Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Vol 1 Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Encounter
I am at a loss and theres nothing I can do about it.
No, actually Ive been at a loss for a while now, but reality doesnt accommodate you just like that.
Reality meaning the reality of another world, that is.
After noticing I could see my own Status, for a start I did just that:
Name: Alice
Race: Halfelf
Age: 15
Gender: Female
Cla.s.s: Apprentice Mage
Level: 1
Skill: None
Magic: None
Its true that I set the age to fifteen, but to think Id really grow three years younger...
Well, Ive changed gender, so that may be the least of my worries.
And the name, Alice, is just like I set it.
Alice, because its so close to my last name Arisugawa.
The clear, nearby lake reflected my appearance.
A pretty girl just like I had made her.
I tried smiling a bit.
c.r.a.p, shes too cute.
I might fall for her.
Although its me.
Didnt I make a slight mistake with the settings?
Are other worlds no fun after all unless youre a man?
...oh, well.
A more pressing issue is the entry on magic.
Magic: None
Thats bad.
As a Level 1 Apprentice Mage, I should learn magic after leveling up a bit, but at least at the moment I had none.
Because everythings been true to my settings so far, chances are the Attributes will be the same, too.
In other words, hand-to-hand combat is impossible for this character.
And yet I cant use magic.
This is seriously bad.
My lifes not gonna be in serious danger the moment I meet a monster around here, is it?
The moment I realized that, I got scared of being on that meadow.
Am I going to be fine around here, monster-wise?
In my early days, its not going to be that unreasonable, right?
But because I couldnt see anyone around, I had no choice but to move on my own.
By the way, to see if I couldnt log out or something, I minutely checked my Status, loitered around a bit and spent some more time at a loss, like before.
... all for naught.
Id seen that coming.
So, first I had to search for a town or so to survive.
Before making my move, I checked my equipment.
Weapon: None
Armor: Cloth Clothes
Accessory: None
Hey, arent I really gonna die when a monster comes?
To warn myself, to not do anything reckless, I remembered my own Attributes.
Strength 0, Endurance 1, Protection 0, Agility 4, Mind 5
Like this, right?
No weapons, but Strength 0.
Only Cloth Clothes, but Endurance 1 and Protection 0.
Mind 5, but no magic to rely on.
Grml...
Agility.
I have to overcome this with Agility.
If I encounter a monster, Im going to run away!
That decision in mind, I set out.
While fearfully walking around, something like a distant town came into view.
Looks like Im on top of a hill right now, so I can easily see all around.
I call it a town, but it isnt that large.
Only a bit more developed than a village, Id say.
However, even if I enter the town, I have neither money nor a place to stay. Whats going to happen to me?
Furthermore.
Furthermore, you see?
Right now, I am the most perfectly beautiful girl I could imagine.
I checked it earlier, and Im so lovely I could fall for myself.
Sleeping outdoors will be bad.
If I dont secure a place to sleep securely, itll be bad.
This place definitely has worse public order than modern j.a.pan, right?
I like the thought of getting attacked by a man even less than getting attacked by a monster.
That would be h.e.l.l.
First, I have to find a way to defend myself.
In all kinds of meanings.
——but just before reaching the town, I finally encountered a monster!
Level 1 Pet.i.te Panther
Enemy Status, says the information popping up in my head.
But more importantly...
EHHH WHATS THIS SO CUTE!!
Its a puppy.
Its a perfect, mischievous puppy.
Its grown a little horn, but its still a cute horn.
The fangs a bit sharp, but theyre still cute fangs.
Im a complete dog person, by the way.
I think had my apartment allowed pets, I totally wouldve kept a dog...
"Eh, woah!"
The cute puppy came charging at me with its horn.
I dodged it at the last second.
Hey, wait, puppy!
That was dangerous
What are you going to do if you stab me with that!
Thats not funny!
"...sorry, puppy! I mustnt die in this place, either!"
I readied myself and decided to fight.
Before the puppy recovered its stance from the charge, I punched it.
As expected of my Agility.
With casual ease I hit the puppy.
Prod.
"…"
"…"
The puppys big, round eyes met mine.
I almost got bitten for that.
"CRAA...!" I quickly dodged.
...ap, I definitely cant win this.
This is too powerless, right?
When my limit is prodding a puppy.
Arm strength that loses against a puppy? Come on!
What do I do? What do I do!
While I my thoughts were impatiently treading in circles, the puppy charged again.
Ah———c.r.a.p.
I cant dodge that one.
One hit?
Am I going to die in one hit?
Protection 0 means paper, right?
I keep watching the events in slow motion, blinking not even once.
"Hng!"
Suddenly, a well-built uncle stepped between the puppy and me.
Why uncle, you ask?
Because I saw his dandy profile that made it clear hes that old!
Uncle stopped and repelled the puppys charge with his shield and impaled it with his sword.
... doesnt make for a nice picture, does it.
With that, the puppy stopped moving and disappeared like fog.
I see, monsters disappear upon defeat.
Thats way better than leaving behind corpses.
A drop item appeared.
Pet.i.te Panthers Fur
I wonder, can I just sell these and make my living that way?
Uncle specially picked it up and threw it to me.
"That was dangerous, Missy. A little Missy like you shouldnt loiter around outside town like that?"
Missy?
Ahh, he means me.
This dandy old man threw me a look over his shoulder and loosened his face into a broad grin.
"Y-yes. Thank you very much."
Alright, perfect yourself!
I originally intended to do so anyway, but now Ill show you what a great girl I can be!
I am a bit excited though.
Although theres nothing that could expose me. Im not gonna be exposed, right?
"But... this is a surprise. Missy, are you an elf?"
"Eh...?"
Uncle made a surprised face after looking at me again.
Eh?
How did he notice Im an elf?
Im actually a halfelf though.
"No, Im a halfelf."
"Hee..., I see I see. Youre the cutest girl Ive ever seen, so I thought you might be an elf, but I see."
Are elven looks that superior?
"I-is that so. Uhm, thank you very much. For saving me just now."
Id been on the verge of death. No kidding.
"I told you, dont sweat it. We have to help each other in trouble, right? From the looks of it youre alone; dont you have a companion?"
Uncle answered me with a smile and worriedly looked around since I was alone.
I hadnt had a bad feeling about him in since the beginning, but now he seemed like a genuinely good guy.
Hmm, what should I do.
Mixing in a bit of the truth, I told him my situation.
"Actually, I left home. Uhm, I cannot ever go back, and without anywhere to go, either, I was wondering what to do... probably."
Its true.
I only omitted some details.
And whether I can ever go back or not needs some verification in the future.
Uncle listened to my story quietly.
"Missy, you said youre a halfelf, right... Elven villages are harsh in that respect. Must have been tough on you."
Uncle was moved to tears a bit.
And hey, elves are horrible, arent they?!
Really elitist, huh.
"Ahh, nono, how should I put this."
But arbitrarily making the elves the bad guys didnt sit well with me either.
"Its fine, its finy, Missy. Everyones got a thing or two they dont want to remember!"
Yepyep, Uncle nodded.
What should I do, this person is a bottomless fountain of goodness.
"Still, I see. But its no good if a missy like you has nowhere to go. Humans arent all bad guys, either, but it must be tough to live on your own for a girl as ignorant of the world as you are, Missy."
Ignorant of the world, huh.
Is that how I look to you?
Well, I cant fight and I was alone outside of town.
And at least in this world its true that I dont know left from right.
I got anxious after all.
Seeing my uneasy expression, Uncle gave me one, big nod.
"Im Nicholl, an adventurer living in this town. I live with my wife and daughter, but if you like, why dont you stay with us, Missy? This must be some kind of fate. I cant just let you to the dogs like this."
"Eh!?"
Is this what they call a G.o.dsend?
Ignorant of the world as Uncle had called me and exhausted to boot, I nodded without hesitation.
Its too much trust in someone I just met, but he did save my life.
And more than anything, I really have no way to survive in this world, so I have to rely on someone.
For now.
"Uhm, it may cause you trouble, but please help me."
"Hahaha, thats no trouble. With someone like you at home, Missy, itll be cheerful, and my daughterll be happy for someone her age."
Uncle told me with a wry smile that shed always been noisy about wanting a little sister.
"I... My name is Alice. Nicholl-san, really, thank you!!!"
When I smiled in relief from the bottom of my heart, Uncle got a bit agitated and fl.u.s.tered.
"O-Ouu! Lets go, Mis... Alice-chan!"
Like that, I took my first step living in another world.