The road back to Riverwood felt much shorter than the journey out. Alex walked steadily along the East Road, the late afternoon sun hanging low in the sky. The fields on both sides of the path swayed gently in the breeze, and for once, the area felt peaceful. But Alex's mind was far from calm. He kept thinking about the system message that had appeared after the battle.
External Detection Risk: Rising
He had no idea what that meant.
"Detection by who?" he muttered quietly.
Was someone tracking the system? Watching him? Or was it something else entirely?
Alex sighed.
"There's really no way to know."
For now, the only thing he could do was continue acting like a normal adventurer. Drawing attention to himself would only make things worse.
After another twenty minutes of walking, the wooden walls of Riverwood finally came into view. A small line of travelers waited at the gate as guards checked carts and supplies. Alex joined the line casually. One of the guards noticed him approaching.
"Back already?" the guard asked with a small grin.
Alex shrugged.
"Quick job."
The guard looked at the dirt and goblin blood still staining Alex's boots.
"Goblin quest?"
"Yeah."
The guard chuckled.
"Those little monsters have been causing trouble lately."
Alex nodded as he stepped through the gate.
"Well… not anymore."
The guard raised an eyebrow but didn't ask further.
Inside the town, the streets were busy again. Merchants shouted prices, children ran between buildings, and the smell of cooked meat filled the air. Alex headed straight for the Adventurer Guild. The large wooden doors swung open as he entered. Just like before, the guild hall buzzed with activity. Adventurers filled the tables, some drinking while others discussed quests. Alex walked directly to the counter where the red-haired receptionist sat. She looked up immediately when she saw him.
"You're back sooner than expected," she said.
Alex placed the goblin quest paper on the counter.
"Job's done."
The receptionist blinked.
"…Already?"
She took the paper and checked the details.
"You eliminated the goblins near the East Road?"
"All of them."
The woman studied Alex for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Well… the caravan merchants will be happy to hear that."
She opened the guild ledger and began writing.
"Goblin groups near trade routes can cause serious problems."
A nearby adventurer overheard the conversation.
"Wait," the man said, turning around in his chair.
"You're the one who took that quest?"
Alex glanced at him.
"Yeah."
The man frowned.
"That goblin group had a brute leading it."
Alex nodded casually.
"Not anymore."
The adventurer's eyes widened slightly.
"You killed the brute?"
A few other adventurers began listening now.
The receptionist finished writing in the ledger and closed it.
"Quest complete," she announced.
She placed a pouch of coins on the counter.
"Reward: twelve silver coins."
Alex took the pouch.
"Thanks."
But before he could leave, the adventurer from earlier stood up and approached him.
"You're the same guy who killed the Shadow Wolf Alpha yesterday, right?"
Alex hesitated slightly.
Word really did travel fast in this town.
"Yeah," he admitted.
The man crossed his arms.
"That's impressive for a beginner."
Another adventurer nearby nodded.
"Most rookies don't survive their first week."
Alex scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Guess I've been lucky."
The red-haired receptionist smiled faintly.
"Luck helps," she said.
"But skill matters more."
Alex didn't respond. Instead, he turned and walked toward the exit. He could feel several pairs of eyes following him as he left the guild hall. Outside, the evening air felt cooler.
Alex exhaled slowly.
"…This might become a problem."
The more quests he completed, the more people would notice him. And if the system was truly something dangerous or forbidden… That attention could eventually lead to trouble. Still, he couldn't stop now. The only way to survive in this world was to keep getting stronger. Alex began walking toward the inn again.
But as he passed through the town square, he suddenly noticed someone familiar standing near a fountain. The tall man in the dark cloak. The same stranger who had spoken to him yesterday. The man's sharp eyes met Alex's instantly. A faint smile appeared on his face. Almost as if he had been waiting.
Alex stopped walking.
"…You again."
The stranger stepped away from the fountain.
"Good evening, Alex."
Alex crossed his arms slightly.
"You've been watching me."
The man chuckled.
"In a way."
He glanced briefly toward the Adventurer Guild building behind Alex.
"Word travels quickly in a small town."
Alex studied him carefully.
"Who are you?"
The stranger looked at him for a moment before answering.
"Someone who is very curious about you."
That answer did not make Alex feel any better. Because something told him this meeting… Was far from a coincidence.