[ Naven Village - Village Head's Manor ]

  The heavy oak door of the study seemed to shrink under the weight of the silence in the room.

  Ildrich paced back and forth across the worn rug. He bit his thumbnail, a nervous habit he hadn't managed to break since taking office.

  His boots made a rhythmic, anxious thud against the floorboards.

  Thud. Thud. Thud.

  He stopped by the window and peered through the thick glass toward the northern peaks. The mountains remained silent, shrouded in their eternal mist.

  "Two hours," Ildrich whispered. His voice trembled slightly.

  It had been nearly two hours since he handed the [ Authority Badge ] to that strange traveler.

  Regret gnawed at his gut.

  He had sent a single man into a death trap. The Northern Mines were a restricted zone for a reason. Even the veteran guards refused to step past the entrance after the "Incident". The arcanum readings from inside were erratic, suggesting a catastrophe far beyond a simple monster infestation.

  And yet, he had allowed a stranger to walk in there alone.

  'What if he failed?'

  The thought spiraled in his mind.

  'What if the monster is too powerful...'

  'What if he dies?'

  'He really looked like someone important as well.'

  If an ordinary adventurer died, it was a tragedy. But if a Noble died in his village, under his orders? The repercussions would be catastrophic. The Kingdom or the traveler's family would send investigators. His family's reputation would be ruined, and his already shaky position as the young Head would shatter completely.

  'I should have sent the garrison,' Ildrich thought, his hand drifting to the ornamental sword hanging on his wall. 'Damn it! I was too hasty!'

  He turned back to the door, his resolve wavering.

  Perhaps it wasn't too late. If he mobilized the guards now...

  Knock. Knock.

  The sudden sound echoed through the room like a gunshot.

  Ildrich froze. His heart hammered against his ribs.

  He stared at the door. He swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to steady his voice to sound authoritative.

  "Come in."

  The latch clicked. The heavy door swung open smoothly.

  A figure stepped into the room.

  The young traveler looked different from the way he had two hours ago. The dust of the mines clung to his cloak, and a faint, sharp scent of ozone lingered around him. Yet, he stood straighter. His presence felt denser, heavier, as if the air around him was forced to make way.

  Ryn stepped inside and closed the door behind him quietly.

  Ildrich's eyes widened. He rushed forward, abandoning all pretense of dignity or composure.

  "M-Mister! You're finally back!"

  The young Village Head cried out, his voice cracking with pure joy and overwhelming relief.

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  Ryn blinked, slightly taken aback by the boy's intensity. He remained calm, simply nodding in acknowledgement.

  "You're alive... you're alive," Ildrich breathed out, patting his chest as if trying to physically slow his racing heart. "I was terrified something had happened to you."

  He took a deep breath and offered a shaky, comforting smile.

  "Please, sit down. Don't worry about the mission. Even if you failed, it is understandable. The Northern Mines are a death trap. We can simply wait for more Travelers to arrive and form a larger party..."

  "Chief," Ryn interrupted softly.

  Ildrich paused, blinking. "Yes?"

  "I have completed the mission."

  The room went silent.

  Ildrich stared at him. His brain struggled to process the words. Right, he must have misheard.

  "Don't worry, even if you have faile—... Huh?"

  The young Head froze. Looking at Ryn's calm and serious expression, he knew he hadn't misheard it.

  "Did... did you say you finished it?"

  "Yes," Ryn replied. His voice was steady, matter-of-fact. "The calamity has been dealt with."

  "You... alone?" Ildrich stammered, looking at Ryn's simple leather armor. "But the arcanum readings... the guards said it was a catastrophe in there!"

  "It was a Magnetic Terror Mole," Ryn explained everything in detail, while omitting the fight's details. After finishing his report, he reached into his inventory.

  "And I found this."

  Ryn placed the heavy, pulsating crystal on the wooden desk.

  [ Beast Core (Rare) ]

  The moment the purple gemstone touched the wood, the temperature in the room dropped. The chaotic black runes etched into the crystal pulsed, casting ominous shadows against the walls.

  Ildrich took a step back, his face draining of color.

  "This..."

  The Village Head stared at the core. Although confused, he could tell something was wrong with it. After all, he had seen many beast cores before, and none of them looked like this.

  'No wait...'

  Ildrich leaned closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied the chaotic black tendrils pulsing within the gem.

  A recent yet distant memory resurfaced in his mind.

  When his father was discussing something with the village elders, he had accidentally seen something similar. But before he could take a good look, his father had chased him away, saying he shouldn't meddle in this.

  Ildrich's breath hitched.

  'Could it be... Father left for the capital because of this?'

  He squinted briefly, trying to recall more details, before turning his gaze back to Ryn.

  "Do you know what it is?"

  Ryn asked calmly, reading the young Chief's complicated expressions.

  "N-no, but I think I have seen it once before, a similar one," Ildrich replied, his voice trembling slightly.

  He hesitated for a moment. However, looking at the man who had just saved his village, he felt a strange sense of trust. He decided to be honest and confessed it, expressing his doubt whether his father's departure had connection to it.

  He looked at Ryn with pleading eyes.

  "What do you think it is, Mister?"

  "Hmm..."

  Ryn picked up the core again. He pretended to examine it closely, turning it over in his hand as if seeing it for the first time.

  He placed it back on the table.

  "I think someone tampered with it," Ryn stated flatly. "The monster's appearance must have something to do with someone else."

  Ildrich paled.

  "You mean... it was intentional?"

  "I'm not entirely sure, but highly likely," Ryn answered.

  "...I see."

  Ildrich fell into a deep thought. He stared at the core, his hands clenching at his sides.

  A few moments later, he took a deep breath and bowed to Ryn.

  "Thank you, Traveler. You have done more than just clear a mine. Naven is in your debt. The mission is completed."

  He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a heavy pouch and a small, ornate wooden box.

  "Please, take this. It is the reward for the request."

  He pushed the items toward Ryn.

  "Also... I need to discuss this matter with the others," Ildrich continued, his expression serious. "Could you meet me here again tomorrow? I would like to share my findings with you."

  Ryn looked at the young NPC. A translucent blue window materialized in his vision.

  ──────?????──────

  [ Quest Completed: Heart of the Mountain (Unique) ]

  [ Difficulty: S ]

  [ Evaluation: Perfect Clear ]

  [ Rewards: 10 Gold Coins, +1000 Reputation (Naven), [Mystery Box (Unique)] ]

  ──────?????──────

  [ Chain Quest Triggered: The Shadow of Naven ]

  [ Start Time: 24 Hours ]

  ──────?????──────

  Ryn suppressed a satisfied smile.

  "I will be there," Ryn nodded.

  He took the pouch and the box, sweeping them into his inventory.

  "Until tomorrow, Chief."

  After bidding farewell, Ryn switched to Native Mode using [ Echo of Genesis ].

  Under the suspicious gazes of the players gathered outside, he calmly exited the Village Head's manor. A few tried to strike up a conversation, probably thinking he was some kind of hidden NPC and would give quests. While others recognized him from the smithy and asked if he could help them.

  However, he rejected them all, saying he was occupied right now and would open the shop tomorrow. Only then they left him alone.

  Sighing in relief, he glanced at the real-world time in his peripheral vision and noticed it was already past 12:00 PM.

  'Lunch time.'

  He remembered his mother's words about coming down to eat. He shouldn't keep her waiting.

  Thankfully, he had already finished the first quest and reaped a massive amount of benefits along the way. He was Level 12, rich, and had established a connection with the Village Head.

  It was more than enough for now.

  He walked to the village inn and purchased a private room. Entering the small space, he locked the door and lay down on the rough wooden bed.

  Closing his eyes, he whispered the command.

  "Log out."