Adjusting to the cooler night air, I felt the chill on my bare skin.
Glancing around, I noted the flickering lights from various camps and tents scattered around the area.
The market and the hustle of the day had calmed down, with most adventurers likely resting up.
It was probably for the best that the area wasn’t bustling.
Walking around with just pants and no shirt could draw more attention than I wanted.
I took a moment to orient myself, considering my immediate needs.
Heading to the adventurer's building to collect any owed money was first on my list. After securing my funds, I would need to find a place to stay for the night.
And of course, I couldn't forget about figuring out how to sell the Bonesplitter Blade. That weapon, though valuable, was of no use to me now.
Preparing for the challenges ahead, selling it for something more practical seemed like the best course of action.
I made my way toward the adventurer's guild. As I pushed open the doors, the contrast from the quiet night outside to the bustling atmosphere inside was large.
The hall was alive with the sounds of clinking glasses, laughter, and the hums of numerous conversations—clearly, the night was still young for many.
Navigating through the crowd, bare-chested and feeling slightly out of place, I made my way to the counter.
Heads turned as I made my way through the crowd, my bare chest drawing more than a few amused looks and comments.
"Hey, looks like someone lost a bet!" one rugged adventurer joked from a nearby table, raising his mug in a mocking salute.
A group of younger adventurers by the bar chuckled, one calling out, "Need a shirt, friend, or just showing off?"
Despite the jokes, a warm camaraderie filled the room, typical of those who faced the tower’s dangers daily.
Everyone understood why I was bare-chested; after all, it wasn’t unusual to see people losing their clothes in a place swarming with monsters eager to tear you apart.
Despite their teasing, I couldn't help but smile, appreciating the warm, lighthearted welcome from those who faced the tower’s dangers daily.
The attendant looked up, a flicker of amusement in her eyes at my appearance, but professional as ever. "Looks like you’ve had quite the day,"
"You could say that." I replied, resting my hands on the counter. "I need to collect any funds that are due to me."
"Of course." she replied, her tone shifting back to business as usual.
She reached under the counter and pulled out a small pouch, placing it on the counter with a soft clink. "For the items you've brought in, including the carriage, the total comes to 21 silver coins. Does that work for you?"
"That’s fine, thanks," I nodded, accepting the arrangement. "Also, I’m looking for information on where I might sell an enchanted weapon. Could you assist with these?"
The attendant's professionalism faltered slightly, her eyebrows arching in surprise. "An enchanted weapon? That's quite rare for someone who just started today. May I ask how you came across such an item?"
I leaned in a bit, lowering my voice. "It was a drop from the first floor’s guardian. Doesn’t really match my style though, so I’m looking to sell it."
Her surprise turned into a mix of curiosity and respect. "You defeated a floor guardian on your first day and alone at that? That's impressive." she acknowledged, her tone mixing admiration with a hint of skepticism.
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"Usually, adventurers don't encounter enchanted items until they reach at least the fifth floor where the Black Merchant is."
"Yeah, it was a tough fight, but it paid off." I said, trying to sound casual despite the pride swelling inside me.
She nodded, processing the information. "I see. Well, selling an enchanted weapon can be quite lucrative. The Adventurer's Guild can assist you with that. Our approach is to sell the item at the highest possible price and take a small commission from the sale."
"How much?"
"We typically take a 15% commission, but since this is your first time using our services, we'll offer you a discount and only take 10%. How does that sound?"
"That sounds fair." I responded, appreciating the guild's gesture of lowering the fee for a first-timer like me.
It was reassuring to know that they were willing to facilitate newcomers.
"Is the weapon you're referring to the one you're currently holding?" the attendant asked.
"Yes," I said, and placed it on the table in front of us. She leaned forward to inspect it, her eyes scanning over it.
"This is quite impressive for a first-floor item." she complimented, her tone both surprised and approving. "The enchantments are well-integrated, which should attract serious buyers."
She then slid a few documents across the table towards me. "Please sign these regarding the trade, and make sure to see me first thing in the morning. Enchanted weapons tend to sell quickly."
Nodding, I picked up the pen and began signing where she indicated.
"Thank you, that's very helpful. Do you happen to have any rooms available for the night?"
"Fortunately, we do have several rooms available. It's 10 bronze coins for a night."
"Here you are," I said, sliding the coins across the counter towards her.
"Thank you," she responded, collecting the coins and then gesturing to a young attendant nearby. "Please take Mr. Kaien to one of the available rooms."
The attendant, a young man with a friendly smile, gestured for me to follow him. "This way, sir."
Following the attendant through the corridors of the guild, the noise from the common area faded slowly, replaced by the quieter sounds of the building's inner workings.
We reached a door at the end of a hallway, and the young man handed me a key.
"Here's your room, sir. Let us know if you need anything else." he said with a nod before departing.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The room was modest but clean and functional.
A sturdy bed with a plain quilt and a single pillow took up most of the space.
Beside it, a small wooden table bore a simple lamp, and near the window, a chair faced outdoors.
The window itself provided a narrow view of the night sky. There was also a small adjoining washroom, its door slightly open, revealing a clean interior.
Exhausted from the day's trials and the intensity of battle, I dropped my pouch onto the table and practically fell onto the bed.
The mattress was firm, hardly luxurious, but after the relentless tension and activity of the Tower, it felt unbelievably comforting.
My body relaxed immediately, sinking into the bed as a deep, contented sigh escaped me. "Ha~"
Lying there in the quiet of the room, my thoughts inevitably drifted back over the events that had unfolded so far.
"The Arashi family... if they could see me now."
The solitude of the room made it easier to speak my thoughts. "Kicked out for being different, for having a 'cursed' ability. And now, it turns out this curse might just be my greatest strength."
I shifted on the bed, staring up at the night sky through the window.
"First floor of the Tower, cleared. Not without a struggle, though. Who would have thought that the very thing they deemed ill-fated would end up saving me?" The idea brought a wry smile to my face.
"This life... it's nothing like what I had before. I was meant to be a background character in my own story, overshadowed by the powers of others. But now, each challenge I overcome, every bit of pain I endure... it's all mine. My path, my choices."
The room was still, the only sound my own breathing and the faint noises of the night outside.
A deep, settling peace filled me as I lay there, the hardships of the day morphing into lessons learned and strength gained. "Tomorrow, I sell that sword, gear up, and dive deeper into the Tower. There's no going back now. Not when every step forward proves them wrong and me right."
With those thoughts comforting me, I let the weariness of the day pull me into a deep, restorative sleep, ready for whatever challenges the next day would bring.
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"Hmm, what do we have here? If it isn't Kaien, the disgrace of our family."
"S-Sebastian!? What are you doing here?"
"What do you think? we're here to hone our strength, as the family demands!"
"But who would've thought you’d drag yourself to the tower, Kaien. This place is for the worthy. Or is it that you're trying to prove the family wrong, hmm?"
"..."
The plan was to face whatever challenges the next day would bring. Only to realize too late that the challenges i was about to face were much greater than i had anticipated.