Ren, Yuna, and Nautilus sat side by side, each quietly sipping from a wooden cup, enjoying a late breakfast in the cozy atmosphere of the inn.
The smell of hot porridge blended with the aroma of toasted bread, creating a pleasant ambiance that contrasted with the early morning chill.
Faint sunlight from the rising sun filtered through the misty windowpane, casting a soft glow over the worn wooden table.
Though it was still cold outside, the inn's interior had begun to feel much warmer.
They didn't rush their meal, letting time drift by in the quiet of breakfast, occasionally exchanging a few words about their troubled sleep or the freezing night before.
Yuna gave a faint smile as the crispy bread crumbled in her mouth, but when Ren spoke, his deep, resolute voice stirred the silence, adding a layer of tension to the air.
"We need to take a look around before we move on," Ren said, eyes still fixed on his plate, but his tone carried certainty, as if everything had already been carefully planned. "Not just to get familiar with the terrain, but also to understand the shops and quests available here."
Nautilus nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "Right, knowing the layout and the surrounding missions will be very helpful.
Especially for identifying areas that might be dangerous. We can't afford to be caught off guard."
Yuna paused, picking up another piece of bread as she listened, her gaze thoughtful. "That's true. I remember there are some specialty hunting and equipment shops here in Medai Village. We might need to pick up some new supplies.
And as for quests... maybe we'll find some extra work to help cover living expenses."
Ren gave a slight nod, his eyes drifting toward the window, where the last light of morning filtered through the towering trees. "Definitely," he continued, his voice calm but firm.
"There could be some smaller quests here that will help us get to know different areas. And... I think we need to be cautious, avoid unnecessary encounters."
Silence settled for a moment as each of them mulled over the words.
By now, all three clearly understood that in this world, no matter how strong or skilled one was, every action needed to be calculated carefully.
Especially when facing unexplored areas, like this Medai Village.
Though not as vast as the Starting Town, the monster zones surrounding Medai still held hidden dangers and shadows they couldn't take lightly.
"So, where do we begin?" Yuna asked, her voice calm but resolute, eyes locked on Ren as if waiting for final direction.
Ren gave a faint smile and nodded. "We'll walk through the main streets, check out the shops to see what we might need.
Then we'll look at the quest board and see what fits. Who knows, there might be areas we haven't even considered yet."
Nautilus nodded, a flicker of determination in his eyes. "Makes sense. Once we're done here, we'll head west into the forest. I heard there's a quest involving some kind of monster."
Yuna tightened her grip slightly on her cup, her eyes lighting up with a glimmer of hope. "Then... we'll begin today…"
Ren turned to look at Yuna. Then at Nautilus.
Breakfast ended in a comfortable silence.
All three stood, gathered their belongings, and got ready to set off.
They weren't in a hurry, but each knew deep down that no matter what...
Today would mark the beginning of their time in this place, and they might be here for quite a while.
Around 9 or 10 in the morning, the three of them stepped out of the inn. The sunlight had grown stronger, streaming through the leaves to paint slender shafts of light across the stone paths of Medai Village.
The air was fresh, with a hint of lingering mist, giving the impression that time itself had paused to welcome a new day.
The streets were fairly empty at this hour. Occasionally, a local villager passed by, preparing for another regular day's work, and the slow creak of wooden carts echoed faintly along the stone roads in the otherwise quiet morning.
The footsteps of Ren, Yuna, and Nautilus echoed as they walked down the narrow road, not hurried, but each step carried a sense of purpose.
They stopped at a fork in the road, glancing around to take in the surroundings. It wouldn't take long to get a feel for the area before heading out to the hunting grounds to slay monsters.
Ren raised his head, his gaze settling in the distance where simple rooftops lined the horizon, until his eyes stopped at a weathered wooden sign hanging from a nearby small building.
The sign read "Hunter," with a finely carved image of a wild deer.
"That's the hunting gear shop," Ren said calmly, but the tone in his voice revealed careful planning for the steps to come. "We'll probably want to stop by there after a hunt, or maybe to sell some monster materials."
Yuna nodded, her gaze soft, though her lips showed a hint of concern. "Then, we'll need to learn more about the other areas in the village too. We can't just walk into a shop without knowing what's around us."
Nautilus took a deep breath, then turned to Ren, his eyes serious. "We'll need to check the quest board as well. If there's anything interesting or useful, we definitely shouldn't miss it."
Ren nodded in agreement, and the three continued walking. They moved down the narrow path as the morning light grew clearer, illuminating the buildings around them.
The shops were simple but well-stocked, ranging from fabric stores to hunting supply shops, all catering to the needs of both locals and players.
A small tavern sat near the start of the street, with the scent of food wafting from a kitchen in full swing, adding a savory warmth to the morning air.
Horse-drawn carts stopped at roadside stations, while villagers occasionally exchanged goods or shared a few words, creating a peaceful yet vibrant atmosphere.
"Where should we start?" Yuna asked, her eyes briefly glancing at Ren. Her voice was calm, but there was a hint of unease, as if she wasn't entirely comfortable in this new setting yet.
Ren came to a halt, pointing toward a quest board mounted on the wall of the nearby tavern. "The quest board's over there. We'll start by checking out some of the smaller missions, then continue surveying the surrounding area."
Nautilus narrowed his eyes, analyzing the board with a sharp, thoughtful gaze. "We might find a few hunting quests, or ones that involve helping out the locals. These could help us prepare more effectively."
Yuna looked over some of the quest slips, her eyes lighting up slightly, though still thoughtful and cautious.
Ren smiled, his gaze shifting between Yuna and Nautilus, understanding reflected in his eyes. "We'll take it one step at a time. And eventually, we'll figure out exactly what we need."
After wandering around for a while, inspecting nearby shops and asking for information from players who had arrived earlier, the three of them began to realize something quite clearly.
The resources here were far more abundant than those in the Starting Town. Not only did the area boast a greater variety of hunting zones with different difficulty levels, but there was also a steady supply of materials from nearby mines.
Weapons and armor sold in the shops were about 5–10% cheaper, which surprised them, given the stark contrast to what they were used to.
Most of the players who had reached Medai Village already possessed a certain level of skill and experience, unlike those who still remained in the Starting Town.
This wasn't a place for brand-new players to survive easily. It was a destination for those who had already weathered the early trials, preparing themselves for greater challenges ahead.
The weaker monsters outside were no longer their primary concern. Instead, players here focused on exploring and clearing out mines, which offered significantly higher potential rewards.
Every step forward now seemed guided by a new purpose, not just battling monsters, but gathering resources and uncovering untouched corners of this virtual world.
But in a death game like Sword Art Online, a single mistake could bring devastating consequences.
All three of them understood that in this world, any carelessness could result in a death that showed no mercy.
That's why, as they continued to explore and learn about the region, they also began to receive warnings from larger, more experienced player groups.
Especially about the monsters lurking deep within the mines, where the danger came not only from the creatures themselves, but also from the gloomy, unpredictable environment.
They had heard rumors about players who ventured inside and never returned.
Whispers of fatal accidents, players who died just days ago, cast a heavy shadow over their hearts.
Each warning, every tale of loss, served as a painful reminder of the limits imposed by this unforgiving game.
Ren, Yuna, and Nautilus knew they needed to be more cautious than ever. While the mines promised valuable resources, the risks were just as great.
One wrong decision could cost them their lives, and none of the three were willing to sacrifice what they had built up through carelessness.