6 - Dawning Adventures

In the following days, the essence of the renowned player and former leader of the Nexus game guild awakened within Jon. Each dawn, after a quick breakfast, he ventured outdoors, bow and arrows in hand. His father, watching from a distance, constantly replenished his arrow stock, amazed at how quickly Jon had adapted to the life of a fledgling hunter. Gwen, recognizing Jon's dedication, started meeting him earlier, fearing to miss any part of that journey.

What began as simple hunting practice for smaller prey like wild rabbits evolved into larger challenges, like the Thorny Boars:

Description: Creatures resembling common boars but adorned with sharp spikes and more prominent tusks.

Habitat: Dense forests and vast fields.

Behavior: They are territorial beings and become aggressive when provoked.

In the original game, these creatures were rarely targeted by players. However, the mods "A New Beginning" and "More Monsters" reintroduced these beasts near the starting villages.

Entering the fourth week in this world, Jon noticed a shift in his perception. The inhabitants around him no longer seemed like mere NPCs. The reality around him was tangible, and he understood that his actions had repercussions in the lives of those around him. Therefore, he decided to postpone exploring the known dungeons, focusing on his personal development. Gwen, who had become a constant in his adventures, displayed a glow of satisfaction upon reaching level 9. However, her joy was momentarily overshadowed upon discovering that Jon had also reached the same level. Though aware of Jon's advantage due to his racial passive, she chose not to dwell on it.

**[GAME MENU]**

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**Name:** Jon Woodmoon

**Level:** 9

**EXP:** 35/1000

**Tils:** 120

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**[STATISTICS]**

- **HP (Health Points):** 150

- **MP (Mana Points):** 135

- **Strength:** 15

- **Agility:** 21

- **Constitution:** 20

- **Intelligence:** 25

- **Luck:** 10

- **Points:** 0

**[ABILITIES]**

- **Active:** None

- **Passive:**

- **Elven Heritage:** Increases affinity and mana manipulation ability.

- **Human Heritage:** Additional 50% EXP gain due to inherent adaptability.

- **Riverwood Moonstone:** 50% bonus to EXP and skills for hunter classes.

- **Apprentice Archer:** Level 4

**[QUESTS]**

- **Active:** None

The hunt that day went on as usual, and Jon and Gwen returned to the village, enveloped in laughter and playful banter. However, the fun was interrupted when Jon spotted a caravan approaching the village from a distance.

'Never Stay Still'—that name came to Jon's mind. This mod introduced caravans that brought specific missions to the region and offered a market with exclusive items. While these caravans usually provided an opportunity for additional experience, the items they sold were notoriously expensive, especially for beginner players.

Seeing Jon's thoughtful expression, Gwen inquired, "What's up?" She had learned that whenever Jon made that expression, it usually came with an idea that made their adventures more exciting and rewarding.

"Let's move quickly!" Without explaining, Jon urged his friend and quickened his pace toward the caravan. Since he had put aside the village's playful activities, he hadn't received any daily missions from the system, which left him somewhat frustrated. His plan was to negotiate his hunting for a higher value with the caravan and, perhaps, secure an additional mission to accelerate his progress.

As he approached, Jon approached a woman of wild appearance. She had exotic features, dressed in leather clothes that outlined her silhouette, and sported green hair that matched her eyes of the same shade. "Excuse me," Jon said, trying not to be taken aback by the surprise of identifying her race. 'A Beastial from Aeloria!' he thought, once again impressed by the diversity and beauty of the inhabitants of that world.

"Hello, young one!" The wild-looking woman greeted Jon with a hint of surprise in her voice. It was evident that she didn't expect her first customer to be a young person.

"Uh-huh... Jon, please, and your name would be?" he replied, attempting to maintain his composure. Being called a "little boy" was an uncomfortable reminder of his current condition, considering that until recently, he had been a 27-year-old man.

Noticing Jon's discomfort, the woman introduced herself with a mischievous smile. "Well, respectable Jon, I'm Melisa." Her teasing tone was unmistakable.

Jon sighed, realizing that due to his youthful appearance, it would be hard to be treated differently. "We'd like to sell some animals we've hunted," he said, gesturing to Gwen by his side.

"What kind of animals?" Melisa inquired, her voice tinged with slight disappointment upon realizing that Jon wasn't willing to play along.

"Twenty adult thorned boars from my part, Gwen?" Jon promptly responded. Gwen, slightly flustered by being in the spotlight and not used to interacting with strangers, quickly added, "And I've got another twenty-five here."

Melisa's expression revealed genuine surprise. "30 Tils for Jon and 35 for Gwen. Does that seem fair?"

Jon could barely contain his excitement. 'It's much more than we get in the village,' he thought. Melisa, sensing Jon's momentary satisfaction, commented, "Were you expecting less than what the village offers?"

Jon was a bit taken aback, wondering if he was being too transparent. 'Could this be some kind of hidden bonus?' he pondered.

"To be honest," Melisa began, "if I were to take these animals to the adventurers' guild headquarters, I could probably fetch three or four times this value. That's why I can pay more here." Jon, who had always traded his hunt in the local market rather than the guild, saw an opportunity. 'Maybe I should start selling to the guild,' he thought, slightly disappointed that it wasn't an exclusive benefit.

Melisa, noticing the shift in Jon's expression, added with a teasing smile, "But don't get too excited. You're still quite young and lack the credentials to join the adventurers' guild."

"Ah, darn it, well, whatever." Jon simply exclaimed and accepted the fact that not everything might come easy just because he's supposedly the protagonist of this game.

"Man, you're no fun!" Melisa, once again failing to rile the boy, quipped. "Our caravan will be in Riverwood for a week. Bring any game you hunt during this time to your big sis here, and we've got ourselves a profitable deal, how about that?"

'There it is!' Jon thought excitedly as a daily hunting quest appeared on his interface.

**[QUESTS]**

- **Daily Hunt:** Present your daily hunt to Melisa and receive 100 daily exp!

- **Accept / Decline**

With a confident smile, Jon extended his hand. "Deal, BIG SIS!" The playful tone with which he emphasized "big sis" made Melisa furrow her brow, but she couldn't help but recognize the cunning of the young man who refused to be provoked.

After the negotiation, as she watched the two kids walk away amidst laughter, Melisa was surprised by a hug from behind. The man who enveloped her had green hair, impeccable posture, and a wild gaze. "Are these kids acquaintances of yours?" he asked curiously.

Still wrapped in the hug, Melisa smiled softly. "No, Ren. Just two clever youths who came to bargain their hunt." She turned to face him, sealing the conversation with a brief kiss. In her thoughts, she reflected: 'What an intriguing lad. At his age, I was playing carelessly, while he's already seeking to maximize his profits, interesting.' .