Rustle, rustle.
With two tufts of grass stuck on my head, I poked out of the bushes and carefully surveyed my surroundings. Once I was sure no one was around, I whispered, "All clear on my side. How about yours?"
The old merchant's parched voice came from behind me. "Same here."
"Phew, looks like we're finally safe." Letting out a long breath, I leaned wearily against a nearby tree.
That Tree Sentinel was terrifying. He'd charged right into the woods after us and still refused to give up.
Fortunately, there were too many trees for his massive horse and halberd to maneuver, and we finally managed to shake him off.
The wandering merchant also sighed with relief, then complained, "How on earth did you get that monster after you... hmm? Now that I look closely, you're a Tarnished, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"That figures, especially here in Limgrave." The old merchant continued, "My name is Kale. You might not be able to tell, but I'm a merchant."
"I'm sorry about what happened back there, but..." I proudly showed off my loincloth to demonstrate that I was utterly penniless.
Kale fell silent for a moment before finally sighing. "...That's all right. Besides, you don't look like you'd attack me. Perhaps we'll do business someday."
"But you're a warrior, aren't you? How do you not even have a weapon?" Kale voiced his biggest question.
Helplessly, I told him about my unfortunate encounter with the Grafted Scion.
"So that's what happened. You've had it rough." Kale nodded, turned around, and rummaged through the packs on his horse for a while before spreading his hands helplessly. "Unfortunately, I don't have any weapons either..."
"It's fine. I'll figure something out." I smiled.
Kale kindly warned me, "Then you'd better be careful... you've heard of Godrick the Grafted, haven't you?"
I nodded.
"His soldiers are hunting down Tarnished throughout Limgrave for some evil ritual." Kale paused, then added, "There are also plenty of bandits and demi-humans in these lands... in troubled times, the more ways you have to defend yourself and stay alive, the better."
Kale had a point. In a Souls-like world like this, having nothing in my hands really didn't inspire any sense of security.
Just as I was pondering how to get a weapon, a rustling came from the bushes beside me.
Then a gaunt man's head popped out, wearing a golden iron helmet. He immediately shouted, "Hey, there really is someone over here! It's a Tarnished!"
He wore coarse red-and-green cloth armor. Crap, that's one of Godrick the Grafted's soldiers!
At the same time, hoofbeats sounded behind me. I turned around, only to discover that old bastard Kale had already started running!
"Hey!"
"My dear customer, you'll usually find me at the Church of Elleh! Don't forget me if you want to do business!" The guy even remembered to advertise himself. "Good luck!"
"Then take me with you!" Unfortunately, it was already too late. Kale and his little mule of a horse had vanished into the woods.
Shing!
Behind me, a sword slid out of its sheath.
A chilling smile spread across Godrick's soldier's face. "Hahaha, th-this is great! Whatever happens, as long as you're Tarnished, as long as I catch you, it won't be my turn!"
With that, he swung his sword down, nearly cleaving me between the legs. My Tarnished almost became a eunuch.
"Stay still!" The soldier swung again.
I hurriedly rolled away from the attack, then spun both legs around in a Flooding Water with a Flood Dragon, forcing him back while quickly getting to my feet.
Stay calm.
He's just some early-game experience points, the sort of enemy I could easily handle even when I first started playing.
And compared to the Grafted Scion, he's far too slow!
The moment he raised his arm again, I stepped in close, seized his wrist, and twisted hard, disarming him. Then I drove my right palm into his chin. A Rising Dragon actually sent Godrick's soldier flipping through the air.
Now that's a warrior's body, Tarnished!
It followed the ideas in my head and executed them almost perfectly. Maybe my current abilities rivaled Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen! Haha, just bragging.
"Hey, guys! Over here!"
Crap, reinforcements already? Come to think of it, this guy did shout when he first showed up.
Several more of Godrick's soldiers emerged from the woods, carrying torches and swords.
Two fists can't beat four hands. When it's time to go, go!
I picked up the straight sword I'd knocked away, turned, and ran toward the other side of the forest.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Oh, these guys have bows and crossbows too. One shot just flew past my ear, hey!
I hurriedly rolled into a patch of bushes, then crouched low and slipped away as fast as I could.
Fortunately, the trees blocked out the sky and visibility was poor. After I ran some distance, the shouts behind me gradually faded away.
I breathed a sigh of relief and slowed down.
I weighed the straight sword in my hand. Well, the weapon problem is solved for now.
But another problem immediately presented itself.
Grrr-
My stomach let out an astonishing growl. Wait, the Tarnished actually needs to eat?
Grrr-
Right, there is gold-tinged excrement in the game, after all. Turn it into a dung pot and throw it, and you can even poison yourself.
The existence of shit meant this world required eating and digestion. Apparently, I wasn't just experiencing a Souls-like game now, but a full-blown survival title. When I reached the snowy mountains, I probably wouldn't be able to stroll in bare-chested like in the game, either. My frostbite meter might keep building until I dropped dead.
Hmm? Something's moving!
I cautiously peeked out from behind a tree. Oh, a boar eating Rowa Fruit!
What a chance.
I lifted my sword, aimed at its backside, and hurled it with all my strength.
Ah, I missed!
It stuck into the ground beside the animal's head.
The boar squealed in alarm and plunged into the bushes.
"Huh, is it really this hard? The Tarnished could catch ordinary animals effortlessly in the game." I shook out my hand. "Looks like I'd better find some proper throwing weapons next time."
I walked over, intending to retrieve the straight sword.
But to my surprise, the boar's cry came from the bushes again-snort, snort!
The next second, that stinking black pig charged out and rammed its head into my chest, sending me flying.
"Gah!" I nearly coughed up blood. The bastard had actually doubled back!
Even after knocking me down, the boar wasn't satisfied. It turned around, scraped at the dirt, lowered its head, and charged again.
"Aaah-s-sorry! I'm sorry!" This thing is way stronger than in the game! Does it have snowy-mountain stats? Terrified, I hurriedly snatched up my sword and bolted.
I jogged all the way out of the woods. It was already approaching dusk.
On the rocks ahead, several dark shapes bobbed and shifted.
...Holy crap, giant vampire bats! And there are three or four of them!
These things generally went down in two hits, but they were nimble, annoying fliers with ranged sonic attacks to boot. Getting surrounded early in the game meant certain death!
Crap, one of them looked up. Its red eyes met mine!
All of them raised their heads and locked eyes with me.
Retreat!
"Aaah-aaah-"
"Shh! Shh! Buddy, could you keep it down? If those things below notice us, we're both screwed."
"Aaah-aaah-"
In the end, I could only hide up on one of those strange poles in Limgrave.
Perhaps it was some kind of punishment. There was always someone hanging from them, arms spread in a crucifix pose like Queen Marika. Every night, they let out endless, horrifying screams.
Fortunately, bats actually had poor eyesight and relied on sound to navigate.
As I hid up on one of those poles, they seemed to consider me just another of the hanging figures, something so familiar that they overlooked me.
But...
"Please, I'm begging you, scream a little more quietly." I wore a miserable expression. With both hands wrapped around the pole, I couldn't even cover my ears. "How about I let you down once those bats leave?"
"Aaah-aaah-"
Fine, fine. Whatever makes you happy.
I sighed and gazed speechlessly at the distant Erdtree. Even at night, it still shone brilliantly, solemn and majestic.
But as first days went, mine had been an absolute disaster!
Faced with such a scene, I couldn't help joining in. "Aaah-"
"Aaah-"
Tonight was going to be a noisy one.
Before you continue