The three of them exited the Adventurers' Guild under the afternoon sun, with two bags filled with coins in Adam's hands. The amount wasn't large, but it seemed enough to begin a new chapter in their lives.
Adam spoke confidently as he walked:
"Let's see how much we have."
He opened the first bag, finding two silver coins and three copper coins.
"This is the reward for collecting herbs... and the three copper coins are for the extra herbs."
He closed the bag and opened the second one, finding six shining silver coins.
"Excellent! Six silver coins for a common monster... from now on, we'll focus on monster hunting tasks."
His steps quickened, but they weren't heading towards the slums.
Pedro asked, surprised:
"Master... where are we going?"
Adam answered with a calm smile:
"We're going shopping."
Both Pedro and Ana exchanged glances, amazed, but Adam was serious. It was time to buy proper clothes and real weapons that matched their skills. It was no longer acceptable for his followers to appear in torn clothes with wooden staffs, especially after they had officially become adventurers.
They entered a small weapons shop in the heart of the city, run by a tall man with a thick beard named "Dorin." He looked up at them and said in his gruff voice:
"Adventurers? Can I help you?"
Adam approached and said:
"We need a sword for a strong young man, and a dagger for a quick young woman... Do you have anything suitable?"
But his mind wandered back to a conversation he'd had with Ana earlier:
"Ana, what do you think about training in archery? Your speed is your strength."
Ana hesitated, then spoke quietly:
"As you wish, Master."
But Adam sensed something odd in her tone.
"What's wrong?"
She hesitated again, then said with courage:
"I prefer close combat, Master... but please, don't be angry."
She quickly lowered her head, afraid of his reaction. But he smiled gently and said:
"Why would I be angry? You'll fight, so fight in the way that suits you."
That was the first time he saw Ana's face shine with such deep gratitude.
Returning to the present, Adam found Dorin pointing to the wall where cheap weapons were displayed.
"They aren't the best, but they'll do for Black Iron Rank adventurers."
Pedro chose a sword that was a little heavy but sturdy, while Ana selected a dagger with a shiny black handle that seemed like an extension of her hand.
Adam said:
"I also need armor for both of them."
Dorin nodded and said:
"The girl's armor is made of shadow leopard hide, light and flexible... The boy's armor is made of wild buffalo hide, tough and durable."
"How much?"
"Six silver coins for everything."
Adam hesitated for a moment, then handed over the coins without question.
**"Money fades, but power... stays."**
Dorin handed them the items, smiling:
"Come back if you need anything else."
From there, they went to a nearby clothing store, where Adam bought clean clothes for himself, Pedro, and Ana, paying one silver coin and three copper coins. When he looked at himself in the mirror, he couldn't suppress a smile.
His height, the blackness of his hair, and the sharpness of his features gave him a presence he hadn't noticed before.
**"Wow... clothes really do make the man."**
He said enthusiastically:
"Let's go, to the inn. We need a bath and a meal."
---
The inn was simple, but it seemed like a palace compared to their old hut. They approached the front desk, where a woman in her mid-forties with warm features greeted them.
"Hello. Would you like a room?"
Adam nodded and said:
"Yes, one room for all of us. We need to bathe and have dinner."
"A simple, clean room, ten copper coins including food."
Adam paid the amount without hesitation, even though he had almost nothing left.
"Second floor, room number four."
They climbed the stairs, rested for a bit, then came down two hours later to have their meal. They sat in a corner, and on the simple wooden table, a warm bowl of soup and freshly baked bread were served.
Adam sat, gazing at the flickering candlelight, lost in thought.
**"Nicholas Dalmas..."**
That man wasn't ordinary. His stance, his gaze, the way he commanded the situation in a single moment... everything about him screamed power.
**"How can a man at the peak of Level Two look so young? Does power extend life? Or is age tied to rank?"**
He knew from his readings that knights were divided into nine levels, each one representing a massive leap in strength. But what he didn't understand was: **how does one advance through those levels?**
**Are there rituals? Special training? Hidden talents?**
**And what's the difference between the beginning of Level Two and its peak?**
He looked at Pedro and Ana, who were eating eagerly, unaware of what was going on in his mind.
**(If I want to survive... no, to excel, I must understand everything. And surpass them all.)**
He whispered to himself:
"Tomorrow... the first thing I'll do is visit the library."
Adam momentarily pushed his thoughts aside and began eating the meal, which consisted of bread, soup, and meat. Although simple, it was far better than anything Adam had eaten before.
The food was extremely basic, yet it carried a taste he wasn't accustomed to. A piece of coarse black bread, a little old, but still rich in flavor. Next to it was a simple soup, seemingly made from vegetables and meat cooked together until the flavors blended deliciously. The pieces of meat were small, but surprisingly tender, melting in his mouth. Despite its simple appearance, the smell of the food was incredibly enticing.
Adam took a bite of the bread and dipped it into the warm soup, feeling its flavor spread across his mouth. The taste was rich and warm, providing a sense of comfort he had not known since before arriving in this world.
"Oooh, delicious!" Adam muttered, smiling a silly smile. This was the first meal he felt full and satisfied with since arriving in this world. With every bite, he felt more connected to humanity, as if it reminded him of the world he left behind.
He immersed himself in the food as though there were no tomorrow, taking bite after bite quickly, desperately trying to satisfy his intense hunger. The soup warmed him as much as his body, and the meat was so tender it melted in his mouth.
"Ahh, I'm full!" Adam said, placing his hand on his stomach, grateful for the simple meal that brought him great comfort. He glanced at Pedro and Anna, who were eating eagerly, their faces showing complete satisfaction.
"Alright, let's go."
"Okay."
They quickly stood up and headed back to the slums to sleep. However, when they arrived, Adam glanced at the house, which consisted of just one room, in a dilapidated state that could collapse at any moment, and said:
"Once we gather enough money, we must move from here."
They quickly entered, and Adam went to the only bed to sleep, while Pedro and Anna lay down on the pile of straw next to the bed.
After a few moments, the sound of quiet breathing filled the small hut as they all quickly fell asleep due to their exhaustion.
Adam woke up the next morning to the sounds of birds chirping outside. He slowly opened his eyes and struggled to roll off the narrow bed he had been sleeping on. He looked around the dimly lit room, which seemed to mirror the exhaustion he had felt throughout the previous night. The room was small and humble, with the faint light filtering in through the cracks in the walls. He rose with a sigh, taking a deep breath as he recalled his plans for the day.
He shuffled over to the small kitchen in the hut, where there was only a bit of food left—some coarse black bread. "Ugh, this will be hard to eat after the meal I had yesterday, but it's better than nothing." He glanced over at Pedro and Anna, who had also woken up, both showing signs of the fatigue from the night before.
"Eat the rest of the food quickly, then I'll give you the instructions for today," said Adam, taking another bite of the hard bread.
As Pedro and Anna began to eat, Adam continued, "Today, we'll focus on training with the new weapons you bought. Pedro, you'll focus on the sword, and Anna, you'll train with the dagger. Later, I'll bring you a book that explains the basics of training with a dagger. You need to get used to your new weapons. Work on improving your skills with them today."
He then looked at them with a serious expression and said, "In the afternoon, we'll go on the mission. We need to be fully prepared. We don't know what we might face on the road."
Anna took a deep breath as she held her dagger, and Pedro nodded, moving his sword between his hands. They both fully understood the importance of this mission, so they were committed to Adam's instructions.
"Now, I will enhance both of your powers. You performed excellently yesterday, so I'll strengthen both of you."
Pedro and Anna's faces lit up when they heard Adam's words, as each enhancement would make them stronger.
"Thank you, sir."
"Come here."
Quickly, Adam placed one hand on Pedro and the other on Anna.
"Prestige, activation."
Adam's hands glowed softly as he activated his prestige.
"Now, where should I add the points?"
Adam thought for a moment and then said, "I'll add a point to Pedro's strength, and for Anna, I'll add it to her endurance, as it's quite low compared to her other stats."
Soon, the light left Adam's hand and merged into Pedro and Anna's bodies.
"Examine."
**Name**: Pedro
**Age**: 16/70
**Talent**: Green (Not bad)
**Strength**: 4
**Speed**: 2
**Endurance**: 4
**Skills**:
- Strength (Innate)
- Basic Swordsmanship (Beginner)
**Name**: Anna
**Age**: 14/70
**Talent**: Green (Not bad)
**Strength**: 2
**Speed**: 3
**Endurance**: 3
**Skills**:
- Speed
"Alright, you have until noon to train and get used to your new strength. Once you finish your food, start immediately. Is there anything else I need to do?" said Adam, then quickly left the hut, heading to the library.
While Pedro and Anna began training with their new weapons, Adam walked out of the hut, thinking about the information he might find at the library, hoping there would be additional details to help him deepen his understanding of the power system in this world.