A little step

After leaving the Adventurers’ Guild, Jake walked through the streets of Silivia, his thoughts occupied with the mission, the near-death encounter, and what awaited him tomorrow.

Then, something caught his eye.

The man wearing the low-rank Phoenix Alliance outfit was moving through the streets—alone—pulling a large wooden carriage behind him.

The cart was simple in design, but loaded with various materials. Long stacks of wood, different minerals, and ores—all neatly arranged.

Jake slowed his pace, watching as the man continued forward.

The Phoenix-clad figure passed by the bar, heading toward a small house nearby. The location struck Jake as odd—it was positioned between two key areas of Silivia:

- One street led directly to the bar, a common spot for soldiers and travelers.

- The other led toward the Phoenix Alliance’s main building, a place of history and legend.

The house itself? Just one of many structures in between.

Jake narrowed his eyes slightly.

Why was this guy, not only carrying all that weight alone but also bringing all those materials to some random house?

For a brief moment, he considered following him—curiosity gnawed at the back of his mind.

But after a few seconds of hesitation, he dismissed the thought.

If this guy could haul all that weight by himself, even if struggling slightly, then he was strong—probably stronger than he looked. And if that was the case, then whatever he was doing… wasn’t Jake’s problem.

He turned away and walked in the opposite direction.

Searching for Shops

Jake wandered the streets of Silivia, searching for any open shops where he could buy supplies for training.

Thirty minutes passed.

Then an hour.

Eventually, he found where the shops were located—a section of the city lined with various storefronts.

- A potion shop, likely selling healing and stamina potions.

- A gear shop, most likely selling weapons and armor.

- A general market, probably for supplies, food, and tools.

But there was one problem.

Everything was closed.

The entire area was eerily empty, much quieter than the rest of Silivia.

Jake clenched his jaw. Great.

He stood there for a long moment, thinking.

He needed to prepare for tomorrow’s quest.

He needed to train—to become stronger.

But how?

- Normal training was an option, but it wasn’t effective enough.

- Fighting monsters was a better way to grow stronger—but far riskier.

- Looting monsters would allow him to obtain materials and gear, but again—dangerous.

He needed healing potions to safely train against monsters… but with the shop closed, that wasn’t an option.

After several minutes of thinking, one idea came to mind.

Marcus.

Marcus had claimed to be Level 176—by far the strongest person Jake knew.

If anyone could help him grow stronger, it was Marcus.

Maybe, just maybe, Marcus would train him in actual combat.

Maybe, Marcus would help him fight monsters.

Requesting Marcus’ Help

After much walking, Jake arrived at the training field where Marcus was overseeing the low-rank soldiers.

Jake ignored the recruits.

He ignored the weapons clashing, the shouts, the exhaustion in the air.

His focus was only on Marcus.

He stepped forward. "Marcus, sir… Would you aid me in becoming stronger?"

Marcus turned his head slightly, his sharp eyes locking onto Jake.

For a moment, he was silent.

Then, he spoke. “…Jake, did you quit the Scavenger Team?”

Jake immediately shook his head. “No, sir! I just want to become stronger, and you’re the only person I know who’s strong enough to help me!”

Marcus exhaled, crossing his arms. “…Alright. Join the others and practice.”

But Jake didn’t move.

He shook his head. "Sir, I don’t mean *that* kind of training. I mean fighting monsters. I want to become stronger, and killing monsters is the most efficient way—for what I think and know."

Marcus studied him for a long moment.

Then, with a deep sigh, he responded.

“…Yes, it’s the most efficient way. But it’s also the most dangerous.” He stepped forward slightly. “I could help you… but you would die very easily against the monsters. And I wouldn’t be able to protect you.”

Marcus’s voice was firm, unshakable. "If you want to become stronger, train by yourself. Because if I help you… you won’t become stronger."

And with that, Marcus turned away, focusing back on the training field, ignoring Jake completely.

Jake remained frozen in place for a moment, his hands clenching into fists.

Then, after a long breath, he turned around and walked away.

As he left the training grounds, his mind repeated the same thought over and over.

Tomorrow will be…

Morning at the Adventurers' Guild

As the first light of morning stretched across Silivia, Jake stepped out of his house, fully awake and ready to start the day.

His feet carried him through the familiar streets, his destination clear—the Adventurers’ Guild.

The moment he stepped inside, he was greeted by the ever-enthusiastic Alice, her voice warm and full of energy.

"Welcome again! Arriving early for another scavenge quest, adventurer?"

Jake gave her a small nod. "I’m not an adventurer, but… yeah, I came for another scavenge quest."

Alice chuckled. "Alright! Well, if you ever get interested in taking quests beyond scavenging, don’t hesitate to register as an adventurer."

Jake simply nodded again, already turning toward the hallway leading to the Scavenger Team’s room.

"Yeah… but I don’t think I will," he muttered as he walked off.

Meeting Lucas & Mira

After climbing the stairs, Jake entered the Scavenger Team 1 room.

Inside, only two people were present—Lucas and Mira.

Lucas was the first to acknowledge him, flashing a grin. "Hey! Welcome back! So, did you rest?"

Jake exhaled, rubbing his neck. "Kind of… but I’m ready for that mine quest."

Lucas leaned back in his chair. "Well… you’ll have to wait for Garek to arrive."

Jake sighed, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "And normally… how long does it take for Garek to show up?"

Lucas smirked. "Well… it’s early morning, so… considering his routine…"

He tapped his fingers against the table, thinking.

"He’s probably having a relaxed breakfast at the Crying Crow right about now."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "Crying Crow? What’s that?"

Lucas glanced at him in mild surprise. "Crying Crow is the bar of Silivia. It got re-named after an *incident* centuries ago. At least, that’s what the older folks always say."

Jake frowned slightly. "What kind of incident?"

Jake frowned slightly, his curiosity deepening.

"What kind of incident?"

Mira, who had remained quiet until now, finally spoke, her voice steady but distant, as if recalling something heavy.

"As told by the king and recorded in Silivia’s historical texts… over 400 years ago, 90% of all adventurers suddenly vanished from existence."

Jake’s expression stiffened. "Vanished? Just like that?"

Mira nodded. "No one knows the exact reason. But only a few adventurers remained. And on that same day, the Demon King arose from the depths of hell, claiming everything in sight within moments. The land was swallowed in darkness, and his kingdom was born."

A silence followed.

Jake shifted slightly in his chair. "And… what happened after that? Is that why the monsters are so powerful now?"

Mira exhaled slowly. "Yes. The constant presence of demons changed everything. It awakened a strange, unnatural force—one that gave monsters the ability to grow stronger over time. They started gaining levels... as if they were adapting magically, evolving to become stronger with every passing moment."

Jake clenched his jaw. "...So that's why that skeleton was Level 144 and could take hits like nothing… even with a broken sword and terrible coordination."

His mind flashed back to the half-melted zombie, launching those unnatural purple fireballs.

"And that… thing… that zombie wizard. It was way too strong for what it was."

Mira nodded again. "That’s because… monsters stopped being monsters. They became something worse—demonic. Their very nature twisted by the influence of the Demon King."

Her eyes darkened slightly.

"And the ones you fought? They were just the remnants—those who fell in battle centuries ago, during the war against the Demon King. But no matter how hard they fought…"

She glanced at Jake, her expression serious.

"No one could stand against him. They all died. Slain without mercy."