James pulled at the crusted fabric of his shirt. It reeked of sweat, blood, vomit, and possibly something worse. Every step he took through Stonehaven’s streets was met with wrinkled noses and disgusted glares. NPCs and players alike gave him a wide berth, as if he were some diseased beggar.
He needed a bath. Badly.
Spotting a wooden sign swinging above a narrow alleyway, James read the faded words: The Silver Steam Bathhouse.
Perfect.
Pushing open the door, he was immediately hit with a wave of warm, fragrant air. Inside, steam curled lazily through the air, and the sound of trickling water filled the cozy space. Behind the counter stood a well-dressed woman with dark hair tied in an elaborate bun. She eyed James up and down with open disgust.
“We don’t serve your kind.”
James blinked. “What, filthy people?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s the problem, isn’t it? I need a bath.”
The woman sighed. “Baths cost 5 silver.”
James winced. He had exactly 3 copper to his name. “Any chance I could… maybe, work off the fee?”
She raised an eyebrow. “We do have an errand that needs running.”
A quest notification popped up.
> Quest Received: Vermin Extermination
>
> Description: The bathhouse has been dealing with a rat infestation in its basement. Eliminate them.
>
> Reward: Free access to the baths.
James sighed. “Fine. Rats. How bad could it be?”
----------------------------------------
Bad. Really bad.
The bathhouse basement was less of a storage room and more of a rat-infested death labyrinth. James hadn’t taken three steps inside before he heard the first chittering noise. A moment later, he was tackled by something the size of a golden retriever.
> Giant Sewer Rat (Lv. 10) has attacked!
It sank its teeth into his shoulder, and James screamed. With no armor to protect him, the pain was very real. He managed to drive his sword through its skull, but as soon as he did, more movement stirred in the shadows.
One rat? Manageable.
Ten? Game over.
The swarm overtook him in seconds, sharp teeth and claws ripping into his flesh. His screams echoed through the basement as he was eaten alive.
> You have died. Respawning…
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Death Count: 3
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
James stood in the basement doorway, scowling. His new plan was simple: fire.
He scoured the basement entrance and found an old oil lantern resting on a supply crate. With a manic grin, he lit it and lobbed it into the darkness. The moment it shattered, the room erupted in flames. The screeches of burning rats filled the air as the fire spread.
> Quest Updated: Rats Defeated (7/10)
James smirked. “Hell yeah.”
Then the Rat King appeared.
A grotesque mass of writhing, fused-together rodents twice his height crawled from the depths, eyes glowing red, flames licking at its patchwork body. It let out an unearthly screech, charging James with horrifying speed.
> Rat King (Lv. 15) has engaged you in combat!
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!”
The monstrosity slammed into him like a battering ram, sending him flying into a stone wall. His ribs cracked on impact. Before he could even recover, a dozen rat tails lashed out, wrapping around his limbs.
He was ripped apart.
> You have died. Respawning…
----------------------------------------
Death Count: 9
James panted, leaning against the basement doorframe. He had tried his sword, fire, and even improvised crude explosives from the lantern oil, but none of it worked. The Rat King just wouldn’t die.
He glanced at his Cursed Blade of the Fallen King. He had avoided using it so far, but maybe…
With a deep breath, he unsheathed the weapon.
The moment he gripped the hilt, a cold presence seeped into his body. The weapon pulsed in his hands, whispering in a voice just below hearing.
James charged the Rat King one final time. The moment his blade met the beast’s flesh, everything changed.
The weapon drank.
The Rat King screamed.
James felt power surge through him.
When it was over, the massive creature lay in a heap at his feet, its body reduced to nothing but blackened remains.
> Quest Complete: Vermin Extermination.
>
> Reward Received: Access to the Silver Steam Bathhouse.
James exhaled, shaking as he sheathed the cursed blade. It wasn’t just a weapon. It was hungry.
----------------------------------------
Bath time. Finally.
James sank into the steaming water with a groan. The hot bath worked miracles, washing away filth and tension in equal measure. For the first time since waking up in this world, he felt human again.
He closed his eyes, letting the heat sink into his muscles. What was he even doing here?
When he first arrived, he had thought this was just an ultra-hardcore game. But the pain, the deaths, the realness of it all—it was too much.
Was he stuck here forever? Was there even a way out?
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Well, well. Look who finally doesn’t smell like a corpse.”
James cracked open one eye. Lyra leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a smirk on her lips.
“You just had to walk in while I’m naked, huh?” he muttered.
Lyra shrugged. “I figured I owed you for making me watch you puke yourself half to death last night.”
James sighed, sinking deeper into the water. “So what do you want?”
She stepped forward, her expression turning serious. “I heard about what happened in the bathhouse basement. You used that sword, didn’t you?”
James tensed. “...Yeah.”
Lyra exhaled. “Be careful with that thing.”
James frowned. “Why?”
Lyra hesitated, then shook her head. “Just… don’t get too attached to it. Weapons like that? They always want something in return.”
James stared at her for a moment, then closed his eyes again. As if this world wasn’t complicated enough already.
For now, though, he wasn’t going to worry about cursed weapons, deadly quests, or whatever nightmare awaited him next.
Right now?
He was just going to enjoy this damn bath.
----------------------------------------
James eventually climbed out, drying off and borrowing a simple tunic from the bathhouse. His stomach rumbled loudly.
Lyra smirked. “Hungry?”
James sighed. “Starving. But, you know, no money.”
Lyra tossed him a small pouch of coins. “Then let’s go fix that. I know a way we can both make some cash.”
James raised an eyebrow. “This isn’t going to involve another death trap, is it?”
Lyra just grinned. “Only one way to find out.”
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