Chapter 2

  The frontier town of Vale sits on the eastern border of the Argus Kingdom, right next to the Great Forest of Virelia. Originally a military outpost, it is now a bustling frontier town of approximately tens of thousands of people, protected by wooden walls and stone watchtowers.

  The Adventurer's Guild runs everything monster-related from their large stone building in the Guild District. Bronze-ranked rookies like Leon handle easy jobs marked green on the notice board, while silver and gold ranks take on the more dangerous blue and red notices.

  "We maintain balance, not domination," Guild Master Thaddeus Ironheart often tells newcomers, his eyepatch and scars backing up his authority. The guild carefully controls monster populations—too many threaten the town, too few allow stronger creatures to thrive unchecked.

  The forest follows a natural hierarchy: weaker monsters, such as goblins and dire wolves, are found near the edges, while more dangerous creatures, like ogres and manticores, are located deeper in, and the most terrifying creatures inhabit the unexplored heart. Every part of a monster has value—alchemists use organs for potions, blacksmiths craft with bones and fangs, and local taverns serve exotic monster meat dishes.

  For people like Leon, Vale represents a fresh start where skill matters more than background. The town's rules are simple: help the community, respect the forest, and never go deep into the woods without proper rank and preparation.

  As Leon nervously eyed the mission board in front of him. His simulations continued in the background of his mind. One was practising sword forms with mechanical precision, another doing push-ups and sprints, while the third worked on combat tactics against imaginary opponents.

  His eyes traced upward, taking in the color-coded system. Green notices for bronze ranks like him, blue for silver, red for gold, purple for platinum, silver paper for mithril, and fancy gold-leaf notices at the very top for the legendary adamantine ranks. Six levels in total, and he was firmly at the bottom rung.

  "This one looks good," Leon muttered, spotting a green notice at the edge of the board. Moonshade mushroom gathering at the forest border—five silver coins for a full basket. Enough to keep him fed and sheltered for another day.

  He plucked the notice from the board and turned toward the receptionist's desk to register for the mission, accidentally bumping into someone.

  "Sorry about that," said a girl with brown hair and freckles splashed across her nose. She had a wooden staff slung across her back, with runes delicately carved into its surface—a mage.

  Leon's heart skipped a beat. Magic. Actual, real magic existed in this world. His original memories as Leon confirmed it, but the part of him that was once Alex—a kid from a world where magic was just fantasy—still felt a rush of excitement at the sight of a real spellcaster.

  "No problem," Leon replied, trying to sound casual, then continued on his way to the board.

  He'd definitely need to learn some spells eventually, but learning magic required money. For now, surviving and building up his physical abilities had to come first.

  "One step at a time," he reminded himself.

  Leon approached the receptionist to register for his mushroom quest.

  "First solo mission, rookie?" she asked, eyebrow raised. "Forest edge isn't too dangerous, but keep your wits about you.”

  "I'll be careful," Leon assured her.

  As he headed for the east gate alone, Leon couldn't help but feel a mixture of nervousness and excitement. This would be his first real mission in this new world.

  The guards at the east gate barely gave him a second glance as he left Vale behind, following the dirt path toward the massive trees of the Great Forest of Virelia.

  Leon felt nervous as he got close to the forest's edge. His three simulations kept running in his head—sword practice, workout routines, and fighting moves—like three YouTube videos playing at once. For now, he'd have to rely on whatever skills this body already had.

  "Let's do this," He said to himself as he stepped into the forest, leaving the safety zone behind.

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  The Great Forest of Virelia was vast, stretching for hundreds of thousands of kilometres across the continent of Virelia and connecting multiple kingdoms. According to legends, no one had ever mapped its deepest regions.

  He checked his assignment paper. Moonshade Mushrooms. These glowy blue mushrooms grew near fallen logs and small streams and were used in night vision potions. The guild would pay five silver coins for a basketful—enough for food and a room for a day.

  Leon kept his sword ready as he moved carefully. His body remembered basic training from farm work and practice, but nothing special.

  After searching for a while, he found some pale blue mushrooms under a rotting log. Even in daylight, they glowed faintly.

  As Leon knelt to pick them, he heard a weird hissing sound. He slowly turned his head.

  A thornsnake was coiled on a branch nearby, its scaly body blending with the bark. It was about as long as his arm, with sharp spines sticking out and black eyes staring right at him.

  "You can do this," Leon told himself, heart racing, as he unsheathed his sword.

  Then the snake launched itself straight at his face.

  Leon's body reacted instinctively and with memory, awkwardly swinging his sword in a clumsy arc. He barely managed to hit the creature, sending it flying into a nearby bush instead of cutting it cleanly.

  "That was close," he gasped, his heart pounding. He was thankful that his body had some basic training.

  The injured thornsnake slithered away into the underbrush, leaving Leon shaken but alive. He went back to gathering mushrooms, now checking over his shoulder every few seconds.

  "Can't wait for those simulations to kick in," he muttered, imagining how much better he'd be once his mind synchronised all that training. For now, though, he was just a rookie with a sword he barely knew how to use.

  As he continued through the forest, his basket slowly filling with mushrooms, Leon heard running water nearby. A small stream would be perfect for finding more mushrooms. As he walked toward the sound, he spotted another cluster growing on the other side.

  The attack came without warning. Something small and green burst from the underbrush, swinging a jagged knife at his leg. Leon yelped in pain as the blade sliced through his pants and into his calf. He stumbled backward, nearly dropping his basket of mushrooms.

  The goblin snarled, its yellow eyes gleaming with malice. It was barely four feet tall, with mottled green skin and pointed ears. The creature wore scraps of leather armor and clutched a rusty knife now stained with Leon's blood. It made guttural noises, a language Leon couldn't understand.

  Leon's leg throbbed as he raised his sword with shaking hands. The goblin circled him, surprisingly quick for its size, looking for another opening. When it lunged again, Leon swung his sword frantically. The blade connected with the goblin's shoulder but didn't cut deep enough to stop it.

  The creature shrieked in pain and rage, stabbing at Leon's stomach. He twisted away just in time, the knife only slicing through his shirt.

  Leon stumbled on a tree root and fell hard on his back, knocking the wind from his lungs. The goblin leaped onto his chest, knife raised for a killing blow. In desperation, Leon grabbed the creature's wrist with one hand while fumbling for a rock with the other.

  "Get... off... me!" Leon gasped, smashing the rock against the goblin's temple. The creature's eyes rolled back, but it still tried to bring the knife down. Leon hit it again, harder, feeling something crack beneath the stone.

  The goblin went limp, its knife clattering to the forest floor. Leon shoved the body off and scrambled away, breathing hard. He stared at the dead creature, then at his own blood-soaked pants leg.

  "That was too close," he muttered, tearing a strip from his shirt to bind the wound. The cut wasn't life-threatening, but it hurt like hell and would slow him down.

  Leon limped back to his mushroom basket, relieved to find it hadn't spilled in the fight.

  He gathered the last few he needed, keeping his sword drawn and constantly checking his surroundings. Every shadow now seemed to hide another goblin ready to attack.

  Leon limped back to his mushroom basket, relieved to find it hadn't spilled in the fight. He gathered the last few he needed, keeping his sword drawn and constantly checking his surroundings. Every shadow now seemed to hide another goblin ready to attack.

  The trek back to Vale was pure misery. Each step sent jolts of pain up his injured leg, and the makeshift bandage was already soaked through with blood. Worse, he couldn't stop thinking about that rusty knife. Even a small wound could turn deadly if infection set in.

  "Fucking... goblin," he grunted between labored breaths, using a branch he'd found as a walking stick. The forest path seemed twice as long on the return journey. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool evening air—not a good sign.

  By the time the walls of Vale came into view, Leon was dizzy and nauseous. The guards at the gate actually noticed him this time, one of them jogging over when he saw Leon staggering.

  "First day out, huh rookie?" the guard said, not unkindly, as he helped support Leon's weight. "Let's get you to the guild healer. That leg looks nasty."

  "Goblin... rusty knife," Leon managed to say, still clutching his precious basket of mushrooms. The mission wasn't complete until he delivered them.

  "Yeah, that figures," the guard nodded. "Those little bastards never clean their weapons. Probably hoping for exactly this—infection does their killing for them."

  As the sun finally set behind the walls of Vale, Leon leaned heavily on the guard, limping through the streets toward the guild hall. His first quest was complete, but at a higher cost than he'd expected.

  Next time, he promised himself feverishly, he'd be better prepared—and hopefully, by then, stronger.

  End of Chapter 2