As Thomas rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he mentally booted up his internet skill and quickly checked his YouTube notifications. There were already a bunch of new videos—VFX artists reacting to his stream, YouTubers making highlight reels, and even a few speculative posts about how "next-gen" his “game” must be. He smirked, shaking his head. If only they knew.
“Stealing my content?” Thomas chuckled to himself. “Nah, they’re doing me a favor, spreading the word for free.” He didn’t care if others were making money off his streams, it all helped boost his fame.
He flicked through his internet settings to confirm his stream had indeed turned off last night, thankfully without any lingering chaos. “Good. The chat can be relentless. Not saying a proper goodbye might lose me some followers, though,” he muttered. Then his eyes fell on his pouch, and the real world quickly reasserted itself—he had just over 1 silver and a few coppers left.
“Right… back to reality. Gotta earn more.” With no chat bothering him for now, it was a quiet morning.
He considered his options. “Hunting... or the guild?” he muttered. On one hand, he could use a bit of nature and some quiet while hunting. On the other hand, taking on quests from the guild might be more efficient. His fingers twitched instinctively as he considered streaming the whole hunting trip. “Though... I dunno how well streaming the forest will go. Last thing I need is PETA flooding my channel because I hunted a boar or something,” he smirked.
With that in mind, Thomas stood up and stretched, his muscles a bit sore from yesterday's fight against the former S-rank adventurer. “Maybe I'll hunt first, stream later... keep things PG for a bit.” He slung his new sub-space bag over his shoulder, feeling the weight—or lack of it—and headed out of the inn, ready to see what the day had in store.
As Thomas approached the town gate, a lively chatter erupted in the chat. One viewer suggested he switch to short swords, claiming that they were best suited for his Escrima style. Thomas chuckled at the comment, shaking his head. "Nah, I’ll forge my own soon enough," he replied, his confidence rising as he considered the possibilities that awaited him. “I’ve got enough YouTube clout to fund my own little weapons workshop.”
After a short trek through the winding path that led to the forest, he finally spotted a goblin lurking behind a bush, its beady eyes scanning the surroundings. The creature was small but quick, dressed in ragged leather armor and clutching a rusty dagger. Thomas crouched low, nocking an arrow to his bowstring, heart racing with anticipation. He had to stay focused.
His viewers watched eagerly as he peered through the sight of his bow, adjusting for the distance. “Alright, folks, this is the first test. Let’s see if I still got it,” he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. The chat exploded with encouragement, a mix of emojis cheering him on and playful jests about the goblin's imminent doom.
He exhaled slowly, feeling the tension in his shoulders relax as he steadied his aim. The goblin moved slightly, oblivious to Thomas’s presence, and he took that moment to release the arrow. It flew through the air, slicing the silence of the forest, and struck true, embedding itself into the goblin’s shoulder.
The creature let out a shrill scream, flailing in panic as it stumbled backward, clutching at the arrow protruding from its body. Thomas felt a rush of excitement and adrenaline as the chat erupted in a frenzy of cheers and disbelief.
“First blood, baby!” he exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face. But he knew the fight wasn't over yet. The goblin, still on its feet and desperate, began to charge at him, dagger raised.
“Let’s go, chat! Time to show this little guy who’s boss!” Thomas shouted, dropping his bow and pulling out his daggers. As the goblin lunged, he sidestepped, deftly avoiding its wild slash, and countered with a quick thrust of his dagger. The creature’s eyes widened in surprise as Thomas struck, a swift motion that sent the goblin sprawling to the ground.
“Easy peasy!” he declared, his heart pounding as the chat exploded with emojis of victory and laughter. But he couldn’t let his guard down. He quickly checked for more goblins, knowing that they rarely traveled alone.
Then, out of the underbrush, two more goblins burst forth, one brandishing a crude spear and the other wielding a rusted axe. Thomas’s heart raced, but he quickly switched back to his daggers, adrenaline kicking in. “Looks like I’m not done yet!” he exclaimed, a mixture of excitement and determination coursing through him.
“Let’s dance, little greenies!” he shouted, taunting them as he adopted a defensive stance. The viewers in the chat were on fire, sending in emojis of swords and cheering him on, urging him to take them down.
The spear-wielding goblin lunged first, thrusting the weapon towards Thomas with surprising speed. He ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air as the spear grazed his shoulder. “Close one!” he shouted, quickly pivoting to the side and slashing at the goblin’s midsection. The blade connected, and the creature let out a yelp, stumbling backward.
But the axe-wielding goblin was right behind, swinging its weapon in a wide arc aimed at Thomas's head. He barely had time to react. “Shit!” he cursed, rolling away just as the axe whooshed above him, digging into the ground with a thud.
With a swift recovery, Thomas scrambled to his feet, eyes darting between the two goblins as they regrouped. “Okay, one at a time!” he declared, focusing on the spear goblin first. He launched himself forward, daggers flashing in the sunlight as he feinted to the left before striking to the right. The goblin barely had time to react, his spear raised in defense, but Thomas was quicker. He slashed downward, disarming the creature and sending the spear clattering away.
“Gotcha!” he crowed, and with a swift motion, he plunged his dagger into the goblin’s side, ending the threat before it could call for help.
“Now, for you!” he turned his attention to the axe-wielding goblin, which had backed away, eyes wide with fear. The chat erupted in a flurry of messages, some encouraging him to go for a flashy finish, while others suggested he play it safe.
Thomas wasn’t one to back down. “Let’s wrap this up!” he said, lunging at the goblin, daggers poised for the kill. The creature swung wildly with the axe, but Thomas ducked under the arc and delivered a powerful upward strike that caught the goblin off guard. The chat exploded with emojis as he took the goblin down in a smooth motion.
He stood there for a moment, catching his breath, the adrenaline still pumping through him. “That was intense!” he laughed, looking at the chat. “Who knew goblins could be so much trouble?”
After a few more hunts, Thomas finally decided to check his status. It had been a while, and by “a while,” he meant it had only been the other day. He grinned as he saw his level—9. His stats had shot up significantly:
Strength 4 → 28 Agility
4 → 36
Dexterity 5 → 40 Endurance 3 → 27 Vitality 5 → 29 Intelligence 8 → 32 Charm 3 → 11 Magic 7 → 31
The viewers in the chat erupted in laughter at his pathetic Charm stat.
Chat: FrostBite: LMAO, charm is still at 3?!
LeetGuy42: Bro, you need some serious dating advice!
TheRealGigaChad: Not everyone can be a legend, right?
RuneMaster5000: Keep grinding, Thomas! You got this!
Thomas shook his head, laughing along with the chat. He pulled out his subspace bag and started slicing off goblin ears one by one, just like he had done with the others. It was gross, but hey, it was good quest material.
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
Later, he strolled back into the guild, proudly presenting his haul of 30 goblin ears to Ingrid. She inspected them and then handed him his reward—5 silver coins. He frowned, realizing the goblins hadn’t been worth much in the grand scheme of things.
“Not the best profit, huh?” Ingrid teased, raising an eyebrow. “But I’ve got a tip for you. Beyond the wall, there are ancient rune artifacts from the Maglandia Empire that could fetch a fortune. Just a heads-up: it’s not a stroll in the park. The territory is crawling with swarms. Only S-Rank adventurers dare to tread there.”
Thomas felt a mix of excitement and fear at the thought of diving into such perilous territory. The challenge was tempting, and he could already hear his chat buzzing with enthusiasm over the idea.
Chat: FrostBite: Ancient runes? That sounds epic!
LeetGuy42: Let’s go, Thomas!
TheRealGigaChad: Just make sure you come back in one piece, okay?
RuneMaster5000: This is gonna be wild!
Thomas then decided to take on the orc quest. He wasn't sure how he would fare, but he wasn’t going to let that question linger for long. As he approached the village where the orcs were causing havoc, he kept his distance, concealing himself behind a tree. The sounds of chaos echoed around him as he readied his bow, heart racing with adrenaline.
Drawing back the string, he aimed carefully at the nearest orc. The arrow flew straight and true, striking the orc in the neck. It let out a guttural roar, and the remaining orcs, drawn by the attention, rushed toward him.
Chat:
GoblinBane77: LET’S GO! He’s starting strong!
LoneWolf123: Thomas is out here playing Legolas! 😂
EpicSniper: This is gonna be legendary!
Thinking quickly, Thomas remembered the tactics he’d seen in countless fantasy movies. He was going to Legolas his way out of danger, but things were moving too fast. As the last of the orcs approached, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
He fired another arrow, but it went wide, missing its target. “C’mon, c’mon!” he muttered to himself, frustration creeping in. Correcting his aim, he let another arrow fly, this time hitting the orc’s shoulder with a satisfying thunk. The orc roared in anger, turning to face him.
Chat: ChaosMaster: He’s losing it, folks! Aim better, Thomas!
RuneCrafter88: Just a couple of bad shots—he’s still got this!
StellarSniper: Focus, bro! You’ve got this!
The orc stumbled back, but it was still coming for him. In a last-ditch effort, Thomas aimed for its eye. He drew back the string, visualized the shot, and released. The arrow flew, and this time it hit its mark, embedding itself deep into the orc's eye.
The creature let out one final roar before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
Chat: PixelWarrior: YES! Headshot! EpicGamer99:
He did it! Let’s goooo!
MagicMuffin: That was a clean kill, my dude!
Breathing heavily, Thomas surveyed the scene. He had taken down the chasing orcs, but his heart was still racing from the close call. He felt a surge of exhilaration.
Thomas continued hunting down the remaining orcs, moving swiftly through the forest. Each arrow found its target, and soon he stood among the fallen, a sense of pride swelling within him. He had completed the quest and felt the thrill of victory coursing through his veins.
Once he returned to the village, the grateful villagers surrounded him, their faces filled with gratitude. One of the village elders approached, offering him a pouch of coins as a reward for his efforts. “Thank you, brave adventurer. This is for you,” he said, extending the pouch.
Chat:
GoblinBane77: He’s gonna be rich, boys!
LoneWolf123: Don’t forget to buy that legendary sword!
EpicSniper: What’s he gonna do with all that loot?
Thomas smiled but shook his head. “I appreciate it, but you all need this money more than I do. Keep it for your families.” The villagers looked surprised but grateful, their expressions lighting up with relief.
Chat:
ChaosMaster: What a legend! He’s giving it all away!
RuneCrafter88: Major respect for Thomas!
StellarSniper: Heroic move, my dude!
After leaving the village, he felt good about his decision. Just as he started to make his way back to the guild, a notification popped up on his stream.
“Hero_King Donated $2000.
Your Heroic deeds shall be rewarded”
Thomas stared at the screen, jaw dropping. “Wait, what?!” he exclaimed, glancing down at his currency converter. It calculated to 20 silvers—more than enough for a decent haul.
Chat:
PixelWarrior: HOLY CRAP! WHO JUST DONATED THAT?!
EpicGamer99: What a mad lad!
MagicMuffin: I can’t believe this!
Stunned, Thomas couldn’t help but laugh, a mixture of disbelief and excitement bubbling up. “Alright! Looks like I’m not gonna be broke anymore!” he said, grinning widely. “Let’s see what trouble I can get into with all this!”
Then back at the guild, Thomas was greeted by Ingrid, who added how thoughtful his actions were in not receiving the reward. She mentioned that the guildmaster would be rewarding him with 1 gold, saying, "In these chaotic times, a good lad is as rare as gold."
As he accepted the gold, the chat erupted with excitement.
Chat:
user1: Let’s goooo! That’s a W!
user2: 1 gold?! This man is rich!
user3: No way, he’s swimming in gold now.
user4: Can we get a 'thank you' for the villagers too?
Feeling the adrenaline of the moment, Thomas thought about what he could do with his newfound wealth. He could upgrade his gear, invest in more supplies for hunting, or even explore the forbidden areas beyond the wall.
With the weight of the gold in his pouch, he decided to share the news with his viewers. "Hey, everyone! Looks like I just hit the jackpot! What should I spend this on?"
Chat:
user5: Upgrade your gear, dude!
user6: Buy a magic sword!
user7: Harem expansion funds?
user8: Definitely gear up for those orcs!
Thomas chuckled at the last suggestion. "I think I need to focus on surviving first before I start building a harem, but I appreciate the support!"
Night came, and as Thomas went to the inn again, he ran into Lirien. The chat erupted once more, filled with playful comments about their interactions.
Lirien smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Back again, are we? Looking for a cozy spot to rest, or is it my charming company you seek?”
Chat:
ShadowAssassin: Ayyy, smooth as butter!
PixelPirate: Yo, man’s got game now!
DruidDude: Thomas, please... don’t embarrass yourself, bro!
Thomas chuckled, the playful energy from the chat pushing him forward. “Maybe a bit of both, Lirien. The quests today were tough, but you make it worth it.”
Lirien smirked, clearly amused. “Flattery will get you everywhere, but I hope you’ve got enough gold this time.”
Chat:
ArcaneBeast: LMAO, she knows how to handle him!
BowtieBandit: Thomas is gonna fumble, I can feel it.
CrystalValkyrie: He better not blow it, LOL!
“Only the best for you, of course,” he said, pulling out a few gold coins and placing them on the counter. “One night’s stay, please.”
“Coming right up,” Lirien replied, turning to prepare a room.
As he settled into the inn, Thomas couldn’t help but think about how far he had come. Just days ago, he was a regular dude, but now he was making waves, earning gold, and even charming a beastman innkeeper. He smirked at the chat, which was filled with memes and playful teasing about his “adventurer’s life.”
Chat:
SpiritWarrior: This is the start of an epic romance!
BlazeKing: Next time, he’s getting her number for sure.
QuantumSorcerer: Yo, this man’s about to be legendary!
Thomas flopped onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling, mind still buzzing with one nagging thought: he couldn’t use mana. Everyone around him seemed to be doing it effortlessly, and here he was, decked out in gear but unable to tap into the magic that could really set him apart. Frustrated, he turned to his chat.
"Alright, listen up," he said, sitting upright, staring into the invisible camera feed. "How do these fantasy nerds use their mana? 'Cause I’m sitting here, decked out like some kind of RPG protag, and I can't even cast a fireball."
Chat:
SilverPhoenix: LMAO, this dude really out here struggling.
WizKid777: Bro, you gotta go to magic academy. That’s how EVERYONE learns mana.
GrimFang: Sign up with the kingdom, get that government training like a fantasy Uncle Sam, you know?
Thomas raised an eyebrow, scrolling through the suggestions. "Magic academy, huh? Yeah, that sounds about right. But sign up to serve the wall? Hell no! That sounds like the quickest way to become a crispy bug snack."
Chat:
FireMage94: Bro’s avoiding military service in every world, respect.
ArcaneKnight: Yo, just don’t get conscripted by accident when you hit the academy! 😆
DarkElfBoi: Ain’t nobody surviving that wall, trust me.
Thomas smirked, leaning back on the bed, considering his options. "Alright, magic academy it is. I'll work my way up, figure out how to tap into this mana stuff, and then I’ll think about that whole 'serve the wall' thing. But not yet, man. Not yet."
Chat:
ManaMaster01: Watch him learn magic and become OP.
GoblinSlayerFan: You’re gonna pull up to the academy and flex on them for sure!
ArcaneSage: Bet you’ll be throwing fireballs in no time, just don’t burn the whole town down.
Thomas chuckled. "Nah, burning down the town would kill my vibe." He stretched out, feeling a bit more relaxed after his decision. The academy seemed like a logical next step. He’d learn the ropes, figure out his mana problem, and maybe—just maybe—he'd turn into the powerhouse he was meant to be.
Thomas grinned at the camera, leaning in close for effect. "Alright, y'all, I’m gonna call it a night, but before I go—" he paused dramatically, narrowing his eyes as his voice dropped to a menacing tone. "—once I learn mana, I’m finna be a rune engineer. Imagine... the chaos." He threw his head back, letting out an exaggerated, evil laugh that echoed through his room.
Chat:
ArcaneArchitect: Rune engineer?! Bro's about to break the system.
DarkKnightXX: Evil laugh on point though. 😂
TechnoMage77: Gonna turn into some mad scientist, bet.
FlameCaster82: Better start building a secret lair too!
"Y’all better be ready for it," Thomas teased, winking as he reached to turn off the stream. "Catch you tomorrow... when the real journey begins."
With a final smirk, he clicked the button, ending the stream as the chat’s energy exploded one last time. The screen went dark, and for the first time all day, the room was completely silent. Thomas sighed, kicking off his boots and flopping back onto the bed, eyes staring at the ceiling.
"Rune engineer, huh? That could actually be cool..." he mumbled to himself. The excitement buzzed in his veins, but sleep was already creeping in. He let his mind drift, imagining what he’d do once he finally learned how to use mana.
Moments later, his eyes grew heavy, and before long, he was out cold, dreaming of runes, spells, and all the wild things that awaited him at the magic academy.