Old Town
Toro slowly opened his eyes. His view was instantly filled with the hustle and bustle of people walking back and forth on a stone-paved road that gleamed under the sunlight.
"Huh, it's actually pretty lively… Not as scary as Dokkisan said," Toro thought to himself, feeling a bit relieved.
He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. The scent of spices, food, and fresh air all mixed together. It felt like the world was alive… and warm. When he opened his eyes again, the world he had imagined to be dark and terrifying now felt… alive.
He looked to his right. There stood rows of old houses, their paint faded but full of character. The windows were wide open, and some people were busy hanging laundry or sweeping their yards.
He looked ahead. In the distance, a busy marketplace came into view. The voices of the merchants filled the air, all trying to out-shout each other.
"Fresh fish! Just caught this morning!"
"Sweet fruits! Try one—sweeter than your ex's smile!"
Toro grinned at that. The market scene didn't feel scary at all—in fact, it felt like… home.
He turned to the left. A park stretched out with kids running around, laughing. There was even a couple sitting close together, looking all lovey-dovey. A small smile formed on Toro's lips as he looked up toward the sky.
Far off in the distance, he could see a towering white wall from above. Then he fully turned around—and his eyes widened.
A massive wall stood tall behind him. Clean white stone, decorated with golden patterns that sparkled under the sunlight. In front of it, a shining fountain reflected the light, surrounded neatly by smooth stones and a little pond.
"This… must be the place where the newcomers appear," he whispered.
As his eyes scanned the area near the fountain, he spotted a large mirror standing to his left. Toro froze. He took a few slow steps, then looked into the reflection.
He gently touched his cheek.
"Is… this what I look like now?" he whispered, tilting his head, as if trying to recognize himself.
Dokkisan's words flashed in his mind.
So this is the body Dokkisan was talking about... he thought, still feeling strange waking up in a new body.
A big smile slowly spread across his face. He could barely believe it—that body was… perfect. Handsome face, strong build, everything looked right. Way different from the body he knew back in the old world.
But before he could enjoy it longer, a new voice called out.
"Excuse me, sir…"
Toro quickly turned toward the voice.
"Ah… yeah?"
He was a bit surprised. Standing in front of him was a small, round creature with soft purple fur and tiny bat wings on its back. Its big shiny eyes and wide smile made it look more cute than scary.
"Are you a new player who just arrived?" it asked cheerfully.
Toro didn't feel scared at all. In fact… he found the little creature adorable.
"Yeah, I just got here…" he answered shyly, but his eyes were still locked on the cute thing.
"Please follow me, Sir," said the round creature as it floated along—though its flying was still wobbly, like a balloon caught in the wind.
Toro held back a smile with his right hand.
"Its voice is funny… and so is the way it flies," he thought, amused.
He followed the purple creature while glancing around. Turned out, they were passing through the same park he had seen earlier—the one where little kids were playing and running around cheerfully.
"These must be the NPCs Dokkisan mentioned..." he muttered, eyeing the children laughing as they chased glowing butterflies.
Toro kept walking, passing through the park and entering a busier area. People were moving about—some pulling strange suitcases, others chatting away with floating holograms in the air.
"Wonder where I'm being taken..." he thought, his eyes scanning every corner.
"Sir, we're almost there!" the purple creature exclaimed, pointing ahead with its tiny wings. "Look!"
Toro raised an eyebrow. In front of him stood a kind of open booth—but it looked futuristic, with glowing panels and spinning holograms above it.
"That's the place where you have to register yourself as a new player!" explained the round creature, flying back and forth like a tour guide in training.
"Heh… So I need to make an ID too?" Toro nodded slowly, a bit surprised.
"Correct!" replied the creature as it floated closer. "Otherwise, you might be targeted by the police for being an illegal jumper!" it said in a serious tone—but its face remained adorably clueless.
Toro walked up to a small booth. Standing in front was a woman wearing a tiny witch hat, tilted to the side. Her wavy purple hair fell neatly to her shoulders, and one of her eyes was covered with a small black patch.
She sat on a chair provided, greeting him with a thin smile.
"Welcome to Old Town~" she said, in a strange yet friendly sing-song voice.
"What do you need, sir?"
"Ah! Sorry, sorry!" she blurted, suddenly flustered like she had said something wrong.
"You must be a new player, right?"
Toro just raised an eyebrow, confused by her behavior. But the corner of his lips curled up.
"This lady is weird… but kinda funny," he thought.
The witch bent down and rustled through something under the table. There were shuffling and clanking sounds—scritch-scratch, clatter-clatter—before she finally pulled something up.
A futuristic-looking flower vase… but most notably, a human hand-shaped mold stuck out from its center.
"Please place your hand here, sir," she said, holding it out toward Toro.
With hesitation, Toro placed his right hand on it. Seconds passed.
The vase suddenly lit up with a bright pink glow, and from between his fingers, tiny flowers slowly bloomed.
When the light stopped and nothing else happened, the witch seemed confused. She tilted her head to the side, then started tapping the vase with her index finger.
"Hmm... what's wrong with this?"
Toro looked just as puzzled.
"Uh... what's happening?" he asked nervously.
"Looks like... it's broken~" she said with a pout.
She leaned in and inspected it closely. "But… that shouldn't be possible," she muttered, her lips tightening.
Toro scratched his head. "You mean it can't break?"
"Eh..." She glanced at Toro, her face suddenly serious.
"This vase... was a gift from the Nine Gods."
Toro looked up, then down, his expression trying to process the weight of those words.
"Wait, what?!"
"So there are 'god-gods' in this world too...?"
He sat back down, eyes fixed on the vase with growing curiosity. Oddly, the flowers that had bloomed earlier now looked like they were wilting.
The witch noticed too.
"This has never happened before," she said, more seriously this time.
She pulled out a small wand from under her robe and pointed it at the vase. It glowed blue briefly... then faded.
"Weird... it's only supposed to react like this when touched by something not human."
Toro's eyes widened.
"Wait... are you saying I'm not human?"
The witch shrugged casually. "Eh... who knows. Maybe the vase's just in a bad mood."
Toro stared at her—unsure whether to laugh or be concerned.
"But don't worry, we'll just use the alternative method~" the witch said cheerfully, clapping her hands.
She bent down toward a big box behind her. The rattling and crashing sounds returned.
"Ah, here it is!" she exclaimed triumphantly.
Toro looked at the object in her hands... and immediately felt a deep sense of regret.
She held it up with a bright smile.
It was... a green crocodile head. Its mouth was wide open, and standing on its tongue... was a single human thumb.
Toro sighed. "Fine... whatever."
"Please insert your thumb here!" she chirped like it was the most normal thing ever.
Reluctantly, Toro offered his right thumb into the crocodile's mouth.
---
Moments later, Toro left the registration booth with slumped shoulders. He walked toward a bench, body leaning forward like his energy had been drained.
"Ah! You're done, sir!?" called a familiar voice from above.
A tiny round creature zoomed over—still flying wobbly and nearly crashing into a pole.
Toro raised both thumbs up… but his right thumb was now wrapped in a thick bandage.
"Ahh… you must've used that method, huh? Hehe~"
The little demon giggled, then nearly fell again from laughing while flying sideways.
"Hey, what's your name?" Toro asked, glancing at the small creature.
"Ah-ha! My name is Syul~!" the round demon said excitedly, spinning in circles like a balloon let loose.
Toro smiled, a little unsure. "Weird."
Syul immediately stopped mid-air. His brows furrowed, cheeks puffed like mochi, and eyes squinted with fury.
"BAKAA!!" he yelled loudly.
Toro chuckled quietly at how easily the little guy got mad.
"He's kinda cute…" he thought while continuing to walk.
"Oh yeah, Syul. Where are we going next?" Toro asked, turning his head.
"Actually... my time guiding you is up..." Syul replied while floating sideways in confusion.
Toro watched his awkward spinning. "What's wrong, Syul?"
Syul floated closer to Toro's face.
"I... don't know your name yet."
Toro reached into his pocket and pulled out a card, handing it to Syul.
"Here, my ID card."
Syul's eyes sparkled as he read it. "Your name is Toro!" he shouted excitedly.
Then his brows furrowed. "But why didn't you just say it? Toro…?"
Toro smiled softly. "Why bother asking?"
With an overly cool pose, he lifted his ID card high above his head.
"Feast your eyes on the handsome face printed on this baby," he said confidently.
Syul went silent. Then his face twisted in annoyance.
With one swift motion, he snatched the card and flung it into the air. It flew so high, it disappeared over a rooftop.
"WHA—!!" Toro screamed.
"WHAT DID YOU DO, YOU LITTLE DEVIL!!?"
"Hmph! Serves you right!" Syul huffed with a smug face.
Toro clenched his right fist and—whap!—smacked Syul on the head.
The tiny creature was sent flying, crashing into a nearby fruit stall. A few fruits fell. The vendor behind the stall just sighed in resignation.
Recovering, Syul soared upward. "I'm outta here!!" he yelled, then blasted off like a reverse meteor.
Toro stared at the sky, fist raised.
"YEAH, WHATEVER! JUST GO!!" he shouted, as the little demon vanished into the clouds.
---
Moments later, Toro walked toward where his card had flown. He wandered through a narrow alley behind a house.
"Seriously...?" he thought, an uneasy feeling rising.
Trash was scattered everywhere. A rat suddenly jumped from one dumpster to another. Toro moved carefully, step by step.
"Ugh... if my card landed here, that's disgusting."
He looked left and right, squinting into the dim space.
"Can't see anything... it's too dark."
Eventually, he noticed a passage on the right. It was wider... and somewhat cleaner. There, on the floor of the corridor, was his ID card.
Toro quickly headed down the stairs.
As he reached for his card—
"Duck!"
A voice shouted from behind. Someone crashed down from the rooftop with a loud thud.
Toro froze in place. The person stood up... and pulled out a knife.
"Hand over your money... or your life!" the bandit cackled.
Toro's face turned pale. But then his eyes glanced downward—
The guy's legs were shaking.
He looked up—
The roof was pretty high.
"Did this idiot just fall from up there…?"
Toro's face went blank.
The bandit growled. "Oi, oi! I'm serious! Give me your money or else!"
Toro covered his mouth with his left hand, trying not to laugh.
"WHAT'S SO FUNNY, YOU IDIOT?!" the bandit shouted, though his knees still wobbled.
Toro smiled coolly.
He took a stance. With his new athletic body, this was child's play.
"I respect you, oh… Bandit-kun~" he said with a wink.
The bandit shuddered.
"ALRIGHT, BRING IT ON, YOU PUNK!!"
The bandit charged with his knife aimed at Toro. Just as it neared his face, Toro swiftly dodged to the side—and countered with a solid punch straight to the bandit's face.
BAM!
The bandit staggered back. He wiped the blood now dripping from his nose.
"Not bad..." he muttered, half impressed, half pissed.
Toro looked at his fist, surprised.
"One punch… and he's bleeding?
This new body... is PERFECT."
His confidence surged. He took his stance again, a cocky grin forming on his face.
The bandit hissed, then pulled a hidden long sword from behind his back.
Toro's eyes widened. But instead of backing down, he took a deep breath.
"Well… let's give it a shot."
He charged forward.
Seconds later, the blade was pressed to Toro's neck.
Toro stood still, calm breath. The bandit wasted no time—he began rummaging through Toro's clothes.
"Damn poor... You've got a noble-looking face but nothing to show for it."
"You blind or what?" Toro replied. "My clothes are literal rags. But hey—if some rich noble aunt wants to take me in… I won't resist. Please be loaded, Auntie. Amen."
"SHUT UP, IDIOT!!"
SMACK!
A hard slap landed on Toro's cheek. The bandit glared.
"...But real talk—
If that ever happens, I wanna be an idiot too."
He grabbed Toro by the collar, dead serious… though his cheek was still twitching from the slap.
Toro began losing strength.
The bandit kept hitting, stomping him without mercy. Toro could only shield his head as the sword hovered, ready to strike anytime.
"I might actually die here…" he thought, trembling from pain and fear.
Suddenly—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed from the rooftop.
The bandit glanced up. Toro, weak on the ground, also looked up.
A mysterious figure stood at the edge. No words, no hesitation.
The figure leapt down.
THWACK!
A brutal kick smashed into the side of the bandit's face.
The impact was so strong, the bandit was sent flying, crashing into the corridor wall—leaving behind a dent like a small crater.
"Feels like I'm watching an action movie…" Toro thought, lying there, eyes wide open.
The figure stood in front of him, backlit by the moonlight, face still hidden in shadow.
A soft night breeze carried dust and scraps of paper through the air.