The small guild hall buzzed with the sounds of laughter and conversation. At some tables, groups of hunters were deep in discussion. Others studied mission flyers, and a few tables sat empty. As Tyler made his way towards Serena, a few sets of eyes turned his way. The hunters eyed him, a frown creasing their brows. Some wrinkled their noses, and some covered their noses with their hands.

"Ah, you stink," one of them said, his voice carrying across the room.

"Guy must've faced the Gushrooms," another replied, grimacing.

"He took *that* quest? Who'd wanna fight those things?" another hunter scoffed.

*Huh? Do I stink?* Tyler thought to himself, surprised. *I don't really smell anything... Must be used to the smell. But if I stink, then how the hell is Serena gonna react?* He didn't stop, continuing toward the counter.

He stopped in front of Serena, who stood behind the counter. Serena's hand immediately flew to her nose. *"Oh, you're back,"* she mumbled, her voice muffled. *"Did you finish the quest?"*

Tyler sighed, "Yes, I finished the quest. I stink, don't I?"

Serena nodded, still covering her nose.

Tyler said, "You didn't say the gas stank or it would result in this situation."

Serena responded, "Would you have not taken the quest if I had?"

Tyler smiled and said, "No, I wouldn't have."

Serena sighed and said, "Okay, can you give me the materials? I'd be fair, you'd do this quick."

Tyler then said, "Oh, right, sorry." Quickly, all the Gushroom heads materialized on the counter, leaving only one in his inventory.

Serena's eyes widened, and she whispered, removing her hand from her mouth, "Hey, are you okay using your ability in public like this?"

"Yeah, it's fine."

Serena's hand flew back to her mouth, and she mumbled, "If you say so." She quickly gathered the Gushroom heads, dropping them into a sack behind the counter and securing it with a yellow string. Then, she turned her attention back to Tyler.

"Right," she said. She opened a drawer behind the counter, revealing a large sack overflowing with gold coins. Probably more than three hundred coins. Serena began counting the coins, arranging them neatly on the counter.

She finished counting and said, her voice still slightly muffled, "Here is the reward."

Tyler smiled, and the thirty-five gold coins shimmered blue, then vanished into his inventory without him even touching them. He then said, with a nervous laugh, "Yeah, where can I take a bath around here?"

Serena responded, "Right, you should do that." Then, "I can take you upstairs to take a bath, but you're going to have to pay for it."

Tyler asked, "Oh, how much?"

Serena replied, "Five copper coins."

Tyler exclaimed, "Oh, that costs as much as coming from Veridia to here!"

Serena chuckled, "Yeah, it's the same amount. Do you want to go?" She pointed to the stairs on the left with her thumb.

Without another word, Tyler nodded. "Yeah."

Five copper coins immediately materialized on the counter, and another hunter, being attended by another clerk, both turned to look. The other hunter then spoke, his voice a deep rumble. "Hey, is that some kind of skill or something?"

Tyler replied, "Yeah."

The man said, eyeing his armor, "Looking at your armor, one would think you're a fighter, but you're..."

Tyler finished the sentence, "I'm an assassin, this is just a unique skill that I have. Doesn't cost much mana though."

The man grunted, "Ah."

Serena chimed in, "Oh yeah. Where did you get the armor? Did you just use a skill again to retrieve it?"

Tyler said, "Yeah. I had it with me all the time."

Serena said, with a smile, "It looks... different." She took the five copper coins, placing them in a separate drawer. This one was also filled with copper coins. She closed it and said, "It kind of looks funny, like there are scales attached to the clothing, but at the same time, they are kind of different from before."

Tyler said, "Yeah, the armor is kind of like that."

Serena then said, "Okay, follow me." She moved away from the counter and headed toward the stairs, and Tyler followed behind her.

As they ascended the stairs, Tyler asked, "Does it smell that bad?"

Serena said, "Yeah, it smells bad, it smells like farts and dead corpses."

Tyler said, "Jeez, really?"

Serena chuckled and said, "Yeah. If you hadn't suggested a bath, I would have suggested one for you."

Tyler laughed, then said, "What if I didn't have any money?"

Serena said, "Well then, I would have paid for it." This surprised Tyler.

They reached the door at the top of the stairs. Serena then asked, "Jizz, what does that mean?" turning to look at Tyler.

Tyler asked, "What?"

Serena said, "You said 'jizz' earlier. I'm asking what it means."

Tyler burst out laughing, which surprised Serena.

Serena, feeling a bit offended, asked, "Hey, what are you laughing at?"

Tyler said, "It's not 'jizz', it's 'jeez'."

Serena, still leading the way and still a bit confused, continued, "What's so funny?"

Tyler laughed a little again and said, "No, it's just that what you *said* kind of means something else. It just caught me off guard, that's all."

Serena paused and looked at Tyler, "What, does it mean something else in your language?" She then asked, "By the way, where do you come from?"

Suddenly, they were in front of the door. Another hunter burst from it, stretching his arms. Steam billowed from his body. He wore leather armor, and Tyler recognized him instantly as the man he had faced in a duel earlier. The man's expression shifted to anger. He glared at Tyler and growled, "Get the hell out of my way!" He charged towards Tyler.

Serena quickly yelled and moved out of the way. Tyler, however, didn't. He simply looked at the charging man.

The man stopped abruptly, right in front of Tyler. He looked down, his anger replaced with a quiet plea, "Please?"

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

A small smile played across Tyler's face. He shifted to the side, allowing the man to pass. The man crossed quietly. Serena, surprised, looked at Tyler. Her hand flew to her mouth, and she let out a small giggle.

"What?" Tyler asked.

Serena said, "He deserved that." She then moved towards the open bathing room, a wisp of steam escaping from it. "This is the bathing room."

Tyler went to the entrance and stopped, observing the interior. The floor was made of wood, slightly wet from the steam that filled the room. Long benches lined the sides, and in the middle, dominating the entire space, was a large, rectangular wooden tub. It reached almost to Tyler's waist. The room had a vent that functioned more than a window. Bars crossed over the opening, leaving only small holes for the steam to escape.

Tyler said, "So this is the bath. It feels warm in here."

Serena replied, "Yes, the water is always clean, even after you bathe, and it's always warm because of magic. Of course, they paid a mage hunter who used to hunt here to do this for them. But the spell only lasts for about seven months or so. So enjoy it while it still lasts."

Tyler smiled, "Right, thank you," he said, looking at Serena.

Suddenly, the scales covering Tyler's clothes vanished into his inventory, revealing his ordinary clothes beneath. He quickly removed his shirt.

Serena whirled around, a blush instantly blooming across her cheeks. "Hey, what are you doing?" she stammered, her voice a little breathless.

Tyler, a little taken aback by her reaction, said, "Oh, sorry. I was... I was just taking my shirt off."

. "So suddenly! You could have told me to leave first!"

Serena, now fully crimson, averted her gaze. "You'll find me downstairs," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. With a quick turn, she practically fled the room, her footsteps echoing on the wooden floor.

" What's wrong with just taking my shirt off....Right, time to take a bath," Tyler murmured, a small smile playing on his lips. He then made the t-shirt disappear into his inventory. He looked down at his abdomen, now bare. He felt the familiar exhilaration of his own strength. His abs were fully visible, carved with the definition he had only dreamed of in the other world. His chest and biceps were the embodiment of the physique he had strived for. He felt a surge of pride, a deep satisfaction with the work he'd put in. Rubbing his hand over his abdomen, he thought, *Mike would be so jealous right now. He was always a bit more muscular than me, but I'm pretty sure I outscaled him by a margin.* There was a bittersweet note there; he missed his friend.

Tyler went to the tub and put his hand in the water. The warmth of the water seeped into his skin, easing the tension in his muscles. The perfect temperature for relaxation. The steam, laden with a subtle, pleasing scent, seemed to caress his senses. He knew the scent would linger on his body, and that was exactly what he wanted. It was a small pleasure, a moment of peace after the trials of the forest.

Sometime later, Serena was behind the counter, the images of Tyler still flickering in her mind's eye. She saw again how built he was, the lean, powerful lines of his body. He had an athletic body, clearly designed for combat, but not overly bulky or exaggerated. A flush crept up her neck, and she chided herself, snapping out of it, *What are you thinking? Get a grip!* She was a professional, after all. She needed to focus on her job and the tasks at hand, not on a hunter's physique... though it was hard not to notice.

Serena saw Tyler approaching, and her heart gave a tiny, involuntary flutter. *There he is,* she thought, a warmth spreading through her.

Tyler looked refreshed, clean, and his hair was slightly damp, falling in a way that made him look both rugged and… well, attractive. He arrived in front of her and said, "I'm done. I don't smell anything, right?"

"No," Serena said, a small smile playing on her lips. "Not at all. Actually, you smell wonderful." The words slipped out before she could stop them, and she instantly regretted it.

Tyler smiled, a genuine smile that reached his eyes. "Right, thanks." He then sighed, and Serena noticed a subtle shift in his expression. His features became more serious, a hint of a troubled shadow crossing his eyes. "I want to talk to you about something. Is it okay if you follow me outside?"

Serena glanced around. She caught the eye of Jack, the other staff member across the counter. Jack had been the one to call her to the door earlier. "Jack, can I go outside for a moment?"

Jack, who was in the middle of assisting a customer, nodded. "All right. It's almost time for your lunch break anyways."

"Thanks," Serena replied.

Tyler headed outside, and Serena followed. They went to the side of the building, finding a bit of privacy. Serena saw Tyler leaning against the wall, his posture revealing a hint of the inner turmoil she sensed. "What is it that you wanted to tell me?"

Tyler folded his arms, the muscles in his forearms flexing slightly, and looked down at his feet for a moment before meeting her gaze. "I know I've already said this before, but… I'm not leaving." His voice was quiet, but resolute. "I told you that I would leave after some time, that I needed to do something else, but I've decided… I'm not leaving." He paused, then added, "Honestly, that's the reason I took so long in the shower. It got me thinking… if I should stay or if I should go." He met her gaze again, seeking some kind of understanding. The decision had clearly weighed on him.

Serena began, "But, Tyler…"

Tyler interrupted, his voice urgent, "Listen, I don't want to leave and start somewhere else, okay? To leave everyone I've ever known here. And to leave *you* behind." The way he said her name, it sent a jolt through her.

Serena hadn't expected him to mention her. She was surprised, and it warmed her heart.

Tyler continued, "I was starting to make a better living. I wanted to buy a house and make my own shop. Probably here in Lyria. Or maybe even in Aria." He paused, searching her eyes.

Serena said, "I know this is a tough decision, but… you will be in danger. Can't you go back to your hometown? Where… where did you come from, Tyler?"

The question, the one he didn't want to hear, echoed in the quiet space. He didn't want to burden another person with the truth, not after Grone. He looked down, a shadow crossing his face. "I can't tell you that."

"What?" Serena asked, her brow furrowing with confusion. "Why?"

Tyler hesitated, then said, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Serena stepped closer, her voice earnest, "Why do you say that? Come on, you don't have to keep any secrets from me. I won't tell anyone. I promise."

Tyler looked at her, and the hope, the genuine belief in her eyes, was nearly overwhelming. She looked like someone anticipating something pleasing, like a child about to receive a treasured gift. He chuckled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing a little. "Alright." He took a deep breath and said, "So… basically, I'm from another world."

Serena gasped, her eyes widening. "You're from another kingdom?"

Tyler shook his head, lifting his hands in a gesture of negation. "No, no, no. From a completely different world. Like… a different planet from this one."

Serena stared at Tyler in absolute shock. "What?" Her voice was barely a whisper. The world, it seemed, had just tilted on its axis.

Tyler continued, his voice low but steady, "The world I'm from is completely different to this one. The people are different, the language is different. Think of it as… if I'm from a different dimension, or some kind of dreamland, or a fantasy world, except… to the people over in my world, *this* world is considered the same thing." He watched Serena's face for any sign of understanding, or even disbelief.

Serena was speechless, her mind reeling. "I… I don't understand."

Tyler ran a hand through his hair, trying to find a way to explain the impossible. He put his hands together, as if trying to visualize it himself. He clenched his left hand into a fist and said, "Right, this is your world." He tapped his fist. "This is the world with all your kingdoms, your villages, all the people, including you." He then clenched his right hand into a fist and said, "And this is mine." He tapped that fist. "It has different people, different animals, different things. The world has no monsters, no hunters. It has different jobs. Everything is totally different… and somehow… I teleported from that world into yours. And this happened just about a month ago."

Serena stepped back a little, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and confusion. "I... I thought you were going to say you were from the East… But this, what you're telling me right now… this is crazy."

Tyler nodded, his expression serious. "I know it is, alright, but… think about it. Think about how fast I'm leveling up. I'm not leveling up like anyone here." He offered a small, self-deprecating smile. "To be honest, when I came to this world, I was actually G-ranked," he said. As memories of him and Grone, testing levels and comparing, flashed in his mind. Then, other images of Grone training him, the countless hours of practice. "... I started training." The memories served as a constant reminder of the life before, and the man who had brought him there. The training had paid off immensely.

"I trained and I trained," Tyler continued, the memories pushing to the surface. "And then I started killing monsters with Grone, and after a while… in just a few weeks, I became a B-Rank. And then, after that… I became an A-Rank. The rank I am today."

Serena, still trying to process everything, finally managed to say, "But that's impossible. Not only you saying you're from another world… but… I knew your leveling speed was wrong, but I didn't think it was *because* of this. But… how did you meet Grone?"

Tyler smiled, a genuine warmth returning to his face. "Well, when I first met Grone… it was in the forest. The second day I came here." He started to tell Serena the story of his first encounter with Grone, of their unlikely partnership and the early struggles of learning how to survive in this new world. Then, he told her about the System and the Inventory ability, explaining how it worked, how he had come to acquire it. He told her about some of his skills, the things that made him unique.

He stopped, letting Serena take it all in, letting her begin to make sense of the impossible.

Serena bit her thumb, a habit Tyler hadn't noticed before. "So… that's how it is. I've always wondered. I even… I even started thinking that you're a hero."

Tyler shook his head emphatically. "Oh no. I'm not a hero. Not at all."

Serena took a deep breath and said, "So you're from another world..."

Tyler nodded.

"So you don't know what brought you here?"

Tyler said, "No. I mean, I'm not really sure. But... that's another long story."

Serena was clearly struggling to reconcile the reality with what she thought she knew. She then said, "I thought you were just… a foreigner, since you looked different and kind of behaved differently." She sighed, and then added, "But... since you told me the truth… there's no need for me to… keep lying to you. That wouldn't be fair."

Tyler's brow furrowed. "Huh? Lying to me?" He felt a knot of unease form in his stomach. What was she talking about?

Serena said, her voice barely a whisper, "The Pale Reapers… they aren't here yet."

"What?" Tyler asked, the unease in his stomach intensifying.

Serena looked down, shame evident in her expression. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "The Pale Reapers… the rumor is that since something this big happened… they might be sent here. Probably only one of them, but… there was never a rumor of anyone spotting them. Believe me, if there was… you could have heard at least someone else talking about it. And, as I said… they're brutal… so… I'm pretty sure someone would have gotten hurt or so."

"But why?" Tyler asked, his voice laced with confusion.

Serena interrupted, her voice heavy with a mixture of emotions, "I wanted to protect you." She met his gaze, her eyes reflecting a complex mix of frustration and… something else. "I thought that if I said they had already arrived, or they were spotted… you'd be afraid… and you would run. But… you're so stubborn… you didn't."

Tyler looked at Serena. He saw the frustration and sadness etched across her face. He said softly, "You didn't have to do that."

Serena sighed, shaking her head. "I know. It wouldn't have worked even if I had tried." Her facial expression, now serious, held a flicker of anger, a touch of annoyance at the situation.

Tyler said quietly, "I'm sorry. But… I just can't. Leave."

"But why?" Serena asked, her voice tinged with desperation. "You said you were from another world. You're not even that attached to this place. You don't have any deep ties to anyone. You can just go to another town or village and start over."

Tyler looked at her, meeting her gaze. He spoke with quiet conviction, "That's not true. I *do* have ties to people here. People… like you. And some people at… the Veridia. I'm close to them too. I told you… I don't want to leave." The words hung in the air, a declaration of his resolve.

Serena looked at Tyler, her expression a mix of disappointment and… something he couldn't quite decipher. She sighed heavily, then said, "I… I'm going back inside." She turned and walked back towards the building, leaving Tyler alone in the gathering afternoon light.

Tyler let out a sigh of his own, a mix of relief and regret. *I shouldn't have told her about it.* He knew it was a mistake the moment the words left his mouth. *I mean, I've already told her that I didn't want to leave.* He paused, then, *But then again… she did tell me that the Pale Reapers aren't exactly in the area, so that was a bit of a relief.* The thought of her intentionally misleading him, even with the best of intentions, still stung. *To think she'd do that… just to protect me. She cares about me that much, huh?* He muttered under his breath, a mixture of disbelief and a burgeoning sense of… gratitude? *And I… I kept making her worry. Damn it, I'm so stupid.* He sighed again, the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders. *What should I do now?*

He considered his options. *Should I continue hunting?* The thrill of the fight, the rush of adrenaline, seemed distant now. *No.* He knew he couldn't concentrate, not with everything swirling in his mind. *I came here thinking I would find Grone, and then… after that… I just went in there.* He shook his head. *But… I should probably go back to Veridia, and see where I can buy a house. Or maybe land… to build the house and the shop on.* He had a goal, a dream. He would focus on that.

Tyler walked away from the hunter base, heading back into the heart of Lyria. He passed familiar houses and shops, his mind elsewhere. He eventually arrived at the place where George had dropped him off earlier, before his journey to Veridia. He thought, *I thought I would at least find a carriage around here.*

"Seems like I'll just have to make it there on foot," he muttered. "Not that that's a problem. It's not that much of a distance anyway… and when I get to the…"

His thought was abruptly interrupted by the System panel, flashing before his eyes, listing his quest rewards.

Quest Reward: 4 points to each stat

Weapons Recipe: 5 Vigil Vines, 10 Drain Strings→ Life striker.

Armor Recipe: 50 large iron ores→ Training Armour

Alchemy Recipe: 100ml holy water, 100ml corrupted water, 3 Adas tree leafs, 5 sunleaf flowers→ Light Mana potion.

Accessory Recipe: 2 small iron ores,40 white fans scales, 50ml corrupted water→ Necklace of sight.

The notifications had a way of breaking his concentration. But, as he read it, a small smile crept on his face. The reward was a lot more than he thought, and then he thought, This is nice.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.