Leo opened his eyes. A dull ache pulsed through his body as he took a slow breath. He was lying on a bed.
As his vision cleared, he scanned his surroundings. The room was small and sparsely furnished, containing only a bed, a wooden drawer, and a single chair. The walls were plain, with no decorations or windows in sight. It wasn't an infirmary, yet his body was wrapped in tight bandages, stiff and sore from battle.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself upright. His muscles protested, but he ignored the pain and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Just as he was about to stand, the door creaked open, and a red-haired girl stepped inside.
She wasn't wearing the typical white uniform of a nurse—just simple, casual clothes, the kind anyone might wear. That detail alone made Leo certain he was in the League of Adventurers's building.
"You shouldn't be moving," the girl said, her voice firm but not unkind.
Leo blinked a few times before speaking. "Where's Ryan?"
"He's with the boss," she replied, walking toward him. In her hands, she carried a glass filled with a strange yellow liquid. Without hesitation, she held it out to him.
"Drink this."
Leo took the glass and, without thinking, gulped it down. The moment the thick, bitter liquid hit his tongue, his face twisted in disgust.
"What the hell is this?" he asked, grimacing.
The girl raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you ask that before drinking it?" A smirk played on her lips as she watched his expression. Then, seeing his concern, she added, "Don't worry—it's an antidote for the poison in your system."
Leo frowned, but after a brief pause, he pushed himself to his feet.
"Hey—"
He lifted a hand, stopping her mid-sentence. "I'm fine."
She hesitated, then let out a small sigh. "But—"
"Can you take me to Ryan?"
The girl studied him for a moment, as if deciding whether to argue, then finally nodded. "This way."
Leo followed her out of the room. Every step sent a dull throb through his body, but he kept moving. The pain was manageable, and there was no point in resting when there were more important things to deal with.
They walked through a dimly lit hallway, the wooden floor creaking slightly beneath their steps. After a minute, they reached a large door. The girl knocked twice.
"Come in," Elric's voice called from inside.
She opened the door, and Leo stepped in. Before she left, he turned back to her.
"Thanks… uh—"
"Emily," she said with a small smile before closing the door behind her.
Leo turned his attention to the room. Ryan was sitting on a sofa, his arms crossed, while Elric sat behind a large wooden desk, watching him.
"You gave us quite a scare," Elric said, his tone calm but firm. He gestured toward the sofa across from Ryan. "Sit."
Leo lowered himself onto the seat. His body still ached, but he ignored it.
"What happened?" he asked.
"After I defeated my enemy, I looked for you and found you unconscious near a tree," Ryan said, crossing his legs. His expression was calm, but there was a hint of irritation in his voice. "You're lucky I found you quickly. A little later, and you'd be dead."
Elric sat behind his desk, his chin resting on his interlocked fingers. His sharp eyes studied Leo. "Ryan told me a little about the creature you fought, but since you faced it directly, your information should be far more valuable."
Leo leaned back slightly, thinking back to the battle. He recalled every movement, every attack, and the struggle of the fight. After a few seconds, once he had sorted his thoughts, he spoke.
"From what I saw, it was a fusion of multiple C-rankers. Its intelligence was low, and that was the only reason I managed to win. Physically, it was overwhelming—it could form swords from its own bones and wield both fire and water magic. But none of that was the real issue." He paused, rubbing his temple as if trying to shake off the lingering exhaustion. "The real problem was its faces. It had three of them. As long as they remained intact, it kept getting back up, no matter how much damage I dealt. I had to kill it twice."
Ryan let out a low whistle. "Three faces, huh?"
Elric's fingers tapped lightly against his desk. "Can you put all of that in a report and give it to Katrine?"
"Katrine?" Leo repeated.
"She's the girl who gave you the form when you first came to the League a few days ago."
Leo recalled the young woman behind the front desk—the one who had rushed off to fetch Elric. But something in Elric's words caught his attention.
"A few days ago? Wait a minute—how long was I unconscious? What day is it?"
Ryan leaned back, arms crossed. "Not sure. Two, maybe three days? It's Saturday today."
Leo let out a quiet sigh of relief. 'I didn't miss the meeting.'
Ryan continued, "Also, I need to go on a mission alone, so you'll be in the city until I return. You can stay at the League's building in the meantime."
Leo's brow furrowed. "Is it related to the corrupted tree monster?" He was referring to the creature Ryan had fought.
"Sort of, yeah. The pit beneath that house needs to be cleared and purified."
Leo nodded, then asked, "What should I do while you're gone?"
Ryan shrugged. "Whatever you want—just don't take any dangerous missions."
Leo placed a hand on his head. The pain was still there, a dull ache lingering beneath his fingertips.
"Your body still needs rest," Elric said.
Leo gave a small nod and stood up. "Then, if you'll excuse me." He turned and left the room.
Since he already knew the way from when Emily guided him earlier, Leo made his way back to his room. He lay down on the bed, letting exhaustion take over, and rested for a few more hours.
When he woke up, it was night.
Sitting up, he reached for his bag and pulled out a pen and a sheet of paper. He carefully wrote out his report, summarizing the events of his mission, then headed to the League's main hall to find Katrine.
Spotting her at the front desk, he approached and placed the paper down. "Hello. This is my report from the previous mission. Mr. Elric said to give it to you."
Katrine picked up the paper, glanced over it briefly, then set it aside somewhere behind the desk. "Thank you. I'll send it to our research group tomorrow." She smiled.
Leo raised an eyebrow. "You have a research group here?"
"Yes. They organize the knowledge adventurers gather and store it in the library. By the way, you're welcome to read through it. It's the first door down the corridor on the left side of the hall."
As she spoke, her expression shifted, as if suddenly remembering something. "Oh, before I forget." She reached behind the desk and pulled out a card. "Here you are—your adventurer card is ready. Congratulations."
Leo took the card from her and examined it.
At the top, the name Victor Black was written, followed by Rank: C+.
'One more rank, and I'll be in B,' Leo thought, a small smile forming on his lips.
Now free to do whatever he wanted, he glanced around the hall, watching adventurers dressed in various types of gear—some in sturdy armor, others in enchanted robes.
"Maybe I should buy some armor or something," he murmured to himself. Then, turning back to Katrine, he asked, "Do you know any good shops for robes and armor?"
"Of course. There's a good one on White Stone Street. Just go right when you leave the building, walk straight until you reach a square, and from there, take the left street—that'll be White Stone Street."
"Got it. Thanks."
With that, Leo stepped out of the building and followed her directions. He walked for about ten minutes before reaching White Stone Street.
This city is smaller than I thought, he mused, glancing around as he strolled down the street.
White Stone Street was one of the main roads leading to the city's entrance, making it a bustling hub lined with all kinds of shops. Merchants called out to passersby, advertising everything from weapons to potions, while adventurers and traders browsed through various storefronts.
Leo's eyes landed on a display of robes in one of the shops, prompting him to step inside. The store was packed with magical items—enchanted weapons, trinkets, and books filled the shelves, casting faint glows in different hues.
Heading straight to the section where robes were displayed, Leo started sifting through them, searching for something that suited both his needs and style.
After a minute, a tall man, clad in a full black suit, approached him. "How can I help you, sir?" he asked with a polite smile.
Leo turned to him. "I need a robe that works well for both magic and physical combat."
The man gave a slight nod. "May I ask what your field is?"
"I'm both an illusionist and a warrior."
"A dual-field adventurer? Impressive. And may I ask your rank? Some items require a higher rank to use."
"C-plus."
The shopkeeper raised his eyebrows slightly before regaining his composure. "This way."
He led Leo to a different section of the store.
"We have three robes that would suit you well." He gestured to a short blue robe first.
"This one is enchanted to absorb mana from you and store it, allowing you to release and gain it at will. It's a solid choice for mages who need an extra source of energy. The price is 80 silver."
Next, he pointed to a deep red robe.
"This robe has two enchantments. The first is a defensive spell that generates a shield capable of blocking three C-rank spells completely. The second is an offensive enchantment—it allows you to cast a C-rank fireball spell three times. This one costs 1 gold and 20 silver."
Finally, he moved to the last option. It was a black tunic with intricate gold embroidery along the edges. A wide leather belt, fastened with a circular metal buckle, securing the tunic at the waist, while an additional strap crossed the chest diagonally. The sleeves featured matching gold accents, and the forearms were wrapped in brown leather bracers.
"This tunic also has two enchantments. The first gives you a temporary speed boost for five minutes, but it can only be used once. The second is a healing enchantment, also usable only once. Both spells are C-rank. This set will cost you 1 gold and 25 silver."
Leo ran his fingers over the black tunic's fabric, considering his options. "Do you have anything for the lower body that would go well with this?"
The shopkeeper smiled. "Of course, sir. Please examine the tunic while I bring something that complements it."
He handed Leo the tunic and guided him to a small fitting room.
As Leo changed into the tunic, he frowned slightly. 'Shouldn't I pick the other pieces of clothing myself?' He was still thinking about it when the shopkeeper returned, holding a pair of tan-colored trousers and knee-high leather boots.
Leo tried them on, fastening the boots securely. The loose-fitting trousers provided ease of movement, tucked neatly into the sturdy, reinforced boots. The tunic's sides extended slightly past his knees, giving it a distinct yet practical design.
He turned to the mirror, examining his reflection.
"These guys really know what they're doing," he said with a satisfied smile.
Leo stepped out of the fitting room, now dressed in his new attire. He adjusted the leather belt securing his tunic and glanced at his reflection once more. The outfit felt comfortable yet sturdy, well-suited for both battle and everyday wear.
The shopkeeper gave an approving nod. "It suits you well."
"I'll leave wearing these."
"Of course. Do you need anything else?"
Leo shook his head. "No, this will do."
"Then this way, please."
Leo followed the man to the counter, where he completed his purchase. The total came to 2 gold coins. After handing over the money, he stepped outside, deciding to take a walk around the city.
The city had six main streets, each bustling with life. Shops lined both sides, selling all sorts of equipment—enchanted weapons, potions in glass vials, leather-bound grimoires, and even rare monster parts displayed behind protective cases. Blacksmiths worked tirelessly, the rhythmic clang of hammers ringing through the air. The scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread drifted from street vendors, mixing with the faint, ever-present scent of burning coal.
Taverns stood at nearly every corner, filled with adventurers boasting of their exploits over tankards of ale.
After getting a better sense of the city's layout and taking mental notes of places he might visit later, Leo turned back toward the League, ready to plan his next move.