Infinite Genius

New World, New People

"What is happening?"

"What is this place?"

"I am supposed to be at home sleeping in my bed...then how did I end up in this forest?!"

Shin's mind was overflowing with thoughts, struck with fear and surprise, unaware of what is happening.

Putting his hand on his head, he thought "Maybe this is all just a dream..."

Then he looked around, and murmured to himself .

"or not...!"

Just then he heard a strange noise from behind. He turned his head to that direction and asked with a voice filled with fear "Wh...who is there...?!".

One of the bush at some distance to that direction started to move. The fear on his face grew even more. He noticed something coming out of the bush. A three feet tall creature with two big yellow eyes and a body covered in dark green color with a stone knife in its hand emerged out of the bush.

With awe Shin shouted "Go...Goblin...?!"

The creature screamed and charged at Shin with its stone knife. Shin quickly stood up on his feet and started running. The goblin kept on chasing him. 

He thought "What is a goblin doing here?...don't tell me..!".

Images of the book he read last night passed through his mind

Shin kept on running and started shouting out loud

"Get away you monster...please don't kill me...I am a virgin and I don't plan on dying like that... "

"Somebody please help me..."

Shin kept on running in panic without knowing what to do as the gap between them gradually started decreasing. Suddenly he tripped over a random rock he failed to notice. Taking this into advantage, the creature, with a creepy laugh and watering mouth approached Shin and was about to stab him. Shin crossed his both hands over his face, closed his eyes and thought "Is this my end?"

Just then a person holding a sword jumped from out of nowhere in between Shin and the goblin, and beheaded the goblin in one s***h.

Slashing the sword in air once more to get the blood off the blade, the mysterious hero slid his sword into the sheath mounted on his back. With a smile he turned to Shin and asked

"Hey you...Are you alright ? "

Shin's eyes filled with tears of joy and fear as he looked at the young hero.

"Thank you...Thank you... for saving my life"

Shin replied in a broken voice filled with happiness.

The hero kept on smiling with a proud face and continued "Well you see..."

He suddenly stopped his words, his eyes widened and the next second he got on his knees and started speaking with a rather formal voice "Pardon my misbehaviour great master"

Shin remained speechless and his face dropped down as he saw the strange action of the hero who  just saved him from the brink of death.

"Ahhhh...what are u doing?!"

Shin asked in a voice filled with surprise.

"Oh almighty...I am sorry for intruding in your hunt...or rather, was it a test for this little one?"

The Hero kept on speaking ignoring Shin's words.

Suddenly one of the bushes near started moving. Shin and the young hero looked to that side.

"What... Is that an another goblin?" with a fear struck face Shin said.

The hero remaining in his kneeled down position was ready to draw his sword and attack.

But instead of a green ugly monster, a young pretty girl appeared out of the bush this time.

"Idiot...there you are. Why did you leave me behind and ran away? And why are u on your knees...and who is this...?!"

After saying this much the girl with a shocked face, kneeled down as well.

"Oh great master...sorry for not recognizing you initially... seems like my brother done something wrong...he is older than me but still childish...please be kind enough to forgive him".

Saying this the girl kept bowing her head down same as the hero.

Shin couldn't understand what is happening or what to do, stood still, blinking his eyes.

Rubbing on the back of his head with one of his hand and making a weird smile on his face. 

Shin asked "What are you guys doing? please stand up!...I like this...but I think you misunderstood me for someone else"

The hero stood up and said "Hahaha...even if I am a new adventurer you cant fool me master. The picture on your hand tells it all"

"Picture.. what picture?" Shin thought

He looked at his hands . There, on his left hand he saw a weird looking tattoo with skulls and a dragon imprinted, surrounding a highlighted no '8' .For a moment Shin panicked and tried rubbing it off. "What in the world is this...how did it get on my hands?...in all that commotion I failed to notice this"

The hero and the girl were looking eagerly at Shin.

Seeing this he stopped acting weird and took a deep breath and told the siblings " Well guys...you see...I need to tell you something".

Hearing this the siblings looked at each other.

Shin explained to them the complete story about him. Hearing this, both of the siblings were surprised and didn't believed him at first. But when Shin sweared on his life that it is the truth, they had no other option but to believe.

They introduced themselves. The eldest one, the hero boy, his name is Clinton Bell. The younger sister's name is Everlene Bell. They are rookie adventurers who just started their journey. Clint is about the same age as Shin and Everlene one year lesser. They decided to take Shin to the nearest town 'Hawkwar'.

On the way they explained to him the story of this world and what other things they know. As he suspected, the story the siblings said matches the story in the book. 

And yes this is the world 'Azgal', Shin confirmed.

Going to Hawkwar, there is an another objective as well. A 'Clipper' same as Shin lives there. Clipper is the common name given to the heroes, who are the ten Gaurdians of Azgal. Each carries these kind of weird tattoo . They are deemed immensely powerful. They are very much respected, looked upon and sometimes even feared. They are those same heroes who protected this world from the evil Demon King once, as told in that book.

"So does that mean I am also chosen to be a hero?" Looking at the weird tattoo in his hand Shin thought.

And there is also one another thing Shin noticed, something that he left unnoticed like the tattoo in his hand, a weird panel floating in air, in which it says

"     LEVEL : 0

STRENGTH       :10

REFLEX              :5

INTELLIGENCE:15

VITALITY           :15

Attack Speed       :Normal

Movement Speed :Normal

Buffs                    :None "

"What does this mean?...Am I in some kind of game??...looks like Clint and Everlene can't see this...maybe it  is visible to me only, in some way? "he  wondered,  as the trio move towards the town of Hawkwar.

"We are finally here..."Clint said as the buildings of the town came into range of vision from a long distance.

As they reached the entrance gate of the town, people started noticing Shin's tattoo in hand and bowed down to him and followed him. Shin walked on with a shy face not knowing how to react. When they reached around the middle of the town, the town folks surrounded them. Everyone had an eager look on their faces and was very noisy. Shin felt more uncomfortable. An old man came out to the front from the crowd and raised his hands. The roaring crowd calmed down in an instant. Shin felt some kind of relief. For a moment he closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. When he opened his eyes again, his jaws dropped in shock. Literally each and everyone of the townspeople gathered there was on their knees, showing him their respect.

"What are you all doing?" Shin asked in a weird voice.

Shin then looked at his companions. They also had already joined the big crowd.

Shin put his hands on his face and said in a lower voice "Even after all that explanation...!"

Shin couldn't take it anymore, he shouted "Everyone...Please stand up".

Everyone bowing down stood up with cheers. Then they started praising.

"Long live the heroes of Azgal...Long live the heroes of Azgal..."

Shin stood there speechless and defeated.

The old man who is the leader of the town folk came near to Shin and said "Great one...I know what brought you here...follow me this way please."

Shin, for a moment thought "What is this old guy talking about? Guess I have no other choice...let's follow him for now."

As he started moving forward, he suddenly stopped and turned to his companions and asked "You guys coming?"

Clint replied "Sorry master...but we were just coming back from a mission when we met you, so..."

"So we need to get to the adventurers guild at central as quickly as possible, to turn it in and claim our reward" Everlene interrupted.

"How dare you interupt me" Clint said

"What's wrong with that ...idiot" Ever replied making a ignorant face.

"I am your big brother show some respect..."Clint replied angrily

Shin couldn't help but laugh "Hahaha..."

Seeing this Clint said "Wow...its nice to see you smiling master"

"Sorry but I just remembered about some people I know back home "Shin replied as he remembered the funny arguments between Mrs Yamamoto and Aki.

"Take care guys...and thank you for helping me" Shin said.

"You too master...take care" Everlene replied

"Bye Bye..."Clint added

Shin parted ways with the siblings and continued following the old man.