The trees of the forest grew denser the deeper he went into it, their branches and leaves partly blocking out the light.
But still, Riley's gaze remained sharp.
After walking for a few more minutes, he finally found it.
A path.
Barely more than a thin corridor of crushed brush and flattened leaves nestled between thick bushes.
Unless someone already knew it was there, they'd easily walk past it a dozen times without noticing.
Riley stood still, staring at the hidden trail.
"This is it," he murmured under his breath, squinting through the shaded tunnel ahead.
Now that he stood in front of it, he realized it was just like the player in his last life described.
Back then, Riley hadn't paid it much attention.
But now?
He was grateful his memory hadn't failed him.
After a moment, he stepped forward and slipped into the narrow passage, brushing aside thorny leaves and low-hanging branches.
Eventually, the path opened up—barely.
And there it was.
A cave nestled between the roots of two enormous trees, their gnarled trunks twisting toward each other like guardians.
Even knowing where to look, it had still taken Riley several minutes to find it.
The way the branches arched around it, the way the rocks mirrored natural forest debris—it was like the terrain itself was designed to keep the cave hidden from wandering eyes.
'If I didn't already know about this, I might've missed it entirely,' Riley thought, narrowing his eyes.
He stared at the cave for several seconds, unmoving.
Then—
"Help me…"
The voice was hoarse, cracked, barely more than a whisper, but it carried through the still air with eerie clarity.
Riley's lips twitched. Not in surprise—but in recognition.
So it really was true. The man. The cave. The quest.
Still, he didn't break character.
"Who's there?" he called out, allowing a trace of concern to enter his tone.
He stepped forward, walking inside the cave.
The cave interior was small—just barely tall enough for someone to stand. Its walls were rough and uneven, covered in moss and damp patches. The faint scent of blood and decay lingered in the air, making it hard to breathe.
Then he saw him.
A man slumped against the far wall, half-hidden by shadows.
His figure was hunched, and his armor—once likely polished and sturdy—was now in tatters.
Large claw marks were carved across his chestplate, and several spots had been torn away entirely, revealing the bruised, bloodied skin beneath.
He looked up, his face pale and drenched in sweat, and slowly stretched a trembling hand toward Riley.
"P-Player…" he croaked, voice wet and weak. "Please… help me…"
Riley's eyes narrowed, but he kept his expression composed. He allowed his brow to furrow, his posture to stiffen slightly in mock alarm.
"What happened to you?" he asked, voice filled with feigned concern.
The man coughed harshly, his body shaking. Flecks of blood splattered his chin, and he wheezed before managing to speak again.
"H-Harty," he rasped. "My name… is Harty. I-I'm a warrior… I was… I was out hunting, just like any other day… But then…"
He paused, breath hitching painfully. His eyes flickered with fear.
"The wolves," he said through gritted teeth. "Dire Wolves. Dozens of them. They came out of nowhere. Surrounded me. I… I tried to fight, but…"
He gestured vaguely to the ragged claw marks across his torso.
Riley nodded slowly, keeping his expression neutral. "That's rough," he said. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Harty let out a shaky breath and reached into his pocket with trembling fingers. After a moment of fumbling, he pulled out a small, thin card—its surface metallic and embedded with faint glowing lines.
He held it out toward Riley, his arm shaking.
"I'm not just injured…" Harty muttered, coughing again. "I was poisoned."
Riley's eyes flickered, acting like he couldn't see the card being stretched out to him.
"Poisoned?"
The warrior nodded weakly. "A… Poison Worm. One of the bastards must've hidden inside one of the wolves… It bit me when I was down."
He winced and leaned back against the cave wall, his breathing shallow.
"My wounds… they won't heal. Not with this poison inside me. I've been stuck here for hours—maybe days. I… I can barely move."
Riley folded his arms, his tone calm. "Is there an antidote?"
Harty nodded, just barely.
"There is," he whispered. "But it's hidden… deep within the forest. A sacred potion kept in a cavern to the north, past the broken hills. Guarded… by the orcs."
Riley's eyes sharpened slightly.
'There it is,' he thought. 'The trigger.'
Even in his past life, no one had been able to reach this quest early. The orc cavern was far beyond what level 5 players should have access to.
But this time was different.
"Orcs, huh?" he said aloud, feigning hesitation. "That's not exactly easy."
Harty's lips pulled into a pained, weak smile.
"I know… but i promise to reward you handsomely player. Just please… help save my life."
He coughed again, more violently this time, and a spatter of dark blood hit the floor beside him.
Riley didn't respond immediately. He just stood there, eyes half-lidded, calculating.
"I'll help you… I just can't stand by when I could do something to help." he said, collecting the card from the man.
[Key to Secret Orc Area]
[Teleports you to the Secret Orc Area, an area filled with level 10-20 monsters]
Riley's lips curled into a wry smile at the notification.
'Challenging an area like this at level five… that's crazy.' He thought.
[You have triggered the hidden S-rank Novice Quest]
[Find the antidote to Harty's poison and bring it back to him]
[Reward: ???]
'Hehe.' Riley chuckled within himself, placing the secret key in his pocket.
"I promise, I'll try my best… and save your life." He said, trying to put on the most noble of expressions.
"Thank you player… you have no idea how much… I'm grateful…" Harty muttered, a weak smile appearing on his face.
"I'll be going now." Riley said, finally exiting the cave.
Behind him, Harty's eyes twinkled with a sinister glint, and the edges of his lips curled up slightly.
'These players… sure are dumb and easy to trick. Just wave a quest at them, and they would eat it up like bugs. This is good for me though, too bad… you won't live to receive any reward.'