"Finally… I'm at the village." Rowan muttered to himself as he stood at the entrance, shoulders slumped from exhaustion.
It was ironic, really. They called it a village, but it was far bigger than anything he expected. There were rows of buildings, inns lining the main street, street vendors with colorful tents selling all kinds of items, a gym across the square, and even some places that looked way too shady to be safe. Smoke curled from chimneys, chatter filled the air, and the faint scent of grilled meat mixed with spices drifted through the wind.
But none of that mattered to Rowan right now. He wasn't here for sightseeing. He came for one place: the Adventurer's Guild. The place where quests were accepted, where gold and experience were earned. His next step forward in this strange world.
"I'm finally here..." he sighed again, slower this time. It was part relief, part disbelief.
The road he walked on was busy. Shops lined both sides. Some were run by humans, others by beastfolk or elves. Their stalls were filled with strange food, shiny objects, worn-out equipment, and things that looked suspiciously cursed. One particular stand had a skull with green smoke oozing out of its eye sockets.
[Cho: The things we had to do to get here…]
The chat message blinked on the corner of his vision. He rolled his eyes and winced internally.
"Don't remind me," he whispered. Just thinking about it made him want to dig a hole and hide.
Rowan's cheeks flushed slightly as the memory came back uninvited. "Chat… Let's go find the Adventurer's Guild," he whispered again, trying to change the subject—even if no one could hear him physically.
~ Three Hours Ago ~
[Kolandi: LOL YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW CARDINAL DIRECTIONS]
"I-I…" Rowan stammered, trying to come up with a defense. "I know left and right!"
He was already sweating. The shame of admitting it aloud only made it worse.
[Jokal: damn that's crazy]
[Klao: it's okay, when I was 5 I didn't know too]
"I was—Just tell me already! Left or right?" He snapped, swallowing his pride. His voice cracked at the end.
[Follow: walk behind you]
[Geo: Don't tell me u don't know behind too?!]
"I KNOW what it means! I'm not that dumb!" he shouted in protest, though no one around could hear him argue with floating chat bubbles.
And so began the trolling. For nearly an hour, the chat led him in circles, laughing at his struggle with basic directions. What should have been a ten-minute trip turned into a journey of humiliation.
~ Now ~
'Shit… It's still embarrassing!' Rowan groaned in his head.
"Well… I guess we go to the Adventurer's Guild!" he announced loudly. Too loudly.
A few villagers turned to stare. One even raised an eyebrow. He immediately realized his mistake and lowered his head in embarrassment.
"Let's just go…" he muttered under his breath and hurried away from the attention.
He walked. And walked. And kept walking. His stomach rumbled mid-step.
"Inven—Inventory," he said, half-conscious.
A screen blinked open in front of him. Bottom left corner: a food icon.
23/100.
Not dangerously low, but definitely hungry.
"Well… Before that, how about we eat first?" he asked himself aloud.
[Go: That's a good idea]
[Volemin: Wait, I wonder what Colleus Meat tastes like.]
[Corey: Oh I remember that! Devs said it's the most 'yummies' food in the game, right?]
"Colleus Meat?" Rowan blinked. "Oh yeah. I remember that too. I really hope it's as good as they say."
With hunger pushing him harder than curiosity, he made a beeline through the streets. Left, forward, a weird alley, a right, then backtrack. Eventually, he found it: Hue's Eatery.
The building was wide and bustling. Light spilled out of the windows, and music thumped from within. He opened the door and was hit immediately with a wall of smells—spiced meat, garlic, bread, and something that smelled sweet and citrusy.
The place was alive. People cheered, mugs clanged, some danced wildly near a bard in the corner, and there were even a few half-naked adventurers yelling about treasure.
Rowan paused at the door. His fingers twitched. As someone who gamed more than he talked to people, this kind of place wasn't his scene.
But his stomach growled again. Loudly.
"Alright, let's just find a table and eat," he muttered.
He squeezed through the crowd, head low, and made his way to a corner table, the furthest from the commotion. It was quiet enough here to hear his thoughts.
A menu was already placed on the table. He picked it up, flipping through. So many unfamiliar dishes. But there it was, shining on the page like a reward from a quest:
Colleus Meat – 10 gold.
'Savory and juicy. Cooked with premium glaze. A must-have for travelers and royalty alike.'
Just as he was about to call for a waiter, someone approached.
She wasn't human.
An elf. With shimmering blue eyes, golden hair tied behind her ears, and a warm smile that made Rowan stiffen up in his seat. She wore a simple black dress with a frilly apron, but on her, it looked enchanted. Literally.
[Forge: DAMN SHE'S A BEAUTY. I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL!]
[Haley: In the game she looked average, but now?? 10/10.]
"H-Hello there…" the elf greeted cheerfully. "Have you decided what to eat?"
Rowan swallowed. Hard.
"Y-Yeah," he said quickly. "Can I… I'll have the Colleus Meat, please."
"That'll be 10 gold," she replied gently.
He dug into his pouch and placed the coins on the table. "Th-thank you, elf girl."
Her smile faded for a moment as she looked at him. His eyes widened in panic.
Was that offensive?
She stared. He stared back, panic rising—until she laughed.
"You're not from around here, are you?" she asked, still grinning.
"I'm… not," he admitted, eyes averted.
"You're… an awkward fellow," she said teasingly. Her tone was kind, not mocking.
[Flik: OMG SHE'S TOTALLY FLIRTING]
[Zeno: Rowan you better NOT mess this up.]
[Nova: I ship it.]
"Uh… th-thank you?" Rowan stammered, unsure if that was a compliment.
She chuckled again and walked away. He watched her for a second, then quickly turned back to his table. Before she disappeared, she glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him.
It made his heart jump.
But then, another man approached her. Big, muscular, dressed like a barbarian. He said something and she laughed. Then she touched his shoulder and leaned in close.
Rowan watched silently. His brows twitched.
'Slut.'
Not because of how she laughed. Not even because she was with another guy.
But because he convinced himself: If she talks to me like that, she must talk to everyone like that.
It wasn't hate. It was insecurity. That thought helped him protect himself from hoping.
A different waiter—this time a bored-looking orc—came and placed the meal in front of him. No words, just a grunt.
The plate glowed slightly from the heat. Steam rose from the glazed meat. It looked divine. A tender, thick slice of meat sat on roasted vegetables. The sauce shimmered golden-orange and smelled slightly of pepper and honey.
He picked up the fork and knife and took his first bite.
The knife cut through it like butter. The first piece landed on his tongue. His eyes widened.
It melted.
It wasn't just food. It was a blessing. Sweet, salty, savory, spicy—all perfectly balanced.
A little crunch from the outer layer, but the inside was juicy beyond belief. The glaze was tangy but smooth, and the meat had that rich, fulfilling taste that made his entire body relax.
[Haro: I CAN TASTE IT THROUGH THE SCREEN]
[Dredge: STOP EATING SO SLOW]
[Leah: ROWAN YOU'RE MAKING ME HUNGRY]
[Envy: This is torture.]
He didn't answer. He took another bite. Then another. His fork never stopped. The food disappeared faster than expected, each bite better than the last.
For the first time since he arrived in this world, Rowan smiled.