‘How many times has this guy been reincarnated from Earth…’
After reading the last comment, I looked down at the monster collapsed before me.
An Orc.
It was a type of monster that didn’t exist in the Tower back home.
So I needed to be absolutely sure.
Just in case it only looked different—if it were actually human, killing it would be irreversible.
Fortunately, the Gallery’s response was clear.
Monster.
‘Then there’s no need to let it live.’
Besides, if I just walked past, it would get back up and attack people again.
That settled it.
Before the Buff I’d cast wore off, I picked up the Orc’s weapon from the ground.
Whether it was looted or not, unlike its crude leather armor, the Mace was fairly well-made.
Gripping the Mace with both hands, I swung it toward its temple.
Thud!
A heavy impact reverberated up my wrist as it struck thick flesh and bone.
It was a satisfying feel I hadn’t experienced in quite a while.
But one hit wasn’t enough.
Thud!
The Orc’s body jolted violently with the second strike.
I set the Mace down and pressed my hand against its neck.
No pulse.
This time I brought my fingers to its nose.
It wasn’t breathing either.
Finally, I opened its eyelid to check the eye.
No pupillary reflex.
“He’s definitely dead.”
As the realization that I’d killed it sank in, a faint unease crept over me.
This wasn’t my first kill, but it was the first time I’d killed something resembling a human.
The monsters that appeared in the Tower had forms that were, quite literally, monstrous—so this was unusual.
‘More importantly.’
I turned my gaze to the Gallery window floating before me.
What I’d reopened wasn’t my question post, but the Gallery notice.
[Isekai Gallery Integrated Notice]
- No confirmed cases of return exist at this time.
Fraud or false claims regarding return will result in a 1-year ban for the first offense and a permanent ban for the second.
It was a notice I’d checked again just in case, but there was nothing I’d misread or missed.
It was safe to say there was no way back—at least not right now.
“This is a problem.”
As of last night, I’d fallen asleep in my private Healing Center.
There was a raid party scheduled for early dawn, and paperwork left to process.
With me—the director and only Healer—gone, they must be in chaos.
It would be a lie to say I wasn’t frustrated.
But sitting in the middle of a forest worrying wouldn’t solve anything.
‘Let go of what can’t be done and start with what can.’
Returning wasn’t something I could solve right now.
Surviving the immediate moment, on the other hand, depended entirely on my choices.
“I need to settle down first.”
The three essentials for human survival and maintaining basic life were commonly grouped together as food, clothing, and shelter.
Right now, I needed all three.
Finding a way back could wait.
And besides, even if I didn’t, the folks on the Gallery would keep searching for a method.
I opened the common knowledge section in the Gallery’s notice tab.
[Basic Doctrine by Religion—Avoiding Witch Hunts]
[Continent Map Compilation (Continuously Updated)]
[How to Check Your Location on the Map]
[Common Herbs Found Nearby]
Skimming through, there were plenty of useful tips.
After quickly reading what I needed, I moved to the map-related post mentioned there.
Title: How to Check Your Location on the Map
- Tap your own nickname
- Check the coordinates showing your current location
- Open the map compilation post
- Use the coordinates to find your location on the map
- Done.
For map reading techniques, see the link below.
※Warning) As mentioned in the map post, absolutely do not redraw the map.
If you get caught, it’s execution.
No joke, I’m serious;;
Fortunately, I knew how to read a map.
“The nearest city from here is called Millers.”
I had a rough direction in mind, but I didn’t move right away.
Even if I went, I had no currency—begging would be the only option.
So I needed to find something valuable here first.
‘I don’t know what’s worth money, but the people on the Gallery probably do.’
Title: Does Anyone Know What’s Valuable in the Forest?
Author: Anonymous (123.123)
I checked the map post in the notice tab and identified my approximate location and the nearest city, but since I have no money, I’m trying to find something valuable first.
Any help would be appreciated.
[Who is this guy, already adapting]
ã„´[Fr, usually people have a mental breakdown and sleep on the streets for days]
[Dude didn’t you say you killed an Orc? Pull out the Orc’s fangs, and if you have the weapon, reclaim and sell it. You can skin the hide for money too, but if you can’t, whatever. The fangs are pocket change, but iron weapons sell for a decent price, so it’ll help.]
ã„´[Thank you.]
The money wasn’t far away.
Even though it was a monster, I had experience processing byproducts, so prepping the Orc wasn’t difficult.
I twisted out the protruding fangs and wiped the blood off the Mace on its hide before tucking it into my waist.
I would’ve liked to skin it too, but I had no usable blade, so I couldn’t.
Still, this was enough for now.
The problem was the road to the city.
‘It’s far.’
The distance to the city was immense.
And being in the middle of a forest, just reaching an actual road was a task in itself.
‘Even if I have to detour a bit, finding a road first is better.’
Walking through the forest consumed more than double the stamina and time of walking on flat ground.
Better to take a longer route along a road than to trek through the woods for hours.
About twenty minutes walking southeast.
Finally, I emerged from the forest and spotted a road used by people and horses.
[Continent Common Knowledge]
[Doctrine by 12 Religions]
[A Viscount Is Not Above a Baron. Noble Hierarchy Explained.]
From then on, I read through Gallery common knowledge while walking along the road.
Around the time the sun began dipping westward, a gray City Wall appeared in the distance.
Below it, a Soldier stood yawning widely, clearly bored with his post.
“Halt.”
As I approached the City Gate, the Soldier who’d been yawning moments before stopped me.
He stared at me suspiciously, apparently finding the Mace at my waist and my modern clothes rather questionable.
“You look damn suspicious as hell! Show me your ID card or a permit. If you don’t have one, I can’t let you in.”
Fortunately, I’d read the Gallery thoroughly on the way here, so I already had a good excuse prepared.
“I’m a Priest. I encountered an Orc in the forest and lost my belongings, so I don’t currently have my ID card, but…”
I happened to notice an unhealed wound on the Soldier’s hand, so I naturally used my skill.
Whoosh!
A ‘Heal,’ seemingly brighter than usual, settled over the Soldier’s hand.
“…Would this suffice as proof?”
As the wound vanished as if it had never been there, the Soldier flinched and bowed his head.
“Th-thank you.”
“I apologize for my rudeness, Priest. Please, go right ahead.”
With that, I passed through the City Gate without issue.
The healed Soldier glanced back at me and muttered quietly.
“I thought the floral pattern on his clothes was odd, but I never imagined he’d be a Priest…”
…
Title: Safely Entered the City.
Author: Anonymous (123.123)
I’ll need to sell the Orc fangs and Mace to pay for lodging—where should I sell them, and what’s a fair price?
[Orc fangs are used for aphrodisiacs, so five Copper Coins each. Iron weapons vary by condition, but blunt weapons like a Mace usually fetch full price—at least three Silver Coins]
[For the best price, just hit a general store. If you want top value, fangs should go to an Apothecary or Alchemist’s Shop, and the Mace to a Blacksmith or weapon shop, but who’s got time for all that]
The replies came quickly.
And not just answers—other comments too.
[How’d you get into a city, not a Village, without an ID?]
ã„´[I impersonated a Priest. Showed them a Heal, and they let me through.]
ã„´[?? That actually works]
ã„´[Dude, impersonating a Noble or Priest is a death sentence..]
ã„´[I checked, and Priests here don’t have a registry like in Catholicism. Plus, I can actually use Heal, so the risk of exposure is low.]
ã„´[This guy’s insane..]
More comments seemed to pile up after that, but I’d already gotten all the answers I needed, so I closed it without reading.
‘For an isekai city, it’s decently clean.’
The city I’d entered had a fairly pleasant look to it.
In the worst case, I’d imagined a medieval city with streets full of filth, but it wasn’t that bad.
‘At least I won’t catch the plague.’
I’d save the rest of my impressions for later.
Right now, I needed money and a place to stay.
I kept a close eye on the currency people were using while looking for the sales outlets mentioned on the Gallery.
‘A corner spot is better than the entrance or center.’
The entrance and center were rife with price gouging.
At the entrance, it was easy to catch tourists and easy marks, and the center often had inflated prices due to land and rent.
Of course, that was how it worked back home—I couldn’t be sure it applied here.
But that was something I’d figure out through experience over time.
‘So this is a general store.’
The sign had no lettering—just a picture—but seeing the cluttered array of miscellaneous goods, I stepped inside.
Inside, an old man who seemed to be the owner was playing chess alone.
“Selling something?”
“Yes.”
I set the two fangs and the Mace on the counter.
“The Mace’s too heavy for my taste…”
“Then I’ll just sell the fangs.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t buy it.”
His sly personality suggested haggling might be a pain.
“Five Silver Coins for everything.”
“I see.”
But the old man quoted a price slightly higher than the market rate I’d looked up.
So much so that my hesitance to haggle felt almost ridiculous.
“The Mace’s in pretty good shape. It’ll be a pain to process, but still.”
‘They said three Silver Coins minimum—guess it really was the minimum.’
I gave the sly but honest old man a polite nod and left.
“If you’re looking for a place to stay, try the inn with the sign of the moon and bread over there.”
“…Thank you.”
He was a man as generous as he was honest.
I wandered a bit, but it didn’t take long to find the inn he’d mentioned.
Stepping through the open door, I saw a young boy, maybe upper elementary school age, mopping the floor.
“Oh, are you here for a meal?”
The boy setting down the mop asked.
Even as he spoke, his eyes darted around, subtly sizing me up.
He was scanning my appearance, like he was trying to figure out what kind of person this guest was.
It didn’t bother me.
If a kid worked here, that was just part of the job—was all I thought.
“The old man at the general store recommended this place.”
But I was too tired for games, so I dropped the general store owner’s name.
“So you came on Gilmour’s recommendation!”
The suspicion in his eyes eased somewhat.
It had only been a few minutes since I’d met the man, but I set that aside.
“I’d like to stay for a week, if possible.”
“Three Silver Coins, please. Breakfast’s included—if you want lunch and dinner too, just add five Copper Coins!”
“Here you go.”
“Hehe, I’ll show you to your room!”
The room was on the second floor.
“It’s the best room we have. Don’t lose the Key, and make sure to lock the window when you go out. It’s small, but a little kid could fit through.”
“Got it.”
Thankfully, the room I received lived up to its reputation—it was fairly clean.
‘At least I won’t need a refund.’
It was more than enough to stay in comfortably.
Just as I sat down on the bed.
The tension drained out of me, and drowsiness washed over.
Makes sense—I’d woken up in a forest, taken down an Orc that charged me, found a city, and walked a long way. Getting tired was only natural.
‘…At least immediate survival was a success.’
Still, I’d managed to avoid the worst.
But for long-term survival, I still had a long way to go.
Fighting off the drowsiness, I wrote a new post on the Gallery.
Title: Found Lodging.
Author: Anonymous (123.123)
Thank you to everyone who helped.
That said, I’ll need to find work in the city to stay long-term. Any recommended jobs or occupations?
[Adapting way too fast lolllll]
[If nothing else, study the herb info on the Gallery and become a Herbalist. The Alchemist’s Shop pays well]
[If you can take down an Orc, you’ve got some combat ability. Go Mercenary]
Usually, a group would be put off by a newcomer firing off question after question.
But the people of the Gallery answered without any such hesitation.
For a newcomer, it was an ideal group.
However, for all their sincerity, none of the answers appealed to me.
‘I’m not in a position to be picky, but I don’t want to move around.’
I didn’t climb the Tower, save up, and open a Healing Center just to be on the move again.
Then, a reply I actually liked came up.
[Go to a Healing Center. Priests who can heal are rare, so you’ll be welcomed]
ã„´[You madman, impersonating a Priest is execution]
ã„´[If you impersonate a Priest and don’t get caught, isn’t that just being a Priest?]
ã„´[Exactly! If you don’t get caught, you’re a Priest!]
‘Not bad.’
I could pass as a Priest for a while.
But to do that, I’d need to memorize the doctrines and Scriptures posted on the Gallery.
As I organized my plans in my head and lay down on the bed—
A comment from the Gallery suddenly came to mind.
‘Come to think of it, they said if I didn’t believe it, I should look at the night sky.’
I was sleepy, but I had enough sense to look at the sky.
I got up for a moment and looked outside through the small window.
“…Huh.”
Only then did I understand why they’d told me to look at the sky.
‘There are letters embedded in the moon here.’
The blue moon had an inscription on it, the meaning of which I couldn’t discern.
I only learned that it signified the month of May when curiosity got the better of me and I opened the Gallery.
…
I had no clock, but I woke at dawn.
It was thanks to a habit ingrained in me from years of waking at the same time.
‘As I thought, it wasn’t a dream.’
As I woke, I wondered if yesterday’s events had been a dream or hallucination.
Climbing the high floors of the Tower had often come with such side effects.
But I was still in the inn room, still in a strange city.
Everything from yesterday was real—not a dream or hallucination.
I pushed strength into my aching legs and headed down to the first floor.
“…So you’re the guest Sean mentioned? Wait a moment, I’ll get your breakfast.”
On the first floor, a plump middle-aged woman was tidying up the hall.
She seemed to be the owner of this inn.
I sat down at a table, leaving the visibly weary owner behind.
Breakfast came quickly.
It was just coarse bread and a thin potato soup, but after not eating anything the previous day, it tasted pretty good.
Hunger really was the best seasoning.
‘After eating, I should find the Healing Center.’
To survive, I needed to earn money.
And the most fitting job for me right now was at the Healing Center.
‘A place with no health insurance—money should come easy.’
I was in the middle of that shameless thought when—
The little girl sitting at the table near the kitchen caught my eye.
‘She’s hurt.’
Stitches were visible on her forehead, as if the wound had been sewn up.
That must be why the boy had been watching the inn alone yesterday.
“Did the child get hurt?”
“She got hurt pretty badly yesterday at lunch. Mom rushed her to a Priest, but there were so many urgent patients that she didn’t get the healing Miracle.”
The one who answered was Sean, the older brother.
His voice sagged as he spoke—he was clearly upset.
Makes sense. A wound on the face, of all places.
If a scar remained on the girl’s face, her family would naturally be devastated.
Now I understood why the owner’s voice had lacked energy.
‘If I’m going to work at a Healing Center anyway, there’s no point hiding it. And it’ll earn the innkeeper’s goodwill.’
Back in my original world, I’d have hidden it to avoid the hassle, but this wasn’t the time to keep my cards close.
“Could you show me her face for a moment?”
As I approached the girl, the innkeeper in the kitchen watched me with a wary eye.
She’d heard I was a guest recommended by an acquaintance, but she didn’t trust a stranger on first meeting.
But the doubt faded quickly.
Because a bright light emanated from my hand, settled over the girl’s forehead, and the wound vanished without a trace.
“It won’t hurt anymore.”
When the treatment finished, the innkeeper’s eyes went wide.
The boy, who’d been fidgeting nervously, stood frozen in place.
“Oh my…”
Just then, the girl, rubbing her now-healed forehead, tugged at my sleeve.
I looked down to see her gazing up at me with sparkling eyes.
“Mister.”
The girl asked cautiously.
“Are you a Priest?”
I was a Priest impersonator.