Leaving the city

Darryl hesitated for a moment before responding with a touch of unease in his voice, "I suppose I don't have much of a choice other than joining you now." His tone carried a hint of nervousness, and his expression didn't exactly radiate enthusiasm at the prospect.

"Why the sudden hesitation?" Kuber asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"It's just that... I don't want to abandon my friend who offered me a job despite my injury. But I am willing to leave this place behind," Darryl admitted, his gaze dropping as he spoke. He carried a sense of guilt about leaving his friend, who also happened to be the city lord of Emberbrook City. His friend had given him a role as a guide, even knowing about Darryl's ailment.

"I understand your feelings, Darryl. But staying in this small city won't get you far," Kuber reasoned, placing a reassuring hand on Darryl's shoulder in an attempt to sway him. He wanted to convince Darryl that pursuing new opportunities could lead to better outcomes in the long run.

"Emberbrook City" is merely a modest corner of the vast world of Astrion, a realm populated by a staggering 17 billion people. Even the capital city of the Everdawn Reach continent boasts a resident count of 52 million, which pales in comparison to some of the more populated cities elsewhere in Astrion. The intriguing aspect is that the population gradually dwindles after the 2nd floor, giving way to more advanced technology and refined energies.

"Why not leave a letter for your friend? You can offer to repay him when he's in need, ensuring you won't forget your debt," Kuber suggested, his hand retracting as he assumed a more relaxed demeanor.

Darryl scratched his temples, engrossed in contemplation. "You're right. It might not be wise to disappear without a word. He should understand," he stated, appearing more self-assured now. After grappling with his thoughts, he had ultimately chosen to relieve his friend of the burden and embark on an adventure alongside Kuber.

"That's the spirit. Let's head back before we arouse suspicions," Kuber encouraged.

"Agreed, let's head back," Darryl nodded in agreement.

Without further delay, both of them exited the city guard's office. Luna stood near the gates, her nervousness palpable as usual, while Leona maintained her pout.

"By the way, how do we get to the Capital City?" Kuber queried as they walked.

Darryl's eyes widened in surprise, "What do you mean? Didn't you book a stagecoach?"

Kuber's face reddened in embarrassment as he admitted, "Um, actually, no. But it's not too late to do that."

Coincidentally, just as they were about to turn back to book a stagecoach, a middle-aged man appeared in front of them with his stagecoach.

The stagecoach before them was a sight unlike anything Kuber had ever envisioned. Stretching out to resemble the size of a minibus, it was hauled by a massive bull-like creature with an enormous horn. This beast's proportions were roughly twice the size of a regular bull found back on Earth.

"Excuse me, good sir. Do you have room for four passengers, and we also have a Minotaur with us," Darryl inquired, getting the attention of the coachman.

The coachman scrutinized the group for a moment before pausing thoughtfully. "There's a Terragore trailing right behind the stagecoach. The minotaur can ride on that, while the rest of you can board the cabin," he proposed, gesturing towards the bull-like creature following the stagecoach quietly.

Intrigued by this bull-like monster, Kuber examined it closely, curious about its nature.

—————

[Level] – 2

[Name] – None[Tamed]

[Race] – Terragore

[Lifespan] – 27/85 Years

[Unique Skill] – Resurgent(D)

—————

The bull-like creature, a Terragore, was unnamed and belonged to a lower level among monsters.

"Sure, how much is the fare for that?" Kuber queried confidently.

"It will be 3 iron credits for each of you," the coachman answered with a cheerful expression.

"I'll take care of the fare this time," Darryl interjected, accompanied by a polite smile.

Kuber readily accepted Darryl's offer, not hesitating for even a moment.

With the arrangements finalized, Kuber, Leona, and Darryl settled into the spacious stagecoach, while Luna was left to travel alone on the Terragore monster.

"Hey, Darryl, where are you heading off to with the newcomer?" City guard Alec's voice rang out from a distance, his eyes widening in surprise.

"I'm leaving the city, Alec. Take care of yourself and Jacob. If fate permits, we'll cross paths again someday," Darryl responded with a hint of sadness in his voice. His expression revealed his reluctance to leave the city, yet it was clear he yearned for more than a life confined to such a small place.

Alec watched in silence, his expression tinged with disappointment, as Darryl's departing figure grew distant.

"You seemed close to Alec," Kuber remarked, leaning against the cabin wall with weary eyes. Despite being of the vampire race, he didn't appear fully recovered from yesterday's fatigue.

"Yes, I share a good bond with both Jacob and Alec. They took care of me while I was here. By the way, you seem quite tired. Didn't you get proper rest yesterday?" Darryl inquired, narrowing his eyes in confusion. He couldn't fathom why someone as rare as a vampire would be so drained after just one day.

"It's nothing, just feeling unusually tired and thirsty at the same time," Kuber explained with an irritated expression.

"I see, so you need some blood," Darryl chuckled, finding it amusing that even a supposedly superior species like vampires had their moments of vulnerability.

"What are you talking about?" Kuber questioned, his eyes widening in surprise.

Darryl smacked his forehead in exasperation. "You mean to tell me you don't even know that? I'm starting to think I made a mistake agreeing to join you. Maybe I should turn back..."

"You can drink the blood of an intelligent race or a monster to restore your stamina," Darryl explained, disappointment evident in his eyes.

"To restore what..." Kuber promptly opened his status to verify Darryl's statement. His brows furrowed in confusion as he observed the change: his stamina had decreased from 5 to 3 due to neglecting to drink blood on time.

'Replenishing stamina... I see.' Kuber acknowledged with a concerned expression, realizing he needed to drink blood regularly to maintain his stamina.

"Young man, you need to consume blood every day if you want to survive. After all, stamina reflects your vitality, and if your vitality reaches zero, you'll die," Darryl emphasized.

Darryl's confident expression remained intact as he spoke.

Kuber drummed his fingers lightly on the seat, his face displaying a mixture of anxiety and realization. From Darryl's explanation, it became apparent that a vampire's biggest vulnerability lay in the necessity of drinking blood daily.

"Thank you for sharing that, Darryl. Your help means a lot," Kuber responded with a smile, genuinely appreciative of Darryl's guidance.

"It's nothing. You did help me by providing this amulet, after all," Darryl replied with a wry smile, displaying the amulet he'd acquired.

"What? You gave him an amulet? What about me? Are you playing favorites now, Kuber?" Leona interjected, her tone laced with jealousy at Darryl's newfound possession.

"No, now, let's not get..." Kuber's words were cut off by the sudden appearance of a system notification before him.

—————

[A new floor quest has been generated]

—————

Kuber stared at the system notification, a mix of curiosity and anticipation dancing in his eyes. He quickly tapped on the notification to access the details of the newly generated floor quest.