The bartender’s smile faltered slightly. “About that… If you’re interested, you can just go to the Outer District Battle Arena.”
Vincent didn’t press the bartender further.
‘I guess it might be better to see it on my own,’ he thought. Deciding on his next course of action, he sat down and ordered a light breakfast before heading to the Novice Center to report and acquire more missions.
Although his curiosity was piqued by the bartender’s information about the secret realm, he didn’t have enough knowledge about it. It might contain dangers he wouldn’t be able to overcome. Therefore, he believed the wisest decision was to improve his personal strength first.
At the Novice Center, Vincent approached the same Almuarian woman who had guided him through registration yesterday, Alma. He submitted the Black-Iron Bee Stingers he had collected.
“With these, you have completed your mission,” she said, pausing before handing him a small silk pouch. “This is your reward, 100 origin crystals.”
Vincent accepted it without comment. He then heard a soft ‘ding’ sound from the identification token in his pocket, indicating the completion of his mission. After thanking Alma, he skimmed through the Tier 1 missions and chose available tasks ranging from 1 to 5 stars.
Initially, he wanted to accept all available missions within that range. However, he discovered he could only accept five missions simultaneously. With this limitation in mind, he chose missions focused on killing primals and collecting materials.
As he was about to leave the Novice Center, a woman’s voice interrupted him.
“W-Wait, you! The one who accepted five missions!”
Frowning beneath his black mask, Vincent turned to face the voice’s owner. He saw a crimson-haired woman standing 170 cm tall, her red clothes clinging to her body, emphasizing her well-developed figure.
Although she appeared human at first glance, her skin was different. She had red skin, reptilian crimson eyes, long eyelashes, and a few reptile scales on her cheekbones.
A Drakorii.
They were known as one of the neutral races in the Origin World, with a natural affinity for fire elementals. Most of them possessed an innate talent for fire manipulation and were skilled hunters.
While observing her, Vincent could feel the gazes of others around him. They were assessing him, trying to determine if he was a powerful warrior or a suicidal idiot. Seeing nothing remarkable about him, they quickly lost interest, labeling him as the latter.
Noticing his lack of reaction, the Drakorii woman approached him and said, “Hey, I saw you accept the mission about Flairmuse?”
Still cautious, Vincent responded, “What about it?”
“Oh, so you really accepted it. I was just guessing, hehe,” the woman said playfully with a giggle.
Vincent simply stared at her, unsure of her intentions.
Seeing his lack of reaction, the woman pouted. “You’re so boring. Are other humans as dull as you?”
Surprised by her innocent question, Vincent’s eyes widened, and he subconsciously touched his face, wondering if he had forgotten to wear his mask. Feeling the cold texture of the black fabric, he realized it was still in place.
‘I am wearing my mask. How did she know I’m human?’ he wondered, having been extra cautious today after yesterday’s events. That was why he had donned the mask the moment he left his rented room earlier.
Although curious, Vincent decided it was better not to get close to her. Without responding, he quickly left the Novice Center. However, the woman persisted in following him.
“Wait! Human!” she called repeatedly, which eventually annoyed Vincent. He stopped in his tracks and faced her.
“Why do you keep bothering me? What do you want?” His voice rose slightly, evidently irritated.
The Drakorii woman faltered back, seemingly surprised at his tone.
“W-Why are you mad?” Her voice softened, and the corners of her eyes watered.
Seeing her reaction, Vincent couldn’t help but touch his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
‘Just what kind of people am I encountering today?’ he thought bitterly. Yesterday he had met individuals with deep backgrounds and others who wanted him dead. Now, he was facing another peculiar character.
Calming his thoughts, he addressed the teary-eyed woman who was acting like a scolded child. “Calm down, I’m not mad.”
“Really?” she asked doubtfully.
“Yes, yes, really,” Vincent responded, as if soothing a child.
“Hmm, okay,” she said, seeming to accept his words.
Seeing her calm down, he asked again, “So, what do you want from me? Why did you follow me?”
This time, his tone was more measured, wary of upsetting her further.
The woman stared at him innocently. “I want to go with you!”
“Go with me? Where?”
“Flairmuse.”
“Flairmuse?”
She nodded.
Vincent’s lips twitched. Although her reply was brief, he somehow understood her intention. “Do you want to go with me to hunt flairmuse?”
She nodded again.
“Why? Can’t you go alone?” he asked.
She went silent, fidgeting before shaking her head.
“Don’t you know there’s a map in your identification token? You can find the whereabouts of flairmuse through that.”
She remained silent, her red skin taking on an even deeper shade of crimson, seemingly ashamed.
“I-I don’t know…” her voice was almost inaudible.
“You don’t know what?”
“I don’t know how to look at the map…” she said softly.
Vincent was speechless. “Just how old are you not to know how to follow a map?”
The Drakorii woman was too embarrassed to reply.
Shaking his head, Vincent chose to reject her.
“No, I can’t go with you. I don’t even know you; you might kill me when I let my guard down.” He didn’t completely believe her act.
Hearing his rejection and accusation, the woman responded, raising her thin but perfectly arched eyebrows, “Why would I kill you? Are you a bad human?”
“Are you sure you’re above 18?” he could no longer hold his doubt.
Vincent saw her about to nod before she shook her head. He was skeptical but discarded the thought, knowing it was impossible to enter the Origin World for those below 18 years old.
‘Maybe she has some cognitive issues,’ he reasoned, trying to find the most plausible explanation.
“Anyway, I really cannot let you go with me,” he said firmly, determined not to let a stranger know his secrets. Moreover, she would likely be a hindrance to his farming efforts.
He turned around, preparing to leave.
“W-Wait, I can pay you!” She called, grabbing his clothes.
“No,” he said simply, removing her hand.
“I can pay you whatever you want!”
This time, he was surprised. He raised his eyebrows, scrutinizing her from head to toe. “Whatever I want?”
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