Once inside, Jae-Hyun sank into the worn leather chair by the window, the faint hum of the city below serving as a distant backdrop. He retrieved his phone, scrolling through a string of unread notifications. Ahri’s name stood out among them, her texts concise yet tinged with subtle concern:

Ahri:

* Found some interesting info on the Tower and about a ranking system.

* Silver Talon’s is gonna be raiding a rank A Gate. Looks like they’re gearing for something big.

* Haven’t heard from you all day. Everything okay?

Jae-Hyun stared at the screen for a moment before typing a brief response:

Jae-Hyun:

* Busy with some stuff. Forgot to check my phone. I’m fine.

He hesitated before hitting send, his thoughts briefly lingering on Ahri’s unspoken worry. Despite her sharp tongue and guarded demeanor, her concern slipped through in moments like these. He shook his head, dismissing the thought, and placed the phone aside.

The weight of the day pressed down on him, his body aching for rest. As he closed his eyes, his mind drifted to the challenges ahead. The Tower loomed large in his thoughts, its secrets and dangers pulling at his resolve. But beneath the fatigue, a spark of determination burned brighter than ever. No matter what lay ahead, he would continue to climb. He had no choice.

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System Notification: Hidden Item Detected. Location: Next Boss Floor. Proceed at Your Peril.

The message appeared faintly in the corner of his vision as he drifted into a restless sleep, a final reminder of the trials yet to come.

----------------------------------------

The sun filtered through the curtains of Jae-Hyun’s apartment, casting warm rays that danced across the floor. The quiet hum of the city outside was a stark contrast to the oppressive silence of the Tower he had faced the day before. Sitting at the small cafe table, Jae-Hyun sipped his tea, the warmth grounding him as he scrolled absentmindedly through his phone. Ahri was already perched on the couch, her legs tucked under her as she meticulously sharpened her blade.

Breaking the silence, Ahri glanced up, her sharp eyes catching his attention. “You know,” she began, her tone casual, “I found out something interesting last night.”

Jae-Hyun raised an eyebrow but didn’t look up from his phone. “Hmm?”

“There’s a place here in the city where adventurers can get their strength officially ranked,” she said, a spark of curiosity lacing her voice. “They have specialized tests to evaluate combat abilities, mana reserves, and overall potential.”

Jae-Hyun finally set his phone down, giving her a skeptical look. “Why would we need that? I already know where I stand.”

Ahri rolled her eyes, setting her blade aside with a clink. “You might, but don’t you think it’s useful for others to know how strong we are? And besides, I want to see where I rank. It could be fun.”

“I don’t need to announce my strength to the world,” Jae-Hyun replied bluntly, leaning back in his chair. “And neither do you. What’s the point?”

Ahri crossed her arms, her lips curving into a sly smile. “Well, for one, it’ll make it easier for us to navigate certain circles. People take rank seriously, especially guilds. And secondly, you’re no fun.”

Jae-Hyun’s expression remained unchanged. “I have no intention of joining any guilds, so that doesn’t matter.”

Ahri stood, brushing off imaginary dust from her outfit. “Fine. Don’t do it for the guilds. Do it because I want to know my rank—and I want you to come with me.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Ahri—”

“And,” she interrupted, leaning slightly forward with a teasing glint in her eyes, “you don’t even have to announce your entity or your rank. Just do the test and keep the results to yourself if you’re so worried about privacy. No one has to know.”

Jae-Hyun opened his mouth to argue but found himself faltering under her determined gaze. Finally, he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “You’re not going to drop this, are you?”

“Nope,” she said brightly, grabbing her jacket. “So, let’s go. We don’t have all day.”

Grumbling under his breath, Jae-Hyun stood and grabbed his own coat. “You’re impossible.”

“That’s why you are with me” she quipped, heading for the door. “Come on, Mr. Mysterious. Time to get ranked.”

As they stepped out into the bustling city streets, Jae-Hyun couldn’t help but wonder how the day would unfold. Something about this felt unnecessary, yet he couldn’t entirely shake the curiosity brewing in the back of his mind. If nothing else, it was a chance to see Ahri’s determination in action—and that, at least, promised to be amusing.

----------------------------------------

Ahri waited patiently in the lobby of the ranking center, her sharp eyes scanning the room. The space was bustling with adventurers, some chatting excitedly about their evaluations, others brooding quietly. She leaned against the wall, her sword resting by her side, exuding an air of quiet confidence. Despite her casual demeanor, she felt slightly out of place. Most of the adventurers here were part of guilds, their crests proudly displayed on their armor, while she and Jae-Hyun had walked in as independents.

It wasn’t long before someone approached her—a tall, cocky adventurer with an easy grin. He looked like the type who thrived on attention, his posture relaxed but calculated. “Hey there,” he said smoothly, his tone dripping with charm. “You must be new around here. I’d remember seeing someone like you.”

Ahri raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Someone like me?” she echoed, her tone flat.

“Strong, capable, beautiful,” he said with a wink. “You don’t see that combination every day.”

She crossed her arms, her expression unchanging. “Right. And you’re what? The welcoming committee?”

The adventurer chuckled, undeterred by her sarcasm. “You could say that. Name’s Dae-Ho. And you are?”

Before Ahri could respond, Jae-Hyun’s voice cut through the din, sharp and commanding. “Ahri.”

She turned to see him approaching. His presence was as imposing as ever, and the shift in the room’s energy was palpable. Without a word, he placed a hand on her shoulder and said, “It’s your turn. Let’s go.”

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Dae-Ho’s grin faltered as he stepped back, his confidence momentarily shaken. Jae-Hyun’s sharp blue eyes met his for a brief moment—a silent warning—and then he turned, guiding Ahri toward the evaluation chambers.

As they walked away, Dae-Ho’s friend nudged him with a smirk. “Yo, bro, you don’t stand a chance if that’s her boyfriend.”

Dae-Ho scowled, muttering under his breath. “Didn’t exactly see a ring on her finger.”

“Yeah, but did you see that guy? He looks like he could tear you apart with a glare, and I'm not talking about looks” his friend replied, laughing.

Meanwhile, Ahri glanced up at Jae-Hyun, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Boyfriend, huh?”

“Don’t start,” he muttered, his tone exasperated but not entirely dismissive.

Ahri smirked but let the matter drop as they reached the evaluation room. She couldn’t resist, though, sneaking one last glance at Dae-Ho, who was now trying—and failing—to look unfazed.

----------------------------------------

Ahri exited the evaluation chamber, her steps slower than usual. Her grip on the hilt of her sword was tight, her expression composed, but the faint tension in her posture betrayed her thoughts. She had received her rank—C. It wasn’t a bad rank, especially for an independent adventurer without guild resources or specialized training. Yet, deep down, she had hoped for more. Something in her heart had wanted validation, a sign that her efforts were enough.

But she wouldn’t let it show. Not to Jae-Hyun. She’d die before admitting she was even slightly disappointed.

Jae-Hyun leaned against the wall just outside the chamber, his arms crossed and his sharp blue eyes scanning the room. When he saw her approach, he pushed off the wall and stepped toward her.

“How did it go?” he asked, his tone neutral.

Ahri looked away, her voice carefully even. “Rank C. Nothing too surprising.”

Jae-Hyun nodded once. “C is solid. You’ll catch up.”

She shot him a sidelong glance, catching the subtle implication in his tone. “You make it sound like that’s an easy thing to do,” she said, her voice light but edged with a hint of bitterness. “You know how hard it is to move up the ranks once they’re set. The ranking is brutal.”

Jae-Hyun tilted his head slightly. “Hard doesn’t mean impossible.”

She huffed softly. “Sure. It just means endless grinding, taking on missions way above your comfort zone, and praying the ranking system deems you worthy of another evaluation. Most people stay stuck where they are for years.”

Jae-Hyun shrugged, his tone dismissive. “Most people don’t try hard enough.”

The response wasn’t meant to be cutting, but it stung nonetheless. Ahri felt her grip tighten slightly on her sword’s hilt.

He doesn’t get it, she thought. Not everyone’s like him, breaking through every obstacle like it’s just another step. It’s not that I don’t want to try, Ahri thought, keeping her expression neutral. It’s just… so many adventurers never move past their initial rank. Some spend their entire lives stuck, no matter how much they fight for it. What if I’m one of them?

She pushed the thought aside, forcing a faint smirk onto her lips as she turned back to Jae-Hyun. If she was going to rank up, she wouldn’t do it by worrying. She would do it by climbing, fighting, and proving herself—just like he always seemed to.

“And you? What did you get?”

Before Jae-Hyun could answer, a presence approached them, one that immediately commanded attention. A woman in ornate yet practical gear strode toward them, her auburn hair tied back in a loose braid and her striking green eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and authority. She moved with a natural grace, though her slightly hurried steps gave her an air of clumsy determination.

Ahri stiffened slightly, recognizing her instantly. “That’s Han Min-Seo,” she whispered quickly to Jae-Hyun, her tone low. “Leader of Arcane Concord.”

Jae-Hyun tilted his head, leaning slightly toward her. “Who?” he whispered back, keeping his voice quiet.

Min-Seo stopped a few paces away, raising an eyebrow as a faint smile tugged at her lips. “You know, it’s rude to whisper in front of people,” she said, her voice playful yet commanding.

Jae-Hyun straightened, his expression shifting to mild annoyance as Ahri tried to stifle a laugh.

“Forgive us,” Ahri said quickly, stepping forward and bowing her head slightly. “I’m Ahri. It’s an honor to meet you, Leader Min-Seo.”

“Just Min-Seo is fine,” the guild leader replied with a warm smile. “No need to be so formal. So, what brings you two here?” Her eyes flicked between them, lingering on Jae-Hyun for a moment longer than necessary. “I felt your aura earlier,” she added, her tone casual but her gaze sharp. “It’s stronger than the last time I saw you. You’ve been busy.”

Jae-Hyun’s sharp gaze lingered on Han Min-Seo as she spoke. There was something in her tone—friendly, almost too much so. Her eyes carried a glimmer of curiosity, but beneath it, Jae-Hyun thought he caught a flicker of something else. Was it calculation? Interest? Whatever it was, he didn’t like it.

Why is she paying so much attention to me? The thought crossed his mind unbidden, but he quickly pushed it aside, unwilling to let paranoia cloud his judgment. Still, he made a mental note to tread carefully. Leaders like her didn’t rise to prominence without a knack for reading people and playing games.

When she mentioned his aura, his expression darkened subtly. The evaluation should have been private, yet she was able to sense something had changed. It was a reminder that no matter how strong he became, there would always be eyes watching, waiting for a weakness to exploit.

Jae-Hyun’s expression didn’t waver. “Have we met before? We were here for evaluations,” he said simply.

“Not really. What ranks did you get?” Min-Seo asked, her curiosity genuine.

Ahri stepped in first. “I got Rank C,” she said, her tone steady though she avoided looking directly at Min-Seo. “It’s nothing impressive, but it’s a start.”

Min-Seo’s smile widened. “That’s a great rank. Plenty of people never even make it that far. It’s a solid foundation to build on.”

She turned to Jae-Hyun expectantly. “And you?”

Jae-Hyun’s gaze was unwavering as he replied, “I can't share my rank”

Min-Seo blinked, slightly taken aback, but her surprise quickly turned into understanding. “Ah, I see. Some people like to keep that private. That’s fair.” She gave him a knowing look. “But if you’re ever interested, Arcane Concord is always open to strong, independent adventurers. You two would make excellent additions.”

Ahri opened her mouth to respond, but Jae-Hyun cut her off. “Thanks, but no. We’re not interested.” His tone was firm but polite, leaving no room for argument.

Min-Seo tilted her head, studying him for a moment before nodding. “Fair enough. But the offer stands. If you ever need help or change your mind, don’t hesitate to reach out. Arcane Concord is always willing to support promising individuals.”

“We’ll keep that in mind,” Jae-Hyun said, his voice steady.

Min-Seo’s smile softened, and she stepped back, giving them space. “Take care, both of you. And Ahri, don’t underestimate Rank C. It’s a good starting point, and I have no doubt you’ll climb higher. As for you…” She glanced at Jae-Hyun, her gaze lingering. “I’ll be watching your progress. Something tells me we will meet again.”

With that, she turned and walked away, her braid swaying slightly as she disappeared into the crowd.

Ahri let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Well, that was… something.”

Jae-Hyun’s expression remained stoic, though his gaze followed Min-Seo for a moment before he turned back to Ahri. “Let’s go.”

As they left the evaluation center, Ahri glanced at him. “You’re really not going to tell me your rank?”

“No,” he replied simply.

She sighed dramatically. “Fine. Be mysterious. But you’re buying lunch to make up for it.”

Jae-Hyun gave her a sidelong glance but didn’t argue. For now, the quiet companionship between them was enough.

Ahri followed Jae-Hyun in silence as they exited the ranking center, her grip tightening on the hilt of her sword. She kept her posture relaxed and her expression neutral, but inside, a faint sense of dissatisfaction gnawed at her.

Rank C… It’s fine. Good, even. Plenty of adventurers would kill for it. The thought did little to ease the tension in her chest. She had hoped for more—needed more. In a world that rewarded strength above all else, "good" wasn’t enough, specially if she wanted to stay by Jae-Hyun side.

She glanced at his back as he walked ahead, his posture exuding an effortless confidence. He didn’t even need to share his rank; his strength was self-evident. Compared to him, her achievements felt insignificant, no matter how much she tried to rationalize otherwise.

With a quiet exhale, she shook her head. Focus. This isn’t about comparing yourself to him or anyone else. This is just the beginning. Despite the doubts that lingered at the edges of her mind, determination burned quietly within her. If Rank C was her starting point, then she would make it her mission to climb higher—no matter how long it took.