The morning sun cast a golden glow over Dragon's Rest, its light spilling across the wooden floors of the inn. Juichi leaned back in his chair, savoring the last bite of his pie. The crust was buttery and crisp, the filling bursting with spiced fruit and just the right touch of sweetness.
It was, without question, the best thing he'd eaten since arriving in this world.
"You really like that pie, don't you?" Alira teased, smirking as she rested her chin in her hand.
Juichi chuckled, wiping crumbs from his mouth. "It's amazing. I might have to snag another one before I head out."
Lyrae gave a warm, almost wistful smile. "You're always welcome here, Juichi. But I know you've got things to do today."
He nodded, rising from his seat and stretching with a long yawn. "Yeah… If I'm going to find Dad, I need to start somewhere. The Adventurer's Guild is as good a place as any."
Grabbing his gear, Juichi stepped out into the bustling streets of Dragon's Rest. Merchants were setting up their stalls, children darted between alleyways, and the scent of bread and spice filled the morning air. The world was vibrant, alive—and finally, it was starting to feel real.
The Guild building stood tall at the heart of the district, a grand stone hall adorned with banners bearing the Kingdom of Klyrode's crest.
It looked straight out of a game—his kind of place.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of sweat, roasted meat, and steel. The buzz of voices echoed off the walls as adventurers of all shapes and sizes traded stories and bartered over quests.
Juichi made his way to the front desk, where a stunning woman greeted him. Her long, blonde hair shimmered under the light, and her sharp eyes held a blend of discipline and teasing charm. Her guild uniform strained slightly at her chest, drawing more than a few looks from nearby adventurers.
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild," she said with a hint of amusement. "I'm Alicia Clinton. How can I help you?"
"I'd like to register," Juichi said, straightening his posture.
Alicia nodded, sliding over a registration form. "Name and combat experience. Then we'll run a mana assessment to place your rank."
Juichi scribbled down his info, returned the form, and followed her into a side chamber. A crystal hovered above a stone pedestal, humming with arcane energy.
"Place your hand on the crystal," Alicia instructed.
He did. The crystal pulsed faintly… then dimmed.
Alicia frowned. "Your mana levels are extremely low. Based on this, your rank is D."
"D-Rank?" Juichi muttered.
"With that much mana, you wouldn't last against a goblin swarm, let alone anything higher," Alicia said, professional but not unkind. "D-Rank is generous, honestly."
Juichi sighed. Just like before… His power—the Multi-Elemental Dragon—remained hidden. Not even this world's magic sensors could detect what he truly carried.
"Fair enough," he muttered, taking the offered guild card.
He stepped back into the main hall, flipping the card between his fingers. It felt oddly heavy. Symbolic.
One step at a time, he thought.
Then the room shifted. Not literally—but the atmosphere.
A strange, suffocating silence spread across the front desk area. Adventurers glanced over, their conversations dying off as a lone figure approached.
The man moved like a phantom. Clad in a dark cloak, his hood shadowed most of his face, though a jawline dusted with stubble was barely visible. The edges of his cloak were torn, caked in dried mud and specks of rust-red. The faint scent of earth and steel clung to him like a second skin.
He reached the counter and slapped down a crumpled parchment. "I'll take this mission."
Alicia picked it up, eyes narrowing as she read.
"This is a high-risk request," she said quietly. "Espionage—gathering intel on Brunhild Country's recent movements in the capital. The Duke may be plotting something against the kingdom. But it's a two-person assignment."
The man turned his head slightly… and his hidden gaze landed on Juichi.
"He'll do."
Before Juichi could process it, a strong hand grabbed his shoulder in a firm, unrelenting grip.
"Whoa—!" Juichi stumbled, instinctively reaching for the dagger at his side. "The hell's your problem?!"
"You want to rise through the ranks, don't you?" the man asked. "Then prove it. This mission isn't for the faint of heart."
Alicia hesitated. "Juichi just registered. He's not—"
"He'll manage." The man's tone brooked no argument. "Sometimes a push is what you need to ignite the fire."
Juichi's heart thumped in his chest. He didn't trust this guy. Not even close.
But the fire in his gut—the drive to grow stronger, to chase after his father's shadow—it roared.
He clenched his fists, then looked the man in the eye. "Fine. You want me on this mission? Then I'll give you everything I've got."
The man's grip loosened. "Good. We move now."
Alicia sighed, stamping the parchment. "Try not to die, boys."
As Juichi slipped the guild card into his pocket, adrenaline surged through him.
No more warm pies. No more lazy mornings.
The real journey had just begun.
To be continued...