The village of Horunka lay tucked between rolling hills and scattered woodland, its thatched roofs and cobblestone paths far quieter than the chaos of the Town of Beginnings. For many players, this was just another nameless outpost. For Mikoto, it was opportunity.
He had heard whispers from travelers along the road—something about a rare quest hidden in the village. A quest that rewarded a sword. Not just any sword, but a long blade far superior to the cheap starter steel every new player carried.
If im gonna grind solo, I need better equipment, he thought, eyes narrowing on the worn signpost at the edge of the village. And this might be my chance.
—-
The quest began in a small, creaking house near the village square. Mikoto knocked once, then stepped inside.
The smell of simmering broth filled the air, though the NPC woman who greeted him bowed apologetically.
"I'm sorry, traveler," she said, wringing her hands. "I don't have food to offer. But… please, would you at least accept some water?"
Her words didn't match the bubbling pot in the corner. Mikoto frowned. Scripted behavior.
"I'll take the water," he said, seating himself at the table.
The moment he raised the wooden cup, a faint sound drifted through the room. A child's cough. Weak. Pained. From behind a closed door.
Mikoto lowered the cup slowly. "…Your daughter?"
The woman's eyes widened, then softened with despair. "Yes. She's gravely ill. No medicine from the market can cure her… but there is one hope. A rare plant in the forest west of here. Its ovule can be brewed into a remedy."
The NPC fell to her knees, voice trembling. "I cannot face the beasts that guard it. But if you would bring me the ovule, I will give you the only treasure my family has left—an heirloom sword."
A quest notification blinked before his eyes:
[Quest: Secret Medicine Of The Forest]
Mikoto tightened his grip on his hilt. So this is the one.
He accepted it without hesitation.
—-
The western forest was thick with mist, branches clawing at the dim light. And within it lurked the monsters—carnivorous plants, their maws snapping like wolves, vines thrashing against any who drew near.
[Little Nepenthes ]
HP: 450
Mikoto sidestepped a lash of vines, countering with a downward arc. Sparks of blue light trailed behind his sword as the skill connected, severing the plant's head in a burst of polygons.
The loot window blinked.
[Drop Acquired: Little Nepenthes Vine]
Not the item he needed.
Mikoto exhaled. "Figures. Low spawn rate…"
The rare ones—flowering Nepenthes—were the real target. Only they carried the precious ovule. And their spawn chance was pitifully low.
For hours, Mikoto hunted. Cutting down ordinary Nepenthes, forcing respawns, searching for that one shimmering bloom. His movements grew faster, sharper. His timing honed itself against the vines' whip-like strikes.
Finally, deep in the fog, he saw it. A Nepenthes with a single pale flower blooming atop its maw.
"…There you are."
The fight was harder. Its vines struck faster, longer, the flower glowing faintly as if mocking him. Twice, he barely dodged, his HP dipping dangerously low. A mistimed parry could've ended him.
But Mikoto wasn't like the others. His eyes tracked every telegraph, his body moved on instinct.
With a roar, he unleashed a sword skill, his blade glowing as it carved clean through the stem.
The monster shattered into shards of light.
[Drop Acquired: Little Nepenthes Ovuel]
Mikoto sagged against a tree, chest heaving. "…Got it."
—-
Back in Horunka, the woman wept with gratitude as he handed her the shimmering ovule.
"You've saved her. You've truly saved my daughter," she whispered, voice thick with relief. "Please… take this. May it protect you, as it has protected my family for generations."
The sword gleamed as it appeared in Mikoto's hands. Long, balanced, its edge gleaming with faint blue light.
[Reward Acquired: Anneal Blade]
Mikoto turned the weapon in his grip, testing its weight. It was leagues beyond the beginner's blade. His lips curled into the faintest smile.
This is what I needed. Strength. Tools I can use to survive longer.
But as he left the village, another thought nagged at him.
He had overheard the NPC earlier—two players had already completed the quest before him. Names that stuck in his mind: Kirito. And another, Ryufior.
So he wasn't the only one advancing quickly. Others were growing strong, just as determined.
Mikoto tightened his grip on the Anneal Blade, eyes hardening.
"Then I'll just have to grow faster."
And with that, he vanished again, a lone swordsman sharpening his edge against the world of death.