The warm water eased the tension from Algeni’s body, slowly relaxing muscles that were still sore after three grueling days filled with battles and countless brushes with death. He closed his eyes for a moment, allowing the rising steam to fill the room as the peaceful silence gave him his first chance to truly rest in what felt like forever.
The calm, however, did not last.
The words he had heard the previous day echoed through his mind once again.
“Tomorrow, I’ll introduce you to two adventurers.”
Algeni let out a long sigh.
“Well… I shouldn’t be late.”
He stepped out of the bathtub, dried himself at an unhurried pace, got dressed, and left his room.
His room was on the second floor of what he assumed was an inn. As he descended the wooden staircase, each step creaked softly beneath his feet, adding to the quiet atmosphere of the early morning.
When he reached the first floor, a woman who looked to be around thirty years old, with white hair and brown eyes, looked up at him and greeted him with a gentle smile.
“Well, you’re already awake. You know it’s still pretty early, right?” she remarked.
Algeni looked at her and answered calmly,
“Uh… well, I wanted to get to the Adventurers’ Guild early.”
The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
“Really? Even after all the injuries you had yesterday, you’re awake this early and don’t even seem bothered by the pain?”
Algeni shrugged lightly.
“I guess I recover pretty quickly.”
She nodded slowly.
“Well, if that’s the case, be careful.”
“Thanks. I will,” Algeni replied with a small smile.
Just as he was about to leave, the woman called out to him once more.
“Oh, right. My name is Amanda. It’s nice to meet you.”
Algeni turned around and answered politely,
“And I’m Algeni. Nice to meet you too.”
After giving her a slight nod, he stepped out of the inn.
Amanda watched the young man walk away along the street, now bathed in the soft light of the morning sun, before quietly murmuring to herself,
“I hope Lili doesn’t give the poor kid too hard of a time.”
As Algeni walked through the village streets, he watched merchants begin opening their shops while groups of adventurers headed toward the town gates, preparing to leave on their daily quests. The scent of freshly baked bread drifted through the cool morning air, blending with the distant chatter of townsfolk beginning another day.
“The system has been updating for quite a while now…” he thought as he continued walking.
He let out a quiet sigh and kept moving until he finally arrived in front of the massive Adventurers’ Guild building.
Just as he reached for the door—
BAM!
Someone came flying out of the building and crashed onto the stone pavement, sending a cloud of dust into the air.
Algeni blinked in surprise.
“What the hell…?”
He remained still, silently watching what was unfolding before him.
The man struggled back to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and glared furiously toward the guild entrance.
Standing there was Nen.
Algeni simply observed without saying a word.
Grinding his teeth, the man shouted,
“You bastard! Who the hell do you think you are to do this to me?”
Nen met his glare without the slightest hesitation and replied in a firm, unwavering voice,
“I’m an adventurer, but I won’t tolerate injustice.”
Enraged, the man drew his sword.
“I’ll cripple you for sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong!”
The next instant, he charged straight at Nen.
Instinctively, Algeni stepped forward.
He wanted to intervene.
But then something suddenly came to mind.
“Right… I don’t have a sword.”
Even so, he was ready to stop the attacker with his bare hands if necessary.
Before the man could even reach him, however, Nen moved with astonishing speed. In a single fluid motion, he disarmed him, snatching the sword cleanly from his hand.
Algeni’s eyes widened slightly.
“Huh?”
He remembered perfectly well what Nen’s stats had been only a few days ago. They had been good—but nowhere near this level.
Curious, he activated his HUD.
Name: Nen
Level: 15
Statistics
Strength: 36
Defense: 36
Speed: 38
Mana: 900
Special Trait Hero’s Blessing
Special Title Goblin Hunter
Algeni stared at the display in complete disbelief.
“How the hell did he gain so many levels in just a few days?”
He was about to ask the system, but immediately remembered that it was still undergoing its update.
Meanwhile, the man realized he had no chance of defeating Nen.
Desperate, he searched for another way out.
When he noticed Algeni momentarily distracted, a vicious grin spread across his face.
Without another thought, he sprinted straight toward Algeni, intending to seize him as a hostage.
Nen’s eyes widened.
“Watch out!” he shouted.
He tried to stop the man.
But before he could do anything…
BAM!
Algeni’s fist slammed directly into the man’s stomach.
The blow was so powerful that the attacker lost consciousness instantly and collapsed onto the ground, completely motionless.
Algeni slowly lowered his arm and thought to himself,
“Damn… that guy really tried to attack me… Well, I guess it was my fault for getting distracted. If it weren’t for Danger Detection, I wouldn’t have reacted in time, and things could have gotten a little troublesome. Still, nothing a good punch couldn’t fix.”
Nen stood frozen, staring at him with obvious surprise.
Meanwhile, Algeni remained completely absorbed in his thoughts, still wondering how Nen had managed to gain so many levels in such a short time, completely unaware that everyone was looking at him.
At last, Nen broke the silence with a faint smile.
“Well, that was unexpected. I never thought that guy would try to take you hostage… but I guess he didn’t expect that punch you gave him either.”
Those words finally pulled Algeni out of his thoughts.
Scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, he replied,
“Even so… I think I might have hit him a little too hard. I just hope he’s still alive.”
Nen let out a quiet laugh.
“Don’t worry. I don’t think he’s dead. I can still hear him breathing.”
A wave of relief washed over Algeni.
It was only his fourth day in this new world, and the last thing he wanted was to have someone’s death weighing on his conscience.
Nen sheathed his sword before looking back at the young man.
“You’re a new face. I’ve never seen you around here before.”
Algeni nodded.
“Yeah. I arrived not long ago.”
Nen smiled warmly.
“Then I hope you’ve had the chance to enjoy the good things this town has to offer, and that this doesn’t leave you with a bad first impression.”
Algeni let out a small chuckle.
“My stay here has been… interesting.”
As the words left his mouth, memories of everything that had happened since yesterday flashed through his mind—goblins, an ogre, an orc, wounds that had nearly cost him his life, the Adventurer’s Exam, and spending the night at the inn.
For a brief moment, he couldn’t help but think with dry humor,
“If this is the fun part… I don’t even want to imagine what the truly difficult days will be like.”
Around them, the lively chatter of the Adventurers’ Guild continued as the morning sun climbed higher into the sky, bathing the village streets in warm golden light and marking the beginning of another unpredictable day.
Nen wanted to ask Algeni a few more questions, but at that very moment, the doors of the Adventurers’ Guild burst open.
Rose stepped outside with an annoyed expression, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
“Nen! You got yourself into trouble again!” she exclaimed.
“Wait, you saw what happened, didn’t you? I was just protecting the receptionist from that guy.”
He pointed his thumb toward the unconscious man still lying on the stone pavement.
Rose sighed deeply in frustration.
“But you still threw him through the front door! What if it had broken? Do you know how much they’ll charge you for a new one?”
Nen immediately tried to calm her down.
“But the door’s still in one piece!”
Standing off to the side, Algeni quietly watched the exchange as a gentle breeze stirred his hair.
“Wow… she’s really mad. She looks like she’s about to kill him,” he thought.
Despite that, he found the argument surprisingly amusing, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
After finishing her lecture, Rose spoke firmly.
“That doesn’t matter anymore. Come on. Lili called us for something, and you know how she gets if we’re late.”
Nen let out a long sigh.
“Relax, we’re not late. It’s still really early. I doubt it’s that urgent, right?”
Rose quickly shook her head.
“Come on! I don’t want her yelling at me too!”
Nen raised both hands in surrender.
“Alright, alright. Let’s go.”
Just before heading inside, Nen looked back at Algeni.
“Oh, right… before I go, what brought you to the guild? Did you come to take the entrance exam?”
Algeni calmly shook his head.
“Actually, I already took it. I came back because they told me to return today to pick something up.”
Nen understood immediately.
“Oh, then you’re here to receive your Adventurer’s Badge. Come on, let’s head inside.”
Nen walked through the entrance alongside Rose and Algeni.
Just before crossing the doorway, Algeni thought,
“Hopefully there won’t be any more trouble.”
The spacious guild hall was just as lively as it had been the day before. Adventurers from many different races chatted around sturdy wooden tables while others turned in quests, accepted new assignments, or negotiated rewards. The clinking of mugs, the crackling fireplace, and countless conversations blended together into a constant buzz that filled the air with life.
Nen glanced at him and said,
“Come on. I’ll help you get your Adventurer’s Badge.”
Algeni simply followed him.
Rose walked a few steps behind before suddenly studying him more carefully.
“Hey… have we met somewhere before? For some reason, I feel like I’ve seen you.”
A slight chill ran down Algeni’s spine.
“Does this girl have X-ray vision or something? I literally kept my hood on the entire time. There’s no way she could recognize me that easily,” he thought.
He was just about to answer when Rose spoke again.
“I must be mistaken. Don’t pay too much attention to it.”
Algeni quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Just then—
BAM!
The door on the second floor flew open with a loud crash.
A powerful voice echoed throughout the entire guild.
“Nen! Rose! Where the hell are you?”
Every adventurer in the hall looked up for a brief moment.
The person who had shouted looked down from the balcony. As soon as they spotted Nen, Rose, and Algeni, they pointed at them firmly and ordered,
“You three! Get up here, now!”
Algeni immediately recognized the person who was speaking.
“It’s the same person who supervised my exam…” he thought.
The three of them began climbing the wooden staircase.
As they walked, Nen muttered with an irritated expression,
“Damn it… why did she yell at us like that? We’re not even late.”
Rose frowned slightly.
“Who knows… maybe she found out about your fight with that guy. But what really surprises me is why she called the new guy too.”
Nen glanced sideways at Algeni.
“Do you think he could be some high-ranking adventurer who’s secretly here to evaluate us?”
Rose lightly smacked him on the arm.
“Oh, come on. Don’t exaggerate!”
Nen rubbed his arm with an awkward grin.
“It was just a possibility…”
When they reached the office, the door was already open.
The three of them stepped inside.
The woman watched them with a serious expression from behind her desk.
She slowly stood up.
Before Nen could say a single word, she began scolding him.
“Nen! How many times have I told you to stop causing trouble? It’s not easy having to explain to the Guild Master why you ended up in another fight.”
Nen tried to defend himself.
“But I was only—”
“The same excuse as always,” she interrupted before he could finish. “Protecting an employee when you know perfectly well she can defend herself if things get out of hand. Sometimes I wonder if you’re actually in love with all of them!”
Nen shook his head vigorously.
“That has nothing to do with it! Why would I just stand there while someone insults a person who’s done nothing wrong? That would be unfair. Besides, I don’t like any of the girls. They’re just excellent receptionists.”
The two locked eyes.
The tension between them became so intense that even the atmosphere in the room seemed to grow heavier.
Algeni remained completely silent.
“I’m not getting involved in that argument,” he thought.
Rose let out a long sigh.
“That’s enough, both of you! Fighting is just a waste of time.”
At last, the two reluctantly looked away from each other.
Nen folded his arms.
“So… why did you call us here?”
The woman answered calmly.
“I wanted you to help a new adventurer. I was planning to introduce you today, but it looks like you’ve already met Algeni.”
At that moment, Nen and Rose turned toward him at the exact same time.
Algeni felt both pairs of eyes fixed on him.
Feeling uncomfortable, he awkwardly raised one hand.
“Uh… I can explain.”
The woman raised an eyebrow.
“Is something going on between you three?”
Before Algeni could answer, Nen suddenly rushed over, grabbed him by both shoulders, and began shaking him excitedly.
“You’re that guy! The one who saved us from the ogre!”
Algeni managed to pull himself free.
With a resigned sigh, he replied,
“If I said no… I guess you wouldn’t believe me, would you?”
Rose crossed her arms and smiled playfully.
“No. Not at all.”
Algeni could still feel everyone’s eyes fixed on him.
The woman looked completely confused.
“Huh? What’s going on here? Why does it sound like you already knew Algeni?”
Rose answered immediately.
“Remember when we told you that a hooded swordsman saved us from an ogre?”
The woman nodded.
“Of course I remember… wait.”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Are you telling me Algeni is the one who did that?”
Rose nodded once again.
Now everyone was staring directly at Algeni.
He let out a long sigh.
Nen quickly shook his head.
“You didn’t do anything wrong. But you’re the same guy who defeated an ogre like it was no big deal.”
Algeni didn’t know how to answer.
After several awkward seconds of silence, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Well… stop staring at me like I’m a piece of gold lying in a garbage dump.”
Everyone except Algeni repeated the same word at once.
“Garbage dump?”
Algeni blinked.
“Right… those probably don’t exist here… or maybe they have a different name in this world,” he thought.
The woman let out a quiet sigh before changing the subject.
“Well, let’s leave that aside. Here, Algeni. This is your Adventurer’s Card.”
Algeni accepted the card and examined it for a few seconds.
Rank: F
“Well… at least this world uses the same ranking system as a lot of stories,” he thought.
The woman continued.
“I tried to convince them to promote you straight to Rank C after you created a Mana Sword and defeated an orc by yourself, but they didn’t believe me. I had no choice but to register you at the starting rank—Rank F.”
Nen’s eyes widened.
“Wait!”
He stared at Algeni.
“You can create a Mana Sword?”
Silence settled over the office once again as everyone’s attention returned to Algeni. The relaxed atmosphere from only moments earlier disappeared, replaced by curiosity and anticipation.
Algeni scratched the back of his head awkwardly before answering,
“Well… it’s not like I knew how from the beginning. It just… formed after my sword broke.”
Nen’s eyes sparkled with amazement.
“Whoa! That’s incredible! Normally, only master swordsmen who’ve trained for many years can create their own Mana Sword.”
Algeni smiled modestly.
“Uh… I guess I just got lucky.”
The woman sighed once more and shook her head.
“Yeah… ‘lucky.’ Anyway, let me explain how the Adventurers’ Guild ranking system works.”
She settled behind her desk and began explaining while Algeni listened attentively.
Rank F Very few benefits. You can accept basic quests to earn money. The guild provides a small amount of starting funds so you can buy equipment.
Rank E Similar to Rank F, but with more quests available. Access to discounts at shops.
Rank D Access to more difficult dungeons. Better discounts at shops. Chance to receive additional bonuses from the guild.
Rank C Permission to enter dungeons with a party. Access to more challenging quests. Opportunity to be hired by the guild for special assignments.
Rank B Access to the Information Guild. Ability to request searches for people, monsters, or valuable information.
Rank A Permission to establish your own guild. Registration with the Central Guild is required.
Rank S One of the strongest adventurers. You receive a regular salary even without completing quests. You are permitted to enter dungeons alone.
The woman looked up and asked,
“Did you understand everything?”
Algeni stood perfectly still for several seconds.
His eyes had turned into spirals, and he looked as though smoke might start coming out of his head at any moment.
“Y-Yeah… sure… loud and clear.”
Seeing his completely overwhelmed expression, Nen couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Hahaha!”
Algeni slowly came back to his senses.
“So if I can reach Rank B, I might be able to ask them to help me find the others. That’s my goal… reach Rank B… alive.”
A determined look gradually returned to his face as he quietly slipped the Adventurer’s Card into his pocket. Outside the office window, the lively sounds of the guild echoed through the building, while somewhere beyond the town walls, new adventures and new dangers were already waiting for him.
A small smile appeared on Algeni’s face.
The instructor picked up a small pouch filled with coins and handed it to Nen.
“Alright, you two,” she said. “I want you to explain to Algeni how dungeons work, including the two different types. Also, take him to buy a new weapon. His sword was broken.”
Nen accepted the pouch enthusiastically.
“Of course! Leave it to me!”
Rose immediately smacked him on the arm.
“Didn’t you hear what she said? She assigned both of us.”
Seeing Rose hit Nen once again, Algeni couldn’t help but chuckle.
Nen rubbed his arm with an annoyed expression.
“Come on, Rose! That wasn’t necessary.”
It looked as though the two of them were about to start another argument.
Before they could, the instructor raised her voice.
“You two! Don’t start again. Just get going before the weapon shop runs out of stock.”
Nen and Rose exchanged a glance. Without another word, they headed toward the door.
Algeni followed behind them, but the instructor called out to him one more time.
“Oh, right. Before I forget… my name is Lili. Nice to meet you.”
She extended her hand naturally.
Algeni looked at her with a puzzled expression before replying,
“Lili? Isn’t that a girl’s name?”
Lili blinked in confusion.
“Yeah… and?”
Algeni tilted his head slightly.
“Wait… aren’t you a guy?”
For several long seconds, absolute silence filled the office.
Then—
“A guy!? How could anyone mistake me for a guy?” Lili shouted, completely outraged.
The misunderstanding lingered in the air for only a brief moment.
Algeni quickly raised both hands in surrender.
“Wait, wait! I only thought that because of the way you talk and dress, I swear!”
Lili immediately pointed an accusing finger at him, her face flushing with indignation.
“You little—!”
Before she could finish, Nen stepped between them with a helpless sigh.
“Lili, come on. This isn’t the first time someone has mistaken you for a guy. It’s because you talk like one… just with a higher voice.”
Lili spun toward him at once, glaring.
“That has nothing to do with it! I wear girls’ clothes, and I look like a girl!”
Nen grinned mischievously.
“You look as much like a girl as I earn a thousand gold coins a day.”
For a moment, Lili froze completely.
Then she turned her face away with an irritated huff, still clearly upset.
Nen let out a long, tired sigh.
“You’re hopeless. Come on, Algeni. We need to get you some proper equipment.”
He walked over to the doorway and held the door open while waiting for him.
Algeni was about to leave, but he suddenly stopped.
He turned back toward Lili, placed a hand over his chest, and gave her a respectful bow.
“I’m truly sorry. I promise it won’t happen again.”
Lili watched him silently for several seconds.
At last, the tension in her expression softened.
She sighed before replying in a calmer voice.
“Well… I guess it can’t be helped. Fine, I’ll let it go, just like you let yesterday’s treatment from me slide. So… we’re even.”
Algeni smiled sincerely.
“I’d better get going. I don’t think Nen wants to keep holding that door much longer.”
From the hallway, Nen laughed.
“Exactly! My arm’s already getting tired!”
With a small chuckle, Algeni stepped out of the office alongside Nen and Rose.
The wooden door slowly swung shut behind them with a soft click, leaving the room quiet once more.
Lili remained standing for a few moments, her gaze fixed on the closed door.
Then, a faint smile appeared on her face as she quietly returned to her desk.
“What a unique guy…” she murmured to herself, unable to hide her amusement.