The forest was quiet as Alex made his way back toward town.
The fight with the Shadow Wolf Alpha had drained almost every ounce of energy from his body. His muscles were sore, and his clothes were still stained with dirt and dried blood.
But despite the exhaustion, Alex couldn't stop smiling. He had survived. Not only that—he had defeated the strongest monster in the area and completed his very first quest as an adventurer.
"That's not bad for my second day in this world," he muttered to himself.
The system interface briefly appeared in front of him as he walked.
Host: Alex Varyn
Level: 5
Strength: 4
Agility: 4
Intelligence: 1
Mana: 0
Skills:
• Analyze Lv.1
• Vital Recovery Lv.1
Alex studied the numbers for a moment.
Level five already. Considering that just yesterday he had been a powerless outsider with zero knowledge of this world, that was impressive. Still… one stat bothered him.
Mana: 0
He sighed. "Everyone else has magic… and I have none."
The mysterious man he met on his first night had made that very clear. In this world, magic was normal. But Alex had absolutely no mana. Fortunately, the system seemed to make up for it. Without it, he would have died the moment those wolves surrounded him.
As Alex continued walking, the forest slowly began to thin out. Sunlight filtered through the trees, and the sounds of civilization gradually replaced the eerie silence of the wilderness.
Soon he spotted the tall wooden walls of Riverwood ahead. Relief washed over him.
"Finally."
The town gates were open as usual, with two guards standing watch. One of them noticed Alex approaching. The guard's eyes moved over Alex's appearance—torn clothes, scratches on his arms, and dried blood on his boots.
"…Looks like you had a rough day," the guard said.
Alex shrugged. "You could say that."
The guard chuckled. "North Forest?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah."
The guard crossed his arms.
"Most beginners don't come back from there alone."
Alex gave a small smile.
"I got lucky."
The guard stepped aside and gestured toward the town.
"Well, luck or not, welcome back."
Alex walked through the gates. The difference between the forest and the town was immediate. The streets were alive with activity. Merchants shouted about their goods. Blacksmiths hammered metal in their workshops. The smell of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air.
After hours in the dangerous forest, the lively atmosphere felt almost surreal. Alex's stomach growled loudly.
"Okay… food is definitely next."
But before he could relax, he needed to finish his quest. He headed straight for the Adventurer Guild. The large wooden doors creaked slightly as he pushed them open.
Inside, the guild hall was packed with adventurers. Loud conversations filled the room, mixed with the clinking of mugs and the occasional burst of laughter. Several people glanced at Alex as he entered. His messy appearance clearly showed he had just returned from a hunt.
Alex walked up to the counter where the red-haired receptionist sat. She looked up from her paperwork.
"You're back already?" she asked.
Alex placed the quest paper on the counter.
"Shadow Wolf quest."
She picked it up and scanned the document.
"Did you complete it?"
Alex reached into his bag and pulled out the Alpha Fang, placing it carefully on the wooden counter.
The sharp tooth gleamed under the guild hall lights. For a moment, the receptionist simply stared.
"…Is that from the Alpha?"
Alex nodded.
"I ran into it near a cave."
The receptionist picked up the fang, examining it closely. Her expression changed from surprise to genuine respect.
"Well… I guess I underestimated you."
She opened the large guild ledger and wrote something inside.
Several nearby adventurers had noticed the conversation. One of them leaned closer to get a better look at the fang.
"Did that kid just bring back an Alpha trophy?"
Another adventurer muttered:
"That's impossible for a beginner…"
The receptionist closed the ledger with a soft thump.
"Quest complete," she announced.
She reached under the counter and placed a small pouch in front of Alex.
"Your reward."
Alex opened it.
Silver coins.
Ten of them.
His eyes widened slightly.
"That's… more than I expected."
The receptionist smiled faintly.
"Monster hunting pays well."
She leaned forward slightly.
"Especially when you bring back proof."
Alex quickly pocketed the coins. For the first time since arriving in this world, he actually had money.
"Thanks."
As he turned to leave the counter, he noticed something strange. Several adventurers were watching him. Not with hostility… But with curiosity.
One thing was certain. Word of his successful hunt was already spreading. And for a newcomer like Alex… Attention could be both a blessing— and a very dangerous problem.