Chapter 20 - The Faces of Akron

The next morning, brilliant sunlight gently illuminated the lodging's beautiful garden. Hayeon stepped out into the yard wearing a comfortable, form-fitting dress that Ksenia had prepared ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for her. Although her entire body ached from the grueling training and the passionate night she had shared with Ksenia, she felt strangely refreshed, as if she were walking on air. Perhaps it was the pride of having accomplished something through her own strength.

"Good morning, Hayeon. Was yesterday's training too tough? We should let your muscles rest today. Instead, I'll show you around the city. These are places you'll be visiting often as an adventurer, so it's best to familiarize yourself with them early. Connections are a vital weapon in this line of work, after all."

Hayeon nodded, her face slightly tense. In her hand, she held the new sword she had received yesterday. It still felt unfamiliar, but it was transitionally and undeniably hers.

"Yes, please, Eonni. I want to learn more about this city too. I can't rely on you forever."

"Good, I love that attitude." Ksenia flashed a satisfied smile. "Then let's start by properly introducing you to where we're staying. You might have seen her around, but greeting her formally is a different story."

Ksenia led Hayeon to the parlor on the first floor of the lodging. There, a neat woman with platinum blonde hair was watering some plants.

"This is where we stay, the Wind's Lodging. And this is the owner, Lady Serena. Since it's located in a quiet area in the southern part of the city, solo female adventurers like me can stay here with peace of mind. It even has a small garden and a hot spring in the back."

Serena smiled warmly at Hayeon. Her smile possessed a natural power to put people at ease.

"Oh, Ksenia. Are you formally introducing your cute little Lady Hayeon to me? Welcome. How has your stay been these past few days?"

"Yes, it's really... wonderful. Very comfortable..." Hayeon lowered her head slightly, trying to hide her blushing face. Though they had crossed paths a few times, this was their first formal greeting.

"We're practically family now, so please let me know if anything is uncomfortable. Looking at you, you feel just like my own daughter, so I can't help but worry. Feel free to drop by anytime; I'll brew you some warm herbal tea."

Serena's genuine warmth filled Hayeon with a deep sense of relief.

"Now, shall we start our real tour of the outside? Our first destination is the Belka Workshop, which we visited yesterday."

Their first stop was indeed the Belka Workshop. It was a familiar place, vibrating with the relentless ring of hammers, sweltering heat, and the heavy scent of iron. As they opened the door and stepped inside, Belka greeted them with a boisterous voice.

"Well, look who it is! My favorite beauties are back! So, how do you like the gear I fitted you with yesterday? You didn't sleep hugging it all night, did you?"

"Yes, thanks to you. It fits my hand perfectly. It feels like an extension of my own body," Hayeon replied sincerely, making Belka grin with satisfaction.

"Haha! That's how it should be! Gear is basically an adventurer's second life! This is the place you'll visit most often for weapon repairs or custom gear. It never hurts to stay on the good side of Auntie Belka and that quiet fellow over there, Molt. I can personally guarantee their skills." At Ksenia's words, Molt silently bowed his head in greeting, and Hayeon bowed back. She noticed his wolf ears twitching slightly.

Next, they headed to the Green Leaf Pharmacy. Unlike the sweltering heat of the workshop, the interior of this shop was filled with the fresh scent of grass and the sweet aroma of herbs. Tisia, the half-elf pharmacist dressed in a light green dress embroidered with leaf patterns, welcomed them with a smile as pure as a fairy's.

"Oh, Ksenia. You brought such a cute guest with you today? She's like a ray of sunshine. Hello, young lady. You aren't feeling sick anywhere, are you?"

At her gentle, soothing voice, Hayeon shook her head with a flushed face. "Ah, no. I'm fine. I just... came to look around."

Ksenia picked up a few bundles of herbs from the side and said, "You must learn the recipes for antidotes and basic recovery potions for your own survival. In the dungeon, more people die from neglecting minor wounds than from monster venom or curses. Tisia is the best pharmacist in this city, so feel free to ask her anything you don't know. She'll kindly teach you."

"Come by anytime, young lady. I'll give special lessons to a pretty girl like you," Tisia said with a wink. Hayeon found herself liking the cozy atmosphere of this place.

Their third destination was another blacksmith shop, named Dragon's Breath. While the Belka Workshop crafted practical and sturdy weapons, this place specialized in magic weapons, forged in a massive furnace that looked as if it were boiling with lava.

"Why won't this damn sword listen to me! Hraaaah! O spirits of fire, grant strength to this humble dwarf!" Dorbin, the dwarf blacksmith, was shouting at a glowing red piece of iron, hammering it with a massive mallet. Sparks flew in every direction with each strike of his hammer.

Hayeon took a startled step back from the overwhelming heat and intensity. Ksenia chuckled at her reaction and said, "He might look like that, but his craftsmanship is spectacular. His enchanting is the best in this city. If you ever want to enchant your sword later, this is where you should come. Though, of course, he'll charge you an arm and a leg."

"Ah, is that so...? He really is... amazing." Hayeon wiped away her sweat with a smile. This city was truly filled with highly eccentric characters.

Next, they headed to the magic shop, Oz's Legacy. The shop's interior had no windows, illuminated only by a faint blue light, and the shelves were packed with bizarre and mysterious items of unknown origin. A tiny fairy corpse preserved in a jar, a skull that occasionally blinked, and glass bottles filled with strange liquids lined the walls. Master Oz, an elderly man wearing thick spectacles, stared at them for a moment before speaking in a short, concise tone.

"Let's measure it." He held out a palm-sized crystal ball to Hayeon. "We shall see the extent of your magical talent. Place your hand on it."

As Hayeon carefully placed her hand on the crystal ball, a faint silver mist began to spread within it.

"Hmm... Your mana capacity is average. However, its purity is exceptionally high. There is potential. Depending on the path you choose, you could become a great archmage, or a mediocre mage doing chores for the rest of your life. That is up to you." Without another word, Master Oz immersed himself back into his research.

That mana stat on my status window... How on earth do I actually use it? Hayeon pondered as she followed Ksenia out.

Next was an old bookstore named Quiet Page. It was a place filled with the scent of worn parchment and books. Even though customers had entered, the elven bookstore owner, Arbel, silently kept flipping through pages without looking up. Ksenia whispered softly, "Looking at the books here will tell you how the world works. Sometimes, knowledge can be a stronger weapon than a sword. In particular, reading up on this world's history and monster guides is an absolute must."

As Hayeon browsed the bookshelves, she discovered a dusty old book in a corner titled Survival in Another World - Beginner's Edition. Could this be...? Was this written by someone who crossed over here like me? Her heart fluttered slightly. With a glimmer of hope, she opened the book, but contrary to her expectations, the contents were rather mundane.

Although written in a diary format, most of it was just basic common sense needed for a novice survivor in another world. The contents were disappointingly simple, but for the current Hayeon, it was actually quite practical.

...Still, it could be useful. The herb information and warning signs written here might actually help me. She picked up the book. On the cover, a faded subtitle read, "A Guide to Another World for the Stranded."

"Eonni, I'll take this book. I feel like... it has a lot of things I need." As Hayeon held up the book, Ksenia nodded with a gentle smile. Right then, a system window popped up before her eyes.

Hayeon tilted her head in confusion. It didn't seem like a particularly special book, but the system had clearly recognized something. Hugging the book to her chest, she thought quietly, Since I have a status window, maybe there are hidden elements like in a game.

Their final destination was the Adventurer's Guild, standing majestically in the city center. It was a place she was now somewhat familiar with, having come here first to receive her Wooden Plate. In front of the bustling reception desk, Ksenia walked straight up to Riena. "Riena, could you find a decent quest that this rookie can handle on her own? Something that isn't too dangerous."

Riena looked up from her paperwork, scanned Hayeon from head to toe, and clicked her tongue. "You picked up another stray, Ksenia. Your meddlesome nature never changes. How many times do I have to tell you that it's going to bite you in the ass one day?"

Despite her grumbling, she pulled a few sheets of paper off the bulletin board and handed them ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠over. "It's a delivery mission for beginners. But don't let your guard down. It's on the outskirts of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the city, so stray monsters occasionally appear. Especially lately, there have been reports of goblin scouts spotted frequently."

Ksenia added a warning to Riena's words. "Though sometimes, humans are far scarier than monsters." Then, she looked at Hayeon and smiled encouragingly. "Alright, Hayeon. Now it's time for you to take your first step. This is your first mission to accomplish on your own, without me. You can do it, right?"

Written on the paper Riena handed over was a simple errand quest: delivering herb packages from the Green Leaf Pharmacy to a farm on the outskirts of the city. The reward was small, but to the current Hayeon, this opportunity was more precious than any treasure. She gripped the quest sheet tightly. It was the moment she would take her very first step in this world, using her own strength.

"Yes, Eonni! I can do it! I'll definitely... complete it with my own strength and return!" Hayeon's voice no longer held fear, but a firm, unwavering resolve.