“You fight really well. Were you brawling even before you left your mother’s womb?”

Baldy collapsed onto the ground, letting out a loud snore before I even had the chance to respond.

Well, I suppose he was tired.

The others had already passed out, either knocked unconscious or too drunk to stay awake.

For the first time in a while, I felt a pleasant kind of exhaustion. It wasn’t that I had only been hitting people; I’d taken a few punches too. For every one hit I took, I landed twenty in return. Sure, I could have dodged, but there’s a certain enjoyment in taking hits and giving them back. At first, I didn’t get it, but after spending time with these guys, I began to understand.

In my previous life, I’d never been in fistfights, so I hadn’t realized how fun they could be. It wasn’t something I could have experienced with my mother, either.

But now I was so exhausted I couldn’t even lift a finger.

Rella, who had been trying to maintain balance on my head by flapping her wings and tugging at my hair, seemed tired too. She collapsed onto my chest, as if she had fainted.

I was on the verge of sleep myself, my eyelids drooping.

I couldn’t stay awake any longer, no matter what. Just as I was about to drift off, someone entered the tent.

Not just one person—several.

I forced my eyes open and turned my head. Ten men slipped quietly into the tent, standing near the edges. The flickering light from the few torches barely illuminated the space, leaving most of it in shadow. I could only make out their shapes in the dim light.

Strange…

I couldn’t hear their footsteps, but they were moving so silently it unnerved me.

Unlike the other adventurers, these men had a different aura about them. The air around them felt heavier, more oppressive. It wasn’t just ordinary silence; there was something unsettling about it.

Lying there in the dark, I quietly watched them.

It seemed they noticed my gaze. A few of them turned toward me. I couldn’t see their eyes, but I could feel their attention focused on me.

"…"

It was an eerie feeling, different from when I faced my mother. A chill ran down my spine.

These aren’t normal adventurers.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but the sensation reminded me of that crazy guy from my past life—the one who killed me in a convenience store. That same feeling of unease washed over me.

Jenny had warned me once while explaining the world of adventurers. She’d said, “There are some really strange people among adventurers, so be careful.”

Perhaps these were the kind of people she was talking about.

I’d better not get involved.

I didn’t want a repeat of my past life, getting stabbed by some unhinged lunatic. You can’t predict what crazy people will do, and the best way to deal with them is to stay far, far away.

Yeah, that’s the safest option.

I turned my head away, deciding not to give them any more attention.

But their unsettling gazes didn’t waver. It felt like more eyes were on me than before, as if their numbers had grown.

I quietly controlled my breathing, pretending to sleep.

Rella shifted slightly, and I quickly rubbed her with my fingers to keep her asleep. A tiny squeak echoed faintly in the quiet tent.

My heart pounded in my chest.

It felt like I was playing a game of hide-and-seek, and the seeker was right behind me, about to pounce.

Outside, I could still hear a few drunks cursing each other, their slurred voices drifting through the night air.

After what felt like an eternity of tension, the men finally lowered themselves into the shadows at the edges of the tent. The oppressive stares faded, and I exhaled a small, relieved breath.

Nope. I’m not dealing with those guys.

I didn’t survive my previous life just to get tangled up with more weirdos. I planned on living long enough to get old and wrinkled this time.

----------------------------------------

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

A loud clanging noise jerked me awake.

Someone was banging on a metal pot with a ladle. Or maybe it was a hammer or sword—whatever it was, it was loud.

What kind of madness is this in the middle of the night? I almost shouted in frustration, but then I realized something was off.

Wait, it’s not night anymore.

The tent, once pitch-black, was now filled with a soft, gray light. It seemed like dawn had already broken, though it felt like I had only blinked.

Did I just lose time?

The clanging continued, echoing in my ears as the adventurers began to stir.

“Damn that pot.”

“Shut uuuup!”

“My head’s splitting! Why are you so loud? My brain’s ringing…”

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“Don’t talk near my ears!”

“Ugh…”

“Hey, why did you puke on my face?!”

“Hahaha—ouch, laughing makes it worse!”

The tent was filled with the groans of hungover adventurers. The stench of alcohol and vomit was so thick it almost made my nose rot. How we managed to sleep through this, I’ll never know.

I glanced toward the corner of the tent, remembering the men who had come in last night. They were calmly packing up their belongings, not a scratch on them. They looked ordinary enough—laughing and talking to one of the nearby adventurers. They didn’t seem out of place at all.

But they felt so different last night…

I scratched my head in confusion. The men who had entered the tent had given off an eerie vibe, but now, in the light of day, they seemed perfectly normal.

Maybe it was just because they had arrived in the dead of night, moving so silently in the dark, that they seemed strange at first.

The old bald adventurer beside me stirred, slowly getting up.

“Hey, do you know those adventurers over there?” I asked.

“…Speak a little quieter,” he groaned.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine. It’s not your fault. Getting old does things to you,” he said, his movements sluggish. He turned his head toward the corner, looking at the men. He stared at them for a moment, then glanced back at me.

“They’re not familiar. But don’t get too close. They look normal on the surface, but something feels off.”

The old man took a moment to catch his breath before continuing.

“I’ve been around a long time, and I’ve seen plenty of adventurers from different guilds. After a while, you start to pick up on people’s vibes. Loose cannons, hotheads, the bad-tempered ones, and those you should avoid at all costs.”

"…"

“Those guys… they’re the type you should avoid.”

“I see.”

I tilted my head thoughtfully. They had definitely seemed off when they first came in, but now they looked like any other group of adventurers. They were chatting and laughing without a care in the world, and there was nothing strange about them.

At least, not now.

They certainly didn’t look like the kind of people who’d stab someone over a minor argument.

The old man, who was clearly struggling to move his head, rolled his eyes toward me.

“And you’d better be extra careful, since you look a lot like Helga. You’ll have enemies popping up left and right.”

"…"

So he had seen my mother before.

He hadn’t mentioned it yesterday, probably because we’d been too busy brawling.

Yeah, we hadn’t really had time for conversation. It had been non-stop fighting—pausing only to catch our breath or grab a drink before someone else threw a punch, and then we’d get dragged right back in.

It was a lot of fun, though.

I must have smiled without realizing it, because the old man grinned.

“You look good when you smile, you know. It’s intimidating—perfect for an adventurer.”

"…"

That’s not really a compliment, is it?

The clanging eventually stopped, and the adventurers started gathering their scattered belongings.

I got up and went to find my backpack.

Great. Someone had puked on it.

You rotten bastards!

I glanced around, ready to chew someone out, but there was no point. Who would I even blame?

With a sigh, I wiped it off as best I could and slung it over my shoulder. Just as I was about to head out, the old man called out.

“Hey, Youngest! Give me a hand, will you? I had a bit too much to drink, and my legs are shaky. Can’t walk straight.”

I turned to see the old man swaying side to side, barely able to stay upright.

How are we supposed to leave like this?

Worried, I went over to help him, but then another voice chimed in.

“Hey, Youngest! Help me out too.”

It was the younger bald adventurer. He had blood running down his forehead, dried now, but his face was still a mess.

“Are you okay?”

Before I could stop myself, I asked out of concern. The young bald man lifted his head slowly and gave me a thumbs-up.

“I’ll be fine as long as you help me up.”

With a groan, the old man nodded in agreement.

“Once he’s on his feet, he’ll be just fine,” he said, giving a second thumbs-up.

It seemed like talking was too much for them. The hangover was hitting them hard.

A few more people called out for help, and by the time I was done, I felt like a school kid carrying everyone’s backpacks for them.

I guess being big has its advantages in times like this.

Or does it?

I wasn’t sure anymore.

The situation in the other tents was pretty similar. Pale-faced adventurers were crawling out, moving like worms.

But life doesn’t wait. By the time we were ready to depart, even those who had been groaning in pain earlier managed to get on their feet. People might have been too hungover to speak, but somehow they could still walk.

While adventurers are usually responsible for their own meals, the lord’s side was providing food for this expedition. No wonder everyone had drunk so much last night—the booze was free. And, well, if it’s free, you’ve got to make the most of it, right?

I heard it would take about five days to reach the mountain where the dragon lived. There were loads of carts and wagons piled high with supplies—food for the journey and equipment for fighting the dragon.

With around 700 adventurers, plus the horses, supplies, and people managing everything, the scale of the expedition was huge.

I felt like I had stepped into one of those classic stories where the hero sets out to slay a dragon. Only I wasn’t the hero—I was probably more like one of the nameless extras tagging along at the back of the party.

Still, my heart raced with excitement.

Though I had lived in the forest where dragons roamed, I had never seen one myself. There had been dragons near my home, but they only appeared when I was a child.

It had been my mother who dealt with the ones that showed up near our territory.

Thanks to her vigilance, I never had the chance to see creatures like phoenixes, manticores, or giant spiders either. The only significant beast I ever encountered was a massive bear.

Looking back, I guess I really did grow up sheltered.

I hadn’t even seen goblins, which are supposed to be common.

Cyclops dogs?

Those were just one-eyed, lizard-like dogs. If you see them enough, they’re no different from wolves or regular dogs.

I wondered if phoenixes and manticores would have seemed ordinary too if I had grown up seeing them all the time. Maybe it’s only because I hadn’t encountered them that they seemed so legendary.

Sigh.

Either way, the thought of finally seeing a dragon filled me with excitement.

The adventurers from my guild chuckled quietly as they watched me, still not fully recovered from their hangovers.

“Newbies are always like this.”

“But remember, dragons are dangerous. Don’t try to take one on by yourself.”

“Stick with the group. Coordination is key.”

Everyone offered me bits of advice.

Even adventurers who weren’t from our guild would pass by and give me tips after seeing how eager I looked.

Did I really look that excited?

It was a bit embarrassing.

The adventurers who had arrived at dawn formed a party of nine, and I learned they weren’t part of any guild. Apparently, anyone could join this expedition if they could prove their skills, guild member or not.

When I asked about them, a few adventurers asked the lord’s officials and found out that the group of nine was registered as a single party.

“It’s rare to see a party that big,” one of the adventurers remarked, glancing over at them.

I glanced back too, noticing that the group of nine was walking quietly behind me.

"…"

It was unsettling.

Why were they always walking behind me?

For some reason, ever since we set off, they had been trailing right behind. They weren’t too close, but not too far either—just at a distance where I could see them if I looked back. It was hard to complain because they weren’t doing anything overtly suspicious.

They didn’t seem hostile, and it didn’t look like they were preparing to attack, so they probably weren’t enemies.

Still...

I took one last look at them before turning my attention back to the path ahead.

I should focus on the dragon. That’s what really matters.

I couldn’t wait to see it.

My pace quickened in excitement, and Baldy and One-Eye, hands gripping their heads, laughed through their hangovers. Though they were laughing, their faces were scrunched up in pain.

That night, there was more drinking, and by the next morning, everyone except me was once again staggering around like zombies.

These people really don’t learn from the past, do they?

As I helped pull people to their feet, I suddenly felt a gaze on me and turned my head.

One of the men from the party of nine was watching me. He smiled softly.

“You don’t drink, do you, Rafa?”

It didn’t seem like he was expecting an answer—just making an observation.

After gathering his belongings, he and his companions went to fill their waterskins.

That’s strange. Somehow, it sounded like he thought it was a pity that I didn’t drink.

I tilted my head, puzzled.