Ping!

The sound jolts me from my momentary daze. I uninterestedly reach for my phone. My eyes widen as I read the notification: “Payment has been sent.”

“Yes!!” A wide smile spreads across my face. I can barely contain my excitement; I can’t resist licking the leftover cheese powder from my fingers—my late-night snack of cheesy curls was worth it. With my adrenaline pumping, I eagerly open my bank account application to confirm.

It’s midnight, and there I am— sprawled in front of my computer, the glow of the screen illuminating my workspace. The left-behind snack crumbles scatter the table, and the once fizzy soft drink can now lies empty, its final drop gone. I toss it into the trash can with a triumphant flick of my wrist.

‘I can finally buy my dream shoes!’

For six long months, I’ve poured my spare change and hard-earned savings into my time-deposit account, all for this moment. I’d been waiting for the target month to roll around, fingers crossed that they’d still have my size in stock.

After shutting down my computer, I sink into the comfort of my bed, a sensation of satisfaction washing over me. Nothing beats waking up with a little extra cash glimmering like hope in my bank account!

After a brief but refreshing 4-hour nap and a quick shower, I’m ready to seize the day. I pull on the first outfit I can find in my closet, a playful ensemble that reflects my buoyant mood. My hair gets twisted into a messy bun, an effortless style that perfectly matches the rush of anticipation. My new apartment still holds that delightful new scent, only been four months since I made it my home. Sure, I might not own a car yet, but that can wait—today is all about one thing...

“My Dream Shoes!!!”

Walking through those huge doors of the Mall of Asia, I can barely contain my excitement. The moment I grasp the shopping bag containing my precious new kicks—now on sale!—it feels as if I’ve hit the jackpot. I can almost hear the celebratory clinking of glasses in my mind: a new home, a flourishing career, and now, the shoes I’ve desired for what seems like eternity. And of course, a celebration will be nothing without a drink!

"It's time to go home!”

I happily open the glass door of the mall, but the gust of air from the curtain door is unexpectedly strong, causing me to slip my shopping bag from my grasp, and I lunge forward to catch it. Just as I do, the world around me shifts; the ground seems to quake beneath me, throwing me off balance. I shake my head, thinking it might be due to my lack of proper sleep. But when I finally stand upright, I find myself witnessing a gruesome scene.

‘What the...hell?’

The bustling mall fades away, replaced by a nightmarish battlefield, where valiant warriors on horseback clash in a brutal frenzy. Clattering swords, the snorting of horses, and the war cries fill my ears, drowning out all rational thought. It’s as if I’ve stepped straight into a movie scene, reminiscent of 300, but somehow even more vivid, more terrifying.

Frozen in place, my mind races to comprehend what I’m witnessing. My cranberry drink, still in hand, trembles as I avert my gaze toward the chaos. The clatter of hooves and the roars of warrior cries drown out my thoughts; the cacophony overwhelming my senses.

I attempt to step back, but before I know it, I collide with another person. In that instant, I lose my grip on my drink, the liquid spilling across my shirt, sticky and bright against the backdrop of horror unfolding around me. I tumble backward, panic igniting as I scramble to escape the madness, muttering frantic curses under my breath.

And then, from above, something heavy falls directly in front of me. A severed head rolls to my feet, blood gushing from its neck, the remnants of life still twitching in its eye, which suddenly locks onto mine. A wave of nausea crashes over me, and I recoil in pure terror.

“This must be a dream. It has to be.” The words escape my lips like a frantic prayer, each syllable drowned in disbelief as my gaze shifts around me, taking in the surrounding chaos and the endless stretch of the desert beyond. “There’s no way this is real.”

My body gives up, and I collapse onto the scorching sand, clutching the shopping bag like it's the last lifeline to my normal life. As darkness starts closing in, I can’t even muster a protest before slipping into unconsciousness.

You know how it is in those fantasy stories: One minute, you’re chilling in your newly purchased house, planning your future, and the next—bam! You're in another world. But instead of being a magical princess, a cunning villainess, or even a super-powered hero, you're just… You.

No royal bloodline, no epic abilities, and definitely no mystical creature sidekick. Just a regular person with no money, no connections, and, oh yeah—no idea how to get home. Perfect!

You’d think I’d at least get some cool perks out of this. Maybe a wise old mentor to give me cryptic advice? Nope. A magical artifact I could use to get back home? I sure hope so! Instead, I get dragged around like a sack of potatoes, barely conscious, and covered in what might be an absurd amount of cranberry juice mixed with something far more disturbing.  'Argh, the smell!!'  And let’s not forget the cherry on top: getting tossed into a pile of burning bodies and almost getting cremated alive. Yup, definitely the dream escape I was hoping for.

Now, instead of worrying about what’s for dinner, I’m worried about surviving in a world where people casually chop off heads and ride into battle like it’s just another spa day. Whoever thought getting Isekai’d was a good idea? Let me find them and give them a good smack. 

But hey, maybe I’ll figure out how to get out of this mess. Or at least get a refund on those shoes I never got to wear.

Welcome to my life—or whatever this is now. Can I at least have a guideline?!