Chapter 20 - The Newbie Adventurer

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Leo turned and saw Amanda walking out of the bathroom. He always told her not to casually walk naked when he was around, but she was just too stubborn. He had given up and adjusted accordingly. Still, Amanda's body was gorgeous—the word perfect seemed underwhelming. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, and despite being wrapped in a towel, droplets of water trickled down her arms and legs.

The towel seemed too small for her figure, barely covering her breasts and thighs. As she walked, the slit of the towel almost displayed her soul. Leo sighed, feeling the familiar mix of frustration and admiration. He went to his belongings and retrieved a change of clothes. "I'm a gentleman, Amanda, but you can't blame me if I lose control one day," he muttered, walking past her toward the bathroom.

Amanda's eyes were half-closed, still waking up. Leo's words didn't fully register as she continued to walk towards her bedside, her movements slow and unhurried. Leo shook his head, trying to push away the thoughts that her appearance conjured up. Suddenly, he felt a blush creeping up his cheeks, his ears warm as a newly baked bread. He closed the bathroom door behind him and splashed cold water on his face.

Leo came out and saw Amanda fully dressed. He went to his bedside and retrieved his adventurer card. He was about to ask Amanda out so they could eat and plan their day when he remembered the underwear they bought her yesterday. He didn't want people feasting their eyes over her. He looked at her, trying to check if she wore them. She's too stubborn, he thought.

Amanda caught him looking at her and smiled mischievously. Without warning, she lifted her shirt slightly, her breasts bouncing a little with the movement, showing him that she was indeed wearing the underwear. The sight made Leo's heart race. "I wore it," she said, grinning. "And I have to thank the girl at the shop for taking the time to teach me how to use them."

Leo was shocked and quickly averted his gaze, his face turning crimson. "Don't casually do that either," he said, flustered.

She laughed, a melodic sound that filled the room, and teased him more. "Do you also want to see if I wore it below too?" she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Leo's eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "Stop teasing me!" as he ran towards the door. His heart was pounding, and he felt a mix of embarrassment and amusement.

Amanda's laughter echoed behind him as she called out, "I'll never forget wearing them from now on since it's your gift to me." Her voice was warm, and Leo could feel her affection through her words.

A smile lingered on Leo's face as he turned back to her. "Let's grab a bite outside," he said, trying to compose himself.

Amanda nodded, still chuckling softly, and they headed out together. The early morning sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow on the bustling streets. As they walked, Leo couldn't help but steal glances at Amanda, who seemed to be glowing with happiness.

The market was lively with vendors calling out their wares, the aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meat filling the air. They found a small food stall that looked inviting and sat down to enjoy a hearty breakfast.

In the middle of their meal, Amanda asked Leo about his plans for the day. He nodded, realizing he had almost forgotten. "I'll visit the guild center to check if there are any available quests I can take on," he said.

Amanda smiled and shared her plans as well. "I'll be visiting some old friends," she said. Leo nodded and then asked her if she could look for a house afterward. Her excitement was palpable as she eagerly agreed, saying she would ask around.

After finishing their meal, they agreed to meet back at the inn before sunset. As Leo walked towards the guild center, he was once again captivated by the shops and establishments in the capital. He passed by bustling markets, armor, and weapon shops gleaming with finely crafted items, alchemist stores filled with exotic herbs, and vibrant food stalls with a tantalizing array of treats.

One shop caught his eye—a potion shop. He remembered that he needed to check the price of great potions. Entering the shop, he was greeted by rows of shelves stocked with various materials and tools for potion-making. Several ready-made potions in different shapes and sizes were displayed across the room.

Approaching the desk, Leo noticed the man behind it—a bit old, with a haughty air. His eyes bore a disdainful look, and he seemed to regard Leo as more of a nuisance than a customer.

"How much does a great potion cost?" Leo asked politely.

The man sneered, his expression barely masking his contempt. "A great potion would just be wasted on a level 1 adventurer like you. Even completing several quests would only allow you to buy two or three potions," he replied arrogantly.

Leo tried to explain, "A friend of mine gave me some, so I was just asking."

The man's demeanor didn't change. "I won't buy your potions, boy. You're just wasting my time," he said dismissively.

Leo felt a twinge of irritation but kept his composure. "I'm not selling," he said firmly. "I just wanted to know the price."

The man sighed, clearly annoyed. "Fine, a great potion costs around 10 gold coins," he said curtly. "Now go away, you're ruining my day."

Leo thanked him and left the shop, his mind buzzing with the information.

In his mind, Leo acknowledged that the merchant was correct—great potions weren't meant for beginners. However, the man's rude attitude left a sour taste. Determined not to let it bother him, he made his way to the guild center.

The guild center was busy as ever with activity. Adventurers of all ranks and races crowded the area, forming lines at the quest board, chatting amongst themselves, and trading stories of their recent adventures. The noise level was high, with the clatter of armor, the hum of conversations, and the occasional outburst of laughter.

Leo pushed through the crowd and scanned the quest board for an E-ranked quest. The board was swamped with adventurers, making it difficult to get a clear view. He managed to catch glimpses of various quests but was limited to a small section due to the throng of people. Frustrated, he pulled away and decided to wait from a distance, hoping the crowd would thin out. However, after ten minutes, the crowd only seemed to grow larger.

Susan, noticing his plight, called out to him. "Leo! What seems to be the problem?" she asked as she approached.

Leo explained his dilemma, and Susan glanced at the quest board, understanding his frustration. "You should try to be here earlier if you want to get an E-ranked quest. There are more E-rank adventurers, so those quests go quickly," she advised.

"Oh," Leo replied, realizing he hadn't taken that into account.

Seeing his disappointment, Susan offered another piece of advice. "You can still level up and earn rewards by hunting monsters. Quests are more profitable since they offer proper rewards, but you can also sell your loot at the guild."

"How about selling it directly to merchants?" Leo asked, curious about the alternatives.

Susan nodded. "That's also an option, but merchants will buy them at the cheapest price. They need to make a profit too," she explained.

Leo nodded, thinking about the reality of making money. "That makes sense."

Susan smiled warmly. "Just keep at it. You'll get the hang of it. Be here early tomorrow, and you'll have a better chance at getting a quest."

"Thank you, Susan," Leo said, genuinely grateful for her advice. He bid her farewell and promised to be earlier the next day.


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