I hid behind the ramp, my emotions a cappuccino of excitement with a dash of anxiety flavoured milk. Mainly over which possible family heirloom or prized possession they would send to the underworld.

  “Couldn’t get worse than my bowl at least.” My eyes lingering back to the metal bin in the kitchen.

  The door slammed open, hitting the back of the drywall with a loud crack.

  “Great, another thing I have to fix.” I whispered to myself. Followed by a loud thump of a body hitting the ramp.

  A single adventurer this time?

  I moved around the ramp and was pleasantly surprised at a race I hadn’t seen much of.

  A lizard man.

  “Please help me!” He croaked, but my annoyed look was focused on the open door and the swirling portal glaring back at me.

  “I will help–for a fee. But next time…” And I slammed the door shut with a flourish, rubbing at the big indent in my wall. “Next time, close the bloody door. Also, who opens doors like that? Nobody teach you door-manners?” My words making less sense as I spat them. Making me seem like a human equivalent of a sprinkler system.

  “W-What?” The lizard responded, holding the side of his ribs. Injured by the looks.

  Man that dungeon must be a bitch.

  Oh B-22. That’s what the b is for.

  “Anyway, you got funds?” My fingers doing the motion one does to attract cats, minus the psspsspss.

  “I have a few coins, but.”

  You sweeet lizard, you had me at “I have a few coins.”

  [Show me the Money passive active]

  Nice, not the passive. The eeeeeeh that’s now in my ears.

  The lizard reached for his pouch and presented it to me. Hands trembling as he reached over to hand it over. “That's all I have. But I really need your help.” Clasping his side once more with a disgusting squelching sound.

  “Yeah umm, I don’t do healing. YET. Not yet. But is there anything else I can help with?” A screen hovering over the bag of coins, displaying the amount without opening it.

  Double nice.

  “A meal? It would greatly aid my regenerative abilities.” Standing upright now and trying his best at a disarming smile.

  It was not.

  I manoeuvred around him, not out of fear. No no. But I’ve seen enough documentaries of crocodiles to NOT opt in for “fuck around and find out” package.

  “I have a few meals I can whip up. 2 minute noodles ok?”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  The lizard looked in confusion. “What’s 2 minute noodles?”

  Greg you idiot. He’s a lizard—they don’t eat noodles.

  “My apologies, how about some fruit?” Didn’t know if he was the meat eating kind of lizard, or the type that nibbled on lettuce.

  “Fruit will be plenty, thank you.”

  I headed over to the fridge and grabbed a few apples and an orange. Nothing too major, but eventually my food stores would run dry. I was living on my own after all. “Here you go.” Passing him the bowl of cold fruits.

  The lizard grabbed the bowl and unhinged its jaw, dropping the lot in with one loud gulp.

  SNAKE!

  “Thank you my friend.” His long tongue slithering around his mouth in a wide circle. “Lovely place you’ve got here.”

  “T-Thank you.” Handing him a glass of water for the empty bowl.

  It took a few sips and continued. “So how much time is covered?” Pointing at the pouch on the table.

  I scanned the screen next to it. 5 Silver. Not a large sum, but better than what those cheapskates paid me.

  [Recommendation]

  [The average price for accommodations in Taverns is about 5 Silver. The price of Safezones varies based on difficulty, but it’s usually about 10 times the price.]

  Did that notification just tell me I’m being scammed again? Also, is there a volume setting? Because I’m going to go deaf if this continues. “I’m just starting out, so let’s say this covers the night.” Whatever that meant in dungeon terms.

  [Dungeon Time is displayed in the corner]

  Did it just mock me? But thank you, I guess. Now giving me a good anchor of what to charge and how to keep track of it.

  Triple nice.

  “Unfortunately, I don’t have beds and the like set up yet. But…” Theatrically glancing over at my pincushion for a couch. “If you pull the arrows from that, you’d have a spot to rest those tired legs of yours.”

  The lizard considered, then stretched his hand out to me. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

  “Name’s Lomber by the way.”

  I shook it, his hand twice the size of mine, and scaly.

  “Pleasure… Greg.”

  His smile widened with a paired eyebrow raise. “That’s an odd name.” And sauntered off to pick out the arrows one by one. Piling them in neat bundles to the side of it.

  My name is odd?! Bitch, your name sounds like lumber. But why complain. He paid better and was now cleaning up part of my house.

  An idea crossed my mind in an instant. If people were unable to pay the full fee, why not put them to work?

  Greg you absolute genius!

  Walking over to the fridge for a victory beverage and my favourite muesli bar. A triple-choc pancake mix. Mmmmm.

  While devouring the bar, in similar fashion to snake-man earlier. I decided to sift through my skills again. Seeing if anything had changed.

  “Well well well.” It had, and better yet—I had funds again.

  The old ones were still available for purchase, but 2 new ones had appeared. Maybe because I had a new guest or maybe due to my understanding of the Safezone changing. Didn’t matter.

  [An Understanding: Gives you the ability to extort maximum amount of labour if an individual can’t pay for goods and services]

  [Only effective inside Safezone]

  I mean, at this point it kind of felt like the system was just hijacking my brain and spinning it back to me as an “original idea.” I call that lazy imagination.

  [Familiar: —]

  Aaand that was the 2nd skill I had unlocked. Giving me literally ZERO information on what it was or what it even cost.

  It felt like the system was giving me a sarcastic wink wink, when it felt like I was complaining too much.

  Whatever. Let’s just go with what I know for now.

  [An Understanding acquired]