The man approached Wein, riding a large, golden, furry lion-like beast.
Wein's eyes widened as recognition clicked. Wait—that's a Goldenfur!
He quickly recalled the game's entry:
[Goldenfur: A massive lion-like spirit beast with shabby golden fur and sharp fangs. Highly intelligent and fiercely territorial. Often sought as mounts for their speed and battle prowess.]
Goldenfurs were popular in the game's Level Four. Players loved them—they looked cool and were highly valuable. He even remembered selling a Goldenfur spirit beast for a fortune once.
Seeing one in real life, Wein could finally appreciate its magnificence. Its golden fur shimmered in the breeze, and its sharp amber eyes scanned the surroundings with quiet intelligence.
The rider swung down from his mount and approached Wein with a friendly grin.
"Hey there. Name's Terr. Thanks for the assist back there. I wouldn't have bagged this many beasts without you," he said, clapping his hands together in appreciation.
Assist?
Fuck you—I didn't volunteer to help! Who would want your thanks after using me as bait? Wein growled internally.
But he bit his tongue. After all, Terr did save his life.
"My name's Wein. I should be the one thanking you—for saving me," Wein replied, forcing a polite smile.
Terr's grin widened. "Nah, seriously—you made my hunt today. Say, since you helped me round them up, you mind if we split the haul? Half for you, half for me." He gestured at the dead Ratchas and the ones still squealing at the bottom of the pit.
Wein shook his head. "I don't really care. It's your trap. I just led them here."
Terr laughed. "Fair enough. It wasn't exactly planned, but you ended up as the perfect bait. Still, a deal's a deal."
Wein nodded. Terr seemed rough, but he was straightforward. Keeping him as an ally might be useful, especially since Wein had no idea what the hell was going on.
"Great!" Terr said cheerfully, then paused, studying him more closely. "But hey, what are you doing out here alone? With no weapon, no mount… and what's with those weird clothes?"
Wein glanced down. He was still wearing his white pajamas—the same ones he'd been wearing at home while playing the game. Now they were wrinkled and filthy. The cuffs of his pants were caked in mud, his bare feet scraped and covered in dirt.
My situation really sucks right now…
But what should he say? He couldn't exactly tell Terr he'd been playing a game and got teleported into this place.
His gaze flicked up, carefully studying Terr from head to toe.
Terr blinked, a little worried. "What's wrong? Did I ask something too personal? It's fine—you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
This guy seems rough, but he's surprisingly kind.
"No, it's not that," Wein said, hesitating. "Actually… can I ask you a favor?"
"A favor? Sure. If it's something I can do, I'll help you out."
"That's great. Then… can I touch you?" Wein asked earnestly.
"W-What? You want to… touch me?"
Terr instinctively took a step back, glancing at his Goldenfur like he might need backup.
"Yes. Just for a moment."
Terr's face turned red in panic. "S-Sorry, but I'm not into that sort of thing, brother!"
Wein frowned. "Not into what?"
A long pause.
Then realization hit him. His request did sound incredibly weird. Even his own face flushed in embarrassment.
"No, no—it's not what you think!" he frantically waved his hands. "I just want to check something. I can't explain it well, but it's really important. I swear it's nothing weird!"
Terr squinted at him, suspicious but eventually sighed. "Fine. But make it quick, brother. This is seriously weird."
Wein eagerly nodded. "Yeah, thanks."
He stepped closer and gently poked Terr's arm, then patted his shoulder, pressing firmly to feel the solid weight.
He's real. He's warm. He's solid. There's no texture lag. No hologram distortion. No system glitches.
This isn't VR. This isn't a game interface.
This world… is real.
But why am I here?
The last thing I remember—I was playing the game, I beat the final boss, the system announced my new title… then there was that blinding light and the world shattered like glass.
And when I opened my eyes, I was here.
Did this happen because I conquered the Beast Tower?
Then how can I go back? Can I even go back?
Wein's thoughts spiraled, and before he realized it, he was still gripping Terr's arm tightly.
"Uh… Wein? Can you let go now? This is getting kinda uncomfortable," Terr said, his voice tinged with concern.
"Oh—sorry!" Wein quickly stepped back, regaining his composure. "I was just… thinking."
"About what?" Terr asked, raising a brow.
"By the way, where exactly is this place?" Wein asked, changing the topic.
Terr crossed his arms. "You mean this realm? This is the Ratcha Realm. It's common knowledge—the realms are named after the monsters that dwell there."
Ratcha Realm?
In the game, this was just called Level One. So here… the realms have actual names based on their monsters?
"And you didn't even know that?" Terr squinted at him. "How'd you end up here without knowing basic stuff?"
Should I tell him the truth? No—he'd definitely think I'm crazy.
Wein forced a sigh. "Actually, Terr… I have a bit of a problem. I lost my memory. I don't remember why I'm here or how I even got to this realm. I think I might've been in an accident."
Terr's eyes widened. "You lost your memory? That's pretty rough. No wonder you're wandering around in this strange clothing, without a mount or a weapon."
He paused for a moment, then grinned. "So, what's your plan now? Wanna come with me? I'm heading to the Central Alliance. They might be able to help you out."
Wein's heart lifted. "Seriously? You'd help me out?"
Terr slapped his chest proudly. "Of course, brother."
Wein laughed. "Then I have to thank you properly, brother."
Terr chuckled. "You already did. Let's collect these beasts first, then we'll be on our way."