Introduction Arc: Chapter 5.
The two parties have finalized their deals. Master Enchanter, livid with the agreement, offered to give Winter a free ride in his carriage towards Newbie Town. An offer that Winter accepted without hesitation.
Master Enchanter then ordered his assistants to pack up, prematurely closing the busy stall, which troubled the uneasy crowd. He ignored their pleas to buy, satisfied with today's trade.
The two were engaged in conversation while inside the carriage.
"They're refugees? Where'd they come from?" Winter said, pretending to be skimming the book he had obtained in the earlier trade, which detailed the history of this world. However, Bricks was the one actually reading and analyzing everything.
"The far east." Master Enchanter replied with a distracted tone. "The dragon lord's army has made a landing on the beaches. There were attempts to retake it, but they've all been fruitless." He said, scrutinizing the sword with a barely concealed grin.
Although Master Enchanter was distracted, there was a heavy and disapproving shade in his voice. He didn't like the refugees, seeing them as dregs.
"I must say, the quality of this sword is superb. It's a bit grimy, but nothing that a hot water can't clean." Master Enchanter said, putting the sword closer to the carriage's window, flicking out a piece of gore.
Winter remained silent, his fingers moving more rapidly through the book's pages as impatience took hold. He needed a summary of the world's entire history, and he was nearly finished.
He was now done with the first book and moved on to the second one — the book about the legacy of heroes.
Master Enchanter didn't notice the loud flipping of pages, eyes still focused on the prized sword. "I must say, I thought you had a group with you, but you're all alone."
"I can handle myself well."
"Of course." Master Enchanter said, eyeing the dagger in Winter's new sheath. (You dumb prick, that burning rune won't last, and although that dagger is from a hero, it doesn't bear their name.) He thought, snickering.
(Runes are challenging to obtain, and information about them is guarded. I should have focused on duping nobles; my honest living selling shoddy protection items doesn't pay well anyway.) Master Enchanter thought, grinning tightly.
Winter was now finally finished with the skimming and flipping.
He looked outside the carriage and was instantly enamored by the sight. Newbie Town was no longer a town; it was now a beautiful city full of bustling activity. It was like straight out of a detailed digital art.
He couldn't wait to explore the city and meet his childhood heroes. The ones that are still alive, at least.
"You can drop me off here. Thank you for the ride, Master Enchanter." Winter said, exiting the carriage and taking a big whiff of the city's air. He approached the fountain in the middle of the intersection, where carvings were carved into the walls.
◆ [ A summary has been made, do you want to hear it? ] ◆
Bricks said, but his words were brushed aside.
The water glistened, sparkling as it came out of the urn of a small child's statue. The sun's light offered a beautiful reflection on the wavy water. Winter savored the moment, a warm, fuzzy feeling coming over him. He grabbed the water; it was cold but embracing.
Winter felt alive; he felt as if he had jumped into a picture book. The world was so warmly welcoming. The people were also warm, nodding and smiling at him. They greeted him as if he were a local, not a foreigner, and he shyly returned the greeting.
The houses appeared strangely Renaissance, barely emerging from the medieval era. It looked comfortable and quaint. The people wore fine clothes and were all neatly dressed; almost everyone looked pretty and nice.
"I want to see everything." Winter thought, walking away from the fountain.
A trip to the Great Bridge caused his heart to flutter. In the game, the bridge was merely a large, hundred-meter-long ancient tree that fell after a battle, but now it was a white marble bridge. Winter leaned, looking beneath the bridge. The water was clean, sparkling clean.
A trip to the Colosseum heightened his excitement. There were gladiators, dressed in the roughest armor, fighting with vigor. The colosseum was colossal; he sat in the furthest, and the gladiators seemed like ants. Fortunately, a big, floating magical hologram above the colosseum allowed everyone to watch the fight.
Finally, a trip to the hill left him kneeling in shock, with tears streaming down his face. The sun was setting, its edges were slightly hazy from the distant view, and the view was photographically picturesque.
A vast lake could be seen in the distance, with the setting sunlight spreading across the skyline. A gust blew from the east, providing a gentle breeze that fluttered his hair.
The people around him were just as enamored of the view, despite being locals who had seen the setting sun a thousand times. They all glared at Winter, especially the children who were now giggling at him. Winter paid them no mind; his worries had faded, and what was left was pure bliss.
(I wish every day were this beautiful.) Winter thought, rising and fixing his leather armor. (I wonder if the nights are as stunning as the day.)
Winter approached a young adult couple who were sharing a large piece of cheese. "Excuse me, do you know where the best tavern is?"
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Winter sat in the farthest corner inside the tavern, drinking from a cold mug of beer. Apparently, he came at the right time. A close group of four adventurers was promoted to a higher rank, and they all gave the people inside a free drink.
"Hurrah to the Night Generals!"
"Good luck to you four!"
A lot of cheering and dancing then happened; it was as if every minute that passed, the tavern got more rowdier. The armored city guards even joined in the fun, drinking a free mug of beer, then returning to their posts.
Winter witnessed everything with a smile. He wished to be a part of this world, but he had responsibilities to attend to. He had a family.
(I want to go back to my world, and preferably while still in this form. Magic exists here; reverse transmigration must be possible.) He thought, approaching a board with many request posters.
"Cull the undead manifestations in the night forest region," Winter said, reading the post. (What are undead manifestations? Ghosts? Skeletons?)
Winter shrugged. (Whatever, it sounds easy. I have a limitless burn rune dagger. That merchant must've thought that this was a temporary one. Thank god for Bricks for telling me what that merchant was planning.) Winter thought, recalling Bricks' analysis of the merchant.
◆ [ Analyzing Character: Shifty, speech pattern is reminiscent of a lying merchant, eyes always averting, slightly flushed face and hands, words are too synthetic. Verdict: The target is trying to scam you, but doesn't know the full potential of the dagger. ] ◆
(You got that just by looking at him? Damn.)
Winter unpinned the job poster and took it with him, leaving the tavern and heading to the night forest region while routinely asking for directions if he was going the right way.