"System, now that you have been fully activated, I think you should be able to locate where I am exactly," Shadow said. He had been in the middle of this large forest for seven years and had never, not even once, come across another human being. He was completely lost.
---
[Analysing host's location.....]
[Analysis finished]
[Host is in the Graveveil Forest, located in the continent of Elyndor. The closest city is 50 km south of your current location.]
---
"Elyndor? Haven't heard of it," Shadow murmured. "A city 50 km away from here… I'm not sure how to feel about meeting humans again. But I definitely know my stomach feels something after eating my trash cooking for the past seven years."
Saying this, Shadow made his way toward the city.
---
After ten hours of walking, Shadow reached the city—the first human establishment he had seen since leaving his family.
It was around midnight, and the city gate had only two guards, both seemingly asleep while standing. Their mouths were drooling and their faces had a Lascivious grin as they were having some naughty dreams.
'Best security system: unconscious mode.' he thought to himself before noticing their drooling mouths, Shadow wondered what kind of dream they were having.
'I guess great minds tend to think the same,' he thought, his stomach reminding him he hadn't eaten properly all day.
He took advantage of the sleeping guards and sneaked into the city.
---
The city was dark, with only a few buildings emitting faint light from magical illumination devices. Shadow chose the nearest lit building and walked toward it.
It was a simple two-story wooden tavern near the forest edge. The wood was old and slightly darkened, with visible repairs on parts of the walls and roof. A simple signboard hung above the entrance, marking it as a tavern and lodging place. Small windows lined the front, warm light spilling out. The heavy wooden door looked frequently used. From outside, faint voices and the smell of food could be noticed.
---
"Decent food finally," Shadow whispered before walking in.
---
Silence.
The room, which had been filled with conversation, went completely silent the moment he entered.
Shadow stood there with long, wild hair reaching his ankles, defined muscles shaped by years of survival, and scars across his body. Animal skin covered his body. He looked like a caveman—but that wasn't all.
Everyone in the tavern looked at him with different expressions, but they all shared one thought:
'I wish I had a face like that.'
Not just the men, but even some women felt a strange sense of admiration for his sharp features and gray eyes that seemed to hide something deeper.
---
'…why did everything go quiet? Did I break reality again?'
Shadow ignored the stares and walked straight to the counter, drawn by the smell of food.
"Food," Shadow said to the middle-aged man at the counter.
[Host behavior: socially defective.]
The system voice resounded in Shadow's mind.
The man at the counter waited for Shadow to continue, but nothing came.
"What exactly do you want? We have a list of meals you can choose from," the man said, smiling reluctantly.
"Food."
"I don't have time for decisions. Anything. Bring anything. I just want food," Shadow replied, sounding slightly insane to the surrounding crowd.
"I got you. Just take a seat and we'll bring you the best dishes we have," the man said.
---
Shadow sat at a nearby table. People continued to glance at him, each with their own thoughts. Shadow felt uneasy, not because of their stares, but because the smell of food was overwhelming his senses while he waited.
---
Suddenly, a middle-aged woman came out of the kitchen carrying several plates and walked toward his table.
Despite her age, she carried a mature, graceful presence that naturally drew attention.
She had brown hair, soft skin, and a slightly plump body that somehow added to her charm rather than taking away from it.
She placed the plates on the table and glanced at Shadow's chest briefly.
"You don't look like you're from around here. Are you a traveler?" she asked.
---
Unable to hear her clearly, Shadow immediately attacked the first plate like it was his enemy.
After biting into the chicken leg and feeling the taste explode in his mouth, he froze for a moment before swallowing.
A relieved smile appeared on his face.
"Yeah… those guards were definitely dreaming of this meal," he murmured.
"Sorry?" the woman asked.
Shadow regained focus and looked up at her.
"Oh, I'm sorry. That must've been unpleasant," he said.
---
"Not at all," she replied softly. "I was just asking if you're a traveler. You look too young, and your clothes are… different."
Her voice reminded Shadow slightly of his mother, Elena.
"To be honest," Shadow said, "I don't know who or where I am. I just woke up in the forest a few years ago and have been surviving there since. Today I somehow found this city. The only thing I remember is my name—Shadow."
Gasps spread across the tavern.
---
"Did he just say he lived alone in the Graveveil Forest?"
"He's either insane… or insane."
"Years? If he said two days, maybe I'd believe it…"
---
Shadow shrugged at their reactions.
"I have no reason to lie. One look at me should convince you," he said calmly.
---
The woman looked at him with sympathy and gently cupped his cheeks.
'…don't touch my face.'
'…this is not normal behavior.'
'…I did not agree to this.'
Shadow's alert was on high end, but couldn't do anything
"I can't imagine what you went through. The Graveveil Forest is known to contain beasts even hunters avoid. I can't imagine what I would do if my son had to endure that."
'She seems… kind,' Shadow thought.
---
"Alright, you're staying with us for now," she said. "My name is Marta. My husband and I run this place. We have spare rooms upstairs. Our son is about your age, so you'll be comfortable here."
'So this is what kindness feels like… annoying.' Shadow thought.
The woman waved her husband over.
---
The middle-aged man stepped forward, clearly pressured.
'She always had a soft spot for stray animals, but this time... It's a little bigger than expected' he thought to himself as he walked towards his wife.
"Hello, my name is Gregor. Call me Greg," he said.
"My name is Shadow. I appreciate your offer, but I can't impose," Shadow said politely.
"Wrong answer. Try hunger again." Gregor said.
"But I guess I don't want sound impolite so I'll gladly stay." Shadow said with a deadpan face.
"Politeness is killing him." Gregor murmured to himself
Marta replied. "You can stay here with us as long as you don't cause trouble. Finish your food, then we'll show you your room."
She returned to the kitchen.
---
'For someone without a single coin… this is more of a cheat than my system traits,' Shadow thought with a faint grin.
---
After finishing his meal, he was led upstairs to a simple room. It had only a bed and a table near the window.
To Shadow, however, it felt like a royal suite.
Without hesitation, he fell onto the bed after his long journey.