NOVEL NEXT ch1 - Where is this place?
Chapter 1: Where is this place?
“Where is this…?”
A gentle breeze swept through the grasslands. Standing in a corner of this vast expanse was a lone girl, looking bewildered.
She had a cute face with large black eyes and wore her hair in a thin braided pigtail. Clad in a sailor uniform, she appeared to be a typical high school girl.
Why was such a girl standing in the middle of this grand, natural scenery? The truth was, she had gotten lost in the otherworld of Ranasu while on her usual route to school. Of course, she hadn’t realized that yet.
Looking around in confusion, she checked her smartphone only to find it had no signal. Anxiety began to well up in her, bringing tears to her eyes, which she quickly wiped away.
(In the middle of such vast nature… I really can’t afford to be careless. If I get bitten by a snake or spider, it could be terrible.)
Of course, being in another world meant she should have been more worried about monsters than snakes. Still, it was a wise decision not to start crying.
On a small hill in the distance, she saw a wall and gate, with a guard standing by. There might be a town inside.
(…I wonder if they speak my language?)
Even if they didn’t, she’d have to rely on gestures. She couldn’t just stay out here forever. Rena steeled herself. Sniffling, she took a determined step toward the town, her feet sinking into the lush, green grass.
The girl who had tripped into this other world was named Tōdō Rena, a 17-year-old high school student. She had lost her parents at a young age and lived a modest life with her older brother, who was eight years her senior. Quiet by nature, she was good at cooking and saving money.
In front of the city wall, there stood a stern-looking gatekeeper with Western features. (He definitely doesn’t look Japanese!) Rena instinctively took a step back in fear, but she managed to muster the courage to speak.
“Ex-excuse me!”
“Hmm? Where’d you come from, miss? You’ve got a fancy, unusual outfit. This is the small city of Danacera. We’d welcome tourists, though there’s not much to see here—it’s a pretty rural place.”
“!! Thank goodness! You speak my language…! Um, nice to meet you. I somehow ended up in that field over there and don’t know anything about this area… Could you tell me about it?”
Rena glanced over her shoulder as she spoke.
The gatekeeper scratched his cheek lazily and pointed toward the city with a sigh.
“Ahh… Sorry, but you’ll have to ask the guild for that kind of stuff. It’s the rules. Anyway, go ahead and enter. Do you have a guild card for identification?”
Rena blinked in surprise at the mention of a “guild.” What kind of fantasy establishment was that? (I didn’t expect this kind of response… but it sounds like they’ll explain things to me if I go there, right?)
“Thank you for the help. I’ll head to this ‘guild’ and see what they can tell me. Oh, but I don’t have a guild card…”
“Is that so? Then you’ll have to get one made at the guild. Here’s a map for you.”
“Wow, thank you so much for everything!”
“It’s nothing.”
Rena, eyes brimming with gratitude, smiled and bowed to the gatekeeper before walking away. The gatekeeper waved her off, not too displeased with her response. Once she was out of sight, he pulled out a short-range communication device and muttered quietly.
“There’s a strange, overly fancy girl heading toward the guild. Keep an eye on her and treat her well.”
“Got it! Is she a good catch?”
“Nah, she’s still a kid. Flat-chested too. But she’s well-dressed, so there might be a way to use her. Don’t let her escape.”
With that, the communication device went silent.
The city of Danacera was lined with soot-colored brown brick buildings. Most of the people walking around were rough-looking men, many carrying swords and bows. Their clothing screamed “fantasy,” and seeing them left Rena feeling extremely out of place.
“G-guild…”
Despite her nerves, she made it to the guild, only to find it filled with intimidating, sharp-eyed men. On the verge of tears again, she realized that her delicate figure stood out, drawing their unfiltered stares.
(Eekkk…!)
Rena trembled in fear.
As she stood frozen, a cheerful voice called out to her. It was a middle-aged woman in a guild uniform, with a plump figure and a welcoming demeanor. Rena looked at her as if she had found salvation.
“Welcome! You must be the lost girl the gatekeeper mentioned. Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything. Hey, you lot! Stop glaring and get back to work!”
Though she spoke sharply, no one dared to defy her, as she was a seasoned guild worker. Grumbling under their breath, the men shuffled off.
Rena let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank you so much! Did the gatekeeper tell you about me?”
“That’s right! He said a cute girl was lost and needed help. Don’t worry, the guild has beginner lodging facilities, and we can even help guide you to a job.”
“That’s such a relief…!”
A job? That part made Rena nervous, as she had been a student until now. (That’s a bit of a worry, but… I don’t have anything here. Having a place to stay is a huge help.) Rena had no choice but to rely on this guild worker after her sudden arrival in this world.
She moved to a corner of the counter and began receiving an explanation about the world.
This was the otherworld of Ranasu (the name was written in the booklet she was given). There were two large continents—one inhabited by humans, and the other by demons. Scattered islands also dotted the seas. Demons were divided into various subgroups, including pureblooded demons who had transformed from monsters into humanoid forms, and unique races that branched off from them: dryads, dragonkin, beastfolk, elves, dwarves, angels, and so on. Each of these groups had formed their own nations.
Humans, too, had established several countries of their own. The city of Danacera lay within the territory governed by the Kingdom of Galalarajure, a monarchy. The region was known for its thriving mercenary trade, attracting many soldiers of fortune and adventurers.
After hearing all of this, Rena stared off into the distance, her mind overwhelmed by the information.
(…I’ve read about this in stories, right? But this can’t be real, can it? Is this one of those isekai trips? Is that what’s happening?)
Monsters, fantasy races… Rena felt like her eyes were about to roll back in disbelief. Noticing the strange looks from the guild members, she gave an embarrassed, awkward laugh. There wasn’t really any need to be shy here, but her brain was in full panic mode.
(I never imagined something like an isekai trip would happen to me! I didn’t save a cat and get hit by a truck, or have a magic circle suddenly appear under me. Ugh, please, if this is a dream, wake me up already!)
She tugged at her cheek hard, but the stinging pain only reinforced that this was, indeed, reality. Rena’s shoulders slumped in defeat.
“What are you doing over there? Well, let’s get to your job assessment next!”
“Yes, please…”
She had no choice but to go along with it. The guild members, who were clearly used to dealing with all kinds of rough people, completely ignored her panic and strange behavior.
They led her to a different room—a mysterious magical chamber where a large, ominous crystal was placed. Magic. Yes, magic existed in this world.
(Aaaahhh!!)
Rena clutched her head again.
(This new world has too many unknowns!!)
Suddenly, her vision went completely black.
“…Welcome. Now, let me peer deep into your soul… Heh heh hee.”
“Eek!!”
An old woman, dressed entirely in black, appeared and grinned creepily, baring her teeth.
“Come on now, Granny. You love scaring the newbies, but go easy on them, okay?”
“It’s just how I am.”
“Th-that’s really a problem!”
“Hee hee! Oh, this one’s got quite the reaction!”
Though it drained her before the assessment even began, it seemed this was just the usual entertainment for the guild. Rena sighed deeply.
When the little performance ended, the eerie old woman began chanting a spell in a strange voice, and the crystal started to glow brightly. Staring through the crystal at Rena, the old woman let out a sharp noise from her throat before announcing with glee:
“I’ve seen it! Your destined job is… ‘Monster Tamer!’ A rare job for a human. You’ve also got an affinity for black magic, and a bit of green magic, too. But that’s the only job you qualify for!”
“Monster Tamer…”
Rena repeated it, dumbfounded. She had expected something like a cook or cleaner—something normal for a weak Japanese person like herself.
“Wait, I have to deal with monsters directly?”
As she voiced her thoughts, Rena shook her head vigorously, trying to escape reality.
The guild members frowned.
“Oh no, looks like you’ve landed yourself a tricky job… Monster Tamer is rare, but it’s a tough one to master.”
“Y-yeah, I figured as much! What am I supposed to do now?”
“Well, all you can do is try your best. We’ll support you, of course! We’ll even teach you how to use magic. So, go out there and catch yourself some monsters!”
The guild members’ tone was casual, but their eyes were not. They’d help, but if she didn’t work, she wouldn’t eat. Rena swallowed the urge to protest.
For a peaceful girl from modern Japan, this was an exceptionally harsh beginning.
Her only choice was to nod.
“I-I’ll do my best…”
And so, the birth of an extraordinary Monster Tamer came to be—a tamer who would later be showered with love calls from every monster in this world, all begging to be tamed by her.
At first glance, Rena appeared to be just an ordinary, fragile girl. However, in order to survive in this unforgiving world, she would master the art of using both kindness (love) and a whip (literally a whip) with finesse. As she journeyed across this world, she would come to be known as a “Do-S” (sadist), though she would fiercely deny it. Some even developed a deep affection for her, awakening to a love for being bound and whipped.
Most notably, her unique constitution was one for the books.
Any monster she tamed would rapidly evolve into a rare species, transforming even the weakest creatures into the most powerful beings. Those monsters who survived fierce competition to become her familiars would kneel only to her, and in time, her name would spread far and wide across the world.
Guild Card: Rank G
Name: Rena Toudou
Occupation: Monster Tamer (LV. 1)
Equipment: Sailor Uniform, Leather Shoes, Bag
Aptitudes: Black Magic, Green Magic
HP: 15
INT: 50
SPD: 12
MP: 50
LUCK: Unmeasurable
Skill: [Familiar Contract]
Gift: (?)
“I really just want to live a quiet life, though…”
Despite all this, Rena seems to think she’s simply on a peaceful journey.