As I am thinking about the system, the system screen pops up with a message I haven't read.
This system looks different from others, with a new golden color.
"What do you mean [Fragment]?"
I asked the system.
The silence between us lasted so long that the system finally popped up.
«Oh! Good morning...»
I narrowed my eyes at its greeting.
"Where are you while I'm in the battle?"
I asked.
«Me? Oh, you know, watch your fighting and sleep.»
«Your fighting's worse than a beginner, Zin.»
My face darkened, and I was angry at its comment.
"YOU ARE A USELESS SYSTEM!"
I shouted and punched it.
«Ouch, that hurts.»
"You can't even support me like other protagonists from anime and novels."
«Well, I don't want to distract you during the fight.»
I sigh at its excuse.
"You are hopeless..."
«By the way, you have slept for 3 days.»
I am stunned as it shows me the information.
"WHAT?!"
I calm myself down and sigh at the news.
"So... About the message from the system that appeared when I was unconscious, can you see it?"
I asked.
«Yes, but I've never seen something like this before.»
I put my hand on my chin and think.
"My power is a living thing?!"
I suddenly get mad about the power.
"It disabled my skill during the fight."
The system lights up when heard what I just said.
«I think it has a reason for doing that.»
I argue back, but it's defending, so I give up the argument.
"What a stupid reason; I nearly died by skeletons!"
«I can help you when you get stronger, but now...»
The system's hesitating.
«...Sorry for being useless.»
A silence stretches around us after the system's words.
I suddenly speak up.
"What are you plotting, system?"
I said suspiciously, not buying the system sorry.
I sigh again and stand up, feeling like my body is getting better now.
"It's not your fault..."
I said, pausing before continuing.
"...I was too arrogant..."
I slowly came toward the door, preparing to exit the room.
Before opening that door, I glance at my outfit on the wall hook, white plain shirt with black pants. Some stitches are covering them. I take them off and start wearing them before leaving my room.
I think I will get new clothes after this.
I thought, done wearing my clothes.
"Let's go eat..."
I said, opening the door and leaving the room.
I need information about my [Authority]
In the hallway, I slowly walk to the end of the hall to go downstairs. The morning light softly fills the hallway. I reach downstairs and notice that no one is down there.
Alice is gone for her job?!
I thought, as I reached for the door, that behind it was the dangerous fantasy world.
I hold the handle, preparing to go outside to get a meal after three long days.
Wait... I forgot the bag of money...
I turn back to go get the money, but a knock comes from behind me. I am surprised as I turn toward the door again. A knock sound appears again. I stand there, wondering whether I should open it or not.
Suddenly, the knocking stops. I narrow my eyes in confusion as I try to come near. When I'm up close to the door. The door opens so suddenly that it hits my face, making me stumble and fall to the side of the door.
I angrily get up and shout.
"Hey! Careful there! I'm a patient!"
I said, clutching my face with my hand.
A familiar voice appears.
"Ah! I'm sorry... Are you alright?"
My body tenses up at the voice, telling me to look up. When I look up, a strong, tall person with light armor around him. The armor looks like it's from the Holy Knights. I notice this person is from the Holy Knights by the sword on his hip. A brown sword hilt with a cross as a sword pommel. I look up and see the person is Sora, a member of the Holy Knights, and also the person want to force me to get into a battle when I get to this world.
"You are... Sora?!"
I said.
"Oh, you know me? What an honor."
Sora said, with a smile.
I looked at his smile with hatred, feeling like I was being mocked.
"Honor my ass! I remember you because you were the only person stand up and wanted me to battle the monsters."
He chuckled at my response.
"Oh, sorry."
He said, pulling his hand out in a request to help me stand up.
I can't help but accept his help.
"What brings you here?"
I said, with a hiss.
"I'm here because of the King's request."
"I see..."
I replied.
"How does he know that I wak—"
My stomach acts up by making a growling noise while I'm asking Sora. We both fell silent at the sound.
"May I invite you to a meal as an apology for my disrespect in the King's meeting?"
He said, chuckling at my hungry stomach.
"Fine... Who would reject a free meal..."
I sighed, facepalming.
***
{Inside the Kingdom, Restaurant}
The restaurant's interior looks exactly as I imagine it, almost like something straight out of an anime. People sit around wooden tables, enjoying delicious food and large glasses of cold ale.
Behind the bustling restaurant area is a bar. The bar doesn't look fancy, but rather classic, with elders sitting at the bar, enjoying easy dishes and small cups of ale.
Behind the bar is the kitchen, where the chefs prepare delicious food for the customers.
While I'm following Sora across the restaurant to reach the bar, I notice there are some people who look different from humans. A group of people that surround with dangerous aura. The group has two men and one girl that covers with her hood. One of the men looks muscular; his hair is green, and his face is stern. He wears a brown tunic with an old, rusty cloak. The other man looks different. I can feel the nobility coming from him. He is a tall human with quite long blonde hair. His outfit is a green garb beneath a brown cloak that looks better than that muscular guy's. The surprising thing I notice is that they both have pointed ears like elves from fantasy stories.
Are those elves...?
I thought, looking at that group out of the corner of my eye.
My eyes drift toward the mysterious girl. I notice that she is a girl because her long Ash green hair is falling out of the hood. Her face hard to see because she's wearing the hood of the cloak. I can't see any nobility in her, and I can't identify whether she is an elf or not because she's hidden her ear with the hood.
I immediately turn away as she looks up toward me. I can feel her glare at me.
Did she notice that?
I thought, moving faster toward Sora.
From that mysterious girl's view, she's been staring at me, like she's noticed me staring at her for a while now.
When we reach the bar table, Sora casually sits on the chair.
"Come sit with me, Zin."
He said, pulling a chair next to him for me.
"Oh... Ok..."
I replied, sitting down.
The bartender, doing their work, sees us and stop the work and turns to us. That bartender is an old bald guy with a gray beard. He looks muscular, with scary eyes that make me shiver when I look at him. He wears an old brown leather shirt. And dark brown pants.
"What brings ye here again, Sora?"
The bartender said, approaching us with a serious expression.
"I'm here to serve some ale to someone not old enough, like you."
Sora is now looking embarrassed as the bartender keeps mentioning it, especially in front of me.
"What are you talking about? I don't come here for ale."
He said, raising both hands in denial.
The bartender finally noticed me and looked at Sora.
"Who is this kid you brought, Sora?"
"Oh, him?"
He said, looking at me.
"The hero that I told you about."
He said, feeling like he's joking right now.
"YOU THINK THAT THIS KID IS A HERO?"
He shouted angrily, not believing Sora.
"I would rather eat rocks than believe that"
Their talking is now catching everyone else's attention.
Sora knows that and sighs at his attitude.
"Stop making a mess, and I'm telling the truth."
"I can't tell you more, or I will be punished by Arthur."
The bartender calms down as he listens to Sora.
"I'm still suspicious about that, but I will trust you this time."
The bartender turns to me with a different expression, not serious and angry like with Sora.
"Sorry about that, but I am Garrick Stonebrew. You can call me Garrick for short."
He said with a friendly smile and raised his hand for a handshake.
Sora cut his greeting with a mocking sound.
"Don't listen to him, Zin. Just call him Gar-Gar; his wife also calls him that."
Garrick angrily hit Sora's head after Sora exposed his nickname.
"Act like a knight, won't ya."
"Fine."
Sora said, clutching his head.
Some people were watching the whole scene, chuckling in the background. I watched them and chuckled to myself.
Didn't know that this Sora guy had this funny side.
I thought, turning my attention back to Garrick.
"Nice to meet you! I am Zin Fortis, but you can call me Zin."
I introduced myself and accepted his handshake.
"And I am not the hero as he said; I was just somehow inside the battle that time."
I said politely, not wanting to take all the credit.
Garrick's surprised by my politeness and smiled.
"That's good; it's good that you don't get any serious injury."
I laugh inside my thoughts at his words.
It's actually a serious injury.
"So what brings you guys here?"
He mentioned his question from earlier.
"Oh, we are here for a quick meal and maybe head to the King's castle if Zin wants."
Sora answered.
"Alright! Since Zin's first time coming to this restaurant and new to this world..."
He said, pausing to think.
"...I will make this a free meal, and you will be my special customer, Zin."
"Ah, thank you,"
I replied.
After my reply, Garrick is now retreating to the back of the bar, where there is a wooden door. I suddenly feel tension behind me and turn back.
Who keeps giving me killing intent?
I thought, turning back to Sora for conversation.
***
Minutes later, Garrick comes out of that door with two mysterious meals.
"Ta-da! These are two special "Garrick's Iron Plates for my special guest and worst customer."
He said, mocking Sora and putting the bowl in front of us.
Sora responds to his mocking.
"Thanks for the meal, baldy."
He angrily snatches the fork and knife from Garrick and eats his own meal. Meanwhile, I'm checking this mysterious meal. Garrick notices that and smiles.
"What's wrong? You don't like it?"
I immediately answer him.
"Ah, no! I just wonder what's inside..."
Garrick lights up when I ask him that.
"Oh! You want to know my secret meal, huh?"
Sora next to me is already showing frustration about what will come next.
Garrick starts his speech as Sora moves his chair and the meal far away from us.
"It's my specialty, the Garrick's Iron Plate. Thick-cut beef, sausages, roasted potatoes, carrots, onions, and mushrooms, all seasoned with garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. I grill the meat, roast the vegetables, then put everything onto a hot iron plate and finish it with my own brown gravy. Simple ingredients, but the way I make it? That's what makes it special... Every piece you eat will burn in your mouth..."
He keeps talking about how awesome the meal is, and my head is about to explode from boredom because of it. Sora notices that and nudges me to eat the meal quickly and leave. I look at him and agree and finish it as quickly as I can.
He probably shouldn't ask him about anything related to meals again...
Sora thought, sighing again.
***
We get outside the restaurant as soon as we finish the meal.
"That dish is really good."
I commented while walking with Sora.
"Yeah... But it's so annoying how Gar-Gar keeps bragging about his incredible dish. Even after we finish it."
He said.
"Haha..."
I laughed at his languidness.
"Shall we go to the King's castle?"
He suggested, his mood returning.
"Yeah..."
I agreed, feeling happy that I might have a new friend in this new world.
We're both walking toward the castle, not knowing that the mysterious group that I checked earlier is leaving the restaurant. That girl from the group turns and looks at me before I am out of her sight.