—Mark, here are your five silver coins… —several coins fell onto the table with a soft clinking sound.
There is no better moment in the day than when payday arrives.
—Hurry up! There are more people waiting —the man barked in a gruff voice—. Next!
—Yeah, yeah —I took the coins from the table and pulled out a small cloth pouch to store them.
I stepped aside and tightened the cord as I walked away.
—Mmf… —I snorted, tired—. Damn, my back is killing me.
I stretched as best I could, with little result.
This is the life of a laborer on a construction site. Heavy work, long days, and pay that can barely be called decent. It's enough to live "relatively well" and, with luck, save a little each month.
—Ah… when will my golden finger arrive…?
I walked hunched over, hands in my pockets, making sure the money was still there.
I reincarnated in a medieval fantasy world. Or to be clearer, an isekai.
I was definitely excited at the beginning. I arrived here a few months ago and, without beating around the bush, the experience has been…
Trash.
I have no special abilities. No system, no rare talents, nothing. I only kept my memories.
Life here is worse, no question about it. Coming from the modern world, the quality of life doesn't compare at all.
I used to be an office worker. I graduated in electromechanical engineering and got a job somewhat related to the field more by luck than by merit.
—Buuufff… —I sighed again as I slowly approached the main street.
Like every university student with dreams and an idealized world, the same thing happened to me as happens to students when they graduate. The reality of adult life hit me without warning. I lost a lot of time and money on a degree that, as a result… barely let me cover expenses and save a little at the end of the month.
But at least I had air conditioning, internet, video games, and three meals a day.
Here, just having a roof over your head means you should feel grateful.
So I went from being an office worker in a modern world, full of comforts, to a laborer in a medieval world.
If they had at least given me a broken ability… I wouldn't be stuck in a city building houses.
Exploring, having absurdly powerful abilities, defeating Demon Lords… and, most importantly, having a harem!
Reincarnating was supposed to make me special, right?
But apparently that's not how it works. This doesn't resemble what I imagined at all.
If they weren't going to give me anything… they should have just left me in the 21st century!
—Fruit and vegetables at excellent prices!
—Fresh monster meat!
The voices blended together. I had reached the city's main street, a wide avenue full of movement.
People of different races walked back and forth: humans, orcs, demi-humans, and some dwarves. Nothing out of the ordinary for a fantasy world.
The typical lineup…
And, for some reason, everyone was strangely attractive.
I didn't know what kind of goddess of beauty decided this world should work like this, but in these months I had seen more good-looking people than in my entire previous life. Even the orcs had a certain charm.
I didn't understand how, but they did.
—And here I am, terribly average… —I murmured, resuming my pace with my head down.
Although to me everyone looked ridiculously beautiful, in reality, if everyone is good-looking, then no one is. My standards just didn't fit this world.
Here, being "handsome" was the same as being "normal."
Still, compared to my previous appearance, I was better now. It wasn't much, but at least it helped my self-esteem a little.
A little.
But better than nothing.
—They could have at least given me an appearance that wouldn't be considered average —I cursed inwardly.
No powers. No talent. No beauty. No special bloodlines. I didn't even reincarnate into a noble family!
Screw you, whoever it was that sent me here!
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice when I crossed the city's boundary. The two- and three-story buildings gradually disappeared, replaced by single-story houses, each one smaller than the last. The plain surrounding the city began to come into view, with scattered trees here and there.
By the time I realized it, I was practically on the outskirts.
There was my house. Small. I couldn't say exactly how big it was, maybe twenty-eight or thirty square meters.
I don't know. This world used a strange measurement system, and I didn't even bother to understand it. To my eyes, comparing it to the imperial system was more accurate and more intuitive.
At last, I got home.
I took out a small metal key and opened the door.
Calling it rustic would be an understatement. A wood-burning stove in one corner, a fireplace, a table in the center, and a bed with a small nightstand beside it. My few belongings were there as well.
A bathroom? Nature was my bathroom!
—Heh… heh… —I laughed quietly so as not to dwell on my misfortune as I closed the door behind me and collapsed onto the bed—. At least I wasn't killed by a monster or living on the street.