Surviving The Night

Night sure is cold here. As I shivered in the chilly atmosphere of the dense forest, another message from the system popped up on the panel.

{

AFFINITY : Fire Elemental Lv.2

ABILITY : Dagger Mastery (Beginner)

***REMARK : Your memory of previous life has been enhanced.

}

What?

Oh! I get it. Now I'll be able to remember every detail of this story. How convenient! It seems like this system is responding to my urgent needs.

It was mentioned in the novel that Chris could use fire magic, but there was no mention of this dagger ability.

Since I could use fire magic, I created a tennis ball-sized flame, illuminating my surroundings. There was a bag nearby.

It was probably my personal belongings since I was kicked out of the dorm. I opened it to find my school (academy) uniform, a 30cm dagger, and three books about the efficient use of mana.

Now that's surprising.

If this antagonist was reading books, then maybe he wasn't a complete piece of shit after all.

When I opened the books, there wasn't even a single scratch on the pages, almost as if they were recently produced. I immediately took back my previous statement.

First of all, to deal with the winter-like cold, I searched for dry branches and leaves, collected them in the bag, and dumped them near a rock. Then I ignited some of them and left some for later use. I sat on the rock and sighed in relief, absorbing the warmth from the fire.

Looking at the cut marks and coagulated blood on my limbs, a thought suddenly occurred to me: this is a forest, so there should be beasts or monsters wandering around at night.

[Due to the forest being on the outskirts of the royal capital, monsters have been taken care of in the vicinity and may only be found deep inside the forest.]

This message from the system put me at ease. However, there were very few bugs, and despite being injured all over, my pain was almost receding.

It felt as if the atmosphere was filled with healing magic; I could feel a soothing effect on my body. Time passed, and I started falling asleep from exhaustion.

The fire I had lit was slowly dying down, and I laid my body on the bare ground.

The burbling sound of the flowing river acted like a lullaby, clearing my thoughts as I fell into a deep sleep.

***

Agh! My body hurts all over!

When I woke up the next morning, there were two things I immediately noticed. First, this body was definitely not accustomed to sleeping on hard surfaces or being hungry for long periods. Second, the cuts on my body and my swollen neck had completely healed.

So, it really was healing mana in the atmosphere yesterday.

That's strange, though. I don't recall any mention of this phenomenon in the novel.

When I asked the system about it, I got no response.

Well, whatever. It's not like I was harmed in any way. I'll investigate it later. For now, my primary concern should be acquiring food and shelter. And for that, I need three things: money, money, and money. Yep, money can solve most of my problems.

I'm really thankful to this body's previous owner for using a brain cell and stashing three silver coins in a secret pocket in his bag.

Perhaps he had forgotten about it, and when he was kicked out, he had no money on him. So, he couldn't afford a meal and wandered into the forest searching for food.

Even if he had asked anyone for help in the capital, there was no way they were going to assist a fallen noble under suspension from school. (Rumors travel at the speed of light here.)

In this world, a bronze coin is the smallest unit of currency. One hundred bronze coins equal a silver coin, one hundred silver coins equal a gold coin, and one hundred gold coins equal a platinum coin. A common meal at the city market would probably cost around 50 bronze coins.

So, if I stick to one meal per day, my budget allows me to survive for six days. However, I'll still need to rely on the forest for additional food and shelter.

For now, let's head to the capital and secure a proper meal. With that plan in mind, I started walking towards the city.

***

As I walked towards the bustling capital, the sights and sounds greeted me like an old, chaotic friend.

The streets were alive with merchants peddling their wares, beggars seeking alms, and nobles strutting around with an air of superiority that could choke a horse.

Despite my current predicament, I couldn't help but marvel at the vibrancy of the place.

Clutching my meager funds tightly, I ventured into the heart of the market.

The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, tempting my empty stomach. Following the scent, I found a modest food stall nestled between two larger shops.

The sign above the stall read "Ella's Eats."

As I approached, the tantalizing aroma of stew made my stomach growl louder than a dragon with indigestion. The woman behind the counter greeted me warmly, but I couldn't help but notice the curious glances from the other customers.

Suppressing a self-conscious shiver, I glanced down at my dirty, tattered clothes. Clearly, I wasn't winning any fashion awards today. With a sinking feeling, I realized eating here might not be an option.

"Um, actually," I began, my voice faltering slightly, "could I get the vegetable stew to go, please?"

The woman nodded understandingly, her smile never faltering. "Of course, sir. I'll pack it up for you right away."

Relief washed over me as she handed me a sturdy paper container filled with steaming stew.

"Thank you," I said gratefully, passing her a silver coin. She returned sixty bronze coins, which felt like a small fortune.

With a nod of thanks, I quickly made my exit, eager to find a quieter spot where I could enjoy my meal in peace.

As I walked away from the bustling market, I found a secluded alleyway perfect for avoiding judgmental stares.

Settling down against a wall, I opened the container and took a tentative spoonful of stew. The warmth and flavor filled me with comfort, easing the ache of hunger in my belly.

Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, I felt grateful for the nourishment and the chance to rest for a moment.

Once I finished eating, I wiped my mouth and stood up, feeling a renewed sense of determination. With my hunger sated, I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, dirty clothes and all.

In the novel, a few important institutions like the Royal Academy, the Adventurer's Guild, the Arcane's Arms & Artifacts, and the Black Market are mentioned, but their locations were left to the imagination.

It was time to explore the city and get a feel for the royal capital.

As I walked, let's talk about the ranking system in this world. Ranks are based on two important factors: mana usage abilities and weapon proficiency. There are five fundamental mana particles:

Fire Elemental

Water Elemental

Earth Elemental

Wind Elemental

Healing Elemental

By mixing these, many other mana particles can be derived, like sound, gravity, etc. (Because why not? Magic, am I right?)

There are 10 levels of each mana particle usage. I'm currently at level 2 with fire elemental. Rarely, some individuals have even created their own 11th level. Show-offs.

For weapon proficiency, individuals can wield one weapon—sword, spear, dagger, bow, etc.

Using more than one weapon is usually detrimental to the body, but there are exceptions. Legendary sword masters using daggers, for example.

The ranks for weapon proficiency are:

Beginner (Rank E)

Apprentice (Rank D)

Adept (Rank C)

Master (Rank B)

Grandmaster (Rank A)

Legendary (Rank S)

Everyone has a status window where they can view their ranks. I've explained a lot, but I still haven't mentioned our protagonist's name.

He is Kevin Williams, not a noble but part of Count Wickham's army (Count Wickham took in the survivors—previous chapter). His appearance was described in excruciating detail.

Apart from his strikingly handsome face, his physique is lean and well-toned, a testament to years of rigorous training. Every movement he makes is deliberate and purposeful, reflecting the precision and skill that defines his mastery of the sword. His muscles ripple beneath his clothing, hinting at the strength and agility he possesses. (Did I mention the author was a little obsessed?)

Despite being in the second month of his first year at the academy, he's already on the verge of advancing to Master (Rank B) in swordsmanship. He also has a level 4 affinity for water elemental. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. His innate talent is yet to be revealed.

Now, back to my current predicament.

Dirty clothes, limited money, and a whole city to navigate. The life of a background character is never easy, but hey, at least it's not boring!

***

As I continued to explore the royal capital, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. It wasn't just the curious glances from passersby that made me uneasy; it was knowing that my presence was already tainted by the scandal of my recent suspension from the Royal Academy.

Apparently, news traveled faster than a cat on fire around here.

Despite the wary looks and hushed whispers that followed me like a bad smell, I pressed on, determined to gather information and make the most of my predicament.

My first stop was the Adventurer's Guild, where I hoped to find some clues about this world I now called home.

Stepping into the guild hall, I was greeted by a symphony of voices and the clinking of armor and weapons.

I couldn't help but feel out of place among the seasoned adventurers and battle-hardened mercenaries who congregated here, but I squared my shoulders and approached the reception desk.

The receptionist, a grizzled veteran with a scarred face and a no-nonsense attitude, regarded me with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity as I introduced myself as Chris Harrison.

I could practically feel the weight of my tarnished reputation hanging over me like a dark cloud, but I tried to maintain a confident facade as I inquired about the guild's services.

To my surprise, the receptionist's demeanor softened slightly as she explained the guild's offerings: quest boards, training facilities, and equipment rentals.

It seemed that, despite my dubious reputation, I was still welcome to avail myself of the guild's resources. Because, in the end, money talks.

Eager to learn more about the world I now inhabited, I spent the next few hours exploring the guild hall, chatting with adventurers, and absorbing as much information as I could.

I learned about the various dungeons scattered throughout the land, the dangerous monsters that lurked within, and the lucrative rewards that awaited those brave enough to face them.

None of this was covered in detail in the novel, so I was all ears.

"Now, gimme money," the adventurer said abruptly. "Oi, don't make that face. Information is money, y'know."

I figured something like this would happen. While all the newbies usually got free info, he had a point, and I couldn't afford to cause a commotion here.

Resigning to the situation, I handed over ten bronze coins. He left with a smug look on his face.

Note to self: Be more careful next time. (Remaining Balance: two silver coins and 50 bronze coins.)

Maybe I'll apply for an adventurer card later.

As the afternoon wore on, I decided to return to the forest where I had spent the night. Despite the allure of the city, I found myself yearning for the peace and solitude of the natural world.

Plus, without enough money to rent a room at an inn, I knew I needed to find a more permanent solution for shelter.

Arriving back at the forest in the late afternoon, I set out on a leisurely stroll along the banks of the nearby river.

The tranquil beauty of the landscape filled me with a sense of calm, and I found myself lost in thought as I wandered aimlessly through the woods.

As evening approached, I returned to the clearing where I had slept the night before. Surveying the area, I began to gather dry twigs and leaves, preparing to create a campfire for the night.

Despite my efforts to find suitable logs for building a shelter, the dwindling light of dusk made it clear that I would have to settle for a bed down in nature once again.

With the fire crackling merrily nearby, I took a moment to clean the area around me, clearing away debris and arranging my bed of leaves for the night.

As I settled down to rest, I couldn't help but ponder the events of the day and the choices that lay ahead.

Did I want to interfere with the story unfolding around me, or would I be content to simply observe from the sidelines?

It was a question that weighed heavily on my mind as I drifted off to sleep, the soothing embrace of healing mana enveloping me once again.

For now, my objective should be survival and completing the tasks given by the system.

And as I surrendered to the embrace of slumber, I knew that whatever path I chose, the journey ahead would be one filled with adventure, danger, and perhaps even a touch of destiny.