All of this was simply too magical for Nanahoshi Shizuka.
Not long ago, she was just an ordinary Japan high school girl.
I got into an argument with a friend on my way home from school because of these trivial things.
Unexpectedly... when she turned around, a dump truck sped towards her.
And that was it.
She didn't know what happened; she only remembered feeling as if she was suddenly sucked in by something and completely lost consciousness.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself lying on an unfamiliar grassy field, with an unfamiliar sky overhead and an indescribable scent of grass and trees in the air.
And just like that, a strange person appeared in my life.
He had squinty eyes, wasn't tall but had a commanding presence, and started speaking in broken Japanese that was almost suffocating, followed immediately by fluent English.
It took her about ten seconds to process the fact that "this person is talking to me," and another three seconds to realize what the Japanese pronunciations meant.
Then I fell into an even deeper state of confusion.
Where's the phone?
Where is her Nokia flip phone?
Nanahoshi Shizuka subconsciously touched the pocket of her school uniform skirt and then rummaged through the pockets of her shirt, but found nothing.
She got up and spun around twice, searching everywhere she could—in the grass, in the cracks between rocks, under the bushes.
Forget about a phone, we didn't even see a hair.
Luo Ge, watching her actions, casually added, "Don't bother looking. I checked everything around you before you woke up; you didn't have anything on you."
"I see."
Nanahoshi Shizuka straightened up and nodded calmly.
Luo Ge couldn't help but glance at her a couple more times.
The girl's reaction was far too indifferent.
He had expected her to yell and scream, pointing her finger at him and demanding to know where he had tied her up.
Or they might break down in tears, crying, "What kind of prank show is this? Get the cameras out!"
She simply accepted the fact that she hadn't brought anything.
Then I stood there in a daze for a while.
Such composure is rare.
"Are you also a time traveler from Japan?" Nanahoshi Shizuka suddenly asked.
"No."
Luo Ge shook his head. "Although I am also a transmigrator, I am Chinese. Strictly speaking, you should call me senior."
"Senior."
Nanahoshi Shizuka called out crisply, then changed the subject, "Then why is your Japanese so bad, senpai?"
"Well... it's all Rudeus's fault for not teaching her properly."
Who is Rudeus?
"Well, I'll keep you in suspense for now. This guy has a special background, and he's from the same place as you. You might even know each other."
Nanahoshi Shizuka frowned.
Are you from the same place as her?
Japan?
She went through everyone she knew in her mind, but couldn't recall anyone with that name.
"Another world... I've really come to another world?" She looked around at the unfamiliar scenery and murmured to herself.
"Right."
Luo Ge nodded. "This is a world of swords and magic."
"Swords and magic? You mean that kind of thing that only appears in novels and anime?"
Nanahoshi Shizuka's face clearly showed great surprise.
"That's right."
"This world is completely different from your original world, so you need to prepare yourself mentally as soon as possible."
Nanahoshi Shizuka's expression became complicated.
She lowered her head and remained silent for a long while, then looked up at Luo Ge, her voice tinged with a hint of caution. "Um... do I still have a chance to go home?"
What are you going home for?
Luo Ge tilted his head. "Isn't it nice to stay in this other world of swords and magic? So many people dream of traveling to it."
"Not good."
Nanahoshi Shizuka's voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally firm. "I still have family and friends. If I just disappear like this, my parents won't even know if I'm alive or dead."
"They will keep waiting and searching, but they will never get a result."
I don't want them to be like this.
She lowered her eyes, her voice trailing off. "... So I want to go home."
Luo Ge looked at her drooping eyelashes and slightly pale fingertips, and his playful expression vanished.
He paused for two seconds, then shrugged. "Go home? I can't do that."
"Huh? We can't go back?"
Nanahoshi Shizuka suddenly looked up, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes.
"But it's not absolute, though."
Luo Ge's lips curled slightly. "As far as I know, there's something called teleportation magic in this world. Theoretically speaking, if you can be teleported here, you can also be teleported back."
"Though I am not particularly talented, I have some knowledge of teleportation magic."
"Real?!"
Nanahoshi Shizuka's eyes lit up instantly. "If I learn the teleportation magic, can I go back?"
Looking into the girl's eyes, which had regained hope, Luo Ge didn't say anything discouraging.
He was well aware of the difficulty of teleportation magic; for an ordinary person like her to master it to a cross-disciplinary level was extremely unlikely.
But she, who had just arrived in this world, needed a rope, even if that rope was thin and fragile, it was better than telling her directly that she could never go back.
"Alright, I have something to take care of first, so I'll be going now."
"Etc!"
Nanahoshi Shizuka caught up in two steps. "Excuse me... could you take me with you?"
Luo Ge glanced back at her.
The girl's eyes held obvious trepidation and nervousness, but even more so, a stubbornness that only comes with a firm decision.
She knew very well that in this completely unfamiliar world, she couldn't speak the language, had no money, and couldn't even recognize the way.
If I'm left here, forget about going home, I might not even survive tonight.
"Oh, this..."
Luo Ge scratched his head. "Alright, you can stay with me for now, but let's be clear, I won't be giving you any special treatment."
"We've only met by chance, I've already done more than enough by taking you along."
"I understand."
Nanahoshi Shizuka nodded vigorously, "Don't worry, senpai! I definitely won't hold you back."
"Then follow along yourself!"
Luo Ge didn't say anything more and turned to walk towards the City of Roa.
Nanahoshi Shizuka quickly followed half a step behind him, as if afraid of being left behind.
As they walked along, Luo Ge intermittently explained some basic facts about this world to her.
He rambled on about the Seven Great Powers, the three major schools of thought, the conflict between demons and humans, and the types and levels of magic along the way.
As Nanahoshi Shizuka walked, she listened, but her eyes never left the medieval-style buildings, the shops with iron signs, and the pedestrians hurrying by in coarse robes.
The last vestige of doubt in her mind—that "could this be a prank show?"—completely vanished after she saw it with her own eyes.
There were no cameras.
A directing team without any backing.
The weariness, numbness, anxiety, and sadness of those pedestrians were completely different from the expressions of any passerby she could remember.
Nanahoshi Shizuka truly arrived in another world.
When they arrived at the makeshift Adventurers' Guild outside the city, a considerable number of people had already gathered around it.
The wooden signboard was covered with countless missing person notices, the papers rustling in the wind.
Some had names and descriptions written on them, some had rough portraits drawn, and others simply had a few words hastily written, "A generous reward will be given for any clues."
Behind every piece of paper is a missing person.
Nanahoshi Shizuka looked at the notices and slowed her pace for a moment.
"As you can see, a disaster evacuation has just taken place here."
Luo Ge's tone was flat. "Everyone in the entire Fittoa Territory was randomly teleported to various parts of the world. Some landed nearby and were able to walk back on their own, while others were thrown into the middle of the ocean or into monster lairs and never returned."
"... So tragic."
"Um."
Luo Ge paused, then suddenly changed the subject. "However, I've never quite understood how this disaster happened, but now that I've found you, I have a rough idea in mind."
What speculation?
Luo Ge turned to look at her. "This disaster relocation might be related to you."
"Huh?!!"
Nanahoshi Shizuka's steps froze on the spot.
She froze for two seconds before realizing what Luo Ge had said, her face turning deathly pale. "It's... it has something to do with me? You mean... it's because I transmigrated that so many people were moved?"
"Don't rush."
Luo Ge waved his hand. "I just think the timing is too coincidental. The time you traveled here almost coincided with the time the disaster broke out, but that doesn't mean you caused it yourself. You're someone who just arrived, you don't even have magic power, how could you possibly drive such a large-scale teleportation spell?"
Nanahoshi Shizuka bit her lip and remained silent, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the hem of her clothes.
Luo Ge sighed. "I'm not saying this to make you blame yourself. After all, you're a victim too. But having more clues will make the investigation clearer later."
Nanahoshi Shizuka remained silent for a long time before finally nodding slightly, her voice muffled. "... Mm."
"There's something else quite interesting."
Luo Ge seemed to recall something, "You moved here from Japan, and your landing point just happens to be near the Buena Village. There aren't that many coincidences in this world!"
Nanahoshi Shizuka looked up at him.
She wasn't slow-witted; she vaguely felt there must be some connection between herself and this disaster, but she knew too little to say anything at the moment.
"Because of the disaster of the Great Migration, your family members also disappeared?"
She suddenly asked, "Are you looking for them too?"
Luo Ge glanced at her, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Oh, you're pretty smart."
"Are you praising me or insulting me?"
"Just take it as a compliment."
The two arrived in front of the guild tent as they spoke.
Luo Ge went in and registered his name. The old man in charge of registration looked up at him, then at the strangely dressed black-haired girl behind him, frowned but didn't ask any questions. He simply handed them a sign and told them to find an empty seat themselves.
Supplies were scarce, food was rationed per person, and living space was limited.
Luo Ge received a small tent that could barely fit two people, and two thin, translucent blankets.
And tonight's rations—two pieces of black bread, a small jar of pickles, and a jug of water.
"Tonight..."
Luo Ge glanced down at the tent in his hand, then looked up at Nanahoshi Shizuka straight. "You shouldn't mind sharing a tent with me, right?"
"No, there's nothing wrong!"
Nanahoshi Shizuka's body visibly stiffened.
A blush rose to her ears, her lips moved slightly, and her voice became soft. "No... no, I'm already very grateful that you're willing to take me with you."
She said she didn't mind, but her hands clutching the hem of her clothes betrayed her.
As a high school girl, although she had been in relationships, she still had her first kiss and her precious virginity.
As a result... on her very first day in this other world, she had to share a tent with a complete stranger.
The dangerous scenarios from the anime and light novels she had watched were flashing through her mind, making her heart pound like a drum.
Luo Ge glanced at her, finding it somewhat amusing.
Although my body looks much taller than others my age, I'm only ten years old this year.
Ten years old.
The girl opposite him, though she looked mature, was just a sixteen-year-old high school student.
He carried the tent toward the open space, tossing out a remark without looking back. "Don't worry, I'm not interested in old women."
"... An old woman?!"
Nanahoshi Shizuka's expression instantly cracked.
"You look like a high school student, right? You must be sixteen, while I'm only ten."
"We're six years apart, I feel old even if I call you 'older sister'."
"Sixteen is not old! It's still the prime of youth!"
I don't know about spending money or not, but you're definitely having a bad time.
Luo Ge crouched down and started setting up the tent. "If you're really worried, I'll sleep inside the tent tonight, and you can sleep outside."
"Okay, I'm going to sleep..."
Nanahoshi Shizuka suddenly fell silent, stunned.
Did she hear that right? She seemed to have misheard. Did Luo Ge mean for her, the girl, to sleep outside the tent?
Does this guy have any gentlemanly manners at all?
He stood there, glaring at his retreating figure, grinding his teeth for a long while, until finally all his anger turned into a sigh.
When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.
She went over and squatted down, clumsily helping him pull the corners of the tent, muttering softly, "... Ten years old and this tall? Who would believe it?"
"It's innate, there's nothing you can do about it."
Luo Ge dusted off his hands. "Alright, the bed frame is up. We'll make do for tonight. I need to go find someone first thing tomorrow morning."
"By the way, there's only one bed here, which isn't enough. I'll sleep on the bed tonight, and you can sleep on the floor, right?"
"You want me to sleep on the floor?"
"Do you even have any gentlemanly manners?" Nanahoshi Shizuka couldn't help but mutter to herself.
Luo Ge ignored Nanahoshi Shizuka's resentful look; he wouldn't easily humble himself for a stranger he'd just met.
The world is vast, but you yourself are the greatest!
Nanahoshi Shizuka felt somewhat helpless.
But in this strange new world, Nanahoshi Shizuka knew very well that she could only rely on the boy in front of her; without him, she simply could not survive.
Even if he really intended to do something to himself tonight.
Nanahoshi Shizuka felt she couldn't refuse either.
And so, the first day in this other world passed by in a blur.