As Leo left the blacksmith's workshop, he made his way to the market, immediately overwhelmed by the bustling crowd. The sights and sounds were unlike anything he had ever seen—vampires and werewolves haggling over prices, vendors shouting out their wares, and a cacophony of voices filling the air. It was chaotic, a far cry from the quiet life he had led. He felt out of place, knowing that without an understanding of local market rates, he could easily be overcharged.
As he wandered, his eyes darted from stall to stall, taking in the fresh produce, meats, and exotic spices. Then, he noticed a woman in a maid outfit standing out among the crowd. Her presence was almost regal. It was clear she was a vampire; her pale skin and sharp red eyes gave it away. What caught Leo's attention was her demeanor. She haggled with vendors with a no-nonsense attitude, forcing even the most stubborn sellers to lower their prices.
*"If I follow her and buy what she buys at the same price, I can avoid getting ripped off,"* Leo thought. He decided to shadow her, using his enhanced hearing to eavesdrop on her negotiations.
Keeping a safe distance, Leo followed her from stall to stall. She haggled over vegetables, dried herbs, and sacks of grain with precision, reducing the prices with her sharp words. Leo mimicked her tactics, approaching the vendors right after she left. "The lady before me bought it at this price," he would say, and though the sellers were clearly annoyed, they relented, selling him the goods at the same rate.
For a while, Leo felt smug. His bags were filling up with supplies at fair prices, but as he approached the next stall, he noticed the maid looking back at him. Their eyes met, and she raised an eyebrow in suspicion before walking up to him.
"Why are you stalking me?" she asked, her tone sharp but not entirely hostile.
Leo froze, realizing he had been caught. He had assumed his plan was clever, but now he was cornered. He took a deep breath, deciding to come clean. "I'm new in town," he admitted, offering an apologetic smile. "I don't know the prices here, and I didn't want to get overcharged. I saw how well you haggled, so I figured I'd follow your lead."
The maid's expression remained skeptical. "And why choose me?"
Leo hesitated, pointing at her maid outfit. "You seemed familiar with the market, and the way you haggled made the sellers drop their prices. I thought I could get a fair deal by following you."
The maid scrutinized him for a moment, then sighed. "Alright, I believe you. But next time, just ask. Stalking someone isn't the best way to make friends."
Leo chuckled, relieved. "Fair point. I'll remember that next time."
"Well, I'm done shopping. Do you need anything else?" she asked, her expression softening.
Leo glanced at his bags, filled to the brim. "No, I think I've got everything I need. Thanks for not calling me out."
"Just be careful. Not everyone would be as understanding," she warned, before turning and disappearing into the crowd.
Leo made his way back to the mountain. The city had been overwhelming, but he managed to gather the supplies he needed. As he entered the mansion, Alisha greeted him with a surprised look.
"Here," Leo handed her the bags. "Can you cook?"
Alisha hesitated, glancing at the bags. "A little."
"That's fine," Leo said with a reassuring smile. "There should be some pots in the kitchen. You can make something simple for yourself. Here," he handed her a piece of barbecued meat. "This should keep you going for now."
Alisha looked up, concern in her eyes. "Where are you going? Will you come back?"
Leo felt a pang of guilt. He gently patted her head. "I'll be back. I promise. Just stay inside, okay?"
She nodded slowly, worry still clouding her eyes. "Okay."
With that, Leo left the mansion and headed toward the Forest of Chanter. The system had marked coordinates where a powerful monster, the Shadow Goblin, was said to be hiding. It was a chance to gain experience, and he needed to get stronger.
When Leo arrived at the clearing, he found a group of C-rank vampire adventurers battling the Shadow Goblin. The monster was formidable, its movements fluid and precise as it slipped into shadows, reappearing behind its attackers. The adventurers were struggling, their regenerative abilities barely keeping pace with the onslaught. The Goblin's unique counter-ability retaliated with twice the power when struck from behind.
Leo observed closely, noting its patterns. The Goblin could create shadow clones, three copies that split its power evenly. They lasted two minutes, with a five-minute cooldown before it could summon them again.
*"It's strong, but not invincible,"* Leo thought. He considered joining the fight. The injured adventurer struggling against a clone convinced him. *"I can't just stand by and watch them die."*
Stepping into the fray, he dashed toward a clone, striking it with precision. The clone dissipated into smoke. One of the adventurers, a burly vampire with a greatsword, stared at him in surprise. "You took it down in one hit?"
"We need to work together," Leo said, his voice steady. "I've identified its weaknesses. If we coordinate, we can defeat it."
The leader of the group, a scarred female vampire, hesitated before nodding. "What's your plan?"
"Attack from the front. When it teleports behind me, strike hard," Leo instructed.
The adventurers formed a circle. Leo dashed forward, baiting the Goblin's counter. As it teleported behind him, he spun around, parrying the strike. "Now!" he shouted.
The adventurers moved in unison, launching a barrage of attacks. The Goblin shrieked, overwhelmed. But then, it let out a deafening roar. Its form pulsed with dark energy, and the leader's face paled.
"It's entering rage mode!" she shouted. "Fall back!"
The adventurers scattered, leaping through the trees. Leo followed, but as they fled, the Goblin lunged at a young archer. "Watch out!" Leo yelled.
The archer twisted, avoiding a fatal blow, but was scratched deeply. Blood droplets splattered in the air, landing on Leo's lips. He licked them instinctively, tasting vampire blood. Suddenly, his heart pounded violently. Heat surged through his veins, and his vision blurred.
*"What's happening to me?"* he thought, clutching his chest as his body trembled. He felt his consciousness slipping away. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto a branch, darkness closing in.
The last thing he saw was the cloudy sky and the faint outline of the enraged Shadow Goblin before everything went black.
.