Dimension Beta

As Tom reached the rope, he climbed it with speed and precision.

Once at the top, he quickly removed the rope from the carabiner hook and let it drop. The rope wasn't expensive, and Tom didn't have the time to pack it up. Without stopping to fight or engage, he sprinted toward the surface.

Fortunately, he only encountered a few scattered kobolds on the way up. These he simply shoved aside and kept running.

Finally, he reached the surface. An unsettling feeling crept over him, prompting him to immediately tear apart a teleportation scroll. Moments later, he appeared just outside the city gates.

"Phew..." Tom exhaled deeply, trying to catch his breath. Once inside the city, he ducked into a secluded alley and retrieved his trusty sack, filling it with all the pelts he had collected.

He counted 81 pelts in total, satisfied with the haul. At Casper's workshop, after some light small talk, he presented his loot.

"Not bad, boy! I can give you 4,000 gold coins for these," Casper said.

Tom's face lit up with excitement. This was his second-largest payday, topped only by the day he had found the spatial pouch.

"Is Smork here?" Tom asked.

"Yes, but he's swamped with a big commission for the next few days. Do you need something from him?" Casper replied.

"No, never mind," Tom said, shaking his head. He had wanted to ask about upgrading his gear with different types of pelts, such as the kobold pelts, but it wasn't urgent and could wait.

Next, Tom made his way to the tavern, hoping to speak with Pablo before his shift began in an hour.

When he entered, he spotted Pablo sitting alone at a table, sipping his beer. Tom grabbed a juice from the bar and sat down across from him. For a while, neither of them said a word. Just as Tom was about to speak, Pablo broke the silence.

"Sorry I've been so distant. You're a good kid," Pablo said, his tone heavy.

Tom didn't know how to respond, but Pablo continued. "I've spoken with a few contacts. They think it'll be another one or two years before the Force of Darkness reaches this city. When that day comes, I've already decided that I'll stay and fight."

Tom was surprised. "Why?" he asked.

Pablo clenched his fists tightly. "I've run away before. I've started over from nothing. But I'm tired of running, of letting them take my home."

Tom could see the determination in Pablo's eyes. He silently resolved to help when the time came.

Pablo noticed Tom's distant expression and asked, "Why are you here early, boy? Did you need something?"

Tom snapped out of his thoughts and nodded. "I know we're not supposed to use real weapons, but I was wondering, what if we had tools to enhance our fists? Would that be allowed?"

Pablo grinned. "Smart thinking, kid. You're right. There are ways to enhance your fists. For example, you can attach spikes to your gloves to deal more damage with every hit. The same goes for your boots. But there's an even better option."

Pablo leaned closer. "I was waiting for the right time to tell you about this. There's a blacksmith in the eastern district, near the old bridge. He's an old acquaintance of mine. If you have time, you should pay him a visit."

A notification popped up in front of Tom.

[Class Quest Detected]

Pablo has suggested you visit his contact in the eastern district near the old bridge to seek tools that enhance your fighting style.

Tom glanced at the clock. He had about 50 minutes to spare, but after a quick calculation, he realized he wouldn't have enough time. He had another meeting scheduled.

"I'll be back soon," Tom told Pablo before dashing toward the marketplace.

About 15 minutes later, Tom arrived at the bustling square. He scanned the area but didn't see the person he was waiting for. Suddenly, two arms wrapped around him from behind in a tight embrace.

"Who's my big boy?" a familiar voice cooed.

Tom struggled to free himself but quickly realized his stats weren't high enough to overpower the person. "Mom, people can see us!" he protested.

"So what? I don't care," his mother teased.

Tom wanted to argue that he cared, but he held his tongue, knowing better than to provoke her.

Turning around, he got his first look at his mother's in-game character. She wore a slightly revealing outfit: a knee-length skirt, leather boots, a red vest, and a white blouse. She even had a bow tie and a black top hat. At her hip hung a staff with a small orb on one end.

Tom stared at her, confused. He knew his mother was a Beastmaster, a class known for commanding powerful creatures in battle. Yet her appearance looked more fitting for a circus performer.

His mother noticed his confusion and chuckled. "You're wondering about my beasts, aren't you? I left them in Wellhaven before teleporting here."

Tom finally understood. His mother had spawned in a different city since she had moved to their current region only 12 years ago. In real-world terms, her original spawn location was about 300 kilometers away.

"How did you get here?" Tom asked.

"Well, I know a guy who happens to be a Spatial Mage," she said with a wink.

"Wow, really?!"

Tom was amazed. Spatial Mages were a rare class, renowned not for their combat prowess but for their ability to craft Spatial Pouches, making them incredibly wealthy.

"How do you even know someone like that?" Tom wondered aloud.

His mother smirked playfully. "A girl has her secrets," she said, putting a finger to her lips.

"Anyway," she continued, pulling out a pouch from her pocket, "I've been holding onto this for you. It's a Spatial Pouch. A bag that lets you store items without worrying about weight."

She handed it to him proudly, expecting a stunned reaction.

Tom smiled faintly. "Thanks, Mom."

Disappointed by his lack of enthusiasm, she clarified, "You do realize these are expensive, right? And I managed to get you one with two square meters of storage."

Tom didn't have the heart to tell her he already owned one. Not wanting to hurt her feelings, he feigned surprise. "Wow, two square meters! Thanks, Mom. You're the best!" He quickly hugged her to sell the act.

Satisfied, his mother returned the hug. "As long as you're happy," she said with a smile.

Then, out of nowhere, she added, "Since I'm here, I'd like to meet this Pablo you've mentioned."

"What?!" Tom exclaimed, startled.

His mother gave him a sharp look. "Why not? Are you hiding something from me?"

Tom stammered, unable to come up with an excuse. Resigned, he led her toward the tavern, silently praying that some of the bar's more colorful antics would stay under wraps.

Tom and his mother approached the tavern at a leisurely pace, taking about half an hour to arrive. By the time they reached the entrance, it was almost time for Tom to start his shift.

As they got closer, a familiar voice called out, "Hey, Tom! Come sit down and have a drink with us!"

Tom felt a cold sweat run down his back. Thankfully, his mother did not seem to think he would actually drink alcohol.

"And who is the beauty next to you? Bring her along too, haha!" the man shouted, laughing.

Tom walked over to Dickson's table, leaning in to whisper, "Hey, that's my mom. Show some respect!"

"Oops, my bad, kid. But you never told us your mom is such a knockout," Dickson whispered back. "Is she single?"

"Watch it, you…" Tom started to say but stopped when his mother stepped forward.

"For your information, mister, I am single," she said with a smile. Her expression quickly changed, and she continued, "But I have no interest in drunken lechers like you."

The rest of the table burst into laughter.

"She really got you, Dickson. Hats off to the lady," one of them said, still chuckling.

Dickson looked slightly embarrassed, realizing she had overheard him. He had only meant to tease Tom a little.

"We're heading inside," Tom said hurriedly. "Maybe see you later."

When Tom and his mother entered the tavern, it was still relatively quiet since it was early in the evening. Fortunately, Pablo was behind the bar with the serving maid, washing glasses.

"Hey, Pablo," Tom greeted. "I'm back."

"Hey, boy, I just…" Pablo stopped mid-sentence as he looked up and saw Tom's mother.

"And who is the young lady you have with you? Your sister?" Pablo asked, his tone unusually casual.

Tom noticed something strange in Pablo's expression as he looked at his mother, but he could not figure out what it was.

His mother smiled warmly and answered for him, "Oh, I wish I were young enough to pass as his sister. No, I'm his mother, Tina. It's a pleasure to meet you. Tom has told me a lot about you." She extended her hand politely.

"It's… it's an honor," Pablo stammered, his voice stiff as he reached out with a slightly trembling hand for a handshake.

They shook hands, and Tom could not help but notice how strange Pablo was acting. Was his mother really making him that nervous?

"Please continue to look after my son," Tina said. "Even though he can be a bit of a troublemaker, he is a good boy."

"Mom, this is so embarrassing," Tom muttered quietly, tugging at her sleeve.

"Hahaha, don't worry, your son would never cause me any trouble," Pablo said with a grin.

"Then I'm relieved," Tina replied, smiling warmly.

"I'll leave you two now since I need to get back. Take care of yourselves," she said as she turned to leave.

With those words, she exited the tavern.

Pablo's eyes lingered on her as she walked away, until Tom's voice snapped him back to reality.

"Hey, can you stop staring at my mom like that?"

Pablo quickly averted his gaze, scratching the back of his neck nervously. "Eh… I wasn't staring. I was just thinking about something."

"Hmm, is that so…" Tom said, eyeing him skeptically. He didn't really believe him but decided to let it slide for now.