As Louis and Betty stepped back through the Safe Shield, the town's lively atmosphere was a stark contrast to the wilderness they had just left. The bustling streets, the distant chatter of merchants, and the scent of freshly baked bread from the marketplace greeted them. But Louis barely paid attention—his mind was still stuck on what had happened outside.
That strange power… what was it?
Betty nudged him with her elbow. "You're spacing out. Let's go to the Adventurer's Guild and trade in our loot."
Louis snapped back to reality and nodded. "Yeah, right. Let's go."
Inside the Adventurer's Guild
The Adventurer's Guild was a grand building located at the heart of the town, bustling with adventurers of all ranks. Some were drinking and laughing, others were discussing quests, and a few were exchanging their spoils at the counter.
Louis and Betty approached one of the guild clerks, a middle-aged man with neatly combed brown hair and glasses. He glanced up and gave a polite nod. "Welcome back. What do you have for us today?"
Betty grinned and placed a bag on the counter, letting out a small clinking sound of materials and loot. "We took down some Horned Wolves, Iron Boars, and Winged Serpents."
The clerk nodded and began sorting through the loot, carefully inspecting each item.
Louis placed his own bag beside hers. "And… one more thing." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the glowing blue Magic Stone they had retrieved from the Titan Bear.
The clerk froze mid-motion. His eyes widened as he slowly pushed up his glasses. "Wait… this is an A-Rank Magic Stone."
At that moment, the background noise of the guild seemed to quiet down. Nearby adventurers turned to look. A few of them even stood up, stepping closer to get a better view.
A muscular adventurer with a greatsword strapped to his back let out a low whistle. "No way… did they actually take down an A-Rank monster?"
Another adventurer, a woman clad in light armor, crossed her arms. "There's no way these two fought something that strong. They must've scavenged it after another party killed it."
Betty smirked, placing her hands on her hips. "Believe what you want, but we took down a Titan Bear ourselves."
The murmurs in the guild grew louder. The clerk, still recovering from his shock, adjusted his posture. "If this is really from a Titan Bear, then the reward will be quite generous." He carefully placed the Magic Stone aside before counting the rest of their loot.
TheCurrencySystem
After a few minutes, the clerk finished his calculations. "For all the beast materials and the Magic Stone, your total reward comes to…" He scribbled something on paper before sliding a pouch across the counter.
"Three gold coins, twenty silver coins, and fifty copper coins."
Louis raised an eyebrow. "How much is that worth?"
Betty turned to him. "You really don't know?"
Louis scratched his cheek. "Never really dealt with money before."
Betty sighed and explained. "One gold coin is worth a hundred silver coins, and one silver coin is worth a hundred copper coins. So in simple terms—gold is for expensive things like weapons or high-class inns, silver is for daily expenses, and copper is pocket change."
Louis nodded. "Got it."
The clerk smiled. "Thank you for your contribution. Please come again."
Betty stretched her arms. "Alright, I'm heading home. I'll let you know when we go hunting again."
Louis waved as she walked off. "See you later."
Now alone, he decided to take a stroll through the town.
ACryintheDarkness
The streets of the town were alive with merchants shouting their deals, children running around, and townspeople going about their evening. Louis wandered aimlessly, still lost in thought about his unknown abilities.
But then—
A faint, muffled sob reached his ears.
He stopped, glancing around. The sound came from a dark and narrow alley between two buildings.
His instincts kicked in, and he cautiously stepped inside. The deeper he went, the more he could make out—harsh whispers and the trembling voice of a young girl.
"Please… I don't have anything… let me go."
Louis's eyes narrowed.
In the dim light of the alley, two men stood over a small girl, about 9 or 10 years old, with light blonde hair tied into twin pigtails. Her blue eyes were filled with tears as she clutched her small dress.
One of the men, wearing a ragged cloak, smirked. "Oh? A little noble girl lost all alone? That's unlucky for you."
The other man chuckled darkly. "We just want to help you, little lady. Why don't you come with us?"
Louis stepped forward. "Hey."
The two men turned. "Huh? Who the hell are you?"
Louis's gaze darkened. "Let her go. Now."
The first man sneered. "Or what? You gonna fight us?"
Louis sighed. "You really want to find out?"
A tense silence filled the alley. The two men exchanged glances before clicking their tongues.
"Tch. Not worth the trouble." The first man spat on the ground before turning away. "Come on, let's get out of here."
As they left, the girl looked up at Louis, sniffling. "T-Thank you, mister."
Louis knelt to her level. "Are you okay?"
She wiped her tears and nodded. "Yes… my name is Corny Hormen."
Louis blinked. "Hormen? As in… the town chief's family?"
Corny brightened up. "Yes! My papa is Sansor Hormen! I was out playing, but I got lost…"
She hesitated, then tugged at his sleeve. "Can you come with me? I want to introduce you to my father!"
Louis considered refusing—he wasn't good with formalities—but looking at the little girl's hopeful expression, he sighed and nodded. "Alright, let's go."
Meeting the Town Chief
The Town Chief's Mansion was a large, well-kept building near the center of town. When the guards saw Corny, they immediately let them in.
Inside, a man in his late 40s stood from his desk, his expression a mix of worry and relief. "Corny! Thank the heavens, you're safe!"
Corny ran to him, hugging him tightly. "Papa! This man saved me!" She pointed at Louis.
Sansor Hormen, the Town Chief, turned to Louis with an intense gaze. After a moment, his expression softened, and he bowed slightly. "You have my deepest gratitude. If there is anything I can do to repay you, do not hesitate to ask."
Louis scratched the back of his head. "I just happened to be there. That's all."
Sansor smiled. "Even so, you have done me a great favor."
Louis simply nodded, unaware that this chance encounter would soon lead to even greater things.
To be continued.....