Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: First Contact
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The beast's assault came silently from above.
Thanks to noticing it just in the nick of time, he barely managed to react.
Crack—!
"Ugh... What the hell is this now?!"
He wedged the metal rod he'd been carrying for self-defense into the beast's maw and tumbled across the ground.
Even with his reinforced body, he couldn't shake off the beast pressing down on him with its full weight.
"Grrr..."
Drool dripped steadily from the jaws crunching through the metal rod.
It sees me as nothing more than a quick meal, huh.
'Damn... filthy thing.'
His upper body's protective vest and arm guards were already shredded by the beast's claws, wounds scattered across his body, but he calmly searched for a countermeasure.
He'd been startled by the sudden ambush, but to him—with fear and pain filtered out—it felt no different from a vivid game.
That's why he responded without a single mistake born of tension.
He twisted the hands gripping the metal rod to the side, creating a brief opening, then swiftly grabbed the knife handle at his waist with one hand.
Stab—
"Krahhh—"
Without hesitation, he plunged the knife into the beast's scruff.
Having poured every bit of his meager mana into the blade with Mana Affinity, it pierced the thick hide and sank deep.
One hand shoved the metal rod to keep the jaws at bay, while the other relentlessly stabbed the scruff with the knife.
Fortunately, the beast weakened after hitting a vital spot, allowing him to hold on somehow.
How long had this desperate struggle lasted?
He could feel the strength slowly draining from the beast's body.
"Huff... haa... it's finally over."
After a final confirming strike, he made sure it was dead before rising to his feet.
The beast was a black panther.
Hardly visible in the dark night—realizing he'd spotted and reacted to it beforehand was pure luck.
He tore his gaze from the panther and checked his own condition.
His shredded clothes and gear, bloodstains from wounds everywhere.
He looked like a total wreck.
Fortunately, the wounds were healing in real time.
The protective gear was ruined, but thanks to it, no major injuries.
'Staying here any longer isn't a good idea.'
The commotion from the fight, and now the smell of blood spreading—better to get away fast.
He poured water over the bloodstains on his body to wash them off and hurried from the spot.
It wouldn't be perfectly clean, but better than leaving it be.
As he quickened his pace...
Was his luck still holding?
Light flickered through the trees ahead.
Approaching cautiously, it looked like a small hamlet of slash-and-burn farmers.
'Stuck in the forest, I figured it was just night, but guess it's not bedtime yet. People are still up and about.'
His first encounter with this world's natives.
Despite his ragged state, he tidied himself as best he could and headed for the entrance of the village's wooden palisade.
Late hour meant the gate was shut, no guards in sight.
As he pondered what to do, a man's head poked up over the palisade.
"Who goes there?"
Relieved someone was there, he cleared his throat and replied.
"Good evening. I got lost in the forest on my travels and wandered here. Could you possibly let me stay the night in the village?"
"...You crossed the forest path alone at this hour? That forest crawling with those magical beasts?"
Eh... He'd only run into one black panther. Was it really that dangerous?
Realizing how lucky he'd been, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Ah... yes. It was rough, but I made it out in one piece. Though I'm a mess for it. Ahaha."
Awkward laugh and quick answer—the middle-aged man scanned his battered form, muttered to wait, and vanished beyond the fence.
'Pretty wary. Can't blame a remote hamlet like this.'
He figured he looked plenty suspicious himself.
Ragged state aside, his clothes stood out as foreign.
As he waited, the man returned with an elderly villager who seemed like the chief.
"So... I heard your tale, young man. Lost your way traveling and ended up here?"
"Yes, that's right, elder."
Polite reply, harmless expression—the old man, who'd been eyeing him, smiled kindly.
"Folks like us have to help each other in hard times. Rest easy."
Creeeak—
The middle-aged man with the elder promptly opened the gate.
Expressing thanks, he entered and bowed politely again.
"Thank you once more for your kindness."
"No trouble. It's late—head in and rest. I've got empty rooms; take one."
The elder smiled warmly in return, but the middle-aged man showed little reaction.
'What a prickly fellow.'
Following the elder, they chatted idly.
As expected, the elder was the village chief.
And the forest he'd crossed was far more perilous than thought.
Encountering just one black panther there, and the village being close enough to stumble upon—pure fortune.
"Name's Malcolm. And yours?"
"Ah! I'm Hans."
Before he knew it, conversation brought them to the chief's house.
Small village—didn't take long.
"Rest in this room. Must've been tough; sleep well."
"Truly grateful. How can I repay this...?"
"Eh, chop some firewood tomorrow if you're thankful."
"Yes! I'm confident in my stamina. Just leave it to me!"
The chief departed, leaving him alone in the room.
Dusty as an empty spare room, but heaven compared to camping in the woods.
"Phew..."
Finally relaxing fully, he set down his backpack and stripped off the ruined clothes.
Upper garments were beyond salvage, gear clawed to bits too.
Worthless now, but better than tossing.
'Knew it going in, but experiencing it firsthand is wild. Unconsciously understood and spoke their language.'
Wiping down with a damp cloth amid stray thoughts, he noticed all wounds fully healed without trace.
Super Recovery was handy in every way.
Mana Affinity proved quite useful too.
Finished tidying, he unrolled his sleeping bag on the old bed and lay down.
Short time since arriving, yet he'd fought a beast, met locals, conversed.
'Yeah, doing good. Talk was natural, chief's reaction fine.'
Staring at the ceiling, lips curved into a soft smile.
Not sure if Mind Hub helped here, but it felt genuine enough.
Smiling at the ceiling a while, he closed his eyes.
Not sleepy yet—too soon since isekai arrival—but needed to sync to this world's clock, so forcing rest.
He gradually slipped into dormancy.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Unpacked the delivery and bit into the chicken.
"Chicken really is the truth."
Ordered right after sending the avatar isekai—didn't arrive till after the ordeals, village arrival, and dormancy.
Earth time, just 20 minutes—unavoidable.
'Man, this is the life. Warm shower, chicken, comfy otherworld travel.'
His other avatar, 'Heinz,' followed 'Hans' to the otherworld into extreme training mode.
Never know when deployed—prep ahead.
Devoured the chicken in seconds, cleaned up—just then, sensed morning in the dormant otherworld.
"Hm... Guess I'll gather intel on how this world ticks."
Sauntered to the computer, browsed sites idly.
Isekai trips enjoyable via internet too.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Dormant with eyes closed, but senses not fully shut off.
Feeling daylight break and people stir, he opened his eyes and rose.
Avatars needed true sleep for brain rest, but this night was jet lag adjustment—enough.
"Sleep well, Chief?"
"Yeah, you too, Hans?"
"Yes, thanks to you—passed the night comfortably."
Greeted the chief exiting his room, washed simply in the backyard.
"Nothing fancy, but eat up."
"Even providing food—truly thankful."
"Heh heh, we help each other. Lend a hand with village chores later."
Boiled potatoes, hard bread, soup—first otherworld meal, satisfying.
Not home-cooked vibe, so he asked—the chief replied.
"Old timer living alone, neighbors bring meals. Grateful thing."
Villagers tighter-knit than expected.
Or chief perks.
Chat naturally turned to him.
"Your clothes, gear—all unfamiliar. From far away?"
"Ahaha, I like odd stuff. Wandering, collected 'em."
"Hmm... Traveling solo must be tough?"
Vagabond adventurer cover story smoothed it over; mentioned aimless travels, lost path.
Naturally asked about nearby cities.
"Hm... Old mountain hermit—what do I know? Heard there's a small city east."
Not definite, but set east as goal.
Better than aimless wandering.
Leave next day; today, help chief with village tasks.
Gather basics before full action—for safe growth.
Prime chance for info from locals, ignorant of the world.
Filled backyard troughs, chopped wood, helped repair palisade.
"Hans, rope there please."
"Good stamina. What'd you do before?"
Worked with village men, chatted naturally.
"Got it. So hunters handle outside dealings? Safe routes?"
Stamina overflow—no fatigue; treated as training, kept at it.
"Good work today. Early start tomorrow—rest up. One last drink?"
Post-labor intel gathering done, washed, entered house—chief brought dinner and booze.
Strong proof, but regenerating liver no threat; tastier than expected.
Savoring otherworld brew, back-and-forth till time flew.
Too late risks tomorrow—regretfully wrapped up, sleeping bag in room.
Jet lag synced, labor and drinks—deep sleep this time.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I paused my game and closed my eyes, focusing.
Heinz halted mid-squat at the gym and shut his eyes.
...The connection to the otherworld avatar, Hans, was severed.
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