First Steps
Hayeon carefully double-checked the slightly crumpled quest sheet she had received from the Adventurer's Guild. The details were simple: pick up a bundle of herbs from the Green Leaf Pharmacy and deliver it to a farm on the outskirts of the city. The reward was a mere handful of copper coins, but to her, it was more valuable than any treasure—it was her very first quest, one she had to complete entirely on her own.
"Are you really... going to be okay on your own? I'm worried. Maybe I should just tail you from a distance?" Ksenia asked, her eyes filled with genuine concern as they stood in front of the guild entrance. She looked at Hayeon with the anxious gaze of a mother bird watching her chick leave the nest for the first time.
"No, Eonni. I can do this on my own. If you keep protecting me like this, I'll stay weak forever, like a flower in a greenhouse. I want to prove myself. I want to become someone... worthy of standing by your side." Hayeon replied, her eyes burning with firm resolve. Seeing her so determined, Ksenia stopped trying to dissuade her. Instead, she gave Hayeon's shoulder a firm squeeze and offered a proud smile.
"Alright, fine. My little trainee is quite brave, isn't she? Be careful out there. If anything happens, fire this flare immediately. I'll be there within a minute."
Hayeon headed to the Green Leaf Pharmacy, where the pharmacist, Tisia, handed her a neatly wrapped bundle of herbs. A subtle, refreshing aroma drifted from the package.
"Oh my, Lady Hayeon is already taking on her first quest! I'm so proud of you. The road might be a bit rough, so make sure to keep an eye on your surroundings and stay safe. Here, this is a little gift from me." Tisia slipped a small potion bottle into her hand. Hayeon thanked her sincerely and stepped out of the pharmacy.
The map Ksenia had given her was quite detailed, but the fastest route cut straight through the city's labyrinthine, gloomy back alleys. Hayeon hesitated for a moment. Just looking at the dark alleys, where sunlight never reached, sent an ominous chill down her spine.
Will I be okay...? No, I can't just take the easy way out forever. I have to overcome things like this. Deciding she couldn't afford to waste time, she summoned her courage and stepped into the dark, musty alleyway.
Sure enough, it didn't take long for the exact trouble she had feared to find her. Three or four shady-looking men blocked her path, wearing sinister, greasy smirks.
"Hey there, pretty lady. Where are you heading in such a rush all by yourself? Why don't you hang out and have some fun with us? These alleys are a bit too dangerous for a girl to wander alone." One of the men sneered, stepping directly in front of her. His yellowed teeth caught the dim light.
Hayeon's heart leaped into her throat, but she forced herself to stay calm. Drawing upon the training Ksenia had drilled into her hundreds of times, she gripped the hilt of her sword, lowered her center of gravity, and fell into a basic stance.
"Could you please step aside? I am currently carrying out a quest for the Adventurer's Guild."
"The Guild? Hahaha! Look at that wooden plate. She's a greenhorn among greenhorns, the ink's not even dry yet! Hey, come along quietly and we won't have to get rough." Completely looking down on her, the men laughed and closed the distance.
Realizing that words were useless, Hayeon decided to strike first. Just as she had trained, she swung her sword toward an opening in the closest man's defense. Because they had dismissed her as just a pretty girl, they failed to react in time to her surprisingly swift and sharp strike.
Clang! She deflected the first man's dagger, leaving him visibly rattled. "Y-You little bitch...!"
The second man lunged forward, swinging his fist. Hayeon nimbly twisted her body to dodge the blow, then brought the pommel of her sword down hard on his wrist.
"Argh!" The man shrieked, clutching his wrist. At that exact moment, the last man tried to tackle her from behind. Hayeon threw herself into a roll across the ground to evade him, quickly recovered her stance, and swept her blade toward his legs.
Whoosh! Thwack! After a few more exchanges of blows, the men collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain. They were nothing more than low-life street thugs with pathetic skills.
"You'll pay for this, you bitch...!" Spewing curses, the thugs scrambled to their feet and stumbled away. Hayeon panted heavily, staring at her hands in disbelief that she had actually defeated the thugs on her own.
Wait... am I actually pretty good at this? To think the results of my training would show so quickly! Ksenia Eonni would be so shocked if she saw me! A swell of pride washed over her. Puffing out her chest, she resumed her journey toward the farm.
However, on the roof of a nearby building out of Hayeon's sight, Ksenia stood with her arms crossed, watching the entire scene. Scattered around her feet were several unconscious men who looked far more menacing than the petty thugs Hayeon had just fought. The dangerous individuals who were actually targeting Hayeon with malicious intent had already been silently neutralized by Ksenia before Hayeon even stepped into the alley.
"Sigh... That silly girl. Getting so cocky after beating up a few small-time thugs. She's still far too careless. If I hadn't cleared out the real threats beforehand, she would've been in serious trouble by now." Ksenia sighed, but a helpless, proud smile tugged at the corners of her lips anyway.
"Still... she looks so adorable when she's happy. I guess I still have a mountain of things to teach my cute little lover. Well, a small victory like this is all part of growing up." Moving soundlessly across the rooftops, Ksenia began to tail Hayeon from the shadows. She was protecting her from behind the scenes, ensuring Hayeon could experience the pure satisfaction of completing the quest through her own efforts.
Completely oblivious to this, Hayeon arrived safely at the peaceful farm on the outskirts of the city. The kind-faced elderly couple who owned the farm welcomed her warmly.
"Oh my, a young lady from the Guild. Such a beautiful girl doing this rough work, you must have had a hard time. Did anything scary happen on your way here?"
"Not at all. This is my very first quest, after all. There was a minor disturbance on the way, but I handled it myself." Hayeon handed over the bundle of herbs and received their signature of completion. Expressing their gratitude, the elderly couple treated her to freshly baked bread and fresh milk. Hayeon felt her heart melt at their kindness and the delicious, warm bread. Though their farmhouse was old and worn, it held a sense of peace and security she hadn't felt anywhere else.
Saying goodbye to the couple, Hayeon left the farm with a light step. Unlike her journey there, the world on her way back seemed entirely beautiful. The nameless wildflowers blooming by the roadside, the chirping of the birds, and even the rough-looking adventurers she passed along the way no longer seemed threatening. She was filled with a newfound confidence from having accomplished something with her own hands.
So this is what it means to be an adventurer. Completing quests with my own strength, helping people... This is way cooler than I thought. Humming a cheerful tune, she made her way back to Akron.
Upon returning to Akron, Hayeon went straight to the Adventurer's Guild. After reporting the completion of her quest to Riena, she finally held her first self-earned money—a few copper coins—in her hands. Though the amount was small, it felt heavier and more precious than any gold or silver treasure. Her chest swelled with a profound sense of achievement from having accomplished something on her own for the first time.
A system window materialized before her eyes.
As she stepped out of the guild, she saw Ksenia waiting for her by a pillar near the entrance, arms crossed. She looked as natural as if she had been standing there the entire time.
"Well, how was it, my proud disciple? Your first quest—was it manageable?" Ksenia asked playfully.
"Yes, Eonni! I completed it perfectly all by myself! I even ran into some thugs on the way, but I did exactly what you taught me and beat them all! I think I'm actually pretty strong!" Hayeon said excitedly, puffing out her chest with pride. Her face beamed with the pure, innocent confidence of a child.
Finding her absolutely adorable and endearing, Ksenia let out a hearty laugh and gently pinched her cheek.
"Aww, is that so? Our Hayeon did so well. Good job, seriously. Maybe I should give you an even harder quest tomorrow?" She ruffled Hayeon's hair as she showered her with praise.
Giddy from Ksenia's praise, Hayeon naturally slipped her arm through Ksenia's.
"Then dinner is on me tonight! To celebrate the success of my first quest! I'll buy you something expensive!"
"Haha, alright. Shall we have a delicious dinner bought by our fiancée today, then? I'm looking forward to it." Ksenia readily accepted the offer.
"Make sure to tell me all about how brave you were and how you punished those thugs. Don't leave out a single detail."
"Yes, Eonni! I was seriously so cool! I just...!"
The two of them looked at each other and laughed brightly. As darkness began to fall over the streets of Akron, they walked close together toward their lodging. They looked for all the world like a pair of deeply in love sweethearts.
Hayeon thought to herself that today was the happiest day she had experienced since arriving in this world. She still had absolutely no idea about the true exploits of Ksenia, who had been following her like a shadow.