The sound of the river continued to echo, flowing gently in the stillness of night. Cold crept in, slowly piercing my skin.
Quite surprising… Now, as a full-fledged human, I could feel cold, hunger, and fatigue—three things that once felt foreign to me.
But they weren't weaknesses. On the contrary... These sensations made me feel more alive.
This... is what it means to be human. And I… was enjoying it.
By the riverside, I lit a small campfire and built a simple shelter out of wooden logs and large leaves—a makeshift hut for the night.
The sky stretched wide above—glittering with stars. The atmosphere felt peaceful, though not entirely safe.
Next to me, a giant alien dog curled up, snoring softly now and then. Genesis. Above, a small drone hovered silently, glowing faint blue. Apolo.
I shook my head slightly and smiled. "No… this is the sensation of adventure, Apolo. Being able to sit quietly, watch a fire, and listen to the sounds of nature."
I looked up again, letting the starlight bathe my face. "This… reminds me of the past. During winter breaks, my father used to take me camping."
My father was an archaeologist. Rarely home—always busy with expeditions and ancient ruins. I grew up in silence, living alone in an empty house.
But once in a while… when school was out, he would take me out of the city. We'd climb mountains, sleep under the sky, and he would tell me stories of long-dead civilizations.
---
Morning came with a biting chill. A light mist hovered over the river, and small birds chirped faintly from behind the leaves.
I stood near the fading campfire, while Genesis stretched lazily under a tree, wrapping himself in his tail like a blanket.
"Apolo, environment status?"
I looked up. "Finally, something to start the day."
From the bushes and trees emerged five small-bodied creatures with yellow-green skin, long pointy ears, and glowing red eyes. Some carried rusty daggers and crudely short staves.
"Goblins..."
Genesis immediately lifted his head, tail swaying like a whip, ready to pounce. But I raised my hand, stopping him.
"Not this time, Genesis. Sit back and enjoy the show." I smirked.
My new body… was stable enough. I wanted to see how far I could control it, without relying on the auto-system.
One goblin shrieked and leapt forward. I stood still.
As he neared—I moved.
WHAM!!
One punch to the jaw, and the sound of his bones breaking echoed clearly. His body flew into a tree, snapping it before dropping lifelessly.
Two more followed. One swung a short sword at me.
CLANG—!
I caught the blade with my bare hand. His eyes widened.
"You should know… you're messing with the wrong guy."
I drove my knee into his gut.
DUAGGH!!
His body folded like paper, while i slammed the third goblins straight into the ground.
Only two remained. One turned and tried to run. The other trembled, stabbing at the air wildly.
I activated telekinesis—my right eye began to glow golden.
The two goblins were lifted into the air. Without a word, I crushed them with my mind. Their tiny bodies exploded, green blood splattering everywhere.
My telekinesis was only at 1% strength compared to my main body. But still… more than enough for weaklings like these.
"They smell disgusting. Genesis, you may eat them all."
The most efficient monster corpse disposal method: just feed them to the hungry dog.
We continued our journey, until I stopped.
From a hilltop, I spotted a horse-drawn carriage surrounded by armed men. Distant shouts echoed faintly.
"Looks like a bandit attack," I muttered, activating the zoom function on my right eye.
The image became clear. Some guards were defending the carriage, while bandits encircled them, faces full of bloodlust.
It felt... too familiar.
"Just like those cliché transmigration stories…"
"Where the main character just transmigrated, then coincidentally stumbles upon a carriage ambushed by bandits—and boom, they show off their powers like a costume-wearing hero."
I grinned slightly. "Hm, let's observe first."
We descended the hill, and I crouched behind a bush, letting the thick leaves cover my silhouette. Sounds of clashing metal and faint shouting reached us from below.
Activating my right eye, I zoomed in. I quickly spotted a damaged but luxurious carriage, guarded by fighters fending off bandits.
The bandits wore scraps—rough leather, torn armor, wielding rusty swords, dull axes, and even cheap daggers.
"Apolo, analyze their levels."
I nodded. "Just low-tier trash trying to act tough."
Then… my eyes locked onto one of the guards.
He stood out. Jet-black messy hair, clean clothes without blood, and… a flat expression full of resolve, like the weight of the world depended on his shoulders.
Of curse, he wielded an oversized greatsword. His fighting style was dramatic but effective—against low-tier bandits.
"Apolo, identify him."
"Level 23 versus level 15 bandits..."
I watched as he swung his sword wide, clearing space. Three bandits were thrown off—one spun twice before landing face-first in a bush.
When another bandit tried to stab him from behind, the man turned slowly, raised his sword with one hand, and—CLANG!—parried it.
Then, with excessive flair, he jumped and cleaved down, slashing one of them while shouting:
"As long as I'm here, no one will be hurt!"
I stared blankly.
"...He's serious?"
<...Unfortunately, yes. And look, some girls from the carriage are already gazing at him starry-eyed.>
I sighed and shook my head. "Black hair, giant sword, corny ideals, and a heroic one-liner. If this isn't a third-rate novel protagonist, I'll rip out your cable with my teeth."
I leaned back against a tree, barely holding my laughter.
"If he says 'I'm just a commoner from a small village' while lifting that sword like the chosen one, I'll jump in and slap his face."
I nodded, still watching him pose dramatically, his cloak fluttering perfectly in the breeze.
"Yeah… at least he's not bad at fighting. But seriously, who battles in broad daylight wearing a cloak like that?"
The dramatic battle finally ended. Some bandits were tied up, guarded by soldiers. The damaged carriage was now surrounded by nobles and servants trying to manage the aftermath.
I squinted.
"Feels like… I forgot something."
I froze. Apolo's words hit like a hammer to my head—snapping me out of my daydream.
"Damn… So that black-haired bastard… just stole my spotlight, huh?"
I exhaled heavily. If I let this moment pass, how would I even interact with people from this region?
And if I suddenly appeared looking dusty and ragged, they might think I'm part of the bandits. Though… my face was clearly far too handsome for that.
"Apolo… what if I pretend to be lost and injured?"
I stared blankly at him.
"...You didn't have to describe it so vividly."
I was still brainstorming a dramatic—or at least non-suspicious—entrance when a sharp voice cut through the air:
"Who's there?!"
Suddenly, the black-haired man leapt. With a half-spin somersault, he landed like an action stage actor.
I sighed. "I'm really starting to enjoy your sarcasm at the worst possible times."
Without hesitation, the man walked quickly toward me. His face stiffened. His expression changed as he got closer.
Those round eyes widened.
"Y-Young Master Rey...?"
I could only freeze in place.
"...Huh?"