A Bug In Fate

Alden stood at the entrance for a few more seconds before finally taking his first step into the city.

The moment he did, the noise rushed toward him from every direction.

Merchants called out to passing customers, horses pulled heavily loaded carriages across the stone streets, and conversations drifted through the evening air. The aroma of grilled meat, freshly baked bread, and unfamiliar spices mingled together, making the entire street feel alive.

Alden’s eyes wandered from one place to another.

It was exactly the kind of fantasy city he had dreamed of visiting.

His first thought was surprisingly simple.

He wanted a bed.

After everything he had gone through over the past few weeks, sleeping in a proper bed sounded like the greatest luxury in the world.

He was about to look for an inn when he remembered there was something he needed to settle first.

"Finished sightseeing?"

A familiar voice reached his ears.

Alden turned to find Vish watching him with a faintly amused expression, as though she had been observing his every reaction.

"Ahem... yes."

He coughed awkwardly before scratching the back of his head.

"So... what now? Are we going our separate ways?"

"Yes."

Vish gave a small nod.

"I have something I need to take care of."

"I guess I’m on my own again."

Alden smiled to himself.

Surprisingly, he didn’t feel disappointed. He hadn’t known Vish long enough to grow attached, and besides...

An entire fantasy city stretched out before him, waiting to be explored.

"If you don’t want to look like a lost kitten, I’d suggest heading to the Adventurers’ Guild."

Vish said before turning around and walking away.

Within moments, her figure disappeared into the bustling crowd.

Alden watched her leave before smiling to himself.

"Well... I guess that’s my destination, then."

He decided to take her advice. After all, he knew almost nothing about this world, and if there was any place where adventurers gathered, it was probably the best place to start.

As he wandered through the city streets, his eyes darted from one sight to another in fascination.

The buildings lining the roads were unlike anything he had ever seen. Strange runes were engraved into the stone walls, faintly absorbing mana from the surroundings before emitting a gentle glow that illuminated the streets.

It felt as though someone had merged magic and technology into a single creation.

"Now this is a fantasy world..."

Alden muttered in admiration.

Just then, his nose twitched.

A rich, mouthwatering aroma drifted through the air.

His footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

Before he realized it, he was already standing in front of a food stall.

Rows of skewers sizzled over blue mana flames. The meat glistened beneath a glaze of herbs and spices, while droplets of fat hissed as they touched the enchanted coals, filling the street with an irresistible aroma.

The stall was run by a young man who was busy grilling Fire-Grilled Skewers over the enchanted flames.

Alden walked over.

"How much for five skewers?"

he asked, reaching into his pocket.

"Twenty-five silver coins, young man."

The vendor answered with a friendly smile, not showing the slightest hint of disdain despite Alden’s worn and bloodstained clothes.

Alden took out a single gold coin and held it out.

"I’ll take five."

The vendor’s eyes flickered toward the coin before he accepted it. He quickly handed Alden five skewers along with seventy-five silver coins in change.

So one gold coin is worth a hundred silver coins...

Alden silently noted the exchange rate. Whether there was a currency above gold or not, he had no idea.

Without waiting any longer, he took his first bite.

His eyes widened.

The meat was tender and juicy, coated in a rich blend of herbs and spices that he couldn’t recognize. A faint warmth spread through his body as he chewed, making him wonder if it was simply because the skewers had been cooked with mana.

"Now this is good..."

For the first time since arriving in this world, he enjoyed a proper meal without having to worry about monsters trying to eat him first.

Finishing the last skewer, Alden continued wandering through the streets.

After a while, he stopped in front of a modest three-story building.

A wooden sign hung above the entrance, glowing with softly illuminated letters.

V Light Inn.

"Found one."

Without hesitation, Alden stepped inside.

The ground floor was lively. Some customers sat around wooden tables drinking and chatting loudly, while others were speaking to the receptionist about renting rooms.

Alden walked up to the counter.

Behind it stood a young woman with long green hair and a professional smile.

"I’m looking for a room."

"That will be thirty silver coins per night, sir."

Alden nodded before placing thirty silver coins on the counter together with his ID pass.

The receptionist quickly checked the pass before returning it.

"Anything else, sir?"

Alden looked down at his torn, bloodstained clothes.

"Do you sell casual clothes?"

"Yes. A basic set will cost twenty silver coins."

"That’ll do."

After paying, he received a room key along with a neatly folded set of clothes.

With everything in hand, Alden headed upstairs toward his room.

...

The room was simple but clean.

A wooden bed rested against one wall, covered with neatly folded white sheets and a thick blanket. Beside it stood a small bedside table with an oil lamp that cast a warm glow across the room.

A sturdy wardrobe occupied the corner, while a plain wooden desk and a single chair sat beneath the window. Opposite the bed hung a full-length mirror, polished well enough to reflect every detail.

Alden walked over and stopped in front of it.

For the first time since arriving in this world, he truly looked at himself.

The face staring back at him was undeniably handsome. Messy black hair framed sharp features, while a pair of crimson eyes gazed back with a mixture of exhaustion and curiosity.

"...So this is me."

Unknown to Alden, his appearance had already influenced the way many people treated him.

Although his clothes had been torn and stained with blood, his face alone made it difficult for others to dismiss him as an ordinary beggar.

His gaze drifted toward the bed.

It was easily large enough for two people.

"...What a waste."

He chuckled to himself.

Opening the wardrobe, Alden changed into the fresh clothes he had bought downstairs before tossing his old ones aside.

The moment he lay down, the soft mattress sank beneath his weight.

A satisfied smile spread across his face.

"Ah... this is heaven."

He hadn’t realized how much he had missed sleeping on a real bed.

The exhaustion weighing on him wasn’t physical anymore.

It was mental.

In a single day, he had fought monsters, killed people for the first time, nearly died more than once, and finally reached a city in another world.

His eyelids gradually became heavier.

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow would mark the beginning of a new Chapter in his life.

With that final thought, Alden drifted into a deep sleep.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!