Upon entering the City of Stars, the buzz of people’s voices was endless.

As I looked up, towering skyscrapers that seemed to touch the sky stretched high above me.

Colorful signs captured my attention.

The streets were like a maze, and if I had been alone, I definitely would have gotten lost.

As I followed the guard’s lead, looking around like someone who had just arrived from the countryside, he gave me a quiet warning.

"When sightseeing, never enter the back alleys."

"Why not?"

"They're extremely dangerous."

Where there is light, there is also darkness.

A dark shadow lurked on one side of the city.

The rotten stench from the piles of garbage in the back alleys assaulted my nose, and I could feel eyes on me.

We walked for what seemed like quite a while, following the guard, when we arrived at a building that was far more grand than any others I had seen.

Inside, a magnificent chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the hotel lobby was packed with people.

"This is the 'Luna,' the finest hotel in the City of Stars."

After talking to the staff at the hotel desk, the receptionist gave me a surprised look.

I thanked the guard for escorting me, and he smiled and left.

As I approached the receptionist, they handed me the room key without hesitation.

"How much does the room cost?"

"As a VVIP guest, everything is, of course, free of charge. Please feel free to use all of our facilities."

"What? But still..."

"Please, we insist!"

The receptionist was practically begging on the verge of bowing, so I quickly thanked them and moved along.

This was my first time in such a situation, and it made me feel incredibly awkward.

Using the magic device, I arrived on the 19th floor and placed the room key against the door. With a ‘click,’ it opened.

Inside, an enormous room awaited me—unlike anything I had ever seen before.

It was so spacious that even a luxury suite would pale in comparison.

Elegant designs and lavish decorations adorned the interior.

The massive bed looked so large I could roll around on it, and the window blinds automatically opened to reveal a breathtaking view of the city.

Looking down from such a high floor, I could see the beautiful town below.

They said the night sky here was stunning, didn’t they?

But before that... I’m hungry.

As I rummaged through the drawers, I found a familiar refrigerator, and inside it was packed with food.

I pulled out a sandwich and ate while gazing at the cityscape, when I heard a cute sound from beside me.

"Kyuung."

"Oh, right. Just a moment."

I took out a magic stone and handed it to Yongyongi, who happily devoured it.

As I watched him eat, I checked my inventory and realized I was running low on magic stones.

Looks like I’ll need to gather more soon.

To do that, I’ll have to take on some quests, right?

The guard told me not to go into the back alleys earlier, but something about that seems suspicious.

I’ve read in novels before that back alleys are often filled with event quests.

There could be assassin guilds, information brokers, or even black markets.

With so many potential events, how can I resist? There's no way I can pass this up.

But for today, I’m too tired. I’ll go tomorrow.

Sitting in the chair by the window, I stared blankly at the sky.

The setting sun quickly gave way to a dark night sky filled with countless stars.

As I admired the beautiful night sky, I heard another cute sound.

"Kyuung."

"Already finished?"

I pulled out another magic stone from my inventory and handed it to Yongyongi, who ate it joyfully. Looks like I’ll need to work hard to keep feeding him.

Starting tomorrow.

The next morning, I logged into the game and rose from the hotel bed, only to be greeted by Yongyongi's cute voice asking for breakfast.

I took out a magic stone from my inventory, but I was in serious trouble now.

I had no magic stones left.

"Yongyongi, Dad's going to work hard and make sure you’re fed well."

"Kyuung?"

"Hmm? You’re asking if I’m Mom? Well, it’s... complicated."

"Kyuung?"

"I’ll explain later. Let’s head out for now."

To earn money for Yongyongi’s food, I left the hotel and headed toward the back alleys.

As soon as I entered, the foul smell and the feeling of being watched hit me.

Just as I was about to venture deeper, someone spoke.

"Turn back."

I turned to the direction of the voice and saw an old man crouched down, holding a sword, staring at me.

"Are you worried about me?"

"It’s not too late. Go back while you still can."

As he said that, he stood up and chased away a thug who had been sneaking up behind me.

At that moment, the old man coughed up blood.

"Are you sick?"

"I’ve lived long enough. Don’t worry about me—worry about yourself."

As the old man turned to leave, I grabbed his sleeve. He turned his head to look at me.

I pulled out a potion I had received as a quest reward from my inventory.

[Elixir] A potion that cures various ailments and abnormal statuses.

"Please drink this. It’s good for your health."

"T-this is..."

"It’s a token of my gratitude for saving me! Take care!"

I handed the potion to him, bowed my head, and walked away.

The red potion the young girl had handed me.

It was the Elixir I had been searching for all this time.

Though they say it’s made from dragon’s blood, that’s not true.

I had finally given up hope after a long search.

‘It seems the goddess of fate still has use for me.’

As soon as I opened the Elixir and drank it, I felt a change within me.

The core, which had been frozen by a curse, began to move.

As the core stirred, mana flowed through my body, revealing a new world to me.

The wall I had hit as a master crumbled, and I began to sense things I had never felt before.

At that moment, a group of thugs, known for their human trafficking, appeared from the shadows.

"Hey, old man. I heard you’ve been messing with our business."

Threatening me with swords, they advanced, but I drew a sword I hadn’t touched in ages.

[Durandal] The sword that brings justice to evil.

The scum around me turned to dust and scattered.

"I owe a debt I could never repay."

I pulled out a crystal from my pocket and crushed it.

As the dust cleared, a group of knights, draped in black cloaks symbolizing the Black Knight Order, emerged in the alley.

The Black Knight Order—one of the most powerful knight orders in the Avalon Empire.

The knights knelt on one knee and pledged their loyalty to their master.

"The Black Knight Order greets Duke Adonis Ether of the Ether Duchy!"

As I sheathed Durandal, I looked in the direction the girl had disappeared and spoke.

"Let’s return."

"At once!"

This was the moment when Adonis Ether, the master of the holy sword and one of the ten masters, known as the Empire’s First Sword, returned to the Avalon Empire.

[You have bestowed great favor upon Duke Adonis Ether!] You may receive a reward upon visiting the Ether Duchy in the capital of the Avalon Empire.

[The Ether Duchy will be a steadfast ally to the Traveler forever.]

"What is this now?"

A message popped up while I was wandering through the back alleys.

I didn’t understand the message, but that wasn’t the priority right now.

No matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find a red or blue door anywhere.

From what I’ve read in novels, those are usually the entrances to information guild hideouts.

After wandering around for quite some time, I finally found a red door and knocked.

Knock knock. Knock knock.

After two quick knocks, the door opened.

"What’s your business?"

"Information."

After sizing me up, the man allowed me in when I gave the correct passphrase.

Inside, he led me down a staircase.

As I descended, I couldn’t help but wonder.

Why is this working...?

I’m just imitating a scene from the novel The Youngest Daughter of the Assassin House—so why is it actually working...?

At the bottom of the stairs, there was another door.

It was made of thick iron, and the man struggled to open it.

Inside, a beautiful woman with an alluring atmosphere greeted me, her ample chest adding to her captivating appearance.

"What brings a little miss like you here?"

"I’m looking for work."

"Why don’t you have a seat first?"

As I sat across from her, she served warm tea and delicious-looking cookies.

I took a sip of the tea—it had a nice aroma.

[Unique Trait: Instinct of Protection (保護本能) has neutralized the poison.]

A message suddenly appeared.

It popped up the moment I drank the tea.

Does that mean...?

"Was there poison in the tea?"

"Oh my, how did you know? It’s colorless and odorless, so you shouldn’t have been able to tell."

The beautiful woman smiled brightly as she looked at me.

Her appearance didn’t match the situation at all...

"Hmm, I’ll forgive you this time since you’re a guest. But, you didn’t come in using the usual method that our VIPs use."

"....."

It seems I’ve made a big mistake.

But this is how it went in the novel, wasn’t it!?

"I’ll ask you directly. Who told you about us?"

Her previously bright smile was gone, replaced by a cold stare.

I had the feeling that saying the wrong thing here would be disastrous.

Sorry, old man!

"I heard it from the old man in the alley."

"Well, that makes sense."

Wait, it does?