I froze.
"Oh shit… what's happening?"
That voice again.
It wasn't coming from anywhere. Not the walls. Not the guards. Not even the old man's mouth.
It was inside my head.
No.
That's impossible, right?
"I'll ask you again," the voice said calmly.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
My heart pounded.
"Are you the one talking in my head?" I asked, staring at the old man.
If he was, then maybe, just maybe, this was some kind of advanced technology. A translator implant? Brainwave device?
Please let it be technology.
"You may speak to me using your thoughts," the old man replied inside my mind.
"That way, I can understand you."
"So… you can't understand me if I speak out loud?" I asked, carefully forming the thought.
"That is correct."
Okay.
That's not technology.
"This magic is used by elves when they wish to speak with animals," he added calmly.
…
Magic.
I didn't know how I was supposed to react to that.
Be excited?
Be amazed?
Panic?
I chose panic.
Either way, it was good that someone could understand me now.
That didn't stop my heart from racing like I was about to be executed.
No way.
Magic?
Please. Please let this be a joke.
"My name is Sylvan Cruz," I replied honestly.
"I… woke up here after an accident. I believe I'm lost."
Better to tell the truth.
If he could speak directly into my head, he might also be able to tell when I was lying.
The old man stroked his beard slowly.
His eyes were sharp. Too sharp.
It felt like he was looking through me, not at me.
I was curious. Terrified, but curious.
So I asked the most important question.
"…Are you, by any chance, Gandalf?"
His eyebrows shot up.
Oh.
Oh no.
Wait…was I right?
"No," he said after a pause.
"I do not know the one you call Gandalf."
Damn.
He straightened slightly.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Baron Eldritch of the Endless War."
That name carried weight. Even without understanding the language, I could feel it.
Authority. Experience. Blood.
"I do not know where you came from," he continued, "but your clothing and possessions are… unusual."
That explains it.
That's why everyone was staring at me.
My jacket. My helmet. My phone.
If that was the case, then… yeah.
This was it.
I really was in another world.
In other stories, the protagonist would be jumping for joy right now.
Magic!
Adventure!
A new life!
Me?
I was terrified.
Worlds like this were dangerous. One wrong move and you're dead. No laws, no safety nets, no second chances.
I just wanted a comfortable life.
Passive income.
Gardening.
Sleeping whenever I wanted.
Playing games.
That was the dream.
And yet, out of all people, it had to be me.
Cold sweat ran down my back.
"W-What is the name of this place?" I asked.
"You are within my domain," Baron Eldritch replied.
"This is the town of Water Ridge."
Then his gaze hardened.
"You are under suspicion."
Of course I am.
"You carry unfamiliar items that may pose danger to my people."
Okay. Think.
Think fast.
If my items were the problem, then maybe..
"If those items are the issue," I said carefully, "I'm willing to sell them."
Sell them?
Yes. Sell them.
"I can explain what they are and how they work. If that would ease your suspicions."
If my assumptions were wrong, I could just buy a new phone later.
But if I was right..
This might be my only lifeline.
Baron Eldritch raised an eyebrow.
"You propose that I purchase them instead of confiscating them?"
His curiosity was clear now.
Still uneasy, but cornered, I nodded mentally.
"I may not look like it," I said, forcing confidence into my thoughts,
"but I am a merchant in my homeland."
Not a lie.
"As you can see, I have no money here. If you take everything I own, I may not survive."
Good thing this conversation was happening in my head.
If I had to say this out loud, my words would've tangled themselves into nonsense.
Negotiation requires clarity.
And right now, this is a do-or-die.
"Oh? Well then, proceed," Baron Eldritch said, gesturing gracefully.
Jackpot. I wouldn't waste this opportunity.
I started with the raincoat. my most practical possession.
"This… garment protects you from rain," I said carefully, holding it up. "The fabric resists water."
I moved on to my coins. "These are limited-edition collectible coins. Very rare."
Then came the phone, my trump card. "This is… called a phone. It can calculate numbers instantly, take images of people, and, well, a friend gave it to me. Legend says it's powered by ancient magic, though I don't fully understand it. Its magic seems… limited."
I couldn't leave out the drawbacks. I didn't want a baron as an enemy.
"You may offer me any compensation you see fit," I added cautiously. "I'm not familiar with your currency, but I trust you'll be generous."
Baron Eldritch stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I will buy this raincoat and this… phone. Do not worry. I see them as valuable for my research. You shall be generously compensated."
Jackpot… jackpot… jackpot!
The coins and wallet? Probably useless to him. But the raincoat and the phone? Definitely mind-blowing.
I mean, if you're a mage from this world and you see something like a phone, you'd probably explode from curiosity too. And curiosity in a mage isn't polite, it's insatiable.
Then, Baron Eldritch waved his hand, and a bag appeared on the table out of thin air.
Wait… what?
"Spatial magic? Dimensional storage? Or storage rings from Xuan Xian?" I muttered under my breath.
I peeked inside. Gold. Glorious, shiny gold.
I counted carefully: 1 gold, 25 silver.
Jackpot, indeed.
I bowed deeply. "Thank you for the generous compensation."
Now for the last hurdle: the language barrier.
"Is it possible… could you cast a spell so I can understand your language?" I asked, hoping he'd say yes.
Baron Eldritch frowned. "No. At least, not at the moment."
He paused, then added, "However, I can recommend a teacher. His service costs five silver per month."
Five silver a month? That's a bargain! Learning a language is an investment, and even a coward like me can see the value.
"Thank you. I will need your assistance then," I said, trying to sound calm despite my racing heart.
"Follow me," he said. "I will take you to him."