Noah and Dimitri strolled back to the entrance, where Dein stood like a statue that hadn't aged a second.
The moment his eyes landed on them, a broad smile stretched across his face, and he raised a hand with the sort of enthusiasm you'd expect from a man spotting a long-lost friend in a crowded market.
"Ah! My brave hunters return, unscathed and triumphant. And I see you carry the spoils I requested—fine work, both of you."
[Because you're in a party, this NPC treats you as a single glorious unit. It's like a buy-one-get-one-free situation, but with less capitalism. Don't worry, your rewards aren't getting nerfed.]
Noah slapped the pelts onto the crate like he was flipping pancakes. Dimitri followed with his, careful and proud, as if each fur held a story worth telling.
Dein gave the hides a once-over, brushing his fingers along the fur with practiced ease.
"These are fine, finer than I expected. You've both outdone yourselves. Wait here. I shall fashion your bags with mine own hands."
He whisked himself away into the carriage, and almost immediately, the whirring of a sewing machine echoed from within. It wasn't loud, but it had a rhythm to it—steady, focused, like a heartbeat made of gears and thread.
Outside, Noah leaned back against a tree, arms crossed, already bored.
"Bet he's in there stitching like a fashionista on a deadline. Think we'll get matching ones? Maybe a custom logo?"
Dimitri chuckled, eyes twinkling.
"My friend, I only hope mine has extra pockets. You know, for snacks. And maybe one for emergency sausage."
After a short wait, Dein emerged from within and approached them with steady steps. In his arms, he carried rugged bags, stitched from gray wolf pelts, each one still carrying the faint scent of the wild.
He offered them without a word. Noah reached out and touched his.
The bag shimmered beneath his fingers—then, without warning, it disintegrated into a cloud of glowing blue particles that vanished into the air like digital dust.
"And boom—magic bag does a vanishing act. Houdini would be proud."
A crisp chime rang out immediately after. The melody was short, catchy, and unmistakably upbeat, like a notification from a retro RPG—quest complete.
Noah blinked. The two wolf pelts he'd been holding were gone. No fanfare, no warning. They went on his inventory.
[Quest complete.]
[You have received 5 inventory slots.]
[You have received 2 Gold Coins.]
[You have received Experience Points.]
[You leveled up.]
[You have received 12 Stat points.]
[Your HP, MP, and SP have been replenished.]
Noah and Dimitri strolled away from where Dein stood, the distance slowly stretching between them like the end of a scene in a buddy film.
Dein raised his hand with a quiet grin, his wave unhurried, as though he had all the time in the world.
Noah's gaze shifted to the glowing shimmer beside Dimitri's name, a subtle glint of level-up energy still fading. His brow lifted, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Okay, that was actually fun. Like, I didn't expect that much chaos but hey—ten outta ten, would do again."
Dimitri gave a single nod.
"Yes, my friend. A glorious mess, but very good. Now, I disband the party."
A faint chime echoed between them, barely a whisper in the air, as the invisible thread tying their systems together snapped. The party window dissolved, leaving Noah's screen clear and oddly quiet.
Dimitri straightened his back like a man finishing a job well done.
Demitri's smile came slow, almost like it had to travel across a frozen lake before it reached his lips. It wasn't forced. It wasn't loud. It was just... warm.
The kind that made silence feel friendly instead of awkward.
"Hey, my friend, can I add you? Maybe call you sometime so we can work together again?"
[Not gonna lie, he's kinda killing it. Charges in like a maniac, but somehow still listens to orders. It's annoying. I meant that as a compliment, but wow, it tasted like expired soda in my mouth.]
"Sure, man. You actually make chaos look functional. Kinda impressive."
Noah answered with a casual shrug, like it was obvious. Like the world could use more Dimitris, and it was no big deal letting one a little closer.
[Dimitri has added you as a friend.]
Noah stared at the flickering prompt in the air, the soft blue glow reflecting faintly in his eyes.
A simple notification hovered in front of him, waiting. He gave a small, one-shouldered shrug.
"Friend request accepted."
Dimitri beamed like the sun had just come out for him alone. He turned with an easy swagger and threw a hand up in a lazy wave as he strolled off.
"See you around, my friend. If you ever get stuck, just holler. I've got feet fast enough to run halfway across a continent for someone I like."
"Yeah, see you around, big guy."
As Dimitri disappeared into the view, a translucent panel unfolded before Noah's eyes like someone had peeled the air open.
A glowing list stretched out—short enough to scroll with one blink. Only one name sat there.
Dimitri.
Beside it, bright text floated, showing his class, current location, and level. A little button shaped like an old-school walkie-talkie pulsed lightly at the corner.
"At least I don't have to tie a note to a bird's leg just to say 'hi.'"
Before he could even tap the button, another window bloomed open right next to the first, adjusting itself neatly into place.
This one was slicker, cleaner—his Inventory and Gear Slots gleamed like they'd just been polished by digital hands.
•••••
INVENTORY:
1: Common: Wolf Pelt x2
2: Small HP Potion x1
3: Small MP Potion x2
4:
5:
•••••
GEAR SLOTS:
Main Weapon 1:
Main Weapon 2:
Subweapon/Ammunition:
Head:
Torso:
Arms:
Hands:
Legs:
Necklace:
Earring 1:
Earring 2:
Ring 1:
Ring 2:
•••••
[Congratulations, you have unlocked your Inventory feature. Your gear slots have already been there since the beginning.]
Noah squinted, then groaned under his breath.
"You really enjoy holding back info until it's absolutely inconvenient, don't you?"
[Let's just say I'm sparing you from the joy of knowing fifty things you can't use yet. Like unwrapping empty gift boxes. Also, your current weapon? That Untiered flintlock? It's basically the decorative kind. Equipping it does the same as carrying it—no bonus stats, zero effect, same vibe.]
Noah made a face.
[Gear slots aren't one-size-fits-all. This setup's tailor-made for a Gunslinger—dual pistols, fast hands, pew-pew style. And yeah, there's a bullet slot, but since you're firing off Mana Bullets like party tricks, you might as well drop in a grenade, a dagger, or something spicy as a backup.]
Noah squinted at the floating panel, tapping through it with idle curiosity.
"A dagger or like... a military knife would look sick. Tactical, sharp, maybe a little edgy."
[Uh-huh, edgy's cute, but don't forget—daggers want Strength. Your pistols? They're vibing with Agility. And those fancy Mana Bullets? Total Intelligence junkies. So if you're thinking of juggling all that, better be ready to play the stat game like it's chess and you're three moves from checkmate.]
He let out a slow breath and ran his fingers through his hair, a flicker of indecision darting through his gaze. Then, without a word, he turned away from the glowing screen.
The quiet tap of his boots echoed softly as he strolled toward the exit. The corridor ahead stretched into dimming light, painted gold by the sunset slanting through narrow cracks in the walls.
"Eh. I'll deal with stats and Subweapon later. Right now, I just want to crash somewhere that doesn't reek of death traps. Sun's dipping fast, and I've got zero interest in turning this place into a sleepover spot."