May the Unexpected Start of this Lonely Journey begin!

01

Look, I'm not sure if waking up in a new world is supposed to be so...desolate. If you've read any fantasy book or played any RPG, you'd know that a portal, divine light, or even an enigmatic villain usually transports you to the square of a bustling city, where adventure awaits with open arms. However, as I slowly opened my eyes, I found nothing, Literally nothing.

The damp grass beneath my sneakers, the vast moonlit plain... wait a minute, what kind of moon is this? It was still somewhat gray, like Earth's, but seemed much more prominent and with fewer craters. And the starry sky above me told me one thing: I was utterly alone. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate my solitude, but when you find yourself in a completely unknown universe, realizing that you don't recognize ANY of the constellations, solitude is not exactly what you're looking for.

"What the hell is this?!"

My voice echoed across the plain as if the echoes dodged me. I thought the goddess, with all her babble, would have at least had the decency to send me close to Axel. But clearly, she decided that I didn't even deserve that...

Lost in thoughts and frustrations, I wandered aimlessly across the plain, hoping a city would somehow emerge on the horizon. And before anyone says, "Hey, maybe she sent you to a safe place?" let me tell you, I thought about that. But honestly, the prospect of being in the middle of nowhere, where I didn't even know where the nearest person was, just pissed me off.

However, amid all this frustration, I couldn't help but feel a strange twinge of excitement. I mean, here I was, in the world of Konosuba, in the world of KONOSUBA!! Completely lost and without a single acquaintance nearby... It wasn't exactly the kind of adventure I had imagined, but, well, it was an adventure, it's awful, but it's thrilling!

So, there I was, walking what seemed to be the end of the world, when I spotted a hill not too far from where I was. Maybe I could see something more than this endless steppe from the top of that hill. With that thought in mind, I decided it was better than wandering aimlessly. The climb was steep and really uncomfortable, but when I finally reached the top, the sight I encountered was exactly the same. The vast plain continued without a single sign of civilization. What a bummer, huh?

When I was about to give up, I spotted a faint light in the distance. I wasn't sure what it was, but it was the only thing that stood out amidst the darkness. "There's my light at the end of the tunnel!" I murmured to myself. Even if it was a long and potentially dangerous path, it was at least a path.

And so, I began my journey toward that unknown light with nothing more than a vague hope. Because if there's one thing I've learned from life (and from the New York subway), it's that the light at the end of the tunnel can be an exit... or a train coming in your direction. And, honestly, at this moment, I was ready to face either one.

02

I'll tell you, this business of putting one foot in front of the other on uneven terrain with only the moon for illumination isn't exactly thrilling. The light, which seemed like salvation, increasingly seemed like an unreachable beacon. But damn, I had to keep going. There wasn't much else to do, right? But even with this uncertain walk, something strange happened. I was feeling... a kind of excitement...

That's when I heard a noise, and, dude, my heart nearly jumped out of my mouth. I leaped back, looking at where the sound came from. It was from a bush. I expected a hideous creature to pounce on me any moment now, and it would be game over WITHOUT EVEN HAVING STARTED!

But instead, what came out was a... rabbit? Blue, with horns. The creature stared at me, jumped, and disappeared into the darkness. I couldn't help but laugh nervously while holding my heart, still beating fast. "At least life in this crazy world is still... somewhat familiar," I said, still laughing to myself. It may sound strange, but I felt a bit more at ease. No matter how bizarre things got, I still had to keep moving forward.

While walking, I got lost in thoughts in that unknown, empty place, and yet, somehow, comforting. I could feel my feet aching with fatigue, yet the serene environment eased the discomfort. I felt incredibly free, enveloped in the beauty of this moonlit place, which seemed to be in its full phase.

I had never appreciated the moon so intensely on Earth, perhaps because I lived in a highly urbanized city or couldn't form a genuine connection with the environment. But in this world, where there probably aren't computers or advanced technologies, I wondered: do they have telescopes? Do they study the universe, just as we do on Earth?

With these reflections, an avalanche of different possibilities began to form. In the face of this new perspective, I questioned my life's purpose and this incarnation's objectives. What, indeed, was I seeking? I didn't know yet, but I kept going...

After what seemed like hours, I heard laughter and voices coming from the light. Instinctively, I crouched down and hid behind some trees. All those hours in my room playing military simulation games with war veterans were paying off now!

There were multiple voices, laughter, and incoherent words that I could barely understand. I tried to spot the voices' owners in the darkness, but I could only see some humanoid figures lit by the distant light. At least I wasn't alone in this new world. "Incompetent goddess, how could you forget to give me the local language?!" I cursed to myself, hitting my own head.

I took a deep breath and began to move toward the voices. The head hitting did serve some purpose. As I approached, the words started making more sense. At first, I could only understand fragments, but the more I listened, the clearer the conversation became:

"I can't believe you actually managed..." - said one voice.

"... must've been the beer!" - another laughed.

I stopped moving and lay on the ground, listening to their chat. By some miracle, I was able to understand their language. There was still much to discover, but at least I was only lost, not illiterate... hey, can I also write in their language?!

I peeked through the bushes, looking at the light I had spotted. It was a fire, a campfire. Around it, three people, or whatever they call humanoid-looking beings here, were chatting, carefree. From what I could see, they were adventurers.

There was a big guy, with stubble and a bow on his back. A woman with red hair and a sword at her waist seemed to be the leader. The third, wrapped in a cloak, had many junk and amulets hanging.

I didn't recognize any of them from the Light Novel. They didn't seem special. They weren't important characters in the story, at least not in that one...

I realized they were camping next to a barn or something. A cart was next to it. They were probably on their way to a city. Could it be Axel?

I didn't know what to do. Should I approach them? Watch until they left? Or get out of there and head towards the distant light? I needed to decide quickly, but I had to do something regardless of my choice! I didn't walk all this way for nothing...

03

So there I was, hiding like a lump, watching a trio of adventurers partying around a bonfire. What the hell was I doing? Why didn't I just go there and ask for help? Oh yeah, because of "Sergeant Miller," the war veteran... which one? Gulf War, I think, whom I met playing my beloved "Military Tactics 3". He always said: "If you're lost in the middle of nowhere, you see a guy, and your radio doesn't work, don't just go there and say hi. If the bastard is not as dumb as you, he will shoot you before you can blink. If you can't tell if it's a friend or foe, it's better to stay hidden, follow the guy, and wait. You might not get his help, but at least you'll find out if the damn guy is heading to the enemy line or at least is lost like you."

Yes, I couldn't forget the "loving" words of Sergeant Miller, so there I was, hidden, now squatting behind a bush, waiting for the guys to go to sleep so I could investigate the camp or something. If there's one thing military simulation games taught me, it's that there's always a way to win, no matter how bad the situation seems, even if the victory is running away to live another day.

My stomach began to rumble, and my throat was drier than the Sahara, but I had to endure. How many hours had it been since I arrived in this world? The crickets sang around, and the noise was strangely comforting. It reminded me of the camps I made in that survival video game...

After a while, which seemed like hours, the conversation died down, and the group began to disperse. As Sergeant Miller always said, one guy must be keeping an eye, even at rest. One stayed on guard near the bonfire, while the others entered the barn and turned off the lights.

I had to be careful now. If I messed up, the guard would see me, and I had no idea how strong these guys were. "May no one have a damn detection ability here," I muttered to myself, looking at the guard.

Waiting for the right time, I moved. I seemed like a caterpillar with a slug complex dragging myself. As carefully as possible, I approached the barn and the cart, keeping an eye on the guard. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, fear and excitement keeping me awake as I tried to find something to eat and drink while at the same time making no noise.

I took a quick look. The cart was full of stuff, all covered by a cloth. Carefully, I lifted the cloth, seeing what was inside. Fabrics, sealed barrels, wooden boxes. It looked like a merchant's cart.

With shaking hands, I picked up one of the smaller boxes, opening it carefully. Inside, I found packages wrapped in paper. I opened one, finding a hard loaf of bread and a piece of cheese...

A smile lit up my face. It wasn't the best food in the world but it was better than nothing. I took some packages and saved them. In doing so, my finger brushed something that made a liquid noise. Cautiously, I pulled out a bottle, the moonlight reflecting on the green glass. Wine.

I chuckled, shaking my head. I've never been a drinker. The hangover always seemed more trouble than it was worth. And now, lost in a strange world, hungry and thirsty, it didn't seem the best time to start.

"Well, there's always a first time for everything," I muttered to myself, looking at the bottle. "But not for this."

Still, I decided to keep the bottle. Who knows, it might be helpful somehow. Maybe I could trade it for something, or use it to disinfect a wound. It wasn't ideal, but anything can be a resource in desperate times. Afterward, carefully, I closed the box and put it back in place, covering everything with the cloth again.

With everything in hand, I tried to move away from the cart with the same caution. But damn, when I was getting down, my foot slipped, and I didn't even have time to think properly. I fell like a rock on the ground, making a loud noise that broke the silence of the night. By a miracle, the wine bottle didn't break, but the crash from the fall indeed drew attention.

Now I was there, thrown on the ground, stiff as a statue, holding my breath. The silence of the night was interrupted by a shout from near the bonfire. What a mess I had made.

04

"Who's there?!"

Damn it! The voice echoed, and I felt my heart almost leap out of my mouth. The so-called guard, who seemed pissed and scared, jumped up and began to advance in my direction. The noise woke the rest of the people inside the barn, and the commotion started. Damn it, Vitor, an excellent way to stay incognito.

I moved behind the barn and ran as fast as possible to the tall grass on the opposite side of the tree line from where I started. I threw myself on the ground, trying to be as quiet as possible.

My adrenaline was now through the roof as the commotion ensued at the barn - shouts, creaking wood, hurried footsteps. The shadows of the bonfire danced around me, seeming to want to pounce on me.

But then, miraculously, the commotion began to subside. If anyone there had some kind of magic tracking power, they didn't use it. Maybe they were too confident or didn't expect a visit in the middle of this deserted plain. Perhaps they thought it was some animal. To the hell with the reason. I was out of there.

I needed a place to rest and gather my thoughts. I still had a long way to go, so I moved a bit further and ate some of the spoils I got, and then I continued heading into the middle of nowhere again.

After a while, I finally found a road. I lit up, my gaze fixed on the worn-out stone path stretching ahead. The first real sign of civilization I've seen since I arrived in this place.

I couldn't help but compare it to the bustling streets of my city back home. Here, the road seemed to be a silent testament to the tales of countless travelers. Weathered and worn, the stones spoke of a time and place vastly different from anything I was accustomed to. The eerie silence only made me feel more alone in this vast, alien landscape.

I began to follow the road, feeling immense relief. But the words of yet another instructor came to my mind: "Remember, when in doubt, always follow the road... Unless, of course, you're on a stealth mission, and the road is full of armed enemies. In that case, get off the damn road!" This was somewhat obvious, but man, I really thought those hours spent playing would serve no purpose, but aren't they proving useful?!

So, keeping my eyes and ears wide open, I proceeded, "ready" for whatever might come, albeit sleepy and very tired.

05

There I was, wandering down the road. I had a bottle of wine, bread, and cheese in my hands - things I had "permanently borrowed" from the camp. The bread was old, and the cheese somewhat moldy, but I wouldn't complain. They were the first foods I had managed to get since I arrived here.

I chuckled, realizing that my character in 'Thieves Guild: Master of Shadows' would have been proud. But that was just a game, and this was reality. There was no reset button here, no quick save to reload if things went south. This realization weighed heavy on my mind, making each step feel like I was walking on a tightrope.

But then there was the wine. I was never a drinker on Earth and didn't feel like starting now. So, I refused to drink it, despite my thirst. The wine could come in handy later. Even tired and thirsty, I wasn't going to give up. My eyes were fixed on the path ahead, hoping to find some civilization soon.

Reflecting on my past life, I never thought I'd use these skills in a real-world setting. Sure, I had loved to get lost in the virtual worlds of my video games, finding comfort in the clear objectives and rules they provided. Yet, here I was, applying strategies from 'Military Tactics 3' and survival games to a real-life survival situation in an entirely unknown world. The irony wasn't lost on me.

After an eternity of walking, exhaustion began to hit. My muscles ached, my feet were swollen, and my throat was parched. But I needed to keep going. My mind now was not even worrying about finding a city or someone. It just wanted to find a safe place to rest.

Finally, I saw a detour in the road, a dirt path that led to an old, rundown barn. It wasn't in the best condition, but at least it had a roof and didn't seem to have any wild animals. I felt a bit of hope.

Carefully, I approached the barn, every sense on high alert. The moonlight was casting long, eerie shadows around the area, but I couldn't see or hear any signs of movement. Despite the desolate state of the barn, there were no signs of recent habitation. The quiet was almost deafening, except for the occasional leaves rustling in the gentle night breeze. I felt truly alone for the first time in this strange world, but there was a strange comfort in that. It was as if the isolation of that place mirrored my own isolation in this new reality. In its simplicity, I found a sense of peace.

I got in, and, despite it being a mess and very dark, it had hay on the floor. It was the perfect place to rest. It didn't take long for me to throw myself onto the hay, grateful for finally having found a place to relax.

Even with thirst and hunger, fatigue won. Lying on the hay, staring at the wooden beams of the ceiling, I let my eyes close. As sleep claimed me, my last coherent thought was of the coming day. I didn't know what this new world had in store for me, but I was ready. Tomorrow, I would face whatever challenges awaited me. But for now, under the starlit sky and surrounded by the comforting scent of hay, I let myself drift into the oblivion of sleep, ready to wake up to my second day in this new reality. And within seconds, sleep took me, finally giving me not only rest but my first night in a new world.