The dojo still smelled like smoke, iron… and regret.
Specifically Shura's regret.
Shattered obsidian bamboo was stacked neatly along the wall like a monument to poor impulse control. Faint Viora residue still shimmered in the air, crackling occasionally like it hadn't fully forgiven him.
Master Juro leaned against the porch railing, arms folded, watching.
"Sky-Boy."
Shura stiffened.
"Yes, Master?"
"Training in the forest," Juro said calmly, "is one thing."
A pause.
"Now you'll learn how it feels when the world doesn't politely wait for you to breathe."
Shura blinked. "You mean… a real fight?"
"Yes."
Beat.
"The Guild posted a quest."
Another beat.
"You'll take it."
Shura pointed at himself.
"…Alone?"
"Alone."
Shura opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Zenkyou stepped forward, arms crossed.
"Old man," she said flatly, "I already threw him into a real fight."
Juro didn't look surprised.
Shura slowly turned.
"You what?"
Zenkyou shrugged.
"Pack of Skitter-Wretches. No weapon. No instructions."
She tilted her head slightly.
"You survived."
"Barely!"
"Exactly."
Shura stared at her in disbelief.
"That's not training. That's attempted murder!"
Zenkyou stepped closer.
He didn't like how calm she looked.
"Reality," she said, "doesn't care if you think it's fair."
Before he could respond—
She punched him in the chest.
Hard.
All oxygen vacated his existence.
He folded slightly.
"Breathe properly," she said. "Your guard drops when you complain."
Juro nodded approvingly.
"She's not wrong."
Shura wheezed on the ground.
"I would appreciate," he gasped, "a warning next time."
Zenkyou blinked.
"Why?"
"…Because that's normal."
She considered that.
"Fair."
Juro stepped forward and held out a katana.
"Enough philosophy. Grip."
Shura took it carefully.
"Your hands are too tense," Juro said immediately.
Shura loosened.
"Too loose."
He tightened.
"Too stiff."
"…Make up your mind."
Juro smiled faintly.
"Flow Viora into the blade. Don't force it."
Shura inhaled.
Focused.
The katana vibrated faintly.
Better.
Zenkyou watched quietly now.
Less mocking.
More assessing.
"Good," Juro said finally. "Now take the Guild quest."
Shura blinked.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"…No dramatic speech?"
Juro looked offended.
"I just gave one."
—
The Guild Hall of Ossuarium was louder than usual.
Requests posted. Mercenaries arguing. Metal clanking. Paperwork suffering.
Shura stepped inside, trying to look like someone who belonged there.
He did not.
A woman with curly hair and a clipboard spotted him instantly.
She zoomed toward him.
"Yes?"
Shura froze.
"…Yes?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
"Shura."
"That's not what I meant."
He blinked.
"Uh… Shift. From Helionight."
She tapped her clipboard thoughtfully.
"Helionight? That gloomy place with dramatic architecture and worse tea?"
"…Probably."
"ID."
He handed it over.
She squinted.
Her expression changed.
"Oh."
Pause.
"Guardian: Zenkyou."
Another pause.
"You're the new recruit she keeps threatening to 'throw at something dangerous to see what happens.'"
Shura went still.
"She says that?"
"Frequently."
The woman stuck out her hand.
"Mio. I manage paperwork and prevent disasters."
He shook it.
"Nice to meet you."
She flipped through papers rapidly.
"Let's see… we have sewer infestation, minor relic instability, illegal duel complaint…"
She stopped.
"Oh."
That "oh" didn't sound comforting.
"Blight Crawlers in an abandoned mine. Core Beacon flickering. Structural instability. Mildly venomous fauna."
She looked up brightly.
"Perfect for beginners."
Shura stared.
"That doesn't sound beginner-friendly."
Mio shrugged.
"It builds character."
"Does everyone here say that?"
"Yes."
She stamped the paper dramatically.
"Try not to die. I hate writing death reports. They're repetitive."
He hesitated.
"…How many have you written?"
She smiled sweetly.
"Enough."
—
As he turned to leave—
A figure blocked the doorway.
Older.
Broad shoulders.
Smug grin.
"New kid."
Shura sighed internally.
"Let me guess," the boy continued. "First quest?"
"…Yes."
"Let me help you. Small guidance fee."
Shura studied him quietly.
Classic.
Predator energy.
He slouched slightly.
Lowered his gaze.
Made his shoulders droop.
Spike relaxed instantly.
That was easy.
Then Shura's posture changed.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
His eyes lifted.
Cold.
Measured.
"I regularly meet Empress Rose," he said quietly.
Spike blinked.
"If I mention your 'guidance fees,'" Shura continued softly, "your career will end before it begins."
Spike went pale.
"…You're lying."
"Would you like to test that?"
Silence.
Spike stepped aside.
"…Go."
Shura walked past him calmly.
Then paused.
Turned slightly.
"Oh. And next time?"
His gaze sharpened.
"Pick someone weaker."
He left.
Spike did not follow.
—
The mine entrance smelled wrong.
Wet stone. Rot. Something metallic.
Shura tightened his grip on the katana.
The corridor narrowed quickly.
Then—
Movement.
Blight Crawlers burst from cracks in the walls.
Fast.
Too fast.
He barely parried the first.
Venom splattered across stone.
"Okay," he muttered, "this is worse than bamboo."
He moved.
Strike.
Dodge.
Slip.
Recover.
The mine floor crumbled beneath his foot.
He caught himself at the last second.
Heart hammering.
The Core Beacon deeper inside flickered violently.
Each flicker made the Crawlers more aggressive.
He understood.
Destroy nest. Stabilize Beacon. Leave alive.
Simple.
Difficult.
His Viora pulsed.
More controlled now.
Not wild like before.
Not reckless.
He moved cleaner.
Sharper.
One final strike shattered the corrupted nest.
Silence fell.
The Beacon steadied.
Shura leaned against the wall, breathing hard.
"…I hate character development."
—
When he returned to the Guild—
Dirty. Bloodied. Alive.
Mio looked up.
"Oh. You survived."
"That seems to disappoint you."
"Not at all. I just didn't want paperwork."
She scanned the report.
"Efficient."
He blinked.
"That's it?"
She nodded.
"Welcome to the Guild."
Outside, night settled over Ossuarium.
Shura walked slowly back toward the dojo.
His body ached.
His mind replayed every mistake.
Every near fall.
Every moment he almost didn't get back up.
The Deep hadn't felt fair.
It hadn't felt dramatic.
It had simply tried to kill him.
And it would again.
Somewhere above—
Zenkyou stood on a rooftop.
Watching him return.
Arms crossed.
Satisfied.
"Still alive," she muttered.
Juro appeared beside her quietly.
"For now."
Below them—
Shura exhaled slowly.
The first quest had ended.
But something about the Beacon's flicker…
Didn't feel natural.
And deep beneath Ossuarium—
Something had noticed him.