Saying it is one thing, but when it actually comes time to act, that feeling of confusion truly begins to rise within.
"Fully automatic elbow strike robot! It can strike 24 times in 8 seconds, guaranteed to be useful in any kind of combat! The sooner you buy, the sooner you enjoy!"
"Ice-cold, sweet, and delicious red tea, sourced from the underground world! Only 114 Telos coins per cup, and if you buy five, you'll get an extra one for free! It's a deal too good to pass up!"
Street vendors on both sides of the road beamed with wide smiles, putting all their energy into advertising their goods, as the bustling sounds of the crowd echoed around me.
From finely crafted weapons, to bizarre and exotic clothing, to otherworldly delicacies, everything was for sale here.
I never expected to experience such a lively marketplace in this world as well.
This bustling market, where I had been wandering for a while now, was far larger than I had imagined.
From the early morning sunlight to the midday sun, I had strolled through every vendor's stall without much of a rest, until the sun began to sink toward the west.
Even at dusk, however, the surging tide of people showed no signs of fading.
But still...
Other than aimlessly wandering, I didn't really know what else I should be doing.
If I wanted to settle down in this city, the first step would usually be to find a job, right? Figure out where they need workers, apply for a position, and along the way, ask about any local customs or taboos.
That was the way things worked in my hometown, at least.
But here, not knowing the place, and sneaking in as I did, I didn't dare strike up conversations with the locals when passing by.
Not to mention, talking wasn't the only issue—moving around was a problem too.
"Why are there guards mixed in with the crowd?"
From earlier on, the soldiers patrolling among the crowds had forced me to take detours and evade them continuously.
Those soldiers, all fierce and battle-hardened, didn't look like the kind I wanted to cross paths with.
It's not that I couldn't fight them, I just didn't want the hassle.
Security this tight was something rarely seen in my previous life; it wasn't common to see such strict measures in civilian areas.
Is this kind of security normal in this world? I'm not sure.
At that moment, another guard was about to pass by me, his gaze sweeping every direction, a clear sign he was looking for something—or someone—important.
As I had done before, I slipped into a nearby alley before the guard could notice me.
"I shouldn't have been spotted."
The light at the end of the alley felt like a reassurance, and my heartbeat slowed down slightly.
Looking back, the guard had vanished from sight. It seemed I had managed to avoid danger once again.
To be honest, I wasn't sure if the guards were hunting me specifically, but considering how I was brought into the city in such a conspicuous manner, it was hard not to assume I'd been marked as a target.
That woman… couldn't she have used a more discreet way to get me in here?
In any case… I should get out of here first. Thinking too much won't change my current situation—
—Something feels wrong.
This alleyway was stranger than any I'd passed through before.
Ahead of me, the place that should have been an "exit" no longer had light shining through from the other side.
Instead, there was a wall, stained with blood.
Before I could react, an unknown gray fog rapidly approached from in front of me, and a scent of blood gradually filled the air. Upon closer inspection, I could see vines creeping along the walls, wriggling like worms.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time."
An unfamiliar voice whispered in my ear before fading away, as countless blood-red lights began to bloom in the air.
Suddenly—everything before me and behind me fragmented into countless sharp, piercing beams of light, converging toward me.
All things around me began to twist, deform, and tear apart.
Everything except for me was spiraling out of control.
Chaos reigned as darkness clashed with light, the balance between them shattering, only to reignite in destruction.
Everything that had been wiped out began to reassemble, reforming into a new shape.
Until the image of a magnificent palace hall unfolded before my eyes.
"Welcome, stranger from afar."
A slender male voice echoed through the grand hall, reaching my ears from all directions.
I recognized this voice—it was the same one I had heard in that "alleyway."
"Was it you?"
"It was me."
The voice came from directly above.
Looking up, I saw a man bathed in radiant light slowly descending from the air.
Was he sizing me up? The man stared at me intently, a certain hunger gleaming in his pale blue eyes. His finely proportioned features and flawless complexion formed a delicate face. His long, green hair was tied neatly to one side, clearly well-cared for with its smooth texture.
He twirled a pen in one hand while delicately lifting the other, his fingers gracefully posed as he gave me a subtle smile.
His movements, almost feminine in their allure, made me briefly question his gender.
"Heh..."
The man chuckled softly, raising his hand toward me. In that moment, the torches on both sides of the hall simultaneously ignited with black flames.
Then he spoke:
"Stranger from afar, would you be willing… to join us?"
"Huh?"