After finishing his meal, Ren rested his elbow on the table, loosely holding the spoon in his hand. He didn't get up right away.
The fullness in his stomach made his body feel more comfortable, yet his mind remained restless.
He sat there, gazing out the window. The morning sunlight stretched across the cobblestone streets, and everything was as peaceful as ever.
But it was this very peace that made him feel lost.
Should he leave?
After everything, this place no longer felt like it belonged to him. Klein and the others had already gone.
There was no reason for him to stay. But... where would he go? And for what purpose?
Ren clenched his hand into a fist, then slowly relaxed it. He had thought about going his own way, but now that he actually had to leave, he realized, he wasn't ready.
'I want to leave... but I also want to stay.'
That thought repeated in his mind, over and over, without an answer.
"Thank you for the meal. It was as wonderful as always."
At last, Ren stood up and pushed the chair back into place. If he couldn't decide right now, then he might as well take a walk.
Maybe... while wandering through the town, he would find the answer.
The Starting Town, a place where every player first set foot when they arrived, yet not everyone truly paid attention to it.
Ren walked slowly along the cobbled streets, letting himself blend into the town's daily rhythm.
Only now did he realize just how lively and bustling this place truly was. Over 10,000 players lived and operated here.
Not to mention the hundreds, even thousands of NPCs.
Now that he wasn't in a rush to take on quests or worry about leaving, he realized just how much he had overlooked.
Had the town always been this vast and sprawling?
What had he been doing all these days? Following the same endless loop, leaving town through the main road, fighting monsters all day, then returning to the inn...
Occasionally stopping by the quest board or the blacksmith's shop...
Lost in his thoughts, his feet unconsciously led him toward the liveliest place in town.
The Marketplace
Even from a distance, Ren could hear the familiar noisy atmosphere, the voices of vendors calling out, the chatter and laughter of players, the clanging of metal striking metal from the forge.
The air carried a mixture of scents, freshly baked bread, the rich aroma of roasted meat, the sharp spices from dried herbs, and the metallic tang of sharpened steel.
Rows of market stalls lined the main street, colorful awnings stretched overhead, casting dappled shadows beneath the bright sun.
NPC merchants stood behind their stalls, eagerly waving at passing players, trying to entice them with their goods.
A burly blacksmith NPC, his muscular arms covered in burn scars, held up a newly forged longsword, its blade gleaming coldly in the light.
"Silver Steel Sword! Forged from rare minerals, guaranteed sharp and durable! Only 4,000 Cor!"
He slammed the sword against the stall's counter as if to prove its quality, drawing the attention of a few curious players.
Not far away, a middle-aged fruit vendor with a kind expression found himself surrounded by a small group of players.
"Mister, can we get this for 2 Cor?"
"How about 3 Cor? This is all we have."
The vendor chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, alright, you can have it. Just don't haggle so much next time."
Nearby, a spice stall displayed small glass jars filled with powders of various colors.
A strong, spicy aroma lingered in the air, making Ren instinctively take a deep breath.
He vaguely remembered someone mentioning that certain spices could be used not only for cooking but also for crafting potions or even poisons, depending on how they were used.
At the corner of the street, a group of players had gathered around a rare item stall. A blue cloak embroidered with silver patterns hung on display, next to a glowing ring that emitted a faint light.
"What does this ring do?"
"It increases movement speed by 5%. But it's pretty expensive."
The marketplace wasn't just a place for trading, it was a place for connection.
Conversations, negotiations, and information exchanges filled the air. Some players leaned against walls, sipping beer while discussing the latest rumors.
Ren wandered through the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the various stalls.
He wasn't planning to buy anything, he simply wanted to immerse himself in the vibrant atmosphere for a little longer.
The Central Plaza
A little further ahead was the Central Plaza, the heart of the town.
The place where the nightmare began...
At its center stood an ancient fountain, crystal-clear water trickling down, accompanied by the towering bell tower that had stood for countless years.
This was where players often gathered, sharing information or forming parties.
NPC merchants had small stalls here as well, though it wasn't as bustling as the open-air market.
Some players sat on the stone steps, resting after picking up quests from the nearby bulletin board.
A short distance away, where the town's impenetrable iron gates stood, a massive quest board had been erected.
Hundreds of quest papers were pinned to it ranging from simple tasks like gathering herbs or hunting low-level monsters to more dangerous missions that involved exploring mysterious regions.
Several players stood in front of the board, debating which quests suited their level.
An NPC clad in silver armor, likely a knight, stood beside the board, ready to assist newcomers.
When he noticed Ren approaching, he gave a slight nod but said nothing, as if he was already accustomed to seeing wandering, aimless players like him.
The Old Church
A little north of the plaza, hidden behind winding streets, stood the Old Church.
Its weathered stone walls were covered in moss, and stained-glass windows depicted gods Ren had never paid much attention to.
Not many players visited this place, most saw it as nothing more than a useless background feature in the game.
The only time they came here was for the main fountain inside, where they could pray or donate money to receive temporary buffs before heading out to hunt.
But now, standing before its heavy and imposing doors, Ren felt something strange.
As if this place held something yet to be discovered.
Inside, the air was solemn and quiet.
A few players stood before the altar, either silently praying or checking information about special support skills.
An elderly priest NPC stood nearby, his eyes kind yet mysterious.
The murals on the wall depicted ancient legends, among them the image of a colossal creature with piercing eyes and a thick mane, surrounded by faint streaks of light.
Ren halted, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity as he gazed at the painting.
"This is the deity who once guided us."
A voice echoed from behind, it was the priest NPC. "One of the ancient gods who once protected this land."
Ren furrowed his brows slightly. A guardian deity…? Unconsciously, he recalled the massive wolf from the previous night.
He stood still for a long moment, letting his thoughts drift.
He had wandered through familiar places in town, but instead of finding answers, he only ended up with more questions.
"You are troubled."
A deep voice resonated, not loud, but enough to pull Ren out of his thoughts. He turned to face the priest.
The man stood there, his silver hair flowing like a quiet stream through time.
His eyes were deep and unfathomable, reflecting distant mysteries as though they had witnessed far more than words could ever convey.
"You have seen it, haven't you?"
A chill ran down Ren's spine. He wasn't sure what the question truly meant… Was it a statement, or merely a test?
He could deny it. He could pretend he didn't understand.
But before he could decide, the priest continued, his voice slow, like a whisper drifting from the darkness:
"The gods no longer protect this world. They departed in silence, leaving behind a legacy no one fully understands, a prophecy long forgotten."
The priest raised a hand, his fingers gliding over the dust-covered murals.
In the dim light, the engravings on the wall seemed to stir, as if shifting beneath the cold stone.
"But disappearing… does not mean they have abandoned us."
His voice lowered, as soft as a breeze slipping through the night.
"They still watch. They still listen. And those who walk in their shadow… must prove themselves."
Ren felt his throat dry up. Those words weren't a warning, nor an invitation, they were a truth, harsh and undeniable.
The NPC's fingers traced the mural, stopping at its lower section, where ancient inscriptions were carved into the stone.
Ren stood in silence. A stifling sensation crept into the narrow space between the stone walls.
The murals were old, yet every brushstroke remained eerily vivid. The piercing eyes of the creature in the painting still seemed to be staring straight at him.
He swallowed hard.
"Then… what is this trial you speak of?"
The priest tilted his head slightly, the corners of his lips curving in the faintest hint of a knowing smile, as if he had been waiting for this question all along.
"A trial only for those who dare to face the darkness within themselves."
A cold gust slipped through the narrow window. The candle on the table flickered, the priest's shadow stretching long across the stone floor, merging with the night beyond.
Ren narrowed his eyes, waiting for an answer. But instead of replying directly, the priest walked over to a small table in the corner. With careful hands, he retrieved a parchment scroll, unrolling it before Ren.
On the aged paper, faded ink traced lines of ancient script.
"Your trial… begins here."
Ren leaned in, eyes scanning the inscriptions. And the moment he read the first words, a strange sensation ran down his spine...
...as if those very words had been waiting for someone, all this time, to come and fulfill them.