"Wait! I can explain!"
My desperate, raw plea was immediately swallowed by the angry murmurs of the crowd.
These two city guards, wearing polished steel armor, had this vice-like grip on my arms.
Their hands were so tight they were leaving these painful, burning marks on my skin.
They dragged me through all the shocked onlookers in the park. My naked body was this super embarrassing contrast to their huge, intimidating figures.
"Let me go! Let me go!" I struggled.
My face was a deep crimson, a mix of pure shame and this helpless rage burning in my gut.
One of the guards just snorted. It was this low, calm sound, but man, it had a dangerous edge.
"Later, kid. In prison," he said
He said it like this was just a normal, boring part of his day.
Some middle-aged dude in the crowd pointed this fat finger at me. "Look at that, kids! That's what happens when you gamble too much! You fall from the sky without a single stitch of clothing on you!"
Damn it, he thinks I'm a gambler?! I'm a 'hero' from the hardest game on Earth!
My mind was screaming. I wanted to tell him off, to scream the truth, but the words just felt useless, completely lost in this sea of hostility and people laughing at me.
...
They shoved me into this cold, damp cell.
The air was thick with the gross smell of mold and filth, like some forgotten dungeon in a horror game.
The stone floor was sucking the last bit of body heat out of me, and I was shivering like crazy.
I huddled in a corner, hugging my knees to my chest.
Seriously, they didn't even give me a single piece of starter gear like clothes! How am I supposed to grind for levels like this?
"This isn't a dream," I mumbled, my teeth chattering.
"I really did get transferred here. Now I'm in prison. And... I'm naked."
A few moments later, the heavy iron door of my cell groaned open. The head guard walked in.
He was this guy with a gray beard and a thick cloak. His voice was just dripping with skepticism. "So, kid, you say you fell from the sky?"
I scrambled to my feet. "Yes! It's true! I'm a hero! I defeated the Demon King!"
I looked him right in the eyes, trying to make my ridiculous claim sound as convincing as possible.
The head guard let out this long, tired sigh. "Listen, kid. I've heard that story a hundred times. If you're a hero, where's your sword?"
I pointed to the wooden sword in the corner of the cell. "There! It's called the World Destroyer Wooden Sword!"
...
With this low chuckle, the head guard picked up the sword.
The moment his hand touched the hilt, this small flash just erupted from the wood.
A rotted water barrel in the corner of the cell just splintered, splashing water right onto his face.
The head guard froze, silent for this long moment. There was this hint of shock in his eyes before he quickly got his composure back. "That sword..." he whispered.
I could hear this genuine doubt in his voice.
A smug grin just spread across my face. Ha! That's the power of the World Destroyer Wooden Sword! What do you have to say now, low-level NPC?! "See! I'm not lying!"
Suddenly, this loud, hoarse laugh just erupted from his chest, sounding like grinding stones. "Hahaha! You think I believe that?! That barrel was already rotten, kid! You just got lucky! Your wooden sword has no power. It's just a regular piece of wood!"
My grin vanished, replaced by this huge scowl.
My hands clenched into tight fists at my sides, my knuckles turning white.
I just stood there frozen, staring at that stupid wooden sword on the floor.
A storm of fury was brewing inside me. This hot, seething rage was way more intense than the shame I'd felt before.
The one piece of evidence from my old life had just been mocked and dismissed.
...
Left alone again, I could only hug my knees.
The cold and my rage were making me tremble.
They'll all regret this, I thought, my jaw clenched. I'm not crazy. I'm a hero from the hardest game on Earth! You'll find out who I really am!
Night fell, blanketing the prison in this heavy darkness. This was the opening I'd been waiting for.
Okay, Shinji, calm down. You've faced harder monsters.
This is... just a low-level stealth mission, I mumbled to myself, trying to steady my pounding heart.
I scanned my cell, my eyes looking for anything useful.
In a corner, among some stale leftover food, lay a hairpin.
Jackpot! My lips curled into this thin, determined smile. Every gamer knows a hairpin is the most versatile tool. This is my kind of dungeon.
I picked up the hairpin. I felt the familiar sensation of a 'lockpick'.
I knelt in front of the rusted iron lock, my hands moving with this familiar dexterity. I was using techniques I'd learned from dozens of stealth and RPG games.
The 'Triple-Tap Spin' technique from the level 99 'Shadow Thief' game... success! I thought triumphantly.
Click!
...
The lock opened with this soft sound.
I let out this shaky breath of relief.
See! This isn't luck, it's skill! This was the first concrete proof that my abilities as a gamer could actually be used in this world.
Holding my World Destroyer Wooden Sword in a firm grip, I crept out of the cell.
The prison hallway was empty, just shrouded in shadows. I managed to slip past two guards who were fast asleep.
As I got close to the main exit, another guard yawned loudly, rubbing his eyes.
I quickly ducked behind a pile of burlap sacks. My heart was just thumping against my ribs.
I held my breath, waiting for the guard to move on, then slipped past him and out into the busy city streets.
I couldn't wander around naked.
I found this old burlap sack in a garbage can and pulled it on. I tore crude holes for my head and arms.
The musty smell and coarse, itchy texture were horrible, but hey, it was way better than being unclothed.
...
My strange appearance this dude in a shabby sack with a wooden sword drew immediate attention.
A mother pulled her kid away, her eyes wide with disgust.
A fruit vendor laughed loudly, pointing his finger.
A bunch of other people were whispering and snickering.
Avoiding their stares, I lowered my head, quickening my pace.
Every single laugh and whisper felt like a whip, burning a fresh layer of shame onto my skin.
Damn it, just you wait... Am I going to keep being humiliated in this world?! I thought, my jaw clenched.
After asking around, I finally found this big building with a flag that had a sword and shield on it.
In front of the gate was a sign that said, "Ardania City Adventurers' Guild."
I hesitated. Maybe this is the place. At least they might be able to help me, right?
I stepped forward and opened the Guild's heavy wooden door.
Instantly, all eyes turned to me.
A huge guy with an axe strapped to his back just stared at me with a smirk. "Kid... You think this is a playground? Welcome to hell," his hoarse voice echoed through the room.
...
My heart was pounding, my hands trembling as I gripped the hilt of my wooden sword.
Suddenly, all my initial confidence just vanished. It was replaced by this cold fear creeping up my back.
Don't panic. Stay calm... I thought, my voice cracking a little.
Some young magician in a purple robe covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
A girl in leather armor shook her head with a look of pity.
A man at the reception desk, who had this fierce dragon tattoo on his arm, just raised an eyebrow. "Can I help you, kid?" he asked with this amused smile.