Heavy, uncomfortable silence lingered in the air.
I acted calm, but as it stretched, I began to feel a little ill at ease.
Just then, the man finally opened his mouth, and said, his voice low but clear: "If you are speaking the truth, you are either extremely lucky, or… extremely dangerous."
"…Maybe both." I said after a moment's thought because if I tried to sound harmless, they might grow even more suspicious of me.
Silence followed my words.
The man stared at me, his grip on the spear tightening.
I glanced at it before shifting my gaze back to his eyes, waiting for his response.
The man's eyes shifted from my face to my clothes. Then, he said, "You are not injured."
"…Not anymore." I nodded.
His gaze sharpened "Not anymore?"
Behind him, a few others shifted. Uneasy and primed to attack at a moment's notice.
"...Healing herbs…?"
I heard someone whisper.
"…Or a cultivator?" someone asked.
'Mm?' My expression didn't change, but I focused.
Information.
This was another reason why I needed to enter this village.
"Something like that." I said vaguely.
The man watched me for a few seconds longer.
Then, he exhaled and relaxed his grip on the spear.
"What do you want?"
"I need a place to stay." I replied. "I would appreciate it if you could also provide me with some food and water."
"Heh." Someone sneered.
"I can help out with some work in exchange." I added.
"Alright. You can stay." The man said. Others clearly weren't pleased with his decision, but they didn't say anything.
"Thank you." I said, relief washing over me.
"…Follow me." he said, turned around and began walking.
I followed.
The village wasn't large. There were just a few dozen houses.
The people who were outside their houses watched me go by, whispering among them. However, none looked any wary.
I knew the reason. It was because I was following him.
After a while, we stopped in front of a small house, though it would be more appropriate to call it a hut.
"You can stay here." The man said.
"Okay." I nodded.
"Don't cause trouble." He added.
"I won't."
He stared at me for a moment, as if trying to see through me. Then, he turned and left.
I didn't mind their suspicion and wariness because if I was in their place, I wouldn't have allowed some stranger—who could be potentially dangerous to me and everybody around me—so late at night in my residence.
I glanced at the hut, a small smile appearing on my face.
I could finally take a proper rest.
I stepped inside.
Except for a bed and a small table, there was nothing else.
"Good enough." I muttered, sat down on the bed and exhaled slowly, feeling myself relaxing.
'First step complete.' I thought. I had survived the cave, escaped and entered a civilization.
Now, to continue living, I needed to become stronger. Otherwise, who knew when some threat took my life.
However, I wasn't too worried because I had something that no one else in this world probably had—-the system.
With it, it wouldn't be too long before I can become strong enough to keep myself safe.
'System.' I called out in my mind.
[Stream Points: 100]
'Hm?' I was surprised to see the interface because I had expected it would show my information too like I had read in the web novels.
Just then, a notification flashed.
[Shop Unlocked]
And a new screen unfolded before me.
Items.
Skills.
Boosts.
'Yeah. This is what I wanted to see.' I grinned. This was what I had expected when I saw the Stream Points as one of the mission's rewards.
Immediately, I wanted to explore the shop, but before I could…
Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
I raised my brows in mild annoyance, then closing the system screens, I stood up, walked over and opened the door.
A girl stood there, dressed in simple clothes.
She was young, around my age. Her black hair was long and silky, tied into a ponytail. Her eyes, clear black and filled with curiosity as she stared at me with a small smile on her perfectly sculpted, beautiful face.
She looked like a friendly girl next door, but then she opened her mouth.
"You're the one who claims to have come out of the forest." Immediately, her gaze became sharp, observant.
It wasn't oppressive like the spearman's, but unlike before, I felt strangely under pressure.
"Yes." I said as calmly as I could.
She stared at me for a moment, then her smile returned and she said, "You are lying."
My eyes narrowed because I could tell she hadn't said this just to test me, but she believed it to be the case.
I didn't speak, my mind racing to find a way out of this situation.
The girl didn't say anything and continued looking at me with her smile that, to me, no longer looked as beautiful as before.
Finally, just as I was about to speak…
"If you don't want to get in trouble…" She said, her voice low, "Be careful who you lie to."
I bit back what I wanted to say earlier and just nodded.
Seemingly satisfied with my response, she smiled and turned around to leave.
"What's your name, Miss?" I quickly asked.
She turned her head and said, "Luna."
"I don't want you to lie to me again." she added and left.
I watched her leave in silence, confused as to whether she had warned in good faith or not?
Maybe she really had come over just to confirm whether I had lied and now that she had, people would come to get me?
Despite this worry nagging me, I felt this wasn't the case. It was very strange.
"...Luna." I murmured under my breath after she disappeared from my sight.