Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

[5/10] 

That was the number of boars Ren had taken down this morning. 

The monster spawn rate in this area wasn't particularly fast. 

From his observations, a boar would take at least twenty minutes to respawn after being defeated. 

But there was something else Ren realized: he still wasn't fully accustomed to real combat. 

The sensation of swinging his spear to finish off an enemy, it still felt foreign. At times, he only struck when their HP was already low. 

Not every attack was precise. He couldn't keep relying on Klein and the others forever. 

They needed monsters too, for gold and experience, not just to assist him. 

Within the group, there was a clear rule: whoever landed the final hit on a monster got to loot it. 

There was little sharing during combat. 

While everyone was still hunting, hungry wolves would occasionally lunge at them, but they posed no real threat. 

With just a few punches, each person easily took them down. 

"Alright, that's enough," Klein said leisurely, stretching his arms. 

"Let's head back to town, repair our gear, and have lunch. If we keep fighting on an empty stomach, we won't last long." 

Sword Art Online was an incredibly realistic game, where every sensory experience was replicated with astonishing accuracy. 

The pain of being injured felt just like in the real world. 

And hunger… was no different. 

Hunger didn't just cause distraction, if left unchecked, players would suffer dangerous debuffs. 

These negative effects didn't only weaken physical strength but also impaired alertness and decision-making. 

Eating wasn't just a biological need, it was a matter of survival in Sword Art Online. 

Trapped in a perilous virtual world with only one life, players never hesitated to spend money on good meals, as if it were their last. 

Ren silently followed the group, his exhausted legs carrying him back to the inn. 

The long hunt had drained all his energy, he just wanted to sit down and rest. 

Yet at the same time, a subtle anticipation stirred within him. The lingering scent of breakfast still clung to his memory, and his stomach grumbled in response. 

He licked his lips slightly, recalling the rich aroma of toasted bread from this morning. 

Suddenly, Ren felt a strange sense of relief. 

He no longer had to count every coin like before, nor worry about scraping together his next meal. 

For once, he could just sit down, eat until he was full, and enjoy a moment of peace. 

112 Cor. 

That was the amount he had earned after defeating a few boars. 

It wasn't much compared to other players, but he couldn't help feeling a bit proud. 

He had even picked up some fresh boar meat and a few pieces of hide. Both could be sold for a decent sum...enough to keep him from worrying about food for the next few days. 

How long had it been… since he last felt this content? 

The simple relief of not having to agonize over every meal. 

It was a small joy, but to Ren, at this moment, it was priceless. 

'With this money, I could afford at least four or five meals like this morning's. Eating has never felt this easy and carefree.' 

As Ren stepped into the inn, a faint anticipation flickered in his heart. 

His steps felt steadier, as if he was just a little closer to leaving his worries behind. 

The inn was the same as always, quiet and peaceful, bathed in the warm glow of sunlight streaming through the windows. 

Everything was simple, yet it felt comforting, like a place where he could truly rest after all the tension. 

"What's for lunch? I'm starving," Dynamm said, slumping into an old chair, his eyes glancing toward the kitchen. 

A thin wisp of steam curled from a simmering pot, carrying the rich aroma of slow-cooked meat, vegetables, and spices. 

The gentle bubbling of boiling water added to the cozy atmosphere. 

"I don't know. We only found this place yesterday. This morning was our first meal here," Dale said as he sat down beside Dynamm, rolling his shoulders, a familiar gesture of ease after standing for too long. 

Ren remained quiet, taking a seat near the window and gazing outside. 

The sense of relief left him with little interest in conversation. 

Moments like these, in a peaceful setting, all he wanted was to bask in the silence and let his mind rest. 

Out there, in this virtual world, danger lurked at every corner. 

But here, at least for now, everything seemed temporarily at peace. 

His stomach rumbled again, but this time, there was no anxiety or exhaustion. 

Ren simply chuckled to himself. 

At least today, he could breathe a little easier. 

Lunch arrived swiftly. 

Just minutes after Klein placed the order, the dishes were brought out with practiced efficiency. 

It was a simple yet hearty meal, hot vegetable stew with tender meat, served alongside leftover bread from breakfast, still soft and fragrant. 

Ren eagerly picked up a wooden spoon, gently pressing it against a piece of meat. 

With just a light touch, the meat fell apart, releasing an irresistible aroma. 

He couldn't hold back a small smile as warmth spread through him. 

This meal, this moment, felt truly satisfying.

"Wait a minute..." Dynamm suddenly stopped, his usually mischievous eyes narrowing. 

He glanced at Ren's meal, then back at his own plate, a hint of suspicion flickering in his gaze. 

"Why... does Ren have more than us? Didn't we all order the same meal?" 

Dynamm grumbled in irritation, then looked down at the two steaming loaves of bread on his plate. His eyes shifted back to Ren's plate. 

Three loaves. 

Not only did Ren have three loaves of bread, but his portion of meat was also noticeably larger. 

At this point, even Klein couldn't help but pause. He glanced at Ren with a half-smiling, half-questioning expression, as if he knew something but chose not to say it. "Did you happen to... get lucky somehow?" 

Ren looked at his plate and let out a small sigh. "I didn't do anything... I really don't know." He felt a little embarrassed but didn't want to explain too much. 

Dale, who was sitting nearby, gave a wry smile. "It must be a coincidence. There's no way this world plays favorites." 

But Dynamm wasn't convinced. He kept eyeing Ren's plate, his expression full of doubt. "Something's not right. I refuse to believe this is just a coincidence." 

Ren chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension in the air, but deep down, he couldn't help but feel a little satisfied. 

At the very least, he wouldn't have to worry about going hungry. 

"No way. I have to ask. Heeey, innkeeper....why does he get more food?" Dynamm wasn't willing to let it go, waving over the innkeeper with a slightly irritated tone. 

"Explain this... we paid the same amount, didn't we?" He pointed at Ren's plate, unable to hide his mix of curiosity and frustration. 

The innkeeper glanced at Ren's plate, then at Dynamm. Her expression was patient, as if she was already used to these kinds of questions. 

"The morning batch of bread didn't sell out, so I was planning to serve them for lunch. But for the last portion, there were only three loaves left. If I took one away to make it an even portion, I'd have one leftover. 

Besides, I noticed he really enjoys my cooking, so I gave him a little extra," the innkeeper explained casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. 

For a moment, everyone was stunned, unable to believe their ears. 

Over the past three days, they had grown accustomed to how the NPCs in this game behaved, expressions, actions, and speech patterns that felt almost indistinguishable from real people. But this was still hard to believe. 

"Why couldn't it have been me?" Dynamm poked at the bread on his plate, muttering under his breath, unable to hide his disappointment. 

"Maybe when you look as good as Ren, you won't be left out," Issin said sarcastically, not even looking up from his meal, as if trying to downplay Dynamm's frustration. 

Ren simply smiled faintly. He wasn't sure what to say, but the tension in the group seemed to ease slightly. 

Dynamm, still sulking, was about to argue back, but as he glanced at Ren...once, twice, three times... 

The initial frustration gradually faded, replaced by a resigned sigh. 

"Tsk... inner qualities matter more than looks," he mumbled, finally giving up the argument. 

Hunger quickly overpowered any lingering irritation, leaving only the desire to enjoy their meal. 

The group fell into a comfortable silence, the only sounds being the clinking of spoons against bowls, the crunch of bread, and the occasional sip of soup. 

The atmosphere in the inn grew warm and pleasant, as if the earlier frustrations had melted away, replaced by a rare moment of peace in an otherwise challenging day. 

Ren savored every bite, feeling as if he had stepped into paradise with each mouthful of tender meat and soft, flavorful vegetables. The warmth of the food sent a shiver of joy through him. 

Then... his gaze shifted toward the others. 

But this time, he wasn't eyeing their food, he was looking at their sturdy armor. 

A wave of longing surged through him as he stared at Klein's durable leather armor. 

The sense of security, the solid protection that armor provided, it was something he couldn't help but envy. 

He pressed his lips together, his eyes lingering on the fine details of the armor, feeling the stark contrast to his own thin, fragile leather gear. 

"You mean this?" Klein interrupted, glancing at Ren's simple armor before tapping lightly on his own sturdy leather plating. 

Ren nodded, trying to hide his embarrassment, hesitating before asking, "Where can I buy armor like that?" 

Klein shrugged, chewing on a piece of bread, his tone casual as if this was the most ordinary thing in the world. "You can buy it at the blacksmith's shop, or you can use the boar hides we got this morning and have someone craft one for you." 

Ren suddenly realized that in the midst of his focus on hunting boars, he hadn't considered what materials he could collect from them. 

A pang of regret hit him as he thought about the resources he had overlooked. 

Klein noticed the admiration in Ren's eyes, and a small, amused smile played on his lips. "Well, before we head out hunting this afternoon, we'll stop by the blacksmith to repair our gear. You can get your armor there." 

A sense of relief washed over Ren. 

He nodded quickly, as if he was just one step away from finally securing the protection he desperately needed. 

"Thanks, Klein," 

Ren thought to himself, knowing that soon, he wouldn't have to worry about his weakness anymore.