Chapter 4: Slapping
Arthur walked down the narrow path in the forest, his mind filled with questions about what had just happened. His steps halted when he heard a rustling sound from the nearby bushes. He quickly turned, his heart racing. Before he could prepare to flee, a woman emerged from behind the bushes.
The woman was wearing light armor that suggested she was an adventurer. Her black hair was tied carelessly, and a large backpack hung on her back. She had a pretty face, but it was full of wariness. In her hand, there was a small knife, which seemed to have just been used for cutting plants.
Arthur took a step back. Who is this? he thought. He didn’t remember any character like this in the story he had read. The woman looked at him with raised eyebrows but then smiled slightly.
"Hi," she said in a friendly yet watchful tone. "Are you lost? This forest isn’t usually frequented by strangers."
Arthur tried to calm himself. "Uh, yeah. I was just... looking for the nearest village."
The woman stepped closer, her eyes scanning Arthur from head to toe. "Hm, you don’t look like a villager or even an adventurer. What’s your name?"
Arthur felt tense. Arthur D. Bump was a fugitive, so he decided to use his real name from his previous life. "My name is... P*******."
However, what came out of his mouth was, "Arthur D. Bump."
The woman immediately froze, her eyes widening. "Arthur D. Bump?" she said, her voice suddenly sharp. "You’re that one?"
Arthur furrowed his brow, confused. "That one? What do you mean?"