Tower of the Black, First Floor.
"...Yeah, I have a quest to kill 10 Hopping Rabbits!"
"...That should be easy. I need to capture 5 Angry Rats for the potion master. I don’t mind killing, but capturing? And I need to go in those smelly sewers!"
"...Hahaha, that sucks!"
When Fang Raon opened his eyes, the sounds of the bustling street entered his ear, and a scent of fresh pastries wafted by.
He looked around, and he was standing in a street of a city. It was the First City, the starting city of every new player.
Fang Raon was taking everything in and inhaled deeply. He couldn’t forget the scent of fresh pastries and followed the scent.
He soon arrived at a roadside stand where a woman was selling warm, flaky croissants, and there was the option to have a free sample.
"Would you like one, young man?"
The elderly woman said with a gentle smile.
"...I’d love to."
Fang Raon said with a smile, accepted one, and took a taste.
Instantly, he was transported back to his childhood, where his grandmother used to bake croissants for him every Sunday morning.
The taste was amazing.
’...I have heard about the wonders of this place for years now, and I thought people were just overexaggerating when describing this place.
’It’s unbelievable how real everything is!’
Fang Raon would’ve liked purchasing more, but he was dirt poor, with no money to his name.
He thanked the elderly woman, but in that moment, he realized that she was actually an NPC—Non-Player Character—which surprised him once again.
It didn’t feel like she was just a creation of the game code.
At that moment, Fang Raon remembered something and dropped his gaze to his attire.
He was wearing the "newbie outfit," which consisted of brown pants and a plain white shirt with a leather vest over it.
There were other players with the same attire wandering about in the street, as this was newbie city after all.
The stronger veteran players couldn’t come to the First Floor anymore. The players who made it above the Fifth Floor couldn’t come back down to the "Newbie Floors."
The same restrictions didn’t apply above the Fifth Floor, and thus, it was possible to see some powerhouses visit the Sixth Floor every now and then.
Fang Raon also saw some players that already had some leather armor equipped and steel weapons.
’I need to find ways to earn money so I can purchase better equipment. I guess I should go check out the Adventurer’s Guild.’
Fang Raon thought to himself.
He didn’t know where it was, so he asked directions from NPCs, who were more than happy to help him.
It was still unreal feeling to him to be actually see, and move without pain, which was why he was just enjoying every step, every breath, every moment.
With the help of NPCs, he found the Adventurer’s Guild, which was a hexagon-shaped building at the crossroad in the center of the city.
Players were gathering and chatting outside and inside, some discussing strategy while others were trading items.
Fang Raon entered the Adventurer’s Guild, and it was very loud inside.
"...We need Tank to go against the First Floor’s Boss!"
"...Looking for Helpers to join our party!"
"...Is anyone selling healing potions? I can trade for High Boar tusks!"
Fang Raon walked to the mission board, where there were already players gathered and looking for any mission to take.
There were only level 1 quests available.
Players were only allowed to take quests and missions of their level. It was also allowed to take ones that were below their level, but attempting missions with higher levels was forbidden.
"Hey, do you have any healing potions to sell?"
In that moment, a player next to him turned to look at him and asked. He looked like an ordinary young man.
Fang Raon turned to him in surprise, as he didn’t expect to be talked to suddenly and had to look slightly down to meet the player’s eyes.
Fang Raon was quite tall, which was also why nobody ever really picked a fight with him even with his disability.
"Uh, no, I am sorry. I am a new player."
He said.
"Ah, not a biggie."
The player scratched his head and then went to ask others if they were willing to part ways with their healing potions.
However, not too many players were willing, as healing potions were important for everyone.
’What mission should I take?’
Fang Raon crossed his arms, and he was looking for missions that paid the most money, but they were also more dangerous.
It was really dangerous to do anything in the tower as a solo player, and Fang Raon also didn’t want to stay as a solo player.
However, he was pretty much of an introvert and didn’t really know how to approach others.
"...Excuse me?"
In that moment, he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around in surprise to see a girl standing on her tiptoes.
She had to tiptoe to be able to tap him on the shoulder, and when she stopped tiptoeing, she was quite a bit shorter than him.
Even compared to other players around, she was pretty short.
"Yes?"
Fang Raon asked in surprise.
"Are you Warrior?"
Tessa asked.
She was quite a cute brown-haired girl, and despite her short height, she was still over eighteen years old, as that was the minimum age to even play the game.
"I am."
Fang Raon said.
"Ah... Would you like to join our party? We’re in need of a Warrior as I am Helper, my other friend is Mage, and another one is Assassin.
"We could use someone like you!"
Tessa said with a bright smile.
"...Who are your friends?"
Fang Raon asked.
"Over there!"
Tessa pointed at the corner table and waved her hand to the two of her friends—there was one middle-aged woman with red hair, who was with a black-haired young man.
They didn’t really look like a strong party.
"...Sure."
Fang Raon said with a smile.
"Nice to meet you then. My name is Tessa!"
She extended her hand for a handshake, and Fang Raon grabbed it softly.
"Fang Raon."