C5 Wolves

Rinn wandered through the town, his expression growing increasingly bitter.

"What am I going to do? I've finally managed to increase my strength, but it looks like I'm homeless now. If I go back, that drunkard might just kill me."

Despite his recent level-up and significant boost in strength, Rinn wasn't confident enough to take on John.

Firstly, John was towering, with strength easily surpassing 2.8.

Secondly, after spending so much time together, Rinn couldn't shake off the instinctive fear he felt around John.

He wasn't about to pick a fight with him, not yet.

"System Boss, I did what you asked and completed the mission. Now I've gone and made John angry. Don't you think you owe me some guidance?"

Out of options, Rinn turned to the system for help.

The system responded, "The current predicament is for the host to resolve on his own."

Resolve it on his own?

Rinn's anxiety spiked. "System Boss, aren't you supposed to be my ace in the hole? Now that I really need you, why won't you offer even a hint?"

Silence followed, a prolonged and heavy silence.

"System, you're truly heartless..."

A pang of sourness crossed Rinn's face.

He had come to realize that the system was more of a trickster than he had anticipated.

"Hey, isn't that our adorable Rinn?" A voice, rich with enthusiasm, called out.

Rinn looked up to see a tall woman with a basket approaching.

She towered over Rinn, her frame twice his size, yet her face was adorned with a warm, friendly smile.

"Aunt Judy..."

Rinn recognized the woman, and in an attempt to mimic his former master's demeanor, he showed a timid smile.

Aunt Judy worked at a store on the town's west side. She was well-known for her warm hospitality and hearty laughter, a friend of his late father, and always treated Rinn with familiar kindness.

"Haha, it's been too long, Rinn. You've gotten taller and stronger—I bet your father, serving the gods in heaven, would be proud. But little Rinn, you've got to overcome that shyness of yours, or you'll never find yourself a wife."

Aunt Judy's laughter revealed a set of gleaming white teeth, exuding a robust and cheerful vibe.

"Aunt Judy... I'm not shy..."

Rinn's cheeks flushed, but inwardly he scoffed, "Worry about me getting a wife? Once I level up, I'll be off to ride dragons and make the Tulip Empress my bride!"

"Haha, not feeling shy today, Rinn? Hungry? Try Aunt Judy's latest creation, the mushroom bamboo rat pie!"

Aunt Judy refrained from further teasing and lifted the lid off her basket to reveal a green pie.

When she wasn't running her restaurant, Judy delighted in experimenting with new recipes.

Yet her infectious laughter belied a distinct lack of culinary skill.

Dishes like stewed Iron Armor Ant with Tea Tree Mushrooms, Blue Lizard Purple Sweet Potato Cake, and Purple Thistle Insect Egg Flatbread had previously left Rinn feeling less than nourished.

He was searching for an excuse to decline when he noticed a line of text beside the pie in Aunt Judy's hand.

"Judy's Mushroom Bamboo Rat Pie: Enhances fullness, increases strength by 50% for five minutes, but agility decreases by 50%. Side effects: Unknown."

Rinn blinked, rubbed his eyes, but the words remained!

"Could this be the fabled 'red medicine'?"

"Little Rinn, why the hesitation? Your stomach's growling, isn't it? Here, take the pie!"

Aunt Judy pressed the pie into Rinn's hands.

Confused, Rinn asked, "Aunt Judy, don't you see the words?"

"Words? What are you talking about, Little Rinn?"

"Nothing... It's nothing..."

Convinced Aunt Judy couldn't see the text, Rinn inquired mentally, "System Boss, is this your doing?"

The System responded, "Host, you can view the information of any character or item, provided their level isn't significantly higher than yours."

"A character, too?"

Rinn focused on Aunt Judy and silently commanded, "Check."

Instantly, a line of personal information appeared above her head: "Judy, grocery store owner, Level 5, Strength 5, Agility 1.5, Intelligence 1..."

Seeing this, Rinn's fleeting smugness vanished.

"Aunt Judy's level and stats are way beyond mine. I've got a lot of catching up to do..."

"Don't be discouraged, Host. The simplest way to boost your strength is through leveling up. Stay grounded, and becoming a hero is well within reach."

"Really?" Rinn's confidence surged as he inquired through his thoughts, "So, how do I level up?"

"Earn experience points to level up. There are numerous ways to gain experience: complete system quests, take on quests from others, hunt Devil Beasts, wild monsters, explore the Misty Map, and more. The most recommended method is hunting other players."

"Is that so?"

Rinn mulled it over; the leveling process seemed unchanged.

Yet, at the moment, none of it was easily attainable. Hunting Devil Beasts required venturing into the desolate lands outside of town. But with their vicious nature and tendency to attack without warning, it seemed perilously unsafe.

And with the system not issuing any quests currently, that option was off the table.

As for the Misty Area, the concept was still foreign to Rinn.

How was he to gain experience?

Rinn was filled with hesitation and a touch of helplessness as he thought, "System Boss, could you maybe assign me a few quests to get started on leveling up?"

The system's response was a dismissive silence.

"So stingy!"

Rinn grumbled to himself.

"Little Rinn, I've got to get back to the shop. Looking forward to our next meeting!"

Aunt Judy's laughter roused Rinn from his thoughts.

By the time he regained his bearings, Aunt Judy was already walking into the distance.

Watching her receding figure, Rinn glanced at the pie in his fingers and murmured, "Thanks for the pie, Aunt Judy."

Despite her somewhat frightening appearance, this NPC's kind nature was something Rinn truly appreciated.

"Rinn! Where are you?!"

Aunt Judy was too far to hear him, but a distant shout reached his ears.

Recognizing Master John's voice, Rinn's face paled. "Oh no, John the drunkard is on the hunt for me. I need to get out of here!"

Without a moment's pause, he bolted towards the outskirts of town.

...

After a seemingly endless run, Rinn found himself on a plain near the Rocky Mountain Range. Amid the autumn harvest, the plains were a sea of verdant weeds, a sight that brought a sense of tranquility to Rinn.

Perched on a hillside, he gazed at the pie in his hands while his stomach growled audibly.

Since waking up this morning, Rinn hadn't had a bite to eat. His long run had only intensified the complaints from his stomach.

"Should I eat it? But there could be unknown side effects..."

Rinn eyed the pie with indecision when suddenly, a distant howling seemed to echo from the far reaches of the sky.

Blessed with sharp vision, Rinn scanned the horizon and quickly spotted a pack of wild beasts charging in his direction.

The beasts had sturdy limbs and coats of snow-white fur that made them resemble hounds, yet they were larger and their fangs far more menacing.

"Snow wolves!" Rinn's eyes popped in recognition of the creatures.

Snow wolves were named for their pristine fur. They weren't Devil Beasts, just ordinary wild animals that lived near the town. Still, they posed a threat. Alone, they could fall prey to hunters, but in a pack, even hunters would flee at the mere rumor of their approach.

There were only five snow wolves, but they were sizable, likely all adults. As Rinn debated whether to flee, he noticed something peculiar.

"Huh, are those snow wolves chasing one of their own?"

Indeed, a smaller snow wolf was desperately sprinting ahead of the pack.

It resembled a sled dog from the snowy regions, with its short limbs and a face free of the savagery that marked its pursuers. It was undeniably adorable.

"Snow wolves live in packs, but they're far from harmonious. To claim the title of wolf king, the strong males battle fiercely. The victor reigns supreme, while the vanquished face death, and their offspring, persecution..."

Rinn echoed his teacher's words about the wolf packs, adding with astonishment, "Could this little one be the progeny of the Snow Wolf King? Its snowy coat and noble bearing are unmistakable. Yet, tragically, it seems doomed..."

The little snow wolf was flagging, and without intervention, the pursuing adults would inevitably catch up.

As a pang of sympathy struck Rinn, the young wolf caught sight of him, its mouth agape, calling out incessantly.

"Awoo! Awoo!"

Rinn noticed a human-like emotion flickering in the little snow wolf's black eyes.

"Its eyes are brimming with hope; it's pleading for my help... What should I do? Can I really stand by and watch it get ripped apart?"

Rinn was torn with indecision. Then, a wave of bravery swept through him.

"The system has chosen me to be the hero who defends the Eriya Continent.

There's no one else here, just this snow wolf. It's a part of Eriya too. I have every reason to protect it!"

With that thought, Rinn faced the snow wolves and commanded, "Check!"

Immediately, the stats of several snow wolves materialized before him.

"Adult snow wolf. Beast. Level 1. Strength 1.5, Agility 2.3, Intelligence 0.5..."

A glimmer of relief shone in Rinn's eyes.

"Thankfully, these creatures are only moderately powerful. Otherwise, I might regret what I was about to do..."

Pocketing the pie, Rinn scooped up two shards of stone from the ground and charged at the wolf pack.