As a man became an adult, every day started to blur into the same monotonous routine. Holidays, weekends, and special occasions lost their significance, appearing no different from ordinary days. The once vibrant world around me now seemed gray and lifeless.
Living alone for a long time had left me feeling stagnant and stale, like a lonely ship adrift at sea. I craved excitement and purpose in my life.
Now, I found myself strolling through the bustling city after my invigorating morning walk around the park. As an adventurer, I understood the importance of maintaining my health and fitness. Constant improvement was crucial, not just relying on my skills, but also focusing on consistent exercise to boost my strength.
My morning routine of walking and exercise had become ingrained in my psyche, and I found solace in the simple act of keeping myself physically active. It had become a part of my daily life, making it less stressful to find time for exercise.
Thinking about it. People who complain about having no time to exercise are just people whose to lazy to get up.
As for Kagari, she is probably rolled on her futon asleep. She's not lazy or anything. I get up at six in the morning and for someone to be awake at this godly hour is incredibly rare for this generation.
As I checked my smartphone for the time, it read eight in the morning. The familiar aroma of fresh bread led me to my usual bakery stop for breakfast. They sold affordable bread that didn't sell out the day before. Though not freshly baked, they were still tasty enough.
The bakery's bell chimed as I entered, planning to sit by the window to watch the calming morning sky. However, I needed to get my bread and coffee first.
"Good morning, Rin."
"Oh, good morning, Amy."
Amy, my former classmate from middle school, stood behind the counter. Back then she is incredibly shy and recluse. Now, she had grown more sociable over time, but today, something seemed off about her.
"I haven't seen you for a few days. What happened to you?" Amy asked, her concern evident.
According to Kagari, I had been unconscious for three days during my recent dungeon dive. Though I thought it was only one day, Kagari had graciously cared for me, a stranger, during that time. I felt grateful for her.
Remembering her, I think I had to buy her something to show my appreciation once I returned home. Maybe, fleshly-baked bread will do.
"I was dungeon diving and got stuck there for a while. But everything is okay now… I would like to have that banana bread and a cup of coffee." I explained.
"Sure."
As Amy prepared my order, she spoke about the perils of being an adventurer, expressing sadness at the lives lost to monsters, phenomena, and other dangers. I understood her concern, but I saw dungeon diving as a way to pursue my dream, given my lack of education and talents.
"Dungeon diving is the only way for me… I'm not smart or highly educated. I don't have any exceptional talents either. All I've done this past year is swing my sword and gather spoils from dungeons. Adventuring has become my life, and through it, I want to achieve my dream."
"You're so strong…" Amy said, placing my order with a smile.
"What's wrong, Amy?" I sensed that something was troubling her beneath the smile.
"Nothing… I guess I was just lost in thought. Here's your order."
As I settled at my table, I observed Amy working and interacting with other customers. Something seemed to be nagging at me, but I didn't want to overthink it and decided to focus on my plans to level up and earn more money.
Today, I intended to continue my dungeon diving, but I needed to do some research and plan for it. I pulled out my phone and visited the Adventurer's Guild website, which provided all the necessary dungeon-related information. I noticed that the Black Forest dungeon had been declared off-limits due to recent incidents, and it was to be sealed permanently by destroying it. This decision meant rookies like me would have to venture to distant D-rank dungeons.
Being over a hundred levels, I believed I could tackle the other dungeons in my city—the A-rank Serdin and B-rank Gorgon dungeons. The A-rank dungeon, Serdin, was the most challenging, with numerous unexplored passages and a sub-boss. However, it required a level 100 to enter. Fighting monsters close to my level would be the fastest way to level up.
Despite my tendency to be reckless, I decided against entering the A-rank dungeon today.
Because someone was waiting for me back home. I can't be reckless anymore.
"I should take on the B-rank dungeon instead. I'll head to the hunting ground and grind. It's the obvious and safest choice."
Grinding level was easy because of my Dungeon teleport skill. No need to rush like the old days.
As I took a sip of my coffee, Amy appeared beside me suddenly, startling me. "Whoah!"
"I'm so sorry… It's just you look so serious. You normally have dead eyes."
She's making fun of me.
Amy commented on how serious and strong I looked, saying that I reminded her of when Luna was still alive.
"No, I'm not making fun of you. It's just nice to see you lively like this. And… about Luna, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up unnecessary memories."
"It's alright. Luna passed away a long time ago. I should find a new way to live."
"Good. And speaking of new things, here's a paper bag containing some freshly baked bread. It's on the house. I feel bad for someone who's financially broke every time."
I appreciated the gesture, and as I left the bakery, Amy still seemed grumpy. I couldn't figure out what had upset her so much.
Shaking off any lingering thoughts about Amy's mood, I focused on heading home. I knew Kagari must be hungry, and I was eager to see her.
As I looked up at the morning sky, I sensed a subtle change in the world around me. Today felt different, and I could discern the colors of the sky, the structures, and the people more vividly. A sense of optimism and hope welled up inside me.
"What did Amy say earlier? Something has changed, indeed. Deep inside my heart, something has returned."
However, I quickly admonished myself, realizing that Kagari was a different person from Luna, and I shouldn't place my hopes solely on the resemblance. I needed to remain grounded and focused on my goal of leveling up.
In the middle of the bustling streets, I impulsively slapped myself to dispel any lingering thoughts. People nearby glanced at me strangely, but I shrugged it off.
"What am I thinking? Kagari and Luna are two distinct individuals. I shouldn't let a mere resemblance cloud my judgment. I should go home and concentrate on leveling up."
I go and run as fast as I can.