That Time When I Woke Up I Become A Knight In Another World

Knock... knock... knock...

Was it a royal official?

Was it a killer?

Or… maybe just a food delivery guy who got lost?

Unfortunately, this world doesn't have Uber-Food.

And what's even scarier—I didn't order anything.

I stared at the door with the same desperate hope as a college student waiting for thesis revisions.

No more sound.

Silence.

Then, I heard the soft scrape of paper sliding under the door.

An envelope.

Sealed with the royal crest.

Wow, so official.

So terrifying.

I opened it slowly, secretly praying it didn't say:

"Congratulations! You've been selected as the next victim!"

Inside:

OFFICIAL NOTICE FROM THE PAVILION KINGDOM

(Document No.: we're-super-serious-about-this/001)

To:

A Temporary Resident Who Clearly Doesn't Belong Here

(Your outfit stands out. Sorry, we judged.)

We hereby announce that, starting this morning, the Pavilion Kingdom is officially under LOCKDOWN.

The reason? Let's just say… a minor incident.

(Which just so happens to involve the murder of the royal family. But who cares about details.)

Lockdown regulations:

- No one is allowed to leave the kingdom.

- No one is allowed to enter the kingdom.

- No one is allowed to leave or enter their own sanity.

All residents and tourists are advised to remain in their respective inns.

If caught outside without permission, well...

we do have a prison. Fun, right?

Thank you for your attention.

Please enjoy your captivity patiently and silently.

Sincerely,

The Pavilion Department of Fake Security & Official Lies

After reading the letter, I could only smile bitterly.

"See? Even official letters in this world read like scam mail.

The only thing genuine here… is the danger that comes with it."

I placed the letter on the table and pulled the blanket over me.

Can't leave.

Can't escape.

But… at the very least, I can still sleep while pretending the world is peaceful.

***

The next morning, I sat by the inn window, staring at the street.

No sound.

No people.

No cats.

Only… the wind, which sounded like it was gossiping.

Suddenly—Knock… knock… knock…

Again?

Is it a lottery scam this time?

I walked slowly to the door, cracked it open… and saw a man wearing a large hat, a thick coat, and a sly smile that screamed fake skincare salesman.

"Are you the one who wants… to leave Pavilion?"

he said in a voice soft yet clear—like a luxury soap commercial narrator.

I didn't answer.

Because the logical answer was "OF COURSE I DO!"

But I didn't want to look desperate… even though I absolutely was.

"There is… a way," he continued.

"But of course, it comes with a condition."

Ah, there's always a but.

Like discounts in shopping apps—there's always a minimum purchase of one hundred million.

I looked at him suspiciously.

"What's the condition?" I asked.

He stepped closer, and a strange scent wafted from his coat...a mix between stale coffee and bad ideas.

"It's simple…" he said, leaning in.

"You must come with me… to a secret masquerade held by the remaining Pavilion nobles.

There, someone holds the key to a secret gate out of the kingdom.

But—you'll have to pretend to be one of the honored guests."

Me:

"So… you want me to cosplay as a noble, sneak into a mad people's party, and steal the way out?"

He smiled.

"More or less, yes."

I stared at him and asked,

"And if I get caught?"

"Oh, you'll just be taken to the brainwashing chamber. Nothing major.

Your memories will be rewritten with a new script.

You'll believe you're a duck."

…

I was silent.

In my head:

"Dear God… why does this keep getting more absurd?"

But hey, better than dying of boredom at the inn and joining a 'mass brainwash 101' class, right?

"Alright," I said.

"But if I do become a duck after this, I hope I at least become a duck that can play piano."

He laughed.

"Deal."