The girl was dressed like a typical peasant girl from the Middle Ages. She wore a simple linen tunic that reached her ankles, and over it, she had a second, shorter tunic. Her shoes were simple leather clogs, and she wore a headscarf.
She had hair as red as roses and eyes as blue as the sky.
I began to understand what the girl was saying to me.
To be honest, it's kind of embarrassing that I have to go to another world just to be able to speak with a girl again.
"You seem to be lost," she said, with a cute look on her face.
I went with the most basic excuse written in the isekai book of rules.
"I seem to have lost my memories, so I don't remember how I got here," I replied.
"Really?!" she said, bewildered."Dear god, you're almost naked."
A sorry look appeared on her face.
"Come with me. I can bring you to my village."
"I'm thankful for your kindness."
We walked a bit in silence.
I had never talked to a girl before, so I didn't know what to say.
Then she began to break the silence.
"Do you remember your name and age?"
"Yeah, those two I still remember. My name is ◼️◼️◼️◼️, and I'm 21 years old, I think."
"What a beautiful name you have," she replied."I'm also 21 years old. My name is Marie."
"Nice to meet you, Marie."
"I really can't remember anything… can you tell me which country we're in?"
"Of course I can," she replied with a bright smile."This is the Kingdom of Levosa, and we live in the County of Laros."
"No… I can't remember them," I said.
"Hopefully you get your memory back soon."
A village not too far away came into view.
"Look—there! My village!" she said, happily.
We walked a bit more and arrived at the entrance.
The whole village seemed unprotected.
Strangely enough, there were walls, but no guards.
"Stay here. I'll be back," she said and left.
I stood at the entrance and waited.
A little while later, she returned with clothes in her hands.
"Here, take this, so you don't look so suspicious."
She gave me woolen tunics, belted at the waist and paired with pants and sandels.
"I advise you to change into these as soon as possible."
"Then I'll change now."
Marie looked away, blushing a little, but I didn't care whether she was looking or not.
Normally I would've been ashamed, but I wasn't at all.
I didn't care if there were other people or girls watching me change.
But luckily, no one was around, so I changed without a problem.
"You can look again," I said to Marie.
I held my robe in my left hand, thinking I might need it again someday.
"It looks good on you," she said."Now let's go—I'll show you around."
We walked into the village.
Everything you'd expect from a stereotypical medieval fantasy village was here: a central marketplace, a local tavern where villagers gathered, farms, forests, and a small chapel.
Marie showed me everything important in the village.
Our final stop was an inn.
The sun already began to set, and night slowly fell.
"Unfortunately, my parents won't allow you to stay at our house tonight."
"I understand. Thank you for helping me in my dire situation," I replied.
"You don't have any money, do you?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"No, I don't," I replied.
"A night will probably cost you 30 copper coins."
She handed me the money, and I felt bad for her.
[You learned of the existence of money!][The skill "Perception of Price" has been granted to you]
[30 copper = 15 dollars]
"The system again," I muttered quietly.
"So… we go our separate ways now, it seems…" she said, slightly concerned.
"I can't burden you anymore. You've already done enough for me," I said, trying to cheer her up a little.
"This village is small, but everyone will help you if you ask."
Marie left—and I was alone again.
I went into the inn she'd shown me.
It was small, but clean.
Also very empty, except for the receptionist.
"I don't know you. Where are you from?" she said in a rude tone.
"I'm merely a wanderer who wishes to stay for the night," I replied.
"One night will cost you 50 copper coins."
Marie had said it would cost 30, not 50.
It seemed like she wanted to scam me.
"I can't pay such an unreasonable price," I said calmly.
"Unreasonable?!" she snapped.
"I've traveled to many villages, but I've never heard of 50 copper coins for a shabby inn like this—for just one night."
"Normally I would have paid you no more than 30 copper coins, which seems fair to me—considering it looks like I'm your only customer. But now… I don't think I can stay."
I was so confident in what I was saying, I almost couldn't believe myself.
The receptionist suddenly changed her attitude.
"I didn't know you were such an experienced traveler," she said, trying to diffuse the atmosphere."I'll charge you the normal 30 copper coins, like you said."
"No, you disrespected me. I don't think 30 will do."
"What? But 30 is the normal price!"
"If you don't give me a discount, I'll have to leave."
"Okay, okay, how about 25 copper coins?"
"No. 20, or I go."
"20?!"
"No deal, I assume," I said, pretending to leave.
"Wait, wait! Okay, 20!"
"Wasn't so difficult, was it?"
She gave me the keys, and I went upstairs to my room.
[Congratulations! You've made yourself familiar with the transaction system in this world.][You have earned the skill "Negotiation Lv. 1"]
I knew this would happen.It seems that every time I learn something new about this world, a system message pops up, giving me a specific skill for it.
I opened the door to my room. It was a small space with only a bed inside.
I lay down on the bed. Night had already fallen completely.
"What a day" I thought to myself.
"I still don't really know what's going on... I mean, who would?"
As I lay there, I noticed something strange.
Normally, I would have felt exhausted after such a long day, but I didn't.
In fact, I felt wide awake. So awake that I could probably stay up for another twenty-four hours, maybe more.
"System" I said.
[...]
"I know you can hear me. Tell me, why was I sent to this world?"
[You have been chosen as the one who seeks good stories]
"But why?"
[That, I can't tell you yet]
"Then what can you tell me?!"
I began to get frustrated.
[Ask me.]
"What is this world?"
[This is the Tutorial]
"And?..."
[This is the Tutorial]
"Okay then… are these people real, or are they just part of the 'Tutorial'?"
[That is up to you to decide]
The system's answers were frustrating me so much.
"You said I should bring a fitting ending to this world. How am I supposed to do that?"
[That is up to you to decide]
"Can't you give me any advice on how to clear it?"
[It's up to you how to clear it]
"You're not very helpful."
[...]
I had hoped to get something—anything—from the system. But I got nothing.
"I can't even sleep... I don't feel tired at all."
[You are not bound by the laws of this world]
"What?"
[You will find out soon enough]