It had been three weeks since I was transported to this world.
Somehow, during that time, I'd managed to solve the language barrier that plagued me from day one. Whether it was through constant exposure, subconscious adaptation, or something else entirely, I didn't know.
What mattered was that I could now understand and speak without hesitation.
And in those three weeks, I hadn't been idle.
I trained in magic, relentlessly casting spells until my mana ran dry. I never skipped my daily exercise either. Thanks to that routine, I could now cast around fifty basic spells before exhaustion set in.
That was a huge improvement.
But still not enough.
If I used higher-tier magic, all that mana would disappear in just two casts.
Quantity meant nothing without efficiency.
Right now, I sat in class, listening to Miss Erica's lecture.
Or at least, pretending to.
I caught her glancing at me more than once.
(Is she keeping an eye on me because I'm the oldest student?)
My situation was unusual, sure, but that didn't mean learning should stop just because of my age.
If anything, I had more reason to study seriously.
The other students treated me like an older brother. They often asked for help, especially with math.
I taught them simpler ways to calculate sums. Shortcuts. Concepts from my previous world.
Miss Erica noticed.
She even asked how I arrived at certain answers so quickly, her expression filled with confusion and curiosity.
Apparently, mathematics in this world wasn't as developed as it was on Earth.
In that regard…
I was probably the most advanced person in the room.
Class ended as usual, marked by the bell from the nearby church.
The children quickly packed up and rushed out, full of energy. I remained seated for a moment, closing my book and stretching my stiff fingers.
(Mana exhaustion really doesn't care if you're in a classroom.)
I stood and slung my bag over my shoulder.
Just as I turned toward the door, a strange sensation crawled up my spine.
…Someone was watching me.
I stopped and glanced back.
Near the doorway stood someone unfamiliar.
A boy around my age.
No. Not a boy. A young man.
His clothes were too refined for a commoner. Clean fabric, dark colors, carefully tailored. Nothing flashy, but undeniably expensive. A thin silver ornament rested at his collar.
Noble.
Or at least… wealthy.
Our eyes met.
He didn't look away.
There was no hostility in his gaze, just calm curiosity. Like someone observing an interesting specimen.
(…What's with that look?)
Before I could react, Miss Erica stepped between us while gathering her books.
When I looked again, the young man was gone.
Vanished.
…Maybe I was imagining things.
Still, the uneasy feeling lingered as I left the school.
I found myself wandering through the streets again, browsing the stalls.
This part of town was dedicated to food. Fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, everything was laid out openly.
Most of the meat sold here came from monsters.
It was said that eating certain types could enhance physical strength or endurance.
(If that's true, maybe I should look into it later.)
As I strolled further, the scenery shifted.
Before I realized it, I'd reached the equipment district.
Here, swords and armor lined the stalls. Potions and medicinal herbs were sold openly. Compared to the lively chatter of common folk in the food market, this area felt heavier.
Burly adventurers. Hardened mercenaries. Armed soldiers.
Taverns stood nearby, their doors open even in daylight.
The reason was obvious.
The Adventurers' Guild was close.
Continuing forward, a massive building came into view.
Adventurers' Guild.
I swallowed.
"This is it. No turning back now."
Today was the day I registered.
I still had a long way to go in my training, but I needed income.
I could apply for a safer job. A store clerk. An assistant.
But that would take too long to reach my goal.
A simple and luxurious life.
By luxurious, I didn't mean extravagance.
I meant not having to work ever again.
Adventuring was dangerous, but the rewards matched the risk.
And I wasn't planning to take reckless quests. Once I saved enough money, I could switch paths. Become a merchant.
That would be easier.
Still, no matter what path I chose, I needed the ability to defend myself.
With that resolve, I stepped inside the guild.
The interior was exactly as I imagined.
The hall buzzed with noise. Adventurers boasted about completed quests. Others discussed famous parties or upcoming expeditions. Groups crowded around the quest board, scanning parchment after parchment.
Once someone found a suitable quest, they rushed to the counter to register it.
A necessary process to avoid duplicate teams or over-acceptance.
I approached an available receptionist.
A beautiful blonde woman stood behind the counter. Her figure was eye-catching, her presence confident like a succubus wrapped in professionalism.
She wore elegant but practical attire, fitting for her role.
"Hello. I'd like to register as an adventurer," I said politely, offering a smile.
She nodded. "Please fill out this form. Once completed, submit it along with the registration fee of five silver coins."
Her smile was perfect.
Professional.
Impossible to read.
I scanned the form. Basic information. Name. Age. Profession.
I wrote Mage.
Then I handed it back with the coins.
It sounded expensive, but this was an investment.
Soon, I'd be earning enough to afford equipment and supplies.
The receptionist accepted the payment and began explaining.
"Congratulations. You are now an F-rank adventurer. You may accept F and E-rank quests. For beginners, we strongly recommend starting with F-rank."
She continued smoothly.
"From F-rank to C-rank, there is a monthly quest completion quota. Failure to meet it results in penalties for the first and second offenses. On the third offense, your adventurer card will be revoked."
…Harsh.
"For more details, a guidebook is available near the quest board. It may only be read inside the guild."
She smiled again. "We wish you success in your adventures."
Naturally, I headed straight for the board.
F-rank quests were simple.
Warehouse cleaning. Lost pets. Harvest assistance. Herb gathering.
Low risk. Low reward.
E-rank quests were more combat-focused.
Hunting horned rabbits. Nearby goblins. Weak monsters on the outskirts.
Horned rabbits were herbivores and usually fled on sight, but cornered ones were dangerous.
Goblins were worse.
Individually weak, but deadly in groups.
Most E-rank quests didn't require prior registration. You simply presented proof of the kill, and the guild rewarded you per monster.
I chose an herb-gathering quest.
Efficient.
If I encountered goblins or horned rabbits along the way, I could deal with them and earn extra rewards.
Multiple objectives. One trip.
The quest was for Blue Water Lilies.
They grew near rivers and small ponds. Easy to find. Easy to navigate.
And best of all, following the river would naturally lead me back to town.
Perfect.
I took the parchment and returned to the counter.
"I'll take this quest."