He inadvertently overheard a group of adventurers talking at the next table.
"Since we're all level 7, I think we should go fight the boss," said the tall young man with sharp features. His black hair was tied back, and impatience flickered in his green eyes.
Since they wore only starter armor and hadn't equipped their weapons, he couldn't determine their exact classes, though he could distinguish their general types.
"Our level is lower than the boss's. We'd be needlessly risking the quest when we've come this far," he continued.
"You're not saying you're scared..." said the agile-looking man with brown hair, a mocking grin on his face.
"No, I'm not scared! We saw the boss from afar, but you were the one trying to rush at it like an idiot!"
"We should have killed it and completed the quest right then."
"Everyone's mana was almost depleted. My health was at half."
"Why didn't you avoid taking damage? I didn't take any—it's not that hard to dodge attacks."
"Easy for you to say with your fast class. All you do is get behind creatures and use your ability."
"Looks like a skill issue to me," he remarked with a condescending smirk.
"Why you—" he said and jumped to his feet. The man he was arguing with also stood up.
"Shut up and sit down!" shouted the red-haired woman with blue eyes. "Kean, attacking would have been foolish. We were all in bad shape and needed supplies. Now we're rested and fully prepared. We can handle all the creatures again except the boss—they're easy. We just need to conserve our mana."
"I don't understand..." said the young-looking blonde man. "Why do we level up so slowly while top-level adventurers progress so quickly?"
"Everyone knows Eomir," the woman answered, her blue eyes bright. "He became such a legendary swordmaster that he broke his own sword in battle and claimed his enemy's. But remember, he also started at level 1 like everyone else."
"Yes, but is it normal to gain 60 levels in one day? I went to bed, and when I woke up his level had jumped from 780 to 840!"
"Monsters..." Boran thought to himself. These numbers weren't normal.
He stood up and walked down the tavern's long corridor. Brown wooden doors lined both sides, with hundreds of people coming and going from the rooms.
He took out key number 26112004 from his inventory. The key was cold metal, its numbers wearing off. He inserted it into the lock and turned it.
The door opened with a creak. The room was dark and damp, its air heavy and musty as if long abandoned. The bare walls were moist, with patches of mold scattered about. The room was completely empty—not a single piece of furniture in sight.
A single bulb hung from the ceiling, casting weak light. Under its glow, the wall textures looked even more eerie. The smell of dampness stung his nose.
"What is this?" he muttered. "It's completely empty! Did I pay all that gold for this?"
"I felt the same way at first."
A voice spoke behind him. He turned to find a slender man with pale skin. Dark clothes showed beneath his black, silky cloak. His features were soft and gentle, but an unsettling gleam lurked in his eyes. Dark brown, wavy hair fell to his shoulders.
"It's empty, but you can buy furniture over time. They're not very expensive," he continued.
"There should have been some explanation at least."
"You're absolutely right," he said with a slight laugh. "My name is William Bennet," he added, extending his hand.
"Boran Apaydin," he replied, extending his hand. "Where are you from?"
"England," William answered with a smile. "And you?"
"Turkiye," Boran said, then paused with a puzzled expression. "Wait... how are we understanding each other?"
"Once you get the system, you understand all spoken languages as if they're in your native tongue. Think of it as instant translation."
"That's amazing. Nice to meet you," he said, pausing briefly. "Do you have a team?"
"I don't have a team, but I'm in a guild. That means I can't team up with anyone outside of guild members."
"What exactly is a guild?"
"A guild is like a large community," William said thoughtfully. "Someone establishes it and gathers people under their banner. The founder and their chosen assistants manage the guild."
"So it's like an organization," said Boran.
"Exactly. All guild members are allies. If there's a problem between members, they can report it to management, who can then issue necessary punishments."
"Is there a cost to join?"
"Guild management can request various things from members—gold donations, valuable items, or skill points. These go toward the guild's development, like building a guild castle or improving storage."
"This sounds a bit like... bullying," said Boran, furrowing his brows.
"It's not, actually. Guild membership has many benefits. You get help from high-level members, can borrow equipment from storage, and some guilds even offer special quests with extra rewards."
"What's your guild like?"
"The Red Lion..." said William, his eyes bright. "It's more than a family. As one of the oldest guilds, the bond between members is incredibly strong. We always help newcomers and never leave anyone alone. Our leader Mark is fair and understanding, making decisions democratically. Member contributions are reasonable, and everything gained goes back to helping the members."
"The best part is our regular guild events. We hunt bosses together, hold tournaments, and develop strategies. Our guild storage is well-stocked with equipment for every level."
"Actually..." said Boran thoughtfully. "This sounds quite good. Could I join?"