Reincarnated into my favorite videogame

Nari stood at the window, watching the soft rays of dawn break over the distant hills. The sky was a hazy blend of lavender and orange, streaked with thin clouds that lazily floated by. It had been two days since she'd first woken up in this world—two days filled with confusion, uncertainty, and a strange sense of familiarity. She still couldn't fully grasp what had happened. How had she gone from the comfort of her own bed, playing this very game on her computer, to suddenly being thrust into its reality? The thought lingered in the back of her mind, but she had no answers.

What mattered now was survival.

Iris, her ever-loyal fox companion, stirred beside her, curling into a tighter ball. Nari smiled, reaching down to scratch behind Iris's ear. The soft fur felt soothing against her fingers. "You stay here today," she whispered. Iris's silver eyes blinked open for a moment before she let out a soft, contented whine and nuzzled Nari's hand. "I'll be back soon, I promise."

Leaving Iris at the inn wasn't something Nari wanted to do, but she knew it was necessary. Iris was a rare, mystical creature in this world, and taking her out into the bustling town could attract unwanted attention. Nari didn't want to deal with curious stares or questions—at least not today. Her focus was on a simple goal: visit the adventurers' guild, sign up, and find a quick mission to earn some money. She needed supplies, and perhaps, she thought, a bit of normalcy in this strange, new existence.

Nari grabbed her staff, a slender but powerful weapon, and slung it across her back before leaving her room. The innkeeper had been kind enough not to ask too many questions when she checked in, and Nari had been grateful for the quiet, modest accommodations. As she descended the wooden stairs to the common area, she waved a quick goodbye to the innkeeper, who nodded in return, barely looking up from her sweeping.

The streets were already alive with the hustle and bustle of the town's early risers. Merchants were setting up their stalls, and adventurers in varying degrees of armor and weaponry were preparing for their day's work. The clatter of boots on cobblestone and the murmur of conversations filled the air, creating a familiar soundtrack that made Nari's stomach churn with both excitement and anxiety. It felt so real, so different from when she had merely been controlling a character on a screen.

But she wasn't controlling anyone now. She was Nari.

Walking briskly, Nari made her way through the town's narrow streets, the adventurers' guild looming just ahead. Its sturdy stone structure was exactly as she remembered it from the game: tall, imposing, with a large wooden door that creaked when pushed open. Inside, it smelled faintly of old wood and ale. The guild hall was filled with adventurers of all shapes and sizes—some in full plate armor, others in simple robes like hers. Along the far wall was a bar where a few adventurers nursed drinks or shared stories, and next to it, a large bulletin board displaying various mission requests.

Nari took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. This was her first real step into the world of adventuring, and despite everything she knew from the game, being here in person was a different experience altogether. She walked up to the front desk where an attendant, a middle-aged woman with tired eyes and a no-nonsense expression, was scribbling something in a ledger.

"Excuse me," Nari said, her voice soft but steady. "I'd like to sign up as an adventurer."

The woman looked up, barely acknowledging Nari's presence. "Name, rank, and are you a sorcerer or swordsman?" she asked, her tone flat and businesslike.

"Nari," she replied. "I don't know my rank yet, and I'm a sorcerer."

The woman gave her a brief nod and pulled out a small orb from beneath the counter, placing it on the desk between them. "Touch the orb," she instructed.

Nari hesitated for a split second, memories of the game flooding her mind. The orb was used to measure an adventurer's power level and assign them a rank. She had done this countless times in the game, but there was something unnerving about doing it now, in person. She reached out and quickly touched the orb before pulling her hand back. In the game, there was a glitch—if you touched the orb for less than seven seconds, it wouldn't measure your full power, giving you a lower rank than you deserved. Nari smiled inwardly. She didn't want to reveal her full abilities just yet.

The orb pulsed softly, and the woman glanced at a small device on her desk. "D-rank," she said, writing it down in her ledger. "You'll be assigned to the next group that needs a member. Come back tomorrow."

Nari nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment. D-rank was low, but she knew it was only temporary. She'd rise through the ranks soon enough. Turning away from the desk, she made her way toward the exit, her mind already drifting to thoughts of tomorrow's mission. Just as she reached for the door, a voice called out from behind her.

"Hey, beautiful! Let's talk!"

Nari's steps faltered, and her stomach twisted with unease. She didn't need to turn around to know the comment was directed at her. After all, she was the only woman in the guild hall at that moment. She took a deep breath, choosing to ignore the voice as she pushed open the door and stepped outside into the bright sunlight.

But before she could make her way back to the inn, something caught her eye—a building just down the street. A library. The sight of it stirred something in Nari, a curiosity she hadn't felt in a while. Maybe there were books about magic, new spells she could learn, or information that could help her better understand this world. She decided to stop by the library before heading back to the inn, her steps quickening with excitement.

But then, she felt it—a firm hand gripping her wrist.

"I said I wanted to talk to you," the voice growled.

Nari turned slowly, her heart racing as her eyes landed on the man who had called out to her in the guild. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with greasy black hair and a leering smile. Her stomach churned with disgust. This wasn't just any adventurer. She recognized him—he was a low-level villain in the game, a swordsman notorious for harassing female players. In this world, he was a level 57 adventurer, a number that flashed briefly above his head when she instinctively checked his stats.

For a moment, Nari considered using her magic to blast him away. She could feel the power coursing through her staff, ready to strike at a moment's notice. But then a better idea formed in her mind. She'd learned how to deal with people like him long before she ever entered this world.

Nari's breathing quickened, and tears welled up in her eyes. She began to sob quietly, her voice trembling as she gasped for air. The man's grip on her wrist loosened as confusion crossed his face.

"What the—?"

Before he could finish his sentence, a figure rushed toward them from across the street. A blur of blonde hair and steel collided with the man's shin, sending him stumbling backward with a yelp of pain.

"Hey! Let her go!" a female voice shouted.

Nari blinked away her fake tears and looked up to see a young woman standing between her and the man. She had short blonde hair and a sword strapped to her back, her blue eyes flashing with anger as she stared down the swordsman. Nari quickly checked her stats—level 66, a swordswoman. She was strong, far stronger than the man who had grabbed her.

The man groaned in pain, clutching his shin as he glared at the blonde swordswoman. "Mind your own business!" he spat.

The swordswoman didn't flinch. "And watch you harass this young lady? I don't think so," she said loudly, her voice carrying across the street. People had already begun to gather, watching the scene unfold with interest. Whispers spread through the crowd, and several pairs of eyes settled on the man. His face turned bright red with embarrassment as he realized that he was the center of attention.

Muttering a string of curses under his breath, the man turned and fled, disappearing into the crowd as quickly as he could. Nari let out a sigh of relief, her body relaxing as the tension drained away.

"Are you okay?" the swordswoman asked, turning to Nari with a concerned look.

Nari nodded, wiping the tears from her face—tears that had been all part of the act. "I'm fine, thanks to you."

The swordswoman smiled, her expression softening. "I'm Sarah, by the way."

"Nari," she replied, her voice still shaky.

Sarah gave her a reassuring nod. "Glad I could help. People like him don't belong in the guild. If you ever need someone to watch your back, you can count on me."

Nari felt a warmth spread through her chest at Sarah's words. It was the first time since arriving in this world that someone had offered her genuine kindness. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as alone here as she had thought