First floor basics

"Ah, and here is the road leading to the spawning ground of the basic first-level monsters – if you have a battle-oriented soul artifact I recommend you check it out first because materials you can get from them are the quickest cash you can grab in the entire floor – but if you aren't into fighting, then the sixth and seventh streets will welcome you all the same."

The man pointed in another direction once more and said in a conspicuous voice before looking over his shoulder and motioning with his head back at the spots they passed earlier.

Here is the street with restaurants and bars, so if you aren't into crafting stuff, here would be the best place to start a career, or at least earn your keep..."

Bossac added but then again he looked around.

"...although, to be honest, most of the staff here goes hunting monsters at least once a week. It has its dangers but let's be honest, most people here don't have enough money to tip the servers and cooks properly..."

The man leaned in and whispered in a conspicuous voice.

"Those two streets here lead to the mining spots – and let me tell you, despite this being only the first floor, the stuff here is hellishly hard to excavate, so you have nothing to look for here without a really sturdy soul artifact."

Bossac pointed at the two streets that were separated by another one.

That third street seemed a bit threatening with all the warning signs placed every five feet or so.

"Ah, of course – this is the road that leads to the floor boss monster – it needs to be slain every week or it would start roaming the place and wreak havoc. Most of the people living n this floor are basic villagers with trash-grade soul artifacts, with low-grade soul artifacts few and far between, so you should realize how that encounter would turn out for them..."

Bossac breathed out with a bitter expression as if he was reminded of some unpleasant memory.

"Alright! Since everything except the stalls is closed for the night, we should go grab that bite and get you to your place, kid! Oh, and can I call you Viria or...?"

The man cheered jovially before getting more serious and asking in hesitation.

"Y-yes, just Viria is fine."

The young man shook his head and nodded slowly adapting to the situation.

So... maybe this wouldn't be all that bad...

...was a thought that slipped into Viria's head, but the young man hurriedly called himself into order.

It was far too early to decide that.

He really needed to get more information about the place before he could make a judgment like that.

"Chux! Young Viria got approved by the lord warden! I hope you had the mole-rabbit roast sizzling!"

"...!"

Before the two of them even get to the stalls, Bossac roared loudly enough to startle Viria back from the depths of his thoughts.

"HA! I knew that a kid with a face this honest couldn't really be guilty of whatever they accused him of! I have an eye for people, you know!"

The stall owner, Chux waved at them and laughed triumphantly as they approached, before taking two freshly fired roasts from the fire and offering them to the two men with a generous serving of fired vegetables on the side.

"Is it really okay for me to have this for free...?"

Viria asked, gulping down the saliva that emerged en mass in his mouth the moment the delicious smell tickled his nose.

With his initial tension dissipating after meeting the warden, the young man realized how hungry he actually was.

"Of course! Here! It's up, my boy! Not for you though, Bossac – You have your own funds already, not to mention that you owe me for lending you some bills to buy more medicinal supplies."

Chux grinned cheerfully, pushing the food into Viria's hands before turning to Bossac and pulling the plate right out of the man's reach.

"Hey! I am the best healer in town! How am I supposed to treat the people wounded during the monster hunt or accidents without proper supplies!"

The helpful man groaned in disbelief, futilely trying to grab the food from the stall owner.

"Bulshit! I know full well that you had to buy more stuff after you used up the supply of the healing medicine for the town on yourself after you tried to solo kill the boss monster last week and failed! It's your own fault for acting reckless – so pay up of forget about the roast!"

Chux scoffed and shook his head at the struggling man.

"Umm... I... I can share with you...?"

Viria looked between the two quarreling men and although his stomach demanded the food in his hands to be devoured immediately, he decided it would be best to show some good will for the helpful man.

"Huh...?"

"Wha...? Pffft...! See!? I told you I knew he is a good kid!"

To the young man's surprise, the other two turned to him at the same time with shocked expressions, before the stall owner burst out into laughter.

"Viria, don't get this wrong – this guy is like my best friend, we are only bickering... although I do owe him money."

Bossac also joined in on the laughter and admitted, pointing at Chux with his thumb.

"We are – and it stays like that because he always pays off everything I lend him in the end. Here. Eat up or our young friend be too worried to enjoy his meal."

Chux nodded to Bossac words and gave him the plate with a cheeky smirk.

"We will occupy your spot for a bit, alright? I bet Viria has some questions!"

The helpful man turned out to be very helpful once more as he cleared a small spot by the side of the stall and patted the place next to him for Viria to sit down, which the young man promptly did.

What Bossac said was the truth – Viria did have some questions – a whole lot of them to be honest – but satiating his hunger came first, so he did not talk until his plate was only a few bones lucky enough to be too hard for the young man's molars.