A tall glass was placed in front of me with small droplets of water dripping down from the sides. A light orange liquid filled the glass and was topped off by three perfectly cut ice blocks. Beside it was a plate of chicken breasts, crumbed and fried with a delicious mushroom sauce coated over them.

The mix of herbs and spices danced across my plate and into my nose—Except—there was more.

Three separate plates, each sizably stacked with pancakes, desserts and all kinds of sweet things. Each one was decorated in a variety of dashing colours with cute themes to them. A maple-leaf-shaped cupcake stood opposite a moon-coloured donut. Altogether, the meal in front of me could have fed a small party of adventurers.

So why would someone on their own be scarfing down such a large portion of food?

“You better eat it all you hear? It would be worse than anything to leave food on your plate, so don’t even try it.” The golden-haired owner stood opposite me, cleaning glasses on the other end of the bar.

“Orkay…” I muttered with a mouth full of food.

I ran into her just a few stores away from Lucky Suns, the restaurant and bar that she owns. She was on her way back with a box full of supplies when she saw me. After arriving I got the not-so-formal introductions out of the way.

Miss Serin Suns owns the place and has, for a few years now but it only recently got popular among the people in the city. Even now, the place is full of life.

The round tables scattered around the room were packed with people for the most part, leaving only a handful of tables empty. It is a restaurant first after all, so during the day, this is as busy as it gets.

During the night is a different story though. A whole new nightlife atmosphere is born and the place gets more people than it can handle at times.

From what she told me, adventurers are her most popular customers. Since most people coming from the Tower only finish in the evenings when things get dark, Lucky Suns settle into a tavern at night.

Most nights there aren’t even enough tables to seat everyone so she has to man the stations herself and spends her evenings on the floor. After seeing her in action and the way she ‘dealt’ with those customers, I was happy I didn’t upset her too much.

I finally demolished my plates of food and rested my face against the countertop, thanking the Goddess that I was born with taste buds. Even after stretching my stomach to its limits, I felt sad that there was nothing left to eat. Their food was even better than before!

“I see you liked it.”

“I did but I just wish…I didn’t have to order so much.”

Even after all the money I received from selling the drop items I got from the Tower, my coin pouch felt lighter—lighter than I would have liked…

“Well with that, you’re forgiven. So make sure to not go causing any more fights in my bar, understand?”

With small tears forming in each eye, I placed the coins on the counter and nodded in agreement.

Miss Serin was multitasking behind the counter, placing glasses and fresh supplies onto the shelves. Her eyes would occasionally glance over to me, after a while of this I guess she must have had something on her mind because her eyes were fixed on me.

“You looked pretty miserable earlier. Adventurers shouldn’t be so gloomy, you won’t last long if every bad thing gets you down.” Miss Serin stated.

“Huh?”

I looked up from the counter and she was glaring at me with a blank stare. Her eyes carried no anger or concern behind them, simply blank.

She thinks I’m gloomy? Wait—is Miss Serin trying to ask about my worries? There’s no way right, she doesn’t even know me so why would she?

“I’m sorry—!” I apologised once more and lowered my head but was met with a swift punch to the temple. My head clocked against the countertop.

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“Try again.” She said firmly, this time only slightly annoyed.

If that’s not it, then what?

I didn’t think I would have to spend money and then open up about my feelings to a stranger like this…I don’t have a choice though, I have to do as she says.

My eyes lowered into a serious stare at the glass in front of me. I watched as droplets of sweat from the cold glass lowered and eventually fell flat along the countertop. A transparent bubble of water on a seemingly endless surface of light brown wood.

“I was thinking about what comes next. About where I’m going…” As if reliving my past, my voice, face and body all fell back into a silent haze.

“That sounds depressing as hell!” Miss Serin blurted out with her frustrated grin aimed away.

The haze was lifted.

“What’s there to think about, don’t you just need to get stronger?”

“Stronger…well yeah I would like to but that’s not—there are other things I need to—ugh! I don’t know!” I finally gave up trying to piece together my words and clamped my hands on the sides of my head, ruffling up my hair as my brain felt like exploding.

“Always so dramatic at this age, huff~” Miss Serin whispered under her breath.

As she placed the last dried glass under the counter, Miss Serin leaned over the counter. Her arms crossed and she rested over them for support. My nose flared as her cushioned chest became prominent.

The milky white curves of her breasts were only a couple of inches away from my face. A subtle pink glimmer resonated on the inner works of her cleavage, drawing my attention closer…and closer.

Her dark blouse lay slightly loose with her cleavage on full display. There was so much out in the open from this angle but…so much hidden. Her clothes appeared to be quite casual but I had no idea that such an erotic spin could be put on it—just from a pose alone!

“—!!”

My face burned a red hot flame and reflected off of her eyes.

“Now that you’re awake again, tell me something…” She raised her arms into view, covering the sight I was focused on before.

“I imagine you’ve faced quite a few hardships already, maybe you’ve even come close to dying before. So I’ll ask you this, what are you going back for?”

I can’t utter a word.

The lively chatter of patrons around me fell to silence as the sound of glasses clanking and forks scratching completely escaped my ears.

All that remained was Miss Serin and I, alone—surrounded by silence.

Her words resonated through my head like a gong that had just been hit. Echoes from the question grew softer as time moved on.

Money would have been an obvious answer, why else do people do anything? If I said that I knew where that would get me though, I didn’t want another signature Miss Serin knock to the head so I avoided that answer altogether.

Besides…I knew deep down there was more to it than that. There were easier ways to make a living in this city, much safer ways too.

When I was surrounded by Shadow Prowlers—or left for dead in a dungeon—even when on my last legs against the Rhaskan…I never once thought of never going back to the Tower.

If anything, I wanted to go back even more. Any rational person would have quit after something like that or at the very least, take a break before gearing up to head on another quest. I guess that might make me stupid or just in a hurry to die.

I looked down at my hand.

The faint blue glow surrounding my hand from the appraisal skill was what I focused on.

That’s right, it all started with this. When I first got Uriel all I’ve been doing is trying to move forward—get stronger—learn more skills, gain more experience—devour.

I wanted to learn about Ellios, through the system that he gave me. I got this power at my weakest, a nobody adventurer who couldn't even slay a Funk.

I wanted to become stronger. So what do I want now? How do I achieve those goals?

The stories I grew up reading all spoke about powerful men and women, and their adventures to becoming strong. They never wrote about thoughts like this though…lucky them, they always had something right in front of them to fight for.

My eyes grew larger as the realisation of what I needed came to mind. Something right in front of me that I never realised.

Kana, Arga, Ellios…

“I want to become stronger…for the people relying on me and that want to help me.”

I looked up to Miss Serin and she was captivated, she was engrossed in what I would say next.

“So that I don’t feel helpless anymore.”

Her gaze softened and her mouth curled into a friendly grin.

“So then?”

Her words cut through the silence around us and I was brought back to reality. Her friendly smirk and raised eyebrow gave the impression that she was suggesting “What’s the problem then?”

A wriggly smile curled from ear to ear. I tried to straighten it but it moved as if it had a mind of its own.

“Your right Miss Serin, thank you!”

“I didn’t do anything, it’s just talk between a man and a woman.” She turned away with an uninterested glare at the wall.

Dong Dong

The city bell chimed into the conversation, echoing two powerful booms from its body on top of the church. It rang every hour from 12 until midnight, with each ring marking the number of hours. For it to have rung twice would mean…

It’s already two o’clock? Oh no—I’m late!

I looked to Miss Serin hoping to excuse myself, she must have known what I was thinking because she waved her hand from side to side, telling me there was no need to.

“Get moving kid, don’t let me keep you.”

“Thanks!”

I placed two silver coins on the table, leaving behind thirty Rhan as a tip and rushed out the door.

Miss Serin was surprisingly helpful, I learnt from talking to her. She isn't an adventurer yet she seemed to guide me to what I needed so easily. She isn't too old either, I wonder how she came to be so wise.

I have my goal now, a reason to get stronger.

For the people who support me.

For the person who gave me a second chance.

I fight for them—I’ll grow stronger for them!