Clip-clop clip-clop creak creak
There were no other sounds except the wind, the horses’ hooves, and the turning wheels of the carriage. As far as the eye could see, there was only a vast stretch of green grasslands. Three horse-drawn carriages had departed from the city of Barqa toward the capital, Nuzantra, escorted by a group of adventurers. I wasn’t one of the escorts—I was just a passenger riding in a merchant's carriage headed to the capital.
[One day earlier]
After a good rest, Elise, the others, and I returned to the city ahead of the rest. On the way, they talked a lot about what had happened before. They also asked me about some of the magic I used when fighting the goblins. Since our bodies were sticky with sweat, we decided to go to the inn to wash up. After bathing, we went out for dinner.
“Everyone, there’s something I want to say.”
“What is it, sis? You sound so serious.”
“Yeah… I’ve decided to go to the capital.”
“Ehh?!”
My sudden declaration naturally shocked everyone, especially Elise. Tears streamed down her face. Her hands trembled as she tried to wipe them away, but the more she wiped, the more the tears flowed. Sooner or later, I had to go to the capital to search for Rima. Seeing Elise cry made my chest feel tight. Even though we’d only known each other for a few days, it felt like we’d known each other for a long time. This farewell was harder than I had imagined.
After some time, they finally calmed down and accepted my decision. Since it was my last night in Barqa, we had a small celebration with lots of food and drinks. We shared stories, and Lynn and Phina—who usually stayed in another room—decided to join me. It felt like a pajama party from a movie or comic.
The next day, I went to the Adventurer’s Guild in case there was a mission headed to the capital that needed escorts, so I could tag along. At the Guild, I was given a letter from a merchant who allowed me to ride with him.
[Back to the present]
“Miss Luna, if anything makes you uncomfortable during the trip, please don’t hesitate to tell me, alright?”
The man who asked me this was Ekin, the merchant who owned the caravan. He was a young merchant, likely in his early thirties. He wasn’t wrong—this was my first time riding in a horse-drawn carriage like this. The uneven dirt road and lack of suspension made the ride bumpy and nauseating. But that feeling quickly vanished when I felt warm mana flowing into my stomach.
“I’m fine.”
“I see… but if you ever feel unwell, just let me know.”
“All right.”
Since we left Barqa, we hadn’t encountered any trouble. The journey had gone smoothly. As the sun began to set in the east, we stopped in a large clearing to set up camp.
Everyone quickly got to work on their respective tasks. Ekin and his two subordinates were busy unloading goods. When I tried to help, I was politely refused—they said I was a guest and should leave it to them.
I saw a man giving directions to several people. He was the leader of the adventurer group hired by Ekin. His name was Tarma, leader of the Black Iron Spear adventurer group. Since I had nothing to do, I went into the forest to collect firewood.
After some time, I returned with a few branches. Ekin was still unloading goods, and several members of Black Iron Spear were setting up tents.
I took the initiative to start building a fire for cooking. After a quick consultation with Ekin, he agreed to let me use some of their supplies.
Under a clear, starry sky, I made a simple meal: Pork and Vegetable Soup. As the name suggests, it was a soup made of various vegetables and a few chunks of pork. This warm dish was perfect for the cold night. Its delicious aroma seemed to lure everyone closer.
“Mmm… that smell… Miss Luna, what are you cooking?”
“Oh, it’s just a simple soup... I hope you like it.”
“Judging by the smell, it’s going to be delicious!”
Once the food was ready, I called everyone over. We sat around the campfire and enjoyed our dinner.
“Mm... this is delicious! Miss Luna, your cooking is amazing!”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Yes, Miss. We usually eat dried rations to save on costs.”
We ate and chatted together. This warm moment reminded me of my old friends. We fought together… adventured together… laughed and had fun together. Such sweet nostalgia.
After dinner, we called it an early night so we could wake up early the next morning. Since I was the only woman traveling alone, I got a tent to myself. Ekin shared a tent with his two subordinates. The other two tents belonged to Tarma’s group.
In the middle of the night, I was awakened by a commotion outside.
“Monster attack!”
At the shout, everyone woke up immediately. Tarma’s group quickly prepared for battle. When I stepped out of my tent, I saw three members of the group fending off a group of monsters—three orcs and four goblins. Tarma and the others soon joined the fight, while Ekin and his subordinates stood protectively in front of me.
“Miss Luna, are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Thank goodness. Please stay behind me.”
(Oh! Is he trying to protect me? How kind of him.)
The battle split into three groups—two groups of three members each fought one orc and two goblins, while Tarma faced one orc alone. Watching them, it was clear they were seasoned fighters.
The battle didn’t last long—Tarma’s group emerged victorious. He finished his fight faster than the others. Despite the orc’s size and strength, Tarma easily dodged its attacks and countered with precision. After several exchanges, he struck the orc in the neck, ending it swiftly.
The rest of the group soon defeated the remaining goblins and orcs. I had planned to help if needed, but it wasn’t necessary. There were no serious injuries—just a few minor wounds.
I went around healing the wounded with magic. This surprised everyone. The members of Tarma’s group, who had previously kept their distance from me, became much friendlier. Because of that, the rest of the journey felt livelier until we reached the capital.
The days passed steadily—dusty roads by day, campfires by night. Eventually, the capital appeared on the horizon, towering majestically. The walls stretched far left and right. As we got closer, we saw a long line of people waiting to enter. Up close, the walls looked massive—perhaps 30 meters tall and 10 meters thick.
Unlike other cities, entering the capital required strict inspections—of both people and goods. After half an hour of waiting and inspection, we were finally allowed in.
Inside Nuzantra, everything felt different from Barqa. Many buildings had two or even three stories. People of all races were everywhere—Dwarves, Beastmen, Elves, even Draconians. There were even Demonfolk, despite their dark history. It seemed that after 200 years, people had begun to forgive—or forget.
After getting off the carriage, we said our goodbyes. Once I knew where to go, I headed straight for the Adventurer’s Guild.
After a few minutes of walking, I arrived. Just like before, I felt many eyes on me, but I ignored them and approached the reception desk, where a brown-haired girl with a ponytail stood.
“Can I help you?” she asked, surprised when she saw me.
“Are there any missions I can take?”
“May I see your identification card?”
“Here…”
“...”
“Please wait a moment, okay?”
“Sure.”
She went into the back room and soon returned, guiding me to a room on the second floor—the Guild Master’s office.
knock knock knock
“Sir, the guest is here.”
“Please come in.”
When I entered, I was surprised by the simplicity of the office. In the center were two long, dark green sofas facing each other with a glass table between them. In the corner stood a wooden cabinet filled with various items. On the opposite side was a wooden desk. Behind it stood a large, muscular man looking out the window.
“Please, have a seat.”
“...”
“Let me introduce myself. My name is Zetya, the Guild Master of this city. And this is Wynda.”
“N-nice to meet you.”
“The reason I’ve called you here is because, according to a report from the Barqa Adventurers’ Guild, you’re eligible for a rank promotion. Thanks to your previous contributions, you can skip the exam and be promoted to Rank E.”
“Oh! Really?”
“Yes, but the process takes a bit of time. You can come back tomorrow to collect your updated identification card.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you have any questions?”
“...Nothing major.”
“Feel free to ask.”
“I want to know the way to Lake Dewata.”
“Oh… just head to the east gate. From there, follow the road straight for about two hours on foot, and you’ll reach your destination.”
“Thank you very much.”
“No need to be so formal. Anything else?”
“I don’t think so... I’ll take my leave now.”
“See you tomorrow, Miss Luna.”
[After Luna leaves the room]
“What do you think, Chief?”
“What about you, Wynda?”
“At first, I couldn’t believe it when I saw her. If I hadn’t been told beforehand, I would’ve thought she was Lady Rimaria.”
“Yes, even though they look so alike, their eyes are different colors. I’m starting to wonder who she is. I’ll head to the royal castle after this.”
“Understood, sir!”
After leaving the Guild Master’s office, I returned to the reception desk to ask if there were any missions I could do in the meantime. The staff offered several, but most required leaving the capital—except one: delivering a potion. I’d earn three silver coins for it. Not bad for something so simple.
I handed over a silvery-white potion from my inventory. At first, the staff hesitated, questioning whether it was safe. But after I reassured them, they accepted it.
Leaving the Guild, I decided to explore the capital. I reached a bustling market—stalls lined both sides of the street, selling everything from daily goods to combat gear.
One food stall caught my eye. It was selling something that looked like pork katsu in barbecue sauce—a dish from the modern world. I thought the seller might be a player like me, but when I scanned him, he was only level 24. If he were a player, he’d be much stronger. Maybe he got the recipe from a player, or was a descendant of one.
After buying the dish, I sat on a bench under a tree to eat. Once full, I bought food for storage and browsed the equipment stalls. Everything was basic starter gear.
Feeling satisfied, I headed toward the capital’s east gate.
When I checked the map, I was surprised. In the game, this area used to be nothing but grassy plains. To the east was a dense forest that took two hours to walk through—or five minutes by flying. Beyond that was a beautiful lake. This was where I had last left my home.
My heart pounded as I approached the lake. This was where I used to spend my time. Back then, reaching the lake meant walking a dirt path. Now, there was a paved road made of stone blocks. Was this place being turned into a tourist spot?
Not far from the lake, I saw a familiar building I hadn’t seen in a long time—a wooden cabin or villa. A few people stood outside, and some were inside. They wore neat, matching uniforms—like royal knights.
I walked to the lake’s edge, where there was a wooden platform. The view was breathtaking. The air was refreshing. I closed my eyes and felt the breeze on my skin.
Then someone called out.
“Lady Rimaria, welcome back!”
(Rima?)
I turned around. A knight approached, flanked by three others.
“Sorry to bother you right after your return, but the royal family needs you immediately. They say it’s urgent.”
“I’m sorry, but who are you?”
“Lady Rimaria, don’t joke around…”
(Did he just call me Rimaria?)
“Sorry, but my name isn’t Rimaria—it’s Lunaria.”