Before I could truly take my first step out of Pavilion's kingdom gates—finally released, after paying an amount that could've bought me a modest suburban house—a few people had gathered near the exit.
They looked at me like I was heading off to war.
When really, I just wanted… a normal life.
If that's still an option.
One of them stepped forward.
A middle-aged woman with a basket full of fake vegetables (yes, fake—don't ask), and she spoke in a low voice, as if delivering a doomsday prophecy:
"Be careful on the road to Matei."
I frowned.
"Why?"
She looked at me, dead serious.
"Matei is... a kingdom full of swindlers."
Swindlers?
I paused for a beat.
"So... from a brainwashing kingdom, I'm heading to a scammer kingdom? Awesome. What's next—Kingdom of Catfishers?"
The people around us nodded solemnly.
"In Matei, don't trust strangers. Actually, don't even trust the maps. The maps there… they change themselves."
I stared at them.
"Are we sure I'm not stuck in some survival game with random map generation?"
They didn't laugh.
Instead, they handed me supplies: a bottle of water, a piece of bread, and... a small mirror.
"To check people's faces when you talk to them," one said. "If their reflection looks off, they might be a shapeshifter."
...What is this? A kingdom or a live-action Among Us?
But whatever.
I took it all with a calm heart (and a crumbling psyche), then stepped out.
Matei, here I come.
Please don't scam both my wallet and what's left of my sanity.
Cloudy skies.
Dusty roads.
My legs—well, let's just say they were starting to feel like they belonged to a grandma who just ran a marathon.
But I kept walking.
Why?
Because I was traumatized.
Traumatized by horse carriages that are… infuriating.
I had just walked past a large rock (which honestly had no business being that big, but in this world, rocks sometimes feel like dungeon bosses), when I heard a sound in the distance.
A honk—no, wait... a whip crack.
Followed by the creaking of carriage wheels… and laughter.
The uncomfortable kind.
"Miss! Need a ride? It's free! Freeee~"
I turned instinctively.
A horse-drawn carriage had stopped a few meters ahead.
The horse—oh no—was staring at me.
Its eyes were glowing red.
No joke.
They blazed like it just binge-watched soap operas until dawn.
Its breath came out like a busted exhaust pipe, and its body… was ripped.
Like a centaur who didn't pass the casting call.
And the driver?
Smiling way too wide.
Way too warm.
Peak Psycho Vibes.
"Come on, hop in. Walking's exhausting, right~?"
My brain was screaming "RUN!" but my face only managed a stiff smile.
"Thanks... but I'm currently on a transport diet, hehe."
He blinked slowly. "Transport... diet?"
"Yeah. Walking's good for your health. Burns calories and trauma."
I spun around and picked up the pace.
Behind me, the laughter echoed again.
The horse snorted.
I felt like I was being followed, so I broke into a light jog.
After a few minutes, I was nearly out of breath.
But one thing was certain—I'd rather wheeze from running than sit in a carriage with a demon horse and a driver who smiles like horror movie wallpaper.
Wiping the sweat off my forehead, I muttered to myself:
"Matei hasn't even started and it's already a drama. Great."