pocket'
Ivaim thought as he continued walking in the direction the construction worker had indicated earlier.
If things went smoothly, he might secure a believer or two before the day ended.
'That should stabilize my condition for now. If not...' His thoughts darkened briefly.
'I'll have to come up with a more elaborate plan tonight once I better understand how this world works.'
The encounter with the construction worker left Ivaim relieved. Ordinary people seemed unable to distinguish Reality Masters from humans, at least on sight.
'But I can't assume those with abilities won't see through me,' he reminded himself. The weight of his own inexperience in this world pressed on him.
After walking for a while, the forest gave way to a paved road leading toward what looked like a bustling city. Vehicles zipped by, and buildings of all shapes and sizes stretched into the horizon. Skyscrapers loomed alongside modern shops, restaurants, and even roadside food stalls.
'Good. This world seems to be in a similar technological period to Earth.'
A small part of him even hoped for the existence of internet and phones.
Despite this familiarity, the city had its peculiarities. Tattoos of intricate designs adorned nearly every passerby's neck, and temples were everywhere, standing at every street corner, each uniquely crafted.
'Temples for other Reality Masters,' he guessed. It made sense in a world tied to Fractured Realities.
'Maybe one day, I'll have a temple of my own… if I manage to survive that long. But no matter what, my ultimate goal is still to return home. My parents are already in their senior years— if not me, who else is supposed to take care of them?'
Before he could continue, a hand clapped down on his shoulder. Ivaim tensed, ready for a confrontation, but turned to see two teenagers dressed in the same school uniform he now wore.
"Hey, skipping class to check out the local Walkers?" one of them asked casually, grinning as if they were lifelong friends.
Ivaim relaxed slightly. They seemed friendly enough, though he remained wary. People like this often destroyed boundaries just for the sake of conversation.
"Yeah," he replied with a modest smile. "Do you know where they are?"
The question served a dual purpose: gather information and gauge how Reality Walkers were treated. Just in case, he activated [Coin of Fortune]. A golden coin materialized in his palm, which he swiftly slipped into his pocket.
"Two streets ahead, on Whiteflower Street," the black-haired teenager said, excitement lighting up his face. His messy hair framed a pair of deep dimples that made him seem harmless—too harmless.
"They're from the Temple of the Minotaur of Chivalry," added the other boy, who had chestnut-brown hair. "They're supposed to be handling some unorthodox Reality Master terrorizing a village nearby. Pretty cool, huh?"
"Sounds dangerous," Ivaim said politely, masking his growing unease.
"Yeah, but it's the kind of thing that makes them awesome!" the black-haired boy grinned. "I'm Williams, by the way. This guy's Nolan. What about you? Surprised they let you dye your hair white in school."
"Justine," Ivaim lied smoothly. "And that's a secret—don't want anyone snitching on me for skipping class."
Williams laughed, reaching out to tug at Ivaim's collar, revealing the name embroidered there. "So, Justine it is. Something tells me we'll get along just fine."
The trio chatted idly as they walked toward Whiteflower Street. The chatter helped Ivaim get a sense of these two. Nolan and Williams seemed the type to idolize adventure and power, though their fascination felt... off.
"Hey, look!" Nolan pointed ahead. A group of people dressed in red robes and metallic armor stood gathered outside a large temple adorned with bull motifs. Swords hung at their hips, and every one of them bore a tattoo of a horned beast on their necks.
"Those are the Walkers," Nolan whispered reverently. "They're the real deal. You think they'll let us tag along on their mission?"
Ivaim studied the scene warily. The Walkers' presence stirred something primal in him—a mixture of awe and fear. Before he could respond, Williams leaned closer, his grin taking on a sinister edge.
"Tag along? Nah," Williams said. "But it'd be interesting if their mission's dangerous enough to kill them."
Ivaim froze, caught off guard by the words. "Huh?"
Williams chuckled, dimples deepening. "Haven't you heard? When a Walker dies, their essence turns into weird magical artifacts. Like this."
He pulled out a small, misshapen button from his sleeve. "Found this on a dead Walker. Ever since, I've been able to glimpse flashes of the future. If you come along, maybe we'll find something even better—and I wouldn't mind splitting it with you."
Ivaim's instincts screamed danger. Williams' grin might have looked innocent, but his words carried a predator's intent.
'These two are unhinged, 'he thought grimly, reevaluating his casual approach to strangers.
Before he could respond, Nolan interrupted, pointing toward the temple doors. "Look, someone's coming out!"
The doors creaked open, revealing a woman in striking red attire. Her double ponytails, streaked with vivid crimson, framed a face as sharp and symmetrical as a blade.
Her eyes swept the crowd before narrowing slightly. Her nose twitched as though catching a scent on the wind.
"The smell of a Reality Master..." she murmured.
Ivaim felt a chill crawl up his spine. Without waiting, he triggered the system prompt that appeared before him.
[Would you like to return to your Fractured Reality?]
"Yes," he thought instantly.
White smoke enveloped him, and he vanished just as the woman's gaze darted toward his direction.
Back in the safety of his Fractured Reality, Ivaim sighed in relief as the familiar system notification greeted him.
[Welcome back to the Temple of Good Luck!]
'At least now I know how to return,' he thought. Reality Masters truly were formidable, capable of retreating to their domains at will.
Still, the encounter left him shaken. 'That woman... she's not someone I want to cross paths with again.'
And as for Williams and Nolan...
'They're far more dangerous than I first assumed. I need to stop underestimating people in this world.'
His arrogance would get him killed if he wasn't careful. From now on, he resolved to tread lightly.
Tonight, he would devise a new strategy to pull in believers—without risking himself further.