Newbie
Sia woke up in an unfamiliar space.
At first, she thought it was just a bug or a dream.
After all, Sia had only started the game casually, thinking it was just a famous game.
But when she opened her eyes, she found herself standing right in the middle of a village.
The wind brushed against her cheek. The sunlight tickled her skin warmly.
The people in front of her weren't simple NPCs; they looked like they were actually alive.
They chatted with each other, lived their daily lives, and went about their business as they should in the village.
Sia raised her hand to look at her own body.
It was far too realistic for a game.
A small window floated to the side of her vision.
“...... Level 1.”
It was clear even after looking again.
Sia, a newbie who knew nothing about this game.
She had suddenly been transported into the game.
...... As a super newbie character weaker than even a passing Toto at level 1.
Sia decided to start by learning the basics.
If this place was inside that RPG game, she would have to hunt monsters to grow.
She asked the villagers for advice and headed to the beginner hunting ground.
The monster she first met there was——
-5 HP
A small monster that looked red and round.
A cute, petite creature shaped like a tomato.
The villagers gathered and said.
“Totos are the first monsters beginners face. If you practice with Totos, you'll quickly get the hang of it!”
But——
Thud!
“...... Uwaa?!”
The moment Sia took her first hit, she fell over.
Her carelessness with the cute appearance had been her undoing.
“It hurts...”
Sia tumbled to the ground and rolled.
The bouncing Toto jumped up and down in place with a cute “thud” sound.
“...... What?”
Sia's mind went blank.
Had she really been hit by that little tomato-like creature and fallen?
She couldn't believe it.
Sia checked her character information.
The window that appeared had [HP: 15/20].
...... It had decreased by 5?
The Toto was still bouncing happily.
Its small round body looked full of energy.
It seemed like it was saying ‘Attack successful! Praise me!’
But Sia had no desire to praise it.
“What the...?”
She was bewildered and baffled.
Sia stood up again and clenched her fists.
She had no basic beginner equipment, so she was fighting with her bare hands.
But to survive in this world, she had to swing her hands.
“Good, this time I'll attack first.”
Sia carefully timed it and aimed.
At the exact moment the Toto was being careless, Sia pulled her arm back and thrust forward with all her might.
Thud!
“...... Uu!”
But the Toto was faster.
It slipped under Sia's feet and bounced back.
The small body of the Toto slammed directly into Sia's stomach.
“...... Uck!”
Sia fell over again.
Her breath was cut off and her throat ached.
-10 HP
After two hits from the Toto, her health was halved.
Sia lay on the ground staring at the sky.
The world seemed to spin.
“Is, is this real...?”
Toto was only a level 2 monster.
Moreover, she had heard it was an easy target to defeat in the tutorial.
Sia blinked in disbelief.
Something was wrong.
Had the difficulty of this game been this high?
No matter how much of a newbie she was, it didn't make sense that she would be reduced to half health by hitting the weakest monster in the beginner hunting ground twice.
Sia checked her status window again.
[HP: 10/20]
“...... I have to run away.”
She couldn't die like this.
Sia twisted her body and barely managed to stand up.
The Toto was still bouncing, preparing to attack.
“AAAAA!”
Sia screamed and ran at full speed.
“Thud?”
Seeing her running with small legs in a hurry, the Toto tilted its head.
When Sia crossed the hunting ground boundary, the Toto no longer followed.
Fortunately, it seemed monsters didn't chase beyond a certain range.
Only then could Sia finally catch her breath.
“Haa... haa...”
Her mind was hazy.
She steadied her tired body and returned to the village.
But no matter how much time passed, her health didn't recover.
Sia slumped onto a bench and pondered.
In a game, health would automatically recover after some time, but even after waiting, it stayed the same.
After thinking for a while, she recalled one possibility.
“...... Is it because I'm hungry?”
Although the original was a game, this was reality now.
If health recovered by eating and sleeping well, then maybe she needed to eat something?
In fact, Sia was feeling hungry.
But she couldn't buy food or potions now.
She had no money.
“...... This is really driving me crazy.”
Sia clutched her stomach and groaned.
To buy food or potions, she needed to hunt monsters and earn money.
But facing Toto again with only 10 health left was impossible.
What was she supposed to do?
Just as Sia was looking up at the sky feeling helpless,
“Hey, newbie adventurer lady.”
She looked up at the call.
A middle-aged man was looking at her.
He looked like an NPC.
“You seem pretty hurt... Do you have any potions?”
Sia made a sad face.
“...... None.”
The NPC thought for a moment, sighed, and said.
“Sigh, beginner adventurers are supposed to carry at least one potion.”
He rummaged through his pocket and took out a small glass bottle with a red tint.
◈ Restores 10 HP
“Here. You don't need money.”
Sia received the potion on reflex.
A small bottle in her hand.
Inside the glass bottle, red liquid swirled.
“...... Thank you.”
This game, the NPCs seem kinder than expected.
Sia opened the bottle with gratitude.
Then, in one gulp.
-10 HP
Sia's health recovered instantly.
She felt as if her whole body had become lighter.
“Waa...”
Sia blinked and exclaimed.
The stiffness whenever she moved disappeared, and she felt her wounds healing quickly.
Was this the effect of the potion?
The NPC smiled warmly.
“Beginner adventurers all grow by getting hurt like this.”
Sia nodded.
Now she felt like she could survive.
Her hunger remained, but at least she was recovered enough to fight again.
But even after that, Sia's game life wasn't easy.
Whenever she had a moment, the village kids would tease her, saying ‘A fool who can't even catch a Toto!’
Toto also took several hours alone to whittle down HP and only managed to defeat one.
There were many small mistakes, and rolling in the hunting ground every day made her body covered in bruises.
But she couldn't give up.
Sia steadily hunted Totos, accumulating experience and growing little by little.
On a certain day, finally——
“...... Finally!”
Sia clenched both fists.
The hardships hadn't been in vain.
She didn't know newbie life would be this hard.
But now Sia's level was 5.
From now on, there would be many more things she could do.
At that moment,
“Hoho, young man! Now that I see, you've become quite a capable adventurer!”
Behind the ecstatic Sia, the village chief spoke.
“If it's you now, I can entrust you with an important mission!”
The chief proposed the quest with a serious expression.
Checking the quest reward, it was a whopping 50,000 gold.
The experience reward was also good.
The content was simple.
Just go somewhere, check the seal, and come back.
It was too easy.
If all she had to do was go and report, wasn't this a completely sweet quest?
She would earn money, gain experience, and get a chance to be recognized as an adventurer.
As expected, if you live honestly, opportunities like this come too.
Sia pressed the [Accept] button without hesitation.
And,
“Thank you. Ah, I don't know the way. I'll send you there myself. It's a special service, so don't thank me too much.”
Her vision flashed white.
A momentary feeling of floating in the air.
As consciousness returned, a damp underground humidity gradually became apparent.
An eerie atmosphere.
From afar, the roars of monsters echoed.
Sia snapped back to her senses and looked around.
“...... Where is this?”
It was damp and dark here.
The old brick walls were covered with moss, and underfoot, an unknown liquid sloshed.
And,
In the darkness, huge shadows were slowly moving.
A huge body.
Sharp claws and teeth.
Red eyes glowed in the darkness.
“...... What?”
Sia's face turned pale.
“...... Chief...?”