The smell of roasting meat hit Jae-hyun like a truck the moment he stepped out of the guild. Fat sizzling on iron pans, bread baking in open ovens, spices thick in the air—it was a medieval commercial assault on his empty stomach.
His stomach growled so loudly this time that even a passing dog barked at him.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," he muttered, pressing a hand against his belly. "Priority number one: food. Library can wait. No man can study on an empty stomach. I'm pretty sure Confucius said that."
He followed the smell until he reached a row of food stalls clustered near the main square. Smoke curled from grills; vendors shouted deals about skewers and fresh stew. Adventurers lounged at benches, shoveling food down between mugs of beer.
Jae-hyun eyed the menu board of the first stall.
Meat skewer — 2 copper
Stew with bread — 5 copper
Roast chicken plate — 1 silver
His heart skipped. One silver? For a plate of chicken? He clutched his pouch of coins protectively. "Absolutely not. That's like buying a game just to throw it away."
He ordered the cheapest option: a meat skewer, dripping with grease. It tasted like heaven.
"Oh my god…" he moaned around the bite. "This is it. Peak cuisine. Michelin star boar-on-a-stick. Take notes, Korea. This is how you do street food."
By the time he finished two skewers and wiped his mouth, his spirit felt halfway restored.
Now came the harder part: the library.
The Grand Archive of Ironspire was not what he expected. He thought it'd be a cozy library with a few books and maybe a grumpy old librarian. Instead, it loomed like a palace of knowledge. Massive stone pillars flanked its entrance, carved with runes that glowed faintly. Wide steps led to towering bronze doors. Above the doors was an inscription:
Knowledge is the foundation of power.
"Yup," Jae-hyun muttered. "And I have neither."
Inside, the air smelled of ink and parchment. Rows upon rows of shelves stretched into the distance, crammed with scrolls, tomes, and crystal tablets. Candlelight flickered in iron chandeliers. Dozens of scholars moved about, whispering, scribbling notes, carrying stacks of books that looked like they weighed more than Jae-hyun's entire GPA.
He froze at the entrance, suddenly self-conscious. Everyone here looked like they had IQ scores over 9000. He tugged at his shirt awkwardly. "Okay, just act smart. Pretend you belong. Don't say anything dumb. Don't trip. Definitely don't—"
He tripped.
Several scholars turned to glare. Jae-hyun coughed loudly, pretending it was intentional. "Yep, uh… gravity test. Still working. Carry on."
A librarian in dark robes approached, eyeing him up and down. "Can I… help you?"
"Yes! I mean, uh, maybe. Yes. Definitely." He cleared his throat, trying to look serious. "I, uh, require… information. About… everything."
The librarian stared at him. "…Everything?"
"Yeah, you know. Stats. Levels. Monsters. Why pigs have anger issues. Just, uh, the basics."
The man sighed. "Follow me."
He was led to a side hall lined with introductory tomes, clearly meant for rookies and children. Jae-hyun felt mildly insulted, but he also grabbed one immediately. The cover read: The Adventurer's Primer.
He flipped it open and began skimming.
Levels: Represent one's progress in strength, agility, and mana control. Each level requires accumulating Experience Points (EXP), gained through battles, quests, or survival achievements.
Stats: Strength, Agility, Mana, Luck, and more govern one's physical and magical limits.
Skills: Unique abilities granted by talent, bloodline, or divine chance. Skills can be leveled up with use.
Guild Ranks: From F (beginners) to S (legendary).
Danger Rankings: Beasts and monsters are categorized from E (low threat) to S (city-destroying).
He whistled low. "Wow. Okay. So the boar was… what, like a C-rank? I nearly died to bacon tier three. Love that for me."
As he turned the page, a faint flicker appeared in the corner of his vision.
[Minor Copy (F Rank) has activated.]
[New Concept Detected: "Mana Threading — Basic Theory."]
[Skill Fragment Acquired.]
His jaw dropped. "Wait. I… copied something? From a book?!"
Excitement surged through him. He stared at the tome, flipping faster, skimming through diagrams and terms he didn't understand. Each time his eyes lingered on something new, his skill flickered faintly.
[Skill Fragment Stored.]
[Skill Fragment Stored.]
His hands trembled. "Holy crap. This isn't just copying attacks. I can copy knowledge. This is… this is cheating. This is better than cheating!"
Of course, that was when a librarian appeared beside him and hissed, "Quiet!"
Jae-hyun snapped the book shut, bowing repeatedly. "Sorry, sorry. Just… very enthusiastic about… literacy."
The Book of Eryndor — Broad Overview (added section)
As Jae-hyun wandered deeper into the stacks, he stumbled across another book lying open on a stand. Its title shimmered faintly: The World of Eryndor — A Traveler's Compendium. Curious, he flipped it open. The words seemed to glow faintly before his eyes, as if inviting him to learn.
He began reading quietly:
The World of Eryndor
Eryndor is a land shaped by divine will and mortal endeavor. A living world of kingdoms, realms, and endless trials, it has been home to countless heroes, beasts, and civilizations.
The Age of Gods brought the birth of magic, skills, and divine law. When the gods departed, mortals rose to fill the void, creating nations built on strength, magic, and commerce.
Major Kingdoms:
Altheria — a kingdom of scholars and knights, famed for its magical engineering. Capital: Luminaris City.
Dravenholt — fortress nation of warriors and beast tamers. Capital: Stonehold.
Sylvarra — a hidden treetop realm allied with mystical beasts. Capital: Sylthera.
Veloria — a bustling city of adventurers, commerce, and guilds. Gateway to countless opportunities and dangers.
The Beastlands: Vast regions where wild magic and monstrous life thrive. From common beasts such as Razor Wolves to legendary beings like the Abyss Serpent Lord, danger is constant.
The Adventurers Guilds: Centers for information, work, and power. They rank adventurers, offer quests, and serve as hubs for knowledge and resources.
The Goddess Elyra: Summoner of heroes, wielder of trials. Appears when the world demands champions to rise against great threats.
The Demon King Khar'zeth: A force of corruption seeking dominion over Eryndor, summoning beasts and chaos in his path. His rise threatens the balance of all realms.
Jae-hyun blinked several times. "Whoa… okay. So this is way bigger than I thought. Kingdoms, gods, demons… and apparently I'm in the middle of it all. That's… great."
He closed the book slowly, feeling the weight of knowledge pressing on him. It wasn't just about surviving anymore. This was about understanding the battlefield he had been thrown into.
By the time he left the archive, the sky outside was painted deep purple with stars beginning to pierce through. His pouch of coins was lighter—apparently, libraries here charged for access—but his head buzzed with fragments of new information.
As he walked through the streets, he muttered under his breath. "Levels. Skills. Copy fragments. Mana threading. Kingdoms. Demon Kings. Gods. I don't get all of it yet… but I'm starting to."
He tightened his grip on his pouch. Silver still jingled faintly inside.
"For once… I'm not completely screwed."
But deep down, he knew this was just the start. If he wanted to survive, he'd need more than flowers, food, and footnotes.
He'd need power.
And maybe… just maybe… his weird, broken skill would give it to him.