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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: First Contact
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The beast's silent pounce.
Thanks to noticing it just in time, I barely managed to react.
Crack—!
"Ugh... What the hell is this all of a sudden?!"
I jammed the metal rod I'd been holding for self-defense into the beast's maw and tumbled across the ground.
Even with my reinforced body, I couldn't shake off the weight bearing down on me.
"Grrr..."
Saliva dripped from its jaws as it crunched through the metal rod.
It clearly saw me as nothing more than a quick meal.
'Damn... filthy thing.'
My upper-body armor and arm guards were already shredded by its claws, and wounds dotted my body here and there, but I calmly searched for a countermeasure.
I'd been startled by its sudden charge, but to me—with fear and pain filtered out—it felt no different from a vivid game.
That's why I could respond without any tension-induced mistakes.
I twisted my hands gripping the metal rod to the side, creating a brief opening, then swiftly grabbed the knife handle at my waist with one hand.
Stab—
"Grraaah—"
Without hesitation, I drove the knife into the beast's scruff.
Whether because I poured every bit of my meager mana into it using Mana Affinity, the blade pierced its thick hide and sank deep.
With one hand, I shoved the metal rod to keep its jaws shut; with the other, I kept stabbing its scruff with the knife.
Fortunately, its strength ebbed from the vital strikes, letting me hold on somehow.
How long had this desperate struggle gone on?
I could feel the beast's body gradually losing power.
"Huff... huff... It's finally over."
I delivered a final killing blow to confirm it was dead, then rose to my feet.
The beast was a black panther.
In the dark night, it blended so well it was barely visible—proving how lucky I'd been to spot and counter it in advance.
Averting my eyes from the panther, I checked my own condition.
My clothes and gear were in tatters, blood staining the wounds across my body.
I looked like a total wreck.
Fortunately, the wounds were healing in real time.
The protective gear had taken the brunt, preventing any major injuries despite being ruined.
'Sticking around here probably isn't smart.'
The fight had caused a racket, and the smell of blood would draw more. Better to get moving.
I poured water over the bloodstains on my body to wash them off as I hurriedly left the area.
It wouldn't be perfect, but better than leaving it be.
As I quickened my pace...
Was my luck still holding?
Light flickered through the trees ahead.
Approaching cautiously, I saw what looked like a small slash-and-burn village.
'I've been in the forest so long I figured it was bedtime, but apparently not. People are still up and about.'
My first encounter with this world's natives.
Despite my ragged state, I tidied myself as best I could and headed to the entrance of the village's wooden palisade.
Late hour meant the gate was shut, with no guard in sight.
As I pondered what to do, a man's head poked up over the palisade.
"Who goes there?"
Relieved someone was there, I cleared my throat and replied.
"Good evening. I got lost in the forest on my travels and wandered here. Could you possibly let me stay the night in the village?"
"...You crossed the forest path alone at this hour? That forest crawling with beasts?"
Eh... I'd only run into one black panther. Was it really that dangerous?
I let out a sigh of relief, realizing just how fortunate I'd been.
"Ah... yes. It was rough, but I made it out in one piece. Though I'm a mess for it. Ahaha."
The middle-aged man eyed my battered form, muttered something about waiting, and vanished beyond the palisade.
Awkwardly laughing as I rushed to respond, he scanned me then tossed those words before disappearing.
'Pretty wary. Can't blame folks in a forest village like this.'
I figured looking suspicious was par for the course.
My shredded gear aside, my clothes alone stood out as foreign.
As I waited, the man returned with an elderly villager who seemed like the chief.
"So... I heard your story, young man. Lost your way traveling and ended up here?"
"Yes, that's right, elder."
I answered politely, keeping an innocent expression. The old man, who'd been scrutinizing me, smiled kindly.
"Hardships like ours mean we help each other out. Rest easy here."
Creeeak—
The middle-aged man with him promptly opened the gate.
I expressed my thanks as I entered, bowing politely again.
"Thank you once more for your kindness."
"No trouble. It's late—head in and rest. I've got empty rooms; take one."
The elder smiled warmly in return, but the middle-aged man showed little reaction.
'What a prickly fellow.'
Following the elder, we chatted as we went.
As expected, he was the village chief.
I also learned the forest I'd crossed was far more perilous than I'd thought.
Encountering just one black panther there, and the village being close enough to reach quickly, had been sheer luck.
"Name's Malcolm. And yours?"
"Ah! I'm Hans."
Before I knew it, chatting away, we'd arrived at the chief's house.
The village was small, so it wasn't far.
"Rest in this room. Must've been tough; make yourself comfortable."
"Thank you so much. How can I ever repay this...?"
"Eh, if you're grateful, chop some firewood tomorrow."
"Yes! I'm confident in my stamina. Just leave it to me!"
The chief left, leaving me alone in the room.
Dusty as an empty spare room might be, it beat camping in the woods by miles—like heaven.
"Phew..."
Finally relaxing fully, I set down my pack and stripped off my ruined clothes.
The top was beyond salvage, gear clawed to bits too.
Still, better than nothing—I wouldn't toss them.
'Knew it going in, but experiencing it firsthand is wild. I understood and spoke their language unconsciously.'
Wiping myself down with a water-soaked cloth amid my thoughts, I noticed all wounds had vanished without trace.
Super Recovery was a godsend in so many ways.
Mana Affinity proved plenty useful too.
Finished cleaning, I unrolled my sleeping bag on the old bed and lay down.
How long since arriving here? In that short time, I'd fought a beast, met locals, and chatted.
'Yeah, doing good. Conversation flowed naturally, chief's reaction was fine.'
Staring at the ceiling, I curved my lips into a soft smile.
Not sure if Mind Hub helped here, but it felt natural enough.
Smiling at the ceiling a while, I dropped the grin and closed my eyes.
Too soon after arriving for real sleepiness, but I needed to sync with this world's time—force rest if necessary.
I slipped into dormancy.
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I opened the delivery, pulled out the chicken, and took a bite.
"Chicken really is the truth."
Ordered it right after sending the avatar to the other world, but it hadn't arrived until he'd finished his trek, entered the village, and gone dormant.
Earth time, barely 20 minutes—unavoidable.
'Man, this is the life. Shower with hot water, tear into chicken, and casually adventure in another world.'
My other avatar, 'Heinz,' followed 'Hans' to the other world by entering extreme training mode.
Never knew when he'd deploy—prep ahead.
Devoured the chicken in seconds, cleaned up, then sensed morning breaking for the dormant otherworld side.
"Hmm... Guess I'll poke around for world news, see how things are spinning."
Strolled casually to the computer and started browsing sites.
Otherworld trips were enjoyable enough via internet too.
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I'd gone dormant with eyes closed, but hadn't fully shut off my senses.
Feeling the outside brighten and people stirring, I opened my eyes and rose.
Avatars needed true sleep to rest the brain too, but this night was for jet lag adjustment—enough.
"Sleep well, Chief?"
"Yes, Hans. You too?"
"Thanks to you, I rested easy."
Greeting the chief as I exited the room, I headed to the back yard for a quick wash.
"Nothing fancy, but eat up."
"Even providing food—truly grateful."
"Heh heh heh, we all help each other. Lend a hand with village chores later."
Boiled potatoes, hard bread, soup—that was it. But as my first meal in this world, it satisfied.
Didn't seem home-cooked, so I asked; the chief replied.
"Old timer living alone, folks bring meals around. Grateful for it."
Villagers seemed tighter-knit than expected.
Or maybe chief's perks.
Chat turned to me naturally.
"Your clothes, gear—all unfamiliar. From far away?"
"Ahaha, I like odd stuff. Collected 'em wandering."
"Hmm... Traveling solo must be tough?"
Vagabond adventurer cover story smoothed it over; confessed aimless wandering led to getting lost.
Naturally inquired about nearby cities.
"Hmm... Old mountain hermit like me doesn't know much. Heard there's a small town east, maybe."
Not definitive, disappointingly—but east as goal beat aimless roaming.
Decided to leave next day; today, help chief with village tasks.
Gather basics before full action—safer growth.
Prime chance for info from locals, knowing little of the world.
Refilled backyard troughs, chopped and stacked firewood, lent a hand mending the palisade.
"Hans, mind grabbing that rope?"
"Good stamina you got. What'd you do before?"
Worked with village men, chatted casually for more talk.
"I see. So hunters handle outside dealings? Any safe paths?"
Stamina overflowed—no fatigue. Treated it as extra training, worked nonstop.
"Good work today. Early start tomorrow—rest well. One last drink?"
Post-labor info-gathering washup led indoors; chief brought dinner and booze.
Strong stuff, but regenerating liver handled it; tasted better than expected.
Savoring otherworld liquor, we traded cups—time flew before I knew.
Too late risked tomorrow's wake-up, so regretfully wrapped up, retreated to room and sleeping bag.
Jet lag synced, moderate labor and booze—proper deep sleep this time.
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I paused my game, closed my eyes, and focused.
Heinz halted mid-squat at the gym, lower body burning, and shut his eyes.
...The connection with the otherworld avatar, Hans, severed.
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