Colm walked down the hallway until he reached a door marked with the number 11. "I guess this one's mine," he said, shrugging as he stopped in front of it. Looking at the door, he moved the handle up and down, muttering, "I have no clue how to open this." He noticed a strange symbol near the handle and decided to wave his adventurer badge in front of it. A green pulse of light emitted, followed by a soft click. He tried the handle again, and the door opened.

Chuckling to himself, he thought, Just like a hotel room back on Earth. Neat.

Stepping inside, Colm took in the quaint space. A modest bed occupied most of the main room, while a small adjoining area housed a bathroom with a rustic-looking tub and sink.

His heart leaped at the sight of the bathroom. "Holy shit," he exclaimed, excitement shimmering in his voice. "It feels so modern. It's like I'm actually in a hotel room."

Rushing over to the bath, he turned the handle, watching as water poured out. Twisting the knobs, he adjusted the temperature until it reached a pleasant warmth. As the tub began to fill, his eyes wandered to a mirror hanging nearby.

Colm caught his reflection, and for the first time since arriving in this world, he took a good look at himself since his race changed.

"Damn, I've changed so much but still somehow look pretty similar," he murmured, running a hand along his face. The glowing veins beneath his ashen skin caught his attention, their faint luminescence pulsing when he used mana. "These veins are eerie, but kind of fascinating. It's like the infection stopped just before taking me completely. This Morvyn form it's a big change, but I can't complain about the perks."

Pulling off his shirt, he traced the glowing lines further across his chest and arms, noting how they seemed to weave intricate patterns. As he examined himself, he realized just how much his body had transformed. His once-average physique was now lean and chiseled, months of survival and fighting having honed his form.

"I look like a Hollywood actor prepping for a shirtless scene," he chuckled, marveling at muscles he never thought he'd have.

Satisfied with his reflection, he turned back to the tub, now full of steaming water. Stripping off the rest of his clothes, he slipped into the bath.

"Holy shit, this feels amazing," he groaned, sinking into the warmth. Letting the water wash over him, he closed his eyes, savoring the peace and comfort he hadn't felt in months.

I can't believe I haven't showered in so long. No wonder I probably reeked, he thought, laughing softly to himself. Minutes ticked by as he basked in the soothing heat, feeling a sense of serenity settle over him.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Opening his eyes, he spotted a bar of soap on the edge of the tub. Grabbing it, he scrubbed himself thoroughly, watching as layers of grime and dirt dissolved into the water, turning it murky brown. Disgusted by the filth, he quickly drained the tub and refilled it for another round of cleaning.

The second soak was even more refreshing. As he scrubbed down again, Colm finally felt truly clean.

"I missed this feeling," he sighed contentedly. "I never want to feel that dirty again. Maybe there's a self-cleaning item I can buy."

Leaning back in the warm water, he let his muscles relax, giving himself a countdown. "Okay, 10… 9… 8… gahhh, I have to leave now, or I never will," he groaned, forcing himself to sit up and climb out of the tub.

Grabbing a nearby towel, Colm dried himself off, taking one last look in the mirror. His reflection stared back, his glowing eyes and his transformed body a stark reminder of how far he had come.

Dressed in his clean clothes, he stepped out of the bathroom, feeling lighter and cleaner than he had in ages. Alright, time to figure out what's next. He thought as he looked over to the bed. I mean come on? I can't just not jump on it right?

Not letting his conscience hold him back, Colm sped up and belly-flopped onto the bed, groaning in comfort as the plush mattress embraced him. "This feels amazing," he mumbled through his groans. Closing his eyes, he decided he would not let some pesky racial trait rob him of the luxury of sleep. His body might not need it, but he wanted it—the first comfortable bed he'd had in months.

As sleep claimed him, a wide smile spread across his face. I'm going to make the most of this life, he thought, his mind drifting into a peaceful slumber.

Colm awoke a little while later, feeling both clean and refreshed. Letting out a big yawn, he stretched his arms wide, the bed creaking softly beneath him.

"Alright, time to get geared up," he said, sitting up. His mind began running through his plans for the day. "I have no idea how much anything costs, so I'll just have to hope I've got enough for a backpack at the very least."

He swung his legs over the side of the bed and leaned forward, contemplating. Between runs with Luke and Tessa, I think I'll try to solo the Echo a few times on my own. If I can speedrun them, I should be able to gather up some extra coins. Immediate goals: backpack, gear—leather armor seems like a good balance of protection and mobility—and then one of those storage items Jerry had. Those seemed incredibly useful.

His eyes lit up as another thought struck him. Oh! And a talisman to hide my class from Analyze. That's a priority too.

With his mental list set, Colm begrudgingly crawled out of bed. He glanced at a clock on the wall, trying to decipher if its timing aligned with the hours he was familiar with from Earth.

"Let's hope it's still early enough," he muttered, grabbing his adventurer's badge and heading out the door.

He stepped into the hallway, his mind already focused on the plaza and the shops it held, ready to tackle the next steps in his journey.

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