Chapter 1.01
1.01
Driven by hunger, Erin Solstice ventures out of the inn, survives an attack by a Rock Crab, and finds mysterious fruit. Meanwhile, the Dragon whose lair she appeared in flees in terror, eventually concluding her arrival was a random accident.
Summary
The chapter opens with a shift in perspective to the Dragon whose cave Erin Solstice had appeared in. Waking from a nightmare of her arrival, the Dragon is consumed by paranoia, believing her to be an impossibly powerful assassin or Hero sent by enemies like the Quarass or That Necromancer. Fearing for his life, he activates an emergency teleportation spell and flees his main lair, abandoning his hoard.
The perspective returns to Erin, who awakens in The Wandering Inn after crying herself to sleep. She is sore, dirty, and overwhelmingly hungry. The desperation for food overrides her fear of the unknown world, and she forces herself to leave the inn and explore the surrounding Grasslands.
Her search is quickly interrupted when a giant Rock Crab ambushes her. Erin runs for her life, narrowly escaping the creature by scrambling back up the hill to the inn. Shaken but still hungry, she spots a strange, smooth-barked tree. After a failed attempt to climb it, she kicks the trunk in frustration, which surprisingly causes a Mysterious Blue Fruit to fall. She gathers several of the fruits, securing her first source of food.
Meanwhile, the Dragon spends days hiding and meticulously checking for any signs of pursuit. Finding none, his terror slowly subsides, and he begins to believe Erin's appearance was a freak accident rather than a targeted attack. Calmed, he remembers a social obligation he must attend to every two hundred years and makes plans before settling down to sleep again.
Major Events
The Dragon Flees His Lair
Terrified that Erin Solstice is a powerful threat, the Dragon activates an emergency teleportation spell and abandons his main lair.
Erin Ventures Out for Food
Overcome by intense hunger, Erin Solstice leaves the safety of The Wandering Inn to search for sustenance in the unfamiliar Grasslands.
Ambush by a Rock Crab
While foraging, Erin Solstice is attacked by a giant Rock Crab and is forced into a desperate flight back to the inn's hill.
Discovery of the Blue Fruit
After failing to climb a strange tree, a frustrated Erin kicks it, causing a Mysterious Blue Fruit to fall and providing her with a food source.
The Dragon Assesses the Threat
After days of hiding and finding no pursuers, the Dragon concludes that Erin's appearance was a random accident, not a targeted attack.
Major Appearances
A young woman from Earth who stumbles into a fantasy world and takes refuge in an abandoned inn.
aka Erin, the young woman +31
A vast, open expanse of rolling hills and valleys where The Wandering Inn is located.
aka the plains
Small inn where Erin is present; currently occupied by her. Noted by the Watch as having been abandoned years ago but Erin is using it; the Drake and Klbkch enter here to investigate.
aka the inn, Abandoned hilltop inn +13
A massive, fire-breathing reptilian creature encountered by Erin in a cave, breathing violet flame.
aka Dragons, The Dragon +2
Minor Appearances
A sweet, blue-colored fruit that grows on trees near the inn, serving as a primary food source for Erin and the Goblins.
aka Blue Fruit, Amentus +6
An ambush predator that disguises itself as a boulder and attacks with powerful claws and antennae.
aka crab rock-monster, giant rock crab +11
Referenced
Entities by Type
Quotes
“Ow.”
“This is why drapes were invented, you know.”
“Is—is that a tree?”
“…I hate this world.”
“Did I just level up?”
“Got it. Message received.”
“Weird. Grey bark, green leaves, blue fruit. Who dropped the paint bucket on this thing? And why is it so…tough?”
“Just a coincidence? An accident? I don’t know, and I didn’t get anything to latch onto. Whomever it is, they’re gone. I—I shall be watchful.”
“Seriously? I leveled up? What is this, a game?”
“I’ll die here if I don’t find something to eat.”
“I—hate—pull-ups!”
“No. No it can’t be. But a—a Dragon and Goblins and now leveling…this is another world, right? One like Dungeons and Dragons? Or—or a video game?”
“This—really is another world, isn’t it?”
“Is this how I die? Starving to death because I can’t do a pull-up?”
“That time again? Two hundred years already? I might as well. It’s courteous.”
“Right, right. Let’s recap. I’m in another world which is actually a video game. And there are monsters in this world, and I can level up by doing stuff. I even get skills, and when I do, a voice in my head—no, more like a thought appears that tells me I’ve accomplished a task.”
“It’s all hills and valleys! No wonder I couldn’t find anything last night!”
“No. No!”
“Yep. Makes complete sense…”
“Like hell it does!”
“Are those…trees?”
“Um, shouldn’t there be some kind of announcement?”
“I’m tired.”
“What the…holy…crab?”
“[Mysterious Blue Fruit acquired!] Dun dun dun dun!”
“Just so long as the grass doesn’t change color overnight, I might have a shot. Looks like it goes purple-orange-yellow and runs right next to the inn. So I can follow that back! Follow the purple-orange-yellow grass road!”
“You…stupid tree!”
“At least, from strange young women appearing out of nowhere. She had to have been the subject of—of some chance. Maybe a [Gambler] or whatnot. Otherwise, I would be either dead or have been contacted by whomever it was. It cannot be Demons; they’re far too unsubtle. Who else? If it was the Quarass, I’d be dead. Djinni smell of magic. And that leaves…my kin, who wouldn’t do that.”