By the time I finished my business at the guild and the slave trader’s estate, the long day had finally begun to catch up with me. My stomach rumbled with a sharp, insistent hunger, and my limbs felt heavy from the constant movement through the city’s cobblestone streets. It was time to head back to the inn.

  Along the way, I navigated through the bustling commercial district. I stopped at a local clothier to purchase some basic necessities—fresh underwear and a set of light, comfortable clothes to wear in bed. The transition from heavy leather armor to simple cloth felt like a luxury I was desperate to experience. The garments cost me five silver coins, a price that seemed fair given the quality of the fabric.

  As I continued my walk, I encountered a stall nestled between two larger buildings that specialized in small, handcrafted souvenirs. The sight of the trinkets made me pause. I remembered that Copez was still in the city for a few more days before he would begin the long journey back to the frontier. The thought of Grandpa Tariq and Fadeline crossed my mind, and a sudden sense of gratitude washed over me.

  I decided to buy something for them, a small token to show that I hadn't forgotten the hospitality they had shown an amnesiac stranger. After browsing the shelves, I chose a silver amulet for Fadeline; it was circular and simple, devoid of excessive decoration but possessed a clean, honest shine. For Grandpa, I selected a sturdy silver ring, unadorned but substantial. Together, the two items cost exactly one Targonia gold coin.

  I knew I didn't have much money to spend on such sentimentalities, especially with the unknown expenses of the dungeon looming over me, but I felt it was worth the cost. Considering the kindness and the experiences I had shared with them in the village, a single gold coin felt like a small price to pay. I tucked the small packages safely into my pouch, resolving to find Copez the next morning before I set out for my first delve.

  When I finally arrived at the inn, the environment was warm and smelled of roasting meat. Stephen, the innkeeper, was still stationed behind his reception desk, looking remarkably unchanged from when I had left him hours earlier. He offered a polite nod as I approached.

  “Welcome back, sir. The food is ready. Would you like to eat right now?” he asked.

  “Yes, please. I’m starving,” I replied, moving toward one of the empty tables in the common room.

  I sat on a sturdy wooden chair and waited. After a few minutes, Stephen returned with a simple wooden plate. It held a generous serving of stew and a thick slab of dark bread. It wasn't the most appetizing meal I had ever seen, and the presentation was certainly lacking, but as I took the first bite, I realized it was significantly better than the bland, unseasoned soups Grandpa Tariq had prepared.

  After quickly finishing the meal and washing it down with a cup of water, I climbed the stairs to the second floor. Exhaustion was beginning to cloud my thoughts. I found my room, pushed open the door, and stepped into the small, sparse space. Aside from the bed and the wardrobe, the room was mostly empty, but it felt secure. I placed my belongings on the floor beside the bed, sighing as I began to unbuckle the straps of my armor.

  Just as I was about to change into my new clothes, a soft knocking sound echoed through the room.

  “Come in,” I called out.

  The door opened to reveal Stephen. He was carrying a steaming wooden bucket in his hands, and a clean, rough-textured towel was draped over his shoulder.

  “I brought your hot water and towel, sir, as promised,” he said.

  “Thank you. You can just leave them there by the door,” I replied.

  After a polite nod, he set the bucket down and left. For a moment, I stared at the water, debating whether I was too tired to bother. The thought of just collapsing onto the bed was tempting, but I knew I would sleep much more comfortably if I washed away the grime and sweat of the day.

  Steeling my resolve, I undressed and began to wipe myself down. I soaked the towel in the hot water, the steam rising in the dim light of the room, and scrubbed my skin until the water in the bucket turned gray. When I finally finished, I felt refreshed and much lighter. I pulled on the soft sleeping clothes I had purchased earlier and collapsed onto the bed. Before I could even finish arranging the blanket, sleep claimed me.

  I woke up to the soft, persistent chirping of birds gathered on the roof outside. I lay there for several minutes, turning from side to side as I tried to shake off the lingering grogginess of deep sleep. The wooden shutters were still closed, so the room remained dim, making it difficult to judge exactly how much time had passed.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Eventually, I sat up, crossed the room, and swung the windows open. The morning air was crisp, and the sky was already bright with the early light of the rising sun. Even though I had gone to bed quite early the night before, I had still failed to wake up at the very first crack of dawn.

  I knew that in this world, work generally began at daybreak. Since today was only intended to be a test of the dungeon’s upper floors, the delay wasn't a crisis, but I didn't want it to become a habit. I resolved to ask Stephen to wake me up for breakfast from now on to ensure I could get a head start on the day.

  I changed back into my gear, feeling the familiar weight of the leather and steel settle onto my frame. I planned to extend my stay at the inn; having a consistent base of operations would allow me to leave my non-essential belongings behind and move more freely.

  When I went downstairs, the common room was relatively quiet. I ordered my breakfast and waited. A few minutes later, Stephen presented me with a wooden plate holding a piece of sharp cheese, three savory sausages, a piece of bread, and a cup of water. It wasn't a feast, and it didn't entirely satisfy my hunger, but it provided enough energy for the task ahead. I considered buying some extra snacks from a street stall on my way to the guild but decided against it; it wasn't wise to have a completely full stomach before intense physical exercise.

  After finishing my meal, I approached the desk to handle the payment.

  “Hello. I would like to extend my stay here,” I informed Stephen. “I’ve already left some of my things in the room, and I’d like to keep it as my base for a while.”

  He seemed pleased, a small smile appearing on his weathered face. “I am glad you’re finding the accommodations to your liking, sir. How many more days would you like to reserve?”

  “Let’s do five more days for now. I’ll pay for the meals in advance as well,” I said. I didn't want the hassle of paying every single day, so providing the gold upfront felt like the more efficient choice.

  “That would be six silver coins, sir,” he calculated.

  When I had paid a single silver coin the day before, it hadn't felt like much, but looking at the cumulative amount now, I couldn't help but feel a slight pang of concern for my dwindling funds. I handed him the coins, leaving me with only three silver and twenty copper pieces aside from my gold. I knew I had to be careful from now on. If I wanted to buy a slave to assist me in the future, I needed to start accumulating wealth, not just spending it.

  As I had learned from my time with Othrik’s party in the village, having a companion wasn't just about company. Being in a formal party allowed for the sharing of job stat bonuses and, more importantly, ensured there was someone to watch your back when things turned dangerous. Even if I didn't buy one immediately, I wanted to ensure I had the financial flexibility to do so when the need arose.

  I left the inn and headed toward the bazaar. I still had one final task before I could enter the dungeon: delivering the souvenirs to Copez. He had mentioned he was staying at an inn near the bazaar district, so I began my search there. It didn't take long to locate the building he had described, but when I asked the innkeeper, I was told that Copez had already left to tour the market stalls early that morning.

  I hadn't seen him on my walk in, so I decided to head toward the dungeon by taking a longer route through the bazaar area, hoping our paths might cross. The market was a sensory overload of shouting merchants, colorful fabrics, and various exotic goods. I navigated through the crowds, not paying much attention to the shops themselves since I had everything I needed for the day.

  Just as I was passing the last row of stalls at the edge of the district, I spotted a familiar, paunchy figure exiting a shop while engaged in a deep conversation with the owner. It was Copez. I felt a surge of relief; I didn't like the idea of leaving a task unfinished, and I wasn't certain exactly when he intended to leave the city.

  “Hello, Copez! I’m glad I found you,” I called out, weaving through a group of shoppers to reach him.

  He was in the middle of saying goodbye to the shopkeeper and looked puzzled for a moment, clearly not expecting to see me in this part of town. Once he recognized me, however, he regained his composure and offered a surprised smile.

  “Oh! Hello, Mr. Han. I didn't expect to run into you here,” he said.

  “Yes, me too. I stopped by your inn, but they told me you were already out. I was on my way to the dungeon, but I decided to take a detour through the bazaar just in case I could find you,” I explained.

  “I see. Well, it’s a stroke of luck that we encountered each other. Is there something I can help you with?” he asked curiously.

  “Yes. Since you’ll be heading back to the village soon, I wanted to ask a favor. I bought some souvenirs for Grandpa and Fadeline, and I was hoping you could deliver them for me,” I said, reaching into my pouch.

  “Yes, of course. It’s no problem at all,” he replied easily. Since he was returning to Hajzenfels anyway, it wasn't a burden, and he seemed happy to assist.

  “Thank you. Here—this ring is for Grandpa Tariq, and this amulet is for Fadeline,” I said, handing him the small packages.

  Copez accepted them with a faint, knowing smile. “I’ll make sure they get these gifts safely, don't worry.”

  “I’m grateful. Thank you again, Copez.”

  With the favors handled, I bid him a final farewell and turned toward the city’s heart. With this, my business related to the village was officially concluded. I felt a strange sense of finality as I walked away. Perhaps I would visit them again one day, but for now, my focus was entirely on the dark entrance of the dungeon that awaited me.

  [Edited]