The square in front of the Adventurers' Guild was crowded, and the noise of voices grew louder as the number of new players entering and leaving increased.
Karl — or "Rin" now — knew his destination exactly. He did not have the luxury to wander randomly or wait for a random mission rewarding him with two coppers and a few scant points.
The Adventurers' Guild was the main body coordinating between players, where missions were posted, contracts organized, and communication and experience networks built.
In a world like "Yggdrasil," where a small mistake could mean real death, players needed an umbrella to gather them and organize the chaos of the new world.
Rin entered through the guild's gate and headed directly to the mission board pinned on a stone wall in the middle of the hall.
Countless papers and requests were pinned there, but his eyes quickly focused on one mission.
> 🗒 Mission: Care for Medicinal Plants
Requester: Alchemist "Azrik"
Location: Herb Nursery behind the Eastern Market
Duration: One hour
Reward: 30 coppers + 60 experience points
Notes: Requires precision and care… reward negotiable upon good performance.
Rin smiled as he read the plant's name mentioned in the mission details: the medical Eliad plant.
> "Medium recovery potions? Excellent… this means a real alchemist. Maybe even mid-tier."
"Some knowledge isn't bought, but grown."
He took the paper and left the guild heading towards the Eastern Market.
..
Rin arrived at a small nursery behind a group of shops, made of wood and red tiles, emitting light scents of herbs and soil.
He entered without hesitation and was met with calmness mixed with moist warmth.
"Are you from the guild?"
The voice came from a man wearing a brown leather coat, bent over a soil basin.
"Yes, I came for the medicinal plant care mission."
Rin answered.
Azrik lifted his eyes towards him with a quick appraisal.
"You don't look like a farming enthusiast."
Rin responded with a slight smile:
"I'm not a farmer… but I know well the difference between a plant that keeps you alive and another that sends you to the death screen."
Azrik paused, then pointed to a nearby plant.
"What is the name of this plant?"
Rin inspected the leaves with his finger:
"Mature Eliad. About two weeks old. If it stays in this direct light, it will lose its potency within days."
Azrik raised his eyebrow.
"And the optimal harvest time?"
"Between day 15 and 20. Before the white flower blooms."
"And who taught you this?"
"Life. And field work."
A moment of silence prevailed, then Azrik said while pulling back the curtain to a back room:
"Come, we have seeds that need special care… and an assistant who needs a mind, not just hands."
---
Inside the back room, Rin sat at a glass table with seeds, water, and small pruning tools.
During work, Azrik kept asking questions:
"How long should Eliad roots soak before boiling?"
"What's the difference between mountain and wild Eliad?"
"How do you know the plant is ready for harvest without touching it?"
Rin answered each question in detail and calm voice, making the alchemist look at him with increasing appreciation.
> "You're not just an ordinary adventurer."
Azrik said at last.
"Let's just say… I look for opportunities others don't see."
Rin replied while rearranging soil containers.
---
Upon finishing the mission, Azrik handed him a small pouch containing thirty coppers, then said while flipping through an old recipe sheet:
"Do you like herbs? Take this, I think you'll use it more than many."
> 📜 Obtained recipe: Low-Quality Recovery Potion
"And come back later… I have some experimental mixtures, and I might need a second mind."
Rin thanked Azrik and bid him farewell; the potion recipe was something no one would refuse and he needed it badly now.
---
> ✅ Mission Complete!
+60 experience points
+30 coppers
+Recipe: Low-Quality Recovery Potion
📒 Character log updated:
Azrik — Local Alchemist from Raven
Disposition: Positive
Trust: Increasing
Interest: High
That late hour at night, Rin left the Adventurers' Guild after successfully finishing his mission.
The air in Raven city seemed cooler and quieter, but the clamor of players in alleys and streets did not completely fade; everyone was still deep in exploring this new world.
Rin glanced quickly at his status panel:
---
Name: Rin
Level: 1
Attributes:
Strength: 7
Mana: 8
Endurance: 6
Agility: 8
Wisdom: 8
Titles:
Novice Warrior (+1% Physical Damage)
Novice Mage (+1% Magical Damage)
Novice Healer (+1% Healing Effects)
Novice Assassin (+1% Attack Speed)
Skills:
Quick Strike (Assassin skill)
Cleave (Warrior skill)
Energy Ball (Mage skill)
Simple Recovery (Healer skill)
Possessions: 35 coppers
Low-quality recovery potion
Basic sword, basic dagger, basic shield, basic magic staff, and basic priest robe
---
It was clear that Rin had wisely invested his initial time in the world; he had completed the training of the four guilds and obtained their skills and basic equipment.
On his way to the hotel, he passed a group of players whose worried expressions were evident.
They spoke in low voices about their companions who no longer appeared in the game, and about their failed attempts to log out.
The words stirred a dark memory within Rin; he pulled out his personal forum panel and began browsing complaints.
As expected, there were increasing reports of some players unable to exit the game.
Rin frowned for a moment.
He fully understood the severity of the matter.
He remembered well what happened in that previous life, when everyone ignored warnings until the level ten catastrophe occurred, and "Scar"—the first to reach that level—died in the heart of Raven city itself.
He raised his head and looked at the central square, where a giant monument displayed the names of the top players.
There, at the summit, was a familiar name:
First place: Scar — Level 4
Rin sighed silently.
"I hope my warning bears fruit this time… the tragedy must not repeat."
In this world, experience is measured by points granted for killing monsters or completing missions.
But at the initial stage, rewards are meager: barely 100 points for a monster or mission.
Players find it hard to kill higher-level monsters due to their fragility before level ten.
Rin continued toward the hotel.
Hotel rooms were safe zones, protected and rarely breached.
There, players could enter "hibernation mode," a true sleep pattern to be imposed later on all players simultaneously with transferring their bodies to healthcare centers in the real world.
Rin planned to rent a room for the next five days.
He knew well the coming days would witness real turmoil: fear of death inside the game, fierce competition over safe missions, money running out, and increased demand for food.
Some players, due to skipping meals, would see their endurance drop to zero, resulting in real death.
Rin entered the hotel and headed to the ground floor.
He ordered a hot meal for three coppers pieces, then booked a room for ten coppers pieces, with the amount deducted at day's end.
After eating slowly while staring at the magical lamp flame on the table, he retreated to his room.
A simple but protected room, its walls decorated with anci
ent engravings emitting a touch of reassurance.
He closed his eyes, preparing himself to sleep in this immersive world.
He knew the coming days would be harder… but he had no option to retreat.
coppers