Walking through the vast meadow, as far as the eye could see, only grass gently swayed with the wind. Alioth felt a different kind of atmosphere, it was like stepping into a movie, an RPG game, or a fantasy story where the main character finally leaves his hometown and heads for a distant place.
He stretched out his arms while closing his eyes. He inhaled deeply until the air filled his lungs.
"This world is so beautiful..." he said to himself. "Whatever happens, whatever the reason why I was suddenly transported to this world, I don't want to be a loser for the second time. I will be the main character!" He shouted, releasing the heavy burden on his shoulders. Bad thoughts about the past quietly approached, but Alioth easily managed to forget them. At least for now, he didn't want to feel like a loser as he once did.
Now he was Alioth, the brightest star in the Ursa Major constellation. He had to shine, like a protagonist in a manga!
"Main character?"
Alioth suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. His face flushed with embarrassment.
"I'm done getting water, let's continue the journey." Claire showed the water bottle she was carrying. It turned out the bottle had been in Claire's small backpack from the start, only it was empty. "By the way, is that your hobby?"
"H-hobby? What do you mean?"
Claire stared intently, then stretched out her arms and yelled. "Maaain characteeer!"
"Hey, don't copy me!"
"Ehhh... I'm asking if that's your hobby?" She tilted her head, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Is this girl really dense or just pretending? His mouth said, "Forget it, let's continue the journey."
After a full day, they finally managed to get out of Sylvant Forest. From a distance, the ancient forest looked quite scary, dark and gloomy. Alioth still couldn't believe that he and Claire had successfully left the place, although they had to go through several life-and-death situations because Alioth had to protect Claire as they tried to get out of the forest.
Claire, with her broken staff, honestly didn't help much, only occasionally casting wind attack magic that could be considered a joke by the monsters there. Fortunately, once they passed the area of the giant trees, there were no more aggressive, ferocious monsters.
However, Sylvant Forest was, after all, the first summon location for the Assassin class. It was unlikely that the first summon location would be made difficult. Only its appearance was scary.
"Hey, Alioth, can I ask you something?"
While continuing to walk, Alioth turned slightly. "Just ask."
Claire looked a little shy, but Alioth didn't notice it. Turning her face away, she asked hesitantly. "I already told you why I got lost in Sylvant Forest, but I still don't know why you got lost there."
"Oh, you don't trust me?"
"N-not like that!" Claire waved her hands in front of her face. "I'm just curious. If you don't want to tell me, it's okay."
Alioth racked his brain, there was no way he could tell her that he woke up and was already there. This innocent girl might consider him a god and worship him.
As he tried to think, he got a good idea that could be a logical answer to the question. With a sad smile, he said, "I was abandoned by my father."
Claire was very surprised to hear this, her eyes perfectly round. "U-uh... I didn't mean to—"
"My father and mother separated a long time ago, and after several months of living with my father, he decided to kick me out. I was desperate, intending to just die, but when I entered that forest, I became afraid of death."
Claire listened silently, feeling awkward for asking that question.
On the other hand, Alioth felt his heart being squeezed by invisible hands. It was not a lie, it was a reality he always wanted to forget.
On Earth, that was true. Alioth lost his way, and Aetherion Chronicle was the only consolation for him.
Unconsciously, he let out a long sigh, remembering the peaceful days of his childhood when his family was still complete. How happy he was back then.
"Why did you immediately believe me when we met in the forest?" Alioth tried to change the subject. He didn't really want to remember Cael's sad past. He was Alioth now, that was the doctrine he forced onto his own brain.
Claire caught Alioth's intention to change the conversation, so she didn't press further. The girl played with the tips of her hair near her left ear and said somewhat nervously.
"Um... it was a gamble. If you were a bad person, I'd die, but if you were a good person, I'd survive."
How naive she was. "What if I had been a bad person?"
Claire suddenly puffed out her cheeks. "The evidence is you are not a bad person."
"I said hypothetically."
"You are not a bad person! There are no hypotheticals!"
"Hey, don't tell me you didn't suspect me at all from the beginning?!"
Claire turned her face away.
"Claire, you trust strangers that easily?!"
The girl's steps quickened.
***
After spending the night in the meadow, they continued their journey east early in the morning. Claire admitted that she didn't remember the way home from here, so she had no choice but to follow this "stranger" all the way to Florin City.
Unknowingly, the sun set on the western horizon, but when the sky was completely black, they saw the walls of Florin City in the distance.
They hurried their pace so they could quickly reach the city before the gates closed. Fortunately, they arrived just in time, shortly after they entered the city, the gate was closed.
"We'll go to an inn first," Alioth said while admiring the city.
It was truly like the medieval era. There were large buildings with conical roofs, tall stone towers, and taverns with the noisy sounds of patrons.
The streetlights shone brightly with a soft yellow color. The lights were not electric, but came from a magic stone that could emit light.
Claire yawned, looking exhausted. "Where are we going to stay...?"
It seemed the initial setup was exactly the same as when the player was first summoned. Alioth glanced at the contents of his small bag, there were several silver and gold coins, exactly the same amount as when he first played the game.
He still remembered where the cheapest inn in this city was. He led the way to a slightly darker part of the city. There was a small, one-story inn, and the building was only an inn, there was no tavern like the others.
As soon as they entered, they were greeted by an old, sleepy-faced attendant.
"Let me pay," Alioth whispered to Claire, who only replied with a nod and a yawn. They approached the old attendant. "Two rooms."
"Two silver."
Without negotiating, Alioth handed over the two silver coins.
The attendant handed over two keys. "The rooms at the very back."
The two of them walked down the long corridor and arrived in front of the rooms. Alioth felt a little bad for Claire about the quality of the inn.
"I apologize, the bed in this inn might not be very comfortable. I don't have much money."
However, instead of complaining, Claire just smiled as usual. "That's not a problem. I'm glad you helped me this far. Now I can go home."
Alioth smiled back and then opened the room door. "In that case, good night."
"See you tomorrow."
***
"Claire!"
His shout angered the sleepy-faced attendant. He immediately came over with stomping steps and a look of annoyance.
"Kid, why are you causing a commotion so early in the morning?!"
"My friend... my friend who came with me last night is missing," Alioth stammered nervously.
The attendant looked inside the room, then nodded and growled. "Damn you, are you her friend or not? The girl who came with you already left earlier. I thought you had agreed to it."
Alioth's eyes widened. Was it true that the first woman he met was an evil person as he thought?
"Did she return the key?"
The attendant nodded. "You can open this room yourself, which means she still has the key, you idiot!"
Alioth quickly grabbed his sword from his room and rushed out of the inn. He ignored the old attendant's curses and swearing.
He ran around the city, feeling quite anxious. Why did she leave suddenly without saying anything? What if that innocent girl was harassed by someone? She didn't even have any suspicion toward strangers.
She's someone's child, damn it. If something bad happens, I'll definitely be the one to get in trouble.
Once again, it seemed that Lady Luck was embracing his destiny. Not far from the inn, Alioth saw Claire's back emerging from a magic shop.
He quickly chased after her and grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to turn around. "Claire, why did you leave without saying anything?!"
The girl was clearly very surprised, but then she smiled.
Alioth's eyes widened even more. Claire was carrying a new, good magic staff and a big loaf of bread, one piece of bread was still in her mouth.
With that wide smile, she answered, "I wanted to surprise you for saving me. I didn't think you would catch up to me."
However, Alioth didn't pay much attention to that. He was interested in something else. "Where did you get the money to buy all that?"
Claire answered innocently, "There is always money in my bag for sudden necessities. I always bring money in case I need it on the road. I even bring it when I don't go far from home."
If you had that much money, we should have slept better last night in a much nicer place!!!!
Alioth couldn't bear to let out his curses, so he just clenched his teeth, his shoulders trembling with suppressed anger.
"Ah, you're so impatient for my gift that you're trembling like that? Hahaha, come with me." Claire pulled Alioth's hand.
The young man remained silent.