Become a solo adventurer
The front door shut behind the Tribute Bureau officials with a soft click—but it may as well have been the sound of a war horn ending a diplomatic siege.
Lilith slumped against the nearest wall and exhaled like she'd just escaped a political dungeon.
"Whew… I survived."
Ren peeked from the corner, grinning. "Your virgin discount almost made Elmar choke."
"I stand by it," Lilith said proudly. "It's progressive policy."
Luca shouted from the upstairs hall, "I still don't know what a virgin is!"
Gareth's voice followed. "And you never will. To your room. Now."
Lilith sighed and retreated to her room before anything else exploded.
Her fluffy slippers thump-thumped softly as she padded in and collapsed backward onto her bed, arms spread wide.
Clean. Dressed. D-Rank. Officially on the tribute list. Life was accelerating faster than she expected.
She stared at the ceiling, heartbeat finally settling.
Then—
Ding!
A familiar shimmer flared across her vision. Her body tensed. It had been days since the system had issued anything.
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📜 [Quest: Become a Solo Adventurer]
Objective: Prove your independence by successfully clearing an E-Rank dungeon alone in a single raid.
Conditions:
• No party members.
• No external assistance.
• Must complete within 7 days.
📦 Reward:
🎖 [Lone Heart Lv.3] – Legendary Buff Skill
➤ +30% All Stats when fighting solo
➤ +1 to all skill levels while fighting solo
➤ Enhanced danger sense, escape instinct, and terrain awareness
🧠 "For those who walk their own path, unseen and unshaken."
Progress: 0 / 1 Dungeon Cleared
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Lilith sat up slowly, her eyes wide.
"…Holy shit."
This wasn't just another passive skill or cheeky upgrade. This was big. Huge. Legendary tier. A buff skill that would turn her into an actual one-woman army.
Her lips curled into a grin.
"Finally… something I can do. Just me."
She jumped out of bed, energy rebounding through her limbs.
Her mind raced—what dungeon? What gear? She needed to talk to the guild, maybe even—
Wait.
She paused.
First… she needed to convince one very annoying big brother.
And maybe milk the family wallet a little along the way.
-------------------------
Dinner at the Elric estate was as lively as ever. The table clinked with silverware, and the scent of seasoned roast and garlic-butter potatoes lingered in the air.
Luca was chattering about chasing a squirrel that may or may not have been a disguised monster. Ren and Julian were half-listening—half-fighting over the last grilled leg.
Lilith, seated gracefully as always, waited for the perfect moment.
She smiled sweetly, then casually dropped her spoon and said:
"I'm going solo."
Silence.
Even the fireplace seemed to pause its crackling.
Gareth looked up slowly. "Solo?"
Julian blinked. "Like... you and no one else?"
Ren nearly choked on his food. "You mean in dungeons?!"
Lilith nodded, radiant. "Yup. Solo adventurer. That's my new path."
Luca raised a hand. "Can I go solo in the backyard?"
"No," three voices said in unison.
Gareth put down his cup, expression unreadable. "Lilith. You just reached D-Rank."
"Exactly! Now I can finally do things."
"Solo adventuring isn't a game," Julian said. "It's one of the most dangerous paths."
Ren leaned back in his seat. "Most D-rankers party up because they need someone watching their back."
"And healing," Gareth added. "And spotting traps. And identifying monsters. And covering blind spots—"
"I get it!" Lilith interrupted, frowning. "But I won't grow if I keep hiding behind someone else. I need to get stronger. My way."
"Stubborn as the gods cursed you to be," Ren muttered.
Lilith grinned. "I take that as a compliment."
Ren sighed and finally sat upright. "Alright. Then how about this—"
He pointed a fork at her.
"Clear a solo dungeon. E-rank. In one go. No help, no hand-holding, no rescue. Then I'll support you applying for the solo adventurer's certification at the guild."
Julian stared. "Ren—"
"She wants to walk alone?" Ren cut in. "Then she needs to walk the walk."
Lilith's eyes gleamed. "Deal."
Ren nodded. "There's one E-Rank dungeon nearby that's suitable: Duskwither Hollow. It's not too deep, but the layout's tricky. Foggy terrain, poor visibility, and ambush-type monsters. You'll need more than just speed to survive."
Gareth stared at his daughter for a long time.
Then said flatly, "No."
Everyone turned.
Lilith blinked. "No?"
"You're not ready. You're still new."
"I'm strong enough to survive Zone Three, remember?" she folded her arms.
"With trauma," Ren muttered.
"I need this," she said firmly, staring at her father. "I won't go blindly. I'll prepare. Train. Equip. Plan. You know I will."
Gareth sipped his tea slowly.
"...You're going to try anyway, aren't you?"
Lilith tilted her head with the innocent smile of someone absolutely guilty.
He sighed like a man who knew defeat before it even started. "We'll talk tomorrow."
Later That Night – Lilith's Room
The moon cast a silver glow across her sheets as Lilith sprawled on her bed, arms above her head, staring at the ceiling.
"Duskwither Hollow," she whispered to herself. "Foggy. Isolated. Perfect."
She grinned as a soft Ding! echoed in her mind again, reminding her of the quest:
📜 [Quest Active: Become a Solo Adventurer]
She kicked her legs up into the air, mind already racing.
"I'll need good gear. Maybe dual weapons for speed and close-quarter control. Fire magic to fight in fog. Maybe a terrain-tracking tool. Something fancy—"
Her eyes sparkled.
"Gareth's gonna hate me…"
She rolled over and snuggled into her pillow, grin growing.
"I'll pressure him into giving me ten thousand Narr. Tell him I'll make it back tenfold in tribute fees. And if that doesn't work—"
Her eyes drifted to her stat window.
I still have one more way to boost my stats...
Ren won't know what hit him.
Chuckling to herself, she closed her eyes.
"Tomorrow's gonna be expensive… and fun."
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Morning – Elric Estate Study
The morning sun hadn't even finished yawning over the hills when Lilith stormed into the study like a tax collector with vengeance on her agenda.
Gareth Elric, patriarch of the house, didn't bother looking up from his paperwork.
"No."
"You didn't even let me say it yet!"
"You didn't need to. That look always costs me money."
Lilith slid into the seat across from him, laced her fingers under her chin like a cartoon villain, and smiled sweetly.
"Father. Dearest. Beloved patriarch of this humble estate…"
Gareth slowly closed the folder in his hands. "Just how much?"
"I need 10,000 Narr."
He didn't flinch, but a vein pulsed quietly on his temple. "Why?"
"For investment purposes."
"What investment requires ten thousand Narr and ends with you grinning like a bandit?"
Lilith leaned in, eyes gleaming. "I'm going solo. A brand-new dungeon. One clean raid, all by myself. If I clear it in a single run, I'll get certified for solo D-rank dungeons."
"That's suicide."
"It's character development."
Gareth arched an eyebrow. "For who? The guy who writes your obituary?"
Lilith pouted. "I've already cleared an E-rank dungeon. I'm a legit D-rank now. Besides… I have a feeling—call it divine intuition—that something very powerful is waiting for me be a solo adventurer."
A pause. Gareth's stare turned suspicious. "Stop sprouting nonsense."
"I said intuition."
He didn't respond, only sighed and folded his arms.
"I'll be making regular income from tributes soon," Lilith added. "This is just an advance against the future. Like… magical capitalism."
"You're using sex tax to fund weaponry."
"Correct. Welcome to the modern economy."
Gareth groaned, stood up, and opened a locked drawer from his desk. He withdrew a leather pouch sealed with the Windvale guild mark, then tossed it across the desk.
"Ten thousand Narr," he muttered. "I expect full documentation on what you waste it on."
"You'll get a receipts pile and a smug daughter."
"I already have a smug daughter."
Later – Windvale Market District
The marketplace was alive with chatter and enchantment. Lilith bounced from one shop to the next like a rich noble's child on a candy spree—except the candy was magical, deadly, and beautifully sharp.
First stop: Twin Edge Armory.
She ran her fingers across weapon racks like a lovesick rogue.
"Those," she pointed.
The shopkeeper blinked. "Twin daggers with sharpness runes and vibration-etch enhancements. Meant for high-speed cuts."
Lilith tossed a stack of coins on the counter. "Perfect."
Second stop: Elementus Curios.
A glowing skill-magic stone caught her eye—a bright ember flickering within like a caged sun.
"Fire Spark," the shopkeeper said. "Basic burst fire magic. Mid-range. Great for igniting cloth, grass, or soft targets."
"Sold."
"And also give me some healing potions."
Third stop: ManaWorks Paper Atelier.
The enchanted scrolls here were elegant, embossed with silver rune patterns.
"Mana maps," the scribe explained. "Trace dungeon paths automatically. Tracks your position. Blue dot for self, green dots for nearby registered humans."
She bought three.
💰 Total Damage: 9,870 Narr.
🪙 Leftover: 1 lonely Narr coin.
Which she flicked into a fountain with a smug "Get me more, karma."
"I should feel guilty," she muttered. "But I feel dangerously equipped."
Evening – Back at the Estate
The sun dipped low, casting a golden hue across her room. Lilith laid out her spoils like a dragon admiring its hoard.
Two beautiful daggers gleamed across silk. Her mana maps were neatly stacked beside her bed. The fire skill-stone hummed quietly beside a decorative candle.
But her reflection in the mirror pulled her focus.
"This'll help. But it's not enough."
Her fingers drifted to her Status Window, mentally pulling it up.
Strength, decent. Speed, solid. Charm, obviously god-tier.
But I need a little more edge for solo work.
"A boost in stamina… a bump in strength…"
Her lips curled into a wicked smile.
"And Ren's available tonight."
She stood, stretched, then cracked her knuckles.
"Time to squeeze out a little more love-powered stat juice."
Her hand slid the wardrobe open. She picked a silk slip—not too suspicious, but dangerously breathable—and twirled once for effect.
Then padded silently toward the hallway with the stealth of a trained rogue.
Target: Ren.
Mission: Stat Drain.
Operation: Suck Him Dry.
.
.
Continued...
[Please overlook any mistakes, I'm in exam pressure and can't put much concentration.]