Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Start in Another World
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"Ugh... my head..."
I woke up with my head spinning like crazy. Luckily, the dizziness subsided quickly.
I checked my surroundings after coming to my senses. I'd been inside Gocheok Dome moments ago, but now I was lying somewhere on a wild hillside.
I jolted upright in shock.
'Huh? Why does my body feel so light?'
Even after blacking out from the vertigo, my body felt surprisingly light.
But before I could dwell on it, I noticed something right in front of me and looked up. Rough breathing sounds reached my ears.
"Wh-what... what the hell is this?!"
A massive orc stood before me.
"Kururuk..."
A real orc, letting out grotesque grunts. The kind I'd only seen in games or novels was wielding a club right in front of my eyes.
"Th-this has to be a dream... right?"
I figured I must still be delirious.
"Kraaaaa!!!"
The orc bellowed and swung its club down at my head. I tried to dodge, but terror had rooted my legs in place.
The club hurtled toward my skull. I strained to turn away, but my body was frozen stiff with fear.
It didn't even feel that fast.
Was this the life-flashing-before-my-eyes thing? Memories of my school days and my shut-in gamer life flickered past, yet the club kept descending.
Finally, it crashed down on my head.
'Huh??'
It connected, but no pain came. With the orc's brute strength, I should've been flung back, but my body didn't budge an inch.
As if the laws of physics had vanished entirely.
"Ha... haha... told you it was a dream... yeah, no such thing as orcs..."
I let out a hollow laugh, but my pants were soaked through. The sheer terror had made me piss myself.
Eh, whatever—it's just a dream. Then panic hit me. I'd heard dreams could make you wet the bed for real. A 28-year-old guy bedwetting? That'd be endless ridicule.
That's when a woman's voice rang in my ears.
"As long as I'm here, no one touches my Pilot."
A familiar line. Of course I knew it—my favorite character Sua's classic catchphrase.
I whipped my head around without thinking.
"Sua...?"
There she was—the Sua who'd sent me here.
'No... not that woman... this is...'
She looked more like Sua than the cosplayer ever could. Not just like her—she was Sua.
The D-rank Sua herself stood right before me.
She caught my voice and our eyes met, her gaze flickering for a split second. But she quickly turned her spear on the orc.
She thrust it forward in a flash.
"Kuaaaak!!"
The spear pierced the orc's chest, and it shrieked in agony. It retaliated, swinging its club at her.
Sua pulled back her spear, dodged the blow, and stabbed repeatedly.
"Kraaa..."
After several hits, the orc slammed into the ground and collapsed.
It dissolved into dust and flowed straight into my pocket.
"Pilot, it's dangerous here. Let's head back to the village first."
Sua grabbed my arm and broke into a run. I bolted with her, terrified of more orcs. It was easier than expected. I'd never run during my office job days, but my body kept up effortlessly.
It didn't last long—two more orcs appeared ahead.
Sua halted and leveled her spear at them.
The fight broke out again.
One orc was manageable, but two proved too much even for her.
As she fended off one, the other struck from behind, sending her flying.
"Urk..."
Pain or not, she staggered up to shield me.
"Not yet. I won't give up."
Another classic Sua line. She wasn't the tankiest, but she'd always throw herself in front of the protagonist without hesitation.
The outlook was grim. The orcs sported only shallow wounds, while Sua's arm hung limp—probably broken, barely able to grip her spear.
Shwaaaa!!
"Kuaaaak!!!"
An arrow streaked in, punching through one orc's skull.
It scattered into dust.
A dark-skinned woman appeared and slit the other's throat with her dagger. The battle ended in seconds.
A blonde woman emerged from the bushes and yelled at me.
"Hey! What the hell is a newbie Pilot doing in a place like this?!"
She had an haughty air. I didn't recognize her, but the women behind her? Crystal clear.
Lushan, Edern, Holla, Stella, Garujan, Tear.
Valkyries, straight out of the game.
'What... the actual... fuck...'
"Get down the mountain, now!"
She pointed downhill. But I couldn't move. Hell, I didn't even know which way was down.
"Uh... I... don't really know the path..."
She stared at me like I was an idiot.
"Then why the hell did a newbie come here? You know this forest isn't a playground? Looks like you've got just one D-rank Valkyrie—what were you thinking?"
She eyed me with utter pity.
"Sorry..."
Her intensity made me apologize on reflex. My only crime was waking up in this forest.
Not sure it was even my fault.
"Head the way I pointed—no monsters that route."
She'd saved my life, so I thanked her profusely. As I turned to go, she called out.
"Hold up. Your Valkyrie's hurt. I'll patch her up. Holla—heal."
The A-rank Holla cast Heal on Sua's arm, and it snapped right back to normal.
I thanked her again. Sure, she'd snapped at me, but it was out of concern for my safety. She'd helped me out and even healed Sua.
"Name's Isteir. You?"
She introduced herself.
"I'm..."
I started to give my real name, then stopped. This was a Western fantasy world—My Korean name would stick out. Ergo, I went with my game ID instead.
"Kai."
"Grow a lot stronger, then maybe we'll meet again. This place is seriously dangerous."
Her tone softened a bit now that she'd heard my name. Not fully thawed, but closer.
"Thanks. See you around."
"Yeah. If you live that long."
I waved goodbye and headed down. Finally, the village came into view.
I was still reeling. Sua was real enough, but a Valkyrie world? Unbelievable.
These vivid sensations proved it wasn't a dream.
The village sights as I entered were too lifelike to be anything but real.
It bustled with activity.
'Where the hell am I...'
I'd sunk hours into Valkyrie, but city details were sparse. No clue what this place was.
"Sua...? Where are we?"
I called to her, and she turned, her eyes trembling again.
"I'm not Sua... I'm a Spear Knight."
She insisted on Spear Knight, but I knew her true name.
"But you are Sua, though?"
"Spear Knight."
Didn't want to reveal her name, maybe?
"Can't exactly call you 'Spear Knight' every time."
"Others just call me Spear Knight. No one even bothers, really."
Her tone turned gloomy, echoing her words. D-rank Valkyries got zero attention—cannon fodder for loot and EXP shards.
Gacha 'em and scrap 'em immediately. Weirdo move on my part, raising one to SSR.
"Can I just call you Sua?"
"...Do whatever you want..."
She caved after my persistence.
"So, where are we?"
She looked baffled.
"Don't understand the question."
"What's this village called...?"
"You... don't remember?"
Did she think we'd been here forever? She seemed worried.
"I haven't remembered a thing since waking up in the forest..."
Amnesia seemed the safest play.
She stepped closer and pressed her hand to my forehead. Rough skin, but warm.
"No fever..."
She pondered briefly, then explained.
This was Astera—chapter 2's starting hub in Valkyrie. Described as a major trade city.
Seemed accurate. Crowded streets, merchants everywhere.
Gurgle...
Come to think of it, when did I last eat...?
Hunger hit hard. I patted myself down.
'Huh? My body...?'
No beer gut—just flat, toned abs.
Glanced at my hands: pale, elegant fingers.
"Sua, got a mirror...?"
"I don't carry one."
Spotted a fountain nearby. Dashed over and peered into the water.
It wasn't me. A stunning bishounen with silvery-blue hair stared back.
"What... the hell...?"
Felt like a "welcome gift" from whoever dumped me here.