~Yawn~
"Alright, chirp chirp, early bird early bird." I said tiredly as I got off from the bed.
"Hm?" I directed my field of vision to my right hand. It had a blade in it.
"You're kidding. I really slept with this in my hand? Well at least it's good to know I'm instinctively ready for anything at any given time to that extent. Let's not forget, it's possible that I made enemies with an S-Rank Warrior right now. News travels faaaast when Warriors and Dungeons is the topic. I'm pretty sure the Guildmaster of the Helios Guild is aware of his son's death by now, and the fact that I'm involved. But... ignoring that, three gemstones, a new and entirely different hilt along with a different font for its name. This isn't that same First Dawn I used to dominate the Zeke Party, is it? So mao bane's events really weren't a dream."
It didn't take a Sherlock to figure it out. I was becoming more and more broken than I'd care to be.
"Seriously, last I checked, it's impossible for weapons to increase in Grade, only in Stage. And yet here we are. If this gets out, the entire world'll be turned over its head. Even S-Rank Warriors will want a piece of me. I can't share this with anyone. If I do, it'd have to be someone I trust with not just my life but my entire soul."
In the current world we live in, the Great Age of Warriors, even a First Stage Elementary-Grade weapon costs hundreds of thousands. And we're talking about the lowest Graded weapon that can only level up three times tops. Now imagine what would happen if people found a weapon that can break through that limitation, and then found the dummy who made it, and then found out that he is oh so very capable of making other ones.
"Merely thinking about it alone makes me dizzy. I might've stumbled upon one hell of a blessing in disguise with this Class."
I teleported First Dawn into the Item Space. I then checked the time. It read 07:14 on my phone.
"I slept without eating yesterday. I'll make up for lost time. With a king sized breakfast."
I ordered room service. Enough food to make you think I was expecting.
"Not funny."
Sorry.
Anyway.
I ate then went to fetch the clothes that I had washed from yesterday. After that, I went to take a bath. I then changed into that same set of clothes. They were a little beat up from the events of the Dungeon but not enough to bother me. I mean, they were clean regardless so why not?
"Okay. Time to make some money."
I went outside the hotel, entered my car then drove to the Warriors Association. After I arrived, I casually strolled through the entrance. There were still as many reception tables as I remembered. To be more specific, it looked like there were two sections. One where there was a board on each table written 'First Time Registration' and the other where the boards were written 'Registered Warrior Service'. This time, unlike before, I was to head over to the other section.
"Huh?"
As I did that, I noticed something strange, the receptionist from before, unlike yesterday, was in the Registered Warrior Service section.
"Weird, is she some sort of 'double-shifter'? Welp, since I'm more or less acquainted with her, I should go to her table to sell the Mana Crystal."
The line had a lot more people than the one from yesterday, around 30 or so. Since it was going to take a while for me to be attended. I started playing a game on my phone and made sure to keep pace while I waited for my turn. The cop chasing me along with his dog did not let up, it didn't matter how many trains I jumped, or even if I gained a powerup that allowed me to take to the skies. He still kept hot on my tail. Persistent bastard.
"Hah! New high score! Take that los-"
"Uhm...sir? Hello?"
"Oh jesus! Hoof! I thought my heart was gonna jump outta my chest. Hm? Oh, is it my turn now?" I asked after finally noticing how far I'd gone.
"Wait, hold on. How did she-"
"That it is." The receptionist answered.
She then continued. "You're the F-Rank Warrior from yesterday, right? Raid was it?"
"Oh wow, you remembered. I'm flattered. And you're...Peyton, ey?" I said after looking at her name tag.
"That's right. Oh and don't be too surprised I remembered you, forgetting the first and only F-Rank isn't exactly easy, fyi." Ouch, shots fired.
"Then there's the fact that you solo cleared an E-Rank Dungeon that took the lives of a party of one C-Rank, two D-Ranks and one E-Rank."
"What'd I tell ya! Faaaast travel."
"Oh yeah? Well... I just got lucky." I said.
"Really now? You don't say."
"Hmm...what'sa matter? Don't believe me?" I poked with a smirk. I feel like I'm getting cocky little by little. Well it's not like it isn't warranted.
"Oh I never said that." She said in defence while smirking herself. She looked a lot more comfortable with speaking to me than she did yesterday. It made me feel a lot more comfortable too. Honestly speaking our conversation from yesterday was beyond awkward. It's great if we can break the ice like this. "But let's forget about that. What exactly can I help you with? I assume it isn't to sell crystals since you're not holding any."
"Oh no, that's exactly what I'm here for actually."
I conjured out the D-Rank Mana Crystal of the Great Werehyena from the Item Space. She looked a bit baffled as she saw the Crystal appear in my hand out of nowhere. Warriors don't commonly put their Skills out for display like this but I didn't really care since it was the Item Space Skill which I didn't even use for battle.
"Is that... a spacial storage Skill. I-I didn't know the Blacksmith Class had that."
"Oh it does. I mean, how else am I supposed to carry all the weapons I make?" I asked rhetorically.
"Hmm. I guess that makes sense. Maybe I just thought you'd have a smithy or something, somewhere in the area." She jestered.
"Oh wow, you're terrible." I protested.
"And you've got no funny bone." Or maybe, you're just not that funny. No way I'd tell her that straight up though...
"....so it's a D-Rank Mana Crystal that I'm se-"
"Changing the subject are we-"
"A D-Rank Mana Crystal that I'm selling. Here you go." I gave it to her.
"You're no fun. Fiiiine, be that way. A D-Rank monster core earns you ten-thousand kk's. Just lend me your bank card for a sec and I'll transfer the currency immediately."
"Sounds good."
I gave her my card as she worked her magic. She then gave it back to me after she was done.
"Neat gloves." I said in observation, ignoring the sudden vibration from my phone as I put it in my pocket. She was wearing black and white fancy looking gloves that had patterned purple glowing lines on it.
"Oh these? Yeah, they verify the validity of Mana Crystals, the purple lines will continuously flash if I'm holding a legit Mana Crystal, and only Warrior Service section receptionists wear them." She explained.
"Makes sense."
"That it does. So, you planning on going to any other Dungeons any time soon?" She asked.
"Uh... yeah, I think I'll only explore E-Ranks from now on."
"Are you sure you're not getting in over your head? You said it yourself right? You only got "lucky" in the previous one."
I couldn't tell if she was genuinely worried about me or just poking fun.
"Oh, don't worry, I won't try to clear them. Just explore. By the way. I wanted to ask..."
"You're a terrible liar. What'd you wanna ask?" She inquired.
"A terrible liar? The eff does she mean by that? Mergh, she's weird so it's whatever, lemme just ask what I need to ask."
"Aren't you originally supposed to be in that section."
I pointed over to the First Time Registration section.
"That I am. But just for today, I was assigned to this section." She explained.
"Well that seems oddly specific. Why's that?" I asked.
"You don't wanna know?"
"Well that just makes me more curious."
"Which gives me more reason not to tell you."
"Now look who's no fun."
"Go choke on something."
"Only if you'll join me."
"You're holding up the line." She was right. I was met with very angry looking, very annoyed faces when I looked behind me.
"Well, well, aren't you just the best at weaseling out of situations. I'll take my leave then." I said as I walked away.
"Please do." She ordered.
"We'll see each other again soon." I declared.
"You have no idea."
"What did she say?"
I didn't exactly hear that last part so I asked:...
"Sorry, what was that!?"
"Ohhh nnnothing." She answered with a bright smile. For some reason, it seemed insincere.
"Should I be worried?" I wondered.
"Meh! Whatever!" But then chose to completely forget about it.