Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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As the calm breeze brushed against the surface of the oasis, countless starlights twinkled above.

“Are you alone?”

A man stepped forward and asked me.

Seeing how the others around naturally vacated their spots, he seemed to be the leader of the group.

I nodded and took a closer look at him.

The turban on his head gleamed, and a red gem adorned the fabric wrapped around his brow.

His robe was entirely different from what the ordinary townsfolk wore; it looked luxurious with golden stars embroidered on fine cloth.

He appeared to be quite wealthy.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So you came from outside the desert?”

“How did you know?”

“People with such pale skin aren’t from around here.”

The man said this while pointing to his own lightly tanned skin.

“I’m Kasin. What is your name?”

As soon as he revealed his name, those who had slightly stepped back flinched.

He seemed like someone who shouldn’t just tell his name to anyone.

Yet, why did he choose to tell me?

“I am Seris.”

“Alright, Seris. If you don’t mind, would you like to join us? At least until you leave this oasis.”

“Hmm…”

“If you wish, I can offer you drink and warm food.”

“Why are you being so kind to me? We just met.”

“Because here in the oasis, that’s how it should be.”

It wasn’t a particularly appealing proposal.

Though he’s being nice now, he might suddenly turn.

I decided to draw a slight boundary.

“No, thank you.”

“That’s a shame…”

Kasin smoothly accepted my rejection and turned away.

His cool demeanor rather surprised me.

It seemed to be a special culture in this desert.

Bloop—

“Oh, I get it…”

As I stood there, the Nightmare began to walk away on its own.

It approached a large tree and settled down, so I had no choice but to prepare a campsite underneath the tree.

I made a campfire and spread out my blanket.

At that moment, the Nightmare shoved its large face towards me.

Its tongue flicking out indicated it wanted to eat.

I prepared some meat and water for it and served it in a bowl.

The Nightmare swiftly devoured the large chunk of meat.

It was the sandworm meat I bought at the butcher earlier.

At that moment, a man started trudging over from a distance.

It was the man who introduced himself as Kasin.

Kasin approached with empty hands, raising both arms to the sky, as if to show he meant no harm.

However, Kasin couldn’t get too close. The Nightmare, having sprung to its feet, was glaring at him.

As a result, Kasin had to stop at a distance.

“Wow… that’s quite the speech.”

“What brings you here?”

“Don’t be on guard. I simply wanted to have a chat.”

“A chat about what?”

“You there. You’re not from the desert, right? I’d like to hear tales of the outside.”

“Is that really all?”

“Of course.”

Kasin casually sat down on the sandy ground as he laughed at my question.

I glanced back at the people who seemed anxious, likely his entourage.

“It seems they’re worried about you.”

“Don’t mind them. They’re not my people anyway.”

“Um…”

After pondering for a moment, I nodded.

I had questions of my own, so sharing my story while asking about the blacksmith who handles starlight seemed fitting.

I began recounting my past experiences, recalling the snow-covered Karam Mountains, the battles against goblins, and my encounters with wizards.

Then came the meeting with ogres.

“Ogres, huh… I’m curious to see what they look like.”

Kasin listened intently, his face filled with interest.

I left out the part about being able to use magic and continued my tale.

From crossing the sea to arriving in the Karma Empire and passing through the Hairan Plateau until I reached this place.

“That’s the end of my story.”

Kasin, who listened until the end, nodded in awe.

“The world outside the desert is quite fascinating.”

“I have something I want to ask, if that’s alright?”

“Go ahead.”

I inquired about the legendary blacksmith who controls starlight.

He looked thoughtful and gazed up at the sky.

The starlight sprawling across was like a gently flowing river traversing the desert.

How long had it been?

Lost in watching the flowing starlight, Kasin finally answered.

“It’s probably the legend of the Star Forge.”

“Star Forge?”

Kasin nodded.

“An ancient tale. By now, everyone has forgotten it, and it’s just spoken of as a legend… a story about the lost dwarves.”

Kasin spoke hesitantly, as if dredging up faint memories.

He told a tale of dwarves who forged swords from starlight that fell from the sky, and how a wicked dragon coveted those swords, along with the lost city of the Star Forge.

“Is it impossible to go to that Star Forge now?”

“Of course it’s impossible. It’s just an old story. A city that doesn’t exist.”

“Even if one were to search this entire desert?”

“Hahaha!”

Kasin burst into laughter at my question.

Then he continued.

“People have thought the same, but they all failed. All of them without exception.”

“Hmm…”

“Now, now… don’t be too disappointed. It’s just a simple legend, right?”

I chuckled lightly at Kasin’s answer and looked up at the sky.

“Still, I want to search for it.”

“Well… if that’s what you wish, I won’t stop you…”

Kasin left those words behind and stood up.

As he rose, fine sand scattered around where he had sat.

I watched Kasin return to his campsite and laid down on my blanket.

The cool breeze gently tousled my golden hair.

“What should I do…”

Bloop—

At my small murmur, the Nightmare approached as if asking what was wrong.

Its crimson eyes looked down at me.

“I’m starting to have butterflies in my stomach.”

My heart was racing.

With my hand placed on my small chest, I closed my eyes.

The thumping of my heart was accompanied by a faint whirring sound.

Kasin had said it was a story from a forgotten legend.

A city that doesn’t exist.

Through the tale Kasin shared, I learned a lot. That there were indeed dwarves living in this world.

The stories of swords crafted from starlight, a wicked dragon, and the dwarven city of the Star Forge ignited a fire in my heart.

Having encountered the Thunderbird in person, I could not dismiss that tale as just a legend.

Where did they go?

Perhaps they might have hidden themselves amongst the starlight.

I reached out towards the sky.

Though I couldn’t reach it, the starlight flowing like a river danced just within my grasp.

*

At dawn, as the sun began to rise.

Kasin’s group swiftly finished preparing to leave the oasis.

He tossed a small pouch to me, who was half asleep.

“Yesterday’s story was enjoyable. If you show that at Burning Road, nobody will look down on you.”

I rubbed my eyes and picked up the leather pouch that fell to the ground.

Seeing that, Kasin mounted his horse and left the oasis.

As I watched their figures fade away, I checked the contents of the pouch.

Inside was a blue gem shaped like an eagle.

“Wow…”

As the sunlight reflecting off the oasis enveloped the brooch, the eagle shimmered with a green light.

It seemed that the hue of this brooch changed depending on the angle of the sunlight.

It looked quite expensive, and for someone to just toss it to me like that made me think Kasin’s status must be incredibly high.

Bloop-!

I gathered my things and immediately climbed onto the Nightmare’s back.

The Nightmare, which had snored loudly all night, seemed revitalized now.

“Let’s go!”

I rode the Nightmare as it departed from the oasis.

The Nightmare took off with speed, kicking up the wide expanse of platinum sands like the wind.

But that didn’t last long.

As the power of the sun grew strong and the surrounding temperature sharply rose, the Nightmare began to sag.

The journey through the desert was a series of unpleasant experiences.

Occasional sandstorms blowing in and light attacks from rolling tumbleweeds.

Nameless monsters frequently ambushed us.

Fortunately, a sandstorm, which one would expect from the desert, did not approach us.

On the fifth day since leaving the oasis.

The Nightmare and I could finally spot a large city.

A city built along a wide and large river was undoubtedly the largest in this desert.

We had arrived at the Burning Road.

Bloop-!

Seeing the cool shade, the Nightmare seemed excited and charge toward the city.

Thud- thud- thud-!

“Hey, wait! Stop!”

“Stop!”

As the Nightmare reached the city’s main gate.

Guards standing in front of it pulled out their spears and swords, aiming them at the Nightmare.

They probably mistook the huge creature for a monster.

I pulled on the bridle of the Nightmare to calm its excitement.

“Shh… stay still.”

Hee-heeing-!

The Nightmare couldn’t hide its discomfort as it flailed its front legs, clearly bothered by the blades pointed at it.

I awkwardly smiled at the guards.

“Um, could you please lower your weapons?”

“That’s not possible!”

The guards, with tense expressions, did not lower their weapons.

Instead, they seemed to be exerting even more pressure on the Nightmare and me.

Frowning and pondering how to resolve the situation, I remembered the small brooch Kasin had given me.

If I showed them this brooch, no one would dare look down on me within Burning Road, he had said.

I pulled out the small brooch from the leather pouch and held it before my chest.

The shining sunlight caused the brooch on my chest to sparkle in blue and green hues.

“Th-that’s…!”

“I’m sorry!”

The effect of the brooch was indeed remarkable. The guards who had been pointing their weapons bowed their heads and began to step back.

What on earth is this item for the guards to behave so apprehensively?

I tilted my head as I tugged at the Nightmare’s bridle.