This is bad. Really bad…

As I transfer items between my real and decoy bags, a problem had just occurred. Gosh, I am a really worrisome person. If my stalker is sent by the king to observe me, the option to eliminate him is out of the question. It would make me more suspicious if the king had lost contact with his spy. In the first place, can I really fight against someone that has much more combat experience than me?

How much does this stalker know about me? How much information was given to him from my former classmates? He should know I am labelled as a criminal in my old world at the very least.

I’ve set the stage to draw him out, but I didn’t rehearse my lines. Oh well, I’ll think of something then~.

“Granny, hide these for me, will you? I’ll come back after I clean up some matters.”

“B-but… my shop…”

“Don’t care. Ask your insurance company to compensate you or something. We’ve created a phantom culprit so it’s now your responsibility to lie all the way till the end. Then, adios!” I wave as I exited the back door with my decoy sack.

On my map, I’ve marked the roads I cannot access. I got out from the alleyway rather than the front entrance to make me more suspicious. There’re a few scenarios I hoped that can draw out my stalker:

I hope they have strong sense of justice. If they care about the people of their city, they would try to help the weak if they see someone is being bullied. (My tactic) I am indispensable. The king suspects I still have worth. There might be this unknown power resonating within me I don’t even know. If my former classmates have one, I should too but I am an anomaly. With this, I have an invincibility status as long as I don’t cause too much trouble. (Advantage) To follow me until I meet someone of the enemy country attempting to convert or recruit me. (Unlikely but a possibility) To make an accident to kill the spy. (Very very unlikely. More like impossible)

So far, I am making conditions 1 and 3 seem plausible. I cannot control the factor of number 2. Number 4 will be my last resort.

I must be cautious of my actions. If I make one sudden move, my amateur stalker might get replaced with a more experienced one. As soon as I stepped on the open street, I felt some overwhelming pressure off the crowd. He’s nearby, but I can’t see who he is. This game’s going to be a blast! Allow me to determine the rules before this game of cat and mouse begins.

Firstly, my bracelet may be a tracking device, I cannot just run away after I draw him out. Secondly, the gaze always comes from behind or so I feel. Third, my stalker refuses to enter the buildings I visit. I weave through narrow pathways every chance I get and use the reflection off the store windows. Unless he’s moving within the crowds, I can’t spot him.

I’ll need an excuse to shake him off. The slums seems like an ideal place. I might not able to outrun you, but at least I can pull some tricks and turn sharp corners to out maneuver and corner you.

I scooped some pebbles on the sideroad when I’m in the alley. As I slow my pace, I glanced around to find no one trailing me. I quickly split my purse into two. One purse filled with pebbles and a few copper coins, the other secured and hidden from any possible prying eyes. I toss one of my wallet openly in the air to signify my preparations.

It’s about deception. To the eyes of the king, I deduce he had been able to determine my shrewdness from our last exchange. That’s why he sent someone to shadow me. Exactly how many layers did he see through? What did the others tell him? There’s too many variables, too little time to counter. I got cocky and careless, so the future human garbage me is compensating for it.

My destination is the slums. A genuine labyrinth of unsanitary roads, this place is perfect for people as low as myself. There are no totems to stop me as well. I can explore this place unhindered. Citizens of the rural streets were suffering from poverty and hunger. Compare to me, I fed myself well, carried many resources they wish to get their thieving hands on. I need them to cause a ruckus, and have my stalker take a misstep.

Now! Children of the slums, I bring riches, medical supplies and food. Come steal from me to you hearts content, let me begin my game of cat and mouse with my stalker! Be warned, I do not take responsibilities of any casualties that will happen. Hehe~.

-

-

“Yah! Hiyah!”

Right now, I am in the middle of combat training. If I am to return to the old world, I’ll need to adapt to this world’s rule and win the war game those angels had proposed.

“Hey, focus!” My trainer slashed downward and stopped mid-swing. He almost gave me a concussion with a dull sword. “Geez, what’s with you? You were holding your own pretty good until you began to zone out.”

“Sorry… I still couldn’t believe I’m in a different world.” I responded shallowly.

“Alright, alright. You did good anyways, you may rest.” The trainer waved me away. “Next!”

It was too sudden. I couldn’t comprehend being teleported and forced to fight in another world. I was working like usual then sudden got sucked into this mess and got to see everyone again. Especially Arden. Just what happened to him? Was it my fault he ended up being like that?

“Noel, you okay?” Bastian called. “You’ve been dazing off a lot, at this rate I suggest you take a break.”

“Somehow.” I said. “It’s only been a few hours and we’re here beginning our training already-.”

“Test, I’d say. They’re observing our skills.”

As expected of the handsome knight of our high school days. He’s able to calmly analyze the situation and adapt to it. I on the other hand, cannot compare to his disciplined mindset. Still, Bastian is full of surprises. I never knew he could use weapons that well until he mentioned he did some martial arts training back home. He was able to fight on par with the trainer with a practice spear.

Me? I use a sword and dagger. They said for my build, I could be a decent lightweight fighter.

“Sir!” A group of guards waited by the entrance. “We are here to escort the heroes to the blacksmith.”

“Great!” The trainer said. “Alright heroes, that’s the training for today. Now we must send you to a local blacksmith to get you geared up!”

“Guess we have no choice. Let’s go.” Bastian declared and I follow behind him.

Knowing we are in a fantasy world, it would be weird for us to remain dressed in clothing not from this world. The king had his servants prepared clothing for us and moved our belongings to the rooms he lent us.

Currently, I believe I wore something identical to people clothed as knights. Earlier, the maids had offered me be dressed in a rather expensive dress which would not be proper to wear for training. I chose a casual soldier’s wear because the dress was too flashy, and I’m not used to it. Not just me, everyone except for two girls of the group had the same idea. They were chosen as a Mage and Priest, so it was fine for them to wear dresses.

We have eleven people after Arden left. To summarize our roles, I was told there are four classes; Warrior, Infiltrator, Spellcaster and Healer. I would be an infiltrator as my weapons are dependant on speed and a stealthy dagger like user. Bastian would be a Warrior.

The eleven of us were led into the courtyard where two carriages were waiting for us. One was large enough to fit all of us, why two?

“Noel, need a hand?” The one who stretched out is not Bastian. His name is Frank, black hair, glasses, blue eyes. A rather quite person when we studied in the same class. I remember seeing him in the library everyday and reading even in classes. Although he’s quiet, I heard he occasionally likes to help the librarian clean up at the end of the day. Surprisingly he does work at the same company as an accountant. He became one of the Healers of our team.

“Right, thanks.”

“Seriously, those two who are clinging onto Bastian are annoying! They need to leave him alone!” Beside me a women pouted. Her name is Christine, brown hair, green eyes. She’s a girl I got along during the beginning to the end of our high school days. Work had me stop visiting her, but we would talk over phone. She’s a tad eccentric but she would always help me with my studies... in return that I help her barely pass her science courses. She is one of the Warriors of our team.

“Are you saying you like him?”

“No, no, I already have a boyfriend.” She boasted. “He’s kind, he’s strong, he’s caring-. And those two girls are being stupidly loud and thirsty!”

“Christine, settle down.” Frank who remained cool and composed, sighed. “At this rate, you’re going to cause trouble.”

“They’re annoying! I want to flirt with my boyfriend like that too! I want to go back! I miss him!”

“Well… that behaviour’s certainly not going to help.” I laughed.

“Nooooeeeeelllll! Comfort meeeee!” She burrowed herself in my chest.

“T-that tickles! Hey c’mon! Stop! Hahahaha! Christine, there are guys here!”

Once everyone climbed onto their seats, the driver signalled the horse to pull us into the city. Among the eleven, I noticed three of us were separated to another carriage, Basitan was one of the few. This seems fishy, but I can’t wrap my thoughts about the feeling I’m getting and it’s not from Christine tickling me all over.

This is where our crests began to act weirdly, like we’re in some kind of game.

This city’s layout was built similar to a medieval themed amusement parks. The houses were mostly designed of European middle aged style. The flagstones account for bumpy ride all the way to the blacksmiths. The store was called Dane’s blacksmith and I somehow managed to understand the unknown characters being translated in my mind.

“Welcome heroes!” A large man larger than the entrance came to greet us. “I have a fine selection of weapons displayed around the store. Please feel free to ask questions when you find the weapon of your preference!”

Weird… I wonder how did he fit through the door I was coming through? It’s a fantasy world, I shouldn’t question much about it.

The interior does look like an authentic blacksmith workshop. The forgery and anvil are behind the counter and the displayed items seemed reasonable in size. I have a feeling Arden is related to this shop. The guards knew our names, and there are no price tags on the shelves.

Christine, Frank and the others began browsing through the store as I decided to confront the blacksmith.

“Excuse me, has anyone named Arden visited before us?”

“Arden? Sorry miss, I’ve never heard of that name.” He blankly stared at me, rubbing his beard. His act, his voice and confusion were genuine. I can conclude he was not lying.

“Ah, thanks. I’ll go look at your selections now.”

“Ah, hold on. You must be Noel, right?”

“Yes, but how did you know?”

“The documents the soldiers gave me had descriptions of each of you. I’m trying to know your names, so I may be able to help with your choices of armor and weapons it you needed help in the future.”

And I thought Arden told him… even though the blacksmith never heard of him, I couldn’t help but to think he had something to do with this.

“W-what the!?” Christine suddenly shouted. “I see a screen in front of me. N-Noel! I’m scared!”

“Let me see.” Everyone could see it. The thing glowing in front of her was a scroll with a quill on the side. I walked by her side and inspect it, the contents were:

Name: Steel Cutlass

Dur: 1000/1000

STR: 14

AGI: 3

DEX: 5

INT: 0

VIT: 2

A simple steel sword forged by a local blacksmith.

Statistics? No. We’re literarily in a war game that decides on factors using numbers. I thought. “Frank, grab something.”

“Got it.” He searched the isle and picked up a weapon. “It did the same!”

Name: Blue Iron Mace (Water)

Dur: 500/500

STR: 7

AGI: 0

DEX: 2

INT: 15

VIT: 1

An iron mace imbued with the element water. Each hit has a small chance to inflict water blight.

“Water blight?” Frank questioned and pressed on the unfamiliar word.

Water Blight: To inflict water elemental damage to make the opponent’s equipment seem heavier. Useful to exhaust a target.

“I see! We have to find the best stats for our weapons.” Christine added.

“You know that’s going to be expensive.” The blacksmith laughed. “It’d be all the best ones I have.”

“We have the soldiers covering the costs for us.” Frank held onto the mace he picked up. He seems to have taken a liking to it. “I’ll take this.”

“Pleasure doing business with you! Now how about some armor to go with that?”