The morning sun bled through the treetops as the group finally emerged from the cave. Mist clung to the forest floor, curling around their boots in ghostly ribbons. Their clothes were torn and stained with beast blood, weapons dulled from the fight, and faces streaked with soot and exhaustion. Still, a quiet sense of victory lingered between them — the kind that made every bruise worth it.
For the first time in hours, Jae-hyun felt fresh air fill his lungs. Cold, sharp, and alive. He hadn't realized how oppressive the cave had been until now — how it pressed against the chest, swallowed every sound, and made every breath feel borrowed. Out here, even the smell of dirt and pine was beautiful.
Renn stretched with a groan that came from the soul. "By the gods, I never want to smell cave mold again. That place reeked of death and feet."
Kael walked beside him, calm as ever, not even winded. "You say that every time."
"Yeah, because every cave stinks every time," Renn shot back, tossing a glare over his shoulder. "Not my fault nature's rotting from the inside."
Aria sighed softly, brushing her hair back and cleaning her staff with a damp cloth. "If you hate caves so much, maybe stop accepting cave quests?"
"Not my fault that everything dangerous lives in holes, lady mage," Renn grumbled.
Jae-hyun snorted quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. His muscles ached from the battle — not just from fighting but from tension, from constantly watching everyone else move with such skill while he tried to keep up. Still, the weight in his chest was light. He'd survived. Again.
He glanced at the fading blue panels hovering faintly in his vision — signs that the system had acknowledged his work.
Current Level: 3
Exp: 16/40
He grinned slightly. Level three, huh? Halfway to four already.
Not bad for a guy who still felt like he was learning which end of a sword was the sharp one.
They followed the forest trail until the dirt path widened, and the trees began to thin. The sunlight filtered through the branches in golden patches, glinting off Kael's bow and Aria's polished staff. The smell of moss faded, replaced by the crisp scent of open plains.
The western trade road stretched out before them — wide, packed with cart tracks, and lined with low stone markers every few meters. In the distance, the faint hum of wagons and chatter drifted toward them.
"Finally," Renn said, adjusting his twin daggers at his belt. "Civilization. I can almost hear a tavern calling my name."
Kael's sharp eyes scanned the treeline one last time. "No more beasts in sight. Mission accomplished."
He unrolled the parchment they'd been given earlier, the wax seal of the Adventurer's Guild gleaming faintly in the light. The ink shimmered faintly, enchanted to resist weathering:
Quest: Patrol Western Road
Reward: 20 Silver Coins
Notes: Investigate and secure the trade road from threats.
Kael's tone was as flat as ever. "Quest complete."
Renn whistled. "Twenty silver. That's… what, five each?"
"Five each," Aria confirmed, slipping her staff into its strap. "Hardly glamorous, but it pays for supplies."
Jae-hyun adjusted the strap of his satchel and smiled. "Five silver's five silver. Better than starving. Or getting eaten."
Aria shot him a curious look. "You've been eaten before?"
He froze. "What? No. What kind of question—"
"Then stop tempting fate." She smiled faintly, a rare, quiet expression that made her usual calm demeanor soften.
Renn elbowed him. "Careful, new guy. She smiles like that right before she sets you on fire for fun."
Aria rolled her eyes but didn't deny it.
Their laughter carried faintly through the trees as they began the long walk back toward Ironspire — a sprawling city surrounded by thick stone walls and spears of metal towers that gleamed under the afternoon sun. The gates were already busy, merchants streaming in and out, guards checking wagons for contraband or monsters hidden under tarps.
By the time they reached the entrance, Jae-hyun's feet were aching, but the sight of the city — the smell of roasted bread, blacksmith smoke, and faint incense — made it worth it.
Inside, the city was alive.
Vendors shouted about half-price charms and monster hides. Children darted between stalls, chasing each other with sticks. A bard played a tune on the corner, his voice half lost under the noise of hammers and chatter.
Ironspire felt like chaos, but it was organized chaos — a living, breathing system that somehow worked.
They finally reached the Adventurer's Guild: a tall, wide building of dark oak and stone, its roof crowned with banners of gold and red. The moment they stepped inside, the smell of sweat, ale, and parchment hit them like a wave. Adventurers crowded the main hall — laughing, arguing, and bragging about near-death experiences.
Jae-hyun followed the group to the main counter, trying not to stare at the sheer number of weapons, cloaks, and beast skulls mounted on the walls. It was like stepping into a living museum of violence.
The receptionist — a sharp-eyed woman with tied-back hair — looked up as they approached. "Back already?"
Kael placed the quest parchment on the counter. "Western road cleared. Three Ravagers down. No injuries, no survivors on their side."
Her eyes flicked over the parchment, which glowed faintly before dimming. The guild seal accepted the report. "Verified. Excellent work. The trade route has been unstable lately — the guild appreciates the quick response."
She reached below the counter and produced a small pouch of coins. "Twenty silver, as stated."
The pouch jingled pleasantly as she handed it over. Renn snatched it like a starving man, poured out the contents, and began counting loudly. "One, two, three… yeah, feels right."
"Don't count in public," Aria scolded. "You'll attract thieves."
Renn winked. "Then they can meet my daggers."
Jae-hyun smiled faintly. "And lose their hands, I assume?"
"Exactly!" Renn said, snapping his fingers at him like a proud teacher.
Kael ignored them both and divided the coins evenly. "Five each."
They found a free table in the corner of the guild hall, the wood scarred with years of carvings and knife marks. The light from the high windows painted soft lines across their faces as they sat.
Aria ordered water, Renn beer, Kael just tea — because of course he did — and Jae-hyun something cheap that smelled like watered-down honey.
Aria leaned back, her expression thoughtful. "For your first real quest, Jae-hyun… you did well."
He blinked. "Really? I mostly just tried not to die."
Kael looked up from his cup. "You listened to orders, didn't panic, and supported when needed. That's more than most new recruits."
Renn pointed with his mug. "He's right. I've seen fresh adventurers scream and swing their swords backward."
"Backward?" Jae-hyun said incredulously.
"Yup. Killed their own backpack."
"Tragic," Aria murmured.
Jae-hyun laughed quietly. "I'll try to avoid that."
The laughter around the table eased into a comfortable rhythm. For the first time since entering this world, Jae-hyun didn't feel like an outsider pretending to belong. The warmth of their voices, the clink of mugs, the faint hum of adventurers all around — it felt… normal.
Then Kael spoke again, his tone steady but a little softer than usual. "You know, we've been talking."
Renn grinned before he even finished. "We could use another member. You handled yourself well. You're quiet, you think before acting, and—"
"And he didn't run away when things went south," Aria added, sipping her water.
Kael nodded. "That too."
Jae-hyun blinked, looking between them. "Wait. You mean… like, join you? Officially?"
"Exactly that," Renn said, raising his mug. "Permanent member of the team. The Fantastic Four!"
Aria groaned audibly. "We are not calling ourselves that."
Kael didn't even glance up. "Denied."
Renn shrugged. "Fine, fine. But still, what do you say, Jae-hyun? You in? Safer with a group. And honestly, your weird copy skill might save us someday."
Jae-hyun hesitated only a moment before smiling. "Yeah. I'll join. Better with you guys than wandering around alone." He grinned slyly. "You bring a lot to the table."
Renn smirked. "Oh? Like what?"
Jae-hyun's eyes flicked — briefly, instinctively — toward Aria. Or rather, a very specific part of Aria.
"…A lot of assets," he said under his breath.
Renn choked on his drink instantly. "PFFFT— gods—!"
Kael froze mid-sip, sighing through his nose. Aria's eyes, however, narrowed dangerously.
"What was that?" she asked sweetly, her tone the kind that could precede either a smile or a fireball.
"Uh, I said assets of experience!" Jae-hyun stammered. "Like… battle assets! You know, strategy and teamwork and stuff!"
Renn was wheezing. Kael pinched the bridge of his nose. Aria tilted her head. "Hmm. You're lucky I'm too tired to test that excuse."
Jae-hyun coughed into his cup. "Noted. Won't happen again. Probably."
"Better not," she said flatly.
Renn grinned. "You're brave, I'll give you that."
"Or stupid," Kael murmured.
"Maybe both," Jae-hyun muttered with a smirk. "Guess I'll die smiling."
The group broke into laughter again, the sound warm and genuine this time. As they sat there — four mismatched adventurers at a scratched wooden table — something shifted quietly in Jae-hyun's chest.
He glanced at his floating stat window one more time.
Name: Jae-hyun
Level: 3
Exp: 16/40
Party: [Aria, Kael, Renn]
He smiled faintly. "Guess I'm not alone anymore."
And for the first time since he'd awoken in this strange world, the thought didn't scare him.
Because somewhere between the sarcasm, the danger, and Aria's murderous glare — he'd found something that almost felt like home.