“Dear Lord!” I grunted as sweat profusely poured down my face, drenching my clothes. “This is why I never stepped outside!”

  The sun was my enemy, and the heat drained me. That was why I always stayed in a cold environment. Sixty-five degrees or colder was ideal. My HUD told me it was ninety-nine degrees out, and the wind hadn’t blown in the past hour of me walking.

  Yeah, that may have been an over-exaggeration. In reality, I had only been walking for five minutes. But could you blame me? I was a shut-in for crying out loud. I wasn’t used to these NORMIE temperatures or activities…like walking.

  It didn’t help that I wore jeans with a black long-sleeved shirt and a white lab coat. I knew you were always given starter gear when brought to another world, but why had I been dressed for the wrong weather? Was God mocking me? I bet it was Loki. If it were, I’d kick his ass!

  “Please, God!” I begged as I looked to the sky. “I can’t! Save-“ The sound of a horseback carriage sounded behind me, and my eyes lit up as I turned to the source.

  "Hello, young one," an old man greeted me as he came to a stop.

  SALVATION!

  "What's a kid like you doing in the Grassy Plains with no weapon? You may have high-grade gear and be young and full of spirit, but the Plains are still full of monsters."

  High-grade?

  I looked down at myself and the clothes I had been adorned with. They didn’t look like anything special. Just your run-of-the-mill clothes you could have found nearly anywhere in my world. Minus the lab coat.

  Was I secretly a synergist? Would I go from commonplace to world's strongest?!

  "S-Sorry.” I smiled weakly as I scratched the back of my head, a habit I had when uncomfortable. “I’m lost, actually.” I lied. “I’m looking for the Raetia Empire.”

  "Hmm." He inspected me as he stroked his long salt-and-pepper beard. "What a coincidence. I’m heading there right now. I have business to attend to there. Hop on; I'll give you a ride back to town. I know it's not that far of a walk, but who knows what monsters might attack you in that short period."

  "Appreciate!" I replied as I stepped on the carriage and sat down. The old man whipped the reins, and the horses went into a light trot.

  "So, son, you must be new to this place if you thought traveling in the Plains with no weapon was a smart idea." He smiled kindly as he spoke.

  "Er…yeah," I replied as I scratched my cheek nervously. I figured it would be best to keep quiet that I wasn't from this world. "This whole area is new to me."

  "Ah, you must be from the southern kingdom then, the Soutoria Empire?" I slowly leered at him as he continued. "Well then, I'd like to welcome you." He smirked as my eyes met his.

  "Welcome me?" I repeated before returning my eyes forward.

  I wasn't good at social interactions or eye contact, but what did you expect from a shut-in OTAKU? The only things I was interested in talking about were anime, video games, and that-which-would-never-exist, and so it shan't be named.

  "To the Prostetian Kingdom!” He guffawed. “Where all those seeking adventure come to make a living for themselves." The old man stroked his beard again as he looked at me. "So, what's your name then, son?"

  Should I use my real name, or should I make it up?

  I didn't know the world or how their names worked. For all I knew, my name would cause superstition. But what if I made one up and it caused even more trouble? In the end, I decided to stick with the best choice.

  "Sion," I said. “Sion Barzahd.”

  "Sion?" He repeated with a quizzical look. "What a unique name.”

  Even in this world, huh?

  “Well, Sion, what are you doing in the Raetia Empire? Are you here to become an adventurer?"

  "Adventurer?” My ears perked. “You mean the people that fight monsters?" I asked wide-eyed as I looked at him.

  Now you've got my attention, old man! If this world has them, then damn right, I'm going to become one! Wait, aren’t I technically old, too?

  "Why, yes. Though, I should explain the way this Kingdom works. After all, it's much different than the south."

  And so, the old man told me everything…literally.

  It was nothing I hadn’t already assumed with my time watching anime and playing video games, so I hardly listened. Let me break it down for you.

  You see, in this world, there were adventures, those who hunted monsters to make money and a living. There were, of course, other jobs such as a blacksmith, a shopkeeper, a maid, and the whatnot. So, adventurer wasn't the only option.

  People also had a class. Classes were things like knights, mages, clerics, synergists, and so on. People would choose a profession based on the class they were assigned.

  Now, this part was new to me, so even I had to listen to the old man’s lecture. Apparently, everyone started without a class at birth, but as they grew up and became stronger, their stats grew, and they were automatically assigned a class based on the automatic distribution of their stats. This was when jobs were chosen.

  To give a few examples: a knight could go on to become a royal guard to protect the King and the town's inhabitants, or they could choose to become an adventurer. They could also become mercenaries or soldiers. Mages could also join the royal family, though they would spend most of their time casting spells to keep barriers around the town that prevented monsters from getting in. A Cleric could become a doctor, healing diseases and injuries.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  It seemed apparent adventurer was the best choice, as it came with more freedom and a sense of adventure. Every quest was a new job to be carried out differently, but not everyone wanted to risk their life for money. So, most people would work with the royal family to secure pay and safety or choose another job that best fit their class.

  This part really caught my attention, especially since it applied to me. The old man explained the leveling system and how adventurers formed parties and took on different work to level up. He said that, like everyone, you were born level one and gained experience from playing, learning, and other day-to-day activities. But that stopped once you reached level ten. At that time, your stats were automatically distributed, and that was when your class was assigned.

  He told me that after choosing a profession, you could gain experience from doing it and becoming better at it. However, at some point, this experience would become less, as the experience gained was based on the difficulty of the task. That was why parties were formed.

  Adventurers were accepted into parties based on the stats they had. The higher their stats, the stronger an adventurer they were.

  It's just like an MMORPG! I thought with glee. It really is a video game world! And this man... I glanced over at him. Is definitely the tutorial guide.

  After learning about the leveling system, my heart sank even more. I was seventeen and level one with stats so low; a newborn baby was stronger than me. What kind of joke was that? Why could I never get a break, even in an alternate world?

  To hell with isekai anime! Just give me a classic rom-com!

  "Why the look of defeat?" The old man asked, noticing my countenance.

  "It's nothing," I muttered

  Best to stay quiet about it.

  I didn't want to admit my low level and stats. Being seventeen and level one with below-average stats would be suspicious, and suspiciousness was always rewarded with attention. I didn’t want that, and I didn’t know what would happen if others found out about it.

  Would I be killed? Interrogated? Locked away before even beginning my journey? Screw that. I knew it would be best to keep it a secret.

  Before I realized it, we were in the city. It looked just like you'd imagine in a fantasy world.

  The streets formed a perfect circle around a majestic castle. The castle, with its towering spires and gleaming stone walls, stood as a beacon of protection and prosperity. The winding streets were paved with smooth cobblestones and lined with lanterns that would light up as dusk fell, and there were narrow alleys where street performers and musicians entertained passersby with their talents.

  As we continued down the streets, I noticed how everyone parted around us peacefully and respectfully. My attention quickly turned to the shops, however, as I found those more interesting.

  There was a shop filled with magical artifacts, potions, and spell books that all had a soft glow. The rhythmic clanging of hammers on anvils echoed through the streets as the blacksmiths crafted weapons and armor for adventurers. The aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries wafted through the air, drawing people in for a taste

  The town square was the heart of commerce, bustling with vendors selling everything from exotic spices to handcrafted jewelry. Merchants haggled over prices, showcasing their wares and sharing tales of distant lands. Children played games, chasing each other around the fountain in the square and listening to stories from the town bard. Adventurers prepared for their next quest, gathering supplies and sharing tales of their exploits.

  I looked down several alleys as we passed them. They were dark and gloomy.

  Oh! Maybe I’ll save a girl who’s getting harassed and find love!

  "Why are you smiling like that?" The old man asked as the carriage stopped by the fountain.

  “I was smiling!?” My voice cracked.

  Damn teenage body! I can’t do puberty again! I REFUSE!

  "You were. And I didn’t like the look in your eyes either,” his eyes narrowed. “Are you planning on harassing the women of this town?”

  “N-No!” I stuttered in nervous rebellion, which definitely didn’t help my case, despite it being true.

  “Hmm,” he hummed. “Well then, this is where you get off. I would love to show you around, but unfortunately, I have important business with the King.” I stepped off the carriage as he spoke. “But before I go, I wish to give you this." He tossed me a rather large bag that jingled as it flew through the air. I caught it, nearly dropping it. "Inside is 1,000 gold coins. This should get you a decent weapon, as well as some left-over money to stay a while at a nice Inn."

  "Uh...Thanks?" I replied questionably.

  I know I didn't sound grateful, but that was mostly because I didn't understand why a man I just met would give me that much money. Perhaps accepting the large sum would come back to bite me in the ass, but that would be something to worry about later on.

  With a smile and wave, the old man and his carriage made their way out of my sight.

  Well, I guess it'd be fun to look around and experience the life of a NORMIE. Time for shopping!

  With that thought, I began walking.