Kind soul & Inn!

The sun hung high in the sky, casting its golden glow over Arcanum City, a place filled with the lively sounds of merchants, street performers, and adventurers chatting about their latest hunts.

Kael walked through the cobbled streets, taking in the sight of medieval-era buildings mixed with a bustling marketplace. Stalls lined the roads, selling everything from fresh produce to handmade trinkets, while the scent of grilled meat and baked bread wafted through the air.

"This world really is something else."

Though it was different from the cities he knew in his past life, the vibrant energy felt familiar, like stepping into an RPG town right before embarking on a major quest.

But before heading to the dungeon, he needed to take care of a few things first.

A Simple Observation - The World's Weapon Standards

As Kael walked past a group of adventurers haggling over weapons, a familiar blue screen flickered in his vision—his passive [Advanced Identification] skill activating.

[Iron Shortsword +5]

+5 STR

[Rusty Greatsword +3]

+3 STR, +1 AGI

[Steel Dagger +6]

+6 STR, +2 CRIT

Kael's expression didn't change, but inwardly, he was… surprised.

"Wait… this is their best gear?"

In his previous life, these would be considered early-game starter weapons, barely useful after the tutorial phase. Yet, here in this world, a mere +6 STR was already a sought-after enhancement.

He discreetly opened his inventory, scrolling through his lowest-grade weapons.

[White-Grade Longsword]

+11 STR, +5 AGI, +25 SHARPNESS

[White-Grade Battle Axe]

+15 STR, +30 SHARPNESS, +3 CRIT

Compared to what he was seeing, even his trash-tier weapons were on another level.

"I should sell some of these low-tier weapons first."

With that thought, he headed toward the blacksmith district.

Arcanum's Blacksmith District

The rhythmic sound of hammering filled the air as Kael entered a street lined with forges and metal workshops. The scent of burning coal and molten steel lingered as blacksmiths pounded away at their craft, shaping weapons and armor for adventurers.

One shop, in particular, caught his attention.

[Bjorn's Forge]

A sturdy-looking establishment with a large anvil emblem above its entrance. Inside, a muscular man with a thick brown beard and soot-covered apron was hard at work, sparks flying as he shaped a red-hot blade.

Kael stepped forward. "Excuse me, are you the owner?"

The blacksmith looked up, wiping sweat from his forehead before nodding. "Aye. Name's Bjorn. What can I do for ya, lad?"

Kael reached into his inventory and pulled out a simple white-grade longsword, placing it on the counter.

"I'd like to sell this."

Bjorn barely glanced at it at first—until he saw the blade's shine. His eyes widened slightly, and he reached out, gripping the hilt before running a finger along the edge.

Then, his expression changed completely.

"What the hell…? This sharpness—this isn't normal!"

He turned the sword, closely inspecting the craftsmanship. "The balance… the weight… this is beyond masterwork level! Where did you get this?"

Kael simply smiled. "It's something I picked up a while back."

Bjorn frowned but didn't press further. Instead, he let out a low whistle.

"I've seen some high-end enchanted swords in my life, but this… this blade's sharpness alone makes it leagues above anything I've worked with."

Bjorn scratched his beard, thinking for a moment. "How much are you asking for it?"

Kael shrugged. "Make me an offer."

Bjorn hesitated, then named a price.

"... 5 gold coins."

The adventurers in the shop who overheard gasped.

"Five gold?! That's enough to buy a small house!"

Kael, however, didn't even blink.

"This sword is worth at least ten times that amount."

But he wasn't here to rip people off. He just wanted to offload some of his trash-tier weapons.

"Deal," he said simply.

Bjorn blinked, almost as if he was expecting Kael to haggle. But then he let out a deep laugh. "Haha! Good man!" He quickly handed over a small pouch of gold, still looking at the blade like he had just struck a once-in-a-lifetime fortune.

"Come back if you've got more of these. I'll buy 'em all!"

Kael simply nodded.

On his way back through the market, Kael's attention was drawn to a struggling old woman carrying a heavy sack of flour.

Without a second thought, he stepped forward.

"Let me help."

The woman looked up, startled, but before she could protest, Kael effortlessly lifted the sack and carried it for her.

"Oh my… such a kind young man!"

As he walked with her, people took notice.

"Isn't that the new adventurer?"

"Helping an old lady instead of boasting about his level? He's got a good heart."

Kael simply smiled and carried on.

Further along, he came across a young boy struggling to sell fish, his basket nearly full but with no customers in sight.

Kael approached. "How much for the whole basket?"

The boy blinked. "T-The whole thing?"

Kael nodded, dropping a silver coin into the kid's hands.

The boy's eyes widened. "B-But sir, this is too much—"

"Then use the extra money to buy something nice for yourself."

Kael picked up a fish, took a bite, and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad."

The boy beamed with excitement, and the surrounding merchants smiled approvingly.

"A generous one, that lad."

"Rare to see adventurers with that kind of heart."

Kael merely waved them off, continuing his walk with a relaxed smile.

"This world may be different… but some things stay the same."

People always appreciated kindness.

And as he made his way back toward the guild, his thoughts shifted once more—to the dungeon that awaited him.

By the time Kael finished his errands, the sun had begun its descent, casting a golden glow over the city. The once-lively streets had mellowed into a calmer rhythm—merchants closing their stalls, adventurers returning from hunts, and street lamps flickering to life.

He had spent most of his earnings on herbs and alchemical ingredients, knowing that potions were a must before venturing into a dungeon.

As he walked toward a quiet alley, he swiped his hand through the air, summoning his customized game interface.

[Inventory] → [Alchemy]

A virtual workbench appeared before him, as if he were inside a game's crafting menu.

"Time to make some potions."

Crafting - A Simple Yet Broken Mechanic

With his [Advanced Alchemy Proficiency], Kael quickly converted the raw ingredients into potions.

✨ Mana Potion (High-Grade) x300✨ Healing Potion (High-Grade) x200✨ Stamina Potion x150

Each potion far exceeded the world's usual quality.

"With this, I won't have to worry about running out of mana or stamina."

In this world, potions were made by alchemists through slow, tedious processes. But Kael? He could mass-produce them in an instant.

After storing the potions, Kael leaned against a wall, stretching his arms.

"I still haven't even touched my skills yet… Let's see what I can actually use at Level 10."

He activated [Hidden Interface], a skill that concealed and organized his absurdly vast collection of abilities.

A blue screen expanded before him, neatly displaying millions of skills from all the games he had played in his past life.

[Filter: Unlockable at Level 10]

🔹 Sword Skills:✔ [Fast Swordsmanship - Level 5 Mastery] (Blazing speed and precision in sword strikes.)✔ [Air Blade - Level 5 Mastery] (Slash generates flying sword waves that cut through enemies.)

🔹 Magic Spells:✔ [Firebolt - Level 5 Mastery] (A small flame spell, but at max mastery, its piercing power rivals advanced fire spells.)✔ [Wind Step - Level 5 Mastery] (Boosts speed by using air currents, allowing movement like a phantom.)

🔹 Hunter Skills:✔ [Eagle Sight - Level 5 Mastery] (Sharpened vision capable of spotting movement miles away.)✔ [Silent Steps - Level 5 Mastery] (Erases footstep sounds completely.)

🔹 Healing Skills:✔ [Minor Healing - Level 5 Mastery] *(Normally heals small wounds, but with mastery, it can regenerate flesh instantly.)

Kael grinned slightly as he unlocked these skills, feeling his knowledge expanding instantly.

"Even at Level 5 mastery, these are on a whole different level..."

For example, [Fast Swordsmanship] at Level 5 felt as if he had practiced for decades—his hands naturally understood every movement, every feint, every counter.

His body wasn't yet strong enough to handle higher mastery levels, but at Level 5, he was already beyond most top-tier warriors in this city.

"Good enough for now. Time to rest."

Finding an Inn

With the sky now painted in hues of orange and purple, Kael decided to find an inn for the night.

He walked toward the main district, where several signs glowed in the twilight.

🏨 [Golden Hearth Inn]

A warm, well-maintained establishment, with soft lantern lights illuminating the entrance. The moment Kael stepped inside, he was greeted by the lively chatter of adventurers enjoying their meals, the scent of roasted meat filling the air.

The reception desk was empty, so he approached the counter.

"Excuse me, is there a room available?"

Just then—

Something soft suddenly pressed against his back.

"Mmm~! You're so warm~!"

Before Kael could react, a pair of soft arms wrapped around him from behind.

The entire inn suddenly fell silent.

An Unexpected Hug - A Big-Breasted Encounter

Kael turned his head slightly, catching sight of the one hugging him.

She was a tall, stunning woman with golden-blonde hair, cascading in elegant waves. Her large, soft assets pressed against his back, making it impossible to ignore.

Her emerald-green eyes glowed playfully, and her scent—**a mix of lavender and something intoxicatingly sweet—**was nearly distracting.

"Oh my… You're a new face! What's your name, handsome?"

"Who the hell is this woman?!"

Kael wasn't flustered, but he was definitely confused.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat. "Could you… let go?"

The woman pouted slightly but released him, her soft fingers trailing off his shoulders.

The other adventurers in the inn watched in shock, whispering to each other.

"H-Holy shit… She just hugged him!""That's Elise! The Golden Hearth's receptionist! She never acts like this!"

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Receptionist? This is the front desk lady?"

Elise giggled, resting her elbows on the counter, pressing her chest up slightly. "Mmm, I just couldn't help myself~ You looked so interesting."

"So this is how it is, huh? Another classic isekai cliché."

Kael sighed internally.

"Anyway, I need a room for the night."

Elise tilted her head, smiling. "Of course! A private room with a bath is 1 gold coin per night."

Kael handed over a coin without hesitation.

Elise blinked, impressed. "You're pretty generous."

He shrugged. "I just sold something earlier."

"That 'something' was a literal artifact to these people."

She handed him a key and grinned. "Your room's on the second floor, third door to the left~"

Then, she leaned in slightly.

"If you ever get lonely… I can personally bring your food up~"

Kael smirked slightly but didn't say anything.

"This world really doesn't waste time throwing these kinds of moments at me, huh?"

Grabbing his key, he headed up the stairs, eager for a good night's rest before his adventure in the dungeon tomorrow.