It wasn't the end of the quest—it was an update.
"You took care of all of this by yourself...?"
"Even I must confess it's a level I couldn't handle alone. Were you suicidal?"
I reflexively brushed off the mercenary's awe—reacting to every line just made them want to feed me more—and snuck a peek at the quest.
「❖ People in Peril
∎ Corpse Retrieval 3 / 25
∎ Item Recovery 5 / ?」
A game that turned cleanup into a quest too? That was a first.
More importantly, I hadn't done a thing, so why were the numbers ticking up? Did it count the NPCs' work too?
If so, no need for me to step in. Bad luck or not, this kind of grunt work didn't suit my style.
I leaned against a tree by the roadside. The caravan's mercenary grumbled something, but it wasn't my problem.
"Why would demons..."
"I've led plenty of caravans, but this is the first time something like this has happened in the west."
"If it were barbarians, at least that would make sense..."
One thing I learned while waiting for the retrieval: this game was seriously detailed—the battle traces didn't vanish.
In most games, with this much map data, you'd get lag, so they'd clear corpses at least, and smooth out craters or weapon marks. But not here. Nothing.
Next-gen gaming was about to get devoured by Heartstone.
"Why would a demon pack show up near the city like this! This has never happened before!"
"We need to complain to the city!"
That was external stuff, but internally, I pieced something together.
This raid was way too abnormal and unprecedented—100% something was up. Considering the game's storyline frame from Hero's Legend: 'Adventurers band together to stop the Great Demon Satan who broke his seal,' it was easy to guess.
"No bodies..."
"What?"
"Even accounting for damage in the fight, too many people are just gone."
Short on corpses too? Definitely demon worshippers, black mages, or some related scum pulling a mindless terror act.
Which meant a follow-up quest to hunt down the culprits later.
I could see it coming. Twenty years of gaming instincts made pattern recognition child's play.
"Let's head back to the city for now. Survive first."
"We got paid in full, but they couldn't even handle the demons properly... The city lord will pay for this."
I whistled inwardly as I listened to the survivors' gripes.
Showing dialogues like this and the return trip made it feel like a real fantasy world. Damn fun game.
"...Good work."
Escorting the returnees back to the city, a sour-faced old NPC waited, cigarette in mouth. Not sour because of me—the massive losses soured his mood.
"Pay up properly."
But with his trash personality concept, I didn't care. I'd saved their lives—that was enough. No need for extra courtesy.
"Hmph, no one's stiffing a guy backed by the Adventurer's Guild! Wait here!"
Bringing up the Demonic Antidote now would break character, right? Fine. I'd trust they'd handle it.
Blood-soaked, I got the quest completion notice. BGM volume tweak spared my ears.
But... if it pinged already, how did rewards work?
"We'll send someone over, so how about resting at the inn? We'll settle up once things calm down."
I narrowed my eyes at the sequencing, then a middle-aged NPC approached. Not a cutscene, but the facial detail awed me—then the content clicked.
Yeah, main quest hadn't popped yet—quests wouldn't cut off. The quest window showed an updated line.
"It better satisfy me."
I eyed him steadily, then unfolded my arms in affirmation.
I planned to hit the inn anyway. Perfect timing.
"Of course."
Maybe the devs planned it. Even thick-headed players—like me—would realize by now that grime didn't wash off naturally.
"Hey, you! Escort this one!"
Game this polished? Shower facilities for sure. Let's see how they implemented that. Inn tour too.
I'd only peeked the entrance earlier—curious about the rooms.
My heart pounded with anticipation.
* * *
Scratch that pounding.
Sewers existed, but no private baths—public bathhouse it was. No hot water either.
Soap? Extra fee. And pricey!
Some loyalty to the devs drained away.
Dawn broke, and the caravan's NPC found me. Fat rewards, plus Adventurer's Guild clerk Izren.
"Our folks owe you."
They paid up first.
300,000 gal, five Demonic Antidotes, five bundles of hemostatic bandages, painkillers, etc. The aid I'd given their people came back doubled.
"A bit extra on top of standard rescue fees—satisfied, Adventurer?"
"Plenty."
Whew, with this much on top of 'standard,' no room for gouging.
I crammed it into inventory. Space left—no Tetris yet.
"More business?"
But NPCs not leaving screamed quest.
"Not me, but..."
"We'd like to entrust another commission."
"...Pardon?"
Gamer instincts nailed it. Quest confirmed.
Even the clerk looked clueless at first.
"Speak."
Thud.
Inn room door shut, I leaned against the wall beside it (arms crossed). They'd barged in as I was leaving—gear on, so style intact.
"What a prick..."
"Sir..."
To me, that equaled 'good acting'—praise accepted.
"Demon extermination. Northwest forest."
"Pardon? Sir, that area's already assigned by our guild to another adventurer..."
"No word of resolution, that's why!"
The old man slapped his thigh, bellowing. Tiny frame, but lungs like bellows.
Middle-aged NPC clutched his head; clerk Izren shrank back.
"You think only a couple rely on the northwest forest? If your guild sent a real pro, I wouldn't be doing this!"
"That's..."
"Enough! I've seen this one's skills—I'm sending him!"
Temper aside, seemed like a decent guy. All commissions for others.
"So, exterminate the demon in the northwest forest?"
Such characters? I didn't hate 'em. No plans to be polite, though.
"Yeah."
"Sigh... Your resolve is firm, so we'll proceed with the commission. But the first adventurer..."
"No skill, so he doesn't get it—what?"
"Penalty fee required."
"Hmph."
While clerk and old man bickered, middle-aged NPC approached, weary-faced.
"Ahem... Let me explain."
He'd given up bending the old man's will last night. He detailed the commission. Nothing groundbreaking.
Demons in northwest forest, sly ones—unsubdued. Hunt 'em so folk could travel safely. That summed it.
One oddity: like the sewer quest, this was from the original too?
Sketchy, but probably led to the real main quest next. Remake might've changed it.
"Won't demand today, but sooner the better."
"Reward."
"70,000 gal on its head."
"And?"
"...Personal hire, so 200,000 gal extra if you bag it."
Wait, I'd just asked if 70,000 was the reward.
They could haggle up like this? 'Negotiation' skill untouched—skipped for others.
No skill needed?
"...300,000 gal."
Pondering the system, brief silence—and it rose more.
"But only on success. No catch, no pay."
"...I don't fail, so prep the coin."
Mom. I'd thought I sucked at haggling, but nah? Or concept issue? Mom, should I role-play at real jobs too?
"Then bounty 700,000 gal, personal fee 300,000 gal. Total 1,000,000 gal contract. No advance, no deadline—pay on delivery. Brokerage 5% as usual."
Clerk finished with the old man, pen flying on the contract.
「❖ Danger Lurking in the Northwest Forest
∎ Head to the Northwest Forest」
Signed it—new quest added.
"Then I'm off."
"Wait, right now? Rest a day at least—"
"No wasting time with demons loose."
One quest, and cash doubles—no rest.
Grinned inwardly, voice like arctic ice. Old man, middle-aged, clerk gaped, then solemn eyes.
"Escort fee, I suppose."
"...Personal gift, guild won't touch it."
Old NPC pulled more coin. Heavy pouch—50,000 gal.
"Northwest forest's far. Need a carriage there."
Carriage. Standard inter-city travel?
"Horse."
"Rent one? Fine, but pay up. Horses are precious."
Old man calculated, offered:
"Knowing your skill, down to 500,000 gal."
Eyes nearly popped.
What? 500,000 gal? Sewer cleanup was 400,000, last quest 300,000?
"We're desperate, so return it intact post-job. But death or injury? Penalty 2,000,000 gal."
Ah, crap. Mounts take damage? Historical accuracy jacked prices? Nearly blew it charging on one earlier.
Nape prickled. Open-world games rarely restricted travel like this.
Or later gift? Gut said no.
"...Carriage."
Even style king faces reality—concede this. Felt like a loss.
"Carriage rental's got 'em."
Clerk answered; middle-aged yelled downstairs: "Errand boy!" Freckled-cheeked lad dashed up.
"Send him to guide to rental—or just him if walking."
"Told you, now."
Go straight, or detour shops? Decided straight—curious system.
"Godspeed, prick."
"...May God be with you."
"Good luck, Adventurer."
Ignored their send-off, left inn. Good I'd geared up—no packing show.
"This way, milord."
Boy bounded out cheerfully. Following, my two-hander clanked on my back.
"Milord, you're an adventurer, right?"
He skipped ahead, peeking back. Curly mop begged petting—adorable.
"...No."
Answer? Tricky. Me, this character adventurer? Ambiguous.
Guild plate and setup said yes... but job, not identity?
Money-driven adventurer, not true self. Avenger, wanderer fit better.
"I'm not an adventurer."
Deny it.
"...Oh, you're not..."
Too blunt? Kid's expectant cheeks drooped.
NPCs nailed again.
"...But similar work. Questions?"
"...!"
Tacked on—he beamed, chubby cheeks flushing.
"Um, then, ever seen the sea?"
Over-immersion aside, I don't get attached to NPCs. This game? Harder not to.
Reset later how?
"Yes."
Should be fine. Curious reactions with new jobs, concepts. New game plus: upbeat, social warrior.
"What's the sea like?"
"...Blue as your eyes, waves curling like your hair."
"My eyes like the sea?"
"Yeah."
"Wow."
Chattered with the boy to the rental, smooth and lively—forgot he was NPC.
"Wait! I know the best driver for northwest!"
Then intuition hit.
Ah, this game. No mounts? Still playable. Interactions this free and varied? Pure fun—can't fail. Some hate, sure.
"...Damn Heartstone devs."
Mouthed silently. Pointless. My sore spot returned beautiful—I couldn't hate it.
"Here he is!"
"Heard northwest forest... that right, milord?"
"...Yes."
"Good timing. Was about to leave. Miss this, three days wait."
...But this? Open-world gating travel?
Wanted system check, village tour first...!
"Fare: 10,000 gal."
Wanted shops, prep. But 'three days' loomed—I paid, boarded.
Loyalty shaved again over showers.