First Quest (Part 1)

The sky is breathtaking today, painted in soft hues of blue with a golden glow from the morning sun. A gentle breeze carries the lively chatter of townsfolk, their faces adorned with bright smiles. The entire town seems filled with energy and optimism.

And then there's me—sitting alone on the edge of a stone fountain, looking utterly dejected.

I can't believe I was so careless.

Long story short, I lost my wallet.

Sighing, I rub my forehead in frustration. Thinking about it, I could've just stored some money in my inventory skill. Why didn't I think of that sooner? It's too late to lament over it now, though. Self-blame isn't good for my mental health—or my skin, for that matter. I shake off the negativity and push myself to my feet.

Two weeks have passed since I left Elesis Fort.

Each day has been a new adventure, bringing fresh experiences and challenges. I've enjoyed every town I've passed through, each one adding to my growing knowledge of this world. My world is expanding in ways I never imagined.

Right now, I'm in a town called Greytile.

As I wandered around earlier, I asked a few locals about the origin of the town's name. Apparently, it comes from its most famous product—grey porcelain tiles, made from special stones mined in the nearby mountains. Though they can make tiles in other colors, the grey ones sell the best. The town itself was founded long ago by miners who gathered here to extract those stones, and ever since, Greytile has been known for its craftsmanship.

"Amazing history, but it doesn't help my empty pockets," I mutter, stretching. "I need to make some money."

As an adventurer, my primary way of earning money is through guild quests. I could also sell materials I've gathered from towns and monsters, but for now, the guild seems like the best option.

Using my mapping skill, I locate the guild's position and make my way there.

Just as I turn a corner, I hear loud, frantic footsteps behind me.

"Move! Move! Move!"

A large man in battered armor barrels past, nearly knocking me over. He's sprinting at full speed toward the guild.

I watch him for a moment, curiosity piqued. Something's up.

Sensing that this might be important, I hurry after him.

The guild hall is bustling with energy. The moment I step inside, I'm met with the sounds of clinking mugs, chatter, and the occasional roar of laughter from the adventurers gathered around wooden tables. The scent of ale, grilled meat, and parchment fills the air. The walls are adorned with old quest notices, and a large board at the center displays new missions.

The large man from earlier is already at the front, kneeling before the guild master, his breath ragged. "Please! We must call for the capital's aid!"

The guild master, an older man with a commanding presence, steps forward. His bald head shines under the lantern lights. "What's the meaning of this commotion?" He gestures to a nearby staff member. "This man is injured—someone call for a church healer!"

The adventurers around the hall quiet down, sensing the seriousness of the situation.

"Now, tell me what happened."

The man gulps down air before speaking. "Guild master! A disaster is coming… High-level monsters—ones that should be deep in the eastern mountains—are moving down toward our territory at an unnatural pace."

The room erupts into murmurs of disbelief and concern.

"What?!"

"We need to request a monster subjugation order from the capital's knights before it's too late!"

The guild master furrows his brows. "Are you absolutely certain?"

"I saw it with my own eyes! These creatures don't belong near human settlements, but they're destroying everything in their path!"

The guild hall falls silent as everyone processes the weight of the report. An invasion of high-level monsters? That's not normal. Something—or someone—must be driving them out.

A sinking feeling settles in my stomach.

One face comes to mind.

"That woman…" I murmur under my breath.

The demon woman I encountered before—she had beast manipulation abilities. Could she be behind this?

I step forward. "Did you see anyone suspicious? Like a woman with demonic features?"

The big man turns to me, looking bewildered. The adventurers eye me curiously, as if questioning my presence.

"We didn't see anything like that," the man says, then glances at me skeptically. "Who are you, anyway? Never seen you around before. A little girl like you shouldn't get involved in this."

I puff out my cheeks in annoyance. "I'm not little! My height is perfectly cute for a woman!"

The guild master chuckles. "Well then, little girl, who are you?"

I cross my arms. "I'm an adventurer, and I'm here to find a job to earn money."

The guild master smirks. "An adventurer? You look more like a child playing pretend. The world is cruel, girl. Go home and play with dolls."

"Like I said, I'm not a little girl, you bald-headed—"

The entire hall goes silent.

"She called the guild master 'bald head'?!" one adventurer whispers.

Another leans in. "He's super insecure about losing his hair, even though he's only in his mid-thirties."

I tilt my head. "Mid-thirties? He looks like he's in his fifties."

The guild master's face turns red, veins popping. "You—! You better shut up before I throw you out!"

A woman with glasses, most likely the guild's receptionist, sighs and intervenes. "Enough with the childish quarrel. The guild needs to confirm this report before sending an official request to the capital. With that said, a quest to investigate the eastern mountains is now open."

She adjusts her glasses and looks directly at me. "Hey, little girl—"

"Hey?!"

"…If you want us to believe you're an adventurer, prove it."

The guild master leans in. "Are you sure about this? She's just a kid. Her parents will be heartbroken if she dies out there."

The receptionist smirks. "Don't let her appearance fool you. She has a mana pool stronger than anyone in this guild."

All eyes shift to me.

Silence. Then murmurs.

"She's that strong?"

"No way…"

I scratch my head, realizing she must have used an Appraisal skill to check my stats.

She grins. "You'd be an asset to this quest."

I smirk back. "As long as I get paid well."

"Exceed my expectations, and you'll get a nice bonus."

I sign the form and officially join the adventurers heading for the eastern mountains. A new mission, a new challenge—and maybe, just maybe, some answers about what's really happening in this world.