The weight of twenty-four hours pressed on Kenji's shoulders. His eyes burned, fingers stiff from endless motion. A normal man would have logged out long ago.
But he wasn't normal.
Not anymore.
He rubbed his face, debating whether to finally collapse onto his bed… when a sudden commotion caught his attention.
A crowd had formed near the town square. Dozens of players jostled, shouting, pointing at something fixed to the stone wall.
A board.
Glowing letters scrolled across its surface.
[Regional Ranking Board — Ashwood Frontier]
Kenji's fatigue vanished. He moved through the crowd, ignoring the mutters and stares, until he stood before the display.
Lines of names shimmered, glowing faintly, ordered by level.
He skimmed down—straight to the top.
1. GrayWolf (Lv 6)
2. SilverTalon (Lv 4)
3. LunaMist (Lv 4)
4. Skarlie (Lv 3)
The breath caught in his throat.
First.
He was first.
The murmurs rippled like waves.
"GrayWolf… the dungeon clearer.""Lv 6 already? I'm still struggling to hit 2.""He's insane.""No… he's a legend."
Awe mingled with jealousy. Respect, envy, bitterness—all in their voices.
Kenji's lips curved faintly. His grind was paying off.
He turned, preparing to leave, when the board flared again.
[Regional Announcement]Player "Skarlie" has cleared the first Epic Regional Quest in Ashwood Frontier.Reward: +4 Level, Reputation +80.
The square erupted.
"What—Level 7?!""Already? She's a healer!""Impossible… how the hell did she solo that?""She didn't. Must've had a party. Epic quests aren't meant for one person."
Kenji frowned. Skarlie. He didn't know her. But to leapfrog to Level 7, ahead of him, and as a healer—it was a feat that couldn't be ignored.
The world wasn't waiting for him alone. Others were climbing. Fast.
His interface blinked red.
Friend requests. Party invites. Guild recruitments.
Dozens. No, hundreds. Flooding in like a storm.
ReditGuild: "Join us—we'll make you the face of our PvE team."
RosaOrder: "We'll equip you, train you, sponsor you."
Blackpanther: "Trade knowledge with us. Keep your edge."
Randomtits: "plz carry me wolf dungeon i show nude."
Kenji exhaled sharply and blocked all interaction. The noise vanished, leaving silence.
He had no time for distractions.
The only path forward was the grind.
The Guard Tower loomed on the far side of Hollowbrook, banners snapping in the wind. Guards in iron breastplates flanked the doors, their spears gleaming.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted.
This was not the warm respect of villagers or tradesmen. This was discipline. Authority. Power.
Kenji asked for Riku, Osamu's cousin.
The guard approached—taller, broader, eyes sharp. He looked Kenji over, gaze lingering on his Protector badge.
"You're the one Osamu vouched for," Riku said curtly. "Protector rank earns respect in the streets. But in the Tower? It's not enough."
His tone was less reverent, more calculating. Kenji felt the weight of hierarchy pressing down. Here, rank was everything, and his was still too low.
Riku leaned closer. "The captain needs your card."
Kenji tensed. "The Five of Clubs."
The guard nodded once. "Clubs strengthen shields. Our captain hungers for such a gift." He pulled a map from his belt, unrolling it across the table. Ink lines sketched a forest, trails winding deeper until they reached a small marking: Guard Outpost.
"The captain commands here," Riku said. "If you want to bargain, go to him."
The system chimed.
[Quest Received: Audience with the Captain][Objective: Travel to the Guard Outpost in Ashwood Forest.]
Riku's eyes hardened. "But knowledge has a price. This map doesn't leave my hand for free."
Kenji's brows furrowed. "How much?"
Riku smirked faintly. "Two bronze."
It was daylight robbery. Out of his three coins, he would lose two.
But Kenji weighed the choice. The captain. A new NPC lead. Perhaps deeper secrets.
He pressed the coins into Riku's palm.
[Trade Completed: -2 Bronze.][Map Acquired: Path to Guard Outpost.]
Riku's grip lingered on the map a moment longer, his voice dropping low.
"Bring the captain what he seeks, Protector. Or others will."
Kenji tucked the map into his pack, his last coin heavy in his pouch.
The forest awaited.
And somewhere within, the captain who craved his card.
✦ GrayWolf — Status Panel (Post–Ch13)
Level: 6Reputation: 250 RP — Protector
Villagers/merchants show respect
Guards: lukewarm acknowledgment; true authority lies higher
Base Attributes: STR 10 • VIT 10 • DEX 60 • INT 10
Item Bonuses: +1 STR, +4 VIT, +2 DEXRegistered Cards:
10♠ → +15% Crit Rate, +10 Spell Pen
King♠ → +25% Crit Damage, +15% Attack SpeedUnregistered Card: 5♣ → +5 Armor, +5 Block
Effective Stats: STR 11 • VIT 14 • DEX 62 • INT 10Combat Modifiers: +15% Crit Rate • +25% Crit Damage • +15% Attack Speed • +10 Spell Pen
Skills: Twin Slash (equipped) • Venom Spit (Epic staff, unequipped)Currency: 1 Copper (after paying Riku)Auction:Staff of Crawling Shadows (Epic, T0) listed region-wide (20% fee).Quest:Audience with the Captain — travel to Guard Outpost in Ashwood Forest.