Jarion VI, Southern District of the Main Sector.
Han Family Manor:
A young girl, at least 16 years old, was reading a book. She had long black hair and gray eyes, almost inanimate due to her intense concentration. Seated on a white wooden chair, she was inside a majestic nighttime chamber, typical of noble bedrooms in the Middle Ages.
It was Han Yeon-Seo.
"..."
Absorbed in her reading, she thought of nothing. She simply read.
Then, the door to her room opened calmly, and a woman in a maid's uniform entered the room and bowed.
"Mistress Yeon-Seo, your hot bath is ready... It is waiting for you."
Upon hearing these words, Yeon-Seo's gray eyes regained their light, but she did not look away from her book and simply said:
"Alright, I'll be there in five minutes... Thank you..."
She replied.
'She seems calmer now... and... it's rare to see her reading books so intensely...'
Slightly unsettled, the maid refrained from saying anything more and left the room, bowing once again.
Two minutes later, Yeon-Seo sighed and closed her book, placing it on the table beside her.
"Kim Arrietta Sugil..."
'I've done several background checks on this guy, but nothing. He simply comes from a family of six: his older sister, Kim Arrietta Eve, who is also a second-year student at the academy; his mother and father, who run a small shop two hours away by train; his four-year-old younger brother, Kim Arrietta Jin; and a little sister barely three months old.'
'It's a miracle that his parents managed to afford scholarships for both him and his sister. They should be deeply in debt right now…'
'But if he comes from such a family, how does he know about 'her' death…'
Yeon-Seo massaged her forehead with her hand.
"I need to find more answers..."
Sighing, she then got up from her chair and left her room, turning off the light. But before opening the door to leave, she stopped.
"Geulimja... You know what to do, don't you…?"
She slightly turned her head toward the window, which was wide open. Sitting on the ledge was a young man, close to 17 years old, dressed in an all-black outfit with a half-tattered cape.
The boy had black hair, both straight and messy, but his face was hidden by a hood. However, his piercing red eyes could make anyone tremble with a single glance.
Playing with a small knife in his hand, the boy slowly lifted his gaze toward Yeon-Seo, and behind his hood, a faint smile could be seen forming.
"Yes, Mistress... I will gather as much information as possible for your happiness..."
The boy, dressed in black, disappeared into the darkness, and Yeon-Seo sighed and left the room as well.
___
"HAH AH AH AHAHAH"
While picking several [Total Fruits], a wide, mischievous grin appeared on my face.
'I'm rich! Rich!'
With the red goblin skins and the dozens of other monsters I had killed on this floor, I was sure that selling 50% of it all would earn me at least one year of a comfortable life.
How much could I make? 300 thousand dollars? 500 thousand? No, even more.
"BAHAHAHAH!"
Sometimes, being transmigrated into a novel has its advantages!
After a few minutes of picking the remaining fruits from [The Nameless Tree], I counted them.
(PS: You're probably wondering where I put all of this. Well, it may seem ridiculous, but I use my school bag. Hey, it's much bigger than it looks, after all.)
After finishing, I kneeled down to count them carefully.
"One... two... three..."
A satisfied smile appeared on my face as my fingers brushed against the smooth, slightly warm skin of the luminous fruits. They glowed faintly, as if containing a mysterious energy.
"Eight... nine... and ten."
Ten [Total Fruits]. A true treasure. With this, I could secure a nice sum of money, in addition to the red goblin skins.
A rumbling sound came from my stomach.
"Excellent... It's time to eat one..."
Feeling the hunger, I immediately remembered the main reason I came here.
'Consume the fruit to get the boost.'
If I wanted to become stronger without affecting the novel's events, this was one of the only ways I had found.
Letting myself be carried away by greed was a grave mistake.
With slight hesitation, I picked up one of the fruits between my fingers, weighing it. Its bright red surface was so perfect it looked like a polished gem. The sweet aroma it emitted made me even more eager to sink my teeth into it.
'Alright, let's-'
But just as my lips were about to touch its skin—
'FOUU!'
A sudden air pressure rang out behind me. A sharp, dry sound, like a strike delivered by an inhuman force. I felt a violent gust of air, and a fraction of a second later, a deafening noise echoed in my ears.
'KRRRRSHHHHHH!'
My body reacted before my mind could even process what was happening. I threw myself to the side just in time to see a massive axe crash violently against the trunk of [The Nameless Tree]. The impact sent a shower of glowing wood splinters flying—some grazed my cheek, while others scattered into the air like burning fireflies.
I looked up, my senses on high alert.
And that's when I saw it.
A giant with scarlet skin. His bulging muscles and sharp gaze exuded raw power. One of his deep blue eyes contrasted with the other, which was veiled by a scar. His heavy breathing echoed in the night air, and his beast-like stare was locked entirely on me.
The [Great Red Goblin].
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
"That bastard found me..." I murmured, instinctively gripping my sword.
"HeHe... Let ThE HuNt BeGiN..."
Said the great goblin, a macabre smile stretched across his face.
[You received a new side quest, would you like to check it ?]
[Y/N]
[Quest: Reach Level 5 during the entrance exam
Rewards: New card abilities of 1 or 2 stars, gain points in STR and END.
Failure to complete the quest within the time limit will result in penalties for the next 10 days. Quest difficulty: RANK F.]