The night came fast in Ironspire. The streets emptied as merchants closed stalls and adventurers returned to their inns or lodgings. Torches guttered against the evening wind, casting long, dancing shadows across the cobblestones. Lanterns glowed faintly along the street, their light reflecting in puddles from an afternoon rain. Jae-hyun still had a full belly from dinner, but the aches of walking and questing weighed on him. His mind swirled with the words he'd read earlier — kingdoms, gods, demon kings, skills. Somehow, the idea of sleeping on a hard inn bed sounded heavenly.
He wandered the alleys, glancing at the closed windows and shuttered shops. The sound of his boots echoed faintly in the silence, his breathing uneven. Somewhere in the distance, the faint sound of laughter drifted from a tavern, muffled but alive. He thought about the day's events. Flowers. A boar nearly killing him. Leveling up from not dying. And then the librarian telling him about mana threading. It still didn't make sense. He rubbed his temples.
I need sleep. I need information. I need a sword, probably. And maybe a therapist.
He spotted a modest inn tucked away near a quiet street — a faded sign reading The Resting Boar swaying slightly in the night breeze. Its windows glowed softly, the scent of stew and woodsmoke curling into the street. It looked humble but welcoming. He hesitated at the door, glancing back toward the Adventurer's Guild one last time. Then stepped inside.
Inside, the warmth hit him like a soft blanket. The common room smelled of stew, fresh bread, and beer. The chatter was low but steady, the clinking of mugs blending with soft laughter. A stout innkeeper, wiping a wooden mug with a rag, glanced up at him. Her smile was tired but genuine.
"Room for a night?" she asked. Her voice was gravelly, like years of shouting over taverns had shaped it.
Jae-hyun nodded eagerly. "Yeah, something cheap and safe."
She studied him for a moment, probably judging whether he was worth renting to, then shrugged. "Room's upstairs. Five copper. Breakfast at dawn."
Jae-hyun opened his pouch, counting slowly, as if each copper coin was a philosophical decision. "Five copper… fine. That's cheaper than dying, I guess."
The room was small but clean — a single bed, a window with shutters, and a bucket tucked in the corner. The bed sagged slightly under its own age. He dropped his bag onto it with a sigh.
Collapsing onto the mattress, the day's exhaustion crushed him. His eyes stared at the ceiling, and for a moment, he thought of how strange this all was. Yesterday, he'd been a normal high schooler in Seoul. Now? He was in another world with levels, stats, and skills. It was insane.
Tomorrow, he thought, I'll go back to the guild. I need another quest if I'm going to figure this world out.
The next morning, Jae-hyun woke to sunlight spilling through the shutters and the smell of bread. He rubbed his eyes and stretched like a cat, groaning softly. His body felt heavy in a way that wasn't entirely from exhaustion — soreness from the previous day's boar encounter still lingered.
After a quick breakfast of stale bread and water, he made his way back to the Adventurer's Guild. Inside, the bustle of activity greeted him — adventurers picking up quests, arguing prices, sharpening weapons. The noise hit him like a wave. He rubbed his temples again, trying to remember why he thought adventure was a good idea.
He glanced at the board again. Nothing dangerous. Nothing exciting. He sighed, scanning until a slip caught his eye:
Quest: Investigate Missing Caravans
Reward: 12 silver
Notes: Caravans have gone missing along the Western Trade Road. Seek the cause and report.
"Eh… not flowers. Not a death pig. Not bad," he muttered. "Better than a rat infestation, I guess." He grabbed the slip. The parchment was rough under his fingers, stamped with the guild seal.
At the counter, he handed over the slip with a nod. "I'll take it. Let's make some coin."
The receptionist gave him a faint smile. "Good luck. Western road is dangerous. Be careful."
Jae-hyun tucked the slip into his pocket and stepped out of the guild. The morning air was brisk, carrying scents of bread, smoke, and wood from nearby stalls. The bustle of early commerce surrounded him — merchants shouting prices, a blacksmith hammering metal, a bard tuning a lute.
That's when a voice stopped him.
"Hey."
He turned sharply. A young woman stood at the guild doorway, leaning casually on her staff. Her long dark hair caught the morning light, glinting slightly, and her confident smirk was impossible to ignore. Her outfit was light but fitted, revealing enough that Jae-hyun's brain stalled for an awkward moment.
First thought: Oh. Wow.
Second thought: Don't look. Don't be obvious.
He cleared his throat, forcing himself to look anywhere but her chest. "Uh… hey."
Her eyes glimmered with amusement. "I haven't seen you here before. You're new?"
"Yeah… just arrived. Kind of… figuring things out," he said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. His stomach gave an embarrassed growl, reminding him he'd skipped breakfast.
She chuckled softly. "Well… my friends and I could use one more for a party. We're all new to this guild. We could use another hand. Interested?"
Her tone was light but inviting, like she wasn't asking but offering an opportunity. Jae-hyun hesitated, glancing at the slip in his pocket.
His brain whirled. Party? That sounds dangerous. But… free quest experience. And maybe food. And allies. Okay, maybe this isn't a terrible idea.
He nodded. "Uh… sure. What's in it for me?"
"A chance for adventure," she said with a grin. "And we work well together. Come on. Please join. We need one more. It's me and two others — childhood friends. We've got good synergy."
Her smile was persuasive. Jae-hyun glanced at her again, this time noticing the warmth in her eyes. He gave a reluctant grin. "Alright, I'm in."
She clapped her hands lightly. "Perfect. I'm Aria. That's Kael," she pointed to a tall guy with a bow slung over his shoulder, and "that's Renn," a stocky youth with twin daggers strapped to his waist.
Kael gave him a curt nod. Renn offered a sly half-smile. Aria chuckled. "He's shy. Don't worry, we'll drag him into the fun."
Jae-hyun forced a smile. "Yeah… totally ready."
They huddled over the guild board again, whispering and pointing until Aria chose something.
Quest: Patrol Western Road
Reward: 20 silver
Notes: Investigate and secure the trade road from threats.
"Perfect," Aria said. "We'll split the reward. Team effort."
"Great. Then let's do this," Jae-hyun said, trying to sound confident despite the tightening in his stomach.
They left Ironspire together. The morning sun rose higher as they walked, casting long shadows along the road. The air was filled with the scent of earth and wood smoke. The road ahead twisted and stretched, flanked by fields and forests that seemed both inviting and dangerous.
Jae-hyun noticed how natural they were with each other — joking, teasing, exchanging knowing glances that spoke of years of friendship. He felt oddly like the outsider trying to break into a club.
But maybe this was a start.
For the first time, Jae-hyun didn't feel completely alone.
They were a party. He was part of it now.
And that meant he had allies.
For better or worse.