Chapter 2 – A Delicious Smell Wafting Through the Air at Night (part2)
"No way.... a cliff...!?" (Yashiro)
I returned to the 30th ward and walked toward the 42nd ward. However, I found that there was a cliff bordering the two wards. The cliff was about 20 meters high. Far below me, I could see the shabby cityscape of the 42nd Ward.
Oh, I see.... It had been bothering me that the lowest ward is adjacent to the much higher-ranked 30th ward, but with this cliff, the people of the 30th Ward could rest easy.
There wouldn't be many fools who would try to climb a cliff this high, after all. It'd be nearly impossible. That being said, it seems to be still possible to climb down from here.
The sky was getting darker as I went back and forth between the different wards. Left with no choices, I tried to make my way down the cliff desperately.
I still haven't decided on a place to stay. I also haven't eaten yet. I don't even have money to begin with.
I have to enter the 42nd Ward no matter what. I don't have time to go around the outskirts of the city. I'm sure the rumors about me have already spread everywhere. It would be bad if someone remember my face.
“Expecting me to change my way of life after suddenly throwing me into another world.... I mean, if we talk about coming to another world, don't you usually awaken to some mysterious power or something? What can I do with the strength and stamina of an average high school boy?” (Yashiro)
I don't have any cheat abilities, godly power, or anything like that. I only can move a lot better compared to my previous 36-years-old self.
"I'm sure I will have a terrible muscle pain tomorrow.... Oh right, I have a younger body now.... No, that's not important right now...." (Yashiro)
The fear of descending a cliff as high as a four-story building without a safety rope. On top of that, the hunger and fatigue from walking around the city. My physical strength was already at its limit. Then, just because my mind wandered for a brief moment, I lost my footing and fell off the cliff
Ah, I'm going to die....
It was the umpteenth time I've had a premonition of death since coming to this world, and I was getting sick and tired of it.
God, do you hate me that much?
My time in the air was brief. I was already halfway to the ground. And finally, my body was mercilessly slammed into the ground...?
*splash*
Huh?
I heard a big splash sound. The place where my body landed turned out to be a marshland with a humid and stagnant air.
I was saved...?
When I picked myself up, I found a huge bunch of aquatic plants stuck to my ears. I looked around my surroundings as I removed the aquatic plants from my ears.
Yeah, I'm still alive....
My five senses seem to be functioning normally as well.
However, my clothes are covered in mud and my body smells like a swamp. I need to wash them somewhere later. I only have this one pair, after all.
The swamp I fell into is about knee-deep, and the bottom is filled with soft mud. Thanks to this, I survived the fall. My body stinks, though. Well, it's better than dying. But it still stinks, though.
When I tried to get out of the swamp, I saw a shadow moved in the water.
What is that? There's something in the water....
I held my breath as I focused my attention. Then, a frog popped its head out of the water.
Oh, it's just a frog....
No, hold on, isn't that frog too big!?
The frog was about 80 centimeters tall, and it was wearing clothes for some reason.
Is he a frog folk? There was parrot folk and so on, after all.
I guess he lives here. Having fallen out of nowhere like that, I'd look like a totally suspicious person right now. Maybe I should greet him first.
Objectively speaking, he looks more suspicious than me. However, since he seems to be a native here, I need to show him a proper respect. Let's greet him with a fresh smile.
"H-Hello! Nice to meet you." (Yashiro)
I managed to put on a smile and said hello as naturally as possible. However, the frog folk only croaked at me.
He can't talk!?
What the hell is wrong with this city?
Are you telling me that parrots can talk, but frogs can't?
I have no idea where to draw the line.
Oh well, it’s not like I’m interested in the ecology of frogs.
I ignored the frog folk who kept staring at me and climbed out of the swamp.
It's starting to give me goosebumps....
I looked around my surroundings once more. My body instantly stiffened.
T-T-There are more of them....
Hundreds of frogs were standing around the swamp, staring in my direction.
"G-Gyaaaaaa..........!!!" (Yashiro)
I screamed at the top of my lung. Hundreds of giant, slimy, 80-centimeter-tall frogs were standing on two legs while staring at me. The sight was quite traumatizing.
Scary! Scary! Scary! Scary! Scary!
I left the marshland behind and kept running as fast as I could like my life depended on it. I felt like they would catch up to me if I stopped running even for a second.
If they catch me, it will be the end. I'm sure they will sink me to the bottom of the swamp. I'm not kidding!
On the way, I came across a wide river. The current seemed calm, but I had no idea how deep the water was, because it was already dark. However, there was no time to detour and I had no time to relax. I felt like the frogs were going to catch up to me at any moment.
“Shit, whatever! Let's jump in. I can wash my body in there, so it's like killing two birds with one stone!" (Yashiro)
Fear of the dark and the frogs made me jump into the river without hesitation and swam as hard as I could. Upon reaching the riverside, I crawled out of the water and started running again without any time to rest. I continued running for a while, before I finally ran out of energy, and then collapsed onto the unpaved, bare dirt road.
It's no good.... I can't even move another step....
I felt like the world had abandoned me as I looked at the fragile crescent moon floating in the night sky.
This is the worst.... What the hell with this world....
There are no beautiful women, I don't have any cheat abilities, and after I tricked a guy who saved me and stole his pepper, I'm treated like a criminal everywhere. Oh, I guess the last one is to be expected....
In any case, I'm a man who can only survive by deceiving others. If I can't lie, then how am I supposed to live?
Suddenly, my nose caught a faint, pleasant smell drifted in the air.
This is.... kind of nostalgic smell....
When I was a child, I would come home after playing until dark and the smell of dinner would waft through the kitchen window and out the front door. It’s a gentle, warm smell that reminds me of that.
Summoning my last bit of strength, I stood up and moved my feet in the direction of the smell.