Elias arrived at the jungle clearing just past noon and found it bustling with activity.
Food stalls lined the space, serving tired adventurers as they emerged from the jungle. Some even offered hammocks and cushioned armchairs for their customers to rest in.
Beyond the stalls, a wide range of services was on display—makeshift sparring rings, healer tents, showers, massage tables, and even a bar.
For a moment, Elias stared wide-eyed, wondering if this was really the same clearing he’d passed through just yesterday. The scene before him was nothing like he remembered. But that might’ve been because he’d only ever come through at dawn or deep into the night.
During his dungeon delve, Elias had realized it was easier to find monsters in the jungle when fewer people were around to hunt them. After some thought, he concluded that starting his delves in the early afternoon instead of in the morning, when the zone was most crowded, was a promising strategy. It allowed him to extend his runs late into the night without exhausting himself too quickly.
Arriving in the dungeon after lunch meant one less meal he’d have to eat on the jungle floor. Now, though, it seemed there was another option—one he hadn’t known about before.
Elias eagerly stepped into the bustling clearing, his heart pounding with excitement.
The tantalizing aromas drifting from the food stalls made his mouth water, and he mentally noted a few particularly appetizing options. He didn’t stop to eat as he’d already had lunch before arriving, but he was quickly making up his mind to return tomorrow just to try them.
The ambiance was everything he’d imagined when picturing the adventurer lifestyle. People strolled past with weapons openly displayed and smiles on their faces, most of them still covered in dirt and bits of jungle foliage.
Elias did his best to appear friendly, nodding and smiling at anyone who glanced his way.
He’d been hoping to find companions to form a party with for a long time, and this seemed like the perfect place to do it. Over the years, he’d tried joining several parties, but was always turned away.
His frail constitution just made him look too weak. No one wanted someone who couldn’t pull their own weight, and being an unarmed fighter hadn’t helped his case either.
He took a deep breath, trying to let go of the frustration that had built up from all those rejections, reminding himself that things were going to change.
He was already a far better fighter than anyone he’d met in his age group. Finding a party would be much easier once he actually looked the part. After all, everyone wanted someone strong on their team.
The groups in the clearing were varied, but they generally fell into two categories: those who made a living from dungeon delving, and those who didn’t. Amateur groups were the most common, though they were usually accompanied by at least one hardened-looking adventurer—power-levelers.
Non-combat professions, such as crafters and entrepreneurs, had alternate ways of gaining experience, but only after reaching level 10, when they unlocked their Skills. Until then, everyone had to kill monsters in the dungeon to level up, so these individuals often hired professional adventurers to assist with their early training.
There were even a few powerful adventurers among the crowd, their magical weapons and armor making them stand out. Most of them were arriving from the trail that led out of the newbie zone and into the Beginner-ranked zones and beyond. It was clear they’d come to the clearing specifically to make use of the amenities.
One adventurer in particular had a pair of powerful-looking machetes strapped to his sides. The one on his right blazed like the molten heart of a volcano, while the one on his left exuded a chilling mist that froze the grass beneath it.
Elias guessed they had to be Epic weapons at the very least. The man had to be Journeyman rank or higher to wield them.
The more casual dungeon delvers usually headed straight to the surface after leaving the jungle, while most veteran adventurers stopped at the clearing to eat or rest before returning to their delve.
What surprised Elias was how few people actually went back in. He understood that most didn’t want to make a career out of dungeon delving like he did, but he’d always assumed more people aspired to become professional adventurers—and not just for the thrill of it.
Energy crystals were invaluable, essential for nearly everything, and those who built careers around gathering them often became extremely wealthy. Of course, that was only true for those strong enough to collect large quantities—or rare energy types.
“Hi there! Are you new around here? I don’t think I’ve seen you before,” a bright, feminine voice said, pulling Elias out of his thoughts.
He turned curiously, coming face-to-face with a beautiful girl smiling directly at him.
Her long black hair framed a delicate face, accentuating piercing blue eyes and full lips. She wore a black vest over a fitted long-sleeved shirt, thick pants, and sturdy boots. Throwing knives were strapped across her clothing, especially her vest, while two large combat knives rested in leather sheaths on her thighs.
Even the simplicity of her outfit couldn’t hide the athletic allure of her figure, and Elias gaped at her for a long moment, mesmerized. Then, with an effort of will, he finally regained his composure with an embarrassed cough.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“Uh, hi. Yeah, this is my first time at this fair. I didn’t even know the clearing looked like this,” he said with an easy smile, gesturing around him, “during lunchtime.”
“Well, well. A newbie, huh? Welcome to the dungeon!” the girl said enthusiastically, letting out a small laugh as she spread her arms wide, as if presenting the whole clearing to him.
It took all of Elias' willpower not to stare—again.
“Thank you,” he replied with an awkward smile, scratching the back of his head.
He could feel his face heating up.
Her lips twitched, as if she were holding back a smile, and her eyes narrowed slightly. Elias recognized the look—it was the same expression Isabela wore right before she started teasing him about something.
“Did you already have lunch? I know a really good place,” she said suggestively, giving him a wink.
Elias' eyes widened in surprise. Had those extra points in Vitality already made such a noticeable difference? That was the only explanation he could come up with for why a girl so far out of his league would be flirting with him. Still, he wasn’t about to throw away the opportunity.
“I already—” he began, then stopped to clear his suddenly dry throat.
“I already ate, but I’d be happy to grab something with you. I’m Elias, by the way,” he added, aiming for as much confidence and charm as he could manage.
“Well, well, Elias. Are you asking me out on a date? You do realize I’m working right now, right?” she teased, grinning as she gestured to the burrito stall behind her.
Only then did Elias realize she was a greeter for the stall.
She hadn’t been inviting him to eat with her. She’d been inviting him to eat at the place she worked.
Somehow, his face grew even hotter.
The worst part was, he’d seen plenty of people doing the same thing to attract customers. With so many stalls in the clearing, most had someone like the girl in front of him, working to lure people in.
Elias cursed softly under his breath.
“I’m just messing with you—please don’t be upset,” she said with a lighthearted laugh.
A moment later, her eyes and smile softened as she added, “Anyways, it’s nice to meet you, Elias. I’m Rebecca.”
Elias noted the distinct lack of remorse in her tone. The corners of her smile still twitched with amusement, even as she tried to keep it under control. Narrowing his eyes, he smiled thinly and gave two small nods, as if to psych himself up, before flashing her a grin of his own.
If she wanted to play, he’d be more than happy to oblige. He had Isabela as a little sister. He wasn’t about to let a stranger, even one as cute as Rebecca, out-embarrass him.
“Don’t you think you’re being a little unfair? You lure me into your stall with that smile, but then you won’t even keep me company. How am I supposed to enjoy my food when you’re standing there looking so distracting? I’d end up just staring,” Elias said with a flirtatious wink, grinning—confident he’d turned the tables.
But instead of the blush he expected, Rebecca’s grin turned sharp, her blue eyes gleaming with mischief. She tilted her head slightly, eyeing him like a predator sizing up its prey.
Suddenly, he wasn’t so confident about coming out on top of this exchange anymore.
“Oh, is that so? You poor thing,” she replied with an exaggerated pout, leaning in just a little closer. “But if I sat down with you, wouldn’t that just make it worse? Imagine trying to eat while I’m this close. I’d hate to be responsible for you starving.”
Rebecca smirked, crossing her arms, a gleam of triumph in her eyes. This time, however, Elias managed to hold his composure, no longer caught off guard like before. He was just starting to think he might actually have a chance of winning this game when the gleam in her eyes sharpened.
“And I didn’t say anything when you were staring earlier, did I? Though… my dad over there might have a problem with it,” she added, jerking her thumb behind her.
The large, gruff man manning the food stall was glaring at him with murder in his eyes. Elias gave an awkward laugh and waved, a strained smile plastered across his face, but the man didn’t so much as blink.
Elias was speechless, unable to come up with a response to her teasing. He had to admit, the girl in front of him had completely outclassed him in this game.
By now, his entire face was burning—even his ears felt hot.
“Don’t feel bad, Elias. You never really stood a chance against me,” Rebecca said with a laugh, grinning good-naturedly.
Tentatively, he returned her smile, accepting his defeat.
Elias decided he liked Rebecca. Despite how out of sorts she made him feel, it was clear she didn’t mean any harm by teasing him. Her smile was playful and easygoing, and—if he was being honest—he was more than a little attracted to her.
Unfortunately, he didn’t see any spark of attraction in her eyes, so he let go of any romantic hopes—for now.
He knew he still came off as unattractive, a side effect of his low attributes. But that would change. And when it did, he’d be curious to see how she looked at him then.
“You know, I doubt you try to embarrass every new person you meet like that. So… why me? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to make me feel bad,” Elias said, unable to completely keep the accusation out of his tone.
At least Rebecca’s dad had stopped glaring at him from behind the stall. The man looked terrifying.
“I guess I just couldn’t help myself,” Rebecca said, actually sounding sheepish for the first time. “You get embarrassed way too easily—I think it’s cute. How about I give you a free burrito as an apology? They’re really good. And if it makes you feel better, you can think of my teasing as my way of making friends.”
“Your way of making friends, huh? Fine,” Elias said with a sigh. “But like I said before, I already ate today, so I’m redeeming it some other time—and you have to join me. You wouldn’t let a friend eat alone, would you?”
“Oh? We haven’t even parted and you already want to see me again?” Rebecca teased.
This time, Elias just stared at her evenly, raising a single eyebrow. She clearly noticed he was starting to get annoyed and clicked her tongue.
“Fine, I’ll stop—for now.”
“Anyway, I should get going. I still want to level up before the day’s over. Nice to meet you, Rebecca,” Elias said, turning to leave.
“You know, I work as a power leveler too. If you want to gain some quick exp, just let me know. I’ll even give you a discount,” she called after him.
“Thanks, but I’ll manage. I might look weak, but that’s just because my attributes are low. I know how to fight well enough,” Elias replied without looking back.
“Suit yourself,” she said, sounding unconvinced.
A few seconds later, he heard her cheerful voice again as she greeted a new customer.