Surviving as a Trash Bard in a Game

I heard my voice and immediately looked around.

‘Oh, please.’

It was a familiar, yet at the same time unfamiliar landscape.

A typical medieval fantasy interior… a white bed, elongated sunlight coming in through the window, antique wooden furniture.

It looked exactly like the adventurers’ inn I often used in the previous game.

“Ah, ahh— ah.”

It was a beautiful, delicate voice. A voice so beautiful that it was hard to believe it was mine… a woman’s voice.

Anyone passionate about subcultures and games would immediately understand my current situation. I was now inside a game. And in the body of a character I created.

I could see two soft breasts that I had created myself. My shoulders felt strangely stiff.

I moved my gaze further down.

My life partner, which I had never used before… was gone.

First, I took a deep breath calmly and started looking for my belongings in this room, which I presumed I was staying in.

‘Basic equipment, clothes, hygiene certificate, key, and a copper tag…’

There was no calendar, but I could guess that the season was spring.

A tradition that started from the previous work, the beginning of the Four Seasons is always spring. As the sunlight touched my skin, warmth enveloped my body. It was bright and sunny.

Although my mood was gloomy.

If the game started according to the character sheet I wrote, this room must be an accommodation certified by the adventurer’s association or a local nobleman.

Since I had a hygiene certificate that served as an ID in this world and a tag, there was no big worry.

However… this is the problem.

“Status window.”

Just in case, I suppressed my embarrassment and called up the status window.

How did the protagonists of other novels endure this feeling? No one was watching, but it was so damn embarrassing…

–

[ Selina ]

[ Female ]

[ Age 22 ]

–

[ Strength: 0(-3) ]

[ Intelligence: 2]

[ Skill: 2]

[ Charm: 8 ]

[ Health: 0(-5) ]

[ Speech: 10 ]

–

When I was creating the settings, I had high hopes that it would be fun, but if I had known it would be like this, I would have created a male character specialized in combat.

I had many regrets, but there was no way to turn back now. In the end, I had no choice but to accept it.

If I were a normal person, I might feel like, ‘Oh no, I’m a woman—’

But if I were to think positively, I could say, ‘Wow! A beautiful girl! Life is easy mode—’ or something like that.

‘For now… let’s go downstairs.’

If it’s an adventurer’s association lodging, there should be a simple counter on the first floor where you can handle requests and meals.

I’m not sure how much the system has changed from the previous work, but I hope my memory serves me right.

I wasn’t a veteran of this game, nor was I a fanatic, nor did I memorize the game’s content and hidden pieces.

In the end, in order to survive, unlike other protagonists who are possessed by another world, I have no choice but to go straight ahead honestly.

‘The first thing I need to secure is…’

I began to set short-term and long-term goals.

The short-term goal is this.

–

[ Strength: 0(-3) ]

[ Health: 0(-5) ]

–

When I focused my eyes on the minus part of the status, only the status currently in the minus state was briefly displayed.

It seems I don’t have to worry about waving my fingers in the air.

Anyway, the most urgent goal now is to find a ‘status item’ that can solve this damn penalty.

If I can’t solve the penalty, I might just get a little hurt and end up dying. In many ways, it’s the top priority task.

If I don’t find it, I’ll die. Really.

And, the long-term goal is, of course.

‘Return.’

I had no idea how I ended up in this world.

There were no common quests, no guides. There was no flying fairy character to help me in the tutorial. It was the worst isekai start.

But, I have to go back.

I didn’t have a family or friends, and although I sometimes said I wanted to enter the world of games, I never meant it.

Because I have things I’ve accomplished.

The good university I worked hard to get into, the good job I worked hard to get.

I can’t give it all up and live in a game world… especially in a medieval fantasy world!

I’m a modern person. I don’t want to spend a boring life in a place without the latest electronic devices, Wi-Fi, and video games! I’m not an old man!

‘Alright. Let’s get out of the room first.’

I opened the door and headed outside.

A neat hallway, the slanted sunlight shining through the window greeted me. A subtle floral scent filled the hallway, and there was a peculiar smell unique to the countryside.

The scale of the building was smaller than I expected, and I could see the end of the hallway after walking a little.

First, I checked the direction of the stairs, took out the copper key that was presumed to be the key to the room I was staying in, and locked the door.

Fortunately, the key fit perfectly.

***

When I went down the stairs, I saw people.

Many more people than I expected. It was an unusually large number to be a rural adventurer’s association.

‘I heard that the rural adventurer’s association was quiet in the previous work, did the setting change a little in the sequel? No, maybe I was confused.’

Perhaps it was because of my charm stat, but I could feel people’s gaze every time I went down a step. I was sweating a little.

I shouldn’t have chosen the ‘timid’ trait.

I never thought I would tremble just because people looked at me a little more.

…I don’t know why, but I felt strangely good.

Was this what it felt like to receive attention from others?

“Was there a bard like that in this countryside?”

“…It’s strange that she wasn’t known with that appearance.”

“Pink eyes… If I report her to the Divine Body hunters, will it be worth some money?”

Rough-looking adventurers were talking about me, and some of their words made me frown.

Honestly, I wanted to protest right away, but with this glass body, I might die from a single punch.

Swallowing hard, I tried to ignore people’s gazes and words and headed to the counter.

‘First, the basics of adventure… checking requests.’

Yes. No matter how the genre changes or how many sequels are released, the fundamentals of the game wouldn’t have changed.

There must be requests for lower-ranking adventurers, which are treated as tutorials. I’ll gradually save money to solve the glass body problem and go to the capital to find a way to return.

That’s my plan.

“May I view the requests…?”

“Ah, you registered yesterday. What grade are you looking for?”

“Copper tag.”

The receptionist, whose beauty didn’t quite match my appearance in the mirror but was still quite beautiful for a rural receptionist, began to guide me.

“For now, copper tag adventurers can take on up to silver tag requests. However, since it’s your first request… I recommend this one.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Please check it, and if you like it, let me know. I’ll stamp it for you right away. Please come by the time indicated below.”

I bowed my head in thanks and began to check the request she handed me.

–

[ Grade: Copper ]

[ Herb Gathering ]

[ Please gather at least 15 ‘Bending Hands’. ]

[ 1 Copper ]

–

Bending Hand, one of the main ingredients for healing potions.

Fortunately, it was an herb that appeared in the previous work.

I was worried about what to do if an unfamiliar herb came up, so this was good news.

“Hey.”

While I was feeling down about the quest reward being only 1 copper, an unfamiliar voice called out to me.

Sweating profusely, I slowly turned around.

Why are bad feelings always right…? A rough-looking bald adventurer was looking at me with strange eyes.

“…M-me?”

“Yeah. You.”

“Why…?”

“You seem like it’s your first request, so I’ll teach you. I’m free anyway.”

Could he be a kind uncle? Was I judging people prematurely based on their appearance? Maybe he’s actually a nice person.

It was a surprisingly considerate offer.

‘But… it’s just herb gathering.’

Still, I have a man’s pride. I couldn’t accept help from others for just gathering herbs.

And, what if something happens in a remote mountain with such a rough-looking man! I have to be careful!

“I’m fine.”

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“This isn’t an offer.”

He said that and pointed his finger behind him.

His companions were sitting there, and as the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together… there were 3-4 people gathered who had similarly rough faces.

“Is this a, a threat?”

“I won a bet with those guys. So, I need to go on a request with you alone. It’s not a bad offer for you either, right?”

So, you made a bet on me?

Ah, yeah. I get it.

It’s like when a pretty girl appears at a club, they bet on who will talk to her first.

‘If I wasn’t that pretty girl, I wouldn’t care…!’

Being the subject of it, I felt really dirty. I wasn’t even a girl in the first place! You’d be shocked if you knew I was a man, too!

And, a strange window suddenly opened in my view.

–

1. [ Accept ]

2. [ Reject ]

3. [ Persuade ] (Speech Bonus)

4. [ Provoke ] (Speech Bonus)

5. [ Fight ]

–

…TRPG!

Why did I only remember now! This world was based on TRPG, and there was a status window!

In such a crucial moment, it would obviously present choices. Especially choices where the ‘speech’ status I chose would work properly.

I thanked the choices that appeared like a savior and focused my trembling eyes on Persuade.

And…

–

[ Provoke ]

–

I accidentally looked at the wrong choice.

It was the ‘clumsy habit.’

Rattle, rattle.

A virtual 20-sided die appeared before my eyes with a sound of something rolling, and a speech bonus was added.

–

[ Provoke – 10 or higher ]

[ 13 + 5]

[ Success! ]

–

My mouth started moving beyond my control.

“Your mom.”

[T/N: lmao]