Blue skies and white clouds. A gentle breeze swept across the grassy field like a soft blanket.
The wind carried poetry and the promise of distant places.
"Where the hell am I? Still in my country?"
A boy in his teens suddenly sat upright as if waking from a nightmare. His eyes, clear but confused, resembled those of a college student.
Koji wore a white T-shirt under an orange jacket with a white hood, light blue casual pants, and a magenta camera hanging from his neck.
He was an otaku. As usual, he had brought his camera to a convention. After that, he didn't know what happened. When he opened his eyes again, he was here.
He didn't understand (with his hometown accent).
How had he ended up in this strange place without warning?
The fresh air carried the faint smell of grass, and the scenery looked like a painting.
"Hiss!"
He pinched his cheek hard. The sharp pain made him suck in a cold breath.
This wasn't a dream. No way his country had such clean air.
So, he had transmigrated.
Why did it have to happen to him at a convention?
Damn it. Why did it have to be me?
He lay on the ground like a salted fish without purpose.
His life-sized figures. His anime girl body pillows. His terabytes of "study material"...
Before this, he wasn't rich, but he also had no wish to transmigrate. Staying in his own den was far more comfortable.
Figures and pillows were one thing. But if someone found his "study material," that would be social death.
Forget it. Best not to hope for a way back. He probably couldn't return anyway.
Unless life was truly hopeless, no one would want to transmigrate. You never knew what kind of danger awaited.
Koji forced himself to focus. He looked around. He was in a quiet forest.
Nothing here gave away the world he was in. At least the environment was nice.
"Oi, oi, oi… system-kun… cheat-kun… plug-in-kun…"
He called out to the things every transmigrator was supposed to have. He had to get something.
A start with nothing but scraps. A life of hunger every few days.
Hell no.
He had read transmigration novels. The protagonists always had cheats to help them survive.
He was a transmigrator too. So he should have one… right?
Right? He had to.
No matter how he called, no response came. He imagined crows flying over his head. The silence was unbearable.
Still nothing.
"What the hell?"
"Seriously? I get thrown into another world and they don't even give me a cheat? How am I supposed to live?"
His face went pale. He was a shut-in before. Not obese, but far from fit. Running a few steps left him out of breath. In another world, he would die fast.
He didn't know how dangerous this world was. If it was hell-level difficulty, his "transmigration" was basically his death sentence.
To die right after transmigrating. Other transmigrators would laugh him to death.
"Just this camera…" He lifted the magenta camera. Could this be his cheat?
No pleasant system notification came. His hopes dropped further. He would settle for even a weak support system. He wasn't picky.
The world felt full of danger and malice. He couldn't shake the unease.
This was normal. Anyone dropped suddenly into a strange place would feel unsafe, even in an unfamiliar city. Another world was much worse.
At least he hadn't panicked and run blindly. That was already something.
He steadied himself.
Since I'm here, I'll adapt.
He probably couldn't go back. His only mission now was survival. He didn't want to die so easily.
He needed to confirm if there were any creatures or landmarks he knew. That might tell him what world this was.
Please, ancestors, don't let this be some hell difficulty world.
"…Looks familiar."
Near some roots he found several flowers glowing faint blue.
They looked familiar, though he couldn't remember the name. Still, it meant this world was one he knew.
For now, the priority was leaving the forest.
Only after finding a landmark or creature could he confirm the world and think ahead. For now, exploration was the task.
A three-meter drop. He used both hands and feet to climb down carefully. No medicine. An injury could lead to infection, inflammation, and death.
Survival knowledge flashed in his mind. He only had one life. He had to be careful.
"A boar?"
Something flashed by. It looked familiar. He ignored it and walked on.
Boars weren't rare in any world.
He didn't follow. Everyone knew: boar, bear, tiger—the boar came first. Its fighting power was brutal. As an unarmed human, his only chance against one was climbing a tree.
But the scenery was truly beautiful. Quiet, without the noise of cars and cities.
Following a small path, he emerged from the forest. The sight before him was breathtaking. Warm sunlight made him close his eyes.
This world was amazing. No car exhaust. His body relaxed.
His earlier anxiety faded. The sun warmed him. He wanted to bask in it.
So far, this didn't look like a war-torn world. He felt relieved.
If it was a peaceful world, he had a chance to survive.
Fear of the unknown was natural. But curiosity was too. The scenery touched his heart.
Before, he had dreamed of retiring in a place with such beauty.
"Hm?"
He opened his eyes. Something moved ahead. He crept closer, nervous.
His heart raced. What if it was a monster?
Step by step, he approached. Then he froze and rubbed his eyes.
He looked like an old man seeing a smartphone for the first time.
This was…
(End of Chapter)
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