Leonard packed up his setup as the sky turned darker.
He didn't feel tired after a whole day of work. If anything, he felt more alive.
As he retired for the night, Leonard found himself standing before a guesthouse. It was a random one he found while strolling in the street. In front of it, there was a wooden sign dangling above the door.
'This looks so old…' he whispered to himself as he entered.
As he stepped in, the innkeeper greeted him. It was a balding man with a bushy mustache. He looked grumpy and scoffed at first as he saw Leonard's current shabby look.
However, as he eyed Leonard up and down and saw the bulky pouch in his hand, his face immediately lit up.
"Welcome, welcome, good sir!" The man's voice became warm as his mustache twitched upward into a smile.
"You've come to the finest guesthouse in this part of the city. Please, make yourself at home!"
"…" Leonard raised a brow. Just seconds ago, the man looked like he'd rather throw him out than accept it. Yet, now he was acting like he was a prized guest.
'Tch… all because of the coins,' Leonard was not dumb enough not to realize it.
"Now, what kind of room are you looking for, Sir?" The innkeeper leaned forward and rubbed his palms together with a sparkle in his eye.
"We've got our very good room upstairs for only twelve silver a night! It is spacious and even has a private bath! We also have a standard room! Seven silvers only. It's clean and comfortable. It's good enough for a man of your standing."
Leonard smiled faintly. He could already sense where this was going.
"What's the cheapest you have?"
The innkeeper froze for a second, his smile twitching.
"Well, we do have a smaller room at the back. It costs three silvers. It only has a simple bed and shared bath. I wouldn't recommend it for someone like you…" His voice trailed off apologetically.
He was clearly fishing for Leonard to spend more.
"I'll take that one." But Leonard remained unfazed.
The man's face stiffened. He forced his smile wider, but it was obvious how irritated he became.
"Ah, of course, of course. The… modest choice. Very… very wise." For a brief moment, the man playfully grinned as if he had an idea in mind.
Leonard narrowed his gaze slightly, but he didn't comment on it. He was just itching to lie down now and open his bronze mystery box.
'This guy seems suspicious, so I'll just sleep for the night and be gone early tomorrow.' He thought to himself.
Leonard handed over three silver coins and the innkeeper pocketed them quickly before gesturing toward the creaky wooden stairs at the side.
"This way, sir. Follow me."
The guesthouse was old. It was vintage in a way that felt both charming and worn. The walls, floors, and even the ceiling beams were all made out of darkened wood.
He was really gestured to the back. The hallway was lined up with multiple doors that looke close to each other.
"Here, Sir." The innkeeper motioned to one of the doors at the end.
Leonard smiled and accepted it.
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
When Leonard entered his room, he fell silent.
It was indeed a small room.
There was only a small wooden bed there that was pushed against the corner. The mattress was a little thick, though it sagged a little in the middle. Still, it still looked more welcoming than anything he had seen in days.
Beside the bed sat a short table with a stubby candle that was already burning. On the back wall, there was a big window to let in the air.
Leonard sat down on the bed, feeling the little softness of it beneath him. It was nothing like the springy plush mattresses he had back then. But compared to the cold hard dirt he had slept on yesterday, this was a paradise.
"I guess, not bad," Leonard muttered, leaning back with a sigh.
"Alright. Time for my reward. System Interface."
Just then, his vision flickered, and a faint glow filled the corner of his eyes.
[System Interface Loaded.]
The familiar translucent panel appeared before him.
- - -
Name: Leonard Runesforth
Age: 19
Status: A Lowly Beggar
Wealth: 3 gold coins & 41 silver coins.
Luck: 0
Mystery Box: 1x Bronze Mystery Box
Skills:—
- - -
[1x Bronze Mystery is available.]
[Would you like to open it now?]
Leonard's lips curled into a grin as the question flashed before him.
"It's about time," he whispered.
"Yes," His heart raced a little because of excitement.
[Opening Bronze Mystery Box…]
The panel disappeared for a moment, and in the air above Leonard's lap, a blinding light appeared.
"…?"
Leonard tightly shut his eyes at how bright it was. In the next moment, he just felt something cold in his lap, prompting him to open his eyes again.
[Ding!]
[You have received 1x Steel Dagger!]
[You have received a red pill!]
Leonard froze completely.
"W-what the f*ck did I just witness?" He whispered in disbelief. "Did these things just… appear out of nowhere?" His mouth fell slightly open as his eyes darted between the dagger and the pill.
Leonard's hand quivered as he held it in his hand. He didn't want to hold it, but he was curious. As he touched the item, the first thing he noticed was how cold and hard it felt.
"Damn… didn't I get stabbed by this?"
That thought sent a shiver down his spine. He could still vividly remember the way he was stabbed and the pain his body felt.
"And what about this pill?" His eyes moved to the small red pill sealed inside a round, glass-like shell container.
"What the heck is this? Candy? Medicine? Poison? If I eat this, will I be cursed or what?"
Just as Leonard touched the container, another chime rang in his ears.
[Ding!]
[Item Identified: Red Pill]
"What's the use of this?"
[Description: A Red Pill is also known as an Enhancement Pill. Upon consumption, it will permanently improve one physical area of your body. The user must choose carefully, as only one trait will be affected.]
"You mean I can improve any area in my body? My face? My muscles? My hair? Any area?"
[Yes, Host.]
"Whoa…" Leonard let out his amusement.
[Take note, Host. The Enhancement Pill only works once.]
"Only once?"
[Yes, Host. Please choose wisely.]
"Damn, this is harder than I thought…" his mind suddenly went blank.
With his current state, there are certainly a lot of areas he wants to improve in himself. However, subconsciously, his gaze slowly moved down to the middle of his pants.
"…"
That can't be possible, right?