What’s this feeling? I can’t see… I can’t hear anything.. but.. It’s warm… And soft… It’s as if a warm liquid is enveloping my entire body… If possible, I’d like to stay like this forever…

“John… John! Wake up, John! John!” said the random voice.

“This voice… who are you?” I asked.

As I awaited a reply, I felt my senses slowly return to me

“W-What the h.e.l.l..” I quietly muttered as I opened my eyes 

There I stood, in the middle of the road, surrounded by houses. Houses which looked as if they would fit right in if it were placed next to the ones made in the medieval times

I didn’t know what to say… I was shocked. Any bit of reasoning I had that could explain this situation disappeared as I noticed the slight dread within my bones.

It wasn’t because I was in the middle of an unfamiliar environment or the fact that everything looked as if it were some town that came from a sort of fairy tale based on a fantasy 

It was because.. in front of me, Beings… Beings, who looked neither human nor monstrous. There were many races. Some looked like Humans mixed with animals. For example, girls with cat ears and tails. Others looked like humanoid Lizards…

But the one thing they all had in common is that they all wore clothing and had no problems interacting with other humans in the area. 

“Am I going insane..? Did I fall into a coma after the car accident?”

After asking myself these questions, I decided that the best course of action would be to calm down… Right. There’s no way being in a dream would feel this real. I feel cold, pain and hunger. There’s no other explanation.

“I HAVE BEEN REINCARNATED INTO ANOTHER WORLD!!!” I shouted out

I’m so excited that it feels like my heart will jump out of my mouth. In situations like these, peoples first instinct is to panic, however, How could I do something so careless? .I need to explore, yes, Explore! I need to find out where I am and why I’m here!

Speaking of which.. I hadn’t realised this earlier but my body feels different… Wait… Since I reincarnated it’s only natural that my body won’t feel the same as it was before… 

As I stared at myself, I noticed that the clothes I wore were ragged and dirty clothes which barely managed to keep me warm and looked as if they were found in a dumpster… I also had only now noticed that I had been walking barefoot throughout the whole time I spent as I observed my surroundings

Using a random puddle I had found as I walked around. I looked at my reflection. Short blonde hair and green eyes… In my previous life, with this look, I would have been the ‘Cool kid’ in school.

This new me appeared to be around 11 years old. Short, skinny and pale. The only appealing characteristic was my face 

As I played around with my face in my reflection. I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. Perhaps the reason why I hadn’t noticed this sooner was because I still hadn’t adapted to my new body… Either way, I need to find something to eat.

Still… Judging by my appearance I’m most likely an orphan here too… every other kid I saw was being accompanied by an older and were wearing way better quality clothes than mine…

Hmm, what should I do..? Should I go around asking people for food? But will they even care? All I’ve been doing this past hour was observing my surroundings and walking around. I haven’t tried communicating to anyone and since I’m in another world there’s a chance they won’t even understand me. Even the people that ran the food stalls glared at me with a look that said ‘If you have no money move’ when I thought about asking them for information.

“Ahhhh! What should I do!” I desperately asked myself in search of an answer 

After racking my brain for what appeared to be a few minutes. I found an answer.

“That’s right! This is another where Demi-humans exist. Meaning monsters might exist, and if monsters exist The adventurer’s guild exist! All I need to do is ask for directions.”

Obviously, there’s a chance that this won’t work as it’s just things you’ll read in fairy tale books in my previous life, however, I don’t have any other way to make money…

Theoretically after going to another world. One would sell information and ideas to make money. But judging by how poor and weak I look. Any money I made would most likely get targeted which is why for now… I need to focus on getting stronger and making connections.

The sun is still out so it’s probably early in the morning. So it was rather easy finding an open food stall. 

“Um Excuse me..” I Hesitantly called out to the grown man running one of the stalls which could be found by the road.

“What? Beat it, kid, I don’t have any food to spare” He coldly declared in a somewhat threatening manner.

I can understand him?

“N-No that’s not it… I wanted to ask if you knew where the adventurer’s guild was..” I happily yet nervously stated after realising I’m able to communicate to with him”

“Kid, you realise that being an adventurer comes with a lot of risks right. You also need strength. I can’t see someone with skin and bones like you breaking a stick” He said as he let out a laugh

“My name isn’t kid It’s John, and I know about the risks, so please tell me the directions,” I Said as I glared at him

The tall muscular man, looked directly at me before letting out another loud laugh

“You got guts kids, not many people have the courage to glare at me, much less someone your age. See my leg? It’s a prosthetic, lost mine to a pack of wolves during one of my quests.”

“You’re an adventurer?” I asked.

“Was. Had to resign after I lost my leg. I like your guts kid, you remind me of myself when I was younger. here take these”

The man pulled out a bag from inside of his stall and put in some of the apples that he was selling and casually handed it to me.

“I can have these? Are you sure?” I reluctantly asked

“Consider it a gift” He stated with a grin on his face

“T-Thank you” I happily said while holding on to the bag

“Don’t mention it. You said you were looking for the guild right? If you head down the road, once you reach the end turn right and keep moving straight, you’ll see a building With a sign saying adventurers guild on it”

My eyes lit up in excitement after having finally achieved my goal.

“Thank you very much! Um… What should I call you, sir?” I asked

“Name’s Will. Come visit my stall again after you’ve become an adventurer, John”

“Yes! I will Will. Thank you very much for your help!” I said with a face showing deep grat.i.tude before heading off in the guild’s direction.

Wow… I never expected to complete all of my objectives that fast.. I was able to gain information on the location of the guild and I was able to get something to eat. What a nice guy. Will… I’ll remember this

on my way to the guild, I decided to take a bite out of the apple.

The juices that filled my mouth in every bite was delicious It was both sour and sweet.

It looks like an apple but it’s completely different, both the taste and the Shape. This apple fruit thingy is, is shaped like a watermelon and tastes like a mixture of mango and orange. Both Sweet and sour. It was pretty big.

I rapidly munched at the fruit while I headed down the road. After I finished one, I took the chance to count how many I had in the bag and see how long I’d manage to preserve it until I’d be able to make some sort of income for an inn and food. At this rate, I’d be able to live with eating 2 a day and at the worst scenario, one.

Then again, it’s pretty hard to sink in. I can’t believe I’m in a different world, this all still feels like a dream.. but seeing all these different species of humanoid beings walking around and this middle age looking city/town, there’s really no room for doubt.

In fact, I’m more surprised humans and these beings can coexist with each other. But wait, if demi-humans exist… Does that mean that Elfs and catgirls exist too? My eyes lit up at the possibility of these races existing in this new reality.

As I was thought of these things while I continued to walk. I noticed a girl curled up in ball sitting on the ground in the alley to my left. She was also wearing worn-out clothes which were barely enough to cover her.

“Are you okay?” I asked as I approached her

“…”

She looked up and silently stared at me. She looked as if she was just as old as me. Short black hair and black eyes. It felt as if those eyes were staring directly through me. Her eyes looked empty as if they had lost their life and her expression looked emotionless

“Cute..” I accidentally blurted out.

“Huh?”

“Ah, no I meant.. nevermind… Do you want a fruit?”

Her eyes lit up at my question before she silently nodded

“Alright,” I said before handing her one from the bag

She took a bite and her face lit up before releasing a satisfied smile as she continued to eat. Adorable. Absolutely adorable. How is a girl this cute being treated this way? What sort of world did I reincarnate to?

“Hey.. Where are your parents?” I asked

Her expression changed to a somewhat sad one and she replied. “I don’t know..”

“Ah… Sorry..”

“It’s fine… Uncle was taking care of me… but he’s gone now..” She said while hiding her face

“Then… Wanna come with me?” I excitedly suggested

I mean it’s better to have company rather than explore this new world alone right? And besides, I feel like it was fate that we met.. or something.

“I can..?” She asked before slowly lifting up her teary face

“Yeah, I might be a little weak right now and I don’t have any money. but I’m about to register on the adventurer’s guild and one day I’ll become the strongest adventurer in the world” I stated with a proud and excited expression

Having a party right now would be helpful. Although she’s a kid. It’s better than being alone. Besides, I doubt anyone would want to form a party with an orphan within the guild.

“Yes!” She replied as she wiped her tears away and showed me a smile

C-Cute… I might just end up falling for her at this rate…

“What’s your name?” I asked

“Ariel..” She replied

“Ariel, huh… That’s a nice name. My name is John! nice to meet you” I said with a smile on my face

“John.. John.. Mn.. Nice to meet you too john” She replied with a bright smile

I stretched out my hand and she grabbed it.. And thus, this was how our journey began.