Travis stepped out of the town and onto the dirt path that wound toward Misty Glade Forest. The road stretched ahead, flanked by tall grass and sparse trees, the air growing cooler as he approached the forest’s edge. Just before the treeline, a weathered wooden sign came into view, its bold red letters stark against the faded wood:
【 DANGER
NO NON-ADVENTURERS MAY ENTER 】
Travis chuckled, shaking his head as he passed the sign without a second thought. He wasn’t particularly strong, nor did he fancy himself a hero, but in a place like this, he felt just confident enough to believe he could handle whatever came his way.
As he stepped into the forest, the world shifted. The air grew damp, carrying the faint scent of moss and earth. The canopy above filtered the sunlight, casting dappled shadows across the ground. Twisting roots and dense underbrush lined the path ahead, but Travis pressed on, nodding to himself as he recalled the quest details.
' All right, time to get to work. From what the description said, they glow. Shouldn’t be too hard to spot, ' he thought, his boots crunching softly against the forest floor.
He searched diligently, weaving through the trees and scanning the undergrowth for any hint of the luminous petals. Hours slipped by, and his initial optimism began to wane. The forest grew darker as the sun dipped lower in the sky, and his patience was wearing thin.
Frustrated, Travis finally slumped against a tree, wiping a sheen of sweat from his brow. He let out a long sigh, muttering to himself,
' I didn’t think it’d be this hard. Probably one of the reasons no one else wanted the job. '
His gaze drifted upward, watching the faint sway of the branches above as he tried to regain his composure. Determined not to leave empty-handed, he pushed himself to his feet.
“Not giving up that easily,” he muttered, brushing off his pants and continuing his search.
After another hour of wandering, he stumbled across a narrow cave entrance, almost hidden by a thick curtain of ivy. The opening was dark and foreboding, the kind of place most would avoid on instinct. Travis hesitated for only a moment before stepping inside.
The cave’s cool air wrapped around him as he descended, the faint sound of dripping water echoing through the narrow passage. His footsteps reverberated softly as he ventured deeper, his senses on high alert for any signs of danger. Ten minutes later, the tunnel opened into a small chamber, and there, clinging to the far wall, were the flowers.
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Their soft, ethereal glow lit up the darkness, casting a faint silver light across the stone. Moonlight Petals. Dozens of them, more than enough to complete the quest.
A grin spread across Travis’s face as he stepped forward, pulling out his pouch. “Jackpot,” he whispered, plucking the flowers carefully one by one. Their petals were delicate, and he took care not to damage them as he collected more than the required amount.
Satisfied, he left a handful untouched, partly out of respect for their rarity and partly to ensure the flowers could continue to grow. Slinging his pouch over his shoulder, now filled with the glowing petals, he began the trek back out of the cave.
' Well, that was worthwhile, ' he thought, his mood lifted by the successful haul.' I wonder how much they’ll pay me for bringing extras. '
The cave’s entrance loomed ahead, and as he stepped back into the forest, the moonlight greeted him. With renewed energy, he set his sights on returning to the guild and cashing in on his find.
.......
Travis dropped all the Moonlight Petals onto the counter with a triumphant smirk, the faint glow of the flowers catching the attention of those nearby. Feeling a swell of pride, he crossed his arms and watched the clerk tally up his haul.
“Well done,” the clerk said, clearly impressed. “You brought in more than what was required. Since these petals are rare, the guild is willing to pay extra for the surplus.”
Travis’s smirk widened. “I won’t say no to that.”
He watched as the money piled up on the counter, silver coins glinting under the warm lantern light. The clerk slid the neatly stacked coins toward him, totaling far more than he’d expected. He scooped them into his pouch, the weight of his earnings bringing a rare sense of satisfaction.
Turning around, he noticed the guild had grown unusually quiet. Dozens of eyes were on him, their expressions a mix of curiosity, envy, and mild disbelief. Travis, however, didn’t bother meeting their gazes. He walked past them, head held high, and stepped outside into the cool evening air.
The sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in deep purples and oranges. He stood for a moment, letting the quiet settle around him, when a loud growl from his stomach broke the silence.
' Yep, I’m hungry, ' he thought with a sigh.
He started wandering through the town, scanning the storefronts for a place that could offer both food and lodging. Eventually, his eyes landed on a wooden sign that read:
「Glenda’s Inn and Grub」
The name was as straightforward as it got, and that was enough for him. He pushed the door open, stepping into the cozy interior filled with the hum of chatter and the scent of roasted meat.
By this point, Travis had 50 silver coins—enough to consider himself fairly well-off.
The world’s currency system was simple: 100 bronze coins made 1 silver, and 100 silver coins equaled 1 gold. It was easy to understand, even for someone like him.
Approaching the counter, he rented a room for two weeks at the cost of 9 silver coins. The innkeeper handed him a key and informed him that meals were included with the stay. Grateful for the deal, Travis smiled, pocketed the key, and headed upstairs to check out his room.
The space was modest but clean, with a middle-sized bed, a sturdy wooden chair, and a small wardrobe. Nodding in approval, he removed his upper body armor and the drape that covered his face, placing them neatly on the bed. The sense of finally having a place to rest, even temporarily, was comforting.
Hunger soon drew him downstairs, where the inn’s dining area was lively with patrons. He claimed a seat near the corner, and the staff quickly brought him a steaming plate of food. As he ate, he couldn’t help but notice several women sneaking glances at him, their whispers occasionally reaching his ears.
Travis smirked to himself. ' When was the last time I even talked to a girl? Man, my life sucked before. ' he thought.
He let the warmth of the meal and the attention fuel his good mood, and as he ate, his mind drifted to planning. He set himself a clear goal: to reach at least Rank B before leaving this town. It wasn’t going to be easy, but that was part of the challenge he was beginning to relish.
' I wonder what the minimum level is for a B-rank adventurer, ' he thought, his fingers absently tapping the table. ' Considering the cap in this world is level 1000, I’m still just a frog in a well. '
The realization of how far he had to go didn’t discourage him. Instead, it sparked a fire of excitement. The thought of eventually reaching such heights was thrilling, and he couldn’t wait to push his limis and see just how strong he could become.
TO BE CONTINUED