The city of **Aurelius** was alive and bustling.
Merchants shouted, armored knights patrolled the streets, and mages discussed quests and spells.
Kael looked around in awe.
"Wow... I didn't think a fantasy world could feel this real."
Beside him, **Lyra** smiled.
"Welcome to Aurelius, Kael. You should register at the *Adventurer's Guild* right away. That's
where your real journey begins."
They stood before a grand stone building, its sign showing a crossed sword and quill.
As they entered, noise and laughter filled the air—warriors drinking, mages talking, and a long line
at the counter.
Kael approached the receptionist, a blonde woman with her hair tied in a ponytail.
"Good morning! Would you like to register as an adventurer?"
"Yes!" Kael said with a grin.
"Perfect. Name?"
"Kael."
"Age?"
"Seventeen."
"Profession?"
Kael hesitated for a second.
He didn't want to reveal his infinite mana yet.
"Uh... swordsman. Specializing in fire magic."
The woman nodded and wrote something on a glowing sheet.
A blue crystal shone and a small card emerged from a magic circle.
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild of Aurelius, Kael. You are now a *Bronze Rank* adventurer."
Kael took the card, admiring it like a trophy.
"Nice! So, I can take on quests now?"
"Of course! But first... it seems you have something to sell?"
Kael nodded.
"Yeah, some monster drops."
He stepped aside and opened his magical inventory.In a flash of light, teeth, claws, horns, hides, and even a white mask from the **Shadow Reaper**
appeared.
Everyone in the guild turned to look.
A nearby adventurer spat out his drink. "He... he killed *that* thing?!"
The receptionist stared, wide-eyed.
"I-I don't even know how to price all this..."
After a few minutes, she returned with a bag full of gold coins.
"The total value is... 1,200 gold coins. That's a fortune for a beginner!"
Kael chuckled nervously.
"Guess I had some good training."
After receiving the reward, he decided to find a place to rest.
Lyra guided him to a building nearby with a sign reading **"Red Moon Inn."**
"Here you can eat and sleep. It's cozy, you'll like it."
Inside, the air smelled of warm bread and stew.
Kael sat down, ordering roasted meat and a large mug of spiced milk.
As he ate, he thought about how much his life had changed in such a short time.
From a tired Japanese worker... to an adventurer in a world of magic.
After the meal, he went up to his room.
The moon shone outside, and a cool breeze entered through the window.
Kael smiled, lying on the bed.
"Alright... tomorrow, my real adventure begins."
He closed his eyes... and found himself in a familiar place.
A white sky, a glowing floor.
"Huh? Where am I...?"
Before him stood the **God of Creation**, his long white hair flowing, his expression calm.
"Ah, Kael. It's good to see you again. I just wanted to check how you're doing in my world."
Kael laughed awkwardly.
"Oh, all good! I joined the Guild, fought some monsters... everything's fine!"
The God nodded slowly—but then his gaze darkened.
"I'm glad. However... something evil is stirring in the *Forest of Death*."
Kael frowned. "Evil? You mean monsters?"
"No. Something darker. Something that does not belong to this world."The air turned cold. For a brief moment, Kael saw a shadow behind the God—two crimson eyes
staring at him.
"Be careful, Kael. That power... is looking for you."
Then everything vanished.
Kael woke up suddenly, drenched in sweat, his heart pounding.
He looked out the window—the sun was rising.
But the sky wasn't blue. It was tinted **crimson red**, as if something had tainted the dawn.
A chill ran down his spine.
"It wasn't just a dream... was it?"
Outside, a bell tolled across the city.
A scream followed. Then another.
Kael rushed to the window and saw **columns of smoke** rising from the edge of the forest.
His breath caught.
"The Forest of Death... it's burning?"
And in that moment, a voice whispered inside his mind:
*"I've found you, Kael."*
He froze. His heartbeat roared in his ears.
Who—or what—had just called his name?
**To be continued...**