I'm Definitely Not Overpowered in Another World

Somewhat stiffly, Nangong Xiao swung the simple short sword, about forty centimeters long and three fingers wide, and immediately felt a headache coming on.

—He wasn't good at this.

Whether it was due to the peaceful society he had come from or simply his personality, he had almost no experience wielding weapons.

Asuna, noticing his dilemma, helpfully spoke up. "For newcomers who have just arrived in this world, the first thing they need to learn is combat and wilderness survival skills."

"That's my plan. I intend to spend the next three days helping you get a basic grasp of fighting and outdoor survival.

"But don't worry, the monsters on Poring Plains, known as Porings, don't attack humans on their own, and most of them are weak. As long as you're careful, even an ordinary person can defeat one in a one-on-one fight. Of course, I'll also teach you some basic sword techniques."

"Wait, they're really called 'Porings'?" Nangong Xiao asked in surprise.

"Huh?" Asuna was momentarily puzzled by his reaction but nodded. "Yeah, is there something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing."

Nangong Xiao shook his head slightly, deciding not to dwell on it.

To him, it was probably just a coincidence. Even if it wasn't, it didn't really matter.

Right now, the most important thing for him was to adjust his mindset and learn survival skills from the experienced veteran beside him.

He wasn't the type to be reckless, and he was used to staying calm under pressure. That didn't mean he was oblivious, though.

Asuna didn't press further. Instead, she pointed to a lone pink Poring about ten meters away. "This type of Poring, about thirty centimeters in diameter, is considered mature. It has no magical attributes, and its main attacks are tackling and biting. It's also not very fast, so it poses minimal danger to regular people.

"Of course, for us Adapters, it provides very little experience, but it's great for beginners to practice on.

"If you're ready, you can give it a try. Oh, and when holding and swinging your sword, be sure to... yes, like that. And when slashing..."

Under Asuna's guidance, Nangong Xiao quickly grasped some basic sword techniques. Thanks to his strong learning ability, his previously awkward and stiff movements soon became much smoother.

Watching him swing his sword with proper form, Asuna couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, Nangong-kun, you're really smart! You learned that so quickly. Could it be that you're a natural at this?"

Nangong Xiao replied nonchalantly, "Not sure, but I've always been a fast learner."

His blunt response made Asuna pause for a moment before she simply smiled and said, "Alright, now that you understand the basics of avoiding a Poring's attacks, you should try an actual fight. Don't worry, I'll be watching."

Nangong Xiao nodded, gripping his sword as he stepped toward the lone Poring, which was currently hopping around, chasing a butterfly.

"Don't worry, Nangong-kun. I have healing skills. Even if you lose a limb, I can restore it!" Asuna reassured him cheerfully, hoping to ease his nerves.

Her choice of words, however, was somewhat unfortunate.

Nangong Xiao wanted to comment that, for some people, a statement like that would only increase their anxiety, but fortunately, he had a strong mental fortitude and wasn't fazed.

After a few steps, he suddenly asked, "I need to confirm something."

"Oh? What is it?" Asuna asked.

"Asuna, can we go back? I mean, can we return to the world we came from?"

His question made Asuna freeze momentarily, a complicated emotion flickering in her eyes.

Her silence told Nangong Xiao everything he needed to know. Without waiting for a response, he simply continued walking toward the Poring.

But this time, Asuna spoke. "I don't know. At least, not until we defeat the Demon King and complete the final mission. Until then, I doubt anyone has an answer."

"Thanks for the information."

"You're welcome," Asuna said, quickly changing the subject. "Nangong-kun, don't let it weigh on you too much. Porings may look cute and pose little threat, but they are omnivorous creatures. If they overpopulate Poring Plains, they'll end up destroying the crops in nearby villages and towns, so—eh?"

"What's wrong?" Nangong Xiao asked, shaking off the pink liquid from his sword—the blood of the Poring.

As for the Poring itself, it had already been sliced into multiple pieces and was now slowly melting like a popsicle left out in the sun.

Judging by the messy wounds, it had been hacked apart in a flurry of strikes.

"Ah... nothing. Just... wow, boys really do have an advantage in these situations," Asuna muttered. "When I first came here, I hesitated for ages before I could bring myself to attack."

Nangong Xiao gave a noncommittal nod before asking, "By the way, when I attacked, I noticed a health bar appear above the Poring's head. Does that mean monsters here, like us Adapters, have digitalized stats? Does damage work the same way as in video games, where it's all based on numbers?"

Asuna shook her head. "Not exactly. Reality works as it always does—hitting a vital spot means instant death. The health bar is just a visual aid for us Adapters, helping us gauge a monster's remaining life force. It doesn't change the fundamental rules.

"Even when fighting native humans from this world, we'll see a health bar above their heads. But again, it's just an indicator; it doesn't mean they function like video game characters.

"The only ones who are truly digitalized are us Adapters. Everything else in this world follows normal reality. That much, I can say for sure."

"Got it. So we shouldn't treat this as just a game."

"Exactly. I never played video games before I came here, but after talking to other Adapters, I've learned a bit about how game mechanics work.

"If the systems from games actually applied here, our lives would probably be much easier... but unfortunately, this is a real world—just one that happens to look like a game.

"Oh? You got a drop? And it's a card! Your luck is really good!"

As Asuna spoke, she noticed Nangong Xiao's loot screen. Aside from a 1% experience increase and two copper coins, he had also obtained a card, which surprised her.

Nangong Xiao, however, was confused. "Is this rare?"

He checked the card's details:

Mature Poring Card 

White Quality 

+1 Constitution 

Note: Can be embedded into slotted equipment.

"Yeah, they're pretty rare. Cards hardly ever drop, especially on Poring Plains. The monsters here are low-level, and even the most common white-quality items rarely drop.

"For you to get a card on your very first kill... you must have some seriously good luck!"