Orario — that's the name of the world's center in this world. The place where the gods live together. The place where every race from all over the world gathers to become adventurers and defeat dungeon monsters.
And I'm also one of the many people who came to Orario to become an adventurer.
That's probably what people think when they look at me.
But is it really true that I want to become an adventurer?
The answer's no.
Becoming an adventurer is the second reason why I came to Orario.
The number one reason? Obviously, to find Bell!
He's my main goal.
"Kekeke..." My mouth accidentally lets out a sound as I stand on the street with all kinds of races passing by, trying to avoid me with weird looks.
"Mom, what's wrong with him?" A little kid says, hiding behind his mom.
"Don't look at him, dear. He's a future loser."
"..."
My hand clenches into a fist — I wanna hit that woman. Aren't you being way too blunt? I can literally hear what you're saying!
If this wasn't Orario, I would've beaten you so bad your own kid wouldn't recognize you anymore.
But whatever, it's fine. She and her kid are just NPCs anyway.
It's not like I'll ever run into her again.
But just because I'm ignoring her doesn't mean I don't want revenge.
I flip her off while walking away, ignoring the confused look on that woman's face.
Obviously she's confused — how would she know? The middle finger isn't something people here understand.
As for how I know about the middle finger — it's because I killed a soul from another world.
Weird, right?
If I told someone I killed another world's soul, they'd probably say I'm crazy.
But I'm not crazy. I did kill a soul from another world that tried to steal my body.
As for when that happened — let's go back to the past.
---
One month ago.
Just like any normal day with my greedy buddies, I was planning to rob some passing merchants to get money. I've been doing this since I was eight years old — it's nothing new to me.
Burning and killing people is my bread and butter.
If I go even one day without robbing someone, I feel weird.
But that day, luck wasn't on my side. Who would've thought that the caravan we thought had no guards — well, turns out its owner was some crazy strong guy.
My buddies got killed by him. And I got killed by him too.
I thought I'd die a pathetic death, failing to rob someone.
But then — who would've guessed? Right before my soul could leave to receive 72 virgin fairies in heaven, a soul suddenly tried to steal my body. And me, about to head off to paradise — I was pissed!
How dare he try to steal my body! No way I'd let that slide!
So I fought that foreign soul trying to take over my body.
I thought he'd be a tough opponent, since he was trying to steal my body.
But guess what? Turns out he was such a loser. Even though we fought with our souls, he was no match for me.
The poor guy couldn't do any martial arts. He just stood there and took my punches like a good boy.
Eventually, his soul merged with mine.
I thought after that, I'd go back up to heaven and continue my journey toward those virgin fairies. But who would've guessed — I came back to life from death, with some weird memories?
Those were the memories of that pathetic soul. About how he spent his days just playing with a little stick. And how he liked some character that wasn't even real? He called it "2D."
Thinking about those memories made me want to throw up on the spot. And I felt grateful that my body wasn't taken over by a guy who scratches his crotch — not even itching — when he meets a girl?
Shouldn't you be scratching your head? Why your crotch?
As confused as I was, I kept digging through his memories and found out that this world is actually a world inside some picture he saw. They call it "anime."
Honestly, when I found that out, I was shocked and scared.
Is my world not real? Or was that guy living in the world of the gods? But he was a slave or something? So he could only see worlds that other people created?
Thinking about how I killed someone from another world — it got me so fired up.
I'm the protagonist! In that guy's memories, the protagonist is someone who comes back from death. And I fit the criteria.
But... just as I was getting excited, I realized — there's already a guy named Bell who's the protagonist of this world.
If he's still alive, doesn't that mean I'm not the protagonist? There's only supposed to be one protagonist, right?
What if I killed him? Would I become the protagonist? Like in that pathetic guy's memories.
If yes — then I'll do it!
I want to be the protagonist!
Even if I have to kill that guy named Bell to get wealth — whatever it takes.
Thinking about killing that guy named Bell, I headed straight for Orario.
And that's how I ended up in Orario within a month.
---
Walking through the crowded streets, I stare around in amazement.
Tsk tsk.
They all look rich. I want to rob them.
I quickly shake my head — what am I thinking?
They're obviously adventurers. If I rob them, I'll be the one getting beaten up.
Wait — once I get strong, then I'll rob them.
Pushing aside the thought of robbery, I ask a pathetic-looking old merchant.
He looks so pathetic it makes me want to rob him. Usually, pathetic-looking guys like this are hiding a ton of money.
Should I rob him?
Looking at the busy streets, I decide not to.
It's my first day in Orario. I need to keep up appearances.
"Old man, I just arrived in Orario... What do you think I should do?"
The old man stops tidying his goods and looks at me with a small smile.
"Well, of course you should eat! You just got to Orario — you must be hungry?"
I stare at the bread in his hand.
"Is that free?"
"Free? Of course not — you have to pay!"
I immediately snatch the bread from his hand and throw it hard into his face.
"I'm not interested in food... If you didn't want to answer my question, you should've just said so... You've wasted my time."
I turn my back on the old man, my heart pounding like crazy.
Damn. I can't control my body.
Am I gonna get arrested for being violent to someone? I glance around me, clenching my fists.
I hope they don't care.
And sure enough — nobody cares.
They just glance at me for a second and then ignore me.
I blink a few times.
Huh? They're not mad at me? Why?
I quickly ask a Dwarf walking next to me.
"Dwarf, I was being violent to someone earlier — why didn't anyone care?"
The Dwarf looks at me and says, bumping into me like I'm in his way.
"Shut up. I'm tired."
Watching the Dwarf walk off, I stare at his clothes — covered in blood.
Tired.
Looks like people in Orario are so exhausted they don't give a damn about anyone else.
Is that good or bad?
Obviously, it's great!
I don't know how to make money — but now it looks like I know how to get some.
Of course, that plan only happens if no god accepts me.
If a god does accept me, why would I bother robbing anyone?
With the corner of my mouth lifting slightly, I head straight for the Guild.
According to that guy's memories, the Guild is super important if you want to be an adventurer.
But... which is more important — the Guild or a god?
Should be the god, right? The memories I have don't say the Guild is more important than a god.
I pat my head.
Why am I comparing two things that aren't even equal? Obviously, gods are better!
So I should meet a god before going to the Guild.
But the problem is — where am I supposed to find a god?