After a surprisingly comfortable night at the inn, morning arrived. Woon and Eric woke up, shared a hearty breakfast downstairs, and then stepped out into the bustling street.
"That was quite a comfortable night, and the food was absolutely delicious!" Woon declared, stretching contentedly as he took in the morning sights.
"It's good, isn't it? I'm a regular here, so you can always trust that the food will be top-notch!" Eric boasted, puffing out his chest.
"By the way, let's head to the weapon shop first. You definitely need a weapon, at least something to protect yourself with," Eric suggested, his tone shifting to one of practical concern.
"Yes... thank you, Eric... I'll find a way to pay you back, somehow, someday!" Woon said, a genuine sincerity in his voice.
"Don't worry about it, dude. We've already been friends for days, haven't we?" Eric waved off the gratitude casually.
'Friend, my ass. You've been actively pissing me off even inside the inn, just last night!' Woon thought, a wry smile playing on his lips. 'I don't know what exactly got into you that made you change so fast, but it's honestly quite uncomfortable!' He pondered the word "Friend" silently.
After their brief exchange, they continued walking, soon reaching the weapon shop. The interior was a veritable arsenal, a mesmerizing display of every imaginable weapon: gleaming swords, sharp blades, intricate daggers, elegant bows, futuristic guns, and countless more. For Woon, who had only ever read about such things in fantasy novels, it was a truly spectacular sight.
"It's impressive, right!" Eric exclaimed, sensing Woon's awe. "What about it, Woon? Just choose something. I'll cover the cost!"
"Umm, I honestly really don't know what to choose!" Woon admitted, overwhelmed by the options.
"How about going for a classic, like a sword or a spear?" Eric suggested, trying to narrow down the choices.
"Hmmm..." Woon hummed, his gaze sweeping across the vast collection, deep in thought.
Suddenly, a man emerged from the back, a sturdy figure with calloused hands, and walked directly towards Woon. "Hi, I'm the owner of this shop," he said, a friendly smile on his face. "Are you having a hard time choosing?"
"Umm, yeah, I really don't know," Woon confessed.
"How about giving a spear a try then!" the owner offered, picking up a long, polished shaft.
"A spear.... I'll probably go with a sword," Woon decided, a certain image forming in his mind.
"A sword, huh... Can you demonstrate your swordsmanship for me then?" the owner asked, his eyes sharp. "Let's go to the back of my store. And don't worry, even if you don't know how to hold a sword, just swing it. I'll know instinctively whether you have a natural talent for it or not!"
"Sure, I guess..." Woon muttered, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. 'I haven't even held a sword in my entire life, and he wants me to demonstrate swordsmanship right now?!'
Woon, Eric, and the owner stepped into the back of the store, revealing a surprisingly spacious area dedicated to training. Wooden swords and practice spears lay scattered around, alongside various training equipment. Woon was genuinely mesmerized by the comprehensive setup.
"Wow, it's quite amazing that a humble weapon store has these kinds of facilities!" Woon exclaimed, looking around in awe.
"Amazing, right? When I first came here, even I was completely amazed!" Eric confirmed, a nostalgic look in his eyes.
'So this is where Eric started his journey, huh,' Woon mused, a faint understanding dawning on him. "Yeah."
"Alright, boy, pick up a wooden sword over there!" the owner instructed, pointing to a rack.
"Okay." Woon selected a practice sword and headed to the middle of the training area, where a sturdy straw doll stood as a target.
"Now, try swinging your sword at the doll!" the owner prompted.
'Fuck, I guess I'll just try my best,' Woon thought, steeling himself. "Yes, sir!"
Woon swung the wooden sword at the doll, left and right. His movements were clumsy, his strikes dull and lacking any real force—it was painfully obvious that this was his very first time holding a sword. After numerous, awkward strikes, Woon finally stopped, gasping for breath, completely exhausted.
"Huuuhaaaa ha ha... It's so hard! And tiring!" he panted.
"Boy..." the owner began, his voice calm.
"Yes, sir?" Woon managed, still winded.
"You don't have a talent for the sword," Ron stated plainly, without an ounce of malice. "While it's clearly your first time holding one, and your strikes are weak and lack any inherent weight..."
"Even among people who have held a sword for the very first time in their life, there's usually a certain 'something' about their swing, a raw potential that I can feel. And I don't feel that on you. You might make some progress with a sword, but you will never be able to learn advanced techniques. Only the basics will ever be within your grasp." Ron sighed inwardly. 'What a pity. He's Eric's friend, so I genuinely tried to help him, but he's truly talentless when it comes to the sword.'
"I'll do it," Woon said, his voice firm, a new resolve in his eyes.
"What?" the owner asked, confused. 'What does he mean by that?'
"I'll still choose a sword. I probably don't have a talent for other weapons either!" Woon stated, a wistful look on his face. 'I just really want a sword! I'll feel like a knight if I have one!' Woon imagined himself standing proudly on a hill, a gleaming sword in hand, like a true hero.
"Are you sure?" the owner asked, a hint of respect in his voice. 'He already knew that he doesn't have a talent for other weapons, but he still chooses to walk the path of the sword! Interesting.'
"Please make me a sword!" Woon pleaded earnestly.
"Old man, make him a sword and put it on my tab!" Eric instructed, stepping forward. 'Woon, I just tried to help you a little bit, but seeing your determination, I think I'll stick with you a bit more.'
"Hmm, okay, I guess I'll try," Ron conceded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "And I also want to see the outcome of what he will become after this!" He turned to Woon. "So, what kind of sword do you want?"
"Ohh, something like this!" Woon said, trying to describe the large, two-handed sword he envisioned, gesturing broadly. 'I don't even know what it's called!'
"Ah... A claymore sword. It's a pretty good choice; it's widely used in both war and duels. Anything else you want to add?" Ron clarified, understanding his gestures.
'Gauntlets will do,' Woon thought quickly. "Yes, I'll add a pair of gauntlets. They'll be good!"
"Gauntlets... okay, I'll get them ready. It'll be prepared for you tomorrow morning," Ron promised.
"Thank you very much, Sir!" Woon said, bowing his head respectfully. 'I guess my new life will truly begin tomorrow.'
"Don't you dare call me 'sir' again! My name is Ron, just call me that since you're Eric's friend, and honestly, I don't think there's a large age gap between us. I'm in my mid-twenties, you know!" Ron insisted, a slight blush creeping up his neck.
"Thank you, Sir Ron!" Woon replied automatically, already used to the formality.
"I told you not to call me 'sir'! Just go and grab your equipment tomorrow morning, you hear me?!" Ron grumbled, waving them off. 'Now that I think about it, he really does look like that person.' Ron mused, watching them leave.
Woon bowed his head once more to Ron and exited the shop with Eric. Before heading back to the inn, they decided to stop by a cozy coffee shop. They took a well-deserved break, sipping coffee and enjoying some snacks.
"Thank you, Eric. Really," Woon said, his voice quiet and sincere.
Eric turned to Woon, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness. He looked Woon directly in the eyes, listening intently, not distracted by anything, giving Woon his full attention.
"You know, to be honest," Woon began, his voice soft, "the moment I regained my consciousness in the middle of that barren, unfamiliar land, I genuinely thought it was just a dream, a nightmare I'd soon wake from."
"I was so incredibly curious about my surroundings, so I just wandered around, not even realizing that my life could be in grave danger."
"But then you suddenly showed up, and for a moment, I truly questioned if this was a dream or if it was real life."
"And then you continued to help me, one-sidedly, not even wanting anything in return, even knowing that I have absolutely nothing to offer you."
"So please," Woon concluded, his eyes earnest, "let me repay you someday, for everything!" Eric's internal thought: 'He's really a kind person, but why is he so hungry for attention? It's almost... unsettling.'
"Hu...hahahahaha! Don't worry about it, Woon... and you're getting far too emotional!" Eric laughed, breaking the serious mood with his usual carefree charm.
"Eric, I'm serious!" Woon insisted, feeling a surge of irritation at Eric's flippancy. 'This guy is just tweaking with me again!'
"Woon," Eric said, a hint of genuine depth in his voice, "if you ever truly want to repay me, just do me a favor in the future. That's all I ask."
'Do a favor? Is he seriously naive enough to believe that I will ever be able to do him a favor...' Woon thought, skepticism mixing with a strange warmth.
'He's actually a trustworthy friend, even though we've only been friends for a few days.' Woon decided internally. "Sure, so what do we do now?"
"Let's go back to the inn and have a drink until we're completely down!" Eric suggested, a wide grin returning to his face.
"You're really an energetic dude, even after all this," Woon commented, shaking his head.
Woon and Eric exited the coffee shop and walked straight back to the inn. That night, they indulged in food and drinks, laughing and talking until they finally dropped, dead tired, to the ground.
"Heyyy... E...Eric he...heyy," Woon slurred, barely able to form words, his head heavy with alcohol.
"Hmmmm wha..what is it?" Eric mumbled back, equally inebriated and swaying.
"Let... Me tell you a a... Secret!" Woon whispered conspiratorially, leaning close.
"Secret? I ii like that," Eric giggled, a silly grin on his face.
"I... I'm actua..tually from aaa... another world!..." Woon managed, the words tumbling out in a drunken confession.
"Crazy... Right.!" Woon prompted, hoping for some reaction, even a drunken one.
"What....a clown you aaare, you're good.. at making.. me laugh!" Eric slurred, bursting into a fit of uncontrolled, drunken laughter, completely dismissing Woon's unbelievable truth as a joke.
"Hahahaha!" Woon joined in, the truth lost in the haze of alcohol and Eric's mirth.