Dave walked back into the village as the sun began to dip behind the horizon, its golden glow casting long shadows. His clothes were torn, dirt smudged across his arms, and several minor wounds throbbed on his skin. His blades were stained with the black blood of the insect-like beasts. In his bag, he carried the proof of his victory—glimmering beast crystals, still faintly pulsing with energy.
As he approached the guild hall, heads turned.
"Wait… is that the kid who took the F-rank extermination quest?"
"He went alone, didn't he?"
"No way. There were twenty beasts in that area! Even a team would have trouble."
"Look at him… he's actually carrying something back."
Murmurs spread like wildfire. Some stared in disbelief, others with narrowed eyes of envy, and a few with poorly hidden concern. But Dave ignored them all.
He was used to stares.
He walked straight to the counter, where the same lady from before sat, sipping from a steaming mug and sorting through a pile of papers. When she saw him approaching, her eyes widened in surprise.
"You're… back?" she asked slowly, setting the cup down.
Dave nodded wordlessly, dropping the bag onto the counter with a soft thud. The sound of crystals clinking inside was enough to draw a few nearby adventurers closer.
The receptionist hesitated, then reached out and peeked inside the bag. Her eyes widened even more.
"These are…" she glanced up at him, stunned. "You… actually completed the extermination quest?"
"Yeah," Dave said simply.
She blinked. "Alone?"
"Yes."
There was a short silence before she scoffed softly in disbelief—though there was no malice in it. "You really are insane. That nest was reported as active for weeks. Teams avoided it. And you just… cleared it?"
Dave gave a small shrug. "I needed the points."
Her eyes studied him. "You're injured. You should go to a healer."
"I'll manage."
The receptionist sat back in her chair, still shaking her head in surprise. "What's your adventure username again? I need it to confirm your quest and credit your reward."
Dave paused. Then, without really thinking, he said, "Punisher."
She raised an eyebrow. "Punisher? Dramatic."
He didn't reply.
She logged it in. "Well then, Punisher, quest complete. You just earned yourself 100 points for clearing the extermination."
As she typed quickly, her expression turned more professional. "Now… about the crystals. You brought back all of them?"
Dave nodded again.
"Let's see," she muttered, counting quickly. "Twenty beast crystals from Rank F insects… that's 10 points per crystal. 200 points total. Not bad for a first haul."
A few adventurers around them looked on, visibly impressed or annoyed.
"That can't be right…"
"He's just a newbie. This is ridiculous."
"Are they sure those aren't fake?"
"Hey, maybe he paid someone to kill them for him?"
Dave ignored all the noise.
The receptionist, now done with the paperwork, handed him two slips—one for his 100 quest points, the other for the 200 point crystal sale.
"Here. Your total is 300 points."
He took them quietly.
"You did well," she added, softer this time. "I don't know how you managed it, but… good job surviving. Not many come back from a mission like that solo."
Dave gave a faint nod of gratitude.
With that, he turned and walked away from the counter, the whispers still swirling around him. But he didn't care.
He had what he needed.
A few streets away from the guild, he found a modest-looking inn with a faded wooden sign that read "The Hearth's Rest."
Inside, the scent of warm stew and firewood welcomed him. A kind-faced innkeeper greeted him at the desk.
"I'd like a room," Dave said, placing some of his points on the counter. "And food."
The man nodded, handing him a key. "We've got stew on the fire and bread fresh from the oven. I'll bring it to your table."
Dave sat at a corner booth and waited.
When the food came, he didn't speak, didn't thank anyone—he just dug in.
He devoured the meal like a starving wolf—meat, bread, every last spoonful of broth. It was the first full meal he'd had in days. The warmth filled his chest and quieted the ache in his muscles, at least for a while.
After finishing, he wiped his mouth and climbed the stairs to the second floor, where his room awaited.
The bed was small, the walls plain, but to Dave, it felt like a palace.
He locked the door, tossed his gear aside, and collapsed onto the mattress.
The silence of the room, the weight of his body sinking into the bed, the faint creak of wood around him—finally, for a moment, peace.
His system didn't say anything.
His wounds didn't matter.
And sleep came fast.
The sun had barely risen when Dave awoke. His body still ached from yesterday's brutal battle, but after a full night's rest and a warm bed, he felt more alive than he had in days.
Downstairs in the inn, the scent of fried eggs and bread greeted him. The innkeeper's wife handed him a simple breakfast: eggs, bread, and a warm cup of spice tea. He ate quietly, savoring each bite. It was strange—just a few days ago, he was fighting to survive in a deadly forest. Now he was enjoying breakfast in peace.
After finishing, he slung his blades across his back and headed straight for the guild hall.
The building was busier than usual, filled with adventurers milling about, discussing quests and coin. Dave didn't speak to anyone. He went straight to the quest board, eyes scanning the sheets one by one.
There were plenty of quests posted—subjugations, deliveries, gathering jobs—but the once that involves fight were marked [Rank D] or higher.
Dave frowned.
He was still listed as an F-Rank adventurer. Which meant he couldn't take any of those quests without joining a team of higher ranks. And today… there wasn't a single solo F-rank quest available.
"Tch…" he muttered under his breath. He didn't like working with others, not anymore—not after what happened at the academy. But if he didn't take something, he wouldn't earn points. No points meant no food, no inn, and no crystals.
Just as he considered heading back, a voice called out behind him.
"Hey! You the kid who cleared the insect nest solo?"
Dave turned slowly. Standing in front of him were four people—three boys and one girl. They looked to be around his age, maybe a little older.
The tallest of the three boys, with wild dark hair and a cocky grin, stepped forward first. "Name's Zan. We're forming a team for a simple hunt—thought you might wanna join. I saw your name at the board yesterday. 'Punisher,' right?"
Dave nodded slowly, unsure where this was going.
The second boy had short, reddish-blond hair and carried a large spear on his back. He gave a small wave. "I'm Bran. I'm good with support and long-range."
The third boy was silent, arms folded, with sharp eyes and a quiet demeanor. He had a pair of short daggers sheathed at his waist. "Rek," he said curtly, giving only his name.
Then the girl stepped forward. She had shoulder-length brown hair and wore light armor, a bow slung across her back. Her voice was calm but confident. "I'm Liri. I scout and handle cover fire."
Zan stepped in again. "Look, we already accepted an E-Rank beast clearing quest. Basic stuff. Weak monsters. We just need someone to help carry our gear, nothing more."
Dave narrowed his eyes.
"You want me to carry your equipment?"
"Relax," Bran said quickly. "We'll share the beast crystals evenly. You don't even have to fight if you don't want to. Just walk with us, help carry some extra supplies. You'll get your cut."
"Unless you got a better offer," Zan added with a grin, "I don't see another quest with your name on it."
Dave looked at the board again. They were right. He didn't like the idea of being a porter, but he needed the points—and the crystals.
"Fine," he said finally. "When do we leave?"
"In about an hour," Liri answered. "Meet us at the east gate."
They turned and walked off to ge
t ready, leaving Dave standing alone.
He sighed quietly to himself.
Being underestimated… again.
But he'd play along—for now.
Give it an attractive title