Ryou's form manifested in a quaint room within an inn as he logged into the New World. The space was not opulent and exuded a rustic charm with wooden walls and floors, creating an ambiance of simplicity. The furniture consisted of two small beds and well-worn wooden cabinets designed for storing clothes or equipment. Although Ryou possessed the means to indulge himself in more lavish accommodations, he astutely chose to refrain from such extravagance, as every inn in this town devoid any gameplay effects.

From his space bag Ryou took a scroll and unfurled the magical parchment wide and spoke after clearing his throat, "Miss Elsa, can you hear me?"

After a moment, the parchment emitted a soft hum, and Elsa's mellifluous voice resonated, "Young master, I can hear you."

"Did I disturb you at the moment?" Ryou detected a subtle tension in her voice.

"No, young master, you didn't disturb me. I'm currently crafting the last 10 potions, but I can do it with my eyes closed, so you're not perturbing me," Elsa reassured promptly.

'Sounds perturbed to me,' Ryou thought, but he didn't say that out loud as he apologized,"Miss Elsa, my sincere apologies for interrupting your hard work," Ryou expressed, aware of her dedication when he was logged out.

"Young master, there's no trouble in serving you. It's my duty," Elsa responded genuinely.

Grateful for her commitment, Ryou said, "I appreciate your dedication. After you have done your work let's meet at the Keg and Meat; I'll be waiting outside for you."

"Okay, young master," Elsa responded, her voice now infused with a more cheerful tone.

With a final goodbye, he stored the parchment in his bag.

This parchment, known as a 'minor message scroll,' served as a conduit for communication across nearby places, enabling interaction between individuals situated in disparate locations. While players could engage in dialogue with the aid of the system, the 'message scroll' acted as the exclusive means for communication between two NPCs or an NPC and a player.

…

Ryou had entrusted Elsa with the task of crafting stamina and mental restorative potions because he knew these potions would be in high demand. While healing skills and spells could easily restore HP, and mana could be replenished with local herbs or mushrooms found in the wild, there were no nearby plants or materials in the initial stages of the game. Perhaps there were equipment options, but no consumable items existed, except for potions that could restore stamina and mental strength.

Stamina and mental strength were absolutely necessary for prolonged battles, essential for both melee fighters and mages. Earlier, Ryou had utilized his high-ranking official status granted by the title 'Master,' he purchased a [Lesser Mental Strength Potion] recipe, just as he had acquired the [Lesser Stamina Potion] from the alchemy association. Both potions came with a hefty cost of 50 silver each. Entrusting Elsa with 20 Silver coins, he instructed her to procure the required ingredients for potion crafting. Additionally, he advised her to buy hard stones and monster essences in bulk if there were any coins left.

He was left with only 7 silvers in his pockets at the moment.

Ryou stood by the expansive porch of the lively three-story tavern, with a sign in the Common human language that read 'Keg and Meat.' A multitude of players traversed the cobblestone boulevard, showcasing their gleaming weapons and sturdy armors. Most early players had reached level 5, securing impressive gear for themselves while he was at level 1.

Ryou and Elsa opted not to backtrack to Blue Burn Town after triumphing over the Black Mountain dungeon. Instead, they followed the river snaking from the mountain to reach a nearby town named Blackwater Town. The town which had derived its name from the water coursing through it from Black Mountain's depths.

During their journey, Ryou had killed monsters, but since he was weary from the Dungeon conquest, he hadn't sought to farm EXP right away and gained only a single level. He was now level 1 thanks to Cameal, the Angel of Power who absorb or stolen his level.

After a while of waiting, there was a commotion as players rushing the street stopped their fast pacing stroll and looked in a certain direction while they mumbled to each other.

"Who's that stunning woman in the green dress? She's radiating such a sexy vibe."

"I can't see her symbol due to the shawl over her head; is she an NPC or a player?"

"She's an NPC, newbie. Get a higher appraisal skill to see her symbol and name."

"What's her name then?"

"It's Elsa Granloe."

"Wait, isn't that the goddess who cleared the Black Mountain dungeon on Hell Mode?"

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"Could she be the one?"

"But she's an NPC; how did she enter a dungeon?”

"Should we ask her?"

"Nah, don't push me dude, I'm too shy. You go ask yourself.”

The players were shocked as they had seen Elsa Granloe's name alongside Rem's in the World announcement the day before. Despite this revelation, they refrained from rushing to stop Elsa as she confidently strode towards the Keg and Meat Tavern, because,

"She's an NPC, noob, NPC could not enter a dungeon with a player,”

“Maybe it was a quest then”

“Look at her level then, she's only level 0, how would she be able to clear that level 10 dungeon in Hell Mode."

“Duh! I don't know that”

“Anyway, isn't this Npc in front of us a transcendent fairy?"

"Hey lady! you must be jealous."

"I'm jealous?... Stop spouting shit you ugly pimping mob!”

Amidst the verbal conflict outside, Elsa and Ryou entered the Keg and Meat, opting for a quiet corner table at the far end of the tavern.

"Miss Elsa, my treat tonight. Order any dish you desire," Ryou generously offered, followed by a playful restriction, "but keep it under 1 silver."

Elsa's radiant smile shifted to a sulky expression. Pouting, she teased, "Young master is as stingy as a squirrel."

With a deadpan smile, Ryou clarified, "Just kidding."

"Thank you, young master. Your heart is as vast as the 15 oceans," Elsa said appreciatively, crinkling her eyes as she hummed while perusing the menu.

Surrounded by fellow players in the tavern, Ryou noticed their curious gazes, especially directed towards Elsa. Whispers of whether she was the same Elsa Granloe who conquered the dungeon circulated among the patrons, mirroring the suspicions from the crowd outside. However, when they saw Elsa as an NPC and one at level 0, the players refrained from hastily interrupting their meal.

Given that the average player base was at level 5, most must not have been able to obtain any high-ranked appraisal skills which prevented them from discerning Elsa's true identity as an NPC's player.

Suddenly, a daring player approached their table, his gaze fixed on Elsa. "Lady Elsa, did you clear the level 10 dungeon on Hell Mode yesterday?" he confidently inquired, his black hair complementing the gleam in his confident eyes.

Elsa, turning to face the stranger in shiny armor, replied, "You jest, sir. Facing a level 5 dungeon would pose a challenge for me, let alone a level 10 dungeon on Hell Mode." With that, she redirected her attention to the menu, dismissing the claim with a graceful demeanor.

The player attempted to push the conversation, "Miss Elsa, can I treat this meal for you as a statement of apology?"

Elsa swiftly deflected with a curt response, "It's rude you know… using appraisal on others to learn their name and subsequently disrupting their meal."

After a moment, the embarrassed player scratched his head and retreated to where he came from.

Internally, Ryou gave Elsa a mental thumbs up, thinking, 'Good job.’

After a while some players also come and try their luck to talk with the beautiful half-nymph, but Elsa showed dissatisfaction as they were disturbing her meal time.

“I am really weary and want to have my breakfast right now, mind you”. She said with a stern tone, accompanied by hands slamming onto the table, and it managed to dissuade any further attempts from curious players to approach their table.

Elsa, similar to Ryou understood that these players’ had hidden agenda, using casual interaction as a guise to unveil Elsa's true identity—whether she was the player or an NPC that conquered the Level 10 dungeon earlier.

No one tried to engage Ryou in conversation, a situation he found both comforting and, in a way, disappointing. He wished that some ladies also would come and flirt with him too, just like when he had used someone’s handsome face before. The allure of receiving flattering attention from females, a situation he rarely received in both life had made him feel flamboyant.

He might even tell them ‘Hey, she is an Npc's player, my aide ya know’ in a swag tone while sitting in a cool pose.

‘Just kidding’ getting out from his musings Ryou looked at the surrounding players who were still eyeing them.

While Ryou didn't mind sharing information about NPC-player contracts, as it wasn't a big secret, he generally avoided dealing with subsequent questions about how, when, and why he knew it. Also, explaining rules and providing information wasn't Ryou's forte; in fact, he might say that he could struggle to give proper directions to a stranger. Socializing wasn't his strong suit, however, a mask, like the one he wore now, maybe would enable him to communicate more effectively.

Suddenly, Elsa shouted at the waiter to come and take her orders. She requested stewed salamander tongue and rabbit soup, while Ryou opted for Fried Bluefish Thermidor along with two mugs of cider. In New World, the taste of food could mirror that of the real world, and if it was a special magical dish unique to the virtual realm, it could offer different, magical flavors—a top reason why many people were drawn to playing New World.

After an hour, they finished their breakfast. It had cost 5 silver coins, a big price for ordinary players but not for him, as he had planned to make more money afterward.

"Miss Elsa, you rest up at the inn first," Ryou suggested.

Concerned, Elsa asked, "What about you, young master?"

"I need to venture into the wild to level up first," Ryou replied.

"But shouldn't I be doing the same? I need to level up to guide you on your quest,"

Elsa asserted herself, raising her hand to reveal the back palm adorned with a clover-shaped tattoo drawn in white lines—a stigma guiding her to the location of the Lesser Demon. While she didn't have the quest to slay the Lesser Demon, she had the ability to sense it with this particular stigma granted by the Angel Cameal.

"I won't be chasing after the Lesser Demon at the moment," Ryou chuckled, his gaze softening. "You've done your job in crafting the potions, and fatigue has undoubtedly set in. Take a well-deserved rest. I'll bring back souvenirs from my journey—just wait for them."

"Alright, young master," Elsa replied, crossing her arms and tilting her head in a subtle display of discontent. "I'll wait, but don't keep me waiting too long."

Ryou smiled at her cute antics.

The excuse for Elsa needing rest was a cover, the primary reason Ryou wanted to go alone was due to the extreme danger of the place he intended to go.

As he escorted her to the inn, Elsa attracted inquisitive gazes from onlooking players, and whispers of her name, "Elsa Granloe," was caught on many surprised player’s tongues.

The circumstance of players scrutinizing Elsa after learning her name was one reason Ryou aimed to venture to this dangerous area. He recalled a level 15 silver treasure there, a chest possibly containing a cloak to thwart people's appraisal skills. Anticipating Elsa's future popularity and the chaos it might bring, he sought a means to disguise her.

While he possessed the Blood Orb to alter his appearance, he recognized the necessity of that cloak for Elsa's well-being.