Elegy from Another World

"Damn it! Why can't I sleep?!"

I sat bolt upright in the soft bed, scratching my head in frustration. Outside, the Valencian night was still deep, with only a few windows still lit. I had been lying in this comfortable bed for almost four hours; my body felt relaxed, but my mind was terrifyingly awake, showing no sign of falling asleep.

"Status," I murmured, subconsciously summoning the status bar that only I could see. My health was full, my mana was slowly recovering, and there were no debuff indicators showing "Insomnia" or "Abnormal Status." My bodily functions were all normal, but I just couldn't fall asleep.

"Aaaaah—!" I rolled around on the bed, clutching the soft blanket, trying to expend my energy in this way.

"Thump!"

My forehead accidentally bumped into the peculiar "steel bar" leaning against the headboard. This was a trophy obtained from the bandit leader. After examining it, the Knights of the Knights deemed it merely a uniquely designed and exquisite weapon, not any particularly important evidence. Since I had resolved the bandit problem, they tacitly allowed me to keep it.

I rubbed my forehead and casually picked up the cold metal rod and played with it. It was about a meter long and three centimeters in diameter, with a dark, golden-gray color, and it felt cold to the touch. What surprised me most was its weight; a metal rod of this size felt incredibly light in my hand, almost as heavy as an ordinary dagger.

Curious, I gently touched its tip with my fingertip—the structure that had deployed to fire lasers during the previous battle had closed and returned to its rod shape—a slight tingling sensation came over me, and a thin white mark appeared on my fingertip.

"So sharp!" I exclaimed in surprise. How could this seemingly rough stick have such a sharp edge? I found a piece of scrap paper and gently placed it on the end of the stick; the paper was silently cut in half. I then tried using it to whittle the corner of a table, and the wood was easily whittled off like butter.

"Looks like... I've struck gold?" I muttered to myself. This is definitely an extraordinary weapon. Not only is it lightweight, but it also combines the impact of a blunt weapon with the cutting power of a sharp weapon, and even has that unknown laser-emitting function. Perhaps it can become an important asset for me besides water magic.

Carefully placing the steel bar back beside the bed, I lay down again, forcing myself to close my eyes. However, my thoughts were in turmoil; the destruction of the village, the battle at the bandit's lair, the unfamiliar city… all sorts of images churned in my mind. To make matters worse, my stomach started growling uncontrollably.

"...Never mind, I can't sleep anyway."

I got up, put on my simple clothes, picked up my purse, and left the inn. The streets of Valencia were much quieter at night than during the day, but some pubs and night food stalls were still lit up.

I found a clean-looking stall and used the money I'd looted from the bandits to buy a steaming bowl of meat soup and a freshly baked loaf of bread. The simple aroma and warm taste of the food instantly soothed my restless nerves and inexplicably lifted my spirits. Indeed, good food is the best medicine—at least for most troubles.

After finishing my late-night snack, I took advantage of the mood to stroll around the nearby night market, bought some basic toiletries, and finally found a clothing store that was still open. With the remaining money, I bought myself a set of clothes and pants that fit well, were comfortable, and allowed me to move around freely, replacing my tattered "initial gear".

When I returned to my hotel room, it was already dawn. I lay back down on the bed, hoping that the fatigue of the journey and the feeling of being full would bring me some sleep. However, even as sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains, I remained wide awake, wide awake as if I could immediately go and wipe out another bandit's den.

Strangely, despite not sleeping all night, I did not feel tired, sleepy, or uncomfortable at all; on the contrary, my mind was unusually clear.

"Looks like this immortality means I don't even need to sleep?" I shook my head with a wry smile, rolled over, and got out of bed. Since I can't sleep, I might as well start a new day.

After washing up and getting dressed, the knight captain who had received me yesterday came to visit again. He thanked me again and, on behalf of the Knights, gave me a generous reward.

"Miss Liscia," the captain said sincerely, "you possess extraordinary courage and strength. Have you ever considered becoming a formal adventurer? The Adventurers' Guild in Valencia is a place where heroes like you gather, where you can take on various commissions, hone your skills, and gain a stable income and reputation."

Adventurers' Guild! That's exactly what I aspired to when I first left the village!

"Of course!" I agreed without hesitation. "I'd love to become an adventurer."

"Great!" The captain smiled. "I'll send someone to take you to the guild to complete the registration process right away. With your abilities, you'll definitely stand out in the guild very quickly."

Led by a young knight, I walked through the bustling streets of early morning, my heart filled with anticipation. Finally, I stopped before a magnificent building with an insignia of crossed swords and shields hanging at its entrance.

The gilded signboard gleamed in the morning sun—[Valencia Adventurers' Guild].