Chương 13: Chapter 11 : A New Quest

The late morning sun bathed the streets of Paris in warm light. The chatter of pedestrians, the distant rumble of traffic, and the clinking of glasses from the café terraces blended into a constant background noise that the hero was slowly growing accustomed to. He walked a few steps behind the young woman, carefully observing the buildings lining the avenue. Since arriving in this new world, every street seemed to reveal another facet of this vast human city.

The buildings rose several stories high, shops occupied every available space, and hundreds of people appeared to be pursuing invisible goals with a determination that reminded him of the great capitals of his former kingdom before a military campaign. Yet despite all this activity, he sensed no immediate danger. No one carried weapons. No guards patrolled in armor. People moved about with a confidence that was almost unimaginable to someone who had spent his entire life defending borders under constant attack.

Emma pointed out several buildings while explaining their purpose. A bank kept people's money safe. City Hall issued essential documents. Some government offices handled identification, while others managed taxes or citizens' rights. In his mind, all of these institutions formed the various guilds that governed this kingdom. Understanding their roles meant learning the customs of a new empire, and he knew that no hero could hope to protect a people without first understanding how their society worked.

△ MAIN QUEST △ Acquire a Home Difficulty: A Time Limit: 7 Days Rewards • +1 Level • Housing Knowledge • New Feature Unlock △ FAILURE △ Unknown Aldric's gaze remained fixed on the final line for several long seconds. Failure: Unknown. Ever since he had become a hero, the system had always stated the consequences of failure with absolute clarity. A city destroyed. Innocent lives lost. A demonic invasion.

This time, however, it refused to specify what would happen if he failed to complete his mission within the allotted time. That lack of information troubled him far more than an openly stated threat. If the system saw no need to explain the consequences, perhaps it was because they were obvious or because they were beyond anything he could still imagine. He read every line once more before slowly closing his fist. Seven days. Exactly one week to establish what the system called a Home.

In his world, a hero never owned a simple house. He was granted a fortress, a bastion, or a citadel capable of sheltering his companions and serving as the base for future campaigns. Even though the dwellings of this era seemed surprisingly small, Aldric naturally interpreted this quest as the acquisition of his first headquarters in this new kingdom. Every adventure needed a starting point. Every company needed a refuge. The system had merely reminded him of that simple truth. Emma continued her explanation.

"Are you listening to me?" Aldric looked up at her.

"Yes."

"I was just explaining that some of these procedures take several weeks."

"We only have seven days."

"Seven days for what?" Aldric hesitated for a brief moment. The people of this world seemed unable to see the system windows. He had noticed this several times already and had no desire to complicate the conversation any further.

"To complete my mission." Emma sighed.

"You still think in terms of quests."

"Because this is one."

"Of course it is." They resumed walking. Meanwhile, Aldric was already reorganizing the priorities of this new campaign in his mind. Obtain an identity. Understand modern currency. Find a source of income. Earn the trust of those responsible for housing. Each of these had become a secondary objective leading him one step closer to the final fortress. The more he thought about it, the clearer the system's logic became. The dungeons had simply changed shape.

The monsters had vanished, replaced by paperwork, contracts, and administrative regulations. The challenge was just as real, even if it required completely different weapons. When they reached a metro entrance, Emma stopped.

"I need to get back to work. I still have several appointments this afternoon." Aldric studied the entrance to the tunnel before turning his attention back to the young woman.

"You have already given me a great deal of your time. Thank you."

"You're welcome." She was about to head down the stairs when Aldric glanced at the system window one last time. The countdown had begun. Every hour that passed reduced his chances of completing the quest before the deadline. He immediately realized that only one person currently possessed the knowledge necessary to help him obtain this so-called fortress.

"Emma." She turned around.

"Yes?"

"You are the foremost expert on dwellings in this city."

"That's... one way to describe my job."

"Then you are the person best qualified to lead this mission." Emma immediately realized where this conversation was heading. Stolen story; please report.

"Aldric..."

"I will return to your guild as soon as possible so that we may continue this quest." Less than an hour later, Aldric returned to the real estate agency. The countdown displayed by the system remained constantly at the forefront of his mind, and every passing minute reminded him that the main quest could not be postponed until tomorrow. In his former world, a commander never delayed a strategic mission simply because it seemed difficult.

The harder the objective, the more important it was to act quickly, gather information, and prepare the ground. The fortress he needed to acquire might not be surrounded by walls or moats, but it was still the foundation of his new life. Without a base, he would have nowhere to advance from, nowhere to store his equipment, and nowhere to welcome future companions. The more he thought about the mission, the more essential it seemed. Inside the agency, the day was unfolding as usual.

Phones rang at regular intervals, several clients waited in front of the desks, and the constant tapping of keyboards filled the office with a steady background hum. Emma had just finished a meeting with a couple searching for a larger apartment. She escorted them to the door with her professional smile before returning to her desk, briefly checking her schedule. When she looked up, she spotted the familiar figure waiting near the entrance. Her first instinct was to close her eyes for a brief second.

The cosplayer is back... She took a deep breath before recovering her usual expression. Part of her still hoped he had only come back to say goodbye or ask one quick question. Another part already knew that almost certainly wasn't the case. Ever since their first meeting, she had realized that Aldric approached every problem with absolute seriousness. Once he decided a mission had to be completed, giving up simply didn't seem to exist in his vocabulary.

"Good afternoon, Aldric," she said as she approached.

"I take it you didn't come back just to wish me a nice day." The knight inclined his head.

"Nevertheless, I do wish you an excellent day."

"Thank you... So, what brings you back this time?"

"My main quest has progressed." She stared at him for a few seconds before answering.

"Of course it has."

"The time limit has now been reduced to seven days."

"And you think I can help you?"

"You are the person with the greatest knowledge of dwellings that I have encountered since arriving in this kingdom."

"I already explained that you're missing almost everything you need to rent an apartment."

"That is correct."

"Then why come back?"

"Because an experienced guide always increases the chances of successfully completing a quest." Emma remained silent for a few moments. If she refused to help him, he would probably come back tomorrow with the same questions. Then the day after that. And the day after that. She checked her schedule. Her next appointment wasn't for several hours. It wasn't much time, but it was enough to show him at least one apartment and explain how property viewings actually worked.

"Listen," she said at last, "I still don't think you'll be able to rent an apartment today."

"I share that assessment."

"On the other hand, if I show you an actual viewing, you'll probably get a much better idea of what landlords are looking for."

"A reconnaissance mission before the assault."

"If that comparison helps you, then yes." She opened her computer, checked the afternoon appointments, and selected a viewing that had just been canceled by a client. The keys were already in a drawer at the agency, and the apartment was vacant. It wasn't a miracle solution, but it might at least help Aldric understand why finding a home wasn't as simple as choosing a door and asking for the keys.

"I have an empty apartment I can show you," she explained as she closed her planner.

"Not because I think you're going to rent it, but because it'll give you an idea of what people are looking for."

"You have my gratitude."

"Don't thank me just yet. I'm mostly doing this to keep you from coming back every morning with a new theory about fortresses."

"If the mission is completed, then there will indeed be no need for me to return." Emma let out a small laugh despite herself. It wasn't the answer she had been expecting at all. She picked up the set of keys for the apartment, slipped on her jacket, and said a few words to a coworker to let him know she'd be out. He glanced curiously at Aldric before leaning toward Emma and whispering quietly enough that the knight couldn't hear:"New client?"

"More or less."

"He seems... unusual."

"You have no idea." Once again, she wondered why she had agreed to spend part of her afternoon with a man she barely knew. The most honest answer was probably the simplest one: she hoped that by showing him firsthand how modern housing worked, he would finally stop coming back to the agency with stories about quests, fortresses, and kingdoms. Deep down, however, another thought had quietly begun to take shape. She was genuinely curious to see what this strange knight would consider perfectly normal next.

The keys jingled as the agency door closed behind them. Emma took the lead while Aldric fell into step beside her on the sidewalk. The knight studied the streets, but this time his attention lingered more on the buildings themselves. The stone facades, wrought-iron balconies, and endless rows of windows gave him the impression of walking through a vast fortified city where every building was its own independent bastion. People came and went from these structures constantly, yet no guards controlled their entrances.

Such effortless trust remained difficult to understand for someone who had spent his entire life defending cities under constant threat from demonic armies.

"We won't be long," Emma explained, pointing to an apartment building across the avenue.

"The apartment has been vacant for a few weeks. A viewing was scheduled for today, but the clients canceled this morning. That means we can take our time without bothering anyone."

"So the owners allow strangers to inspect their residences before any negotiations take place."

"Of course."

"They do not fear an attempt to seize the property?"

"Not really."

"Why not?"

"Because we have laws." The answer did not entirely satisfy Aldric. His world had laws as well. They had never stopped an ambitious lord from trying to seize a castle if he believed he had the strength to do so. He studied the buildings around him with renewed interest. Perhaps the strength of this kingdom did not rest on its soldiers, but on the trust its people placed in its institutions. He still found that idea difficult to accept.

They continued walking until they reached a quieter street where the café terraces gave way to small neighborhood shops. A bakery filled the air with the warm scent of freshly baked bread, instinctively causing Aldric to slow his pace. Since arriving in this world, he had discovered new aromas every day, each one completely unfamiliar. Emma noticed his hesitation.

"Are you hungry?"

"The scent is pleasant."

"It's a bakery."

"Do they make only bread?"

"Mostly." Aldric watched customers enter and emerge moments later carrying small paper bags.

"The people of this city seem to value this food highly."

"Very much so."

"We shall return once the fortress has been secured."

"Let's find the apartment before we start worrying about supplies."

"A headquarters without provisions remains vulnerable."

"You always manage to turn even the smallest conversation into military strategy."

"Every mission requires preparation." At last, they stopped in front of a five-story building with pale stone walls. A large glass door guarded the entrance. Beyond it lay a spotless lobby with a staircase and a small elevator whose metal doors reflected the daylight from outside. Emma took a key from her keyring.

"Here we are." Aldric looked up at the building. Compared to the fortresses he had known, the structure was far from impressive. No walls surrounded it. No watchtowers overlooked the surrounding streets. Yet it appeared sturdy, well maintained, and perfectly integrated into the city. The many windows revealed that several families already lived inside. It might not be a fortress, but it could certainly serve as a refuge.

"Is this where several households live?" he asked.

"Yes. Each floor is divided into several apartments."

"So the residents share a single defensive structure."

"If you want to think of it that way." She inserted the first key into the building's lock. A metallic click echoed before the door swung open. They stepped into the lobby. The contrast with the street was immediate. The noise of traffic almost completely vanished, replaced by a surprising stillness. A faint scent of cleaning products lingered in the air. The freshly painted walls were decorated with a few framed landscape pictures, while an entire section of the wall was lined with mailboxes.

Aldric stopped in front of them, intrigued.

"Does every resident have their own chest?"

"Yes. This is where the mail is delivered."

"Without a guard?"

"The mail carrier has a key." The knight studied the neat rows of small metal doors for a long moment. Even the messaging system of this world seemed to follow rules he had yet to understand. Emma headed toward the elevator before changing her mind.

"Actually, let's take the stairs. It'll be easier with your equipment." Aldric nodded. Climbing a few flights of stairs was, of course, no challenge for him. They climbed to the third floor in silence, interrupted only by the echo of their footsteps. The closer they came to their destination, the more Emma wondered how Aldric would react to seeing a modern apartment. She had already explained to plenty of clients why an open-plan kitchen was an advantage or why a renovated bathroom increased a property's value.

She had absolutely no idea, however, how a man who spoke seriously about fortresses would judge a modest two-room apartment in Paris. At last, they stopped in front of a light wooden door. Emma checked the number on her keyring one last time to make sure it matched the one engraved on the metal plaque. She slipped the key into the lock, turned it, and rested her hand on the handle.

"Welcome to your first property viewing," she said with a faint smile.

"You're finally about to see what a Parisian apartment looks like." The lock gave one final click. Emma pressed down on the handle, and the door slowly began to open.