11 Expectations
Gazing down from his elevated viewpoint, Riku's attention was drawn to a sprawling village guarded by soldiers clad in sturdy silver armor, each armed with an assortment of weapons. The village appeared to be quite expansive, with Riku estimating a population of at least fifteen thousand or even more inhabitants.
Ten minutes later...
Riku's careful observation led him to spot a guard stationed at the entrance to the village. Choosing to hide behind a massive, ancient tree, he decided it was prudent to retract his dark crow's wings before approaching the guard. Uncertain of the guard's reaction, he aimed to ensure he wouldn't inadvertently cause alarm due to his unique wings.
With a resounding thud, Riku touched down on the ground safely. Inhaling deeply, his chest expanding, he sensed his wings retracting into his body. "It's definitely a more comfortable experience compared to the first time I used the [Fly] ability. I remember feeling like someone was gnawing on my skin and setting it ablaze," he mused, patting his pants to ensure his attire was in order before giving himself a small jump to compose himself.
He was determined to appear presentable as he approached the guards stationed at the village's entrance.
After a brief pause, Riku confidently followed the direct path leading to the village entrance, where vigilant guards stood watch. This location exuded an air of deep-rooted civilization.
As he closed the distance, roughly 42 meters separating him from the guards, Riku's brow furrowed in puzzlement. Suddenly, unfamiliar words escaped the guards' mouths, causing him to tense. His initial assumption was that the distance might be to blame for his inability to comprehend them, so he cautiously moved closer in an attempt to catch their words more clearly.
However, instead of easing their demeanor, the guards became more agitated, brandishing their sharp spears menacingly. "Who are you?!" one of them demanded, his tone harsh and accusing. "From which kingdom do you hail?!" the other guard demanded in a similar tone.
Though their eyes bore into him with irritation, Riku remained clueless, unable to decipher the meaning behind their words. He frowned, a mixture of frustration and confusion etching his features. "What are they saying? How can I communicate with them? No matter how hard I try, I can't understand a word they're saying." He muttered to himself, feeling a growing sense of helplessness.
Sitting on a chair, Riku took in his surroundings, his eyes scanning the room he found himself in. It was dimly lit by a small lamp suspended above his head. Despite his attempts to stand, he realized his limbs were restrained by heavy chains, preventing his movement.
His confusion and frustration grew as he pondered his predicament. Before he could fully process the situation, the door swung open, and his attention snapped to the entrance. Two men clad in silver armor entered the room, flanking another figure who appeared to be the village's chief guard.
"Sir, this is the suspicious man who was loitering outside our village," one of the guards addressed the chief guard with a polite tone, indicating Riku.
"I can see that," the chief guard responded solemnly, his gaze fixed on Riku as he approached. The scrutiny made Riku feel uncomfortable as the chief guard's gaze traveled from his feet to his head. The unique attire Riku wore seemed to have caught their attention and added to his perceived suspiciousness.
"Sir, could this individual be a spy from another country?" one of the guards inquired, his tone still respectful but laced with concern.
The chief guard stroked his chin thoughtfully, maintaining his assessment of Riku. "There's a possibility that he might be a spy from our enemies. However, his level seems to be that of a mere warrior." His words indicated that he possessed the ability to gauge Riku's strength by sensing the mana pool within his body.
Riku's heart raced, realizing that his presence and abilities were under scrutiny. His mind raced to find a way to communicate his situation and intentions effectively, even though the language barrier seemed insurmountable.
The village's guarded nature made it clear that they were in the midst of a conflict with another country, prompting heightened security and skepticism towards outsiders. Even in a rural area, the village was taking precautions to prevent information leaks that could aid their enemies. The guards' suspicion was warranted, especially since no identification card or proof of affiliation was found on Riku. In such a climate, anyone without a clear origin or purpose was subject to heightened scrutiny.
The chief guard knelt down slightly, bringing his gaze to the same level as Riku's face. In an attempt to communicate, he asked with a serious tone, "What country do you come from?"
Riku comprehended that the conversation was about him, but he was still at a loss regarding how to communicate effectively or defend himself from the apparent danger. With a sense of unease, he lowered his head slightly, unsure of how to respond without a common language between them.
Frustrated by what he perceived as disrespect, the Chief Guard forcefully tugged on Riku's black hair and delivered a sharp slap across his face, emphasizing the importance of maintaining decorum while being spoken to.
The Chief Guard's attention then shifted as one of the guards informed him that the man was speaking in a different language. Curious, the Chief Guard turned his head to face the guard, his expression demanding more information. The guard proceeded to explain that the language being spoken was unfamiliar, and despite attempts to use a common language understood by many, the man did not appear to comprehend any of it.
The guard's explanation led the Chief Guard to believe that this man might not be from any known kingdom, adding an air of mystery to the situation.
In this world, people communicated using a "Common language" that they learned from a young age, which allowed them to interact with others from different countries. However, the man in question seemed to be speaking an unfamiliar language, leading to confusion and frustration among the guards.
The Chief Guard's aggression escalated as he delivered another forceful slap to the man's face, causing Riku's head to sway and his vision to blur. The impact of the slap left Riku feeling weak and on the brink of losing consciousness again.
As the Chief Guard expressed his frustration at the man's apparent frailty, the two guards exchanged a chuckle, finding amusement in the situation. The guards recounted how they had used a previous method to subdue the man, knocking him out for several hours. Despite Riku's physical training in the unknown forest, the level of strength displayed by the inhabitants of this world was beyond his expectations.
The chief guard departed the room, leaving behind instructions for the guards to interrogate the man once he woke up. He emphasized the importance of extracting any valuable information from him, even if it required forceful methods.
The guards saluted in agreement, pledging their determination to obtain the man's answers. As the door closed behind the chief guard, one of the guards seized a bucket of water and splashed it onto Riku's head, causing him to jolt awake with a gasp.
Water filled Riku's ears and nose, briefly giving him the sensation of being submerged. Blinking to clear his vision, he found the guards wearing sinister smiles, eager to learn more about him and his intentions.
Demanding answers, one of the guards leaned in and spoke to Riku in a hushed tone. Riku, eager to cooperate, quickly responded, "I'm from Japan! I'm here to gather information on how to return to my world."
The guards' frustration grew as Riku continued to respond in a language they couldn't understand. Their patience waned, and one of the guards unleashed a brutal blow to Riku's stomach, causing him to convulse in pain. The force of the attack left him gasping for breath, blood trickling from his mouth.
Riku was in agony, both physically and mentally. He didn't understand why he was being subjected to such brutality. He felt helpless and frustrated, unable to communicate or defend himself against the guards' aggression. This experience was far from the novels and manga he had read in his previous world, and the reality was harsher than he had imagined.
As his hope wavered, Riku struggled to find a way to bridge the gap between himself and the guards, hoping to convey his intentions and return to his world.
