A Different Reality

[Location: Capital City - Kingdom of Tevell]

"It wasn't exactly the best scenario in which I could be, I mean, it could always be worse, I could be in another world without money and without knowing what to do"

-Masato: This...is...a...shit.

As I walked away from the castle gates with my hands in the pockets of my jacket and entered the city, I began to think carefully about my situation and how to handle it in the best possible way, I looked up at the sky and at least it was a nice day, i think it was already noon then i looked at the time on my phone which read 12:24 PM.

"Has it been almost 4 hours already? How strange, it wasn't even 9:00 AM when I got to the university and I don't think I've spent that much time in the castle"

At that moment my stomach began to growl, I put my hand on my stomach thinking about how little I ate this morning before leaving home.

"If I had known this was going to happen, I would have stayed for a better breakfast"

Fortunately Marina was kind enough to give me this money, although at that time I didn't know how the monetary system of this world worked, I just hoped that the economy of this world would be kind too.

-Masato: Honestly this place is really nice if I ignore the fact that I don't know anyone and I don't have a place to stay.

I walked through the streets of the city, it was quite striking without a doubt it was like being in one of those medieval RPG games, the structures of the buildings, the designs of the streets, the people who populated it with their attire but without a doubt what most what caught my attention was that not only humans populated this world, I saw people of different races.

"I think in some games and series they call them Demi-humans or beastmen, also i can see elf and some dwaft just as they are described in fantasy folklore, and those big guys...are they orcs?, how fascinating"

This was really out of my mind, finding myself surrounded by different races, but there was something strange about them, most of them wear a necklace around their neck and some of them didn't look very happy, also some of them were wearing rags or dirty and damaged clothes, besides, most of them were working, carrying things, helping with cleaning, etc.

-Masato: This really weird indeed.

The more I went into the center of the city, the more of them I saw and the strange thing is that I also saw some humans with that necklace.

-Masato: If I were in my world I would say it's some kind of fashion but clearly this is not the case, sad faces, same necklaces, battered clothes, world set in a medieval age, the only thing that comes to mind is, they are slaves.

I tried not to pay too much attention to that, after all, it wasn't really my problem, the main thing was my own well-being, once I got back home I could forget about all this.

-Masato: I feel bad for them, but this is how this world work i guess.

First I tried to find a place to eat something and just as I imagined despite the fact that I understand the language I cannot understand the writing, they announce them and the signs that I saw were written in the language of this world and before my eyes they were just a bunch of scribbles Luckily they also had images about their function, so it was not difficult for me to recognize which place was which until I saw one that showed a roast meat, that would have to be a restaurant.

-Masato: Finally, my stomach won't stop growling and it smells delicious inside here.

Upon entering I could feel the smell of food and as my stomach growled again, it was a delicious aroma and my mouth was watering, I heard a girl say "welcome!", I walked around the place looking for an empty table, despite that it was noon there were a lot of people, there were a variety of people here, there were guys with weapons and armor, some with robes and staffs, I also think there were merchants for their huge backpacks next to their tables, until I found an empty table nearby from the wall and sat down, a few minutes later a young girl with short dark blue hair, white and brown dress and apron approached me.

-Waitress: Welcome! What can I serve you?

The girl greeted me with great enthusiasm and handed me a wooden board with a piece of paper attached to it. When I looked at it, I could only see scribbles and numbers, it was the menu but I didn't understand anything, so I used "that" to avoid looking like an idiot.

-Masato: Let me see...uh...bring me a today's special

-Waitress: A today's special, right away!

"-The today's special- never fails regardless of whether it is a restaurant from another country or from another world"

The girl took the wooden board and went to the kitchen, my only concern was what I had ordered, I just hoped it was something I could eat because I was really hungry, it was at that moment that I began to miss Mom's food, before leaving the house she said that she would prepare something special for me when I returned and now I'll be left with the desire, after a few minutes waiting the waitress returned with my order that she brought in a wooden tray

-Waitress: Here you are, friend, our "Today's Special: Spring Roast".

-Masato: Whoa!

On the table she left the cutlery, a handkerchief, a plate with roast meat that smelled delicious, some roast potatoes and a salad of lettuce and tomato slices, next to it he placed a wooden jug with some liquid inside that did not look like water or juice, I sniffed the content and it had a sweet aroma.

-Masato: That was fast, what is this?

-Waitress: oh? that's mead, the best in town.

"Mead? If I remember correctly I think it's some kind of alcoholic drink, a more primitive form of beer found in my world, I don't know if I should try it, I'm not of legal age yet..."

For now I put the jug aside and concentrated on the main dish, the meat looks incredible but what kind of animal will it be, for now and the texture didn't look like a cow or pig, I just cut a piece and tried it to get out of it. the doubt

-Masato: (Eating) oohhh! It's delicious! What is this meat?

-Waitress: It's giant wild boar meat, we received a shipment this morning, it's more delicious when it's freshly shot, well, enjoy your meal.

The waitress left while I was enjoying this dish, this was incredible, I don't want to belittle mom's food but this meat had a very delicious flavor and was very easy to cut and eat.

"Giant boar? From what I can understand at the moment, in this world there are also dangerous types of wild animals and maybe monsters, of course in a fantasy world, they would have to be"

As I ate, I felt the need to drink something, at that point I decided to give the Mead a taste, at the moment when the water passed through my tongue and my throat I could feel a sweet flavor accompanied by a very pleasant bittersweet flavor, It didn't feel like I was drinking an alcoholic drink, perhaps because it was a very primitive way that its presence was not so noticeable, in the end I ended up drinking the entire jar.

-Masato: Damn this is very tasty, I just hope I don't become alcoholic for this hehe.

While devouring my plate and drinking from the jug, I began to look around me, there were many people, laughing happily, talking about their lives, I looked at the walls with hanging papers, it was until a conversation caught my attention, it was from the table that It was behind me, it was made up of two men, one bald and with a short beard and the other a young man with long hair and a cut on his cheeks, from their appearance they seemed to be some kind of adventurer or hunter.

-Bald Man: So it's true? Did the kingdom of Zeorian fall?

Young Man: Yes, there is no doubt, my brother who was traveling through that area told me about it.

-Bald Man: This is already the third kingdom that the Empire has invaded in the last two years, what...what will happen if they decide to invade Tevell? We won't be forced to fight the Empire, right? because I am not going to risk my life in that way.

-Young Man: Don't worry, I doubt the Empire decides to attack Tevell, they only attack the kingdoms that are related to the Demon King's Army, my brother says they call it "Purification" or something like that.

-Bald Man: Relationship with the Demon King, huh? I don't know about you, but for the Holy Empire of Cedora to invade kingdoms for having a relationship with the demon army is something far-fetched, it almost seems like an excuse to invade them.

-Young Man: Hey...Hey...be careful what you say, if someone from the Empire or the Holy Church hears you say that, you could cause trouble for all of us.

-Bald Man: ...Heh!

After that the bald man took a drink from his pitcher and his conversation turned to something less interesting.

"So the Demon King is not the only threat here"

After I finished eating my dish, I wanted to pay for the dish but I didn't know exactly how much I had to pay so I simply took out a gold coin from the sack that I carried in my suitcase and left it on the table thinking that it would cover everything, so I proceeded to leave.

-Masato: Wow, that was delicious, I almost wanted to stay to try the other dishes.

And just before leaving the establishment I heard the voice of a girl getting excited and then I heard her quick steps towards me.

-Waitress: Sir...sir, wait!!

I turned to see her and saw that she was the same waitress who served me, I saw her very nervous while she was holding something in her hand.

-Waitress: I can't... I can't accept this, it's too much money!

-Masato: Too much money?

The waitress proceeded to show me the gold coin that I left on the table as payment.

-Waitress: Y...Yes! even charging the dish, it's still a lot of money for the tip.

"'Is a single gold coin really that much money? I see why the chancellor looked so upset when Marina let me keep the money, but maybe this is a good opportunity to get some information."

-Masato: I see, what if you give me information in exchange for the rest of the money, I'm new here, let's say from far away and I don't know how things work in this... part of the world...

-Waitress: huh?...just information? well i can do that, ok then, let's go back to the table.

The waitress seemed excited about my idea, she led me back to the table I was at while she went to talk to a man who was at the bar, I think he was asking for permission or something, then she came back and sat across from me. .

Waitress: Well, how can I help you?

-Masato: First, how do the coins work here? I saw you very nervous about the gold coin just now.

-Waitress: This... yes, it was the first time that someone left a gold coin for a single dish and a tip and as soon as I saw it I got very nervous because I didn't know what to do, but well let's start, first there are three different types of coins

She proceeded to take two coins out of her pocket, one silver and one copper, and lined them up next to the gold coin I left behind.

-Waitress: The copper coins are the lowest value, then follow the silver coins and lastly the gold coins, every 100 copper coins are equivalent to one silver and 100 silver coins are equivalent to one gold, the Spring Roast it cost 2 silver and 50 copper and we accept the tip left by customers that generally does not exceed 10 copper coins

-Masato: Now I understand why you got excited when you saw the gold coin i left, it was a lot of money.

She attended somewhat nervously while letting out a slight giggle, now i was beginning to understand this well, then at that moment I realized that I was carrying almost a fortune in my suitcase, if this world follows the same bases of a medieval fantasy era, it means that the laws are very poor, if they rob me or steal my money, no matter how much I complain, nobody will do anything, so I had to be careful with the information I revealed.

-Masato: Thanks for that, now the next thing, I have to travel very far but I don't know if there is some kind of transportation that will take me as close as possible to my destination, I also need to buy supplies for the trip.

-Waitress: Let me see...well there are some carriages that transport passengers for money but I really don't recommend it, there are many reports that the drivers are bought by bandits and take passengers to traps to steal their belongings.

"I already thought so"

-Waitress: the best option is to go on foot along the main road and go through the checkpoints, the villages and towns on the way are safer at least at this time of year.

-Masato: At this time of year?

-Waitress: Yes, the climate is colder and the monsters and local wild animals migrate in search of warmer lands.

"So there are monsters after all, but as she says, the main road should be safer, though i'm still a bit worried."

-Waitress: Where exactly are you going?

-Masato: I going to...to...well...Garnrot...no, wait, it was...Grassrock, no, that one either, Gackwont?

-Waitress: Gainsworth?

-Masato: Yes! That was it, Gainsworth.

-Waitress: Then you should take the exit to the east or northeast path, that way you will arrive at the Border Gate that connects Tevell with Drolum.

-Masato: Oh! I appreciate it.

-Waitress: And regarding supplies for a trip, I can recommend a few establishments that I know.

The girl mentioned several places to buy useful things for traveling and where to find them, such as general stores, alchemist store, etc.

-Masato: Thank you very much, this information will really help me a lot.

I get up from the table and take my things, the waitress seems to be surprised for some reason.

Waitress: Huh? Is that all you need?

-Masato: yes, I want to prepare to travel now.

-Waitress: Bu... but the information I gave you I don't think is enough to cover the rest of the money, I mean... that information is almost public knowledge.

-Masato: Don't worry, take it as a thank you for your help and your kindness.

I headed towards the exit while I say goodbye to the waitress, I already had the necessary information to draw up an action plan, now I only needed to gather the supplies to travel, also, I observed the sword that I carried on my back.

"If there are monsters, wild animals, and who knows what other kind of danger is out there, I'll have to learn how to use this thing whether I want to or not."

Before leaving I heard the voice of the waitress calling me again, I turned around to see what I needed

Waitress: Wait... wait... I... um... I didn't ask him his name.

Masato: My name? ah...well my name is Ma-

"Wait, wait, wait, I can't be giving my real name"

Waitress: Ma-?

I stopped myself before giving my name to the waitress, given what happened in the castle, who knows what would happen next, that king and the chancellor were almost forcing me to be the "Hero" but since I rejected it and left the castle thank you to Marina's intervention, it is most likely that they want to drag me back.

"Who knows what that king will do and even more so if there is that cheap chancellor to not let me go so easily, most likely they will try to take me back without the princess finding out, the last thing I need is to have a lot of soldiers chasing me , I need to hide my identity, if they look for me I must at least try not to give the people of the city a face to the name even if it's a temporary distraction, another name, I must use another name, but which one?

Masato: I mean, my name is...uh.....Zyrus.....uh...Corvus....yeah, that one.

Waitress: Zyrus.....Corvus...uh...hehe...nice to meet you, I'm Sarah Ridley

(Sarah Ridley -Waitress- 17 Years)

"Zyrus Corvus? Where did I get that name from, it was the first one that came to my head almost echoing in my mind, well at least it was a name that wouldn't attract attention, at least Sara didn't seem surprised by that name I think I'll use it for now, I have to keep a low profile until I get out of town"

[At this point the protagonist will identify himself as "Zyrus Corvus"]

-Zyrus: Ok, I have to go, a pleasure Sara and thanks for your help

-Sarah: Okay, if you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask me, Zyrus.

I left the restaurant saying goodbye to Sarah and now I had to prepare to travel, with the information that Sara gave me I can think of what to do.

-Zyrus: I'm going to need food, water, a map, maybe something for first aid, I'll see what else I need when I'm in the market but not too much, carrying a lot of weight will slow me down, only what I can carry in the suitcase.

I spent a large part of the day shopping and gathering supplies, luckily I was able to fit everything I needed in my suitcase, although it felt heavier now, this would undoubtedly end up causing my shoulder pain, it was already getting dark and to be honest the city looked beautiful With the afternoon light, now I just have to find a place to spend the night, I will leave early in the morning and start my way to the Arcane City of Gainsworth in search of a way to return to my world.

"Something tells me this won't be as easy as a simple walk"

Walking through the streets already getting dark, I managed to find a place with a bed on the sign, it should be an inn, I went in and approached the counter, a tall girl with long blonde hair was serving her, wearing a white bandana on her head, which I couldn't help but see were her huge breasts.

-Innkeeper: Good evening, are you looking for a room?

The girl with a soft voice looked at me with a warm smile, I tried my best not to divert my gaze from her breasts but I couldn't help but blush a little every time my eyes met them.

-Zyrus: ..eh...yes, a simple room please...hehe..

-Innkeeper: Sure, your name?

Zyrus: Masa...I mean Zyrus...Zyrus Corvus...

The girl wrote my name in a book, I knew it was a good idea to change my name, although I knew that the name would not distract them for long, if that managed to buy me some time, even better, although I still have doubts about where I got that from name, it sounded familiar but I couldn't remember from where.

-Innkeeper: It would be 3 silver coins a night.

With the coins that I had left over from my purchases to pay for my stay, the truth is that I felt quite calm with my cash, I just had to take care of it and not let anyone know what I was carrying.

-Innkeeper: Please follow me.

The girl came out of the counter and asked me to follow her up some stairs, there were several rooms from which some strange sounds were heard, I knew what they were so I preferred to remain silent, we reached the room that I would use, she went first to light a candle and thus illuminate the room.

-Innkeeper: Please come in, if you need anything else please let me know.

She said goodbye with a smile and left, closing the door, the room was not very small, it had a bed, a nightstand and a glass window where I could look at the street where I entered the inn, I took out my suitcase and the sword. and I left them on the floor, I stretched out in bed to review everything that had happened so far, I checked my phone to see that it was already 9:43 PM, all I wanted now was to sleep and wake up tomorrow in my own room .