I stepped out of the white space and suddenly found myself standing in a vast desert.
Although it is called a desert, it is more like a gentle hill with a slight slope, and it is not as if you can see the horizon. Well, it's a type of terrain often seen in the world
What bothered me most was the bare, neglected ground beneath my feet. —I could see that it had once been a grassland, but there was no grass growing to a decent height. Furthermore, the trees that stood here and there had their bark peeled off up to their waists, and not a single one was intact.
I wonder if there's a herd of deer nearby. I'm sure trees devoured by an overabundance of herbivores end up looking like this.
Brrr...
I shivered slightly.
Judging by the intensity of the sun, it must be spring, —but the breeze is quite cold. Perhaps it's because the area is at a higher latitude.
The temperature was a little harsh for me, as I was wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt and jeans because summer was approaching. By the way, even though I was supposed to have died in a traffic accident, there were no bloodstains or tears on my clothes. Did they give you this kind of care?
—I've acquired something called [Disease Resistance], so I don't think I'll catch a cold very often, but the cold is just chilling,
so I want to hurry to a place with people. Besides,— I don't know what kind of other world this is, but I might encounter a monster. Right now, I'm weaker than a woman who doesn't even carry a wooden stick.
—I looked around and saw what looked like a large building in the distance.
For now, let's try to move toward it.
We continued walking in silence for about 10 minutes.
Finally, I realized my mistake.
This wasn't a building. It was a large wall. A high wall surrounded the entire city.
It's unclear whether this is to prepare for monsters or to counter the armies of other countries, but in any case, it seems that they are perfectly prepared to defend themselves against intruders.
In front of the road stood a large city gate, with guards on lookout. By the way, the guards are women... Is this a world that accepts female employment?
"Halt! Show me your ID or pass!"
A stern-looking guard stopped me, and I couldn't help but look confused.
Well, this was a soldier who couldn't be reasoned with.
—Apparently, to enter the city, you need an ID card proving you are a citizen or a pass issued to merchants, etc., but naturally, having just arrived in this world, I have neither.
It would be nice if they allowed people to enter without any identification, but they insist that they cannot allow suspicious people who cannot show identification to enter the city.
That's true, but after all, we're in the Middle Ages, so there's no need to be so strict. —Generally, in the cities of reincarnated worlds, anyone is welcome, and even if you pat the king on the head while talking casually, he'll say something like, "Hahaha, I like you, energetic young man," and give you a reward... right? Or is that the kind of treatment they give to the protagonist? Is it appropriate for a normal person like me to live in a difficult otherworldly world where I can't even enter the city from the beginning?
Anyway, I'm in trouble if they don't let me into the city. I'll be penniless unless I become an adventurer and earn some money,
and sleeping outdoors in this weather in a T-shirt could kill me. Are you just going to let me die like this?
When I pleaded with him about this, Monbei-san put his hand to his forehead and shook his head.
"What an unreasonable refugee...! Are you crazy?"
"I'm not a refugee, I'm a person reincarnated from another world."
Don't talk nonsense! Damn it, a man with such a sexy body is crazy, of all people... The world is ending. Ah, never mind, get out of here! Don't interfere with my work, do you want to be thrown in jail?
The gate guard raised his spear and threatened me, so I put my hands up.
If they put me in a cell, will I get food? It's okay, but as long as I have a place to shelter from the night dew and eat, I think that will be enough for today.
Is this guy invincible...? What kind of mentality does he have...?
As she said, I was aware that at that moment I had a rather invincible state of mind.
Before my reincarnation, I was quite shy and gave in to others in everything, but for some reason, I was able to act very boldly.
I guess this is the benefit of [Mental Resistance]. The description says it makes you less susceptible to the mental effects of others, so I feel no fear in the face of the soldiers' threats. I acquired the ability to avoid harassment, but was it a good purchase?
But it's not good to exaggerate.
This world is probably at a medieval level of civilization, so even if the gate guards killed one or two rude people from another world, they probably wouldn't be punished. I'm not the hero who will save the world, so if I hit the king on the head, I would be executed.
"So you're going to put me in jail?"
Look, it costs nothing to arrest a single person. I'm not going to let our guards spend their budget on feeding a crazy refugee like you. Please, get out of here.
Are you sure? I don't have a penny to my name. If you abandon me like this, I'll die of hunger or cold. "Won't losing me (who will soon be a successful adventurer) be a loss to the world?
"...It's a real shame to lose such a valuable man so quickly."
I didn't miss
the fact that the gate guard muttered something under his breath.
—Oh my God? It seems that this town needs more men. Perhaps there is a shortage of personnel because they have been recruited for the war or something. I wonder if I can sneak in if I take advantage of this opportunity.
"All right! If you let me through, I'll thank you personally later."
"No, I don't mean personal thanks or anything like that. I'm talking about the rules.
Besides... when someone says 'thank you,' it usually means they don't have any money."
What do you plan to do when you get to town?
I'll work! I'm a healthy man! I'm sure there will be work.
"Work... Well, it's true that with your looks, you won't be short of work at night."
—Muttering this, the guard stared at me from head to toe.
...Hmm? I see, now I understand.
This is a face that seems to be wondering if it's really safe to let me into the city.
All right, if you say so...!
"Please, look how harmless I am!"
Suddenly, I lifted my shirt and took it off right there and then.
The guard was perplexed for a moment, then turned red as a tomato and was so shocked that his eyes almost popped out of his head.
He must have been very surprised because he dropped his spear.
-------
"Bah...! Eh? What are you doing?"
Well, I'd like to prove to you that I'm harmless. Should I even take off my pants and underwear?
"N-no, no, no! Get dressed quickly! Aren't you embarrassed to be in front of everyone?"
There's nothing embarrassing about a man being shirtless.
Hmm, maybe I upset him a little by showing him something ugly.
The gate guard covered his face, red with anger, with his hands, but he kept looking at me through his fingers. As expected of a professional soldier, he didn't take his eyes off me, even though he was distressed by anger and surprise...!
"This is sudden, but let me explain!
In our world, this would be like a suspiciously beautiful woman suddenly appearing at an immigration office and seducing a strict inspector by telling him she'll show him her breasts if he lets her through.
By the way, Monbei-san is a strict soldier who has been dedicated to his work seriously until the age of 25 and has never had a boyfriend! He usually works in pairs, but today his partner went on a date with her husband. Unfortunately, this reincarnated slut appeared. Poor thing!
As soon as I put my shirt back on, the guard, his face still red and his eyes darting in all directions, spoke.
"...Um, well... —I wonder if he'll really thank me."
Of course! I'm a man who never forgets the kindness shown to me! I'll give you something in return that will leave you satisfied!
"Well, I'm satisfied..."
I could hear the guard at the door swallowing.
I wonder if he's hungry. Maybe he'd be happy if I gave him something delicious instead of money or valuables.
Well, I'm glad he was a good soldier.
As I was thinking this, the soldier cleared his throat deliberately and turned away.
"Don't disrespect someone older than you! Why don't you hurry up and leave?"
"Thank you!"
Well, I guess I made it.
I bowed deeply to the kind gate guard and walked triumphantly through the city gate.
Oh, before that, I have to ask this.
"...Ah, by the way, do you know where the guild is?"
If you don't know anything about that, what are you doing here...? "The prostitutes' guild is in the alleys on the outskirts of town. It's a bit of a dangerous area, so be careful not to get into trouble with the thugs."
Haha, you can't sleep with a prostitute if you don't have money. Of course you should join the adventurers' guild.
When I laughed, the guard looked like a pigeon that had been hit with a blowpipe.
"Adventurers' Guild...? Does that mean you've come to make a request?"
"No," I'm going to be an adventurer.
"...Adventurer...? You...?"
The gate guard muttered in shock. Hmm, do I really look that untrustworthy?
Well, —it's true that he's a weak boy who can't gain muscle no matter how much he exercises, but for a soldier who fights monsters on a daily basis, a college student would seem untrustworthy.
It's okay, just watch me, I'll definitely become a successful adventurer and show you what I've got!
Having thus discovered the location of the Adventurers' Guild, I took my first glorious step, while the gate guards stared at me.