The night still blanketed the narrow path leading back to the Starting Town, but compared to the pitch-black abyss and the massive monster from before, this place felt strangely safe.
Ren dragged his feet forward, his legs numb as if they might give out at any moment. Carrying someone on his back for such a long distance had left his entire body aching, his back screaming for relief.
Argo wasn't faring much better. She had been silent the whole way, her breathing still unsteady.
When they finally reached the town gates, the dim lantern lights from the late-night taverns cast flickering reflections on the damp ground, creating an almost unreal sense of tranquility.
"...We survived."
Ren murmured, as if just saying it would make it feel more real.
Argo didn't respond. She stirred slightly, then, without warning, jumped off his back.
Ren staggered, nearly losing his balance, but before he could complain, Argo had already straightened up, pulling her hood over half her face.
"...Thanks."
A single word, light as a passing breeze, yet it caught Ren off guard.
This girl had been unlike anyone he had ever met from the very beginning.
Ren didn't reply immediately. He took a deep breath before letting out a quiet chuckle.
"It's nothing. Just don't rack up too much debt with me."
Argo raised an eyebrow as if she had something to say, but in the end, she remained silent.
Under the lantern's glow, her golden eyes flashed with a sharp glint, but it quickly faded.
"We'll meet again."
That was all she said before turning away, silently vanishing into the shadows of the town.
She froze.
After taking a few steps, something felt… off.
Wait.
What was his name again?
Her brows furrowed as she spun around. But when her gaze swept over the path she had just taken, the boy's figure had already disappeared into the night.
A cold breeze swept through, carrying a faint mist across the cobbled road. Argo stood there for a moment, slightly bewildered.
She remembered his voice, that exhausted chuckle, the warmth of his back as he carried her all the way here… But she didn't recall him ever saying his name.
"...Damn it." She muttered. Everything today had spiraled beyond her control.
From the monster to the strange story etched on the stone wall, her thoughts had become hazy…
She hated not having enough information.
Her steps resumed, slower this time.
But in her mind, only one thought remained, sooner or later, she would find out that boy's name.
The path to the quest hand-in wasn't long, but for Ren's exhausted body, each step felt like dragging a mountain behind him.
He trudged through the quiet streets under the swaying lantern lights, his shadow stretching over the cobbled ground.
The night air was cool, but his clothes were still damp with sweat.
With every step, a dull ache shot up his legs, and his raw, blistered palms throbbed. He exhaled sharply, absentmindedly glancing up at the starlit sky.
'I should be collapsing by now…'
And yet, the thought of his impending reward sent a small surge of adrenaline through his veins. His eyes lit up for a brief moment.
Despite the dirt on his clothes and the exhaustion weighing him down, his pace quickened.
Once he received his reward, he could afford a proper meal. He could repair his gear—or, if luck was on his side, maybe even buy a few support items.
Maybe… if he saved up enough over the next month or two, he could afford a decent steel armor set from the blacksmith.
It wouldn't be the best, but just look at that gleaming metal. What could possibly pierce through it? A boar's tusk? Or the razor-sharp fangs of a Dire Wolf?
'I could even buy a house… if I saved long enough… How much do houses even cost here?'
A subtle urgency slipped into his steps. The quest office was just a few strides away.
Ren took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
Inside, the warm glow of yellow lanterns illuminated the reception desk, where a few players were discussing with the NPC quest manager.
The atmosphere was quiet but not lifeless. A few NPC guards stood watch nearby, their sharp gazes scanning those who entered and exited.
Ren stepped up to the counter, dropping the quest paper onto the desk, barely hiding the anticipation beneath his tired expression.
Behind the counter, the quest officer, the same man who had looked somewhat disheveled in the morning, was now clad in a neatly fitted steel breastplate. He silently studied the quest paper before shifting his gaze to Ren.
No praise. No congratulations.
He simply fell into a contemplative silence, as if verifying the details.
Ren frowned.
"...Is there a problem?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.
The silence stretched on.
The officer's brows furrowed, his hand pausing mid-air with a pen. His stern eyes flickered with something unreadable, as if his mind was struggling to process the scene before him.
Ren, still covered in dust and scratches, stood there holding a small map, the proof that he had completed the quest.
The officer said nothing for a few seconds before finally lowering his gaze and flipping through the quest logs.
He scanned each name, each line, as if needing confirmation that this wasn't a mistake.
"…You… actually came back?" His voice was low, tinged with disbelief.
Reward: 1,500 Cor, 5 high-quality wolf pelts, 50 reputation points with the Guard Corps.
Ren's eyes gleamed as the reward details popped up on his interface.
1,500 Cor. Not a fortune, but enough for a decent meal, repairs, and maybe even a few useful items.
5 high-quality wolf pelts. He could sell them for extra money, or keep them for crafting light armor in the future.
50 reputation points with the Guard Corps. It might prove useful later, though for now, he wasn't sure what benefits it would bring.
Ren tapped his fingers lightly on the counter, letting out a relieved smile.
"Alright, thanks."
The officer simply nodded, still looking somewhat stunned.
Ren didn't care much. He quickly confirmed his reward, the lingering fatigue in his body easing slightly at the thought of a well-earned meal.
1,500 Cor. Not bad.
But… not enough.
He weighed the pouch of coins in his hand, its lightness making him frown.
He had just faced the most terrifying thing he had ever encountered, an Alpha monster with six burning eyes and claws that could rip through anything.
And all he got… was a handful of money and some pelts?
He didn't even have the experience. If he had spent the entire day hunting monsters, Ren might have reached level 6 by now…
But he wanted more. There had to be something beyond that.
Ren lifted his head, his gaze turning cold.
"Commander." His voice dropped lower.
The man behind the counter looked up, his sharp, experienced eyes scanning Ren from head to toe.
"This reward isn't enough…"
The commander narrowed his eyes slightly and set his quill down on the desk.
"Not enough?" he repeated, his tone unreadable—neither amused nor stern.
The room fell silent. A few nearby guards turned their heads toward Ren, some chuckling, others frowning. The commander slowly leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly against the wooden surface.
Ren didn't hesitate. He looked straight at the commander, his voice dropping even lower, each word pressing heavily into the air.
"I faced an Alpha Giant Elite Dire Wolf."
A suffocating silence filled the space. Some of the guards nearby subtly turned their heads, exchanging glances, while others furrowed their brows.
An Alpha? In the area near the town?
The commander immediately stopped writing, his gaze sharp as a blade. "What did you say?"
"Alpha." Ren repeated, slowly, clearly. "A giant wolf with six glowing eyes. It was in the sunken rock area. I managed to lure it off the cliff… but I'm certain it's still alive."
No one was laughing anymore. The guards who had been indifferent just moments ago now looked tense.
An Alpha appearing so close to town was a serious matter. Not just a stronger-than-average wolf… but the leader of the pack, a monster capable of wiping out an entire squad of guards if not handled correctly.
The commander's eyes darkened. He pressed both hands onto the desk and leaned forward.
"Are you sure?"
Ren clenched his fists. "If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't be standing here."
The air in the room grew heavier. One of the guards unconsciously placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.
The commander was silent for a long moment before turning to the soldier beside him. "Summon the scout team immediately. I want a detailed report before dawn."
Then, he turned back to Ren, his voice carrying an unusual weight of caution.
"Do you have proof?"
Ren tightened his grip, feeling the sting from the scratches on his palm. Proof? He had no Alpha's corpse, no dropped loot. But he did have…
Ren took a deep breath. "I don't have its body… but… I have no reason to lie."
The commander stared at him for a long time. Then, he slowly leaned back in his chair and spoke in a low voice.
"…If the report confirms your claim, you'll receive an appropriate reward."
Ren wasn't satisfied, but he had no choice but to nod.
As he stepped out of the headquarters, the air outside was just as cold as before, but inside him, a storm was brewing.
Alpha.
If monsters like that could appear so close to town, then… this place was no longer safe.
"But… I have a question… Why does everything become so urgent when an Alpha appears?" Ren asked, curious.
The commander paused slightly, then narrowed his eyes at Ren.
"You don't know?"
Ren blinked. Weren't Alphas just stronger-than-normal monsters?
He understood they were dangerous, but the guards' reactions seemed much more severe than that.
The commander's voice deepened, his gaze sharp.
"An Alpha isn't just a stronger monster. It's the leader of the pack. When an Alpha appears, it means the wolves are growing in numbers and expanding their territory."
Ren frowned slightly. "You mean… there will be more monsters?"
The commander nodded, his expression darkening. "An Alpha rarely acts alone. If it has appeared near the town, it means it's marking territory… to call the whole pack."
A cold wind swept through, but Ren wasn't sure if the shiver running down his spine was from the weather or the commander's words.
"If what you say is true, we're not just dealing with one Alpha. There will be an entire pack of wolves… and when their numbers grow so large that there aren't enough prey outside… they will attack the villages and the town directly."
Ren clenched his fists tightly. His breathing slowed.
A pack of Dire Wolves?
No…
There would also be Elite Dire Wolves. And Giant Elite Dire Wolves… all under the Alpha's command.
That meant this mission wasn't just a lucky break for him to make some money.
It was the sign of a coming storm.