"Now, run 10 laps," the trainer said, crossing his arms.
"Seriously?" I groaned, still trying to catch my breath from the fifty club swings.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" he shot back, his scarred face completely serious.
"Ugh… fine!"
I dragged myself to my feet and started running. Ten laps. Ten freaking laps. It wasn't easy when I was already dead tired.
"Damn it… haaa… haaa…" I wheezed, my legs feeling like lead.
By the time I finished, I was barely standing. I stumbled over to a nearby bench and flopped down like a sack of potatoes. My whole body was screaming. Legs? Jelly. Arms? Noodles. Lungs? Nonexistent.
"Haaa… haaa… I hate this… I hate this so much…" I muttered between gasps, wiping sweat from my forehead.
The trainer chuckled, leaning against a nearby post. "Good. Means you're actually working. Look, kid, you're weak. But weak ain't the same as useless. You just gotta find what works for you."
I glared at him, too exhausted to retort. "Ugh… fine… thanks, I guess."
"Oh, and one more thing—" He leaned in with a smirk. "Try not to die to a slime next time."
"Tch! Shut up!" I barked, but he just laughed and walked off, leaving me to my misery.
I slumped back on the bench, staring at the sky. I stayed there for a while, just lying like a corpse. My body felt like it had been run over by a carriage—twice.
So this was adventurer training, huh? No magic. No cool skills. No legendary sword falling from the sky. Just pain.
I groaned and sat up. My whole body protested. Even breathing hurt.
Alright, Hazuki. You survived. Barely.
Now what?
I glanced at my adventurer card, still clutched in my sweaty hand.
Name: Hazekaya Hazuki
Age: 24
Class: ???
Level: 1
Skill Slots: (10, Empty)
EXP: 1/100
"Ugh… one EXP…" I grumbled. "At this rate, I'll be level 2 in a year…"
I needed a plan.
Train more? No thanks. My body was already half-dead.
Take a quest? With what?
I sighed, rubbing my face. Maybe I should check the guild's quest board. Surely there was a beginner quest I could take, right? Something easy. Something that wouldn't kill me.
…Right?
I dragged my aching body through the streets, one painful step at a time. My stomach growled loudly enough for a passing old lady to give me a weird look.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Food first," I muttered, rubbing my stomach.
The city was bustling—adventurers laughing over drinks, merchants shouting about their overpriced goods, and kids running around, somehow never tripping over the uneven cobblestones.
I sniffed the air, catching the heavenly scent of grilled meat from a nearby food stall. My legs instinctively moved toward it, like I was in a trance.
The stall owner, a burly man with a thick mustache, was flipping skewers of juicy, golden-brown meat over a charcoal grill. The sizzle, the slight char, the glistening fat—I was already drooling.
"Welcome! Fresh meat skewers, best in town! Only 5 copper a stick!" he bellowed.
Five copper, huh?
I reached for my pouch and froze. Wait. What if there's a cheaper place?
I quickly scanned the area for another food stall. Maybe I could find something for 4 copper. Or even 3. Gotta stretch my money!
Nearby, I spotted a suspicious-looking cart with a hand-painted sign: "SPECIAL DEAL! Mystery Meat Stew - 2 Copper!"
…Mystery meat, huh?
I squinted at the bubbling pot of grayish-brown sludge. Was that a hoof floating in there?!
Yeah, nope.
Sighing, I turned back to the skewer stall. "Fine, give me one."
The stall owner grinned, handed me a hot, freshly grilled skewer, and took my 5 copper. I took a bite—and holy crap, this was good. The seasoning was just right, and the smoky flavor hit perfectly.
"Not bad," I mumbled, savoring every bite. Gotta make this last.
But just as I was about to finish, I heard a loud "Oi! Thief!"
Huh?
I turned to see a small figure dashing through the crowd, shoving people aside. Behind them, a fruit vendor was angrily waving his arms.
"Stop that kid! He stole my apples!"
The little thief zipped past me, clutching a few bright red apples. A couple of guards were already pushing through the crowd, but the kid was too fast.
I stood there, chewing my last bite of skewer, watching the chaos unfold.
Should I… do something?
"Nah."
I took another bite of my skewer, watching the kid disappear into the crowd. I ain't no hero.
Some overpowered protagonist might step in, but me? Not my problem. Besides, it's just a damn apple. The vendor wasn't going bankrupt over it.
I tossed the skewer stick into a nearby barrel and sighed. 5 copper… too damn expensive. Sure, it was good, but my usual spot had bigger portions for less.
"Ugh, I got ripped off..." I grumbled, rubbing my stomach.
With nothing better to do, I wandered aimlessly through the streets. Merchants shouted about their wares, adventurers bragged about their latest quests, and kids ran past, laughing.
Boring.
I needed something to do. But what?
As I walked, I spotted a wooden bench in the shade. Looked like a good place to chill and think.
I plopped down, stretched out my legs, and let out a deep sigh. "Haaaa... What now?"
...And then, I saw her.
A stunning woman walked by—long legs, perfect curves, and an outfit that was fit and sexy.
Hooooweee… now that's a nice pair of boobs!
Another one passed. Then another.
Wow… that ass… NICE!
I leaned back, arms behind my head, and just admired the view. Maybe life in this world wasn't all bad.
"Wooooow!"
That was my exact thought as yet another drop-dead gorgeous woman strolled by, her presence like a breath of fresh air in a stuffy tavern.
She wore a modest medieval-style dress, the kind common folk usually donned, but it clung to her perfect curves like it was custom-made. Seriously, how did she manage to look so stunning in something so simple?
And then—bless the god—she bent down to pick up something she dropped.
Hooooweee! That cleavage… damn it…
For a moment, I felt my soul leave my body, floating somewhere above the chaos of the marketplace.
And before you judge me—of course, I looked! What do you think I am? A baby?! No! I'm a man!
…Well, uh… a virgin man. But still!
I quickly looked away (reluctantly, mind you) before she noticed me staring. Gotta play it cool, Hazuki.
"Stay calm, Hazuki. Just another normal day, just another normal—"
And then—bam! She made eye contact with me.
Oh. Shit.
She smiled at me, and my heart did a somersault, as if it were trying out for a circus act.
Huh?
And then—she bent over again.
Oho~ what a delightful view of… her cleavage.
Wait… Is she doing this on purpose?!
My mind went into overdrive, racing faster than a horse on a sugar high. Could it be? Was she showing it to me on purpose?!
…
THANK YOU, UNIVERSE!
Ehehehe…
After what felt like a divine blessing, the woman simply smiled again and walked away, leaving me sitting there like a complete idiot, mouth slightly agape.
…
Wait. Why didn't I ask for her name?!
Damn it!
Maybe she could have been my girlfriend! Maybe this was my chance to finally escape the dreaded realm of virginity!
…
Ah well. Whatever.
This world is still big enough. There's bound to be more beauties out there.
Yep! That's how it is!
Now? Time to find the cheapest sword and some leather armor. Gotta start my adventure right!
And who knows? Once I become a strong adventurer, maybe all these beautiful women will come crawling to me, offering their bodies willingly!
( End of Chapter )