First Quest: 01

Subaru leaned back on the wooden bench, her sky-blue eyes scanning the bustling street. This wasn't going according to plan. Adventurer's Guilds were supposed to be an isekai staple—every protagonist's go-to starting point. And yet, after asking vendors, passersby, and even a guard standing stiffly at a street corner, the answer was always the same:

"A guild? Sorry, my lady, I've never heard of such a place."

Or the less polite but equally dismissive, "You sure you're in the right city, miss?"

Subaru groaned, letting her head tilt back. The sun peeked through the gaps between the roofs of the tightly packed buildings, mocking her with its cheerful glow.

"Of course there's no guild," she muttered to herself. "Why would things be that easy?"

Her stomach growled loudly, interrupting her self-pity. She glanced down at her abdomen, the armour fitting snugly against her surprisingly lean frame. Her waist was noticeably wider than she was used to, and her thighs were definitely thicker. Her tongue felt weird and her teeth were neat; but she had to admit this body wasn't half bad. If it was some kind of buffed protagonist body, maybe she'd be able to pull off some crazy feats once she figured out her skills.

But first, she needed food.

She patted down her armour, searching for any sign of a coin pouch. Nothing.

"Of course I'm broke," she grumbled. "Why would things be easy for me?"

The dagger strapped to her waist caught her eye. It was sleek, with an ornate hilt that gleamed faintly even in the shadowed alley. For a brief moment, she considered selling it, but the thought made her stomach churn.

"What kind of hero sells their weapon on day one?" she muttered, shaking her head. "Not happening."

Her eyes wandered to a nearby stall where a burly man with wild green hair was hawking his wares. The sign above the stall read "Appa Seller" in bold letters— she didn't know the language, that's what a father told his son; and the fruits on display looked suspiciously like apples—round, shiny, and red, with just a hint of a golden sheqen.

Subaru sighed. She wasn't proud, but her gaze kept darting toward the appas, her stomach growling louder with every passing second.

The vendor noticed.

"You alright there, my lady?" the man called out, his voice a deep rumble.

Subaru froze, her cheeks heating up.

"Oh, uh… yeah, I'm fine!" she said quickly, looking away.

The man chuckled, reaching for one of the appas.

"You've been eyeing these for a while now," he said. "Go on, take one."

Subaru blinked, her sky-blue eyes wide.

"Huh?"

"You look tired," the vendor said, holding out the fruit. "Here, have an appa. On the house."

Subaru hesitated, her hand halfway to the fruit.

"But I don't have any money," she admitted, feeling the weight of her situation sink in. "I mean… I forgot my purse."

The vendor waved her off with a grin.

"No problem, ma'am. Thank you for your work!"

Subaru's heart skipped a beat.

"Work?" she repeated, confused.

The vendor nodded toward her armour.

"You're clearly a knight or some kind of protector," he said. "You saved that boy earlier, didn't you? The whole street's been talking about it."

Subaru stared at him, her mouth slightly open. She wasn't used to this kind of treatment, and it felt… strange.

"Oh… yeah, that," she said awkwardly, finally accepting the fruit.

The appa felt cool and firm in her hand, its faintly sweet scent wafting up to her nose. She stared at it for a moment before looking back at the vendor.

"Thanks," she said, her voice softer.

The man waved her off with a smile.

"Just doing what I can," he said. "Enjoy!"

Subaru took a bite, the sweet, tangy flavour exploding in her mouth. It was unlike any apple she'd ever had, and for a brief moment, she forgot all about her lack of money, her unfamiliar body, and her complete and utter confusion about this world.

"This is amazing," she mumbled through a mouthful of fruit.

The vendor laughed heartily.

"Glad you like it, my lady!"

Subaru gave him a small, grateful nod before turning back to her bench. The appa might not solve her problems, but it was a start.

As she finished the fruit, her mind began to churn with plans. She didn't have money, a guild to fall back on, or any idea what she was supposed to do in this world. But she did have a body that could move faster than anyone she'd ever seen, an armour that made people mistake her for a hero, and, apparently, a reputation starting to build itself.

"Alright," she muttered to herself, tossing the core into a nearby bin. "Time to figure out what's next."

Whatever this world had in store for her, she wasn't going to sit around waiting for answers.

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