By the lakeside, he undressed, muttering to himself, "I don't want to wet my only clothes," before plunging into the cool waters.
Beneath the surface, he searched for the elusive item. "Where is it? The lake is quite deep," he thought as he continued his descent.
A glimmer caught his eye, and he swam up to take a breath before diving down again. This time, he reached the lake's bottom and beheld the shining object.
_______Notice____________
Item: Thousand Years Mana Flower
Rank: ??????
This item holds thousands of years' worth of mana and is used to create powerful potions.
It can't be consumed raw.
Consuming it raw may lead to death.
______________________
"Bingo, I got the item. Now let's collect it and go," he thought while still underwater.
As he prepared to leave, another object caught his attention. "Hmm, what's this?" he wondered before deciding to take it along. "I can't wait here any longer; let's head to the surface."
With the items secured in his inventory, he swam towards the surface.
Some time later, fully dressed again, he looked up at the sky and said, "That's great! I found the most crucial item. I hope you can see this, Mother. I've got the cure – Zero."
"Now, let's see what this other item is…"
_________Notice__________
Item: Mana Ball
Rank: ?????
This item contains an extraordinary amount of Mana.
It can be used to enhance Mana.
It's not recommended for consumption.
___________________________
He was shocked as he read the item's description. "What the... Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or is this a legendary rare item? My luck is pretty high right now," he thought, staring at the system screen.
His contemplation was interrupted by strange sounds from across the lake. Taking cover behind a tree, he saw a large pack of wolves emerge.
"Why are these monsters here? Could this be another quest?" he wondered, observing the powerful creatures. "I can't risk making any noise. Those wolves may be dangerous, and I won't be able to take them all on. I need to wait for the right moment to leave."
Cautiously, he waited for the wolves to become preoccupied with drinking water before slowly sneaking away. "Now's my chance. Let's go."
With great care, he made his way out of the forest, relieved to have escaped the perilous situation.
"Phew, that was quite scary. I never expected so many powerful wolf-type monsters to travel together. I wonder if they are preparing for war or something… Zero's memories didn't mention anything about this. He had no idea this forest would be so dangerous. He anticipated monsters, but not ones of this level."
Continuing on his journey, he maneuvered through the woods, deep in thought.
"These wolves were strong, but one was particularly strange – the pack's leader. I could sense his immense power even from my hiding spot. I hope the system didn't give me a quest to kill that wolf. I'm nowhere near strong enough for that."
After a while, he found himself outside the forest. "Huh, wait. The trees aren't as dense anymore. This must be the way out! Finally, I'll get out of this forest," he exclaimed, hastening towards the exit.
Finally free from the treacherous woods, he stood outside the village. "Now, let's head to the village," he said, following the roads.
"If I'm on the right track, it should take about two hours to reach the village."
He walked along the path that led to the village and, after some time, arrived at its entrance.
"This is the village where Zero lives. I guess this is where I'll reside as Zero. Hmmm, what's the village's name again… Ah yes, Hik-ka village. Quite a unique name, isn't it? Almost sounds funny," he mused.
As he strolled through the village, he was surprised to see people carrying swords, spears, and other weapons. Excitement surged through him – the beginning of a new journey in a new world.
"Now, let's see, which way was it again? I don't quite remember…" he pondered with an intense gaze.
Just then, he heard a familiar voice calling from behind.
"Zero, you're finally back! I was worried. Are you okay? Did you get hurt?" A young man in low-rank knight armor approached him, showing concern.
As memories from Zero's past filled his mind, he recognized the man as Beck, the one who had guided him through the forest and given him a small sword.
Taking a moment to gather himself, he responded with a smile, "I'm fine, didn't get hurt. Just a little tired, that's all."
Beck glanced at his torn clothes skeptically, but Zero assured him, "It's nothing, my clothes got ripped while escaping some wolves, that's all."
Relieved, Beck asked if he had found what he was looking for. Zero replied, "Yes, I found it. It's related to my mother's illness."
Beck mentioned that he hadn't informed Zero's father about the forest, and Zero promised not to tell either. After exchanging more words, Beck informed him that his father was looking for him near the second gate.
With gratitude, Zero thanked Beck for his help and began to make his way towards his home, eager to meet his father and share the good news.
Beck watched him go, thinking, "It's the first time he's talking to me this much and even smiling. I guess finding the cure for his mother has lifted a weight off his shoulders. He's changing, and it's a good thing to see."
And so, Zero continued on his journey, both excited and apprehensive about the new world that lay before him. Little did he know the adventures, challenges, and friendships that awaited him in Hik-ka village.