Clara floated near Kaito, studying him with narrowed eyes as he continued forward with an unusual determination.

—This time... you seem confident —she murmured, her tone a mix of curiosity and a hint of admiration. She decided not to intervene; something in his gaze told her it would be futile.

Meanwhile, Yurei remained lost in his own thoughts, completely unaware of the danger approaching him. His crooked smile revealed the direction of his fantasies.

—So beautiful... —he muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with greed—. I’ll get stronger and make her one of my servants. In this world, I can finally make my dreams come true. I can have any woman I want, but... especially her.

Suddenly, a powerful impact shattered his daydream. A strike landed squarely on his left arm, sending him flying into the wall with explosive force. The stone cracked under the impact, echoing throughout the room. A translucent blue window appeared before his eyes.

You’ve taken a critical hit. 67% of your health has been lost.

Remaining health: 33%.

—What...? —Yurei stammered, disbelief thick in his voice as he struggled to stand. His breathing was heavy, and his body trembled with the effort—. Wait... this is too much. More than half my life in one hit! What... what just attacked me?

When he looked up, he saw the staggering figure of a zombie running toward him. Its movements were clumsy, yet there was an urgency in its stride that made it seem faster than it should have been.

Yurei, still stunned and confused, couldn't comprehend what was happening, but one thing was certain: he had to escape at all costs. His trembling body obeyed his survival instinct, and he began running clumsily, gasping with every step.

—Help! Someone, please help me! —he screamed, his voice filled with panic as he ran aimlessly.

Kaito watched him, his gaze fixed and determined.

—I won’t let you escape —he murmured to himself, picking up his pace. Though his undead body was clumsy, the strength and speed in his legs easily outmatched Yurei’s. Within seconds, he caught up to him.

Yurei glanced back, his eyes wide with terror as Kaito closed in.

—Stay away from me, you damned monster! —he yelled, his voice cracking with fear.

Kaito showed no mercy. Reaching out, he grabbed Yurei by his injured arm, yanking him forcefully. The searing pain made Yurei let out a piercing scream that echoed through the area.

Suddenly, a strange murmur, like a chant in an unknown language, echoed in the distance. Before Kaito could react, a bolt of energy struck him squarely in the chest, throwing him backward as he stumbled.

A translucent blue window appeared before his eyes:

You’ve taken a critical hit. 95% of your health has been lost.

Remaining health: 5%.

—This... is bad —Kaito thought, gasping as weakness took hold of his body. He knew one more hit would mean his definitive end. “It must be that old mage,” he deduced quickly, his frantic thoughts searching for a way out.

Then he remembered: the moment he had regained some health by devouring the remains of a giant ant. Without much hesitation, and casting aside any doubts, he sank his teeth into Yurei’s injured arm.

Yurei’s scream was deafening, but Kaito didn’t stop until a series of windows appeared before him:

You’ve activated the skill Devour.

You’ve recovered 18% of your health.

Remaining health: 23%.

Luck has been activated! In this attack, your luck increased by 300%.

You’ve acquired the skill Summoning F.

You’ve acquired the skill Mana Recovery F.

Yurei collapsed onto the ground with a groan of pain, his body trembling from exhaustion and injuries. The sharp smell of burnt flesh hung heavily in the air, while the dust stirred by the lightning strike slowly began to settle. His eyes struggled to focus on the chaos around him, searching for the zombie that had attacked him. Yet, all he found was scorched earth and small flames flickering weakly on the ground.

The sound of firm footsteps broke the uneasy silence left in the wake of the battle. The old man arrived at the scene, his expression hardened by experience and tinged with both disdain and impatience.

—Where is that specimen? —he muttered, his sunken eyes scanning the area, his voice laced with frustration—. I used a weak attack to avoid killing it outright, but it seems it was far too fragile.

Yurei looked up at the old man with difficulty, as though trying to say something, but his body refused to cooperate. Slowly, he turned his head in the direction where he thought the zombie had been. Yet, he found only smoldering, charred earth. A sense of emptiness began to creep into his mind.

—That thing… it bit me… This place isn’t safe… —Yurei whispered, his voice faint and trembling with fear before his body gave out completely, succumbing to unconsciousness.

A soft murmur filled the adventurers’ guild in the quiet village. Sunlight streamed through dusty windows, illuminating the scene as a blonde-haired girl in a simple tunic approached the counter timidly.

—Hello, I’d like to register with the guild —she said in a sweet voice, her gaze full of anticipation.

The receptionist, a young woman with neatly tied brown hair, looked up with a professional smile.

—The minimum age to register is 18. Are you sure you’ve reached that age? —she asked, her tone slightly doubtful as she took in the girl’s youthful appearance.

Evangeline nodded quickly, a big smile lighting up her face.

—Yes! I turned 18 just yesterday.

The receptionist chuckled softly.

—Alright then, no problem. My name is Maria, and I’m one of the receptionists here at the New Moon Guild. I’ll just need you to place your hands on this sphere.

Carefully, Maria retrieved a crystal sphere from a small chest at her feet and placed it on the counter. Evangeline eyed the sphere curiously before placing both hands on its cool, smooth surface.

The sphere began to glow faintly, and golden letters appeared inside:

Evangeline Valencourt

Level: 3

Power: 50

Mana: 300

Elemental Affinity: Light

Maria’s eyes widened as she read the information.

—You have an affinity for light! That’s amazing —she said excitedly, unaware that her voice had risen slightly.

Immediately, several heads turned toward Evangeline, and the murmurs in the guild grew louder. Adventurers began whispering about the newcomer with curious and intrigued expressions.

Evangeline tilted her head, feeling slightly uncomfortable under the sudden attention.

—Excuse me, is having an affinity for light really that rare?

Maria nodded, her smile unwavering.

—It absolutely is! In this guild, there are only two users of light magic. You’d be the third. Plus, light magic users can heal, and that’s something many parties desperately need.

Evangeline gave a shy smile, her cheeks flushing slightly as the murmurs around her grew louder.

María handed the iron plate to Evangeline, her face showing a professional but kind smile.

—You’re now an iron-ranked adventurer. Over time, you’ll complete missions and rise through the ranks —she said cheerfully.

Evangeline accepted the plate with both hands, gazing at it with admiration. The chain was simple, but to her, it symbolized the start of a new chapter in her life. She placed it around her neck, wearing it like a precious treasure.

—Thank you so much! —she responded with joy.

María nodded warmly.

—You can head to the mission board on that wall. I recommend starting with herb collection missions; they’re perfect for gaining experience. If you join a group, you could tackle weak monsters like slimes.

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Evangeline nodded energetically, her excitement shining in her green eyes.

—Thank you for the advice! I’ll go check right away —she said, her voice brimming with happiness.

However, the cheerful atmosphere was abruptly disrupted. The guild doors swung open, and a group of five adventurers strode in. Three men and two women made up the group, but tension was thick in the air. The men bore irritated expressions, while the women avoided eye contact, clearly uncomfortable.

The usual bustle of the guild fell silent as the group approached the counter. The man leading them was tall and bald, wearing an eye patch over his left eye. His unkempt beard and intimidating presence made him seem more like a bandit than an adventurer. A silver-ranked plate hung from his chest.

—Hey, María, did you give us the wrong mission details? —he growled, his rough voice cutting through the quiet. —There were way more goblins than expected. This should increase the reward, don’t you think?

María stood her ground, though a slight tension flickered in her smile.

—Mr. Dorian, I’m glad you returned safely. If you dealt with more goblins than listed, you’ll be compensated. I just need the evidence to process it.

Dorian smirked, but there was something unsettling in his expression. Leaning closer to María, he whispered near her ear in a suggestive tone.

—Evidence? Don’t you trust me? I thought we had something special.

María pulled back sharply, her face hardening as she stared him straight in the eye.

—Please keep your distance, or I’ll have no choice but to call the guild master —she said, her tone a mix of irritation and authority.

Dorian let out a mocking laugh, raising his hands in a gesture of feigned innocence.

—Hey, don’t get all worked up, María, —he said, his grin dripping with insincerity. —About the evidence... I got lazy cutting off goblin ears, so I only brought ten. That should be enough to complete the mission, right?

María sighed and nodded, though her discomfort was evident in the way she avoided eye contact.

—That will suffice... —she replied, carefully counting the ears without looking directly at the man.

From a nearby table, a large man let out a hearty laugh. His worn iron armor creaked as he shifted his considerable weight on a makeshift bench. The massive axe strapped to his back seemed almost too large, even for someone of his size.

—Hey, Víctor! Looks like Dorian couldn’t trick María this time, —he said, his tone full of amusement.

Víctor, leaning casually against the table with his arms crossed, shot him an annoyed look. The leather of his light armor creaked as he shifted, idly fidgeting with the daggers at his waist.

—Franco, don’t laugh at your brother like that. You’re making him look weak. Remember, he’s the leader of the group. Just because he’s your older brother doesn’t mean you can mock him in front of everyone. Especially not in front of the new recruits. You’ll give them the wrong impression.

Víctor cast a quick glance at the two women in their group, gauging their reactions. Both remained silent, though their body language spoke volumes about their discomfort.

The taller of the two, a woman with wavy brown hair and determined eyes, finally spoke up. Her bow and quiver swayed slightly as she shifted her weight, her voice calm but firm.

—Don’t worry, we won’t think poorly of the leader. But we have things to attend to, so we’ll be taking our leave now.

—Mo, no, no! —Víctor interrupted quickly, stepping forward with a smile that tried to seem friendly but failed to hide the lustful gleam in his eyes. —We need to celebrate our victory. I can’t let you leave without taking your share of the reward.

The other woman, shorter with short, light-blue hair, simply watched the scene in silence. Her matching blue eyes reflected unease, though she kept her thoughts to herself. Her stance, with a staff resting on her back, suggested she’d rather be anywhere else.

Dorian dropped the coins on the table with a metallic clink, leaning back in his chair with a smug grin.

—Five copper coins for each goblin. That makes 50 coppers now, —he declared, letting the coins gleam under the dim tavern light before settling into his seat.

Víctor, twirling one of his daggers idly, raised an eyebrow.

—And how are we splitting the reward?

Dorian waved his hand dismissively.

—Let’s worry about that later. It’s not much, but we could buy some beer and meat. Then maybe rent one or two rooms at the inn.

Franco, busy wiping his beard, raised his hand with a sly grin.

—Wait, wait. What will that be like? Will I have to share a room with you? I don't find it fair. How about we leave you guys in one room and I stay with the girls in the other?

Dorian shot him a glare, his expression darkening as he slammed a fist on the table.

—Hey! You’ve got some nerve saying that in front of me, trying to steal the girls!

Before the tension could escalate, a waitress arrived with five frothy beers, placing them quickly on the table. The scent of hops filled the air, and Dorian immediately grabbed a mug, his temper visibly easing.

Víctor raised his mug, taking a long gulp before speaking with a casual grin.

—Let’s drink first, then decide. We could even put one girl in each room, right? —he suggested, his tone meant to be humorous but only adding to the discomfort.

The two women, who had been silently enduring the conversation, exchanged glances of clear displeasure. The brunette stood abruptly, her determined gaze piercing as she grabbed the younger girl’s hand.

—Don’t worry about us. We don’t need a share of the reward. After all, we didn’t help since you guys took care of the goblins. It’s better if we leave.

With a sharp motion, she pulled the younger girl along, practically dragging her out of the tavern. Neither of them looked back as they exited.

Dorian slammed his mug on the table, his face twisted in frustration.

—Idiots! See what you did? Now you’ve ruined the fun.

Franco shrugged, smirking lazily.

—Hey, you’re the one who brought up the room arrangements. You should’ve at least waited until they were drunk.

Evangeline observed the scene from the farthest corner of the guild, her green eyes reflecting the unease she felt watching the group of adventurers. Her brows furrowed slightly as she overheard their conversation; it was clear that being an adventurer wouldn’t be easy. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the doubts forming in her mind.

“Start with the basics,” she told herself, turning toward the mission board. Her delicate hands skimmed over the posted sheets, searching for something that suited her abilities and experience. Then, one mission caught her eye.

Tears of Aether

A glowing blue flower used for healing potions.

Quantity: 10

Total reward: 30 copper coins

Location: Caves and dimly lit areas

The drawing of a blue flower with a yellow center was detailed on the sheet. Evangeline smiled faintly, holding it between her fingers.

—This one seems perfect —she murmured to herself, stepping decisively toward the counter.

María, still busy organizing documents, glanced up as she approached. Taking the notice from Evangeline’s hands, she offered a warm smile.

—Well, I think you’ve found the perfect mission to start with. —María began writing the mission details into a large book open on the table.

As Evangeline watched, her fingers fiddled nervously with the edges of her tunic, betraying a mix of excitement and worry. She lowered her gaze, whispering almost inaudibly:

—This mission doesn’t require a party, does it?

María looked up, her calm expression reassuring.

—No, of course not. Although it’s always recommended to have companions to watch your back. Generally, gathering medicinal herbs doesn’t involve any danger. —She paused and gestured toward a nearby shelf.

—But I’d suggest buying a map of the area and a basic dimensional bag. They’ll be very helpful.

Evangeline nodded, clutching the sheet gently against her chest. A spark of determination lit her gaze as she began planning the first steps of her journey.

The forest was cloaked in dim light, with crunchy leaves and dry branches marking the trail. Clara, a tiny pixie with shimmering wings, struggled to drag an inert body. Her face showed exhaustion as she tugged hard at the mana ropes binding the figure. Each pull left a path of disturbed soil and fallen leaves in her wake.

—Why am I even doing this? Maybe I should just leave you here and go —Clara muttered, her small brows furrowed as her glowing hands tugged at the ropes.

Suddenly, the body began to move. The "corpse's" eyes shot open, gleaming with confusion. Kaito blinked rapidly, trying to grasp the situation. Noticing the mana ropes binding him, his survival instincts kicked in. With a strong yank on one of the threads, he broke it, sending Clara flying through the air from the sudden tension.

—Are you insane?! —Clara shouted as she landed awkwardly in a bush, her wings trembling with indignation—. Is this how you repay me for dragging you all night?!

Kaito slowly sat up, leaning against a fallen log as his memories returned in a flood. The face of the old mage who had nearly killed him flashed through his mind, filling him with a sense of debt to the small creature now glaring at him with hands on her hips and a scowl on her face.

—I’m sorry. I think I made a big mistake… And thank you for your help —Kaito said, his voice hoarse but sincere, bowing his head slightly.

Clara, surprised by the apology, tilted her head with a satisfied smile.

—See? I knew you’d eventually recognize my brilliance. That mage didn’t expect my incredible camouflage skills. Now you’ll think I’m far superior to him —Clara said, laughing proudly and crossing her tiny arms.

Kaito raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

—But I still don’t understand how someone like you managed to fool a royal knight and a great mage. Do you have special abilities?

Clara extended her tiny hands dramatically, as if about to unveil a great secret.

—Well, since you’ve shared some of your secrets, I guess I can help you understand what happened —she said with a smug smile.

Kaito nodded, his body too weak to argue. He leaned back against the log, closing his eyes for a moment as he listened.

—Well, that would be very helpful… —he murmured, letting his mind relax even while remaining alert.