Crackle, crackle, crackle

"Watching a campfire really calms me down. Ah... I want to quit my job... I wish I could just live camping forever..."

I was at a certain campsite, all alone with no one else around. Recently, my latest hobby on my days off has been solo camping at hidden, lesser-known campsites where few people go. Even today, there are a few others staying at this campsite, but since everyone has pitched their tents quite far apart, it feels like I'm all by myself.

Lately, more campsites have been banning open flames directly on the ground because it can damage nature and pose a fire risk. I also use a fire pit, where I place firewood to make a campfire.

Staring into the campfire, I begin to feel very relaxed. It seems that the flickering flames and the crackling sounds have a scientifically proven soothing effect.

"Aaah, this is so good!"

Tonight's dinner is simple: just grilled meat sprinkled with some outdoor spices. For snacks, I have smoked cheese, sausages, and nuts I made during the day. Washing it all down with an ice-cold can of beer is the ultimate taste of happiness.

"Solo camping is the best!"

Lately, I've been relieving my work fatigue through weekend camping trips. I've only been working for a few years, but I already feel like quitting my job. There's just too much overtime... I barely manage to protect my one or two days off a week for solo camping.

Watching the campfire and the starry sky, which I can't see in the city, truly heals my soul.

"Alright, time to sleep."

My belly's full, and I'm starting to feel the effects of the alcohol. I've put out the fire, and I'll finish cleaning up tomorrow morning. I've already prepared everything for bed. All that's left is to brush my teeth and crawl into my sleeping bag.

Okay, time to sleep. Tomorrow, I'll pack up quickly, head home, and catch up on the anime I've been piling up this week.

"Where... am I?"

The day after solo camping, I woke up and stepped out of my tent, only to find myself in a forest.

"I was definitely at the campsite yesterday. My tent is still here, and the table and camping chair I left out are still there too. So why am I in a forest instead of the campsite from yesterday?"

The dense trees and the grass around me feel real to the touch, and the scents seem too authentic to be a dream.

"I drank about the same amount as usual yesterday, and it doesn't seem like I'm drunk and dreaming..."

I decided to walk around, but the management building and parking lot that were at the campsite were nowhere to be seen.

"And my phone and wallet are missing!?"

I suddenly realized that the smartphone and wallet I kept in my pants pocket were gone.

"Wait, this is seriously bad! My car is gone too; what am I supposed to do now?!"

I can't call for help on my phone, and the car that should be in the parking lot has vanished along with the parking lot itself. The words "abduction" and "being lost" popped into my head.

"Calm down, it's not time to panic yet! First, let's check what I have!"

I hurried back to my tent, packed up the fire pit, and checked my belongings.

For now, I still have the smoked food I intended to eat for breakfast, some leftover ingredients, my tent, sleeping bag, mat, folding table, low camping chair, cooking utensils, spices, a hatchet, a flashlight, and other camping gear. I packed everything into my camping backpack as I confirmed my belongings.

"I have some food, but I don't have much to drink..."

I had some solid preserved food in my backpack, but for drinks, I only had about half a 2-liter bottle of tea left. I finished all the canned beer yesterday.

"If I don't start moving now, I'll run out of drinks in no time!"

If I don't find a river soon, I'll be in trouble. I need to act quickly!

"Haa... haa..."

For the past two hours, I've been walking through the mountains, but I haven't found anything. I left unnecessary items like firewood, empty beer cans, and trash at the spot where my tent was. It's considered good manners to take your trash home from a campsite, but this isn't the time to worry about that.

To ensure I could find my way back, I marked the trees with the cooking knife I had brought. This way, I should be able to retrace my steps.

"My drink is almost gone, and I'm in real trouble... wait, what's that sound!?"

Amidst the rustling of the trees swaying in the wind, I heard the sound of flowing water. There might be a river up ahead!

"Haa... haa..."

I quickened my pace. If it's a clean river, I'll be able to drink as much water as I want. As long as I secure water, I have food, so I should be able to manage for a while!

"Yes, I found a river... but..."

There was indeed a river. But it wasn't just the river that I found. There were also goblins, just like the ones you'd find in a fantasy world.

They were short, with dark green skin and stout bodies. Their noses were flat, and their ears were pointed, with a grotesque face. They wore ragged cloth around their waists and carried thick wooden clubs. They looked exactly like the goblins I knew from my world… Could this really be another world!?

"Geh-geh-geh!"

"Gyaaah!"

I must have made some noise when I found the river in my excitement because the goblins noticed me. And there were two of them!

I quickly took off my backpack and brandished the knife I had with me. Wait, fighting goblins right off the bat? You've got to be kidding me! I've never even been in a proper fistfight before!

The goblins started closing in. My legs were shaking uncontrollably. I was terrified... so scared...

Whoosh!

"Gyah..."

"Geh!?"

"Take that, you bastard!"

"Gyaaaah!"

Suddenly, an arrow flew from somewhere, piercing one of the goblins. Then, a man emerged from the forest and cut down the other goblin with a longsword.

"Yes! Got them!"

"Idiot, don't let your guard down!"

"Whoa! This one's still alive!"

"Watch out!"

"Geh-geh..."

The goblin that should've been pierced by the arrow suddenly stood up and tried to attack the man with the longsword. But then, a woman with a short sword emerged from the forest and dealt the final blow to the goblin.

"That was close! Thanks, Nicole!"

"You're always so reckless, Royea. We were just warned by our instructor that goblins like to play dead."

"Seriously. And you were charging in so recklessly that you almost got hit by my arrow!"

The three of them didn't look Japanese, but somehow, I could understand everything they were saying.

Another man carrying a bow emerged from the forest. They all seemed to be high-school age, which meant they were much younger than me, who was turning 24 this year... But that's not important. The woman named Nicole-had cat ears on her head, and from her shorts, a tail was sticking out.