Rian opened the door to the room they had just rented for the next two months with the money given by Fredd. His face was lit up with an uncontrollable smile. He was too happy imagining that he could finally live in the same room as Catty. His fantasy about the new life they would begin together made him forget for a moment all the hardships they had gone through.
The wooden door creaked softly as it opened, revealing a peaceful and clean room. Morning sunlight poured in through a large window on one side, illuminating the floating dust particles dancing in the air. Inside were several pieces of furniture provided by the inn: a small dining table with two chairs near the window, a tidy little kitchen in the corner, a private bathroom, and... two single wooden beds placed on opposite sides of the room.
Instantly, Rian's focus was no longer on the cozy facilities, but on the two separate beds.
"There are… two beds? And each is only big enough for one person?" muttered Rian. His wide smile vanished into a look of deep disappointment. All his hopes and fantasies of being able to sleep next to Catty, or at least close to her while she slept, vanished right before his eyes in the face of those two bachelor-sized beds.
"Yay! The room looks so nice!" exclaimed Catty enthusiastically from behind him, completely unaware of Rian's shifting mood. "It's not just a room, it's like a mini house! Look, it even has a kitchen, I can try cooking here. And there's a private bathroom too, this is amazing!" Catty ran inside, exploring every corner of the room with excitement, clearly unconcerned about the bed situation.
"Yes, you're right, Catty. It really is nice," Rian replied, swallowing the bitter reality with a dry throat. Even so, he couldn't help but feel happy. At least they would be staying in the same room every day. That alone was already a great step forward.
Their room on the second floor was very comfortable. The wooden walls were tight, neat, and clean. The furniture was well maintained, showing that the inn was properly taken care of. It was probably the most comfortable place they had stayed in so far.
After they finished looking around and Rian took out their supplies from the Storage, reality began to set back in. They needed money for daily expenses, for food, and for the promise he had made to Catty.
"Before it gets too late, we should head to the guild and take a mission," said Rian to Catty.
"You're right, Rian. Let's go," she answered, her eyes gleaming with excitement to start their first adventure as a duo.
The new inn's location was closer to the city center, so their walk to the guild didn't take long. Within minutes, they passed through the morning bustle—vendors opening stalls, townsfolk moving about—and soon arrived at the grand guild building.
Inside, the usual liveliness greeted them. Adventurers gathered with their parties, some sitting alone at tables, planning or discussing missions. Ignoring the noise, Rian's eyes immediately locked onto the large mission board on one side of the hall. The wooden board was packed with sheets of paper—some old and faded, some freshly pinned—ranging from easy to impossible.
Rian stepped closer and began to read each mission carefully, his eyes scanning the details and requirements.
Gather Herbal Ingredients in the Nearby ForestRequirements:• Party size: No limit.• Minimum Tier: Warrior.Reward: 50 Bronze Coins per bag of herbs.
Exterminate the Goblin Nest near the Fulakmi Kingdom ForestRequirements:• Party size: 2–10 members.• Minimum Tier: Master.Reward: 1 Silver Coin per goblin head.Validation: Bring the left ear as proof.
Slay a Dragon at the Border Mountains of Fulakmi and Lea KingdomsRequirements:• Party size: 6–12 members.• Minimum Tier: Epic (must include one Legend-tier member).Reward: 5 Gold Coins per dragon head (proof: horn).Capturing a live dragon: 50 Gold Coins.Note: Live dragons will be tamed as royal mounts.
Exterminate the Demons in the Eastern Dark Forest (PERMANENT KINGDOM MISSION)This paper looked different—darker, stamped with the royal seal.Requirements:• Party size: 6–12 members.• Minimum Tier: Epic++.Reward (per head):• Lesser Demon: 1 Gold Coin.• Mid-Tier Demon: 3 Gold Coins.• High-Tier Demon: 5 Gold Coins.• Extreme Demon: 40 Gold Coins.• Demon King's Lieutenants (Three Pillars: Sasakala, Langgengkara, Rarangkén): 100 Gold Coins each + Royal Commendation.• Demon King Hurugana: 2000 Gold Coins + Royal Commendation + One Tier Promotion.Note: This mission is extremely dangerous. The kingdom is not responsible for any deaths. Verification requires the demon's head. The mission will remain active until the Demon King is slain.
Rian silently read each mission, realizing just how vast and perilous this world was. Dragons, demons, and even a Demon King whose name alone sent chills down his spine. Those were long-term goals, far beyond his current capability.
He pointed at the goblin extermination mission and said to Catty, "How about this one? The reward is decent, the requirements fit us, and the location isn't too far. Seems like the perfect mission for us to start with."
"Alright, Rian, that's fine. I'll follow you on whatever mission you take," Catty replied with a smile, assuring him she'd be by his side no matter what.
"Good," said Rian, already thinking ahead. "Judging from the location, we'll probably have to camp in the forest during the hunt. So, how about we scout the area today? We can find the nest, camp for the night, and begin exterminating them in the morning."
"That sounds like a good plan," Catty agreed.
Without wasting time, Rian took the goblin mission paper from the board and brought it to the receptionist for confirmation. Once their names were registered as the mission takers, the receptionist handed him a map marked with the location of the Eastern Forest.
"In the past few months, the goblin population there has surged drastically, disturbing passing merchants. That's why this mission was issued," the receptionist explained. "Be careful out there."
After a while of walking, Rian and Catty reached the forest's edge. As they stepped between the thick trees, Rian immediately caught the familiar scent of the woods.
"I missed this smell," Rian said to Catty, taking a deep breath of the forest air. "Entering a forest somehow makes me feel calm. It reminds me of my training days with Grandpa Bebegig."
"I think only you, Rian, would feel calm walking into a forest instead of being cautious," Catty replied with a faint smile.
"Hehe, well, that's because I learned to fight here. It feels like the forest is my first home in this world. Who wouldn't feel peaceful coming home?" he said confidently.
"Alright, that might be true for you," said Catty. "But maybe I feel the same, since I also grew up in a forest."
"See? I told you!" said Rian proudly, puffing his chest with satisfaction.
"Yes, you're right, Rian," Catty said with a small laugh.
They continued walking deeper into the forest, no longer as wanderers, but as adventurers ready to face their very first mission as an independent duo.