As Marcus made his way back into Glimmershade, covered in mud and more beetle guts than he cared to admit, the sight of the bustling town felt like a much-needed return to normalcy—if you could call anything about his current life normal.
"Just get cleaned up, get something to eat, and maybe, just maybe, I'll have a peaceful evening," Marcus muttered to himself, hoping the System wouldn't feel the need to intervene with yet another quest.
*Ding!*
**New Quest Unlocked: Visit the Blacksmith to Repair Your Gear!**
Marcus sighed. "Of course. Can't have one moment of peace, can I?"
The System remained silent, which Marcus took as its version of pretending to be innocent. Deciding that repairing his worn-out sword wasn't a bad idea, he set off toward the blacksmith's shop, located near the edge of town. The clang of metal striking metal echoed through the streets, guiding him like an unwelcome melody.
As he approached, Marcus spotted a large, muscular man hammering away at a glowing sword on an anvil. The blacksmith's arms looked like they could bend iron just by flexing, and his face was smeared with soot, giving him the appearance of a man who lived and breathed fire and steel.
The blacksmith barely glanced up as Marcus entered. "Need something fixed?"
Marcus hesitated, holding up his rusty, chipped sword. "Uh, yeah. This… could use some work."
The blacksmith took one look at the weapon and frowned. "Is this… a gardening tool?"
Marcus winced. "No, it's, uh, supposed to be a sword."
The blacksmith raised an eyebrow but said nothing, taking the weapon from Marcus and inspecting it with a critical eye. "Well, it's in pretty rough shape, but I can fix it up. Might take a little while, though."
"How long is 'a little while'?" Marcus asked, already dreading the answer.
The blacksmith shrugged. "Couple of hours. I'll have to reforge part of the blade. This thing looks like it's seen more dirt than battle."
"Well, that's not entirely inaccurate…" Marcus muttered under his breath.
*Ding!*
**Quest Updated: Wait for your gear to be repaired. Why not explore the town in the meantime?**
Marcus groaned. "I swear, if you give me a quest to buy carrots or something…"
The blacksmith looked at him, confused. "What was that?"
"Uh, nothing. I'll be back later," Marcus replied, trying not to sound like a complete lunatic.
Leaving the blacksmith's shop, Marcus decided to wander around town, hoping the System wouldn't actually force him into another bizarre situation. As he strolled through the marketplace, the smell of fresh bread and roasting meat made his stomach growl. He hadn't eaten anything since the beetle fiasco, and suddenly, food seemed like the most heroic pursuit of all.
He approached a nearby food stall, where a cheerful woman was selling pies, pastries, and other delicious-looking treats. "What can I get for you, dear?" she asked with a bright smile.
"I'll take one of those meat pies," Marcus said, digging into his pocket for the coins he'd earned from Wilbur. "And, uh, maybe a sweet roll."
"Good choice! That'll be 5 coins," the woman said, handing him the piping-hot pie wrapped in a cloth.
Marcus handed over the coins, feeling a brief moment of joy as he bit into the flaky crust. "This might be the best thing that's happened to me all week," he mumbled through a mouthful of pie.
*Ding!*
**Achievement Unlocked: First Bite of a Hero! You've experienced the joy of food on your quest for greatness.**
Marcus nearly choked on his pie. "Seriously? There's an achievement for eating?"
**Absolutely! Every hero needs to stay nourished! Plus, pies are delicious.**
Marcus sighed. "I'm really starting to think you're just messing with me."
As he wandered through the marketplace, enjoying his pie and trying not to think about the absurdity of his situation, he noticed a commotion near the town square. A crowd had gathered around a man standing on a wooden platform, waving his arms dramatically.
"Gather 'round, folks!" the man shouted. "For I bring you news of the greatest treasure hunt this town has ever seen!"
Marcus frowned, curious despite himself. He pushed his way through the crowd until he could get a better look at the man, who was dressed in an overly fancy robe that looked out of place in such a small town.
"Treasure hunt?" Marcus muttered.
The man on the platform grinned. "That's right! I, Barnaby the Bold, am offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Somewhere in the Whispering Woods, a treasure of unimaginable wealth is hidden. Whoever finds it will be rich beyond their wildest dreams!"
The crowd buzzed with excitement, people whispering to one another about the possibility of finding the treasure.
Marcus, on the other hand, crossed his arms. "Sounds too good to be true. Probably just a scam."
*Ding!*
**New Quest Unlocked: Investigate the Treasure Hunt!**
Marcus groaned. "Oh, come on! I don't want to go on a wild goose chase for some fake treasure!"
**But what if it's real? Imagine the riches you could gain! The fame! The glory!**
"I don't care about fame or glory! I care about not getting eaten by giant bugs or lost in the woods!"
Still, the System persisted, flashing the quest notification in front of his eyes like an annoying mosquito. Marcus rubbed his temples, knowing that the System wouldn't stop nagging him until he at least looked into it.
Reluctantly, he approached the platform. "Hey, you! Barnaby!"
Barnaby turned, flashing Marcus a wide grin. "Ah, another brave adventurer seeking riches, I see! What can I do for you, my good man?"
Marcus narrowed his eyes. "Tell me more about this treasure. How do you know it even exists?"
Barnaby's grin widened, as if he'd been waiting for someone to ask. "Ah, a wise question! The treasure is said to have been hidden by an ancient wizard, centuries ago. It's been lost to time, but I've acquired a map—one that reveals the treasure's location deep within the Whispering Woods."
He pulled out an old, tattered map and held it up for the crowd to see. "For a modest fee, I'm offering copies of this map to anyone brave enough to seek the treasure for themselves!"
Marcus's suspicions deepened. "And how much is this 'modest fee'?"
"Only 20 coins!" Barnaby replied, beaming.
The crowd murmured, and Marcus felt his skepticism growing. "Twenty coins for a piece of paper? Sounds like a scam."
Barnaby raised his hands defensively. "Ah, but what is 20 coins compared to the fortune that awaits you? Think of it as an investment!"
Marcus sighed, weighing his options. He could walk away, ignore the whole thing, and pretend like the treasure hunt never existed. But he knew the System would never let him live it down.
"Fine," Marcus grumbled, handing over the 20 coins he'd just earned. "Give me the map."
Barnaby handed him a copy of the map with a flourish. "Best of luck, my friend! May fortune favor the bold!"
Marcus stared at the map, which looked suspiciously vague, with no real landmarks or clear directions. "This better not be a complete waste of time…"
*Ding!*
**Quest Updated: You have acquired the Treasure Map! Head into the Whispering Woods and seek the treasure!**
Marcus pocketed the map, already dreading his next journey into the cursed forest. "Why is it always the Whispering Woods?" he muttered. "Nothing good ever happens there…"
As he made his way back toward the blacksmith to check on his sword, Marcus couldn't help but feel like his life had become one long string of ridiculous errands, all orchestrated by a mischievous system determined to make him into a hero—whether he liked it or not.