It tells the story of a high school student named Sakuya Makoto who vanished, swallowed by a mist.
One day, Makoto was on his way home from school. The sky had begun to darken as usual—orange fading into a dull purple, streetlights not yet lit, and the evening air feeling slightly damp. He walked alone, letting out a long sigh. That day had been tiring, but at least he could go home soon.
However, as he passed a small, seldom-used corner…
a thick mist suddenly descended.
Not slowly.
Not naturally.
But as if it fell from the sky and immediately swallowed him whole.
"A—what is this…?" Makoto stepped back, but his vision suddenly vanished. The world turned a solid white. His breath caught. It felt as if something invisible had gripped him.
And in a blink of an eye—
the mist threw Makoto onto the rocky ground.
"Ugh—!"
He lay on a strange, damp patch of earth. The air here was different—colder, sharper, like mountain air. Around him were tall trees he had never seen before. Their leaves were thin, bluish in color, and their trunks layered like scales.
"What kind of place is this!?" Makoto yelled reflexively.
Unfortunately, the sound echoed loudly through the forest…
and invited something.
The bushes trembled. A rustling sound approached.
"…Don't tell me I called a ghost? A monster? Or… oh God, don't tell me this is an isekai?
Damn author." Makoto grumbled in his heart.
Several small creatures emerged from the bushes.
A dark green slime, and three—no, five—skinny goblins with glowing yellow eyes.
"Seriously!? Just arrived and already getting a deadly tutorial!?"
But before the goblins could leap at him—
The wind split.
Something shot past, then BLAK! one goblin collapsed, struck by a sword.
"Did you summon them on purpose?" a female voice said flatly.
A female adventurer stepped out. Her white hair was simply tied back, her face stern, and her eyes sharp. She moved quickly, efficiently, without yelling unnecessarily. Within seconds, all the slimes and goblins were down.
Makoto could only stare.
"…Cool."
She twirled her sword, wiping off leftover slime, then looked Makoto over from head to toe.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm fine… Thank you for saving me," Makoto replied stiffly.
"You're welcome. But… why were you running around screaming? That's just a slime. They're no stronger than a wild boar."
Her gaze turned suspicious. "You're very suspicious."
Makoto could even feel a sinister vibe in her tone.
She raised her sword at him.
"Who are you? Where are you from?"
Makoto immediately raised both hands.
"Calm down, don't kill me!"
"Answer," she said firmly.
"Okay, okay! But would you believe me if I said I'm from… another world?" Makoto stammered.
The woman paused for a few seconds… then she sheathed her sword.
"Ah… so you're just someone dragged in by the mist."
Makoto blinked.
"Wait… so there are others like me?"
"Yes. Many. Maybe around ten before… and you're the eleventh."
Makoto froze.
Eleventh? So it happens often…?
He was more confused than ever.
The woman looked at him, arms crossed.
"Now, what will you do?"
"I… don't know."
"Then, do you want to come with me to the village?" she asked.
Makoto hesitated.
"But how will they react to a newcomer like me…?"
"Hm… worst case… executed."
Makoto shivered.
She said it as casually as if announcing the price of fried snacks had gone up!?
"R-really?"
"Worst case, yes."
She tilted her head. "So, will you come?"
Makoto swallowed and nodded.
"Nothing wrong with trying, right?"
They walked through the forest toward the village. The sky darkened further. The smell of wood smoke began to drift—signs that a settlement was near.
However, their arrival was not welcomed warmly. Villagers looked displeased, holding their children close, taking a step back. The atmosphere felt cold.
"Lyona, who is this?" asked the village chief, an old man with a stern face.
"He's a newcomer from the mist," the woman answered.
The village chief approached and extended his hand.
"Introduce yourself, I am the village chief."
Makoto shook his hand cautiously.
"I am Sakuya Makoto… nice to meet you."
The old man sighed heavily.
"Nak Makoto, I apologize if our village seems unwelcoming. Previous mist arrivals… caused a lot of chaos. The people are still afraid."
Makoto nodded slowly.
"It's okay, I understand."
"But… we don't have any rooms left. Only a straw warehouse. Do you mind?"
Makoto smiled faintly.
"It's fine, that's enough."
"Lyona, take him," he said.
"Alright."
They walked again.
Upon arriving at a small, slightly dusty warehouse, Lyona pointed inside.
"This is your place."
Makoto raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you look like you're holding back a laugh?"
Lyona looked back, wiping the corner of her lips.
"Actually, there's still a room. But the village chief hates mist arrivals… so well, that's how it is."
Makoto only gave a dry laugh.
"Seems like it's my fate."
Lyona suddenly looked at him seriously.
"I want to ask. Why is your Flux energy unstable?"
"Flux? What's that?"
Lyona sighed.
"It's the energy in the body. It can be used to strengthen the body or basic magic. Rumor says… mist arrivals usually have a small but stable Flux. But yours… is a mess."
Makoto could only stare blankly.
"In my world, there's nothing like that… so I don't know."
"Want to learn to control it?" Lyona asked.
"Please teach me," Makoto answered spontaneously.
Lyona smiled faintly.
"I can. But it won't be easy or quick."
"That's fine. I have no reason to back down."
"Then, you need to wake up early tomorrow. Go to sleep."
Lyona turned and left.
Makoto sat on the pile of straw, taking a deep breath.
That night, he could only stare at the strange sky that didn't exist on Earth…
and asked himself:
"Why am I here… and what awaits me in this world?"
- to be continued