The sun hung high in the sky as I made my way through the bustling streets of Elforel. My mind was preoccupied with thoughts of a way on how to find a way to exploit the system, but I pushed them aside for the time being, focusing instead on the task at hand.

I had decided to pay a visit to the local market in search of a weapon, preferably a sword. Since I had ended up in this weird, medieval fantasy world, I figured it was about time I armed myself properly. It couldn't hurt to have a little extra protection, especially with the recent developments regarding my abilities and quests. Also, I had been thinking of joining the adventure guild.

As I browsed the stalls, my eyes scanned the array of weapons on display, searching for the perfect match. Swords in all kinds of different sizes and weights, the options seemed endless, each one more enticing than the last. There was also armor, full-plated armor, light-weight armor, cloaks to camouflage yourself in the environment. The options were nice to have, and it allowed for people to have a specific style of combat.

But before I could even make a decision, a sudden sharp cry shattered the ambient chatter, slicing through the air like a knife. My head turned in the direction of the commotion, my senses immediately honed in on the urgency of the situation. Then, I spotted a thief frantically running in my direction, away from a group of men, and with a coin pouch in his hand. From behind them all, a young woman’s voice rose in a frantic plea for help.

"Help! Anyone, please!" she yelled out, her voice thick with desperation.

When the thief got close to me, I instinctively launched myself at him, tackling him to the ground with a resounding thud. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through my body, but I pushed through the pain, seizing the opportunity to retrieve the stolen coin pouch.

A crowd had gathered around us, and people started cheering.

“Nice one, Ari! As expected of our town’s muscle!”

Meanwhile, the thief, who lay face down on the ground, struggled to break free. “You motherfu—” he said, getting kicked in the face by one of the bystanders before he could even finish.

The crowd started laughing, and they made a line of people who seemingly all wanting to give the criminal another kick in the face. Some of the women even threw rocks at him from a distance, some almost even hitting me.

Is this how this world deals with criminals? Or is this town just nuts? Anyway-I’ll make sure not to get on the bad side of this town.

As I rose to my feet, the thief lay sprawled on the ground, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he struggled to free himself. But before he could make a move, a group of bystanders descended upon him, pinning him to the ground with surprising efficiency.

With the situation now under control, I shifted my focus to the girl standing nearby, her presence drawing my gaze like a magnet. Her eyes, wide with shock and gratitude, held a captivating intensity that seemed to pierce through the chaos of the market.

She was a vision of beauty, with long locks of silver hair cascading in gentle waves down her slender frame. Each strand caught the sunlight, emitting a subtle sheen that accentuated her light complexion. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of blue, sparkled beautifully, and made me feel lost in them.

"H- here," I said, holding out the coin pouch to her. "I believe this belongs to you."

She took it with trembling hands, her gratitude evident in the way her fingers brushed against mine. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is there anything I can do to repay you?"

For a moment, temptation tugged at my conscience, urging me to take advantage of her offer.

I’m almost out of time… I’ve only got seven hours left to get laid, I should just…

But as the word ‘sex’ formed on my lips, I knew it was futile. She was out of my league, and even if she owed me a favor, I had no illusions about what that favor might entail.

"It's okay," I said with a smile, brushing off her offer. "Just be more careful next time. There are a lot of bad guys out there."

But to my surprise, the girl didn’t accept that for an answer, her resolve unwavering despite my attempts to deflect her gratitude. She stepped closer; her gaze never leaving mine as she pleaded with me once again.

"Please," she begged, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let me do something to thank you. Anything."

I shook my head, my resolve firm as I resisted the urge to give in to her pleas. "I appreciate the offer, but really, it's fine. Just take care of yourself."

You wouldn’t accept the request I have, anyway. You’d just think I’m a pervert…

Even so, she refused to back down, her determination matching my own as she followed me with each step I took. Her pleas grew more insistent with each passing moment, her voice rising in pitch as she refused to let me slip away.

With a heavy sigh, I quickened my pace, the trying my hardest to lose the girl. But no matter how fast I ran, she kept following.

How persistent can you be?! I thought, frustration simmering beneath the surface as I finally disappeared into the crowd, leaving her behind and lost. “Does she want me to take advantage of her offer or something?” I muttered as I walked away from the girl.

And as the day went on, I could not stop thinking about her. I already noticed that the average person in this world was more beautiful than in my last. But that girl, she stood out even amongst all these people who had the potential to be famous models in my world. The way her silver hair tousled in the wind was imprinted in my brain. I just couldn't forget it. But I had to. Because I only had four more hours left to get laid.