Morning sunlight crept through the thin curtains of a cramped tavern room, cutting sharp streaks of gold across the uneven wooden floor. The faint rumble of laughter, mugs clinking, and footsteps echoed from the tavern hall below — the sound of early adventurers already starting their day.
Jae-hyun lay flat on the lumpy bed, staring at the water-stained ceiling. His back ached. His arm throbbed faintly from the last quest. And his stomach growled like an angry demon demanding tribute.
He groaned, tossing an arm over his eyes. "Ah… another glorious morning in the life of a broke adventurer."
He wasn't in some royal palace or fancy inn. Just another cheap room in Ironspire — the city that never seemed to sleep, reeking of ale, metal, and dreams that most people never reached. He'd taken this place because it was the only one that didn't ask for a deposit or care if you were covered in monster guts.
A faint breeze drifted through the cracked window. Outside, the city hummed — carts creaking, hawkers shouting, boots clattering on cobblestone. Ironspire was alive. Unforgiving, but alive.
It had been about two weeks since he joined Aria's party. Two weeks of quests, patrols, and near-death encounters. He'd gone from a confused loner to a slightly less confused adventurer with a growing list of bruises and small victories.
He sat up, rubbed his face, and muttered, "I bet my classmates are waking up to servants fanning them with phoenix feathers."
The thought stuck. He could almost picture it — his classmates, the "chosen heroes," each handpicked by the goddess herself, probably living like royalty right now.
They're out there slaying demons, getting blessings, and feasting in marble halls… while I'm sharing a wall with a guy snoring like a dying dragon.
He squinted at the wall beside him. A muffled snore vibrated through the wood. He sighed. "Yep. Peak fantasy experience."
He stood, stretched his sore muscles, and shuffled over to the small basin to splash water on his face. His reflection in the cracked mirror looked just as unimpressed as he felt.
"Great. Dark circles, messy hair, and the thousand-yard stare of a man who's seen too much bread soup."
Still, he had to admit — he'd come a long way. He was stronger, faster, and had survived missions that would've killed him two weeks ago.
His stomach interrupted his train of thought again with an audible growl.
"Fine, fine," he grumbled. "Breakfast first. Philosophical self-pity later."
Downstairs, the tavern was bustling with life. The air was thick with the smell of fried eggs, grilled meat, and ale. Adventurers crowded tables, laughing and clinking mugs even though the sun had barely climbed the rooftops.
He slipped into an empty corner booth and waved for the innkeeper — a burly man with a mustache thick enough to qualify as a life form.
"What'll it be?" the man asked.
"The cheapest thing that won't kill me."
The man nodded knowingly. "One Ironspire Special coming right up."
Minutes later, Jae-hyun stared at a bowl of what could generously be described as stew. It looked like someone had boiled regret and sprinkled it with despair.
He poked at it with his spoon. "I should've just eaten one of my old socks. Might taste the same."
Still, hunger won. He took a bite, winced, and muttered through gritted teeth, "Delicious. Five stars. Would suffer again."
As he ate, his mind began to wander again.
I wonder what they're doing right now — my classmates.
He leaned back, imagining them all gathered in a grand throne room, dressed in enchanted armor, laughing with nobles and knights.
"Oh, Jae-hyun, how are you?"'Oh, you know,'" he said aloud in a mock voice, "just spent my morning fighting over soup chunks with a rat the size of a cat. Real high-class living."
A few adventurers glanced his way. He smiled awkwardly and coughed into his spoon.
"Totally normal behavior," he muttered under his breath.
He took another bite, grimaced again, and sighed. "Gods, even fantasy food has inflation."
They're probably eating roast wyvern and drinking golden wine right now. He slouched deeper in his seat. Meanwhile, I'm here pretending this broth isn't judging me.
For a moment, silence. Then a small, tired smile tugged at his lips.
"Still," he murmured, "at least I'm alive. At least I'm not some idiot hero who has to give speeches about destiny every five minutes."
He opened his system window with a flicker of thought.
Name: Jae-hyunLevel: 8Exp: 22/120HP: 240Mana: 150Strength: 22Agility: 24Luck: 0.1Skill: Minor Copy (F Rank)Stored Skills: [None — all expired]Party: [Aria, Kael, Renn]
He'd used Minor Copy a few times over the past couple weeks — experimenting with different skills during fights. Nothing stayed for long. The 24-hour limit was strict, but the practice had sharpened his instincts. He was learning how to time it, how to feel for that moment of connection when an enemy's skill could be taken.
He nodded in quiet satisfaction. "Not bad for a guy who still can't afford pants that fit."
He remembered Aria's calm leadership, Kael's sharp focus, Renn's reckless energy. Somehow, despite their quirks — and his constant near-death experiences — it worked.
Maybe that was why he'd agreed to stay with them. Maybe, deep down, he liked not being alone anymore.
They're weird… but they're my kind of weird.
He finished the last spoonful, wiped his mouth with a sleeve, and stood. Outside, Ironspire's morning was already alive — merchants shouting about monster cores, smiths hammering in rhythm, the faint hum of magic drifting through the streets.
Jae-hyun took a deep breath, the city's air filling his lungs — half smoke, half promise.
"Alright," he said softly. "Let's see what kind of nonsense today has for me."
He stepped out into the crowd, his coin pouch jingling faintly at his side. He wasn't rich, or powerful, or blessed by gods.
But for the first time since arriving in this world, he felt… steady.
And as he walked down Ironspire's bustling street, dodging carriages and shouting merchants, he muttered to himself, "One day, I'll look back on all this and laugh. Preferably from a mansion. With air conditioning."
He grinned. "Yeah… definitely air conditioning."