Daily chores, dungeon expeditions, visitors at the inn, and secret meals at the hideout had all become part of the young trio's routine.
Time is a primordial force — volatile, unpredictable, and bound only by its own rules.
Time waits for no one. Those who try to glimpse it, will only see they own past.
And like all routines, it passed… and little seemed to change.
More than two months had gone by since Twig's arrival in Westeros. During that time, the three had ventured through increasingly dangerous dungeons: from level 15 to 20, 20 to 25, and finally, from 25 to 30.
Each new dungeon brought formidable foes. Yet as their levels increased, those same monsters stopped being threats — mere obstacles on their path to strength.
Their abilities grew along with their experience.
Twig, for example, had already reached level 10 in [Sword Mastery] and [Increased Recuperative Power], while [Bash] was nearly there — skills worthy of a seasoned swordsman.
His friends had grown just as strong. Their aptitude with the blade had become remarkable. Even Jenny — once timid and uncertain — now wielded her sword with unshakable confidence.
Aron, driven by his relentless desire to improve and one day become a knight, had turned his discipline into strength.
He was a fierce fighter — sometimes even faster than Twig when charging into battle. His endurance had also improved tremendously.
Curiously, Twig noticed Aron developed [Increased Recuperative Power] far faster than Jenny. When he checked Aron's stats, the reason was clear.
[Ding!]
Name: Aron
Age: 11
Race: Human
Job: Swordsman – LVL [29/50] | Exp: 11,521 / 23,229
Level: 32 | Exp: 615 / 28,344
HP: 2,165 | MP: 148
Attributes:
STR: 39 | VIT: 40 | AGI: 33 | DEX: 33 | INT: 18 | LUK: 10
Equipment: Blade [3], Wooden Mail [1]
Skills: Sword Mastery Lv.10, Increased Recuperative Power Lv.8
Name: Jenny
Age: 10
Race: Human
Job: Swordsman – LVL [28/50] | Exp: 16,175 / 18,570
Level: 31 | Exp: 19,582 / 24,093
HP: 2,008 | MP: 154
Attributes:
STR: 36 | VIT: 35 | AGI: 37 | DEX: 36 | INT: 21 | LUK: 11
Equipment: Blade [3], Wooden Mail [1]
Skills: Sword Mastery Lv.10, Increased Recuperative Power Lv.4
Jenny's strength now was simply devastating.
With a sword in hand, she had become an unstoppable force — so lethal and precise that even the Mountain, that depraved brute, would be a fool to face her.
Twig remembered her ferocity vividly — the way she cut through a zombie as if slicing bread.
With just a few swings, heads, arms, and legs were already flying through the air.
With 36 points in Strength, she wielded the power of over fifty grown men.
In fact, several kitchen utensils had mysteriously "vanished" over the last two months — casualties of Jenny learning to control her new strength.
Who would've imagined that timid little girl from the inn would become such a ruthless swordswoman — feared even by the dead?
Satisfied with his friends' progress, Twig checked his own status next.
[— USER STATUS —]
Name: Robert Nilig (Twig)
Age: 11 (+21)
Race: Human
Job: Swordsman – LVL [30/50] | Exp: 6,356 / 28,359
Level: 33 | Exp: 14,753 / 33,346
HP: 2,591 | MP: 167
Attributes:
STR: 36 | VIT: 45 | AGI: 34 | DEX: 36 | INT: 23 | LUK: 15
Resources: Stat Points: 0 | Skill Points: 3 | Zeny: 42,853
Equipment: Blade [3], Wooden Mail [1], Buckler [1]
Skills: Sword Mastery Lv.10, Increased Recuperative Power Lv.10, Bash Lv.9
As he reviewed his progress, Twig recalled the dungeons they had conquered over the months — and realized how much harder leveling had become.
The first of the new ones unlocked had been the Cursed Forest — home to zombies, rabid squirrels known as [Coco], and the monstrous Elder Willow.
Defeating several of those wooden beasts had rewarded the group with their Wooden Mail, the same armor they still wore proudly.
From levels 20 to 25, they ventured into the Forbidden Jungle, a suffocating, dangerous tangle of vines and beasts.
There, they encountered [Argos] spiders — massive and venomous — and spiked beasts called [Caramel], which dropped spears they never used due to their sword specialization.
And of course — goblins. So many goblins. Archers, hammer-bearers, you name it.
It was from them that Twig obtained his Buckler [1], still equipped today, waiting for the day he'd find a compatible card to insert it.
Past level 25 came the Death Valley — a desolate, deadly wasteland.
There they faced full-grown Desert Wolves, fierce and fast.
They also battled dragon-like lizards known as [FrillDora], tough as stone.
But the most troublesome foe wasn't the strongest — it was the smartest: the cunning [Mantis], which hid among rocks and struck from behind.
Those monsters were tougher, yes, but their EXP rewards was worth all the grinding.
Today would be just another day in their routine — or so it seemed.
For the first time, they would be eligible to enter a Level 30–35 dungeon, newly unlocked by the system.
Twig was eager to explore it, but since his friends were still a few levels behind, he decided to wait.
He didn't want to risk their safety unnecessarily.
That's why his own level was already slightly above the dungeon's minimum requirement.
On the way to the forest, Twig reflected — not only on their stats and growth, but on the physical changes the past two months of eating meat had brought.
Aron had changed the most. He'd grown nearly a full head taller, his shoulders broader, his frame more solid. He no longer looked like the underfed son of an innkeeper.
Jenny, too, had grown — taller, leaner, and beginning to show the grace of adolescence.
Twig, meanwhile, though slightly taller, still had a slim frame. At first glance, he didn't seem muscular at all.
But beneath his simple clothes, his muscles were firm — not those of a child, but of a warrior forged through hardship.
He wasn't sure whether to be happy or frustrated.
On one hand, his build made him inconspicuous — good for avoiding unwanted attention.
On the other, he longed to look powerful, like a true warrior, broad-shouldered and imposing.
Sadly, that wasn't the case.
Maybe his nickname had cursed him — doomed him to forever look like a twig.
When they finally reached the familiar clearing in the woods, Twig called out for Aliane to request teleportation.
The Kafra assistant appeared in her usual composed manner — elegant, calm, and smiling gently.
"Good morning, young master… and young masters," she greeted with a polite bow. "Ready for another adventure today?"
"Good morning, Aliane," the group replied in unison.
Twig stepped forward. "Aliane, we want to go to the new dungeon today. Could you show me the available options?"
"Of course, young master," she said, bowing lightly.
[Dungeon List]
LVL 5~10 – Forgotten Cave – A hidden sanctuary – 500 Zeny
LVL 10~15 – Cruel Desert – All the sand that can be – 500 Zeny
LVL 15~20 – Cursed Forest – Nothing good comes from there – 1,000 Zeny
LVL 20~25 – Forbidden Jungle – Why are you here? – 1,000 Zeny
LVL 25~30 – Death Valley – Death awaits all who come – 1,500 Zeny
LVL 30~35 – Haunted Mansion – Home of ghosts and evil creatures – 1,500 Zeny
"Hmm… a haunted mansion, huh?" Twig murmured, reading the entry carefully.
"Wow… 1,500 Zeny just for the teleport?" He sighed, doing the math in his head.
"We're three people, so that's 4,500 to go and 4,500 to come back… 9,000 in total."
He crossed his arms and looked at Aliane with a faint grin.
"Let's hope the monsters there drop something really valuable — or this investment's gonna hurt."