1 Jaded World

"Hey!"

"Hey!!!!"

"You piece of shit! No! Wait! Come back!"

The sound of laughter echoed through the dimly lit woodland canopy. His face was flush from equal parts anger and desperation as tears streamed from the corner of his eyes. He had no idea how things came to this as he watched the other three adventurers gaze upon him in disgust.

"Worm." One of them said.

----------------------- Earlier that Day-------------------

"Hey! Toma-kun!" A blond haired girl shouted as she drew near to the young man known as Toma.

"Oh, Elise. H-hello." The young man was skinny and tall, at least taller than the magician who now stood before him.

"Toma. What are you up to today? Would you like to party with me?" She asked as she gazed up into Toma's eyes. This was something Elise always did, for she admired the matching color of his eyes and hair -- Aquamarine.

"Me? I'm not sure...that would work out. I'm still level zero. I haven't even learned any class skills yet." Toma said as he nervously scratched his cheek.

"It doesn't matter! That's even more of a reason to come along!" Elise replied.

*She smells good..* Toma thought inwardly. That thought was followed by something less innocent.

*Eye-full!* This was in reference to Elise's curves. Though she wasn't particularly busty (Toma reckoned her to be a high B cup at best) the fact that she wore mages robes didn't help his wild thoughts. A robe with little less than a chest wrapping to conceal her breasts was bound to show a bit more than intended. At this particular moment the gentle pink color of Elise's areola was bare for him to see.

"Toma-kun?" Elise's voice pulled Toma back to reality.

"Y-Yes? Oh… I'm not sure it's a good idea.. Honestly." Toma was apprehensive for many reasons, but perhaps the most important one was --

"Oh, Toma. Don't be a stick in the mud buddy." A heavy arm found its way around Toma's neck and pulled him closer with little effort. He could feel the powerful strain of being crushed as the person next to him began to hug him fiercely, ending with a slap on the back.

Chaddus. Elise's party leader and also boyfriend, if the rumors were to be believed. Chaddus was everything that Toma disliked in many aspects. Outgoing, loud, popular, fit and well liked. Toma imagined that it was why he and the adventurer didn't get along.

"Don't disappoint my girl. She really wants you to come." Chaddus said as he released his grip on Toma's shoulder and took a place next to Elise. He attempted to put his hand around her waist, only to be deftly dodged by the mage. She stepped forward and linked her arm around Toma's almost instantly.

For a moment Toma could see the fire in Chaddus' eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. In fact, the ease with which Chaddus shifted gears was almost admirable to Toma.

Toma could feel the grip on Elise's arm tighten, prompting him to glance down at her. She looked exceedingly adorable on his arm. Purple and red robes with black leather trip in various places. Her mage's staff in hand, even as she clung to her childhood friend.

"Sooooooo?" She asked. Clear blue eyes and blonde hair were a combination that Toma never learned to decline. In the end, the moment Elise asked this of Toma he would inevitably cave.

"Fine.." He said with a sigh.

"But, I need to get some supplies first." He added.

"Thank you Toma-kun. Hee hee." Elise's bubbly demeanor was part of her charm. It was just one of the many things Toma liked about her.

The town of Settlement was much like any other frontier town. The only difference was the over abundance of adventurers. Settlement was what you'd call a 'Starter' town like you'd find in any RPG. Except this wasn't a game, this was real life.

Even now, after a year or so in this strange new world, Toma could remember how he and thousands of other students from around the world found themselves blinked into an alternate reality. One filled with swords, kings, princesses and of course monsters.

During that time many adventurers took to their new life with zeal. The idea of being a hero was something many people secretly admired. At one point even Toma entertained such an ideal. Reality was often a cruel mistress.

In the first six months alone half of Toma's classmates fell prey to the creatures known as monsters. Another 25% gave up altogether and chose to live 'normal' lives doing anything but fighting on the front lines. Only the last remaining quarter of his class continued to be adventurers. Slightly less than 500 people.

Of course, there were plenty of other adventurers. Here in this isekai world new adventurers appear every nine months from various realms, realities and places. There would never be a shortage of foolhardy people willing to test their mettle.

"Toma. Welcome." It was the voice of the general store clerk, Kelly-Ann Fortenbright.

"Hi." Toma offered as he stepped through the door of the shop.

"Oh? And you bought a beautiful friend with you I see." Kelly-Ann could be considered a picture-esque example of 'milf'. She was an older woman with deep brown hair, sultry curves and even more appealing breasts. What's more, she had no problem showing them off. Her cloth shirt was low cut into the most daring of V shapes so that one wrong mood would often reveal a peak at her areola.

The 'beautiful friend' she was referring to was Elise, however Kelly-Ann's expression changed as three other young men filed in after the mage. The first of which was a fit youth who's orange hair was styled wildly. To Kelly-Ann she immediately got the impression of a narcissist. The second he opened his mouth she was proved right.

"Toma. What the heck are we doing in this run down store? I've got plenty of potions you can have. Let's just get going." Chaddus said as he folded his arms. He was obviously annoyed at having to go along with Toma's plans, yet due to Elise's insistence it was unavoidable.

The other two men seemed equally uninterested, yet Kelly-Ann got a completely different vibe from them.

*Definitely lackeys.* She thought inwardly.

"Friends of yours Toma?" She asked as she folded her arms and glanced across the room at her rude guest. Kelly-Ann's incredible bust jiggled even as she spoke.

"Oh? Yea.. Sort of.." Toma laughed nervously as he walked towards the counter.

"Hmm…" Kelly-Ann seriously doubted Toma's knee jerk dismissal, but it wasn't really her place to say more.

"U-um Is my weapon fixed?" Toma asked.

"Of course. I'm no slouch." Kelly-Ann replied as she flicked a lock of her hair to the side. Then , as if she'd been struck by inspiration, a smile spread upon Kelly-Ann's face.

"But… the gear you wanted needs to be readjusted again. Come with me." The buxom mature quickly grabbed Toma by the wrist and pulled him around the counter, leading him towards the back of her shop.

"Toma? Where are you going?" Elise asked as she noticed Toma being dragged to the back of the establishment.

"I won't be gone long--" This was all Toma could manage to say before he was pulled behind a thick curtain which closed behind him and his 'kidnapper'.

"You know the drill, Toma." Kelly-Ann said as she stood opposite from Toma, waiting for the young man to lose his clothing.

*Something tells me she gets a special kind of enjoyment out of this..* Toma thought as he began to take off his cloth shirt. He lifted it over his head and tossed it onto a nearby counter then stood awaiting Kelly-Ann's next direction.

"All of it." She said as she folded her arms and gave her best stern expression.

"What? Why?" Toma immediately asked. He was beginning to feel bashful. After all he was standing before a beautiful woman who was 'amazing' in all the right places. How could he not have a reaction.

She completely ignored his questions and instead examined her fingernails, as if she was oblivious to the situation she was actively creating.

After a moment Toma sighed and began to undo his pants as well.

"Those too." Kelly-Ann said as she shot a glance down along Toma's chiseled body. Despite him being somewhat of a loner at times, Kelly-Ann actually became quite fond of the young man. Being an adventurer herself, she was well aware of how things played out. Upon arriving in a new world one was given a class and their body would begin to change in accordance. Toma was no exception. Although he was only level 0, Kelly-Ann could almost imagine how much more defined Toma's muscles would get.

He was already quite slender, his lanky build was perfect for his class, Spearmaster. Though he was lean, his abdomen was moderately cut, as was his chest. The moment Toma's pants hit the floor Kelly-Ann's hands found their way to his flesh. She started at his abdomen, doing her best to conceal the thoughts running through her mind currently.

*Ripe fruit is always the best but..Toma...I really want you to mature..so I can take a bite..* She thought as she ran her fingertips gently along his flesh. The contrast of hard muscles and soft skin caused Toma to quiver ever so slightly.

"Hmm. You should be leveling pretty soon. So-- tell me about your friends out front." Kelly-Ann said as she continued to touch Toma's chest.

"You mean Elise? I've known her since I was a child." Toma could feel a full body blush rising, his thoughts were growing hazy and difficult to control. Even as the milf took up position behind him and leaned forward. The unique softness of her breasts against the small of his back was enough to make Toma's spine turn into jelly.

Kelly-Ann's hands were soft but strong and firm, it was clear that she worked with them quite often. Her hands slid between Toma's arms, gently wrapping around his waist as she continued to feel him up.

"So then you knew her from before? Before this world?" Kelly-Ann asked as she continued making conversation and casually touching Toma.

"M-mhm." Toka practically mumbled. He couldn't deny...Kelly-Ann's treatment felt quite good.

"And the ones who came with her? They clearly aren't your friends. How do you know them?" Kelly-Ann asked.

"You mean Chaddus? And his friends. They are Elise's party mates." Toma replied, he glanced downward as Kelly-Ann's palms slowly closed around his pectorals and pulled him closer. The scent of her perfume lingered in the air and he could clearly feel the warmth of her breath against his neck. He could feel the warmth of Kelly-Ann's body, including her taut nipples which pressed into his back through her thin layers of clothing.

"Toma… I want you...to be careful. There's a lot of shady behavior going on lately between newbies and established adventurers. I wouldn't want you to get caught up in all of that."

Kelly-Ann's mouth was now so close to Toma's flesh that he could feel the scant sensation of her lips brushing against the nape of his neck.

"O-okay.." Toma practically whispered.

"Good." Kelly-Ann said as she gently squeezed him closer, then walked towards the far corner of the room. There, sitting on a table was a spear and several pieces of plate style mail which could be easily attached to various parts of the body.

"I kept the armor light. It should give you the mobility you need. I also made your spear a bit more durable. It will be heavier since it's made of metal now, but it shouldn't be a problem for you once you reach higher levels." Kelly-Ann explained as she motioned to each piece of gear.

"Finally, there's this." Kelly-Ann held up a small necklace with a bluish gem as the centerpiece.

"Return Locket? I can't afford something like this!" Toma's eyes widened as he realized the precious gift he'd been given. A Return Locket allowed the user to return to the safety of town at any time for the most part. Such an item was easily worth tens of thousands of bits.

"It's nothing. Besides, I'm not giving it to you. I'm just letting you borrow it." Kelly-Ann said as she smiled and folded Toma's hand across the accessory.

"Toma-kun? Tomaaaaaaa?" It was the sound of Elise's voice.

*She always has been notoriously impatient.* Toma thought inwardly. He shot a glance towards Kelly-Ann, signaling that he should probably go. She nodded and motioned once more to the gear on the table.

"So..there's no refitting then?" Toma asked.

Kelly-Ann just chuckled and replied with a devilish smile.