With his bag slung over his back, Rey passed through the door and returned to the previous room. He closed the mysterious door, then left the room. Fortunately, he had already inspected and planned his way out of this place, allowing him to leave with ease.
As soon as he stepped out, he found himself in a corridor resembling that of a hotel. He walked for a short while, passing several other room doors, before reaching a staircase leading downward.
Upon reaching the ground floor, Rey was greeted by a far livelier atmosphere compared to the quiet corridor above. The space resembled an inn's lobby, complete with a reception desk near the entrance and a few guests seated on plush sofas.
He took a deep breath, trying to appear relaxed. 'Stay calm… just act like you're a guest here.'
Rey descended the stairs with measured steps, one hand gripping the strap of his bag. Upon reaching the lobby, he walked past a few other guests who didn't spare him a glance.
Near the exit, a young receptionist with light brown hair greeted him warmly.
"Good morning, sir. Heading out?" she asked politely.
Rey offered a faint smile, masking the tension in his chest. "Yes, just going for a little walk," he replied casually, as if he truly belonged there.
The woman nodded. "Alright then, have a pleasant day."
Rey gave a brief nod and stepped outside. The moment the large wooden door shut behind him, he exhaled in relief. 'Good… no one suspected a thing.'
He adjusted the bag on his shoulder and looked out at the city streets sprawling before him. "Now, time to find a place to set up shop," he muttered under his breath, before walking down the cobblestone street toward the bustle of the city.
The main street was beginning to stir with morning activity. Perhaps because people were heading to work, it wasn't as crowded as it had been yesterday evening. Rey followed the road, which seemed to be one of the city's main thoroughfares. On either side, rows of two-story buildings stood neatly aligned, each housing various shops.
Some bore signs marking them as inns, others were clothing stores, and a few even sold jewelry.
Rey continued walking, observing his surroundings, and searched for someone to ask for directions. Eventually, he spotted a middle-aged man sweeping the front of his shop—a small bakery with the inviting aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the air.
Rey approached with a friendly smile. "Excuse me, sir," he greeted politely. "I'm new in town… could you tell me where people usually set up stalls to sell things?"
The man paused his sweeping and glanced at Rey, then returned a warm smile. "Oh, looking to do some business, are you? There are two good spots," he replied. "First, near the main market—it's packed from morning until late afternoon. But it's strict there; you'll likely need permission from the market officials and pay a hefty stall fee."
"The second spot?" Rey asked cautiously.
"By the public well at the eastern end of town. Lots of foot traffic there—folks come for water, and the Adventurers' Guild is on that street too, so adventurers often pass by. It's much less regulated. Small vendors usually just pay a small fee to set up shop there."
Rey nodded, committing the directions to memory. "Thank you so much, sir. I'll go check it out."
The man smiled again. "Good luck, lad. If you're selling good food or drink, drop by—I'll be a customer for sure."
Rey chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind."
After bidding farewell, he headed eastward. 'A public well and the Adventurers' Guild—now that's perfect for another world,' he thought as he followed the man's directions.
…
It took him about twenty minutes to reach the eastern market.
The Eastern Market stretched along a wide cobblestone street, bustling with activity despite the early hour. Colorful tents lined both sides of the road—some little more than wooden tables, others sturdier with wooden frames and thick cloth roofs. The air was thick with the scents of sizzling meat, steaming soups, and pungent spices unfamiliar to Rey.
Vendors shouted their offers over the noise of the crowd: fresh fish, just-harvested vegetables, handwoven cloth, and even small metal trinkets likely made by local blacksmiths.
The occasional whinny of horses rang out as merchants maneuvered small carts through the area.
At the far eastern end of the market stood a large stone well, surrounded by small-time peddlers seated on mats. They sold simple goods—wild fruits, medicinal herbs, and cheap trinkets.
Foot traffic around the well never ceased. Women carried water buckets, children darted about laughing, and several leather-clad men—clearly adventurers, swords at their hips—paused to drink or chat.
As Rey took in the sight, his body froze. He realized he might have made a grave mistake.
'What was I thinking, trying to sell drinks this early in the morning?' he cursed inwardly, lightly smacking his forehead. 'These people are busy—they're heading to work. No one's going to buy alcohol right now.'
He stood stiffly at the edge of the street, staring blankly at the lively market. Drawing a deep breath, he tried to calm himself. 'Okay… relax. If this plan fails, just find another one.'
Rather than rushing to set up, he decided to stroll around the market, observing what others were selling.
'Fresh vegetables… meat… bread… medicinal herbs… Hmm, all daily necessities. No wonder this place is packed in the morning,' he mused while scanning the surroundings.
Passing near the stone well, he paused briefly as a group of adventurers approached. Their clothes were filthy—likely fresh from a night hunt. They laughed boisterously, gulping water from leather flasks.
'Ugh, that smell…' Rey thought, narrowing his eyes. 'These guys… they might be my real targets. Adventurers always need a good drink after hard work. But… wait. I don't even know how the money system here works yet.'
With that thought, his gaze began searching for someone suitable to question.
At the far end of the stalls, he spotted an old man sitting cross-legged behind a small table cluttered with baskets of dried roots and glass bottles filled with greenish liquid. The stall was quiet—no customers in sight.