Leonard still stood at the base of the tower, with the entrance behind him shrouded in darkness, given the current time. Something nagged at Leonard, urging him to ask more questions. There were still things he needed answers to.
"Why do you ask that?" The bulky man's confusion was palpable. "Players serve as protectors. Despite having more opportunities—since we can reach higher floors and hunt more efficiently—Players are the reason the outside world is free of monsters. All the monsters to hunt are inside the towers."
Leonard was shocked. "There are monsters in the wild? I thought monsters only existed inside the towers."
The bulky man scrutinized him. "Are you from a remote village?"
Leonard nodded, confirming the man's suspicion.
"So, that's how it is," the man mused. "You see, the Player Association plays a significant role in balancing society. Whether a member or not, if a Player is proven to be abusing their powers, they will be punished."
"But why is that?" Leonard asked, his curiosity piqued. "Wait, I have another question. Are mages who aren't Players possible?"
The man shook his head. "No. Only Players can become mages. After reaching level 10 in their first class, they can pick subclasses."
Leonard was surprised and intrigued. If there were subclasses, did that mean he had a chance to become a mage and not just a summoner? Although he still hadn't learned much about other summoners or the life of a Player, he was eager to explore more of what this world had to offer.
"I want to learn more from you, but it seems I need to leave now. I still have to sell the spoils to secure a place to sleep."
Feeling his stomach growl, he remembered that he hadn't eaten yet. He couldn't let his first meal in this otherworldly city pass him by.
"You can ask me anytime," the man offered, his tough demeanor softening slightly. "Despite my appearance, I'm approachable."
'People really shouldn't be judged by their appearance,' Leonard thought.
He smiled, appreciating the man's kindness. "Thank you. Do you know where I can sell chanak fangs?"
The man's eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Across the tower, there is a small shop. It buys drop items and all except F-rank carcasses."
"Thank you," Leonard said earnestly. "I will be returning tomorrow to ask more. Will it be possible for me to bother you?"
"No problem," the man replied with a nod.
As Leonard walked away, he felt a mixture of relief, excitement, and suspicion. The world was so much bigger and more complex than he had ever imagined. The Player Association, their existence, the concept of mages, and the societal balance they maintained—it was all so fascinating. Leonard knew he had much to learn and many challenges ahead. But for now, he had a simple goal: to secure a place to sleep and continue his journey.
The shop across the street looked like any other establishment, except for an eye-catching sign above the door depicting fangs and a money symbol. It struck Leonard as odd, but he had to admit it was effective in grabbing attention.
As he entered, the atmosphere inside reminded him of a pawnshop. There were various stalls of goods, and along one side of the room were glass-covered shelves displaying expensive materials, extending all the way to the back. The counter formed an L-shape, stretching from one side of the room to the other.
"What do you need? To sell or buy?"
Leonard's attention shifted to where the voice came from. An old man with grey hair, of average height, and a stern face stood behind the counter.
'Why does everyone here have such a strict aura?' Leonard thought before taking out the chanak fangs from his
The old man's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth slightly agape. He hadn't expected a Player to visit, as they usually didn't sell items to his humble shop.
"You're a Player."
"Are you the shop owner?" Leonard asked, placing the small fangs—25 in total—on top of the glass counter. "You have a decent shop. Glass is difficult to purchase."
The shop owner's brow furrowed, sensing something unusual in Leonard's tone.
"What do you mean by that? Glass is cheap."
Leonard blinked, realizing his mistake, and quickly retracted his comment. "Sorry. I want to sell these fangs." He pushed them across the counter.
'I only want to start a conversation. But usually, glass is expensive. With the shop almost decorated and protected by glass, I must say there's a huge difference between what's considered easy on Earth and in this world.'
The shop owner gave Leonard a suspicious look as he took the fangs and inspected them one by one. After a moment, he pulled out an old piece of paper and began calculating.
"Here. 900 Zack Currency."
Leonard stared at the nine silver coins, each imprinted with the face of someone he didn't recognize.
'Silver coins… Hundreds for silvers, so maybe bronze is the smallest denomination.'
Leonard smiled politely, took the money, and pocketed it before leaving. The atmosphere in the shop had felt awkward, likely due to his mistaken comment about the glass.
'I might not be able to sell anything here in the future,' Leonard worried.
He then wandered around the city, searching for an inn. He focused on lively buildings with plenty of lights and taller than others, as he was looking for a place to stay for the night. Spotting one, he entered through its twin doors and was greeted by the sight of a small eatery.
On either side were staircases leading to the next floor, and the receptionist's desk was at the far end. Reading the name of the inn, Leonard sighed in relief before approaching the receptionist.
"Good evening. Room for?" the female receptionist asked.
"For one, with food. How much will it be?"
"Do you want an economy or luxury room?"
"Maybe just an economy." Leonard answered quickly, his stomach growling louder.
"That will be five hundred."
Leonard couldn't help but grit his teeth at the high price. It was more than half of what he had earned, but at least he wouldn't have to worry about tonight's meal or tomorrow.
'I don't know if this money will be enough to get me any gear.'
PassingNote: Let's have a trade.
For every 50 power stones, I will provide a bonus chapter. After chapter 15, the novel will be updated twice a day.