But it was the creation of illusions that had evolved the most.
He saw himself concentrating again, trying again and again to divert the dog's attention:
- Blurry shapes.
- Unsteady silhouettes.
- Images disappearing almost as soon as they appeared.
He hadn't stopped, even when some illusions failed.
He had persisted, instinctively corrected, adjusted his Anemo energy flow.
So that's it… he thought.
The more I concentrate.
The more I repeat.
The more I force the skill to remain active… the faster it progresses.
His smile widened slightly.
It was no longer just a theory:
He had just received confirmation.
Skills didn't evolve solely through violent combat or powerful enemies, but also through intelligent, continuous use, sometimes even in unexpected situations.
He put away the crystal, his step suddenly lighter.
Venti: "In the end… even chasing a cat can make me a stronger adventurer."
FFFFFFFFFfffffffffffff
The wind blew gently around him, as if to punctuate his thoughts.
And as he left the mansion for good, Venti understood one essential thing:
Every experience, even the most absurd, could become another step toward mastering his powers… and toward what he was destined to become again.
He hadn't stopped, even when some illusions failed.
He had persisted, instinctively corrected, adjusted his Anemo energy flow.
So that's it… he thought.
The more I concentrate.
The more I repeat.
The more I force the skill to remain active… the faster it progresses.
His smile widened slightly.
It was no longer just a theory:
He had just received confirmation.
Skills didn't evolve solely through violent combat or powerful enemies, but also through intelligent, continuous use, sometimes even in unexpected situations.
He put away the crystal, his step suddenly lighter.
Venti left the manor grounds and walked leisurely through the city streets, leaving behind the hushed calm of the noble gardens to return to the familiar bustle of Rillmont.
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
His footsteps echoed through the streets.
The cobblestones crunched softly under his boots, marking the rhythm of his steps as he walked unhurriedly, carried by a surprisingly lighthearted mood.
Around him, the city was alive.
Merchants called out to passersby from their open shops, touting fresh fruit, colorful fabrics, or low-level enchanted items.
The smell of fresh bread mingled with the scent of the nearby sea, a reminder of the city's coastal location.
Children ran among the adults, laughing oblivious to the world, while more seasoned adventurers chatted loudly near the taverns, weapons and armor on full display.
Venti slipped through them almost unnoticed.
Villager #1: "..............."
Villager #2: "..............."
Villager #3: "..............."
Villager #4: "..............."
Villager #5: "..............."
Villager #6: "..............."
Villager #7: "..............."
His bardic attire always drew a few surprised glances, sometimes amused, sometimes skeptical.
Some whispered as he passed, still wondering how such a frail-looking boy could possibly be an official adventurer.
But this time, it didn't bother him. He had completed several missions, faced very real dangers… and he knew his abilities far exceeded what his appearance suggested.
He looked up at the banners fluttering above the main street, watching them ripple in the sea breeze.
The wind seemed to follow him naturally, gliding between the buildings and caressing the rooftops, as if it already knew his destination.
FFFFFFFFffffffffffffffffff
Venti: "The guild…"
He thought calmly.
Venti: "Another mission completed."
As he walked, he briefly reflected on his crystal, the levels he'd gained, the skills that had grown stronger without him even realizing it at the time.
Each step in this city was no longer just movement:
It was progress, proof that he was truly moving forward on his own path.
The familiar silhouette of the Adventurers' Guild soon appeared at the end of the street.
Venti raised his head slightly, adjusted his satchel over his shoulder, and continued walking, ready to hand in the mission document… and see where the wind would take him from there.
Venti pushed open the door of the Adventurers' Guild, and the familiar hubbub immediately greeted him.
Inside, the air was filled with a mix of voices, laughter, and lively discussions.
Adventurers from all walks of life filled the hall:
- Some were comparing their mission trophies.
- Others were studying the quest board with focused expressions.
- Meanwhile, a few boisterous groups were already celebrating their return around tables laden with tankards.
The receptionist looked up as she heard the door open.
The receptionist: "I thought he wouldn't be back until tomorrow."
Recognizing Venti, she wore a slight expression of surprise mixed with curiosity.
After all, he had only left a few hours ago, and here he was already back.
Venti walked calmly through the hall, his light steps contrasting with the clinking of armor and the pounding of heavy boots on the floor.
Several eyes turned toward him, some recognizing him as the somewhat unusual young bard, others simply observing him without really understanding what he was doing there.
He inhaled deeply, letting the ambient noise fade from his mind.
He was back at the guild, the place that marked the official beginning of his new life.
Another mission accomplished, another experience gained… and still so much to discover.
Without hesitation, Venti headed towards the counter, ready to hand in his mission document and continue his adventure, carried along by the constant buzz of the guild and the invisible breath of the wind that always seemed to follow him.
Venti stopped in front of the counter and calmly took the mission document from his satchel.
He placed it in front of the receptionist with a quiet little smile, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Venti: "There… the mission is complete."
He said simply.
The receptionist frowned slightly, surprised.
She quickly skimmed the paper.
When she saw the official seal of the Garlo family and the butler's signature, her eyes immediately widened.
The receptionist: "Wait… you really found the cat?"
She asked, incredulous.
She looked up at Venti, scrutinizing him from head to toe, as if searching for a clue that he was joking.
After all, this quest had been languishing on the board for a while, ignored by most adventurers despite its generous reward.
Venti: "Yes."
"Aster, the black cat with golden eyes…"
She confirmed, rereading the description.
The receptionist: "And everything went well?"
Venti nodded gently.
Venti: "He was at the bottom of the garden."
"Chased by a dog, but now safe and sound."
The receptionist remained silent for a moment, visibly impressed.
Then a slight smile appeared on her face.
The receptionist: "I must admit I didn't expect anyone to finish it so quickly… even though I believe in you."
She carefully filed the validated document in the guild register and wrote something next to Venti's name.
The receptionist: "Congratulations."
"The mission is officially accomplished."
"You can collect your reward immediately."
Around them, a few adventurers who had been eavesdropping exchanged astonished glances.
Adventurer #1: "He did it!"
Adventurer #2: "The kid found the cat!"
Adventurer #3: "He's going to get the 10000 Moras!"
Some were already murmuring amongst themselves, surprised that a seemingly frail young bard had succeeded where so many others hadn't even tried.
Venti, however, remained perfectly calm.
He simply smiled, the wind seeming to whisper softly around him, as if sharing his satisfaction.
The receptionist handed him the reward after the usual formalities.
10000 Moras
The clinking of the Moras sounded softly as they were placed in Venti's satchel.
Venti: "10000 Moras."
A sum he had, until now, never truly considered real.
He thanked her with a nod, then turned away from the counter.
Venti left the guild and crossed the threshold of the building, once again breathing in the fresh air and the constant hum of the city.
The sun was already high in the sky, indicating that the morning was gently drawing to a close.
The streets were bustling, full of life, familiar smells, and sounds.
He took a few steps… then stopped abruptly.
Venti: "…Hm?"
A strange sensation suddenly crossed his mind.
Not a single pain, not a single warning sign related to his abilities. Something simpler.
More… basic.
He blinked, and a thought came to him, clear and brutal.
Venti: "Wait a second…"
He mentally counted:
- Waking up on the plains.
- The bandits.
- The road.
- The city.
- The missions.
- The fights.
- The mansion.
- The cat.
Venti: "Three days."
Three whole days had passed since he'd woken up in this world.
Venti slowly lowered his eyes to his own body, as if he expected to see an answer there.
Venti: "…I haven't eaten anything."
"…And I haven't drunk anything either."
He remained motionless for a few seconds, stunned by his own realization.
No gnawing hunger, no burning thirst.
Just… a slight emptiness he hadn't even noticed until now.
Venti: "So that's why I felt strange…"
He murmured.
He placed a hand on his stomach, lost in thought.
Venti: "Is this my body?"
"Or… is it related to Barbatos?"
FFFFFFFFFFfffffffffffffffffff
The question remained unanswered.
He didn't feel weak. Not so hungry as to collapse.
And yet, he knew perfectly well that a normal human could never have lasted this long without water or food.
FFFFFFFFFFFFfffffffffffffffffff
The wind passed gently around him, as if trying to distract him. Venti sighed, a nervous smile playing on his lips.
Venti: "Well…"
Morta thought to himself:
Thinking about food and drink is also part of an adventurer's life.
He glanced towards the taverns and food stalls nearby.
For the first time since waking up, a simple priority became clear to him.
To understand why he has such a peculiar constitution.
He finally decided to return to the inn to rest, as he was still feeling tired.
The next day:
The next morning, Venti headed once again to the Adventurers' Guild, his mind still reeling from the previous day's discovery.
Venti: "I'm still not hungry..."
The city was slowly waking up around him:
- Merchants were setting up their stalls.
- The streets were being hosed down.
- And the fresh morning air carried a faint scent of salt from the sea.
Yet, despite this familiar routine, one thought kept looping in his mind.
Venti: "I'm still not hungry..."
He had gone to bed expecting to finally feel the need to eat or drink.
But nothing.
No rumbling, no weakness, not even a simple feeling of hunger.
As if his body was operating according to different rules.
Or perhaps… as if he simply didn't need it anymore.
He hadn't even started drinking the bottle of wine Arlan's had given him.
Venti placed a hand on his chest, where his adventurer's crystal rested.
Venti: "This body… is it really that of an ordinary human?"
"Or is it Barbatos…"
"Did he do something?"
He shook his head slightly.
Every time he thought of that name, a dull pressure threatened to return, like a migraine lurking in the shadows of his thoughts.
He decided not to dwell on it.
Arriving at the guild, he paused briefly before entering.
He observed the other adventurers:
- Some were wolfing down loaves of bread or gulping down large gulps of alcohol first thing in the morning.
- Others were discussing their next meal after a mission.
- Still others were drinking coffee.
They all seemed to depend on these simple, natural needs.
Venti: "And me... not at all."
This difference troubled him more than any fight against a monster.
Venti finally pushed open the door and entered the building, the familiar hubbub immediately enveloping him.
Yet, despite the hustle and bustle and the normalcy of the place, a question persisted in his mind:
Venti: "If I no longer need to eat or drink... what does that really mean?"
Without an immediate answer, he walked back into the guild, determined to continue his missions... while perhaps trying to understand what he was becoming.
Venti headed towards the quest board, drawn by the multitude of sheets of paper haphazardly pinned to the large wooden surface.
He stopped in front of it, folded his arms, and began to read carefully, taking the time to analyze each mission rather than choosing one at random.
His eyes scanned the titles one after another:
— Clean the Port Warehouse: 2000 Mora
— Urgent Delivery of Medical Packages: 3500 Mora
— Eliminate Slimes: 3000 Mora
— Collect Apples: 2500 Mora
All these quests had one thing in common:
They were simple, accessible, and, above all, designed for low-ranking adventurers.
The rewards almost all ranged between 2,000 and 4,000 Mora, with little variation.
Nothing dangerous… but nothing particularly challenging either.
Venti tilted his head slightly, lost in thought.
Venti: "Compared to the cat quest… it's almost insignificant."
He thought back to the 10,000 Mora he had just earned for a mission most had ignored.
The difference wasn't just financial, but revealing:
Some quests, however mundane they might seem, sometimes concealed far more importance than their descriptions suggested.
He looked around.
Few adventurers seemed genuinely interested in these scrolls.
Many walked past the board without even slowing down, clearly looking for more lucrative or prestigious missions.
Others took one out of habit, without any real motivation.
Venti: "These missions are perfect for progressing at a leisurely pace…"
He thought.
Venti: "But if I want to understand this world, and my abilities… I'll have to be smarter than that."
He continued reading, attentive to every detail, every unusual title that might stand out from the crowd.
FFFFFFFFfffffffffffffffffff
The wind seemed to whisper softly in his ear, as if encouraging him not to settle for the obvious.
Somewhere, among these scrolls with their modest rewards, perhaps lay a quest capable of teaching him something new.
Venti: "If only someone could come and give me the perfect quest."
GGGGGGgggggggggggggggg
Suddenly, the usual hubbub of the guild was interrupted by the heavy creaking of the front door.
A gradual silence settled as several adventurers turned their heads at once.
Venti: "............"
A knight had just entered.
His armor bore the marks of many campaigns:
- Fine scratches on the metal plates.
- Slightly worn corners.
- And a tabard in the city's official colors, carefully maintained despite its wear.
His posture was straight and disciplined, and his gaze swept the room with seriousness.
He took a few steps forward, stopped in the center of the hall, and then raised his voice.
The knight: "Guild Adventurers, listen to me."
[Venti's Stats — Visible only to him]
Name: Venti
Level: 11/100
Max HP: 3200
ATK: 740
DEF: 410
Elemental Mastery: 180
Identified Skills:
- Telekinesis — Level 2/10
- Stat Boosting — Level 2/10
- Intangibility — Level 1/10
- Flight — Level 2/10
- Soul Manipulation & Lie Detection — Level 2/10
- Elementary Anemo Mastery — Level 3/10
- Illusion Creation — Level 2/10
- Resistance Reduction — Level 2/10
- Stat Reduction — Level 2/10
- Mass Increase/Decrease — Level 2/10
- Teleportation — Level 4/10
- Wind Communication — Level 1/10
Stock exchange: 19000 Moras
Chapter 27: No need to eat
The End