I started forward, boots crunching on fallen leaves. My mind raced, trying to piece together how I'd ended up here. The forest, the sword—it all felt off, like a dream just out of focus.
As I walked, I examined myself. Same height, same build. But the clothes... I plucked at the fabric of my shirt, once white, now streaked with dirt and grass stains. "Clearly been through some shit," I mumbled.
I pushed up my sleeves, revealing intricate tattoos snaking up both arms. The sight triggered something—a flash of memory.
"Advisor?" I called out, half-expecting silence.
A piercing ding echoed through my skull, loud enough to make me wince.
『Greetings, Dante,』 a crisp, feminine voice responded. 『How may I assist you?』
I blinked, momentarily thrown by the AI's sudden presence. "Right. Uh, where exactly are we?"
『Based on available data, we appear to be on the outskirts of a town near Orario.』
"Orario," I repeated, the name meaning nothing to me. "Care to elaborate on that?"
『Certainly. Orario, also known as Labyrinth City, is the only city in this world with a dungeon. It's a hub for adventurers and—』
"Whoa, hold up," I interrupted. "This world? Dungeons? What kind of fantasy bullshit is this?"
The Advisor's tone remained neutral. 『I'm afraid I don't have complete information on our current circumstances or how we arrived here. My data banks appear to be... selectively corrupted.』
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Great. So we're both in the dark."
『Not entirely,』 the Advisor countered. 『I retain significant knowledge about Orario. However, the specifics of our arrival and your... unique status remain unclear.』
I resumed my trek towards the cliff, mulling over this new information. "Alright, let's start with the basics. What can you tell me about myself? And don't give me the 'corrupted data' line again."
『Very well. You are Dante Valac, age 19. You possess several innate abilities, though most are currently dormant or in their embryonic stages. You are considered 'Unblessed,' meaning you lack a Falna—a divine blessing that grants adventurers their powers.』
"What about these 'innate abilities' you mentioned?"
『Your most developed ability is myself—an AI-like entity capable of providing analytical support and strategic advice. You also possess Divine Eyes, currently in an embryonic stage, which may grant enhanced visual perception. There's also a latent ability called—』
"Save it," I cut in, reaching the base of the cliff. "We can go over the full list later. Right now, I need to figure out how to climb this thing."
『Your enhanced physical potential should make the climb manageable』the Advisor chimed in. 『You possess above-average strength, speed, and endurance, comparable to a high-grade 1 adventurer.』
I grinned, flexing my fingers. "Now that's what I like to hear."
I reached for the first handhold, testing its stability. The rock felt rough and solid beneath my fingertips. I took a deep breath, then began to climb.
The ascent was arduous, but exhilarating. Each movement came with surprising grace and precision. I found myself instinctively seeking out the best routes, as if I'd been rock climbing all my life.
Halfway up, I paused on a narrow ledge to catch my breath. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and I wiped it away with the back of my hand. I looked down, marveling at how far I'd come.
"Hey, Advisor," I called out, my voice echoing slightly. "You said I have some kind of enhanced vision, right?"
『Correct. Your Divine Eyes are in their early stages, but they may provide occasional flashes of heightened awareness.』
I nodded, focusing on the forest below. For a moment, nothing changed. Then, suddenly, everything sharpened. Details leapt out at me—individual leaves, the patterns of bark on distant trees, even a rabbit darting between bushes far below.
"Holy shit," I breathed. The vision faded as quickly as it had come, leaving me slightly dizzy.
『An impressive demonstration,』 the Advisor noted. 『With practice, you may be able to control and extend these moments of clarity.』
I shook my head, clearing the last of the dizziness. "We'll add it to the to-do list. For now, let's finish this climb."
The rest of the ascent passed in a blur of focused movement. Before I knew it, I was pulling myself over the edge onto solid ground. I stood, brushing dirt from my clothes, and turned to survey the landscape.
The view took my breath away. Rolling hills stretched out before me, covered in a patchwork of forests and fields. In the far out distance, I could make out the spires of a massive city—Orario, I assumed.
『Quite the sight, isn't it?』
I nodded, drinking it all in. "Yeah, it's something else." My gaze shifted to the closer surroundings. "What's that down there?"
I pointed to a small cluster of buildings nestled at the foot of the cliff, partially hidden by trees.
『That appears to be the town I mentioned earlier. It would be a logical first destination. You could gather supplies and information there.』
"Agreed," I said, already plotting a route down. "But first, I want to know more about this place. You said Orario is the only city with a dungeon. What's so special about that?"
The Advisor's tone took on a lecturing quality. 『The Dungeon is a massive, ever-changing labyrinth beneath Orario. It's the source of magic stones and rare items, which form the backbone of the city's economy. Adventurers delve into its depths, facing monsters and traps for the chance at fame and fortune.』
I raised an eyebrow. "Monsters, huh? And people willingly go down there?"
『Indeed. The Familia system provides structure and support for these endeavors. Familias are essentially divine families, led by gods who have descended to the mortal realm. They grant their followers Falna, allowing them to grow stronger and take on greater challenges.』
"And I don't have one of these Falna things," I mused, starting my descent towards the town. "That's going to be a problem, isn't it?"
『It could present certain difficulties.』
I sighed. "Alright, let's head into town. Time to see what this world is really like."
The town was smaller than I'd expected, a collection of sturdy wooden buildings with thatched roofs. People milled about, going about their daily business. The smell of fresh bread wafted from a nearby bakery, making my stomach growl.
I straightened my dirty shirt as best I could and ran a hand through my hair. A grizzled man sat outside what looked like a general store, whittling a piece of wood. I approached, adopting a casual, slightly lost demeanor.
"Excuse me, sir," I said, injecting a note of friendly uncertainty into my voice. "I'm afraid I've gotten a bit turned around. Could you tell me the name of this town?"
The man looked up, his weathered face creasing into a smile. "Ah, new to these parts, are ye? Welcome to Eastbrook, lad. Last stop before Orario proper."
I returned the smile, letting relief show on my face. "Eastbrook, of course. Thank you. I don't suppose you could point me towards an inn? I've been on the road for a while and could use a rest."
The old man chuckled, pointing down the street. "Ye'll want the Sleeping Giant, just past the blacksmith. Tell Marta that Old Tom sent ye, she might offer ye a discount."
I thanked the man and started walking the direction he told me to. I patted my pockets and sighed. "About that inn—I'm guessing I don't have any money on me?"
『Correct, your current assets appear to be limited to the clothes on your back and the sword you found.』
I grimaced. "Fantastic. Any suggestions on how to remedy that?"
『There are several potential avenues. Given your enhanced physical capabilities, manual labor could be an option. Alternatively, you could attempt to sell the sword, though I would advise against it given its potential importance.』
I nodded, weighing my options as I continued down the street. The smell of fresh bread grew stronger, making my stomach growl louder. "Food first," I muttered. "Then we'll figure out the rest."
As I approached the bakery, a commotion near the town's entrance caught my attention. A group of people had gathered, their voices raised in excitement or alarm—I couldn't tell which from this distance.
"What's going on over there?" I asked, more to myself than the Advisor.
『I'm afraid I don't have enough information to determine that.』 She replied anyway. 『Perhaps it would be prudent to investigate?』
I hesitated, torn between my growling stomach and my curiosity. The decision was made for me when I heard a woman's scream cut through the air.
"Right," I said, my body already moving towards the crowd. "Time to see what all the fuss is about."
As I drew closer, I could make out more details. A wagon had overturned near the town's gate, spilling its contents across the muddy road. But it wasn't the scattered goods that had everyone's attention—it was the massive, wolf-like creature prowling around the wreckage.
"Is that what I think it is?" I muttered.
『If you're thinking it's a monster, then yes,』 the Advisor confirmed. 『Specifically, it appears to be a Kobold, a relatively common monster found on the outskirts of Orario.』
I watched as the beast snapped at anyone who dared get too close. Its fur was a mottled gray, and its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light. "Common, huh? Looks pretty damn dangerous to me."
『Indeed, the Advisor agreed. 『While not particularly powerful by dungeon standards, a Kobold is more than capable of ravaging an unprotected town like this. 』
I scanned the crowd, looking for anyone who seemed like they might be in charge. My eyes landed on a man in his forties, wearing what looked like some kind of official uniform. He was frantically trying to organize the townspeople, but it was clear he was out of his depth.
"No adventurers around to deal with this?" I asked.
『Unlikely,』 the Advisor replied. 『Most adventurers operate out of Orario itself. Small border towns like this rarely have the resources to maintain their own monster-slaying force.』
"Alright," I said, drawing the sword from its scabbard. "Let's see what this body can do."
『Dante,』 the Advisor's voice held a note of warning. 『While your physical capabilities are enhanced, you lack the protection of a Falna. Engaging a monster directly would be extremely dangerous.』
"Dangerous is my middle name, sweetheart."
Before the Advisor could object further, I pushed my way through the crowd. "Hey!" I called out to the official-looking man. "What's the situation here?"
The man turned, surprise and relief warring on his face. "Are you an adventurer?" he asked hopefully.
I hesitated for a split second before nodding. "Something like that. What do you need?"
"That beast appeared out of nowhere and attacked a merchant caravan," he explained quickly. "We've managed to evacuate most of the people, but there are still some trapped in that overturned wagon. If we don't do something soon..."
I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Alright, I'll handle the Kobold. You focus on getting those people out."
The man's eyes widened. "By yourself? But—"
I cut him off with a raised hand. "Trust me. I've got this."