Noah stepped into the heart of the marketplace, his boots landing on cobblestone that echoed faintly beneath the weight of traffic.
The underground dome stretched above him like the inside of a colossal lantern, each wall lined with torches that painted the entire space in a soft, golden glow. Shadows flickered across arched ceilings, chasing one another with every flare of flame.
The place breathed energy. Structures carved from dark stone and reinforced with gleaming steel pulsed with light, as if alive with magic.
Players weaved through the crowded paths, their movements fluid but constant—some hurried, others drifting like they had all the time in the world.
Armor clinked with every brush of shoulder or nudge of elbow, the soft metallic taps blending into a rhythm of movement, chaos, and commerce.
A shield scraping against a breastplate here, a gauntlet tapping a hilt there—it all added to the low hum of activity that filled the dome like background music.
Voices rang out from both sides of the path. NPC vendors leaned from their stalls, arms waving in the air with well-rehearsed urgency.
"Best healing potions you'll ever taste—no hangovers guaranteed!"
"Fresh spell scrolls, direct from the wizard's forge—get them while they're hot!"
"Ten iron daggers for the price of five—don't make me regret generosity!"
At the very heart of the enormous underground dome rose a colossal structure—easily the largest among the sea of smaller facilities scattered throughout the area.
Its design wasn't just grand; it practically announced its presence, drawing the eye like a magnet amidst the labyrinth of stone and steel.
Noah stood a good distance away, arms crossed, quietly taking in the sight.
[There it is. The Dungeon Center. Where the chaos gets organized. Where players gather like it's a fantasy version of speed dating—except instead of flirting, they form parties. You'll find the leaderboard there too. Who's crushing it, who's falling behind, and how deep they've dived into the dungeon. Feel like sneaking a peek?]
"Nope. Hard pass. I already had two near-death meet-and-greets with the local wildlife today. I'll save the leaderboard stalking for a day when I'm not functioning on trauma and spite. Right now? I'm flipping these wolf pelts for cash and hunting down the nearest place that doesn't smell like monster blood."
•••••
Noah stepped into the shop Eve had pointed him toward. The moment he crossed the threshold, the buzz of the street faded behind him, replaced by the subtle scent of old wood and something faintly metallic in the air.
This place was massive, easily dwarfing the stalls he'd passed outside.
A cheerful old man flashed a wide, gap-toothed smile the moment Noah walked in, like he'd been expecting him all day.
Noah's gaze swept across the room. Wooden counters stretched across the shop like miniature islands, each one cluttered with all sorts of oddities.
Glass vials lined up in uneven rows shimmered with potions in shades that didn't seem entirely natural. Coils of leather lay neatly bundled beside slabs of raw metal that caught the light just enough to look expensive.
"This place looks like a medieval Walmart"
[NPC: Merkado.]
Merkado lowered his head in a polite bow, a warm smile settling on his face. The light above reflected off the smooth crown of his bald head as he straightened up, eyes twinkling with interest.
"Welcome to our shop, player. What can I do for you today?"
Just as the words left him, soft footsteps echoed from the back. A curtain swayed gently, and from behind it, Nene stepped into view.
The moment her eyes landed on Noah, a spark lit up her face and her smile stretched wide, full of warmth and joy.
"Noah!"
Nene strolled up to him with a bounce in her step, her smile stretching just a little wider the closer she got.
"I'm really glad you're here. So… how was your first day as a player? Was it fun?"
"I mean, if you consider nearly getting turned into chunky salsa fun… sure, yeah. Best day ever."
"You're so wild for that, Noah. You say the craziest things with a straight face. I can't keep up."
Noah's eyes flicked toward her, catching a subtle difference. The way she moved. The way she spoke. It all felt softer now.
Real.
Like the version of her from earlier had been an audition, and this was who she actually was off-script.
There was a kind of ease in her now, like she'd finally stopped pretending to be someone else.
He didn't say anything. Just stored it away, like a mental screenshot.
Noah flicked his fingers, and the translucent Inventory screen shimmered into view before him.
With a lazy swipe, he dragged two neatly folded wolf pelts out into the air, where they landed with a soft thump on the wooden counter.
Merkado took the pelts, his hands moving with the practiced ease of someone who had seen a thousand furs pass through his fingers.
He inspected the texture, pressed the seams, and gave a short nod, his eyes briefly gleaming with quiet approval.
"This is solid work. Clean, even cuts. I'll take both off your hands for two Gold."
"You just found yourself a customer for life, good sir."
Merkado chuckled, the sound warm and brief. He reached below the counter, plucked out two shining coins, and placed them down.
The moment they touched Noah's outstretched palm, they shimmered into glowing blue particles, swirling for a second before vanishing—his Gold count ticked up with a satisfying ping.
Noah gave a small bow, more playful than formal. Merkado returned the gesture with a grin.
"See you around, Noah."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."
Noah flashed Nene a quick grin, then turned to walk off, his steps light, his mood even lighter.
Noah stepped out of the shop, letting the door fall shut behind him with a soft click.
The air outside felt a little different now—lighter somehow, or maybe that was just him.
Merkado's voice still echoed faintly from within, and Nene's last cheerful words lingered in his mind like the aftertaste of candy.
He took a few steps forward, then paused, glancing back with narrowed eyes. Something about Nene bugged him—not in a bad way, more like an itch you can't quite place.
"Is it just me, or did Nene level up in the human department? Like, earlier she was all robotic smiles and stock phrases, but now... she actually reacts. She talks like she's got feelings. That wasn't there when we first walked in."
[Because she's not locked to a script anymore. The NPCs in the Endless Dungeon weren't just programmed—they were handcrafted by something way beyond human. Same entity that made me, by the way. Don't act too surprised.]
Noah gave a lazy shrug, as if tossing the thought over his shoulder.
"Cool. So what you're saying is, the big bad dungeon god decided to give their Barbie dolls a soul. Neat. What's next? Free will and dental insurance?"
•••••
Noah, still brushing off the dust from the road, followed Eve's directions through the winding alleys of the bustling marketplace.
Amid the noise of traders shouting out deals and the aroma of grilled meat wafting from food stalls, they found a modest inn nestled between a teahouse and a potion vendor.
The sign above the door creaked with every breeze, the paint half-faded, but it had a quiet charm that suggested a kind of forgotten reliability.
Inside, the air shifted—cooler, calmer, with the soft scent of lavender and old wood.
The light was dim, but warm enough not to feel unwelcome.
Noah stepped up to the front counter, where an old man stood polishing a ceramic cup that looked like it had seen a few decades of service.
His posture was straight despite the years, and there was a calm sharpness in his eyes, like someone who had mastered the art of waiting.
"Greetings, player. You looking for a place to rest tonight? One gold gets you a room with two beds, plus a hot meal thrown in."
Noah glanced at the keys lined up behind him, then gave a lazy shrug.
"I only need a room with one—"
[We need two beds, Noah.]
There was a beat. The thought clicked in his mind, a little late, like a cartwheel turning just slightly out of sync.
"You mean to say you're not stuck forever in sparkle-orb mode and can actually switch back to your pretty but emotionally-dead human form?"
[At this rate, I'm considering asking for separate rooms altogether…]