Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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Late in the evening, when everyone should have been asleep, the dock where the airship had stopped was shining as brightly as if it were daytime.

“This is…”

I looked beyond the brightly shining airship. A long road stretched out, filled with numerous lanterns hanging above it. What spread before me was an unexpected Eastern-style civilization, not the Western one I had been accustomed to.

The buildings also bore a strong Eastern-style image. The extended eaves and the oddly shaped animal decorations at their ends created a striking atmosphere.

Of course, it only resembled what I remembered; it wasn’t a perfect match.

“Finally arrived.”

At that moment, Wendy approached me without hesitation. She came wrapped in the breeze, smiling as if she were familiar with the scenery beyond the dock.

“I take it you’ve been here a few times?”

“Yes, this is my third time.”

As soon as the airship completely docked, the wizards began to move busily. It looked much like when a regular trading ship docked; the only difference was that those moving the cargo were now wizards.

Wizards like Wendy and me, who had no substantial baggage, began to collect our light belongings and head down from the airship. I mounted the nightmare and descended below the airship.

The cool night breeze brushed against my cheeks. Along with the rich scent of grass, a peculiar smell was carried on the wind.

An unfamiliar air enveloped my body in this strange land, almost as if to celebrate my arrival.

“Those people…”

At that moment, people dressed in flamboyant clothing poured out from a large building at the corner of the dock. The fabric of their attire looked soft and smooth.

While it was odd enough that their outfits were unusual, their appearance was far from that of ordinary humans. They had horns protruding from their heads, pointed ears, and long, swaying tails covered in fur, with some of them even having tails wrapped in scales.

If I had fallen here alone, I might have mistaken them for monsters and drawn my sword. In the dark night streets, their glimmering eyes would indeed resemble those of monsters.

“They’re beastmen. They are the inhabitants of this land.”

Wendy provided a light explanation.

She said that this land belonged to the beastmen.

Here, I knew nothing. Everything was a completely new world. I had become a foreigner who had arrived in an unfamiliar territory.

Naturally, communication with the beastmen was impossible. They spoke a different language. However, Wendy, who was next to me and could speak the beastmen’s language, allowed for simple communication without difficulty.

“This is a fascinating place.”

“Everyone who comes here says that.”

Wendy and I walked through the brightly lit night streets. Lanterns hanging along the long line illuminated the road.

The stalls set out under the bright lights were quite entertaining to browse. They sold items like tops and kites, as well as masks crafted in the likeness of various animals.

“Oh, Wendy.”

“Yes?”

“Where can I exchange money? I want to buy something, but I have no currency here…”

I pointed to a small fox mask and asked Wendy. She smiled lightly and said, “Wow, you really don’t know anything, do you?”

“I told you, it’s my first time here.”

“Don’t worry too much! Just trust me!”

Wendy smiled like a cool breeze. She bought the fox mask for me. It was my first souvenir purchased here.

*

A week had passed since I set foot in this land. During that time, Wendy had stuck by my side and helped me immensely. She arranged for a teacher to help me learn the beastmen’s language and directed me to an exchange office so I could convert my money.

Of course, she couldn’t stick with me all day. Since she had come to this land for her own reasons, after a week she was only free to see me late in the evening.

[Seris-san, it’s Sobek.]

As I gazed out the window, I turned my head and opened my mouth.

“Come in.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the door opened, revealing a neatly dressed fox beastman. Her pointy ears perked up repeatedly, and her lovely tail flowed gracefully below her waist.

Sobek was a teacher who taught the magicians who came to this place about writing and culture. She was the one Wendy had introduced me to. I had grown accustomed to studying with Sobek. I naturally spread out a small table and opened a book.

“Seris-san is □□□.”

“Eh…?”

I tilted my head at Sobek’s words. Among the familiar words, there was one I didn’t understand. Sobek often mixed the beastmen’s language, called “Beast Speech,” with the language I spoke, called “Kalim.” She then smiled slightly and continued.

“Oh, I’m sorry; that was a word you hadn’t learned yet. It means ‘sincere.’”

“Are the other wizards different?”

“There are sometimes those who run away, you see.”

Studying with Sobek was a delightful experience. Sometimes, I lost track of time just watching her tail dance charmingly.

“You learn really quickly. Were you perhaps from this place?”

“Um, no.”

“That’s strange… I feel a strangely familiar aura…”

I was lost in study, flipping through the pages of the book. Sobek smiled lightly and stood up.

I then realized belatedly that it was time to go. The sun that had been hanging high in the sky was now slowly sinking; it was time for Sobek to return.

“Ah, thank you for today.”

“I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

After exchanging goodbyes, Sobek walked out gracefully, her lovely tail drifting away was quite a pity. I lightly smiled while gazing at the street painted with sunset colors.

Even though I had arrived in an unfamiliar land, being cooped up in a room for a whole week was quite frustrating. I had become somewhat accustomed to the culture and the Beast Speech, so it seemed about time to wander out.

I draped myself in a red cloak I had bought at the market. It was a rather extravagant garment embellished beautifully with golden flowers.

Being stuck somewhere for long wasn’t my style. Even though a whole new world was unfolding before my eyes, waiting for a whole week was a great display of my patience.

I hastily gathered my belongings and exited the room.

“Ah! Where are you going?”

As I descended the stairs and was about to pass through the first floor, I heard a man’s voice from behind. I glanced back to see one of the staff I often encountered during meals.

“I’m going to a strange place.”

“A strange place…?”

While I had learned some Beast Speech from Sobek over the week, there were still awkward aspects. It seemed my meaning hadn’t been communicated properly. But that was fine. I waved my hand with a light smile.

The staff member, fumbling in response to my farewell, also waved back with a blank expression.

“Take care.”

“Ah, yes…”

When I arrived at the stable, a large figure leapt up. It was the nightmare.

It started to fuss as if to complain about my late arrival. It began kicking the stable violently, exhaling roughly.

Thud-! Thud-!

The heavy kicks made the stable shake as if it were experiencing an earthquake. I placed my hands on my hips and glared at the nightmare.

Phew…

The creature lowered its head with a sulky expression in response to my gaze, but it soon perked up and dashed out of the narrow stable with a big smile.

“Come out. We’re leaving here.”

I began to walk with the nightmare. The street, drenched in the fading light of sunset, was beautiful. The people wandering through the market stared wide-eyed at the daunting figure of the nightmare.

The red cloak fluttered gently in the wind. I shook the flowing sleeves of my attire alongside the nightmare and exited the grand city without a farewell.

It weighed on my mind that I had left without saying goodbye, but this was the life of an adventurer. Meetings were spontaneous, and goodbyes were lighthearted.

As I passed through the long road and exited the grand gate, a dirt path stretched out before me.

The nightmare sniffed the air of this unfamiliar land, burying its long snout into the ground and sniffing. Its tail began to sway excitedly. It seemed pleased.

Thinking back, it had been quite a while since the nightmare had run. It had stayed for an extended time at the mage tower, and right after arriving here, it had also been confined to a narrow stable for a week.

“Shall we run for the first time in a while?”

Phew-!

It began to stomp its hooves hard, as if it had been waiting for those words. Ready to start, it seemed to say that I should just give the command whenever.

“Let’s go!”

I tugged on the nightmare’s bridle. In that moment, its legs pushed off the ground and it shot forward like an arrow. The surrounding scenery elongated and became lines.

I hadn’t packed a map. I wasn’t familiar with the geography of this place either. Everything dashed forward recklessly towards the unknown.

The long dirt road continued towards a vast forest. As the scent of thick grass intensified, a towering bamboo forest appeared.

Swoosh-!

The cool breeze gently swayed the bamboo. The sounds of the sturdy bamboo clashing created a peculiar harmony along with the wind.

Since it was near the dock, many people were strolling along the path through the bamboo forest. However, the nightmare swiftly maneuvered, avoiding everything in its path as it galloped forward.

Whoosh-!

The moment we emerged from the bamboo forest, a wide world bathed in deep sunset light unfolded before us. The sounds of winds blowing from every direction rustled the grass and trees, creating a pleasant noise.

Tap-tap-tap-!

The powerful legs of the nightmare leaped over a small pond. The sunlight reflecting off the water’s surface shattered into pieces. As the golden embroidery on my clothing shimmered, the nightmare’s legs trod the air.

Crack-!

Sunset-colored powder scattered beneath the nightmare’s feet. A transparent crystal stone platform shattered, reflecting the sunset light. It looked as if the sun itself had shattered.

As always, there was no fixed destination. Aimlessly continuing in whatever direction I felt like. Isn’t that what adventure is about? With the excitement that this strange land brought, a smile spread across my face.