The morning sky was clear blue, dotted with soft white clouds drifting lazily above. The sun shone brightly, bathing the world in golden warmth. Along a quiet road, a seventeen-year-old boy named Elias Aaron walked casually through his modern city. His messy, mullet-style black hair swayed slightly in the breeze, and his deep black eyes reflected the calm of the day. Dressed simply in a black-and-blue shirt, he strolled with one hand shoved lazily into his pocket, mumbling softly to himself, eyes half-closed in thought.
Around him, life moved peacefully — birds fluttered around the park trees, children laughed and played on the grass, old men tossed crumbs to doves, and mothers chatted cheerfully among themselves.
Then—
"Whoa—!"
Aaron's foot caught on a small pebble, sending him tumbling forward. He hit the ground with both hands, wincing.
"Agh…"
Pushing himself up, he blinked down at the culprit — a tiny pebble sitting innocently on the path. A weak laugh escaped his lips as he brushed off his clothes.
"Oh… just a pebble, huh? Haha…" he muttered awkwardly.
But the moment he stood straight—everything changed.
The familiar city street had vanished. In its place stretched a vast, endless green field glowing under a brilliant sky. The gentle wind carried the scent of wild grass. And far ahead, a massive city stood proudly in the distance—its walls tall, its streets alive with motion.
The warm wind brushed through the endless green meadow, carrying the soft scent of wildflowers. Doves soared gracefully across the clear blue sky, their white wings glimmering under the sunlight. Between the tall grass and scattered trees, deer grazed peacefully.
Aaron blinked in disbelief. The bustling modern streets were gone—completely replaced by this serene landscape.
"Ah…? Where am I? What is this place?" he muttered, his voice trembling.
Panic crept into his chest as sweat trickled down his cheek. His black eyes darted everywhere—searching for anything familiar. Then, in the distance, something caught his gaze.
A city.
Beyond the rolling hills, towers gleamed in the light, and faint silhouettes of people moved along the stone roads.
"Looks like… there are people."
A sigh of relief escaped him, and he began walking toward it, each step crunching softly over the grass.
When he finally passed through the massive city gate, his eyes widened with awe.
Warriors clad in shining armor strode proudly through the streets. Mages in flowing robes chanted incantations. Demons, elves, beastfolk, and humans mingled together. Small houses and merchant stalls lined the cobbled roads, where vendors shouted their prices and children laughed as they ran by.
Aaron's jaw dropped.
"What the… Is this another world!? Everything looks so flashy! Just like the anime I used to watch!!"
His eyes sparkled with excitement as he spun in a slow circle, taking in every detail.
"This is amazing!!"
He raised his arms with a grin that reached both ears. People stopped to stare—some curious, others clearly judging.
"Who is that strange boy?"
"We better ignore him."
"Is he lost?"
Whispers rippled through the crowd. Aaron caught a few glances and smirked.
"Seems I'm already famous, huh?" he thought proudly, strutting forward like a new celebrity.
Then—
"Um… who are you?"
A soft yet firm voice called from behind. Aaron turned, and his breath caught.
An elf girl stood before him—long blonde hair flowing like silk, emerald-green eyes glowing beneath her hood. She wore light green and white adventurer's clothes, her presence almost ethereal.
His heart skipped a beat. Whoa! Did I just get a girl this quickly!? And she's an elf!?
He froze, sweating profusely, then blurted out, "I'm Elias Aaron! From another world! Nice to meet you!"
He struck a dramatic pose, flashing a confident smirk like he'd just unlocked the main quest.
"I see…" the elf said flatly, her tone cold as she narrowed her eyes.
Aaron scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Uh… did you come to talk to me?"
"Yeah," she replied, tilting her head slightly. "Because you look… so ugly. I wanted to ask how you even got into this city."
Her words hit like a meteor.
Aaron stood frozen, expression blank as color drained from his face.
"Huh!?"
"You'd better leave this place, ugly," she added with a mocking smile before turning away.
He stared, mouth agape. Then his brows furrowed as he clenched his fists.
"Huh!? She's not worthy of me, so she left! I don't care! Real-life elves are insane… anime and novel ones were way nicer."
Still mumbling, Aaron kept walking, though every passerby stared at him with suspicion—like he was some kind of escaped convict.
"Am I… that famous or something?" he wondered smugly.
His smirk didn't last.
"Tsk…! How dare you walk on the road like trash!"
A towering man in silver armor stepped in front of him, eyes burning with disdain. His short brown hair framed his sharp face, and his voice carried pure arrogance.
Aaron frowned. "What? Excuse me!?" He jabbed a finger up at the man. "I'm also human! You should respect me!"
The man scoffed. "Respect you? As a human? Hahaha! Who would respect you? Look at yourself! You don't even belong in this world!"
His jaw tightened, fury rising. Before he could speak, the man grabbed his collar and threw him to the ground.
"Ouch!" Aaron yelped, hitting the dirt hard.
"You deserve this, loser," the man sneered, turning away with a cruel grin.
"Oi, wait! I'll beat you up!" Aaron shouted, scrambling up and clutching his shirt, his face burning with anger.
The man turned, smirking mockingly. "Huh~? You really got guts, huh?"
"Heh! Of course I have! This is my chance to show the world who I truly am!" He declared boldly.
He charged forward—only to be met with a brutal punch straight to the face.
BAM!
Blood splattered from his nose. Before he could blink, the man's boot smashed into his stomach, then his hand grabbed Aaron's shirt again, slamming him into the dirt.
"Take that, little brat! Ahaha!!"
The man's laughter echoed as Aaron lay bruised and broken on the ground.
"Ha… haha… what an idiot," the man sneered, walking away as the nearby crowd simply watched—and moved on.
Aaron coughed, struggling to push himself up, his hands trembling.
"Man… I thought I had power," he muttered bitterly.
Standing weakly in the road, he watched people pass by with cold indifference. His eyes dimmed with disappointment.
"I never knew people in another world could be this cruel…" he whispered, wiping the blood from his nose.
The orange sun poured its molten light over the city, gilding roofs and alleyways in bruised gold. Evening smell — roasting skewers, warm stone, the faint tang of riverwater — drifted through the streets. Aaron wandered between stalls with a bored slump to his shoulders, fingers hooked behind his neck, eyes half-lidded and fixed on the bright, sinking sky.
" Hmm, where should I go? Man, I am truly doomed.."
He muttered, tone flat, black eyes locked on the orange horizon. Footsteps and market chatter hummed around him until a sudden, frantic clip of running boots cut through the noise.
The same elf girl who had roasted him earlier barreled toward him, pale and wide-eyed, panic etched in every line of her face. She skidded to a stop in front of him, breath ragged, shoulders shaking as she glanced over her shoulder.
As the elf girl's eyes reached Aaron, she came near to him.
"Please save me! Those men are trying to kidnap me!"
That elf girl said with a panicked face. Her green eyes trembled and turned behind.
He crossed his arms, annoyance flattening his features. He pouted theatrically, unimpressed.
"Nah. You called me ugly, so prepare for trouble."
Her eyes widened at his reply; sweat beaded on her temple as darker boots pounded closer.
"But… aren't you an otherworlder?! You should be summoned to help people."
The elf girl said by grabbing his shoulder, her face filled with nervousness, waiting for an answer from him.
"Indeed. But I'm not going to act like a typical hero unless you all treat me well."
Aaron said with sighs moving his head with a disappointed face.
The elf girl bit her lip, panic sharpening into pleading.
"Okay, fine! Please.. hero, save me!"
The elf girl's voice trembled, her eyes filled with mixed with annoyance and nervousness.
Aaron narrowed his eyes and struck a dramatic pose.
"Hero? Nah elf san. I'm not your—"
Before he could finish his words the elf girl glared at him with an annoyed face.
"Idiot! Just help me!"
The elf girl yelled at him by grabbing his collar.
" Oah! Hey..get off me!!"
Aaron snapped with an annoyed face.
Two rough men materialized from a shadowed alley like bad weather: one short, black-haired with a ripped purple shirt and cold black eyes; the other in a shredded red shirt, hair the color of dried blood. Both stepped forward, faces hard, blades glinting.
" Well, well already fighting without us eh~?"
The black haired man said with a grin smirk.
" You'd better hand over that elf, or you will die."
The red haired man said, licking his knife which was held by his hand.
Aaron made a disgusted face and shrugged, raising his hands like someone who couldn't be bothered.
"Yeah, yeah I know I'll die. Here, take her. That's not my business."
He said casually.
"What!?" The elf girl widened her eyes with shock, looked at Aaron with a sharp gaze and shrieked.
"You traitor! Aren't you supposed to help me!?
The elf girl shouted with fury, her one finger placed on Aziz's nose. Aaron moved her finger with his hand.
"But I never said I'd help you."
Aaron replied with a dumb smirk looking at the red and black haired man.
The two men chuckled. The red haired man started laughing.
" Hahaha what a wise boy! Join us, and you can have her as a slave too. We can share with you."
The red haired man said with a smirk, his red eyes filled with predation.
The black-haired thug closed the distance with slow menace.
Hearing this Aaron crossed his arms with a confused face.
"Slave? But isn't she an adventurer?"
Aaron asked by looking at them. The elf girl nervously looked at him.
"Yeah moron, but we'll use her. That's why she will be a slave!" The black haired man said with an annoyed face, rubbing his neck.
Aaron sighed and gave the elf girl a long, annoyed look.
"Using women like that… nah, that's dishonest."
Aaron said by looking at the two men.
"Shut up! Just give her to us!" The red haired man shouted with annoyance.
" Stop wasting our time, idiot!"
Saying this the black haired man started to come close to them.
Aaron shrugged, voice casual, shoulders loose.
" Hey chill guys, listen, I can't beat you two. I'm weak."
The elf girl's brows furrowed with disgust.
"You're truly useless in this world."
Aaron's eyes narrowed, and a cold edge slid into his voice.
"Say that again and I'll give you to them."
Aaron said with a disgusted face. Turning his face from an elf girl.
Hearing this the elf girl's face paled as the black haired man loomed closer.
"No, no! Please don't!"
The elf girl cried, panic rising.
"Then shut up."
Aaron said. He leaned in close, his voice low, near her ear.
"If you want freedom, then you had better run with me."
The elf girl stared at him, heart thudding; her voice shook as she whispered, "Won't you fight?"
"Of course not. I'm not wasting my time and energy for you."
Aaron said with an annoyed face.
Without another word, Aaron seized her hand, yanked her toward him, and sprinted. His legs ate pavement; the city blurred into streaks of lamp light and shadow.
" Just run, elf san!! Find a place which will be safe from them!!"
He shouted, already panicked as adrenaline took over.
" Uh…hey..wait..you're running really fast!"
The elf girl gasped, breathless but forced to keep up.
Behind them, the two thugs roared and gave chase.
"Hey! You little shits! Get back here!"
Their voices thundered down the alley as stalls and evening crowds scattered, lantern light trembling in the wake of two desperate figures cutting through the city night.