Lennox barely had time to process the gravity of his decision—to keep the tavern in Greywater—when a new prompt blinked into existence in front of him.
[First-Time System Activation Bonus: One free Tavern Refurbishment Token.]
For the first time since waking up in this strange world, Lennox felt a flicker of hope.
A chance.
A literal golden ticket to turn his crumbling inheritance into something worthy of its mystical-sounding name.
His mother had fought tooth and nail to keep this place running, pouring every last ounce of her strength into the tavern. But she'd been fighting an uphill battle—alone, underfunded, and unsupported.
Lennox clenched his fists, his jaw set in quiet determination.
But now… now I have something she didn't.
A chance to start over. A chance to build something incredible.
"Refurbish Tavern," he said aloud, his voice firm despite the knots of uncertainty twisting in his stomach.
The glowing interface pulsed once.
[Refurbishing in progress…]
A low, resonating hum vibrated through the wooden floor beneath him.
The air crackled with energy, sharp and electric, making the tiny hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. The entire building felt alive—awake, as though shaking off centuries of slumber.
Lennox gripped the edge of his bed as the wooden beams above him creaked, groaned, and then… changed. The dark, splintered wood smoothed itself out, its aged cracks sealing as a deep, rich polish gleamed across its surface.
The grimy window beside his bed shimmered with a faint golden glow before clearing entirely, revealing a star-studded sky painted across a velvet canvas. Cool night air drifted in, carrying the scent of fresh wood and faint traces of lavender.
Beneath him, the mattress shifted with a soft whoosh, and suddenly it was no longer the lumpy, back-breaking torture device it had been moments before. Instead, it felt… heavenly. Plush, soft, and inviting, like it wanted to hug him back into sleep.
From somewhere below, the sound of splintering wood gave way to polished creaks, followed by the faint clink of glassware being carefully arranged.
Lennox could feel the tavern transforming, could hear the life returning to every corner of it.
Then, silence. The hum faded. The room settled, the magic retreating like a tide after a storm.
A new prompt shimmered before him.
[Tavern Refurbishment Complete. Current Level: 0 (Rustic Inn).]
More text unfolded before his eyes, neatly categorized like a perfectly organized spreadsheet.
-----
Mystic Tavern Interface
Tavern Master: Lennox Morgan
Age: 17 years
Race: Ordinary Human
Current Tavern Facilities:
Common Room: Ordinary Bar Counter, Basic seating, cleaned and polished.
Simple Kitchen: Equipped to handle basic meals.
Storage Cellar: Holds supplies, ingredients, and some old barrels of ale (Note: There is a slight chance of random magical wines and spirits appearing in the cellar at certain times.)
Tavern Master's Quarters: Cozy and newly refurbished.
-----
Lennox blinked. Then he blinked again.
An interface! Like something straight out of an RPG. Stats, menus, and descriptions neatly laid out in glowing text. He let out a short laugh, one that bordered on hysterical disbelief.
"Great. I've been isekai'd into Fantasy Tavern Simulator 3000."
The absurdity of it all made him smile—though whether it was a sane smile or not was anyone's guess.
But before he could spiral into another existential crisis, another notification flashed onto the screen.
-----
Beginner Quest: Upgrade the Tavern to Level 1 within 7 days.
Requirements:
Earn 10 silver coins
Obtain 1 Rank One Magical Beast Core
Quest Rewards:
Improved facilities and new tavern functions.
Rank One Ticket to Summon an Ally.
Failure Penalty:
Random Punishment (Options may include Thunder Punishment, Inner Demon Torment, or... Tickle Torture.)
-----
Lennox squinted at the screen, his lips twitching.
"Tickle Torture? Really? Who writes these penalty options—some kind of sadistic dungeon master with a feather fetish?"
But the humor faded quickly as reality settled in. Ten silver coins sounded doable. The beast core, however…
His stomach sank. Beast core? Like, from an actual magical beast? How did one even get one of those? Did he have to fight something? Trap it? Politely ask for it over tea?
"System," he muttered to the glowing screen. "Any chance you're going to explain what a beast core is?"
The screen remained ominously silent.
"Figures."
With a sigh, Lennox swung his legs off the bed and planted his feet on the newly polished floor. It felt sturdy underfoot, smooth, and warm.
He pushed himself up and crossed the room to the door, sparing a glance at the antique-looking clock hanging on the wall.
5:00 AM.
"Huh," he muttered. "People here use the same time system as back on Earth… weird! At least the concept of time isn't trying to screw me over too."
The thought flitted through his mind, bringing a fresh wave of wonder. It was one thing to find himself in a new world; it was another entirely to find out that some things hadn't changed at all.
Taking a deep breath, Lennox stepped out of his attic quarters and descended the creaky—no, polished—stairs.
Each step was firm, each creak replaced with a gentle, welcoming groan of well-maintained wood. By the time he reached the bottom of the staircase and stepped into the tavern's common room, he stopped dead in his tracks.
His mouth fell open.
The tavern… it was beautiful.
Gone was the dim, oppressive gloom of a forgotten drinking hole. The air was clear, and fresh, and carried faint hints of polished wood and lavender.
The warped wooden floorboards were now solid and gleamed with a honey-gold sheen, the grain swirling in mesmerizing patterns under the soft glow of the wall sconces.
The mismatched, wobbly tables and chairs had been replaced with sturdy, elegant wooden furniture, each piece carved with care and arranged thoughtfully.
The bar counter stretched across one side of the room, its surface smooth and gleaming under the gentle lantern light. Behind it, rows of bottles—some familiar, others etched with glowing words—sat perfectly aligned on polished shelves.
Above, the exposed wooden beams added a rustic charm without feeling claustrophobic, and a large fireplace on the far wall crackled warmly, its orange glow dancing across the polished wood and casting cozy shadows on the walls.
The tavern wasn't just refurbished; it was alive.
Lennox ran his fingers across the bar counter, his touch light, almost reverent. He could practically feel the magic humming beneath the surface, like the tavern itself was waiting for him to command it.
"Mom," he whispered under his breath, his chest tight with bittersweet emotion. "You wouldn't believe this place now."
For a long moment, he stood there, taking it all in—the warmth, the life, the potential.
But the glowing quest text hovering at the corner of his vision refused to let him linger in sentimentality.
[7 Days Remaining.]
Lennox cracked his knuckles, inhaling sharply.
"Alright, Lennox," he said to himself. "Time to figure out how to earn some silver and find a magical beast core. No pressure, right?"
The tavern seemed to hum in agreement, as if cheering him on in its own silent way.
This was it—the start of something bigger than he could possibly imagine.
Game on.