I wake up to my muscles screaming.
My legs felt like I'd spent the whole night climbing stairs.My shoulder wasn't burning like fire anymore, but it still made sure I knew it existed.
For a while I just stared at the ceiling.The dusty wooden planks pulled back the memory of yesterday's training in the inn's backyard.
"So I really did train," I grumbled."My body is still in shock."
I sat up on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath.
"Status."
The panel opened immediately.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[STATUS – UPDATED]
NAME: EthanLEVEL: 1
PATH:– Root: Survivor– Main Branch: Veil – Observer– Sub Branch: Flesh – Endurance
Base Attributes:– Strength: Low+– Endurance: Mid-– Agility: Mid-– Mental Focus: Mid– Perception: Mid++
Special Attribute:– Luck: 4 / 10
Active Modules:– SIGIL GRID– System Shop– Quests
Last 24 Hours – Gains:– Physical training → Very small increase in Strength/Agility.– Basic sword work with Bran → "Basic Balance" node stimulated.– Treatment from Lira → Recovery speed slightly increased.
Quest Status:– "Learn to Breathe in Veldan" → 1 / 3 days completed.– "Lira's Small Request" → Delivery completed.
Note:– Shoulder: No sign of infection.– Pain: Between Mild and Moderate.
"At least it's not going downward," I said. "In this world, even small victories still count as victories."
⟪SYSTEM⟫[SHORT NOTE]
– Small victories stack.– Big victories are usually paid for in blood.
"Can you stop ruining the mood first thing in the morning?" I muttered.
It didn't answer.Which still counted as an answer.
First, I did a short warm-up inside the room.
Light squats, stretching, a few controlled sit-ups…Then I tried repeating the footwork Bran had shown me, this time without a weapon.
Step back, sidestep, shift your weight, don't fall.
I still stumbled, but less than yesterday.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[ROUTINE – RECORDED]
– Basic physical activity: Minimum level completed.– "Basic Balance" node → Glowing very slightly brighter.
Note:– Needs time and repetition to fully unlock.
"So basically," I said, "it currently says 'on the way out of rookie status.'"
I straightened my shirt and checked the bandage. The wrap looked clean.Lira had done a good job. Which meant something else: I owed her.
"But first I need money," I told myself. "I'm not going to borrow money just to pay off a different debt."
The notice board next to the guard headquarters came to mind.
"Time for the first official quest."
When I stepped out of the Copper Lantern, the air was cool.The sky wasn't fully clear; thin clouds softened the sunlight.
The square was even more alive than yesterday.Stalls were fully open, a few street musicians had taken up corners.
Before climbing the stone steps to the headquarters, I stopped by the notice board.
It was a wooden frame nailed over with sheets of paper.Some looked new, others had been bleached by the sun.
My eyes moved along the lines:
"Lost goat. Small reward for return.""Night watch needed in harbor area.""Defective cloth stock for sale – negotiable."
Lower down, a sheet with a slightly torn edge caught my attention.
"Quest: Rotten RootsDescription: In the small grove north of Veldan, some plant roots have begun rotting.Cause unknown.Simple herb gathering and area inspection.Recommended: At least one armed person.Reward: 15 Copper / person + healthy plants may be sold to a healer."
"Herb gathering," I said. "Sounds harmless enough for a starter."
⟪SYSTEM⟫[NEW QUEST SUGGESTION]
[BASIC QUEST – YELLOW]Quest: Rotten Roots
System Description:– Not bad for a first official "field quest."– Appears low-risk.– The assumption that it is completely risk-free, however, conflicts with statistics.
Objectives:– Go to the northern grove.– Observe the source of the rotting roots.– Collect at least 5 bundles of healthy herbs.– Report to the healer who posted the request or to the headquarters.
Estimated Rewards:– Basic amount of General EXP.– +1 small, observation-focused bonus (Veil Branch).– Collected herbs can be sold.
Failure:– Abandon quest → No reward.– If you die → You won't have other plans anyway.
"Thanks," I said. "It never occurred to me that dying might ruin my schedule."
Before pushing the headquarters door open, I glanced once more at the faded paper in the corner of the board: missing documents, basement ban, Mira's little mark…
Then I stepped inside.
It was a bit less crowded than yesterday morning.
Rian was nowhere in sight; instead, a young guard sat behind the desk.His armor was fairly new and his eyes had that "takes everything very seriously" rookie look.
"Here to register a quest?" he asked when he saw me.
"Yeah," I said. "I want to take the Rotten Roots quest. Northern grove."
He took out a small sheet and scribbled a summary of the quest from the board.
"Name?" he asked.
"Ethan," I said. "My surname and I are… not on good terms right now. Can we leave it out?"
The young guard chuckled despite himself.
"Garen the innkeeper mentioned you," he said. "The assassin situation. You're a stranger, but a lot of people already know you."
"Half of that sentence is comforting," I replied.
"First outside quest?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"Makes sense," he said. "Herb quests are usually the safest way to start. But… some people said they've heard strange sounds at night up north recently. Don't dawdle. Come back before dark."
"Got it," I said.
He stamped the sheet and handed it over.
"Bring this back when you're done," he said. "We match the reward to the paper."
I folded the sheet and tucked it into my inner pocket.
As I headed for the door, I heard him say behind me:
"Be careful, Ethan. Dying on your first quest doesn't look good in the registry."
I hovered between laughing and swallowing.
The northern gate of Veldan was quieter than the others.
Two guards stood watch, giving each passerby a quick glance and nothing more.I didn't draw much attention—no heavy gear, just a simple knife and the stone sword Bran had let me borrow.
Once I exited, the smell of the city slowly faded.It was replaced with damp earth and the faint scent of grass.
Ahead, the land sloped up gently, and trees rose in the distance.Farther still, the northern grove sat like a dark patch on the landscape.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[AREA INFO – UPDATED]
– Region: Veldan – Northern Outskirts• Danger Level: Low (daytime).• Known Creatures: Small rodents, birds, wild dog packs (rare).
Note:– "Low danger" does not mean "no danger."– Especially for beginners like you.
"I get it," I said. "There is danger, but it's 'tutorial' level."
As I walked down the dirt path, I saw a few farmers working their fields in the distance.Some glanced my way, then returned to their work; no guard insignia on me, no one cared.
After a short walk, I reached the edge of the grove.
Trees thickened there, their crowns knitting together so that sunlight slipped through in thin stripes.Birdsong was faint, but not completely silent.
I unfolded the quest paper and read it again.
"Rotting roots…" I muttered. "Report to healer… five bundles of healthy herbs."
"First, I need to find the rotten part."
As soon as I stepped between the trees, the air cooled.
I moved carefully, scanning the ground—grass, roots, stones, fallen leaves…For a while, everything looked normal.
Then, the smell hit me.
A thick, sour stench that stabbed straight into my nose.Like rotting vegetables buried in wet soil.
"I think I found it," I said.
I crouched at the base of a tree.The soil around the roots was darker than elsewhere, as if it had soaked up too much water and gone bad from the inside.
Some fine roots had turned black; when I poked them with a finger, they crumbled into mush.
Right next to them, a few plant clusters still looked healthy.Their leaves were green, stems firm and upright.
"These are probably what the healer wants," I said.
I reached out.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[POINT OF INTEREST]
– Rotting:• Natural disease: Possible.• Unnatural influence: Also possible.
Detail:– Faint, unidentified energy residue in the soil.– It does not "taste" entirely native to this world.
Note:– Energy type cannot be fully identified at your current level.– Recommended for later re-examination.
"So, either natural or not," I said. "Such precise analysis. Amazing."
Still, I carefully started harvesting the healthy-looking plants,pulling them out so as not to destroy the roots more than necessary.
As I yanked out the fourth bundle, a low growl sounded from behind me.
My body tensed on instinct.
Slowly, I turned my head.
Between the trees, in the shadow of some yellowed bushes, two glowing eyes watched me.A yellow iris with a strange orange ring around it.
Then the body stepped out.
A lean but muscular dog, fur darker than normal, ribs faintly visible,thin drool hanging from the corner of its mouth.
It lifted its nose, sniffed in my direction.
Then growled again.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[NEW THREAT DETECTED]
– Type: Wild Dog (Corrupted) – Low Tier– Status: Abnormally aggressive.– Count: 1 (for now).
Suggestion:– Run: Possible.– Fight: Risky in your current state, but doable.
Note:– This could be your first real combat scene.– If you want to try, be careful.
"Having my first boss be a dog feels a bit humiliating," I said. "But fine, let's try."
I slowly stood up and grabbed the stone sword Bran had given me.The dog crouched lower, ready to pounce.
Bran's voice echoed in my head from yesterday:
"Your feet first. If you lose your balance, the sword is useless."
The moment the dog lunged, I stepped sideways.It wasn't as graceful as I'd imagined; my foot snagged on a root, and I stumbled.
But I didn't fall.
The dog, expecting a solid target, overshot a bit and landed slightly past me, kicking up dirt and grass.
I swung the stone blade on reflex.It wasn't a clean hit, but it smacked across the dog's hind leg.
The animal yelped in pain and lost its balance, rolling on the ground.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[INSTANT ANALYSIS]
– Hit: Partial.– Damage: Low / Medium.– Effect: Mobility temporarily reduced.
The dog growled as it staggered back to its feet.This time, it looked like it was aiming for my leg, not my throat.
"Let's not do this twice," I said.
I moved first.
Putting my weight forward the way Bran had shown me, I swung the sword in a more controlled arc.
The dog was just pushing off to leap when the stone blade came down near its neck.
Not a perfect, clean cut—but lucky enough to hit the spot right before the bone.
The animal slammed into the ground, thrashing,its growls fading out in just a few seconds.
As it died, that orange ring in its eyes seemed to fade from the inside out.
For a moment, I just stood there, breathing hard.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[END OF COMBAT]
– Target: Wild Dog (Corrupted) – Neutralized.
Gains:– General EXP: Small amount.– Flesh Branch EXP: Small amount.
Additional Effect:– "First Real Fight – First Blood" entry created.
New Skill Unlocked:
[PASSIVE SKILL – LOW]Name: Pain Tolerance I
Description:– Slightly lowers panic during pain and injury in combat.– Makes it easier to ignore minor pain.
Note:– This does not mean major injuries no longer hurt.– It only means you're slightly more likely to hold it in instead of screaming.
"Nice," I panted. "At least the first skill isn't something like 'Clumsy Fall I.'"
Even so, my knees were trembling a bit.I stepped closer to the dog.
Up close, between its fur near the neck, I saw a small mark.For a second I thought I'd made it during the fight.
Then I realized:
It looked like three lines about to form a triangle—and then stopping halfway.
Not a full triangle.Like someone had started drawing the symbol and then stopped in a hurry.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[MARK DETECTED]
– Symbol: Incomplete Triangle Mark– Previously seen on:• Assassin's wrist.• Mira's file corner.• Lira's envelope.
Note:– The assumption that the "Rotten Roots" quest is pure coincidence is weakening.
"Of course," I said. "Of course the simple herb quest isn't simple. Why would it be."
Still, a quest was a quest.I didn't poke the corpse any further and went back to the healthy plants.
Once I finished collecting five bundles, I took one more look at the rotten area.In some parts of the soil, I could make out faint shapes, like thin lines that had once been carved there, then blurred by rain and time.
Staying any longer felt like taking unnecessary risk.
"That's enough mystery for today," I said. "Survive first, satisfy curiosity later."
As I left the grove, a light breeze blew from behind.Leaves rustled, and for a moment, it sounded like someone whispering my name.
"Ethan…"
I stopped and glanced back.Nothing but trees.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[NOTE]
– Emotional sensitivity currently elevated.– Assigning meaning to the sound of the wind is likely.
Still, I recorded it.
By the time Veldan's gates came back into view, my shoulder ached a little and my legs felt heavy from fatigue.But inside, there was a different feeling.
This time, I hadn't just run.
I'd fought.And I hadn't died.
Back at the headquarters, I handed in the quest paper. The young guard stamped it, then moved some of the herbs to a side table to weigh and inspect.
"Not bad," he said. "Coming back this fast is good. Any trouble up north?"
"The soil is… a bit too rotten," I said. "Might be a good idea to have one of the healers take a look."
"I'll note it," he replied. "Here's your reward."
He set a small pouch on the table.
Even before I opened it, I could hear the coins rattling inside.
⟪SYSTEM⟫[QUEST COMPLETED]
Quest: Rotten Roots
– Status: SUCCESS.
Rewards:– 15 Copper coins.– General EXP: Small increase.– Veil Branch EXP: Small increase.
Bonus:– "Rotting Soil – First Observation" entry created.• Increases the chance of connecting related events later.
NEW SKILL (Reminder):– Pain Tolerance I → Active.
"Good," I said. "I've officially started grinding."
As I stepped back out of the headquarters, I tilted my head up and looked at the sky.The clouds were the same as before.
But me…I wasn't quite the same as yesterday morning anymore.
(At least, that's what my status panel said.)