Is My Main God Miyazaki Hidetaka?
The young adventurer looked to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a brand-new set of cheap leather armor—clearly a rookie who had registered not long ago. He stared at the rust-covered dagger and then at Patches' enthusiastic face. He was clearly tempted, yet something felt off.
"Re-really? But this rust..."
"Ah! That's where you're wrong!" Patches slapped his thigh, his spit nearly flying into the boy's face. "This is called 'Vintage Patina'! It's the accumulation of history! Look at the legendary weapons of the great heroes—which of them isn't rusty and ancient-looking? Those shiny, new things they forge nowadays have no soul! And besides—"
He lowered his voice, acting mysterious.
"My price is an absolute steal! Only 5,000 Valis! Go check the Guild shop; even the cheapest dagger starts at 8,000! This is a 'friendship price.' I'm only parting with it because you have a kind face, lad!"
The rookie swallowed hard, his hand already reaching for his meager coin purse.
"Ahem."
Lynn cleared his throat and walked over.
Patches turned at the sound. The moment he saw Lynn, the smile on his face stiffened for a fraction of a second before becoming even more radiant, bordering on fawning. "Oh! Sir! You're back! How was the haul? Come, come, sit, sit!"
As he spoke, he nimbly dragged over a small wooden stool and wiped it with his sleeve, acting incredibly attentive. The young adventurer stared at Lynn—specifically at the blood-aura-radiating curved sword at his waist and the exquisite knight's shield on his back—and instinctively took a half-step back, his eyes wide.
Lynn didn't sit. Instead, he folded his arms and looked at the items on Patches' stall with a half-smile. "Not bad, Patches. It hasn't even been a day and you've already set up shop? Your business skills are as sharp as ever."
"Heh, just trying to put food on the table, sir." Patches rubbed his hands, chuckling. Then, his eyes darted around as he turned back to the young adventurer. "Listen, lad, I've got a VIP guest here. Tell you what—I'll drop the price of this dagger to 4,000 Valis. Consider it a favor for a new friend. What do you say?"
The rookie hesitated but ultimately couldn't resist the lure of a "bargain." He fished out the Valis, exchanged them for the rusty dagger, and hurried away as if he had just found a legendary treasure.
Once the boy was out of sight, Patches immediately dropped the "enthusiastic merchant" persona. He weighed the coins in his hand and curled his lip. "Tsk. Peasant."
Lynn was amused. "Your talent for swindling hasn't faded one bit. That piece of junk didn't even cost you a thousand, did it?"
"How could you say that!" Patches widened his eyes, looking offended. "I call that 'Resource Upcycling'! I'm helping those rookies realize the dangers of the Dungeon and teaching them that 'cheap goods are never good.' It's an educational service! What's wrong with charging a small tuition fee?"
He spoke with total righteous conviction while tucking the Valis into his robe. Then, he leaned closer to Lynn, his beady eyes darting. "Seriously though, sir, you must have scavenged some good stuff down there, right? Anything you don't need that you can spare for your old pal? I promise I'll get you a top-tier price for it!"
"Nothing for now," Lynn shrugged, sitting on the wooden stool and leaning the Bloodhound's Fang beside him. "But looking at your stall, business doesn't seem that great. Was that kid your first customer of the day?"
Patches' round face immediately collapsed. He plopped down onto the ground with a heavy sigh. "Don't get me started! This place is dead broke! The few rookies I see are stingy as hell. Any adventurer with half an eye for quality wouldn't set foot in an alley like this."
Complaining, he reached under the stall and pulled out a crumpled oil-paper wrap. Inside were a few pieces of dark, rock-hard bread and a small wedge of dry cheese. He broke off half a piece of bread and offered it to Lynn. "Want a bite?"
Lynn didn't stand on ceremony. He took it and bit down. The bread was dry and hard, with a lingering taste of old mildew; it required water just to swallow.
"You're eating this?"
"What else?" Patches asked miserably, carefully slicing a tiny piece of cheese to put on the bread before taking a cherished bite. "Startup capital is limited. The fortune I amassed back in the Lands Between made me a minor tycoon, but here, after converting it to local currency, it's barely enough for a few months' rent and some junk inventory."
"Where's the money I gave you?"
"There." Patches pouted his lips toward a longsword on the cloth that looked slightly better than the rest. "I didn't expect weapons to be so expensive here. But a shop needs a centerpiece to look legitimate."
Chewing on the hard bread, his eyes drifted toward the Carian Knight's Shield on Lynn's back. "But speaking of which, sir... that shield of yours... looks quite extraordinary. Where'd you get it?"
"A mob drop," Lynn said vaguely, stuffing the rest of the bread into his mouth. It tasted terrible, but at least it filled the hole. "Thinking of making a play for this shield? Save your breath; I'm not selling it."
"Heavens, no!" Patches waved his hands dismissively, looking solemn. "Am I the kind of man who covets a friend's gear? I was just curious! Purely curious!"
Lynn rolled his eyes. He'd be a fool to believe that. However, he was still hungry, and the bread was truly inedible.
"Come on, stop gnawing on that stuff." Lynn stood up and brushed the crumbs from his hands. "Dinner's on me."
Patches' eyes lit up. "Dinner? Where to?"
"A good place," Lynn said, checking the sky. "I heard there's a tavern on West Main Street that's famous among adventurers. I haven't been there yet."
"West Main Street? Excellent! Lead the way!" Patches scrambled to his feet, nimbly rolled up his wares into a tattered sack, threw it over his shoulder, and followed. "Let's go! I haven't had a full meal in ages!"
The Hostess of Fertility was located in a somewhat inconspicuous corner of West Main Street, yet it was teeming with people. Even before the official dinner hour, a line of adventurers had already formed outside.
The tavern's exterior was built of dark wood and stone, decorated with pots of blooming flowers. Warm orange light spilled from the windows, accompanied by the aroma of food wafting through the cracks in the door.
"Hoh, business is booming." Patches craned his neck to peer inside, rubbing his hands. "Smells incredible."
Lynn led him directly to the entrance. Some in the line recognized the uniquely shaped curved sword and the brand-new knight's shield on Lynn's back, sparking whispers.
"Isn't that..." "I heard someone saw him over on East Main Street today..."
Lynn ignored them and pushed the door open. The tavern's boisterous atmosphere hit them immediately.
The spacious hall was packed, mostly with adventurers who had just finished a day of exploration. Laughter, clinking glasses, and chatter merged into a single roar. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat, stews, and ale. Long wooden tables were laden with food, and paintings of Dungeon scenery hung on the walls. The fireplace was roaring, keeping the space cozy and warm.
Several waitresses stood behind the counter, nimbly pouring drinks and serving dishes. One girl with short, light-gray hair and a white apron turned around; when she saw Lynn, her eyes visibly brightened.
"Welcome!" Her voice was crisp, and her smile was as radiant as if she were greeting an old friend. "Oh, a new face!"
Patches squeezed in behind Lynn. The moment he saw the girl, his bald head seemed to shine even brighter. He whispered in Lynn's ear, "Not bad, sir. The quality of the girls here is top-notch."
Lynn ignored him and found an empty table against the wall. The chairs were heavy logs, and the table was wiped clean. He leaned the Bloodhound's Fang in the corner and placed the Carian Knight's Shield by his feet.
The gray-haired girl had already jogged over with a menu.
"Table for two? What can I get you?" She placed the menu on the table, her gaze lingering on Lynn's face with a grin. "I'm Syr, a server here. You... this is your first time, right? I definitely haven't seen you before, or I'd remember."
She leaned forward slightly as she spoke, her gaze direct and warm. Lynn was momentarily taken aback by the overwhelming friendliness, then smiled. "It is my first time. I heard the food here is good."
"Of course!" Syr puffed out her chest proudly. "Our kitchen is one of the best in Orario—though I'm not the one cooking. By the way, what's your name?"
"Lynn."
"Lynn..." Syr repeated it, her smile growing wider. "A nice name. And this is..." She looked at Patches.
Patches sat up straight, plastering on a salesman's enthusiastic grin. "Patches, beautiful lady. Lord Lynn and I are friends—we've been through life and death together!"
"Oh—" Syr drawled, her eyes darting between the two before returning to Lynn. "So, Mr. Lynn, what would you like? The stew is excellent today, the mushroom soup is a house specialty, and we have bread fresh out of the oven."
"One of everything," Lynn said, pointing at Patches. "He's starving, so make the portions generous."
"No problem!" Syr took the order but didn't leave immediately. Instead, she leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "So, Mr. Lynn, you're an adventurer, right? I see you have a weapon and a shield... that shield is so pretty. All silver and shiny with those patterns."
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. Lynn, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the unshielded enthusiasm, could only nod. "Something like that."
"Then you must be very strong!" Syr said, before grabbing the menu and running back to the counter, shouting as she went, "Anya! Two stew sets, two soups, and extra bread!"
Patches watched her go and clicked his tongue, nudging Lynn with his elbow. "Not bad, sir. That girl is quite taken with you. Truly, handsome people are popular wherever they go."
"Quiet down." Lynn rolled his eyes and poured himself some water.
The tavern was noisy, but their corner table was relatively peaceful. Nearby, adventurers were loudly boasting about their hauls, complaining about tough monsters, or showing off new weapons. A relaxed atmosphere filled the air.
Soon, another waitress arrived with a tray. This one was an elf.
She had long, pale-blonde hair tied back with a simple ribbon, her pointed ears peeking through the strands. Her features were too exquisite to be human, but her face was expressionless, her blue eyes as calm as a lake. She wore the same apron as the others, but her movements were clean and efficient, each step light and silent.
She placed two heavy ceramic bowls on the table. Inside was steaming, dark-brown stew with large chunks of meat, soft potatoes, and carrots in a thick gravy. This was followed by two bowls of creamy mushroom soup sprinkled with black pepper and herbs, and finally a basket of sliced rye bread, still warm.
"Enjoy your meal," the elven waitress said softly, her tone steady. Her gaze lingered on Lynn's face for a second, swept over the weapon and shield in the corner, and finally rested on Patches, her brow furrowing slightly.
She said nothing more, however, and turned to leave.
Patches stared at her back, his eyes bulging. "Sir, did you see that? An actual elf! What is this tavern's deal, having an elven server..."
"Just eat." Lynn had already picked up a spoon and taken a bite of the stew.
The meat was perfectly seasoned, the spices and juices blending seamlessly as it melted in his mouth. The potatoes had soaked up the gravy, becoming soft and sweet. Lynn's eyes lit up. He took a sip of the soup—the earthy flavor of mushrooms and the richness of cream exploded on his tongue, the warmth traveling straight to his stomach.
"Delicious!" he praised sincerely.
Patches was beyond talking. He grabbed bread with one hand and a spoon with the other, eating ravenously with his cheeks bulging, still managing to mumble, "Mmm... this is a meal... that junk bread was nothing..."
The two buried themselves in their food. Syr ran over again to refill their glasses with ale. The amber liquid bubbled with fine foam and a rich malty aroma.
"How is it? To your liking?" she asked, leaning on the table and grinning at Lynn.
"Wonderful," Lynn gave a thumbs-up. "Much better than anything I could cook."
"You cook for yourself?" Syr's eyes brightened. "I cook a bit too, though everyone says my 'effort' dishes don't taste as good as the ones I throw together... By the way, Mr. Lynn, which Familia are you in?"
"I don't have a Familia."
"Eh?" Syr blinked. "A solo adventurer? That's amazing! Then your God is..."
"Miyazaki Hidetaka," Lynn repeated the nonsense line with a straight face. "The God of Crafting and Suffering."
Syr blinked, clearly never having heard the name, but she quickly laughed. "Sounds like a strict deity. But for Mr. Lynn to make it this far alone, you must be very powerful."
She kept her eyes on Lynn as she spoke, her admiration unconcealed. Patches took a large gulp of ale, let out a loud burp, and teased, "Miss Syr, the difference in treatment is a bit much, isn't it? I'm just 'this guest,' but Lord Lynn is 'Mr. Lynn'—and you're asking him all these questions."
Syr turned to him, hands on her hips. "Because Mr. Lynn is handsome and looks like a proper adventurer. You, on the other hand..." She looked Patches' bald head and dusty robes up and down. "...look like a swindler."
"Pffft—" Lynn couldn't hold back his laughter.
Patches clutched his chest, looking wounded. "Untrue! I, Patches, have always been an honest merchant—"
"You just sold a rusty dagger to a rookie for 4,000 Valis, didn't you?" Syr narrowed her eyes. "It didn't even cost you 500."
Patches' expression froze. Lynn's shoulders shook with laughter.
"I-I call that..."
Patches tried to defend himself, but Syr waved him off and turned to leave, winking at Lynn before she went. "Enjoy your food, Mr. Lynn. Let me know if you need seconds!"
Once she was gone, Patches' face dropped. "What's with that girl? Her eyes are too sharp..."
"You had it coming," Lynn said, dipping bread into his soup. "That's what you get for scamming people in the open. Tavern rumors spread fast."
"I call it optimized resource allocation..."
They chatted as they ate, with Patches droning on about his observations in Orario—where prices were high, where to find deals, and which Familia's adventurers were the easiest to trick. Lynn listened idly, his gaze occasionally wandering.
The elven waitress was serving another table. Her movements remained elegant and composed; even in this noisy environment, she seemed to carry her own bubble of silence. When a few drunken adventurers tried to reach for her, she simply stepped aside with a slight chill in her gaze, causing them to pull back and drink sullenly.
Not an ordinary person, Lynn thought to himself.
Halfway through the meal, Syr brought over two glasses of honey lemon water, saying they were on the house. This time, she pulled up a chair and watched Lynn eat.
"Mr. Lynn comes from somewhere very far away, right?" she asked. "Your accent doesn't sound local."
"Yes, very far," Lynn nodded.
"Traveling alone must be hard. Have you encountered anything interesting?" Syr's eyes sparkled, her questions coming one after another.
Lynn, a bit overwhelmed, picked a few safe stories to tell. Syr listened intently, gasping or laughing at the right moments. When she laughed, her eyes crinkled into crescents, radiating a sun-like aura.
Patches chewed his bread sourly, whispering, "Truly, being handsome is a superpower..."
Just then, the elven waitress walked by again. She was carrying a rag, seemingly heading to clean a nearby empty table. But as she passed, her footsteps faltered, and her gaze fell on the middle finger of Lynn's left hand.
The ring glinted with a faint blue light in the tavern's glow.
The elven waitress's expression didn't change, but a flicker of deep confusion passed through her eyes. She moved her gaze to Lynn's face, lingered for two seconds, and then continued wiping the table.
Lynn noticed her gaze and looked up. Their eyes met briefly in the air. The elven waitress was the first to look away, turning to leave. Her back was straight, her steps light and silent.
"That's Ryu," Syr said, following Lynn's gaze. "She doesn't say much, but she's a good person. Although her cooking..." Syr stuck out her tongue. "...can turn a sandwich into charcoal."
Lynn smiled but said nothing. Inside, however, he was puzzled. The way the elf had looked at the ring wasn't just a casual glance. But since she showed no hostility, he didn't dwell on it.
Dinner ended on a relaxed note. Patches, with a stomach as round as a ball, rubbed his bald head and burped contentedly. Lynn also felt satisfied; it was the most grounded meal he'd had since coming to this world.
At checkout, Syr personally handled it, giving them a small discount and slipping Lynn a hand-written card. "This is a discount coupon for new customers. Make sure to ask for me next time!"
The card had a wobbly drawing of the tavern's location, and on the back, the name "Syr Flover" was written in elegant script.
"I will," Lynn said, tucking the card away.
By the time they stepped out of the tavern, night had fully fallen. The Magic Stone lamps along the street ignited one by one, and Babel radiated a faint glow in the darkness. The night breeze carried a slight dampness from the direction of the Dungeon.
"I'm stuffed," Patches stretched. "Where to now, sir? More info gathering?"
Lynn looked up at the sky. Night had just begun, and a few stars were starting to twinkle in the deep blue canopy. It wasn't many, but it was enough.
"Go back to your room first," Lynn said. "I have to wait for the night."
"Wait for the night?" Patches was confused.
Lynn touched the Dark Moon Ring on his left hand but didn't explain.
Back in Patches' tiny inn room, Lynn opened the window and leaned out to look. The night sky was now pitch black, and the light from the top of Babel had dimmed slightly, making the stars appear clearer and brighter. Near the eastern horizon, a faint blur of blue-purple remained, but above him was deep ink-blue, dotted with countless specks of light.
"It's time." Lynn stood up.
Patches, who was sitting on the creaking bed studying a few Magic Stones he hadn't sold, looked up. "Sir, what exactly are you doing tonight? Star-gazing?"
"Something like that." Lynn slung the Bloodhound's Fang over his back and secured the Carian Knight's Shield. "I'm heading out. Stay here."
"Eh?" Patches immediately dropped the stones. "Don't need me to follow?"
"No, it's personal." Lynn pushed open the door and looked back. "Don't follow. I'll come find you next time."
Patches curled his lip and picked the stones back up. "Fine, fine. I won't follow. Get back early, sir."
Lynn ignored him, closed the door, and went downstairs. The innkeeper was dozing behind the counter as Lynn slipped out the back door. Orario's streets were much quieter at night. The glow of the Magic Stone lamps cast long shadows on the cobblestones, and the occasional drunken adventurer passed by, singing off-key.
Lynn avoided the busy areas, turning into an alley. He needed a place high enough, quiet enough, and with a clear view of the stars. After weaving through the alleys, he found an abandoned three-story building. Most of the exterior paint had peeled away, and the windows were broken. The edge of the rooftop was overgrown with weeds, but the view was wide, offering a clear expanse of the night sky.
"This will do."
Lynn nimbly climbed the protruding bricks of the wall and hauled himself onto the roof. The tiles were loose, letting out a slight crack as he stepped on them. He stood in the center of the platform, removed the Dark Moon Ring from his finger, and held it in his palm.
The ring was cold, but under the starlight, the stellar patterns on the band seemed to come alive, flowing with a faint blue aura. Lynn took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"Ranni."
He whispered the name. His palm grew slightly warm.
The blue light from the ring suddenly brightened, like a swarm of awakened fireflies. Specks of starlight drifted from the ring, circling and condensing in front of him.
The starlight outlined a slender figure. Pale blue hair, like solidified moonlight.
Ranni.
She floated an inch above the ground, her four arms elegantly folded, her gaze resting on Lynn's face.
"You have found the medium."
Her voice was ethereal, carrying a hint of nearly imperceptible relief. Lynn grinned and opened his hand, revealing the Dark Moon Ring. "Here. A graduation gift from my mother-in-law."
Ranni's gaze swept over the ring and paused. "...Mother," she whispered, reaching out to take it.
The moment the ring touched her palm, the entire band erupted in light! Countless fine runes emerged from the surface, flowing and rearranging like living things. Ranni's four arms rose simultaneously, her fingertips tracing complex paths in the air. The runes followed her guidance, converging at her fingertips.
In less than five seconds, she looked up.
"It is indeed a suitable medium. This ring possesses enough power to channel the sorcery constructs I have analyzed. It shall serve as your medium for learning magic in this world."
"Magic?" Lynn stepped closer. "What do I get?"
"Glintstone Pebble. Carian Phalanx."
As she spoke, Ranni raised a hand and tapped Lynn's forehead. A cool, pure stream of information instantly surged into his consciousness. It wasn't language or text, but something more direct—how to manipulate mana, how to shape it, how to condense it into a sharp Glintstone shard at his fingertips, and how to lay out complex circular arrays on the ground.
[Obtained Sorcery: Glintstone Pebble] [Obtained Sorcery: Carian Phalanx]
A system prompt popped up. Lynn closed his eyes, digesting the information. A few seconds later, he opened them and pulled the Glintstone Staff from his bag.
A fist-sized, jagged blue Glintstone Pebble condensed out of thin air, floating before his fingertip and radiating an eerie magical glow.
"It worked!" Lynn's eyes lit up. He flicked his wrist.
The Glintstone Pebble shot out, striking a broken chimney at the edge of the roof.
Bang!
Stone fragments flew as a fist-sized crater was left in the chimney.
"The power is average," Lynn shook his hand. "But finally, a ranged option. I won't have to use throwing knives to fool people every time."
"You master things quickly." Ranni floated toward him, one of her arms rising to gently brush the hair from his forehead. Her movement was light, her fingertips carrying the coolness of moonlight.
Lynn froze.
"This is your reward," Ranni's voice softened slightly. "My consort."
She leaned in slightly, and her cool lips pressed a light kiss onto his forehead. The touch was fleeting, like a snowflake landing on skin and melting instantly.
Lynn turned rigid. He felt his ears begin to burn.
"Wait—wait—" He stepped back, touching his forehead and then his face. "Coming out with that all of a sudden..."
Ranni tilted her head, a faint trace of a smile appearing in her amber eyes. "Is something amiss? In the Lands Between, you placed the ring upon my finger. We are consorts. Between consorts, is such an act not common sense?"
"Well, technically..." Lynn looked away, coughing twice.
"Your ears are red," Ranni floated closer, one of her four arms reaching out to gently pinch his earlobe.
"That's the wind!" Lynn batted her hand away and took a large step back, nearly stepping on a loose tile and stumbling before regaining his balance.
Watching him scramble, the smile in Ranni's eyes grew more obvious. But she didn't continue teasing him, instead floating back into the air with her arms folded elegantly.
"The medium has been analyzed, and the sorceries taught," she said. "You may continue to wear this ring; it will continuously enhance your mana sensitivity. Additionally, the Memory Stone you obtained in that phantom can be used to store more sorcery constructs."
"Got it, got it." Lynn waved his hand, sliding the Dark Moon Ring back onto his finger. "You leaving already?"
"I cannot remain in this realm for long." Ranni's figure began to turn transparent, starlight scattering from her form. "But now that the medium is established, I shall come faster next time you call."
She gave Lynn one last look. "Take care, my consort."
With those words, her figure dissolved into a sky of blue light particles, scattering with the wind and merging into the night sky.
Lynn was left alone on the roof with only the sound of the wind whistling through the tiles. He stood there, touching the spot where he had been kissed and then his still-burning ears.
"What a situation..." he muttered, but his mouth curled up into a smile nonetheless.
Shaking his head, he pushed those romantic thoughts aside and brought his focus back to reality. The harvest tonight had been good.
"Time to head back."
Lynn leaped from the roof, performing a light roll to absorb the impact upon landing. He stood and brushed off the dust. The streets were quieter than before. The glow of the Magic Stone lamps flickered in the wind, and a distant dog barked. The light at the top of Babel had dimmed, leaving only the countless Magic Stones embedded in the tower's surface to pulse with a rhythmic glow.
Lynn oriented himself and headed toward Eina's house. However, just as he turned a street corner, an undisguised killing intent locked onto him.
Lynn's footsteps stopped instantly, his gaze turning sharp. He slowly turned his head toward the source.
Not far away, a burly man wearing standard adventurer leather armor and carrying a two-handed axe was staring at him. The man's eyes held no trace of sanity; they were a muddy, blood-red. Drool leaked from his mouth as he muttered unintelligible sounds, his body twitching like a rabid beast.
Lynn's brows furrowed. He could feel the energy ripple from the man—roughly Level 3. For a normal adventurer, that was the threshold of greatness. But his state was bizarre; he didn't look like a normal human at all.
"Hey, friend, you're in the way." Lynn spoke tentatively, his right hand quietly moving to the hilt of the Bloodhound's Fang.
The man didn't answer. A low growl rumbled in his throat. The next second, the stone slabs beneath his feet exploded as he charged like a wild bull!
"Holy—!"
Lynn's pupils shrank. Instinctively, he rolled to the side and rear.
Boom—!
The massive axe, carrying a gale of wind, slammed into his previous position, shattering the hard stone into dust and flying fragments!
What incredible strength!
As Lynn scrambled up, the frenzied adventurer twisted his body, the axe sweeping horizontally at a tricky angle, giving him no room to breathe.
Clang!
In a rush, Lynn drew the Bloodhound's Fang to parry. The blade and axe collided, sending out a spray of dazzling sparks. A massive force traveled up the blade, numbing his hands and forcing him several steps back.
Hard-blocking a strike from a higher tier was indeed unpleasant.
"You done yet?!"
Lynn's gaze turned ruthless. Facing the charging giant again, he didn't retreat but lunged forward. Just before the axe connected, he activated Bloodhound's Step. His body became a phantom, vanishing from the spot.
The giant's attack missed, and the massive momentum left him in a tiny recovery frame. Lynn appeared at the giant's flank, but he didn't swing his blade immediately. His left hand gripped the Glintstone Staff, pointing it at the giant's back.
"Taste this!"
Glintstone Pebble!
A bolt of pale blue light condensed instantly and, with a sharp whistle, slammed into the giant's back.
Squelch!
The leather armor tore open as the Pebble exploded into a bloody hole in the giant's back. A roar of agony escaped his throat, and his assault faltered. Lynn felt a surge of joy, but he knew such a wound wasn't enough to finish a Level 3 adventurer.
Sure enough, the giant roared and turned around, his blood-red eyes locked onto Lynn. Ignoring the wound on his back, he raised his axe and charged again.
"Again?" Lynn sneered. This time, he didn't dodge.
He retreated to create distance while calmly chanting.
Carian Phalanx!
Four crystalline magic blades formed rapidly above his head, radiating a dangerous aura. The giant seemed to have no concept of ranged attacks—or perhaps he had lost all judgment—as he simply buried his head and charged.
The moment he stepped into the range of the Phalanx, the four blades acted like a swarm of bees following an order. They turned into four blue lights, shooting out from different angles and accurately striking the giant's chest and legs!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Followed by four dull booms, the powerful impact of the magic blades halted the giant's charge. His body staggered, his knees buckled, and he lost his balance, exposing a massive opening.
"It's over!"
Lynn seized the golden opportunity. Bloodhound's Step activated again as he closed in like a ghost. A crimson light flashed across the blade of the Bloodhound's Fang.
Critical Hit!
An elegant yet lethal red arc flashed through the air. The edge of the Fang sliced accurately through the giant's neck. The giant's movement stopped; a trace of bewilderment passed through his red eyes before his massive head flew into the sky.
However, a bizarre scene unfolded. The headless corpse didn't spray blood. Instead, it behaved like a Dungeon monster, rapidly turning into a pile of drifting ash in mid-air.
Ting.
A light sound followed. Where the ash dissipated, a fist-sized, pitch-black Magic Stone covered in eerie blood-red veins fell to the ground, radiating a heart-chilling evil aura.
Nearby passersby had long since fled in terror from the sudden fight. The street was now empty save for Lynn. He stepped forward and carefully poked the stone with the tip of his blade.
[Detected: Corrupted Great Rune Shard]
The system prompt appeared right on time. Lynn's gaze turned sharp.
"I see..." he whispered to himself. He used a cloth to pick up the stone, wrapped it carefully, and tucked it into his coat. "So this is what Ranni meant... a Great Rune Predator?"
Eina's House
"I'm back."
Lynn pushed the door open, his voice carrying a hint of fatigue. The living room light was still on; Eina had clearly been waiting for him. Wearing comfortable loungewear, she stood up from the sofa as soon as she heard the door. A gentle smile was on her face, but it froze the moment she saw the dark bloodstains on Lynn's chest.
"You—you're hurt again?!" Eina's voice rose, trembling. She rushed to Lynn, her blue eyes full of anxiety, her hands instinctively reaching out to check his body.
"Don't worry, it's not my blood." Lynn raised a hand to gently hold her cool wrist, calming her with a steady tone.
Eina froze, looking him up and down suspiciously. Lynn's complexion was normal, his breathing steady, and there were indeed no visible wounds. She let out a sigh of relief, but the sudden drop in tension left her feeling weak. She couldn't help but lightly punch Lynn's shoulder with her free hand.
"Be more clear next time! You'll scare me to death!" Her voice still held a trace of fear.
"Yes, yes, my mistake," Lynn apologized readily.
Eina's gaze fell to his chest again. This time, she noticed the hard object wrapped in cloth tucked into his coat—it was from that spot that the blood had seeped through.
"What is that?" She knit her brows, reaching out a finger to carefully touch the bundle. "I've never seen a... Magic Stone like this?"
Even through the cloth, the sinister, chaotic aura made her feel instinctively uncomfortable.
"Think of it as loot," Lynn said without hiding it. He pulled out the bundle but didn't open it fully. "I'll take it to the Guild for appraisal tomorrow to see if there's any information."
Eina's expression turned solemn. She shook her head, her gaze heavy. "This thing gives me a very bad feeling. It's... distorted. Even Magic Stones from deep-floor monsters in Orario never feel like this."
She paused, looking directly into Lynn's eyes, and asked softly, "Lynn... have you run into some kind of trouble lately?"
Eina knew that the adventures Lynn went on were far more dangerous than he let on.
Lynn was silent for a moment. "Yeah, it seems someone is targeting me." He finally chose to be partially honest. "But it's fine; I'll handle it."
His tone was casual, as if speaking of a minor trifle. Eina stared at him for a few seconds, knowing that the boy wouldn't say more if she pressed him. She took a deep breath and nodded, her tense shoulders finally relaxing.
"...I believe you," she said firmly. "But don't carry everything on your own. If you need help, you can always come to me. Even if I can't help directly, at least... I can listen."
Her worry had transformed into complete support and trust. Lynn was momentarily stunned, then grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. "Alright."
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