"I'm telling you! We're in the game!" Josh said enthusiastically, his brown hair obscuring his eyes as the wind blew.
"But how is that possible?" Sol replied.
"I don't know? Magical stuff and that?" Josh retorted.
"Mhm... Well, enough about that. The fact that you're here might also mean that the other two are here, too." Sol said. "We'll have to find them first."
"Right." Josh replied in agreement.
Sol and Josh walked the streets of the city, searching for their two friends. It was unfamiliar, alien to them. The scenery they had only seen in movies and such was now being displayed in front of them as their reality.
Sol, however, remained calm and rational, though the sudden change had initially panicked him. He had quickly collected his thoughts and pressed forward.
I can't explain how or why this is occurring, but it seemed like I had already expected it. Was it my boredom? Or had I acquired an adaptive skill because we're in the game?
Sol had always fantasized about being isekai'd to another world. He was bored of his life; everything back on Earth was ordinary. The only thing he truly loved was gaming with his friends.
Josh was the same, living a mundane life as an ordinary student—the unnoticed, weird kid at school. By sheer luck, he'd become friends with Sol and the others through gaming. But now, it was different; he was in the game he'd spent countless hours playing.
He was afraid at first, worried about leaving his parents. But he quickly dismissed that thought because he could now live out his wildest dreams.
And so, the two walked the streets with newfound confidence. But Josh abruptly stopped.
Sol walked a few meters before realizing his friend was gone. He glanced back and saw Josh standing in the middle of a busy crowd, still in his pajamas, drawing curious stares.
Josh stared blankly, as if seeing something invisible. Then he smiled.
"What the hell...?" Sol stared in confusion.
Josh snapped out of it and hurried to Sol.
"Think of the word 'status' quickly!" he said happily.
Sol, confused but followed as josh said, thought: Status.
A transparent blue rectangle appeared in thin air, displaying Sol's "status."
[Name: Solitude (no last name)]
Sex: Male
Rank: E
Strength: 17/100
Stamina: 60/100
Agility: 44/100
Intelligence: 81/100
Luck: 100/100
Mana: 40/1000
[Occupation: 1st Circle Mage]
Damn, these are my in-game stats? But I remember my strength being higher. And why is my luck so maxed out? I don't remember investing all my points in it. It even included my real, strange name. Someone will roll on the floor laughing and cringing so hard if they had seen this. What a bummer. Well, it's not like they can see my status window, so I guess it's good.
"So? What rank?" Josh suddenly asked, snapping Sol out of his thoughts.
Shit, he's going to make fun of me with this.
"Rank... E," Sol said flatly.
Josh tried to stifle his laughter but failed. "Puhahahaha! Even a goblin could kill you with that pathetic rank!"
"Enough! About that, now tell me yours." Sol's eyebrows furrowed.
"Rank B! Hah! How about that? Although I have zero stamina—" Josh's boasting was cut short by Sol's laughter.
"Kahaha! No stamina? What are you going to do when monsters chase us? Walk? Keke!" Sol said.
Josh's face contorted. He was about to punch Sol, but as he raised his fist, he hit someone with his elbow.
The unfortunate man stumbled backward, attracting attention. He turned around, irritated.
"How dare you hit a noble!" He was wearing fine clothing, that of a nobleman. "You're going to pay for that!"
"Hah? Sorry, then." Josh ignored him.
"You!" The man's face contorted with rage.
Sol, realizing the situation, stepped in front of Josh. "Please, sir. We truly apologize! My servant is newly recruited from the countryside. Please excuse his impudence. I will ensure he's properly disciplined."
"What?!" Josh barked.
The man calmed down. "Hmm. Alright, but next time— what? That's mine!" He pointed at Sol's clothes in shock.
Sol heard the man. Without thinking, he dragged Josh and ran.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! We've just been put in an unfamiliar environment, and now we're being chased!
"Bastards! Come here!" the man shouted, running after them.
"Sol! Just give them back!" Josh shouted, out of breath.
"Fuck no! He'll probably detain us anyway! I don't want to spend my life in prison when there's a whole new world to explore!" Sol retorted.
"Agh! Alright, I get it! But let's find somewhere to stop! I can't keep up because of my damned stamina!"
Josh panted, his mouth agape. They turned around a corner, bumping into people, then ducked into an alleyway.
The man ran past them. They sighed in relief.
"Fucking hell, that was one of the most thrilling experiences I've ever had since birth," Josh said, catching his breath.
The boys rested in the alleyway, catching their breath. After a while, they ventured out and found themselves in front of the castle from before. It was even more grandiose up close. The guards stood motionless at the gate, its towering doors taller than a two-story house.
Sol and Josh were captivated, gazing upward. Like kids seeing airplanes for the first time.
Until...
"So, you were here," a figure appeared behind them—the noble.
They turned, terrified.
Shit.
The man's palm turned to fist, it glowed a blue light. He raised his hand to strike, until a boy intervened.