The sun began to dip behind the mountains, and the sky painted with a soothing orange glow. Owen sat on a large rock, his breath still a bit heavy from the last fight. His body felt strange, not the usual exhaustion, but a peculiar sensation, as if a new power was flowing inside him.
A transparent blue screen appeared again before him, displaying his updated status.
[Owen Trodor]
Level: 1 (10%) Physical: 2
Mental: 2
Mana: 20
Skill points: 1
Skill: -
Mana Control lv1 (ability to control and use mana)
Inventory: -
Owen looked at the information on the status panel with curiosity. Both his Physical and Mental stats had doubled, rising equally from before. He knew this wasn't a coincidence, but each level up seems to increase my stats evenly. Maybe it was because of this panel.
He clenched his fists, feeling his muscles tense with a much faster response than before. Every movement felt light yet full of power, as if his body had just been cleansed of all fatigue. He took a few steps on the grassy ground, then suddenly jumped. His feet landed smoothly, without losing balance even a little. In fact, he felt as if he could jump twice as high if he wanted.
He closed his eyes and tried to focus on the flow of energy inside him. There was something pulsing gently beneath his skin—warm, rhythmic, and powerful, like a second pulse flowing outside his blood.
As he directed his attention to that sensation, his body seemed to respond: his muscles grew denser, his breath steadied, and his mind became clearer. Owen gave a faint smile. "So this… is what it feels like to be strong."
"Mana… 20? I don't know how much that is, and I still don't know how to use it," Owen muttered.
He tried to move his hand slowly, feeling the energy flow beneath his skin. Then, without realizing it, Owen raised his right hand to shoulder level and shouted, "Fireball!"
… silent …
… silence …
Nothing happened. Owen sighed. "Good thing there's no—"
"If casting magic was that easy, everyone would be a mage!!" A female voice came from behind him.
Owen jumped. He turned around and saw two girls standing at the edge of the trees.
The first was a girl with long brown hair that softly fell down her back. About 160 cm tall, she stood slightly behind her companion, watching Owen with curious eyes. Her body was proportional with gentle curves, her face sweet, and her movements hinted at a shy nature. Yet it was hard not to notice her large chest — full and forming a silhouette that contrasted with her quiet demeanor.
In front of her stood another girl with golden blonde hair tied neatly into a ponytail. She was a little taller, with a slim but lightly muscular build, and every movement radiated confidence. Her blue eyes sharply scanned Owen from head to toe like a merchant appraising goods.
Owen tried to smile. "I didn't hear you come."
The brown-haired girl spoke softly. "We heard your shout from afar. We thought there was a fight here, so we came to check. Are you an adventurer too?"
"…Yes. Actually, I just left my original place and plan to become an adventurer," Owen answered honestly.
They exchanged a brief glance. The blonde stared at him with some suspicion. "Do you know you're in the Old Eshburn Forest? This isn't a place for beginners like you. Even if you encounter a mid-rank monster, you'd be dead by now. No, you might have already been eaten."
No wonder she said that. After all, many strong monsters lived in Old Eshburn Forest. Beginners usually only stayed at the forest's edges and didn't dare venture further even in groups.
Because so much had happened today, Owen had forgotten how dangerous this forest was, especially in another world. So far, he had only encountered rabbits, which made him less cautious.
Now, after being told, Owen felt a bit afraid thinking about how dangerous the place he had been in was, so he wanted to leave quickly. He asked them, "Can you tell me how to get to the nearest town?"
The blonde girl nodded slowly but kept her cautious gaze. "There's a small town called Redmill, about an hour's journey west from here. Follow the dirt path until you find a river, then follow the current north. You'll reach the town gate."
"Redmill, huh…" Owen tried to remember the direction. "Are there many monsters along the way?"
"If you stay on the main path, it should be mostly safe," she replied briefly. "But don't stray from the path. Just one wrong turn, and night will fall before you realize it — and that's the end of your story."
The brown-haired girl added, "If you want, I can draw a small map… but you'd need paper or a writing board."
Owen shook his head. "Unfortunately, I don't have any. But I think I can remember the directions you mentioned."
A moment of silence followed. The evening breeze blew, making the leaves sway and producing a soft rustling sound. Owen realized that although they didn't seem hostile, they still kept their distance. No invitation to walk together, no overly friendly smiles—they just gave enough information.
He decided to introduce himself. "My name's Owen… Owen Trodor."
The blonde girl glanced at him briefly before answering, "Mira." Then she looked at her companion.
The brown-haired girl smiled faintly. "Lina."
Owen nodded. "Thanks for the info, Mira, Lina. I'll remember the directions you gave."
Mira crossed her arms. "Alright then. You'd better start walking now. The sun will set completely in less than an hour."
Owen turned westward, watching the fading orange sky. He realized it really was better to leave before dark.
Before stepping off, Lina said softly, "Be careful on the road, Owen."
That was enough to make him smile. "You too."
With that, Owen began walking following the directions given. His steps were quick, but occasionally he glanced back. The two girls still stood there, watching him until he was far enough away.
As the shadows of the trees lengthened, his thoughts returned to the status panel he had seen earlier.
Physical 2, Mental 2, Mana 20… and the skill "Mana Control lv1." He didn't yet know how to use it, but one thing was clear: if he wanted to survive in this world, he had to learn everything quickly and become stronger.
Following the main path, Owen started to run to reach the town before dark. Thinking about it, the two girls should be strong enough to stay inside this forest. Thinking about the beautiful blonde Mira, and Lina's excessive curves, some "strange" thoughts flashed in his mind.
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