I Need Time
Precisely speaking, it felt like I needed a bit of time for myself.
Not because puberty was hitting and I wanted to rebel or anything like that. No, it was time to prepare for the journey ahead.
This world might look ordinary on the surface, but it was a fantasy novel where you'd drop dead left and right without something extra. A stage overflowing with people who could pull off unreal feats, like the Hero and Saintess who just up and left on their quest, or a gray witch like the one in the stories.
For an ordinary extra like me—who hadn't even landed a single role—simply saying "I'm setting off on a trip" didn't solve a damn thing.
My body would grow in time. Even if it felt unfair and sad right now, the laws of nature would sort it out eventually.
Money? I was earning it steadily. If I kept at it like this, by the time I hit adulthood, I could buy a carriage and horse, stock up on decent gear, and head out.
Parental permission? Already in the bag. I'd been talking about traveling since I was even younger, so both Mom and Dad had said it was fine when the time came.
Everything I'd mentioned so far would sort itself out with time. But there was one problem that just waiting wouldn't fix.
If I had to put it into words...
"…."
This pathetic body of mine was genuinely weak as hell.
An extra with zero talents or skills, and still just a kid with no real strength to speak of. My past life on Earth had been so damn average that I'd never even picked up something basic like martial arts, taekwondo, or self-defense.
All I had going for me were the settings, worldbuilding, regional lore, and character details I'd only read about in the novel.
Looking back, declaring from childhood that I'd go traveling felt pretty reckless now.
This wasn't Earth—no planes or cars that could hit 200 km/h with a pedal. The best you got were horses and carriages, and even then, the mages' portals cost a fortune that even well-off folks balked at.
"Hmm…."
And on top of that, in a world where even regular wild animals could put me in danger, there were actual monsters out there.
Back when I was that obnoxious five-year-old, I'd blurted out wanting to see a dragon, drunk on the thrill of living in a novel world without a second thought.
So yeah.
The more this world felt real to me, the more I realized just how unreal I was.
Facts I'd forgotten, lulled by the peaceful days where nothing happened, were now bubbling up one by one.
I was an extra because I had no talent.
I was free because no role was forced on me.
Even when I tried to do what I wanted, I couldn't pull it off—that's why they gave me freedom.
I guess it hit me like that because of the Hero's piercing gaze in that alley, or the sight of his back as he marched off to the send-off ceremony. Those glimpses into the world of talented main characters with assigned roles made it clear: there was no place for me there.
"…."
Well. Whatever.
Even after wallowing in negativity for a while, I circled back to the same conclusion.
Travel. That was the goal.
I firmly believed it would give new meaning to this second life of mine.
If my childhood was defined by being the witch's guardian, then as an adult, I'd be a wandering traveler.
So, time to prep for the trip.
"Mister, what do I need to do to become an adventurer?"
After all that rambling in my head, the place I ended up was the adventurer's shop where I'd gone to buy my robe.
"…Out of nowhere, grabbing at clouds, kid."
"I wanna be an adventurer, but I don't know what I need to do."
Yansen had been an adventurer himself and ran a shop catering to them, so he'd met plenty. Time to lean on some expert insight.
His reaction, though? Total indifference.
Talking about my resolve or determination wouldn't move the needle—an adult like him would just see it as cute kid talk.
"What d'you need to do? Make money, brat. Money's everything in this world. The truth. The whole deal."
"I've been working and saving since I was eight. I came here last time for the robe, remember?"
"Trembling like a leaf over one robe, and you're talking big? Earn enough to buy a hundred of those without blinking, then come back, kid."
"…."
Like there's any way a kid my age could rake in that kind of cash.
I shot him a sulky look, and he seemed a little flustered as he continued.
"Wait, you were serious…?"
"I've never not been serious."
What kind of kid comes to an adventurer's shop just to mess around? Honestly, the adventurers around here—including Yansen—looked so damn intimidating that no normal child would even approach.
"Fair point. No kid would hang around a place like this for fun. My bad—apology accepted?"
"Then, as an apology, how about gifting me that dagger over there…?"
"In your dreams. Want it? Pay up like the robe."
"…Ah. Okay."
Rendo, mister. I miss your warm heart and the kindness blooming in the market streets.
"Alright, real talk. What you need isn't money or permission—it's training. Right, talentless, skill-less kid?"
"Ouch."
This guy's straight-up wounding a dream-filled child's heart right now.
"Not my problem. Patch up those wounds and head out my shop, past the market to the gym. That's your first stop, kid."
But Yansen ignored my glare and answered my question point-blank.
"Will that do it? Anything else I need…?"
"Like a talentless hack has options? Wanna get strong? Start with exercise. Go try it there, and if it doesn't work out, come crawling back."
He had a point.
No talent? Then grind like a dog until you can survive anyway.
I knew that, but I'd hoped there might be some special training method in this world that I didn't know about.
"That place? Even Fris—the Hero who just left—trained there. Pretty solid spot. Guy looks like a monster, ain't no noble, but the name's all fancy."
"…."
"What? Got it? Then quit staring and scram, brat."
I bowed to Yansen, who shooed me with a wave, and stepped outside.
Honestly, the Hero's name had always struck me as weird alongside the novel's title, but hearing it straight from a character hit different. I wasn't the only one who thought it didn't fit.
Yeah. What kind of name is Fris for a hulking muscle freak who benches 1500 across the big three?
Anyway.
Following Yansen's rec, I left the market and headed for the gym.
As I got close—still a ways from the entrance—the thick stench of sweat hit me like a wall.
"…."
This is insane.
That was my gut reaction, but I watched from afar as buff uncles poured out the entrance.
Still, I felt confident: train hard there, and by adulthood, I could survive without talent or skills.
I didn't want that much muscle, but everyone coming out was jacked.
"…Fuck if I know."
Head high. Charge.
I stepped inside, approached what looked like the counter, and greeted them.
"Hello."
Not a kid-friendly spot, apparently—the counter loomed high, forcing me to crane my neck. The muscular guy seated there turned at my voice.
He looked terrifying. For real.
"How old?"
Straight to age. I should've sensed the red flags and bolted, but his sheer presence crushed me, and I spilled the truth.
"…T-Ten."
"Free up to twelve. Gotta raise kids strong."
"Uh, um…."
Pretty sure that's not what that saying's for.
Before I could finish the thought, a massive hand swooped down in front of me.
"Welcome to the men's club. May this boy become a true man."
"Ah…."
My instincts screamed: Run. Now. This isn't a choice. They didn't give you options—don't take the only path forward. Turn and flee.
I instinctively stepped my right foot back.
"Boy, don't look back. No turning from the path you've chosen."
The musclehead grabbed my hesitating hand and yanked me deeper inside.
"W-Wait, I'll come back after twelve and pay full price…."
"Welcome to the men's club, boy!!!!!"
No, fuck. Somebody save me.