"You said you've seen the Jungle Heavy Lizard King before, right?" Saya asked Mysterious.

"Mm, I have," Mysterious nodded. That peculiar-feeling lizard left a deep impression on him.

"I hope you can drive it away," Saya continued, seeing him nod. "If anyone can do it, it might be you."

"Drive it away?" Mysterious didn't question being asked to face an 11th-level boss monster. Instead, he focused on the unusual wording.

Usually, quests like this used terms like "kill" or "eliminate." Gentle words like "drive away" were rare.

"Yes, drive it away," Saya nodded. "Once it takes enough damage, it should retreat far from the village."

"Why?" Mysterious had assumed the Jungle Heavy Lizard King was harming the village. But Saya's expression suggested she wanted to protect it.

"After Adventurers arrived here, it's no longer safe for it," Saya sighed. "Though that child's power is top-tier, enough Adventurers could still kill it."

"..." Mysterious, as an Adventurer, stayed silent.

If he survived the Lizard King's ultimate, Mysterious was confident he could kill it. Even ordinary players could swarm it to death with numbers. After all, no matter how strong, it was just a boss-level monster. Even lord-level bosses would fall someday.

"I can help bridge the power gap," Saya added, seeing his silence. "If successful, I'll upgrade your Elite Proof again."

She handed him the scale in her hand.

[Dragon's Might Special Item (Quest Item)

A scale from a Mighty Dragon. Though its dragon aura is nearly gone, it still intimidates all sub-dragon species.

Passive Effect: Ignores level disparity against sub-dragon species. Attacks deal +20% attack power damage, ignoring defense.]

Mysterious raised an eyebrow at the scale's attributes—he'd thought it was from the Lizard King or its parents.

In games and stories, dragons were top-tier beings. Anything dragon-related wasn't ordinary. Sub-dragon species, though far weaker than true dragons, outclassed same-level monsters due to their bloodline.

Since Saya lent this [Dragon's Might], it meant the Jungle Heavy Lizard King was a sub-dragon species... Mysterious hadn't expected dragon elements in BeginnerVillage.

"Alright, I accept," Mysterious nodded after a brief thought.

He could normally kill the Lizard King—he just couldn't handle its ultimate. Saya's words suggested it wouldn't reach that point.

[Accepted Quest: Saya's Worry (Nightmare)]

After leaving Saya's house, Mysterious headed to the blacksmith shop.

Though Qiu Xia told him to return at level 10, he'd first gotten the quest from Blacksmith Hu. So he went there.

At the shop, he found Qiu Xia with Blacksmith Hu. Few players visited her tailor shop—low levels meant less armor demand, and she had an apprentice.

"Nameless One, you're back," Qiu Xia spotted him first, surprise flickering on her face. "You're already level 10?"

No one else was inside, so she didn't lower her voice.

On the game's second day—technically first—most players were level 4 or 5. Few hit level 6. Mysterious's level 10 would shock people. Many would call him a cheater or bug-abuser.

But calling him a human cheat code wasn't wrong.

"Huh? Level 10... what?! You're level 10?!" Blacksmith Hu rushed out from the forge room, mirroring Qiu Xia's shock. "Elite Proof... of course you got it."

Mysterious showed no joy. To him, it was normal. With better innate stats, he'd have reached this sooner.

"Yes," he nodded calmly. "What did you need me for at level 10?"

"We have a request... you can handle it," Qiu Xia began. "South of the village, a canyon holds a Gale Wolf King. It has the Holy Light Heart. Retrieve it and give it to Vivian."

"Huh? Vivian?" Mysterious paused. He knew her—the mine woman who gave him the ring—but why give her a Light-aligned item?

Vivian was clearly Dark or Undead faction. Why give her the Holy Light Heart?

Sensing his doubt, Qiu Xia explained.

"You wonder why give it to Vivian, an undead mage? Before necromancy, she was the Temple of Light's Holy Maiden. Our teammate against Demon remnants... No one mastered Holy Light arts like her."

"Why turn to necromancy?" Mysterious recalled. Vivian didn't seem power-hungry.

In [EndlessHorizon], players chose Light or Dark Faction at start. The Temple of Light led the Light side. Its Holy Maiden held high status. Without craving power, why abandon that?

"During a mission, Vivian's lover was cursed by Demons, his life fading. Her Holy Light arts failed. Necromancy offered a cure... so she risked studying it."

"The Temple of Light couldn't allow their Holy Maiden to betray Light for dark magic. They captured her. But her fame meant scandal. So they sealed her here, claiming she died accidentally."

Blacksmith Hu sighed deeply, face twisted in self-mockery.

"Once, we were the Seven Heroes Who Sealed Demons, feared by Demons. Yet before the Temple, we were powerless. Watching our comrade sealed... how laughable."

Qiu Xia patted his shoulder silently, then turned to Mysterious.

"Temple spies watch us. We couldn't visit Vivian until you brought that ring. The seal harms her undead power. After years... we don't know how long she'll last."

"We need you to get the Holy Light Heart... Vivian's own Holy Light power, extracted when sealed. It might reduce her pain."

Qiu Xia bowed to him.

"Well..." Mysterious almost spoke, then changed his mind. "No problem. I accept."

[Accepted Quest: Former Comrade (Nightmare)]

He'd wanted to say "Vivian's fine"—she seemed spirited when he saw her. But they wouldn't believe it.

Just outside the shop, his private chat pinged.

Melodic Moon: ???

Nameless One: ...

Melodic Moon: God, you're level 10? Did I misread?

Nameless One: No.

Melodic Moon: Oh god, I see you.

Mysterious scanned the area, spotting Melodic Moon running over alone.

"Morning, god~" she waved.

"It's noon... and sleeping four hours is fine?" he replied.

"No problem! I'm energetic. Your level's so high—we'll never catch up if we slack," she grinned.

"Good luck. I have errands," Mysterious nodded, heading off. He had two [Nightmare] quests: one against an 11th-level boss, the other likely worse.

"Going after the Gale Wolf King?" Melodic Moon blinked.

"How do you know?" Mysterious stopped, puzzled.

"Forum posts say a badly injured Gale Wolf King appeared—a level 10 boss, hurt fighting other monsters. Everyone's hunting it for easy loot... Highest-level monster in BeginnerVillage. Snagging it means instant riches."

"Aren't you going?" Few resisted such temptation.

"Nah, luck-based. I've no luck," she waved. "Better grind monsters. But you'll snag it! Show me the gear later, okay?"

"I'm doing it for a quest—" Mysterious cut himself off.

"Seemingly hurt fighting other monsters"... He recalled the Jungle Heavy Lizard King's wounds.

"Wait. I need to confirm something," he said, sprinting back to the blacksmith shop.

"That Holy Light Heart—what does it look like?"

Mysterious directly asked Qiu Xia.

"Hmm..." After hearing Mysterious's question, Qiu Xia thought for a moment, then reached out and gestured.

"About this big—a round ball glowing with white light."

"..."