The tavern was warm and noisy. Lantern light flickered across the wooden walls, and the smell of roasted meat and strong ale filled the air. Adventurers laughed loudly around crowded tables while the innkeeper moved between them carrying heavy mugs. For most people in Marsh Town, this place was where a long day ended.
But tonight, the atmosphere slowly changed. At a small corner table, Aragon sat quietly eating his meal.
A simple plate of roasted meat and bread nothing special.
After spending the entire day in the forest hunting Fox Wolves, he was hungry and tired. The coins he had earned from the quest were resting inside his pouch.
Ten silver Paro...
Not a fortune, but enough for several days of food and lodging. Aragon took another bite calmly. He noticed the stares from across the room.
Several adventurers had been watching him since he entered. He already understood why. A F-rank adventurer returning with ten Fox Wolf skins was unusual.
Not impossible,but unusual enough to attract attention. Aragon didn't care.
He simply continued eating. A few seconds later, heavy footsteps approached his table. Three men stopped beside him.
Aragon slowly lifted his eyes. The man standing in front was tall and broad shouldered, with rough armor and a confident grin.
"So," the man said, crossing his arms, "you're the guy everyone's talking about"
Aragon remained seated
"Talking about what?"
The man chuckled
"Don't play dumb, Ten Fox Wolves in one day.."
His two companions stood behind him, clearly amused
"Not bad for a F-rank."
Aragon wiped his hands with a cloth.
"It was just a hunt"
One of the men snorted
"Yeah? Then how about showing us how you did it?"
The tavern grew slightly quieter. Some of the nearby adventurers stopped talking. They could feel tension forming.
Aragon sighed softly
"I'm not looking for trouble"
The tall man leaned closer
"But trouble might be looking for you..."
His hand suddenly grabbed Aragon's shoulder
"Stand up"
For a moment, Aragon didn't move.
Then he slowly placed his fork down.
And stood.The two men behind the tall adventurer stepped forward slightly, blocking the path behind Aragon.
Several people in the tavern quietly moved their chairs away. Nobody wanted to get caught in the middle of a fight. The tall adventurer smiled
"Let's see if those wolves were just lucky"
He threw the first punch
Fast...…
Strong...
A normal F-rank adventurer would have struggled to react. But Aragon had already moved. Just a small step.
The punch passed through empty air.
The man blinked in surprise.
"What…..???"
Before he could finish speaking, Aragon lightly pushed his arm aside and tapped the man's chest. The impact wasn't powerful. But it was perfectly placed. The tall adventurer stumbled backward and crashed into a nearby chair. The tavern erupted with laughter.
"Missed!"
"Nice swing!"
The man's face turned red
"...You...…"
He stood up quickly and charged again.
This time his two companions joined him.
Three attackers...
But Aragon remained calm,
One swung a chair….
Aragon ducked
Another lunged forward…..
Aragon stepped aside smoothly his movements were simple.
Efficient....
He didn't use Shadow Step. He didn't draw any weapon. Just ordinary combat skill.
Within seconds one man lost his balance and fell to the floor. Another crashed into a table. The tall adventurer swung wildly again, but Aragon caught his wrist and twisted slightly. The man dropped to one knee instantly. Pain flashed across his face.
Aragon released him immediately.The tavern fell silent.
Three men....
All defeated....
And Aragon had barely even raised his voice. He stepped back and calmly adjusted his cloak.
"I told you," he said quietly
"I'm not looking for trouble"
For a few seconds nobody spoke.
Then the innkeeper slammed a mug onto the counter.
"Enough!"
He pointed toward the door
"Take your fight outside if you want to break bones!"
The three adventurers slowly stood up, embarrassed and angry.
The tall man rubbed his wrist
"You got lucky…."
Aragon didn't respond. He simply returned to his table and finished his meal. After a few awkward seconds, the three men left the tavern. The room slowly returned to normal.
People began talking again. But this time, the whispers were different.
"That F-rank is fast..."
"Did you see that dodge?"
"He didn't even draw a weapon…"
Aragon heard the murmurs but ignored them. When he finished eating, he paid for his food and stood up.
Outside, the night air was cool and quiet. The streets of Marsh Town were almost empty now.
Lanterns flickered softly in the distance. Aragon walked slowly back toward the inn. The events of the tavern didn't bother him. Fights between adventurers were common.
If anything, it confirmed something important. His strength had changed more than he expected. Even without using shadow abilities, he could easily defeat experienced fighters. But he needed to stay careful.
Too much attention would only create problems. Aragon reached the inn and climbed the stairs to his room.
Inside, the small candle still burned on the table. He closed the door behind him. For a moment he simply stood there.
Thinking....
Then he raised his hand slightly. The candle flame flickered. And the shadow on the wall moved. A thin line of darkness slid across the wooden floor like living smoke.
Aragon watched it quietly. His voice was barely above a whisper.
"…Still a long way to go"
Outside, Marsh Town slept peacefully.
But inside the quiet room, The shadows continued to move.....