Ethan spent the last week chipping away at farming quests, methodically collecting vegetables, clearing terrain, and earning small rewards for his efforts. Each new task brought him closer to the goal. Research. The drudgery barely fazed him; after all, he’d already walked this path once.


    This morning, a quest window had appeared, confirming he was finally on track:


    <Farming Quest>


    Find the lost animals of the farm


    <ul>


    <li>Sheep: 0/5</li>


    <li>Goat: 0/5</li>


    <li>Shepherd Dog: 0/1


    Reward: Cover of a Mysterious Skill Book. 100 Gold.</li>


    </ul>


    Ethan smirked at the notification. “Here it comes,” he muttered. “The first real obstacle for this build.”


    But he wasn’t na?ve. He’d need better gear and skills before tackling it. The farm could wait.


    <h4>At the Armory</h4>


    The wooden door creaked as Ethan stepped into the dimly lit armory. The air smelled of oil and heated metal, a hint of something faintly acrid hanging in the corners. Weapons lined the walls—gleaming swords, sleek bows, and wickedly curved daggers—all neatly organized and practically daring someone to choose wrong.


    Behind the counter, a burly man polished a steel blade with steady hands. Livan Ironsmith. His bald head gleamed faintly in the torchlight, and the broad leather apron he wore looked more ceremonial than practical—there was no shirt beneath it, only skin darkened by soot and old scars.


    Ethan hesitated, watching the man silently for a moment. He startled me in the game, but now... He’s downright intimidating in person.


    Livan’s sharp gaze cut through the silence, pinning Ethan in place as if assessing his worth.


    “You gonna stare all day, kid, or are you buying something?”


    Recovering quickly, Ethan stepped forward, his voice calm. “I need a sword. Decent, within 1000 gold.”


    Livan set down the sword he’d been cleaning and leaned forward on the counter. “A thousand gold, huh?” His intense stare didn’t waver. “At best, you’re looking at a C-Rank normal sword... or maybe a D-Rank katana. That’s your budget’s limit.”


    Ethan kept his face neutral, but inside, something twisted. A lie. A C-Rank sword barely scraped 700 gold. This guy thinks I’m an easy mark.


    He leaned forward slightly, meeting Livan’s glare with a small, knowing smile that sent an involuntary shiver through the smith. “Maybe I wasn’t clear,” Ethan said smoothly. “I want a real sword. Something worth the effort. How about the Soul Sword?”


    For the first time, Livan blinked, his confident smirk faltering into surprise. Then, unexpectedly, he barked out a laugh. “Hah! Been a long time since I had someone in here who knew their stuff. Wait here, brat.”


    Livan disappeared through a rear door, returning moments later with a weapon that seemed to breathe.


    The Soul Sword. Its hilt glinted faintly in the dim light, the pommel set with a crimson gem shaped like an eye that almost seemed to blink. Its blade shimmered faintly, the faint tendrils of ghostly mist trailing its edge.


    “Take a look,” Livan said, setting it down. As Ethan approached, a window flashed:


    <Weapon Info>


    Name: Soul Sword


    Rank: C-Rank


    Unique Skill: Soul Gathering [???] Lv1: For every hit, gain souls based on damage. Souls enhance your level for a limited time.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    <Hidden Quest>


    Gather 100 souls to unlock weapon potential.


    Progress: 0/100


    Reward: Soul Stone Upgrade.


    Ethan nodded, impressed despite himself. “Exactly what I need,” he muttered.


    He handed over the gold and moved to leave, but Livan stopped him with a gruff chuckle. “Hey, brat,” he said, his tone unusually serious. “One more thing—don’t trust people who look like they’d never betray you.”


    Ethan paused, glancing over his shoulder. He said nothing but gave a quick, dismissive wave before stepping into the street. Was that just a warning? Anyways i''ll keep that in mind.


    Stepping out of the armory, Ethan inhaled sharply, the cool air biting against his skin after the warm haze of the smithy. The faint clang of a distant blacksmith’s hammer echoed through the street, mingling with the murmur of players and NPCs bartering at nearby shops. He adjusted his grip on the Soul Sword’s sheath, his gaze scanning the town’s uneven cobblestones.


    And then he saw him.


    A figure stood near the fountain, tall and familiar, the sunlight glinting off his spear. Ethan froze, his pulse quickening as he stared. Anthony.


    No way.


    It had been a long time  since Ethan had seen him. The recognition stirred something uneasy within him, both relief and hesitation. He wasn’t the same person anymore, and neither, Ethan imagined, was Anthony.


    Still, instincts prevailed. Before taking another step, he murmured, “Check status.”


    Name: Anthony Hellspear


    Rank: C


    Class: Spear Warrior(2nd tier warrior)


    Weapon: B-Rank Spear


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Calmness [B] Lv4: Grants composure during tense situations.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Javelin(Class skill) [B] Lv2: Allows the user to throw their spear for extra damage and recall it up to 12 meters.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Lie Detection [A] Lv1: Detects untruths three times daily.</li>


    </ul>


    Ethan frowned at the last skill. Lie Detection. The words lingered in his mind, like a warning in Livan’s gruff voice: “Don’t trust the people who look like they’d never betray you.”


    He clenched his fists briefly, forcing the unease aside. If Anthony truly was here, it was worth the risk to see if some part of their bond remained intact.


    “Hey, Tony,” Ethan called as he approached. “How have you been?”


    Anthony turned, his eyes narrowing slightly in surprise before recognition lit them up. A small grin spread across his face. “Wait... Ethan? Is that really you?” He chuckled softly, lowering the tip of his spear to the ground. “Man, it’s been a long time. I’m doing as fine as I can be in this mess of a game. How about you?”


    Ethan hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. “Fine.” He gestured vaguely to the sword at his side. “Just doing some quests. Bought a new weapon today.”


    Anthony nodded, studying him briefly, his grin softening. “Looks like you’re giving it everything you’ve got. That’s good.” His voice grew quieter, more serious. “Do you have some time to catch up? Feels like forever since we last talked.”


    Ethan’s grip on the sword tightened unconsciously. He glanced at Anthony’s status window again, his eyes lingering on Lie Detection.


    Even though we’re friends, Ethan thought warily, I’m not telling him about my skill. Livan’s tip wasn’t meant to be ignored.


    “Not today,” he replied, shaking his head. “I’ve got a lot on my plate. This week’s already packed, and I need to finish something important.”


    Anthony’s smile wavered for a moment before he nodded slowly. “I get it. It’s just... been a while, you know? Let’s talk when you’re free.”


    “Yeah, next time,” Ethan said with a faint wave as he turned to leave.


    He felt Anthony’s gaze on his back as he walked away, his thoughts swirling. The temptation to stop and reconnect, to just talk like they used to, gnawed at him. But trust was a luxury he couldn’t afford, not here. Not anymore.