"Okay… that's it for today," Jordan said, exhaling as he wiped the edge of his katana against the grass. The clearing in KANJU Forest was littered with the bodies of the wolves he had just taken down, their fur coated with dust and the faint blue shimmer of fading system code. The smell of wild moss mixed with the metallic tang of digital blood, lingering in the air like a heavy curtain.
Under a sprawling oak, Loria sat cross-legged, arms wrapped around her knees, her gaze fixed on him. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, catching her dirt-smeared hair and the tears at the corner of her eyes. "Wow… you're amazing," she breathed, voice barely above the whisper of the wind. "You took them all down like it was nothing."
Jordan crouched beside one of the fallen wolves, loosening the fangs from its jaws with practiced hands. "Nothing, huh? My stamina bar's begging to differ." He held up the fangs for her to see. "See, it's not about power. It's about timing, focus, and knowing your enemy's rhythm. That's what makes it look easy."
Loria tilted her head, intrigued, the tension in her shoulders loosening slightly. Jordan had a way of explaining things that made it feel… simple, even if the actions themselves were anything but.
< 4 + WILD WOLVES KILLED >
< LEVEL UP LV.13 —> LV.14 >
< STRENGTH 14 + / AGILITY 14 + / STAMINA 14 + / INTELLIGENCE 14 + >
He slipped the fangs into his pouch and stood, brushing moss from his knees. "Alright. Let's move. The forest isn't going to wait for us to rest."
Loria scrambled to her feet, brushing leaves from her torn dress. "Yeah… right." Her voice was soft, almost hesitant. Jordan noticed the way her shoulders hunched slightly as she straightened, the careful way she stepped over roots and fallen branches. He knew that fear wasn't gone — it had just been tempered, forced to the back of her mind by sheer necessity.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, the soft crunch of their boots on dried leaves echoing through the quiet of the forest. Jordan glanced at her every so often. "Your clothes… they took quite a beating."
Loria looked down, fingers brushing against the tattered fabric of her sleeves. "Yeah… they got ripped when I tried to fight those bandits. I didn't… really stand a chance." Her voice wavered, eyes distant, staring at the forest floor as if reliving it.
Jordan gave a small, understanding nod. "You held your ground long enough to get here. That's what matters. You survived. You made it to safety."
She swallowed hard and nodded faintly, still not meeting his gaze. He didn't push; some things needed space. Instead, he adjusted the strap of his katana and let the silence stretch for a moment, the forest around them alive with the faint rustle of leaves and distant bird calls.
"What kind of skills do you use?" Jordan asked, breaking the quiet.
"Magic," she said softly, almost hesitant. "I can cast elemental spells — mostly water and light. But my staff broke when the bandits attacked." She looked down at the fractured wood she had carried with her, tracing the jagged edge with her thumb.
Jordan muttered under his breath, "Ah… so basically, you're strong, just… under-equipped."
She let out a small laugh, the sound shaky but genuine. "You make it sound nicer than it is."
"That's because it is." He offered a faint smile, turning his gaze ahead as the forest began to thin. Patches of sunlight fell like spotlights on their path. "Everyone starts somewhere, right? Even me."
Outside the dense treeline, Morleen Village came into view. It wasn't grand, but it had life — smoke spiraling lazily from chimneys, people going about chores, and children darting through the streets laughing. Jordan adjusted the strap on his katana again, feeling the familiar hum of system awareness in the back of his mind.
They approached the Hunters' Guild, its sturdy wooden walls and faded banners giving the place a lived-in feel. Inside, the mingled scents of dried herbs, leather, and aged wood greeted them, along with the chatter of other hunters returning from expeditions.
Jordan stepped up to the reception, placing the sack of wolf fangs in front of the auburn-haired receptionist. "Here you go. Thirty-four fangs."
The young woman counted them with practiced fingers and nodded. "Nicely done. Here's your 680 gold coins. " She handed him a pouch of gold coins, which jingled satisfyingly in his hands.
Her gaze flicked toward Loria. "Is… she with you? Her clothes…" Her voice trailed off, eyes wide as she took in the torn fabric and smudges of dirt across the girl.
"She's my… niece," Jordan said quickly, shrugging slightly. "We're just about to go shopping." The lie came easily; he had no reason to complicate things. Loria gave him a subtle glance, surprised at how naturally he handled it.
The receptionist blinked once, clearly skeptical, but she gave a polite nod. "I see. Well, have a safe trip."
Outside, Loria let out a soft laugh. "Your niece?"
Jordan smirked. "Hey, it worked, didn't it?"
She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I suppose."
They wandered through the village streets toward a clothing shop, passing stalls filled with spices, ores, and weapons. The sun was dipping lower now, casting long shadows across cobblestones and illuminating dust motes in the warm light. Inside the shop, the air was thick with the scent of linen and leather. Loria's eyes brightened as she moved between racks of dresses and robes, each piece a small spark of normalcy in her otherwise chaotic life.
"How about this one?" she asked, holding up a pale blue dress.
Jordan tilted his head, pretending to examine it seriously. "Perfect. You'll look like you just stepped out of one of those fantasy posters," he said with a smirk.
Her cheeks flushed lightly, and she turned her head to hide it, gripping the fabric in both hands. "That's… oddly specific, but okay."
Jordan paid for the dress, along with two black robes for himself — one practical, one for travel. Loria slipped the dress from the hanger, holding it to herself for a moment before setting it aside to admire the others.
From there, they moved to the weapon store, the walls lined with swords, bows, and staffs of every shape and material. Loria's eyes immediately found a slender staff with a sapphire core. She grasped it in her hands and twirled it lightly, testing the balance. "This one," she said firmly. "It feels… right."
Jordan nodded, paying the merchant with a few coins from his pouch. "Then that's yours."
Once they stepped outside, a sudden, empty silence seemed to hit Loria. Her stomach growled embarrassingly loud, and she froze.
Jordan chuckled softly. "Hungry, huh? Don't worry. Let's grab something to eat before your energy runs out."
They found a small restaurant tucked between two buildings, the warm smell of grilled meat and fresh bread spilling into the street. The owner gave them a polite nod as they entered, and Jordan ordered roast venison and stew for both of them. Loria's eyes widened at the smell, and she gave a small, grateful smile.
"This is… delicious," she murmured between bites, the tension from earlier fading with every mouthful. Jordan smirked. "Told you. There's a reason I take hunting seriously. Calories matter."
The moment lingered quietly, warm and unhurried, like a pause in the chaos of the world outside. Loria laughed softly, and Jordan realized that, for a brief moment, the forest, the bandits, and everything else felt far away.
When they finished, they stepped out into the evening air, the lanterns along the streets casting golden light and long shadows across cobblestones. The village felt calm, almost peaceful — a sharp contrast to the chaos of the forest only hours ago.
They approached the guesthouse, where an elderly innkeeper nodded at them as they entered. Jordan handed over a few coins to rent a room for Loria. "Second floor, left corner," the man said, handing her a key.
Loria stepped inside the small room, eyes widening at the simple comfort: a neatly made bed, a clean table, a candle flickering softly in the corner. "It's… perfect. Thank you, Jordan. You're really kind."
Jordan smiled faintly. "You needed somewhere safe. That's all."
Her gaze shifted to him, hesitant. "But… where will you sleep?"
"In the room next to yours. Don't worry about me," he said, adjusting the strap of his katana on his back.
Loria nodded, her small smile lingering as she turned back to explore the room. Jordan watched for a brief moment, taking in the quiet comfort of her expression, before stepping into his own room. The weight of the day settled on him, and he muttered to himself, "Time to log out."
< LOGGING OUT… >
His surroundings melted away, replaced by the hum of his apartment and the soft mechanical clicks of his VR pod opening. He blinked as his consciousness settled back into his real body, stretching and yawning. Checking his phone, he realized the time. "Saturday… finally, a day I can actually sleep in."
He shuffled downstairs, yawning softly, as the faint smell of breakfast still lingered from earlier. "Jordan! You have a visitor!" his mother called.
"Coming!" he replied. He stepped into the living room — and froze.
There she stood, casual clothes, arms crossed, a sharp glint in her eyes. Maria.
"Wait… Maria?" His voice caught slightly, a jolt of surprise and confusion rippling through him. Her gaze met his, calm but piercing, and in that instant, he knew his quiet Saturday had just ended.