The rythmic sound of crickets amidst the starless night bored me to death.

At this time, I am waiting for my turn to appraise this big scale tied up at my back.

Throwing rocks at the trees, making fun scenarios in my head, and pulling off the grasses have ceased to amuse me thats why I'll take my last option— catching fireflies!

"Huppa! huppa! the one got away!"

A client has walked out the broken door of Monty's shack; he doesnt look satisfied about the value of his drop.

(Its finally my turn!)

Monty greeted me with a friendly smile on his cheeks.

"Psyche, my beloved client."

I let out a heavy sigh of relief

"Ugh, you must be sorry to keep your beloved client waiting!"

"Yes I apologize, I had a little misunderstanding with my client. So, I suppose you want me to appraise that big scale tied up your back, or is a different matter?"

.

.

"Th-this is a 1st-grade Fire Drake scale Psyche! I must say, you are very fortunate to get a topnotch drop!"

Monty raised his appraisal goggles—a magical tool used to evaluate the value of a drop— up to his forehead.

"Isnt it?You see gods are on my side today!"

I proudly said and laughed.

"Well, are you through considering Its price?"

I asked with a sparkling eyes of anticipation—looking forward for this fine drop to be priced a good amount of dels.

"I'll buy it..."

He cleared his throat.

"7000 Del—maximum."

(What a let down.)

My happy face faded after hearing what he said.

I rested my elbows on the table, interlocked my fingers, and then stared at him blankly for a moment...

He only gave me an unconvincing smile.

I tsked as my brows knitted.

"Quit joking around Monty! Recently, you labeled this scale as 'topnotch' and now you intend to price this for only 7000 del? Were you exaggerating just to please me?

I cant believe you.

I had to even put my one and only fancy robe at stake; look fire drakes had scorched it."

Salivas splattered on him as I grumbled—

then I crossed my arms and looked away.

"Youre a waste of time."

I said in an undertone.

I hate appraisers! To be frank, they are mere money-grubbing foxes.

"Please control your temper Psyche, I see youre not in a good state. However, we shall not involve the story of you going through such lenghts so as to obtain this scale; lets focus only on the value of the scale shall we? The average price of a first-grade drake scale is 7000, to tell you the truth."

He reasoned-out making my sharp eyes turn at him.

"It's impossible for me to accept that offer!

I'll just sell this to my friend, I bet he'll pay more than you."

I straight up refused his offer

but before I could even reach the door he uttered

"Alright! Alright!

9000 del—deal?"

His words brought a smile to my lips.

"Deal!"

.

.

(Sigh that guy, he made much ado and nonsense blabberings. If his intention is to buy it, why dont he just offer the rightful amount from the start?

business confuses me...)

Currently, Im heading towards the tower once again.

It extends up to the sky, no one has yet to reach atop it, because of that, its secrets are still uncovered.

Some speculations I have heard are:

The tower is a gift from the gods, once you reach the final floor, a genie will grant anything you wish.

Another one is that, you will become a god.

Who would even dare to? maybe that one guy, teeming with courage and of course desperate enough to risk his life all to find out if is true or not.

You see, It will cost your life just to get past through the various monsters that dwells on each floor of the tower; the good thing about it is that, you can get 'monster drops' —the main source of income in Elfrud which we can sell for Dels, the price obviously depends on the quality and demand.

Brave people who works in the dungeon, like clearing floors and gathering drops from weak-type monsters and boss-type monsters are called 'Adventurers'.

I Psyche the bold, is one of them. Cool isnt it?

Currently, Im not in a good state but I think my body can still manage to obtain drops worth 500 del from weak-type monsters.

I looked at the insides of my coin pouch and sighed.

(I need a little more money so I can buy that 4th-grade battle robe Ive been saving up for...)

Having a glimpse of the money I've earned peps me up.

I drew a deep sigh and gazed dearly up at the starless sky.

(Hopefully, god of money and fortune—Hyethus—would bless good fortune upon me.)

As I walk, a repetitive thump grabbed my attention.

/Thump/

/Thump/

/Thump/

I looked down, right where the sound was emanating from.

(My boots broke...)

I once again turned my gaze up at the starless sky.

"Oh c'mon Hyethus."

I mumbled and did an akimbo.

(Going back to where I left off, I truly want to buy it as soon as possible so I can become stronger, venture out on a higher floor thus earn more dels.

I also secretly want to flaunt it at the town square.

I wonder what would other adventurers' reaction be?

Perhaps, they'll envy me and say

"What a good quality robe you have..."

"It looks cute on you!"

"I presume that's expensive!")

"Nyihihi give me a break!"

I frozed and checked my surrounding left and right.

(I accidentally replied to an imaginary conversation in my head. It was loud and realistic enough for me to inadvertently get carried away.

Naturally, I grabbed everybody's attention.)

I faked a giggle

"Hehe, work hard everyone!"

was my answer to their puzzled faces.

Now, I have reached the entrance of the tower.

It is beyond my expectation that there are still adventurers venturing out in the tower deep in the night just like me.

"There are still adventurers here huh, Thats rather unexpected. They are probably driven by something, somehow."

.

.

.

"Fire arrow!"

about an hour has passed

(Good! I already eliminated twenty monstrous bats and have accumulated some drops from them.

Approximately, these skins and fangs cost about 400 dels.

...Just a bit more.)

A sudden gust of wind gave me goosebumps—maybe to inform me that I must be wary of the surroundings.

Thus I wandered around my eyes

As far as my eyes can reach—not a single soul can be seen.

(Cooold.)

"Now that I've noticed, Im the only one left here; other adventurers who were present earlier already took their leave—to rest I take it.

On the other hand, Im planning to be an all-nighter here so I must take a rest too."

I sat near the corner and searched for the flask on my leather bag that has been intermixed with assorted monster drops inside.

I jugged water from it

"Gah! I must say water never tasted this good."

/Whoosh!!/

"Ack! Where did that came from?!"

A blade-like attack came bolt of the blue and grazed my leg.

My eyes wandered to observe the place yet I still have no clue of its position.

/Whoosh/

/Whoosh/

/Whoosh/

(!!!)

In the nick of time, I have managed to dodge those attacks.

(It appears that those attacks were of magical kind; they vanished right after hitting the ground.

Hadnt I evaded those, my head wouldve been sliced off.)

"Show yourself coward! Are you afraid?"

I mocked it, hoping that it would reveal itself afterwards.

"Stop taking advantage of the darkness, fight me fair and square."

(It is lurking somewhere in here. I hope its not a thief—I worked hard for these sacred drops you know.

If it continues to shroud itself in the darkness, then I'll just cast a wide-ranged attack before it attacks again.)

"So I can take it, you want me dead before I can even tell your position."

"You left me no other choice."

"Goddess of the stars Yuna, heed my prayer. Bless power upon me to eradicate the darkness..."

A blinding light from my hand illuminated the area.

Just now, I casted light magic to reveal the evil being who, I presume, is a user of concealing magic.

I took a step back

"T-the Shadow Wisp! What the hell is it doing here!"

There is a trace of fear in my voice.

(That boss is supposed to be on 7th floor!)

My feet became jelly and my vision began to blur.

I fell on my knees before I could cast my counterattack.

(My head feels fuzzy...)

"Help... A-any—"

.

A mysterious man with an ominous aura had appeared right before Psyche even fell to the floor.

He barely caught her on time.

Taking off his upper clothing, his toned muscles and tattoos became visible.

"GoOjinss aAre not Wwelcome."

Uttered the wisp through telepathy.

The Gojin gently raised Psyche's head and placed his folded clothes underneath it to serve as a pillow.

He turned his deadly gaze to the Shadow wisp and slowly approached it.

He then shape-shifted into a fire Phoenix.

An enormous bird with a fearsome appearance.

Its massive beaks and wings covered in fire had scorched everything out of the way.

It let out a large roar and landed onto the ground causing it to quake for a moment.

The Shadow Wisp created sharp, bullet-like objects and simultaneously fired those to the Pheonix.

It served as a temporary divergence, allowing the wisp to cast a concealing magic.

The pheonix's massive wings were able block some of it.

Now, the concealing magic was in effect; the wisp completely veiled its presence through the darkness.

The pheonix let out an intense fire from its body; its purpose was to make a large-scale attack to forcibly make the wisp reposition itself.

A wisp unique concealing magic would only work if the caster's mind is still and focused while the magic is in effect.

For this reason, the effect of its magic would stop once impeded.

For a moment, a trace of its presence could be felt.

The Gojin had used that momentary chance to pin-point its next position.

Which obviously would be where the pheonix's attack was unreachable.

(Its payback time.)

The Gojin pre-aimed the Fire bolt attack to where the wisp would reposition itself.

It pierced through the Shadow wisp's heart thus, distintegrated.

He transformed back into a human and carried Psyche.

He sighed.

"My owner...Aria

As long as I am here, no one can hurt you."

.

.

.

"Fuwa..."

I smothered a yawn.

"Why is it so bright? Is it morning already—Kyaa!"

Before I could completely open my eyes, a black bunny appearred in front of my vision.

To my surprise, I jumped off the bed and jolted into a defensive stance.

"A black bunny! An omen of bad luck!

Scram, misfortune Ive had enough."

I immediately pointed my palm to his direction and released a lightning attack.

(The bunny didnt trouble itself to dodge it.)

I got stunned for a moment, noticing the powerful aura that surrounds him.

(This bunny is eleven times stronger than me.)

Guessingly, it is unaware that he emits an aura.

In this world, people use a special device to conceal our aura. One factor is that, you will be put to a disadvantage for letting an enemy calculate your strength.

In addition to that, you will scare people out if you reveal a powerful aura, on the other hand, you will surely be laughed at for your guts of revealing a weak one.

(threatening this animal will just trigger its anger—bringing my life to a close.

I must regain my composure and calmly ask its business with me.)

I slowly inhaled and exhaled.

"So, lets talk about your business with me, shall we?"

The black bunny suddenly transformed into a human.

"As expected."

I breifly said.

It appears to be a decent-looking guy with a jet-black hair that flows over his nape and eyes that speaks sincerity.

I roamed over my examining eyes on his face.

(I assume he's the type that stutters when lying.

And to be honest, Seeing those features somewhat relieves me.)

He fell on one knee and slightly bowed his head.

(Whats with the formality? I'm not even a ranked guild member nor a royalty.)

"Greetings, My name is Mereon. I deeply apologize for not introducing immediately.

I wasnt able to respond right away since I was enjoying the view of your face a bit too much...

It's been so long Aria."