Morning sunlight poured through the window of Room Twelve.
Aiden slowly opened his eyes.
For a few seconds, he simply stared at the wooden ceiling.
Then he smiled faintly.
“…A bed.”
Even after one peaceful night, it still felt unreal.
No cold ground.
No rain.
No monsters waiting outside his camp.
Only silence.
He sat up, stretched his body, and quietly washed before heading downstairs.
The dining hall was already lively.
Several adventurers were eating breakfast before leaving for their daily quests.
The innkeeper greeted him with a warm smile.
“Good morning.”
“Sleep well?”
Aiden nodded.
“I did.”
She placed a simple breakfast before him.
Fresh bread.
Scrambled eggs.
A bowl of warm vegetable soup.
Aiden thanked her and began eating.
While he ate, he listened to the conversations around him.
“…A goblin nest appeared west of the city.”
“…The merchant caravan is hiring escorts.”
“…Someone accepted the Dire Wolf quest.”
“…Apparently a B-Rank adventurer arrived yesterday.”
Every conversation taught him something new about this world.
He realized that information was just as valuable as strength.
After breakfast, Aiden returned to the Adventurer Guild.
The request board was far more crowded than yesterday.
Some quests had already disappeared.
Others had been newly posted.
Instead of rushing to accept one, Aiden slowly read each request.
Escort.
Gathering herbs.
Monster extermination.
Lost item retrieval.
Delivery requests.
Every quest served a purpose.
Just as he reached for another F-Rank quest…
A familiar voice echoed inside his mind.
**〈Status〉**
**Analysis Skill Conditions Met.**
**Analysis Lv.2 → Analysis Lv.3**
Aiden stopped.
“…It evolved?”
Without warning, countless pieces of information flooded into his mind.
It lasted only a second.
Then…
Everything became clear.
Curious, Aiden turned toward a nearby adventurer.
He silently activated Analysis.
Immediately…
A transparent screen appeared before his eyes.
**〈Analysis〉**
**Name:** Leon Carter
**Age:** 27
**Adventurer Rank:** E
**Weapon:** Iron Spear
**Condition:** Healthy
Aiden blinked.
“It doesn’t show his level…”
“But it shows his guild rank.”
He looked toward another adventurer.
**〈Analysis〉**
**Adventurer Rank:** D
**Weapon:** Longbow
**Condition:** Slightly Fatigued
“So that’s how it works.”
Analysis had become smarter.
Instead of showing meaningless numbers…
It displayed useful information.
Just then…
A large man wearing heavy armor entered the guild.
The room immediately became quiet.
Several adventurers stepped aside respectfully.
“He’s back.”
“A B-Rank adventurer.”
“I heard he completed another escort mission.”
Aiden unconsciously activated Analysis.
**〈Analysis Failed〉**
**Target exceeds current Analysis Level.**
**Increase Analysis proficiency to obtain more information.**
Aiden’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“So there are limits.”
He wasn’t disappointed.
He was relieved.
It meant his abilities still had room to grow.
After studying the quest board once more, Aiden accepted another F-Rank mission.
**Quest:** Eliminate Seven Forest Goblins.
**Location:** Southern Woods.
**Reward:** 12 Silver Coins.
The receptionist accepted the request.
“Another extermination quest?”
Aiden nodded.
“I want more combat experience.”
She smiled.
“A good decision.”
“Many beginners rush toward difficult quests.”
“They end up losing their lives.”
“Take your time.”
“Build your foundation.”
Aiden appreciated the advice.
Strength wasn’t built overnight.
As he prepared to leave the guild…
Alfred, the elderly appraiser, happened to walk past.
He noticed Aiden immediately.
“Already accepting another quest?”
“Yes.”
The old man smiled.
“Good.”
“But remember…”
“There are things more valuable than monster cores.”
Aiden looked curious.
“What things?”
Alfred pointed toward the crowded guild hall.
“Experience.”
“Knowledge.”
“And trustworthy companions.”
He chuckled.
“Even the strongest adventurers don’t survive completely alone.”
Those words remained in Aiden’s mind as he stepped outside.
The morning air felt cool against his face.
He looked toward the distant Southern Woods.
Another quest awaited him.
Another opportunity to grow stronger.
But unknown to Aiden…
Someone inside the guild had been quietly watching him.
A young woman with silver hair lowered the book she had been reading.
Her golden eyes followed Aiden as he disappeared through the guild doors.
“…Interesting.”
“That black-haired adventurer…”
“For some reason…”
“I can’t read his mana.”
She closed her book.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“It seems…”
“Westhaven has welcomed someone unusual.”
Far ahead, completely unaware that anyone had noticed him…
Aiden walked toward the Southern Woods.
The bustling streets of Westhaven gradually disappeared behind him.
Stone roads slowly gave way to dirt paths surrounded by rolling green fields.
Farmers worked beneath the morning sun while merchants drove loaded wagons toward the city gates.
Some greeted him with friendly smiles.
Others simply continued their work.
Life outside the city walls was peaceful.
It was hard to believe monsters lived only a few kilometers away.
After nearly thirty minutes of walking, the cultivated fields came to an end.
In front of him stood the Southern Woods.
Unlike the Forbidden Forest, its trees were shorter and spaced farther apart.
Warm sunlight filtered through the branches, illuminating patches of grass and wildflowers below.
Birds chirped peacefully overhead.
At first glance…
It looked like an ordinary forest.
But Aiden knew better.
Even the calmest forest could hide danger.
He stopped a few steps before entering.
His hand instinctively rested on the hilt of his sword.
Months of surviving in the Forbidden Forest had taught him one lesson.
**Never let your guard down.**
Taking a slow breath, he stepped beneath the trees.
The sounds of the outside world immediately faded.
Only rustling leaves and distant animal cries remained.
Aiden moved carefully.
His footsteps were almost silent.
His eyes constantly scanned his surroundings.
Every broken branch.
Every footprint.
Every unusual sound.
Nothing escaped his attention.
“…Still no monsters.”
He continued walking deeper into the woods.
Suddenly Curious, he focused on a nearby tree.
**〈Analysis〉**
**Oak Tree**
Condition: Healthy
Estimated Age: 43 Years
Suitable for construction and firewood.
“It can analyze objects now…”
He looked toward a patch of medicinal herbs growing beside a fallen log.
**〈Analysis〉** Get faster updates on g.com.
**Greenleaf Herb**
Grade: Common
Use: Basic healing medicine.
Market Value: 2 Copper Coins per bundle.
Aiden smiled faintly.
“This will make gathering quests much easier.”
He continued walking.
A squirrel suddenly climbed onto a nearby branch.
Without thinking, Aiden activated Analysis again.
**〈Analysis〉**
Forest Squirrel
Threat Level: None
Condition: Healthy
“So living creatures too…”
The skill had become far more practical than before.
Instead of simply identifying things…
It now provided useful information.
As he continued exploring, Analysis suddenly activated on its own.
**〈Warning〉**
Fresh monster tracks detected nearby.
Aiden immediately crouched.
His expression became serious.
Fresh footprints.
Small.
Humanoid.
He carefully examined them.
There were several different footprints.
Not one.
Not two.
At least seven.
“…Goblins.”
Exactly as described in the quest.
Instead of following immediately, Aiden carefully searched the surrounding area.
Another set of tracks.
Broken bushes.
Scratches on tree bark.
A half-eaten rabbit discarded near a stump.
Everything pointed in the same direction.
“They’re returning to their nest…”
Aiden quietly followed.
His breathing slowed.
Every step became lighter.
The forest around him gradually grew darker as the trees became denser.
Several minutes later…
Voices reached his ears.
High-pitched.
Ugly.
Laughing.
Goblin language.
Aiden immediately hid behind a thick tree.
Slowly…
He peeked through the leaves.
Seven goblins stood inside a small clearing.
Some sharpened crude stone weapons.
Others roasted meat over a fire.
Their green skin was covered in dirt.
Rusty swords and wooden clubs lay scattered around the camp.
One goblin appeared larger than the others.
It barked orders while pointing toward several sacks filled with stolen supplies.
“…Interesting.”
It wasn’t just a random group.
They had a camp.
Which meant…
There could be more nearby.
Aiden resisted the urge to attack immediately.
Instead…
He observed.
Back in the Forbidden Forest…
Rushing into battle often meant death.
Patience had saved his life countless times.
He silently counted them again.
“One…”
“Two…”
“…Seven.”
Exactly seven.
The same number listed in the quest.
Yet something felt…
Wrong.
His instincts warned him.
The camp seemed too quiet.
Too organized.
Almost as if…
Someone smarter than goblins had taught them.
At that exact moment…
A deep horn echoed from somewhere farther inside the Southern Woods.
The seven goblins instantly stood.
Every one of them looked toward the deeper forest.
Even the largest goblin lowered its head respectfully.
Aiden’s eyes narrowed.
“…That wasn’t a goblin.”
Someone…
Or something…
Was commanding them.