Kaito Liu, 30 years old, was both a novelist and a web novelist. As a novelist, he flaunted all the literary imagination he had to express his creative desires as a writer. But as a web novelist, it was "all about what the readers want."
He had never found success with either, but he never gave up. He knew that one day readers would like his novel and buy it.
Kaito looked at his twenty beautiful girlfriends, each radiating their own charm. They were still sleeping in his room, their soft breaths creating a symphony of serenity. They had had a great night last night.
"If you think this is not logical, you are wrong," Kaito thought, smirking as he glanced at an imaginary audience. "This is not a comic; this is a novel. The difference is, comics are limited to format, but novels are not. They are only limited by the reader's imagination."
Kaito glanced at his alarm clock. It was 7:15 am. He got up from his bed and took a shower. The warm water cascaded over his skin, washing away the remnants of sleep. He dressed in casual clothes and went to the sitting room to open the door to his balcony. He looked outside; the Neo-Tokyo city was getting busy, and he took a deep breath of fresh morning air.
"Living on the 5th floor is great," he mused.
He then headed towards his kitchen. He fried two eggs and a hotdog, the sizzle and aroma filling the small space. After that, he made coffee, the rich scent mingling with the smell of breakfast. He took his meal and sat in front of his laptop. He opened it and navigated to the webnovel website. He checked his novel and felt a pang of frustration.
"Still at 18 collections. I hope a lot of readers notice my novel," he sighed.
Just then, he heard footsteps, and his girlfriends began to emerge from his bedroom, their faces still soft with sleep. Hana stretched, her arms reaching high above her head, the early morning light casting a soft glow on her tousled hair. "I'm heading to work now, Kaito!" she said, her voice warm and gentle.
Aimi followed, rubbing her eyes and yawning deeply. "Me too! Don't forget to eat something proper!" she added, her tone filled with care, her steps light as she moved closer.
The girls gathered near Kaito, their movements slow and unhurried, brushing their hair back from their faces. The room was filled with the delicate scent of their perfume, a lingering reminder of their presence. "See you again later!" they chorused, their voices blending harmoniously in a sweet, familiar melody that seemed to hang in the air.
Kaito smiled, trying to mask his disappointment, his eyes betraying a hint of sadness. "Ah, okay! Have a nice day, everyone!" he replied, his voice tinged with melancholy.
They all leaned in to kiss him goodbye, their lips brushing against his cheeks in a series of soft, affectionate pecks. "Bye, honey!" they called out as they left, their voices echoing through the room, filled with warmth and affection.
"Bye!" Kaito waved, his hand lingering in the air as he watched them go, the room suddenly feeling much emptier without their presence. The silence that followed was almost deafening, a stark contrast to the lively chatter that had filled the space just moments before. The scent of their perfume lingered, a bittersweet reminder of the warmth and affection they brought into his life.
As the door closed behind them, he sat back down at his laptop, pulling up his novel draft once more. He wrote furiously for an hour, his fingers flying over the keys.
He finished his breakfast hurriedly, saving his document and closing the laptop with a determined click.
"Alright, let's get to work!" he said, grabbing his motorcycle keys.
He stepped out of his apartment with an enthusiastic smile, ready to face the day.
***
Kaito parked his legendary Yamaha RX-Z 135 and looked at the under-construction building. The site was bustling with activity, the clanging of metal and the hum of machinery filling the air. He noticed a group of workers assembled, their faces etched with worry. They were talking to an adventurer—Haruto, Kaito's friend, who was clad in silver armor like a knight. Adventurers were individuals registered under any Guild, regardless of race or ethnicity, who undertook quests offered by any Guild and completed them in exchange for a monetary reward.
One of the workers pointed at a shimmering blue portal that had appeared at the center of the building. "This portal appeared this morning. I hope you can destroy it," he said, his voice tinged with anxiety.
Another worker nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we need it gone fast. This building needs to be finished on schedule."
Haruto, his expression determined, replied, "Okay, we will try our best. Thanks for the heads-up."
Kaito strolled over casually. "Yo, buddy!" he called out.
Haruto glared at him. "You're late by five minutes."
Kaito grinned. "Sorry! I figured you could handle it on your own."
Haruto sighed, rubbing his temples. "Let's just get this over with."
One of the workers looked worried. "Are you sure it's safe to approach it?" he asked.
Haruto reassured him, "We've dealt with worse. Just stay back."
Kaito teased, "Don't worry, I'll take all the credit for this one."
Haruto rolled his eyes. "As long as we get it done before the deadline, you can take all the credit you want."
They walked toward the portal, which shimmered ominously, the air around it crackling with energy. The portal was a swirling vortex of blue light, its edges flickering like flames. The ground around it seemed to pulse with an unnatural rhythm.
"Good luck! We're counting on you!" one of the workers called after them.
Kaito turned back with a wave. "We've got this!"
Haruto focused ahead. "Just stick to the plan."
Kaito grinned. "Right—the classic 'destroy the malevolent portal' routine!"
Haruto smirked despite himself. "Let's just hope it's less chaotic than last time."
As they stepped closer to the portal, the air grew colder, and a low hum filled their ears. The portal's energy seemed to pull at them, making the hairs on the back of their necks stand up. With determination etched on their faces, they entered inside, ready to face whatever awaited them on the other side.
***
The dungeon was dimly lit, with muted sounds of dripping water echoing against the cold, damp stone walls. The air was thick with the musty smell of decay, and the flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows that danced across the rough surfaces. Haruto and Kaito stood ready for battle, their senses heightened by the oppressive atmosphere.
Haruto gripped his long sword tightly, the metal cool against his skin. "This portal is level 1, but be careful. Usually…"
Kaito clenched his fists, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline. "The monsters in level 1 can spawn endlessly."
Haruto sighed, rolling his eyes. "You always tell me that every time we dive into a dungeon. Are you not tired of repeating yourself yet?" Kaito grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"It's just a procedure, Kaito," Haruto replied, his tone a mix of exasperation and fondness.
Kaito shrugged. "Alright, alright. Let's finish this. I have a novel to wrap up."
Haruto chuckled, the sound echoing softly in the confined space. "Still working on that novel? Trust me, being an adventurer suits you way better than being a writer."
Kaito playfully pouted. "Unlike you, I don't want to be an adventurer until I'm old and gray. I dream of living a normal life someday."
Haruto's tone turned serious, his eyes reflecting the weight of their reality. "But this is our reality. Not everyone gets to choose what they want to be. If you retire, who's going to handle these portals?"
Kaito sighed, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. "I know, I know. Until we have enough adventures under our belt, I'll keep this job."
Haruto laughed heartily, the sound a brief respite from the tension. "Don't get mad, buddy."
Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed through the dungeon. Out of the shadows emerged twenty goblins, their raspy laughter filling the air. Their eyes glowed with malevolence, and their sharp teeth gleamed in the dim light.
Kaito smirked confidently, his muscles tensing in anticipation. "Looks like we've got company. Let's have some fun!"
Haruto grinned, preparing his stance. "Yes, let's go!"
The goblins charged, shrieking wildly. Kaito leaped into the fray with fists flying, his movements a blur of speed and precision. Haruto slashed through the first wave with precise strikes, his sword cutting through the air with deadly accuracy.
"See, Haruto? Nothing beats a good old brawl!" Kaito said, landing a punch that sent a goblin sprawling.
"Just remember, stick together! We can't let them overwhelm us!" Haruto dodged and countered, his focus unwavering.
"Got it! Let's show them they picked the wrong adventurers to mess with!" Kaito nodded, his grin widening.
As they fought, laughter and shouts of excitement filled the dungeon—a mix of danger and camaraderie binding them together as they embraced the thrill of adventure. The clash of metal and the cries of goblins echoed through the stone corridors, a testament to their unyielding resolve.
***
Haruto's expression was one of fierce determination as he called out, "Silver Blade: Slash Riot!" He performed a flurry of precise slices, culminating in a gleaming silver slash that struck the goblin down with a final, decisive blow.
Kaito wiped the sweat from his brow. "Wow, Haruto! You're getting stronger by the day."
Haruto nodded, catching his breath. "I have to. But I wonder when we'll finally meet an opponent tougher than this."
Kaito plopped down onto the ground, clearly fatigued. "Well, I could use a breather…"
Haruto shook his head. "Don't relax just yet; our job isn't done."
Kaito smirked as he stood up. "Alright, I'm with you. Can't let you have all the fun!"
They ventured deeper into the dungeon, their surroundings dim and echoing with distant sounds. The air was thick with the musty smell of decay, and the flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows that danced across the rough stone walls. Suddenly, they spotted a huge red orb, pulsating with energy.
Kaito's eyes widened. "Whoa, this spawn point is massive!"
Haruto, fascinated as they approached, said, "Yeah, look at how it's set up."
Kaito stepped closer, intrigued, and touched the orb. An interface suddenly sprang to life before them.
Interface: Goblin Spawn Point
Level: 1
Name: Goblin
Gender: Male
Spawn Speed: 48 hours
Quantity: 20
Kaito adjusted the quantity to 0. A notification popped up: "Confirm changes? Yes / No." His hand hovered over the "Yes" button. With a decisive click, he confirmed the changes.
The red orb vanished.
"Finished it. Let's go," Kaito said, sounding relieved.
Haruto nodded. "Yes, let's go."
As they turned to exit the dungeon, Kaito suggested, "After we get our money, let's go to the harem cafe."
Haruto shook his head. "No, just a normal cafe. We need a proper meal."
Kaito sighed. "Ah, you are no fun! What's wrong with a little excitement?"
Haruto smirked. "Excitement, sure. But I'd prefer not to be distracted by, uh, extracurricular activities."
Kaito chuckled. "Fine, fine. Normal cafe it is. But you owe me a drink."
Haruto laughed. "Deal."
Suddenly, they heard the sound of rubble falling behind them. They turned back to see a massive 15-meter gate appear out of nowhere.
Kaito's eyes widened in surprise. "What is that?"
Haruto looked equally puzzled. "I don't know. This is the first time I'm seeing this."
They cautiously walked towards the gate, eyes wide with intrigue.
"Do you think it's a treasure vault or something?" Kaito asked.
Haruto remained cautious. "I wouldn't jump to conclusions. It could also be a trap, you know."
"A trap? Come on, where's your sense of adventure?" Kaito retorted.
"My sense of adventure is telling me to be careful. Remember the last time we thought something was treasure?" Haruto reminded him.
"Yeah, but that was different! This time it's—" Kaito began, but was cut off as the gate started to glow ominously.
"Wait! I think we should step back…" Haruto warned.
"No way! This could be our biggest find yet!" Kaito exclaimed.
"Kaito, I seriously think it's about to do something unwise!" Haruto insisted.
The gate creaked and slowly began to open.
"Wow, look at that! It's beautiful!" Kaito marveled.
"Beautiful or not, we need to be ready—" Haruto began, but was interrupted by a faint voice echoing from within the gate, "Only those with pure intentions may enter."
"What do you think that means?" Kaito asked.
"It means we'd better be on our best behavior," Haruto replied.
"Pure intentions? I was just thinking about coffee and pastries…" Kaito muttered.
"Focus, Kaito! We need to figure out if we can safely enter this gate," Haruto said, his tone serious.
They exchanged determined looks and prepared to step forward.