Kael!

The gentle flicker of candlelight danced against the wooden walls of the Golden Hearth Inn, casting soft shadows in the cosy tavern below. The air was filled with the rich scent of roasted meat, freshly baked bread, and fragrant herbs simmering in thick stew.

The evening had settled in, and the once-boisterous chatter of adventurers had quieted into a comfortable murmur. Some drank in silence, others exchanged tales of their latest quests, but overall, it was a peaceful scene.

Kael slowly descended the stairs, rubbing the back of his neck, still slightly groggy from his nap.

"I was supposed to sleep until morning, but damn... I'm starving."

His hunger had jolted him awake, and now he found himself guided purely by his stomach.

As he reached the bottom, he spotted a familiar figure standing behind the wooden counter, her emerald-green eyes glinting under the warm glow of the tavern lights.

Elise, the busty receptionist who had shamelessly hugged him earlier, leaned lazily against the counter, idly stirring a spoon in a small bowl of soup.

The moment she noticed him, a playful smile tugged at her lips.

"Oh? Couldn't resist my offer for company after all?"

Kael sighed, making his way toward a table near the counter. "No, I just woke up hungry."

Elise giggled, setting her spoon down as she stepped out from behind the counter and approached his table. The way she moved was graceful—fluid, like a dancer—but with an easygoing air that made it seem entirely natural.

"That's a shame," she mused, placing her hands on her hips. "I was hoping you'd say something a little more flattering."

Kael merely raised an eyebrow. "What, you wanted me to say I was starving for you instead of food?"

The corners of her lips curled into a smirk.

"Oh? You catch on quickly. I like that."

She pulled out the chair across from him and plopped herself down, resting her chin on her palm while watching him with an expression full of amusement.

"So? What'll it be, handsome? You seem like a man with a big appetite."

Kael ignored the way her tone dripped with subtle teasing and instead glanced at the menu carved into the wooden board behind the counter.

[Golden Hearth's Specials Tonight] 

🍖 Roasted Wyvern Meat with Honey Glaze

🥖 Freshly Baked Herb Bread & Butter

🥣 Thick Venison Stew with Root Vegetables

🍷 House Special Berry Wine

"Not bad."

"I'll take the wyvern meat and the stew," Kael said, leaning back in his chair. "And just water."

Elise pouted dramatically. "No wine? You're no fun."

"I don't drink much," he replied.

Elise waved her hand dismissively, then called out to the kitchen. "One wyvern roast and a venison stew! And water for the boring handsome man!"

Kael chuckled despite himself.

This woman was quite the character.

As they waited for the food, Elise remained seated across from him, tapping her nails lightly against the wooden table.

"So, tell me something, Kael," she said, tilting her head slightly. "You don't seem like a regular adventurer."

Kael blinked. "You figured that out just from a hug?"

She grinned. "Oh, I knew it the moment I laid eyes on you."

Leaning forward, she rested her elbows on the table, her green eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Most adventurers come in here worn out, beaten up, or full of themselves. You? You carry yourself differently. Like someone who... doesn't really belong here, but isn't out of place either."

Kael remained silent for a moment.

It wasn't entirely wrong.

"She's sharp… Not in a dangerous way, but she's observant."

He shrugged slightly. "I just got into town today. This is my first time in a place like this, so I guess I don't quite fit the mould yet."

Elise tapped a finger against her lips, looking thoughtful. "Hmm... a first-timer, huh? That explains why I haven't seen you before."

Then, her eyes narrowed slightly, a small smirk creeping onto her face.

"But it doesn't explain why you're carrying weapons better than what most elite adventurers have."

Kael paused mid-thought.

"Damn, she really is observant."

She leaned in even closer now, her voice lowering into a gentle whisper.

"Just what kind of man are you, Kael?"

For a moment, their gazes locked—a silent challenge.

Kael chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Just a guy trying to make a living."

Elise laughed softly, leaning back in her chair. "You're interesting. I like interesting people."

Before she could press further, a platter of steaming food was placed in front of Kael, along with a large wooden mug of water.

🍖 A thick cut of roasted wyvern meat gleamed under the candlelight, glazed in a golden layer of honey and spices.

🥣 A bowl of venison stew emitted a deep, rich aroma, with chunks of tender meat and vegetables floating in the thick broth.

Kael's stomach growled audibly.

Elise giggled. "Eat up before I start thinking you really are starving for me."

Kael picked up his utensils and dug in without hesitation.

The first bite of wyvern meat was incredibly tender, the honey glaze adding a subtle sweetness that balanced the rich, smoky flavour of the roast.

The venison stew was equally delicious, the broth thick and hearty, warming him from the inside.

Elise simply watched him eat with amusement, occasionally sipping from her own drink.

After a while, she spoke again.

"You said this is your first time here, right?"

Kael nodded.

"Then, do you plan on staying long? Or are you just passing through?"

Kael paused mid-bite, thinking for a moment.

"I'm planning to check out the dungeon tomorrow," he finally said. "Depending on how things go, I might stay longer."

Elise raised an eyebrow.

"The dungeon, huh? Now that... that is interesting."

She tapped her fingers against the table again, looking deep in thought before suddenly nodding to herself.

"Tell you what, Kael," she said with a small smile. "If you make it back in one piece tomorrow, come have dinner with me again."

Kael looked up, slightly surprised.

Elise's smile didn't falter, but there was a flicker of something else in her eyes—curiosity? Amusement? Interest?

"I just have a feeling you're going to have some interesting stories to tell," she added lightly.

Kael stared at her for a moment before smirking slightly.

"Alright," he said. "I'll take you up on that."

Elise grinned. "Good. Now finish your food before it gets cold."

Kael did just that.

And for the first time in a long while...

He felt at ease.

The night was silent, save for the distant hum of conversation from the tavern below. The wooden walls of his rented room bore the marks of time—scratches, faded carvings, and candle stains—a testament to the many adventurers who had passed through before him.

Kael lay on his bed, arms folded behind his head, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting through the events of the day.

He had arrived in this world with nothing but his knowledge, skills, and system, and yet, in just a single day, he had already met so many different people.

Not just NPC-like figures who existed to serve a function—but real people with real personalities.

He let out a quiet chuckle, closing his eyes.

"I never thought I'd appreciate something like this... but compared to my old world, this place feels so much more alive."

His mind first drifted back to the wagon driver and his younger brother.

They had been the first people he met on his journey to the city.

The elder brother—a sturdy, middle-aged man with a thick beard and an easygoing demeanor—had been more than happy to chat during the trip. He spoke of road conditions, rumors of bandit sightings, and the latest trade prices for goods.

The younger one—a brash, ambitious boy barely in his late teens—had been the exact opposite. Restless and full of dreams, he spoke of becoming an adventurer, earning riches, and making a name for himself.

"If I can just hit Level 5, I'll be able to join the city's official mercenary group! No more hauling cargo for a living!"

Kael had listened, amused by their contrasting personalities.

In a game, they would have been background characters—mere tools to provide exposition and then fade away.

But here?

"They had their own goals, their own thoughts... their own lives."

Then there were the guards at the city gates.

Kael had expected cold, mechanical figures checking for troublemakers, but instead, they had been talkative, sarcastic, and full of personality.

"Oi, fresh meat?" One of them, a broad-shouldered man with a scarred face, had chuckled. "Try not to get eaten on your first day, eh?"

"Leave him be, Doran," another guard, younger but sharper-eyed, had smirked. "Maybe he's one of those weirdos who wants to get eaten by a monster."

The others had laughed, and Kael had shaken his head, half-amused, half-exasperated.

They weren't lifeless drones.

They were just men doing their job, passing time, and entertaining themselves with whatever newcomer passed through the gates.

"Back home, people would just check IDs without even making eye contact. Here, even gate guards feel more human."

Then, of course, there was Elaina.

A name so simple, yet her personality was anything but.

She had that composed, professional air of a guild receptionist, yet the moment she had seen him hesitate while filling out his adventurer form, her golden eyes had narrowed with suspicion.

"You're not lying about your age, are you?"

Kael had nearly choked on his words.

"What? No, I just wasn't sure what to put for my combat experience."

Her expression had remained flat and unreadable, but the moment he had handed over his form, her lips had **curled just slightly—**as if she had just caught him in a lie he wasn't even telling.

Even when she had explained the guild's rules, there had been a teasing sharpness in her voice, as if she enjoyed testing new adventurers just to see how they reacted.

"She's not just some kind-hearted guild clerk… she's got a mischievous streak."

"A woman who acts polite but enjoys playing with people in small ways."

Kael could tell—she had already labeled him as "interesting."

And honestly?

"I kind of want to see what else she's hiding behind that professional smile."

And finally, there was Elise.

"Playful. Observant. Sharp."

She was nothing like the prim and polite Aria. Where Aria teased with subtlety, Elise was shameless.

She poked and prodded, testing his reactions openly, never bothering to hide her amusement.

Yet despite her teasing nature, she wasn't just some flirt with a pretty face.

She had noticed his weapons.

She had sensed that he wasn't a normal adventurer.

And rather than pushing him for answers, she had simply grinned, leaned in, and let her curiosity show.

"She's dangerous… but not in a bad way."

"She's the kind of person who can make you spill your secrets without you even realizing it."

Kael exhaled, running a hand through his hair.

"I met all of them in just a single day. And already, I feel like I know them better than most people I interacted with back home."

He turned onto his side, staring at the wooden wall of his rented room.

"Back in my world, conversations felt scripted. Forced. Lifeless."

"But here…"

"Every person I meet feels so real."

For the first time since arriving, he fully embraced the fact that he was in a different world.

"An actual, living, breathing world."

And for the first time in a long while…

He felt excited.

His eyes slowly drifted shut, exhaustion finally catching up to him.

Tomorrow, he would head to the dungeon.

A world of infinite dangers.An abyss that no one had ever reached the bottom of.

And for a man like him—a battle maniac hidden behind a kind exterior—

There was no greater temptation than the unknown.