The moment I stepped through Graaswell's massive gates, I thought, finally, freedom.
But the second I entered, it hit me—this place was chaos.
The streets were packed with people shouting, laughing, bargaining over random stuff. Colorful stalls lined every corner, selling everything from shiny trinkets to mystery meat on a stick. The air smelled like a mix of spices, fried food, and something faintly burned… not in a good way.
Honestly? It was kind of overwhelming.
Still, after spending forty days trapped in a dungeon, the noise, the smells, the buzz of people—it was weirdly comforting. I felt like I'd been dropped into the middle of a festival. One that never really stopped.
But before I got too distracted, I reminded myself: first stop, the guild. After everything I'd been through, checking in made the most sense. You know, confirm I was still alive, maybe ask where the showers were.
Then my stomach growled. Loudly.
So much for priorities.
I wandered aimlessly for a bit, trying to enjoy the city while keeping an eye out for something edible. I probably looked ridiculous—grinning like an idiot, humming to myself, maybe even doing a little bounce in my step. It felt like stepping into a different world. A loud, messy, completely unpredictable world.
The city was full of characters. A guy juggling knives like it was nothing. A fortune teller wearing way too many scarves. Someone selling "enchanted" socks that supposedly boosted your agility. Yeah, right.
Then I saw a food stand with a giant sign:
"READY-TO-EAT MEAT"
Perfect.
Except it wasn't.
It was raw beef. Completely uncooked. Still pink, still bleeding.
No fire, no grill, no "cooked" part. Just meat.
I stood there, staring at it, hoping maybe I'd read the sign wrong. Nope. The guy running the stall had tattoos up and down his arms and looked way too proud of his product. Like raw beef was the next big thing.
I was starving, sure—but I wasn't that desperate.
I had some food left in my inventory from the dungeon, but it was barely edible. I wanted something real. Something hot. Something that didn't remind me of goblins.
As if the universe was mocking me, I spotted someone nearby using a bit of magic to heat their food. Fire magic—so unfair. Meanwhile, I'm stuck with water, wind, and ice. Great for a summer breeze, not so much for a hot meal.
I muttered, "Yeah… I'm not eating that anytime soon."
Then there was the music—or whatever was trying to pass as music.
Back home, music meant something. You know that one anime opening that gives you goosebumps? Or a battle theme that makes you feel unstoppable? That kind of stuff sticks with you.
But here?
One guy was pounding a drum like he was in pain. Another played a flute so out of tune it hurt. No rhythm, no melody—just weird background noise mixed with footsteps and random yelling.
Honestly, it killed the vibe.
Still, even with the bad music, the weird smells, and the raw meat dilemma, I couldn't help but feel… excited. Tired, hungry, slightly traumatized—but excited.
There was so much going on, and I'd barely scratched the surface.
Graaswell was chaotic. Unpredictable.
And I had a feeling this was only the beginning.
But right now?
I needed food.
Like, actual food.
Before I passed out in the middle of this mess.