As Elio stood in the central plaza of the bustling town, he marveled at the blend of life surrounding him.
"Only the clubs and bars of our city are so bustling at night."
The plaza itself was a vast, circular space paved with intricately carved stones that glowed faintly with a soft, green light.
At its heart stood an old looking fountain, sculpted from old marble, with water cascading in mesmerizing magical patterns, reflecting the moonlight in a dazzling array of gold and yellow.
"She asked me to meet her at (Woodleg inn) located straight from the central plaza in the direction of the tall belltower… oh, that way."
Around him at a distance, vibrant market stalls and charming shops lined the cobblestone streets, their canopies fluttering in the gentle breeze.
Merchants called out their wares, offering everything from exotic food and enchanted gears to freshly baked bread and shimmering fabrics.
Some were even offering items with special effects that enhanced stats and equipment that all players would require.
The air was filled with a medley of enticing aromas, blending the scent of blooming flowers, roasted meats, and sweet pastries.
"Exactly what I expected a night market would look like…"
Above the stalls, the town's architecture soared with an elegant grace.
Buildings of special and unique stones, adorned with intricate carvings or unique artistic patterns and shimmering metallic accents, stood proudly against the star covered sky.
"I want a camera… well, everything is being recorded so I can take the screenshots later, but still… a camera would have been nicer."
He could see some towering spires and turrets that reached toward the heavens, some draped in ivy and blooming flowers that added a touch of nature's beauty to the man-made splendor.
"Are those the magic tower and association buildings? So cool~!"
In the distance, he could see the majestic silhouette of the Grand Library, the main attraction of Moongold town, its colossal doors adorned with old words and flanked by statues of wise, mythical creatures.
The library's windows glowed with a warm, inviting light, hinting at the vast knowledge and secrets contained within.
"We are going there second thing in the morning Az."
"Muu~."
The plaza itself was alive with activity. Adventurers, performers, artists, players who had no interest in fighting and townsfolk mingled, their conversations creating a pleasant hum that filled the air.
Children ran and played, their laughter ringing out like the sweetest music. Street performers showcased their talents, from skilled jugglers to musicians playing enchanting melodies on their instruments.
He had only known the life of work, the life of someone who lived in cities where people did not have time to even stop and look around their surroundings.
He himself had worked hard all his life, but still, whenever he got the chance, he stopped… and looked around for a moment.
'Happiness, joy, and freedom…'
He was an artist that understood emotions better than most others. His most famous pieces showcased some elements that everyone knew but few understood.
In his career as an artist– as a photographer, videographer, designer, and landscape artist, the main themes had always been emotions– with freedom being at the center of them all.
"We should thank Alex for this, Az."
"Muu?"
Elio took a deep breath, savoring the rich sights, sounds, and scents around him.
This town, with its blend of magic and everyday life, felt like a living, breathing entity– a place where dreams and reality intertwined.
It was different from the world that he had known until now.
In this world, he felt a new kind of freedom than what he had always known. And he certainly did not dislike it.
"Is this the place?"
On his way to the inn, he had felt many eyes on him.
Most people that saw him were wondering why he was wearing those worn out starter clothes or why he did not have any equipment on him.
The rest who kept watching him were looking at the simple slime in his hands.
It was not common for people to walk around with a slime in their hands, certainly not while wearing that kind of clothes.
"Let's go in."
Some thought he was robbed already while some who were interested in the slime and possessed {Appraisal} lost all their interest when they saw the being was only a (Level-1) creature.
It also only had two skills and even those skills were not that special from what their names suggested.
The player was also only a newbie (Level-13) player who seemed to have been robbed on the field.
-Taa-ring~.
Players could hide their titles so he did not gather much attention as he reached the location she had asked him to visit as soon as he was here.
But when he entered the wooden three story establishment, the scene that met his eyes was not something he was expecting to see in this rather simple looking inn.
"Aughhhhh! Oooooof! My leg!!"
"Stop! Please…!"
"I didn't even do anything…"
The inside of the place he entered was a complete mess.
Tables were destroyed, chairs that the customers sat on were shattered to pieces, the wooden walls on both sides were covered in deep dents as if heavy things were smashed on those walls.
There were many people in this place, but every single one of them were standing.
"..."
The entire place was silent, and all eyes were focused on the front, right before the front desk where the young receptionist was hugging an older woman, fear evident in her eyes, her face covered in tears.
The older woman had anger on her face as she looked at the people that now lay on the ground, beaten to a pulp, their faces deformed, and their blood covering the wooden floor of the establishment.
'What the fudge…?'
There were ten people on the ground, some of them unconscious while some screaming while holding their now crushed limbs, six by the wall were all unconscious, four with their heads dug in the wooden tables weren't even trying to get their heads out, and one of them– probably a player with good looking equipment that all seemed to be fairly high grade– was held by the collar by the person who seemed to be the one behind all this destruction.
"It's perverted parties like you that I hate the most."
The man was still conscious when she was still holding him, but right after she said that, she smashed the man's head directly on the ground without making it seem even a little difficult.
"Next time we meet, it will be a PK war instead of an arrest."
Covered in what seemed like a mix of a normal dress and a light armor, a unique looking sword resting on her waist, her long black hair dancing with the little wind coming from the 'window' that was created by one of her smashed walls, her deep blue eyes looked down at the now unconscious people with utter disgust in her eyes.
"Haaa…"
He was frozen the moment he entered this place, but after he saw the person that was the cause of all of this, he was proceeding to slowly slip out of this inn… but, he was late.
"Hmm? El? Is that you…?! Darling?!"
She noticed him, and even before he had any time to react, she appeared before him and hugged him from behind.
"You're finally here~."
She was awfully heavy in that armor and with all those things, but he knew the moment he said that, he would be one of the people on the ground, or on the wall… or on the table.
"Hey there, Alex…"
He wasn't expecting their first meeting in this other world to be like this.
But he would have to live with this memory for the rest of his time here now…