Chapter 4: Confrontation

Raine walked down the bustling street, carefully experiencing his newly acquired Power. He deliberately avoided the crowds, repeatedly testing Stealth Step at the ends of alleys, along walls, and even in the shallow pool of a fountain. Whether on soft mud, rough gravel, or grass, the sound of his footsteps seemed to be quietly erased by an invisible hand.

The sensation of walking in absolute silence was simply wonderful. Especially when he stepped into the shallow pool—the ripples still spread, but the expected SPLASH never came. It was as if his feet were emitting some kind of sound wave that precisely canceled out the noise of the water.

The Physical cost of each Skill activation was roughly equivalent to jogging the same distance. As long as he paced himself, he could enter this silent walking state at any time.

"Although it's only a supportive Combat Technique, it's a crucial upgrade for someone like me who excels in Agility," Raine evaluated in his mind. In the perilous wilderness, where every slight noise could attract the attention of Demons, the utility of Stealth Step would undoubtedly shine even more. An agile figure paired with silent footsteps was simply the perfect combination.

Suppressing his inner joy, his fingertips subconsciously brushed against the Short Sword at his waist.

Mottled Town sat isolated on the Kingdom's frontier. The only region it bordered was the Demon Shadow Forest. To shed his status as a Bottom-level Adventurer, entering the forest was undoubtedly the quickest path. It would allow him to use the Hunting Chapter to record Demon information and earn greater rewards. It was the place that had swallowed the original owner's companions, along with all his courage.

A chill crawled up Raine's spine as fragmented memories of that blood-soaked night resurfaced in his mind. He felt his hand trembling slightly, but he quickly gripped the hilt tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand. This was the only way to redeem himself.

"Come to think of it, when I played games in my past life, I always fantasized about going on free-roaming adventures. Now that I've actually crossed over, there's absolutely no reason to back down." A surge of excitement suddenly washed over him, sweeping away the confusion and struggle in his eyes. It was time to face that forest and confront the most piercing fear in his memories.

His mind made up, Raine pulled a coin pouch from his pocket and tossed it lightly in his hand, accompanied by the crisp CLINK of coins. This was his reward for fixing the stone mill earlier—fifty Copper Deer in total, roughly equivalent to half a day's wages for a dockworker. While not a lot, it was enough to buy some basic supplies.

He first visited the town's clinic, spending forty Copper Coins on a basic hemostatic kit that contained blood-clotting ointment and clean bandages. Next, he went to the bakery and spent his last ten Copper Coins on a few loaves of freshly baked black bread and a small portion of hard cheese. Even if he wasn't used to the taste, it was enough to fill his stomach and replenish his Energy.

He left himself no way out, emptying his coin pouch without hesitation.

As for weapons and armor, he could only sigh in resignation. Even the cheapest cloth armor cost at least twenty Silver Lions, which was upwards of two thousand Copper Deer. The most ordinary secondhand Longbow cost fifteen Silver Lions, and he would still need extra funds for matching Arrows. A standard dozen of Iron-Tipped Arrows alone cost ten Silver Lions. These were obviously far beyond his current reach.

"Perhaps soon, I'll be able to earn my dream Longbow with my own two hands." Standing at the street corner, Raine gazed from afar at the cold, gleaming weapons in the shop before finally withdrawing his longing look.

He lowered his head and carefully inspected his only piece of equipment: a Short Sword with a forty-centimeter blade and a few tiny notches. The blade emitted a faint, cold gleam. Although there were traces of rust where it met the hilt, the rest of it was still reasonably sharp. With enough luck and the help of Stealth Step, he might just be able to deal a fatal blow to an enemy from behind.

Everything was ready. He headed out of town without hesitation.

Passing through the town gates, his field of vision suddenly opened up. A wide dirt road stretched forward, flanked by endless golden wheat fields on both sides. As the breeze brushed past, the rolling waves of wheat let out a soft RUSTLE, emitting a fresh scent of mingled soil and vegetation.

The Harvest Festival had just ended. Farmers could still be seen bustling about the field ridges. They gathered in twos and threes—some wielding sickles to harvest, while others loaded heavy sheaves of wheat onto carts. Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

The road to the Demon Shadow Forest was quite lively. Many Adventurer squads traveled back and forth, chatting among themselves about their quests and spoils. Raine walked along the edge of the road, trying his best not to draw attention, but his gaze was involuntarily drawn to a group approaching from the opposite direction.

Leading them was a blond man clad in a full set of Metal Plate Armor. Every step he took produced a steady, rhythmic clanking of metal. Following him were a young woman in supple Leather Armor and a composed middle-aged Mage. Even as the three merely strolled by casually, an intimidating aura of true experts washed over Raine.

"Professionals?" Raine muttered in his heart, his eyes landing on the Metal Plate Armor that looked to weigh at least two hundred pounds. To be able to equip such heavy gear and still walk effortlessly without so much as panting—the answer was self-evident. As for the Plate Armor's price, it was an astronomical figure that a Bottom-level Adventurer wouldn't even dare dream of.

Raine looked down at his own scrawny frame and thin, coarse linen clothes. A complex mix of envy and powerlessness welled up in his heart. If he had that kind of wealth and strength, wouldn't he be able to roam the forest completely unhindered? Even if he just stood there and let low-level Demons like Goblins surround and beat him, it would be hard for him to sustain any real damage.

But immediately after, he shook his head vigorously, dispelling this momentary lapse of focus. They weren't born this strong either. As long as he took it one step at a time and recorded more Demon and regional information into the Adventurer's Chronicles, perhaps everything would soon change.

The crowd parted silently to make way for the Professionals. They quickly brushed past Raine, not even sparing him a glance from the corner of their eyes.

Raine kept his head down and continued on his way in silence. Ahead, a few young Adventurers were gathered together laughing and chatting. One of them accidentally glanced at him, and their smile faltered slightly before they looked away, resuming their previous topic. More people simply hurried past him in a rush. In this small town teeming with Adventurers, everyone had their own business to attend to.

He focused his mind and quickened his pace. At the end of the horizon, the endless, massive forest resembled a dark-green behemoth, lying quietly in wait at the edge of the world. Compared to it, the bustling squads of Adventurers on the road were so insignificant they were like a single drop in the ocean.

The surrounding noises gradually faded into the distance. The forest was now close at hand. Thick shadows of trees loomed over him, and the air was heavy with coolness and dampness. From deep within the woods came the occasional RUSTLE of unknown origin, eerie and fraught with danger.

Standing at the edge of the forest, Raine drew the Short Sword from his waist. Stealth Step was activated silently. The young man's figure soundlessly merged into the shade of the trees and soon vanished without a trace.