Hours later, the adventurer party finally made it to the edge of the forest. The tall trees thinned out, and sunlight poured down onto the open plains. Garrick, the party leader, sighed in relief and pointed ahead.
"Hey, look! There's the town!" he announced, his voice carrying hints of exhaustion and excitement.
From high above, hidden in the shadows of the trees, Raven watched silently. His crimson eyes scanned the scene before him. The town sprawled out across the horizon, its walls tall and fortified. Beyond the town, towering above all other buildings, was a massive castle in the distance. Its spires pierced the sky, an unmistakable mark of nobility and power.
Raven tilted his head slightly and muttered under his breath, "That must be where the royalty lives."
Without another word, his body dissolved into a swirling storm of ravens. The adventurers' cheerful chatter was abruptly cut short as Raven materialized right in front of them, his sudden appearance sending a jolt of shock through the group.
"What the hell?!" Garrick exclaimed, stumbling back with his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon.
The other party members erupted into a mix of gasps, curses, and confused muttering.
"How does he keep doing that?!" one of them yelled.
"What kind of skill is that?!" another asked, their voice filled with fear.
Raven turned to face them, his cold, piercing gaze meeting theirs. "Thanks for showing me the way out of that hellhole of a forest," he said flatly, his tone devoid of gratitude. He turned on his heel, preparing to walk away.
"Hey, wait!" Garrick shouted, stepping forward. "I said wait, asshole!"
Garrick reached out, intending to grab Raven by the shoulder, but Raven's eyes narrowed. His voice, sharp and calm, cut through the air.
"Skill: Root Grasp."
Thick roots erupted from the ground in an instant, coiling around Garrick's arms and legs. He froze, completely restrained, his face twisted in shock.
"What the—?!" Garrick struggled against the roots.
"Let him go!" one of the party members yelled, their voice frantic.
Another adventurer stepped forward, their eyes glowing faintly as they activated a skill Raven had never heard before.
"Skill: Arcane Bolt!" they shouted, releasing a glowing projectile of energy that raced toward Raven with blinding speed.
Raven's eyes flicked toward the incoming attack. He extended his hand calmly, his expression never wavering.
"Skill: Abyssal Devourer," he commanded.
A swirling vortex of grayish-black energy formed in his palm, absorbing the Arcane Bolt mid-flight. The projectile disintegrated as the dark energy consumed it completely. A familiar chime echoed in Raven's mind.
Ding!
"New Skill Acquired: Arcane Bolt."
Raven lowered his hand, his cold gaze returning to the party. Without another word, his body dissolved into a flock of ravens once more. The adventurers watched helplessly as the roots binding Garrick withered and fell away, releasing him.
Raven's disembodied voice echoed through the clearing, sharp and unwavering.
"I don't like to be touched. Learn that for next time."
The roots vanished completely, and silence fell over the party. Garrick stumbled forward, freed but visibly shaken.
"What the hell is that guy?" one of the party members whispered, their face pale.
Liana clutched her staff tightly, her gaze lingering on the empty spot where Raven had disappeared. "He's… something else," she murmured softly, her cheeks flushed.
A few minutes later, Raven reappeared just outside the massive gates of the city. The guards stationed there jumped in alarm, their hands flying to their weapons.
"Who goes there?!" one of the guards barked, his tone firm but edged with unease.
Raven stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate. His crimson eyes locked onto the guards, making them flinch.
"New here," Raven said calmly. "Adventurer."
The guards exchanged nervous glances. One of them, still gripping his spear tightly, gave a stiff nod.
"Fine. Go ahead… but no trouble," the guard muttered, his voice unsure. He gestured for the gate to be opened.
Raven nodded faintly. "Thanks."
As he passed through the massive gate, the heavy doors closed behind him with a resounding thud. Raven glanced back briefly before turning his attention to the bustling scene before him.
The city was alive with energy. People crowded the streets, laughing, talking, and shouting as they went about their daily lives. Street vendors called out to passersby, displaying everything from food to weapons and magical trinkets. Children darted between the crowds, their laughter echoing through the air.
Raven walked forward, his crimson eyes scanning the city. Despite the sheer noise and chaos surrounding him, his expression remained as cold and unreadable as ever. Yet, deep down, a small flicker of something—perhaps curiosity—stirred within him.
So this is what a city in this world looks like, Raven thought to himself. His gaze lingered on the towering castle in the distance. And that… is where the real power lies.
For now, though, he focused on the present, weaving silently through the bustling crowd as he took his first steps into this new, unfamiliar world.
Let it be continue
Raven walked through the bustling streets of the city, his expression cold and unchanging as his crimson eyes surveyed his surroundings. People moved around him, laughing, shouting, and bartering, but he paid them no mind. His footsteps were silent as he passed various shops and street vendors, reading their names quietly under his breath.
"Blacksmith Forge… Potion Emporium… The Adventurer's Armory…" he muttered, his tone flat.
He continued walking, passing more shops and stalls, his gaze briefly lingering on each one.
"Alchemist's Nook… Weaver's Corner…"
On the other side of the street, he noticed rows of homes and a few inns with signs hanging overhead. Raven read them aloud as well, his voice low and steady.
"The Restful Wanderer… The Drunken Blade…" He paused, glancing at the last sign. "The Silver Moon Inn."
Raven tilted his head slightly. "Sounds like a place I could go for a while… and stay."
Before he could make a decision, his eyes landed on a larger building just across the street. A merchant shop stood proudly, its sign boldly displayed:
"The Golden Tradehouse."
Raven narrowed his eyes slightly and made his way toward the entrance. Pushing open the door, he stepped inside to find a clean, well-organized room with shelves lined with various items: weapons, potions, trinkets, and crafting materials. At the far end, a wooden reception desk stood, manned by a young woman with a bright smile.
The receptionist noticed Raven immediately. Her cheerful demeanor didn't waver, despite the cold aura he exuded.
"Hello, traveler! How are you doing today?" she asked warmly.
Raven said nothing at first, his gaze steady as he approached the desk. The receptionist continued, introducing herself with a polite bow.
"My name is Elara, and welcome to the Golden Tradehouse! If you're here to trade, sell, or buy, I'm happy to assist you. What can I help you with today?"
Raven stared at her with his unflinching crimson gaze, making her shift slightly under the intensity of his expression. Without a word, he raised his hand and pulled out multiple items from his storage, placing them on the counter one after another. The items materialized in quick succession—weapons, rare crafting materials, potions, and crystals—piling up before the wide-eyed receptionist.
Elara blinked, stunned by the sheer quantity and quality of what she was seeing. Her professional demeanor faltered as her jaw dropped.
"T-this…" she stammered, reaching out to examine the items. Her hands hovered over them, shaking slightly as she began listing their names aloud, almost in disbelief.
"Stoneback Boar Hide… Blightwood Bark Fragments… Alpha Wolf Fang… Flameclaw Fur… High-grade Mana Crystal…" Her voice caught as she held up a gleaming item that pulsed faintly with magic.
"T-this is a Top-Tier Mana Serpent Core!" she yelled, her voice echoing in the quiet shop. She looked up at Raven, eyes wide. "What the hell…?! These items are incredible! Some of these are middle-tier, but this… this core is top-tier class!"
Raven remained calm, nodding slightly as if her outburst were inconsequential. "How much money can I get for these items?" he asked coldly, his tone even.
Elara blinked rapidly, her mind racing as she calculated the worth of the items before her. "Y-you… you want to sell all of these?" she stuttered.
Raven simply nodded.
She swallowed nervously, looking down at the items and back up at him. "I-I mean… these items are worth a lot. I've never seen so many rare materials brought in at once," she muttered, half to herself. She quickly grabbed a ledger and began scribbling down numbers, her hand trembling slightly.
"The… the Mana Serpent Core alone…" she began, her voice trailing off as she crunched the numbers. Finally, she froze, staring at the total on her ledger with wide eyes.
Elara slowly looked up at Raven, her voice shaking. "All together, the total comes to… 4 million gold coins."
Raven's crimson eyes narrowed faintly, though his expression remained cold and composed. For a brief moment, even he felt a flicker of surprise at the staggering sum.
"Four million?" he repeated, his voice even, though his mind processed the enormity of the amount.
Elara nodded quickly, her face flushed. "Y-yes! The Top-Tier Mana Serpent Core alone is worth over three million on its own! Combined with the other items… this is the most valuable collection I've seen in my life."
Raven stood silent for a moment before finally responding. "I'll sell all of them for that price."
Elara gawked at him. "Y-you're serious?!"
"I don't repeat myself," Raven said coldly, his tone brooking no argument.
Flustered, Elara nodded quickly. "O-okay! I'll gather the money right away!" She turned and hurried into the backroom, her steps frantic as she disappeared through the door.
Minutes later, she returned with two assistants, all three of them carrying large, heavy chests filled with gold coins. They placed the chests onto the counter with a loud thud. Elara wiped her brow, breathless.
"There it is," she said, gesturing to the chests. "Four million gold coins. All yours."
Raven stepped forward, his cold gaze passing over the chests before nodding. With a motion of his hand, the gold coins vanished into his storage. Elara and her assistants gasped in awe.
"Storage magic…" one of them whispered.
Elara shook her head in disbelief. "W-who are you…?" she murmured softly.
Raven turned, his crimson eyes locking with hers. "Just a traveler," he said simply. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the exit, leaving the stunned receptionist staring after him.
As the door closed behind him, Elara slumped against the counter, her face pale. "That guy… is not normal," she whispered.
Outside, Raven rejoined the bustling streets, the immense fortune now secured in his storage. The weight of four million gold coins was nothing compared to the plans beginning to form in his mind.