Grabbing the empty tray off the table, I exhaled and made my way to the door. The hinges creaked softly as I pulled it open, and I stepped into the dimly lit corridor.
And there he was again. The same man with dark crimson skin. He was seated on a worn wooden bench, slightly to the left, his back resting against the wall. A book sat open in his hands, his sharp, dark eyes skimming the pages. The candlelight flickered, casting shifting shadows across his horns.
The moment the door clicked shut behind me, he glanced up. Our eyes almost met, and he gave me a small, wordless nod.
I froze, gripping the tray just a little tighter. Not knowing what else to do, I hesitated before awkwardly returning the nod. Then, without another glance, I hurried down the hallway toward the counter, my steps quick and stiff.
"Man… weirdo."
Phoebe wasn't there.
Instead, an old man stood behind the counter, hunched over slightly, his fingers lazily drumming against the wooden surface. His long silver hair fell around his weathered face, framing the deep wrinkles etched into his skin. His eyes—cloudy with exhaustion—blinked sluggishly, as if he had just been roused from a deep slumber.
A thick, unkempt beard covered the lower half of his face, though the faint stains of ale glistened in the dim lighting. He must've been drinking just seconds ago—likely taking slow sips between half-hearted attempts to stay awake. A nearly empty mug rested on the counter beside him, a small puddle of spilled ale soaking into the wood.
He let out a long sigh, rubbing at his temples before finally noticing me.
"Oh," he muttered, shaking his head as though trying to rid himself of drowsiness. "Didn't hear you come in."
"I, uh…" I lifted the tray slightly. "Brought this back."
The old man blinked, then straightened a little. "Ah. Thank you, young man."
I gave a small nod, setting the tray on the counter.
He studied me for a second, then raised a bushy eyebrow. "You're up early."
I hesitated. "Yeah."
"Didn't like the bed?" he guessed, rubbing his beard absently.
I scoffed lightly. "More like insomnia. I wake up randomly in the middle of the night, and after that… sleep's impossible."
"Insomnia?" His forehead creased. "Never heard of it."
Right. Different world.
"Oh… uh, just means I can't sleep well." I waved a hand dismissively, eager to change the subject. "Anyway—you know any place where I could earn some silver?"
The old man grunted, stretching out his arms before leaning on the counter. "The Guild, of course."
"The Guild?" I repeated, tilting my head.
He nodded. "Yes. You can pick up quests there—escort jobs, delivery requests, hunting contracts." He gestured vaguely. "Depends on what you're good at."
I hummed, absorbing the information. A place where people could just… take on tasks for money? I could try that.
"Alright," I said. "Thanks, sir."
He waved a hand lazily. "No problem, kid."
Just as I was about to leave, I froze. There was something still lingering in my mind. The old man, sensing my hesitation, turned his gaze toward me, his tired eyes narrowing slightly as if he knew I had more to ask.
I shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how much to reveal. In a world so different from mine, I didn't know what was considered common knowledge, and I didn't want to sound foolish or suspicious. But if I didn't take risks now, I'd never learn.
I glanced at him again, his wrinkled face worn by years of experience. "Actually… can I ask something?"
He tilted his head, raising an eyebrow. "Go ahead. What is it?"
I hesitated for a moment, then pushed forward. "Let's say… hypothetically, I have no mana. Or even negative mana. What would happen to someone like that?"
The old man blinked, his expression unreadable for a moment before his lips curled into a slight frown. "That's impossible," he said firmly. "Everyone is born with mana. Even the mindless flies have it. It flows through every living being."
I nodded slowly, trying to hide my disappointment. "Right. Of course."
He paused, studying me for a brief moment, his gaze on me as if sensing something more beneath my words. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," I said with a dull voice. "Thank you for answering, though. I'm sorry for bothering you."
The old man let out a low chuckle, his weathered face softening. "No trouble at all, kid. Take care of yourself."
With that, I turned on my heel and made my way back to my room, my mind already spinning with possibilities. The Guild could be my best shot at making some coin—enough to secure a room for a few days, at least. And once I had that, I could finally focus on what really mattered: getting out of this place and back home, safe and sound.
But just as that thought settled, a glowing box flickered into existence before my eyes.
╔═════════╗
- NEW QUEST
╚═════════╝
- Quest Title: Two Papers
===================
- Deadline: Today
===================
- Objective:
* Complete two quests from
The Guild.
===================
- Rewards:
- 1x Rare Item Material
- Experience: 20 XP
╚════════════════════╝
[Accept] [Decline] [Enhance]
I stopped dead in the middle of the corridor, staring at the floating text.
Another one of these. But before I could really read through it, a presence nearby made my stomach twist. The crimson-skinned man was still seated on that bench, book in hand. His posture was relaxed, but I wasn't about to take any risks.
I dismissed the screen and picked up my pace, heading straight to my room. The moment I stepped inside, I shut the door behind me and locked it with a quiet click… just in case.
I leaned against the wood for a moment, exhaling. Then, the screen popped up again.
Two quests from the Guild, and I'd get experience points and something called a 'Rare Item Material.' Not exactly the silver I was hoping for, but it was better than nothing. At least this time, it seemed like I had a choice. Unlike before—when goblins ambushed me, and fighting had been the only option—I could accept or ignore this one. Or… enhance it?
Curious, I tapped the button. The screen flickered, and the quest details shifted.
╔═════════╗
- NEW QUEST
╚═════════╝
- Quest Title: Two Papers
===================
- Deadline: Today
===================
- Objective:
* Complete four quests from
The Guild.
===================
- Rewards:
- 5x Rare Item Material
- Experience: 40 XP
╚════════════════════╝
[Accept] [Decline]
So, enhancing it made the quest harder—but doubled the rewards. Tempting.
But completing four quests in a single day? I had no idea what kind of tasks these would be, and I wasn't about to set myself up for failure right out the gate. Better to take it slow. I pressed the small 'X' in the corner, and the quest reverted back to its original state. Without hesitation, I tapped [Accept]. Two quests. Seemed doable.
"Should be easy… right?"