Morning in Briar's Hollow began the same way it did in most small towns.
Merchants opened their shops.
Farmers pushed carts of vegetables through the streets.
Blacksmiths hammered glowing metal while muttering about idiots who chipped swords on goblin skulls.
And in one particular tavern…
People were gossiping.
Loudly.
---
Inside The Hungry Hare, the bartender wiped down a mug while listening to two adventurers argue.
"I'm telling you," one said, leaning forward over the table, "the new guy dropped three Black Vipers like they were sacks of grain."
The other snorted.
"Yeah right."
"I was there!"
"With magic?"
"No!"
"With a sword?"
"No!"
The first man slammed his hand on the table.
"With his damn fists!"
The table went quiet.
Then someone laughed.
"Bullshit."
"No really! Big guy! Black hair! Looks like he eats bricks for breakfast!"
At the counter, the waitress from yesterday—Freya—rolled her eyes.
"That part's accurate."
---
Across town…
The Adventurer's Guild doors swung open.
Ryuji Kuroda walked in stretching his arms.
"Morning, violent workplace."
The guild hall was already busy.
Adventurers crowded the tables.
Some eating breakfast.
Some arguing about contracts.
Some still passed out from last night.
Ryuji inhaled deeply.
"Ah."
"Smells like bad decisions."
He walked toward the quest board.
But halfway there—
People started staring.
One adventurer whispered.
"That's him."
Another leaned forward.
"The thug guy?"
"The one who beat the Black Vipers."
Ryuji scratched his ear.
"…That spread fast."
Behind the counter, Mira adjusted her glasses.
She had already heard.
Several people had come in this morning talking about it.
Apparently a "huge lunatic punching criminals in a tavern" was exciting news in a small town.
She watched him carefully.
"Strange man…"
---
Ryuji approached the quest board.
Dozens of parchments hung there.
Goblin patrols.
Lost livestock.
Escort missions.
Monster hunts.
He hummed thoughtfully.
"Alright."
"What looks punchable today?"
Before he could grab a quest—
A voice spoke behind him.
"You're the rookie."
Ryuji turned.
A tall adventurer stood there.
Leather armor.
Long sword at his hip.
Messy brown hair and the kind of smirk that screamed I start fights for fun.
He looked Ryuji up and down.
"So you're the guy beating up gangs with your bare hands."
Ryuji shrugged.
"They asked nicely."
The man chuckled.
"Name's Torven."
Ryuji nodded.
"Ryuji."
Torven folded his arms.
"You caused a lot of noise yesterday."
"That tends to happen when people threaten bartenders."
Torven leaned closer.
"You think you're tough?"
Ryuji tilted his head.
"…You flirting with me?"
Several nearby adventurers burst out laughing.
Torven's face twitched.
"I'm serious."
"Me too."
Ryuji cracked his neck.
"You got a point or are we measuring egos?"
Torven's smile turned sharp.
"Let's see if you can fight someone who knows how to throw a punch."
Ryuji glanced around.
Half the guild hall was already watching.
He sighed.
"Man."
"Why does every fantasy world have the same idiots?"
Torven stepped forward.
"Scared?"
Ryuji grinned.
"No."
"I'm bored."
---
The tavern brawl started five seconds later.
Not because anyone planned it.
Just because Torven threw the first punch.
A fast one.
Aimed straight at Ryuji's jaw.
Ryuji leaned back.
The fist missed by an inch.
He whistled.
"Nice speed."
Torven swung again.
This time Ryuji stepped inside the punch.
Then drove his elbow into Torven's ribs.
CRACK.
A system notification flashed.
---
Street Brawler Lv.1 Activated
+10% Unarmed Damage
---
Torven grunted and stumbled back.
Ryuji blinked.
"Oh?"
"That's new."
Torven growled.
"You think that hurt?"
Ryuji shrugged.
"Little."
The adventurer rushed forward again.
Sword hand twitching toward his weapon.
Big mistake.
Ryuji grabbed his wrist.
Twisted.
Then drove a punch straight into Torven's stomach.
THUD.
The air exploded out of the man's lungs.
---
Torven takes 24 damage
---
The guild erupted.
"OH SHIT!"
"He hit him!"
Torven staggered back.
Face red.
Eyes furious.
"You bastard!"
He lunged again.
Wild.
Angry.
Sloppy.
Ryuji sighed.
"Amateur hour."
He sidestepped.
Then delivered a clean uppercut.
CRACK.
Torven lifted off the floor.
And crashed into a table.
Wood splintered.
Ale mugs exploded.
The entire guild hall went silent.
Torven groaned on the ground.
Unconscious.
Ryuji flexed his fingers.
"Huh."
"Skill works pretty good."
---
Someone started clapping.
Then another.
Then half the guild.
A big dwarf laughed loudly.
"HA! Kid dropped him like a sack of potatoes!"
Another adventurer shook his head.
"Torven's gonna be pissed when he wakes up."
Freya the waitress leaned over the counter.
"You break my tables again and I'm charging you."
Ryuji pointed at Torven.
"Send the bill to him."
---
Behind the reception desk…
Mira stared at Ryuji.
Her pen slowly tapped against the desk.
"…Impossible."
She flipped open the guild registry.
Ryuji Kuroda.
Level recorded yesterday: 1.
She watched the fight carefully.
The speed.
The strength.
The control.
That wasn't level one.
Not even close.
"…What are you?"
---
Meanwhile Ryuji rolled his shoulders.
"Well."
"That woke me up."
A blue window appeared.
---
Victory Achieved
Opponent Defeated
EXP +40
---
Warm energy surged through him.
His body felt lighter again.
Stronger.
He stretched his arms.
"Man."
"I could get used to this leveling thing."
Another notification appeared.
---
Stat Points Awarded
Available Points: 5
---
Ryuji grinned.
"Oh hell yeah."
He mentally opened the status screen.
---
Strength: 17
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 16
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 8
Luck: 20
Stat Points Available: 5
---
He rubbed his chin.
"Alright…"
"Let's make punching things easier."
He dumped three points into Strength.
Two into Constitution.
The numbers shifted.
---
Strength: 20
Constitution: 18
---
Ryuji cracked his knuckles.
"Oh that feels good."
It felt like someone had just tightened every muscle in his body.
Power flowed through his arms.
He looked down at his fists.
"Yeah."
"Definitely stronger."
---
Torven groaned on the floor.
Ryuji crouched beside him.
"Hey."
Torven's eyes cracked open.
"You alive?"
"…I hate you."
"Fair."
Ryuji stood.
"Try punching less next time."
The guild laughed.
---
Mira finally stood up.
"Ryuji."
Her voice cut through the room.
Everyone went quiet.
Ryuji turned.
"Yeah?"
"Come here."
He walked over casually.
She studied him closely.
"You're leveling too fast."
Ryuji blinked.
"Is that illegal?"
"No."
"But unusual."
She leaned forward slightly.
"You defeated twenty serpents."
"Yep."
"Then beat three criminals."
"Yep."
"Now an experienced adventurer."
"Yep."
She sighed.
"…Ridiculous."
Ryuji grinned.
"I'm talented."
She tapped a finger on the desk.
"Or reckless."
She pulled out a parchment.
"There's a job."
Ryuji leaned closer.
"Dangerous?"
"Yes."
"Good."
She slid the parchment across the desk.
"Goblin nest."
"Located in the western hills."
"Several adventurers refused it."
Ryuji's grin widened.
"Sounds fun."
Mira adjusted her glasses.
"If you die, it's your fault."
"Fair."
He grabbed the parchment.
"Thanks for the job."
As he turned to leave, Mira muttered quietly—
"…Let's see what you really are."
And for the first time since arriving in this world…
Ryuji Kuroda felt like the real adventure was about to start and he's ready for it.