Welcome to Derek Village!

After grinding slimes like a madman, I finally decided to move on.

The journey to Derek Village wasn't too far, and now that I had my Adventurer's License, I could finally explore beyond the starter area.

As I walked into the village, my little floating companion followed beside me, bouncing around excitedly.

> Creature: (๑>◡<๑)

The moment we entered, I immediately noticed something different.

---

Derek Village – The First Major Hub

Unlike the peaceful beginner village, Derek Village was lively and filled with players.

People were walking around in flashy armor, swinging massive weapons, and showing off rare gear.

The NPCs were running shops, blacksmiths, and inns, while players gathered in groups, chatting loudly.

And of course, there were players bragging about their loot.

I sighed. "This place really feels like an MMO now."

---

Eavesdropping on Some… Interesting Players

As I walked toward the inn, I suddenly overheard a conversation from two nearby players.

> Player 1: "Hey, did you hear about that maniac in the starter village?"

Player 2: "Oh, you mean the guy who spent HOURS farming slimes with an elf bow?"

Player 1: "Yeah! And get this—the bow he's using can only be obtained at Level 90+!"

Player 2: "No way! That means he's a rich player who bought it with real money, right?"

Player 1: "Of course! Typical rich guy flexing in a starter area just to show off!"

I froze mid-step.

"…Wait a second."

I turned my head slightly and saw them talking right next to me.

'Are they talking about… me?!'

I glanced down at my Elderwood Bow, then back at them.

They were nodding to themselves, looking so confident in their wrong assumptions.

I wanted to say, "HEY! I got this from the BETA version, NOT because I'm rich!"

But I didn't.

Instead, I just squinted at them, muttering under my breath,

"…These guys have no idea what they're talking about."

Shrugging, I continued walking toward the inn with my companion.

---

Checking Into the Inn

After walking through the busy streets, I finally reached a cozy-looking inn called "The Resting Oak."

The innkeeper NPC greeted me with a warm smile.

"Welcome, traveler! Looking for a room?"

"Yeah, just one night," I replied, paying the 5 cp fee.

After getting my room key, I headed upstairs and flopped onto the bed with a sigh.

My little companion floated nearby, watching me curiously.

> Creature: (•͈⌔•͈⑅)?

I opened my status window, checking my progress.

---

Status Window

[Player: Leo]

Level: 5

Class: Archerer (BETA)

EXP: 150/500

HP: 800/800

MP: 300/300

Skills: Multi-Shot, Wind Step, Precision Shot

---

I glanced at my companion.

"You've been with me this whole time," I murmured. "But I never even gave you a name."

The little creature bounced excitedly, as if waiting for this moment.

> Creature: (ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ*:・゚✧

I thought for a moment.

Then, I smirked.

"Alright… your name is Ralf."

> [Creature's Name Set: Ralf]

Ralf shuddered in excitement, and a text emote popped up—

> [Ralf: (≧▽≦)!!]

I chuckled. "Glad you like it."

With that settled, I closed my status window, stretched, and let out a deep breath.

"Tomorrow, we start fresh in Derek Village," I murmured, closing my eyes.

And with that, I drifted off to sleep.