The guards roughly shoved Yuto out of the castle gates, letting him stumble onto the cobbled streets of the city. The heavy doors slammed shut behind him, sealing his fate once and for all. "Now get out of here!" One of the guards spat at him, before returning to their post.
Yuto sat there on his hands and knees in dismay, his clothes disheveled and his face dirtied from the ground. "I'm... all alone now, like always. Nothing ever changes, not even in this new world." He whispered to himself, his voice cracking with despair. The kingdom streets were filled with magical beings - humans with pointed ears, glowing eyes, and wings - all passing by as if he was invisible.
"Oh well... it doesn't matter... even if I'm an outcast, I can still do some good. That lady, Princess Alicia, wanted to see me succeed." Yuto stood up from the ground and dusted himself off, a hint of hope burned into his visage. "She's the first person who actually believed in me, so I can't let her down. I'll do whatever I can to save this world, just for her and my family! I'll avenge every last one of them!"
A sudden surge of determination rose within him. The memories of his family and the king's cruel dismissal fueled his anger. "I can't just give up... not when they need help! Even if I'm hated... and useless... I can still push forward for a better future!" He muttered to himself, fists clenching at his sides. Despite being treated like trash, he wanted to do what was right in the end.
With newfound determination, Yuto wandered through the city's bustling market district. The Demi-humans and other races moved past him, their eyes sliding over him without a second glance. He passed by stalls selling strange magical items, exotic foods, and mystical artifacts. The air was filled with exotic scents and sounds of bartering; an unfamiliar sight to the young lone wolf.
"Excuse me... could you tell me where the nearest inn is?" Yuto asked a passing elf with nervousness, his voice audibly trembling.
The elf barely spared him a glance before hurrying away, muttering about "stupid humans" under their breath.
"Huh? Oh..." Yuto sighed, realizing there was probably racism in this world as well, but it was no surprise. Continuing onwards, his stomach growled loudly, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since arriving in this world. He needed a way to find food before planning where to sleep.
Ambling through the market district, the street vendors looked at him suspiciously when he approached, clearly aware he didn't have any money.
"Excuse me, ma'am... do you have any spare bread or something I could try? Like samples." He asked timidly, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. The vendor was an elderly human woman with kind eyes as she looked at him with pity, her expression softening as she saw his disheveled state.
"Poor dear, you look like a mess. But I'm afraid I can't give you anything for free." She said gently, shame in her eyes.
"Ah..." Yuto's heart sank as he realized she was right. He had nothing to trade or sell. The vendor watched as his face fell, her eyes growing concerned.
"Oh dear. Please, just take a loaf. You need it more than I do." She whispered, reaching for a small loaf of bread.
Yuto shook his head firmly, tears welling up in his eyes again. "No... I can't accept charity. I need to earn money my own way." He turned away from the stall, determined to find some way to survive on his own terms. It may have been a foolish maneuver, but it could help him in the long run since he was gonna live here in this new world.
"Maybe I can find a job somehow... but I don't know where to look in this city." Yuto wandered away from the food stalls, his stomach protesting loudly. He noticed a group of men hanging in an alleyway, their laughter echoing off the stone walls. "Hmm... maybe they know where I can find work..." Yuto didn't hesitate to approach the group of humans, hoping they'd have some tips. "Hey there... do any of you guys know if there are any jobs available around here?" He asked, stepping forward with a soft smile.
The group of men stopped talking and stared at him with wide eyes, some chuckling at his appearance while others looked at him with suspicion.
"You're that outcast from the castle." One of the men exclaimed. "Word got around quick about there being some fatso who was summoned here on accident to save the world. The king's guards said you were useless!"
Yuto flinched at the accusation, feeling a wave of shame wash over him. The group of men mumbled to each other, their faces twisting in distrust.
"I just want to earn some money to buy food and a place to stay... I won't bother you guys if you can help me out." He said, sighing to ease his stress.
"Shit... alright then... there's an adventurers guild downtown." One of the men said with a sigh. "They take quests and people pay you for completing them, but if you're thinking about becoming an adventurer, you'd need to complete an exam." Yuto's heart leaped at the information as he widened his eyes in joy. An adventurers guild - a place where he could prove himself useful and earn money. It reminded him of an anime.
"The guild hall is a big building with a giant magic crystal over it." Another one of the men chimed in, eager to get this conversation over with.
"I got it... thank you all very much!" Yuto bowed his head before following their directions and heading downtown. His steps became more confident as the adventurers guild was his last hope. If he could prove his worth, then maybe he could start over in this strange new world and begin his journey to preparing for Azathoth.
"Magical Crystal... I just have to find a Magical Crystal." Yuto finally made his way downtown in a short amount of time, eventually finding the building that those group of men were talking about. "Ah, there it is!" Jogging toward the guild hall, he could see adventurers of all kinds entering and exiting. Some were armed to the teeth, while others wore more casual attire. The sight filled him with both excitement and anxiety as he halted in place a dozen meters away, reminiscing the past mangas he read. "This seems so unreal..." He muttered.
Walking forward, he took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy oak doors of the adventurers guild. His heart pounded in his chest as he ambled inside, seeing it bustling with activity.
The walls were lined with wooden tables where adventurers sat drinking and discussing quests. A massive stone fireplace crackled in one corner, casting flickering shadows across the room. The air was filled with the scent of leather, metal, and something distinctly magical. Yuto's eyes widened as he took in the sight of various weapons, armor, and magical artifacts displayed on shelves.
He nervously approached the front desk, where a stern-looking human woman sat reviewing papers. Her armor gleamed with mana and her expression was stern as she looked up at him. "Can I help you?" She asked gruffly, noticing his plain clothes and anxious demeanor.
Yuto took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He knew this was his chance. "I... I want to become an adventurer, ma'am!" He managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper.
The woman skeptically raised an eyebrow, sweeping her eyes over his unarmed state, not to mention his overweight. "Do you have any experience with combat?" She asked, already reaching for a form on her desk.
Yuto shook his head, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. The woman sighed heavily and pulled out a different form. "Then you'll need to take the beginner's exam first. Fill this out and we'll see if you have what it takes." She pushed a parchment and quill towards him.
"A-Alright, thank you, ma'am!" Yuto picked up the paper and quill, sitting down at a nearby table. The room seemed to grow quieter as other adventurers glanced at him curiously. Some snickered under their breath. He's never felt this nervous before.
"Wait a second... I can't read this writing." It dawned upon him that this world had a different language compared to his. "Well... I'll just write my name in my language and see how it goes." Yuto's hand shook as he tried to write his name on the form. The ink blotted and smeared, making him more anxious. The woman behind the desk watched him struggle with impatience.
"Here, let me help you." A kind voice interrupted. Another adventurer had approached his table; a young girl with silver hair and gentle blue eyes. She wore simple mage robes and a Wizard hat, carrying a staff with her.
Yuto looked up gratefully at the stranger, who gazed at him with a smile. "My name is Valentina Auschburg." The adventurer said, tilting her Wizard hat. "I used to be in your position once, scared and alone in this world."
Yuto's eyes widened as he processed her words. "Wait... are you from another universe like me?" He asked hesitantly, his heart racing with newfound hope.
Valentina nodded with a reassuring smile. "I arrived here a few years ago. I know how disorienting it can be." They lowered their voice conspiratorially.
The other adventurers had started to notice their conversation, but Valentina continued speaking in hushed tones. "Let me help you prepare for the exam. We can train together, and I can tell you about some useful skills that don't require high levels." They offered warmly, sitting down next to Yuto. "How about it? I'm in a party of otherworlder's who are just like us, so they can also be of help."
Yuto felt a surge of gratitude towards this kind stranger, someone who understood his struggle and was willing to guide him. Things were finally starting to look up. "S-Sure! I'd love some help, uhm..." He looked to the side, forgetting her name.
"It's Valentina." She said, giggling at his reaction.
"Valentina! Right! Thank you so much, this means a lot to me, you have no idea!" The other adventurers continued batting eyes at him, but Yuto felt a sense of relief knowing someone was willing to assist him through his journey.