Ray woke up to the familiar sound of birds outside his window.
For a few moments, he remained still, staring at the wooden ceiling above him.
The morning sunlight slipped through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating the room with a faint golden glow.
He slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"...Morning."
Another day had begun.
He folded his blanket, placed it neatly beside the bed, and walked toward the washroom. After preparing some warm water, he took his time bathing, washing away the lingering sleepiness from his body.
The water was pleasantly warm.
He leaned against the wooden basin for a moment, allowing his thoughts to wander.
It had beenq few days since he had arrived in this world.
At first, everything had felt unreal. Waking up in an unfamiliar body, discovering that he was no longer in his original world, and realizing that the people he had once known were nowhere to be found.
Even now, he sometimes found himself expecting to hear his mother's voice or his brother complaining about something.
But those expectations would always end in silence.
He lowered his gaze toward the water.
I wonder how they're doing.
His family.
His old home.
The ordinary life he had once taken for granted.
He missed them. That much hadn't changed.
However, spending every waking moment thinking about what he had lost wouldn't bring anything back.
He needed to accept his circumstances, at least enough to continue living.
Ray took a slow breath.
I'm living here, in the Kingdom of Midgar. I have a place to stay, some money, and a body that's apparently capable of using mana.
He paused.
And I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with the rest of my life.
A faint sigh escaped him.
It wasn't a particularly comforting thought, but it was an honest one.
He didn't need to decide everything today.
For now, he only needed to take things one step at a time.
After finishing his bath, Ray dried himself, changed into clean clothes, and returned to his room.
He felt considerably more composed.
"Alright."
He sat on the edge of his bed and closed his eyes.
There was something he wanted to try.
Yesterday's assessment had left him with more questions than answers. The trainer had introduced mana into his body, allowing him to sense something that had previously been imperceptible.
He wanted to understand it better.
Ray recalled the instructions he had read in the book about mana control.
Rather than forcing mana to move, one was supposed to become familiar with its presence and gradually learn to guide it.
He began by concentrating on the sensation inside his body.
At first, there was nothing.
He remained still, patiently focusing on his breathing.
A few moments later, he noticed a faint sensation around his chest.
It was subtle, almost like a distant warmth.
There it is.
He didn't immediately attempt to move it.
Instead, he tried to understand its presence.
After a while, he carefully focused on the sensation and attempted to guide it toward his arm.
The movement was barely noticeable.
Sometimes it seemed to respond, while other times it faded before he could properly follow it.
He continued for several minutes before stopping.
It wasn't particularly impressive, but it was progress.
At least, he thought so.
He opened his eyes.
"That wasn't easy."
Ray flexed his fingers.
There was no visible change, nor did he feel particularly exhausted. Still, he had managed to sense and slightly influence the mana within his body.
He decided not to push himself further.
Instead, his thoughts returned to the strange ability he had experienced during the assessment.
The unusual clarity.
The details he had noticed about the trainer and the people outside.
He wanted to understand that as well.
Ray stood up and approached the window.
A man was walking along the street below, carrying a wooden crate.
Ray watched him.
At first, he noticed only the obvious details: the man's clothing, his posture, and the crate he was carrying.
Then he concentrated.
Gradually, smaller details became apparent.
The man's left shoulder was slightly lower than his right. His grip on the crate was uneven, and his steps suggested that most of its weight was resting toward one side.
Ray could even notice the brief tightening around the man's eyes whenever he adjusted his grip.
It wasn't merely seeing more clearly.
It was as though his attention was being directed toward information that he would ordinarily overlook.
He looked at another person passing by.
A woman carrying a basket.
He noticed her gaze repeatedly shifting toward a nearby shop, her fingers adjusting the basket's handle, and the slight hesitation in her steps whenever someone crossed her path.
The information came naturally.
However, the longer he observed, the more apparent the limitations became.
He couldn't understand everything about someone simply by looking at them.
He couldn't know their memories, intentions, or thoughts.
What he could do was gather small pieces of information and use them to form a more accurate understanding of what was happening.
So it's not mind reading.
Ray considered the possibility.
It's more like... enhanced observation?
He looked at the street again.
The ability seemed to increase the amount of information he could gather through observation, particularly from people.
Perhaps it also helped him interpret what he saw.
That would explain why he had been able to notice the trainer's subtle changes in expression and behavior.
But he still didn't know whether this ability was connected to mana.
Nor did he understand how it had awakened.
He thought for a while before forming a simple theory.
If I continue observing people every day, perhaps I'll become better at using it.
It was a fairly reasonable assumption.
The ability might become stronger through repeated use, or perhaps he would simply learn to control it more effectively.
Either way, there was only one way to find out.
He would observe people whenever the opportunity presented itself and keep track of any changes.
There was no need to make a complicated training routine out of it.
For now, he could treat it as an ordinary habit.
Ray stepped away from the window.
He had another destination in mind today.
The Adventurers Guild.
Yesterday, he had learned about its general purpose. Adventurers accepted requests, completed various tasks, and earned money depending on the difficulty of their assignments.
He wanted to register.
Not because he had some grand ambition to become famous, but because it seemed like a practical way to earn a living.
He couldn't depend entirely on the money left by Alden.
Eventually, it would run out.
And he needed a reliable source of income.
After eating breakfast, Ray checked his belongings and left the house.
The Adventurers Guild was considerably busier than he had expected.
The building stood near the marketplace, with a large wooden sign hanging above its entrance. Its doors were wide enough for several people to enter at once.
Ray stepped inside.
The first thing he noticed was the noise.
Conversations overlapped throughout the hall. Some people were discussing their recent assignments, while others were gathered around tables, eating and drinking.
A few adventurers wore leather armor, and several carried swords or other equipment.
The atmosphere was different from the marketplace.
There was a certain roughness to the people gathered here.
Some looked young, while others appeared to have spent many years traveling between settlements.
Ray briefly observed the room before approaching the reception counter.
A young woman behind the desk looked up.
"Good morning. How can I help you?"
"I'd like to register as an adventurer."
"Oh? Is this your first time registering?"
"Yes."
The receptionist glanced at him.
Her expression showed a moment of surprise.
Perhaps it was because of his young appearance.
"Are you here with your parents?"
"No. I'm registering by myself."
She hesitated briefly before answering.
"Very well. I'll need your name and your mana assessment record."
Ray took the folded paper from his pocket and placed it on the counter.
"My name is Ray."
The receptionist examined the document.
"Mana aptitude: ordinary..."
She read the remaining information before looking back at him.
"Alright. We can proceed with your registration."
She handed him a form.
"Please fill this out. You only need to provide your name, age, and place of residence."
Ray accepted the paper and began writing.
After completing it, he returned it to her.
The receptionist checked the information and placed the document inside a folder.
"Please wait a moment."
She disappeared into a room behind the counter.
Ray stood quietly, observing the surrounding hall.
A group of adventurers were discussing a monster they had encountered outside the town. One of them was explaining something with exaggerated hand movements, while the others occasionally interrupted him.
At another table, two people were dividing the rewards from a completed request.
Ray listened without deliberately trying to follow their conversation.
A few minutes later, the receptionist returned.
She placed a small wooden identification card on the counter.
"Here you are. Your registration has been completed."
Ray picked it up.
The card had his name engraved on it, along with a single letter.
F.
"You're registered as an F-rank adventurer."
"Is that the lowest rank?"
"Yes. All new adventurers begin at F-rank, regardless of their background. Your rank can increase as you complete requests and demonstrate your ability."
She pointed toward a nearby desk.
"Since you're new, I'll have someone explain the guild's rules and registration system to you. Please speak with the staff member over there."
Ray nodded.
"Thank you."
He walked toward the desk.
A man in his late twenties was sitting behind it, sorting through several documents. He had short brown hair and wore a simple leather vest.
When Ray approached, the man looked up.
"Ah, a newcomer?"
"Yes."
"First registration?"
"That's right."
The man smiled faintly.
"Then you've come to the right place. I'm responsible for introducing new adventurers to the guild's basic rules. Take a seat."
Ray sat down.
The man placed his documents aside.
"First, congratulations on becoming an adventurer. My name is Gareth. I'll explain how things work around here."
"Thank you."
"Now, let's start with the basics."
Gareth pointed toward the large noticeboard across the hall.
"Those are the guild's requests. Adventurers accept them, complete the assigned tasks, and receive payment once the guild confirms the results."
Ray followed his gesture.
There were dozens of papers attached to the board.
Some were small and simple, while others contained considerably more writing.
"Requests come in many forms," Gareth continued. "Gathering medicinal herbs, delivering goods, escorting merchants, hunting monsters, investigating unusual activity, and so on. The difficulty and payment depend on the task."
"Do adventurers choose whichever request they want?"
"Generally, yes. However, there are restrictions based on rank. An F-rank adventurer can't simply accept an A-rank request."
He leaned back in his chair.
"The guild has several ranks. F, E, D, C, B, A, and S. F is the lowest, while S is the highest."
Ray nodded.
"How does someone get promoted?"
"By completing requests, gaining experience, and demonstrating sufficient ability. The guild evaluates your record before considering a promotion."
Gareth raised one finger.
"However, completing requests alone isn't always enough. Your reliability matters, too. An adventurer who constantly abandons assignments or causes trouble won't have an easy time advancing."
"That makes sense."
"Good. Now, there's another rule you should remember."
Gareth's expression became slightly more serious.
"F-rank adventurers are required to complete at least four to five requests each month. If you remain inactive for too long without a valid reason, your registration can be suspended or seized."
Ray looked at him.
"Even if the adventurer hasn't broken any rules?"
"Correct. The guild isn't interested in keeping registrations for people who never intend to work. We need active members."
Gareth continued explaining.
"The higher your rank, the longer you're allowed to remain inactive. Experienced adventurers often take longer journeys or spend time preparing for difficult assignments, so the guild gives them more flexibility."
Ray considered that information.
"So the inactivity period depends on rank."
"Exactly."
Gareth nodded approvingly.
"You're catching on quickly."
He picked up a nearby sheet of paper.
"There's also the matter of rewards. Once you complete a request, return to the guild and report your results. Depending on the task, you may need to provide evidence, deliver collected materials, or have the requesting party confirm the completion."
"What happens if a request isn't completed?"
"That depends on the circumstances. If you abandon it without a valid reason, there may be penalties. If something unexpected happens, report it to the guild as soon as possible."
Ray listened carefully.
There was more to being an adventurer than simply accepting requests and earning money.
It required responsibility.
"One more thing," Gareth added. "Don't accept requests beyond your ability. It's easy for newcomers to become overconfident after completing a few simple assignments. Remember that the guild's rank system exists for a reason."
"I understand."
"Good."
Gareth then stood up.
"Come with me. I'll show you the noticeboard and explain how to select your first request."
Ray followed him.
They stopped in front of the large board.
Gareth pointed toward several papers attached to its lower section.
"These are suitable for F-rank adventurers. As you can see, most are relatively simple."
Ray examined the papers.
One requested the collection of medicinal herbs.
Another involved delivering a package to a nearby shop.
There was also a request for gathering firewood outside the town.
The rewards weren't particularly high.
However, they were reasonable for someone just starting out.
"Are these all available?" Ray asked.
"Not necessarily. Some requests are updated throughout the day. You'll need to check with the reception desk before accepting one."
Ray nodded.
He continued reading the papers.
Gathering herbs... delivering packages... collecting firewood.
None of them seemed particularly difficult.
Still, he didn't intend to rush into anything.
He had no combat experience, no proper understanding of swordsmanship, and only the most basic knowledge of mana.
Accepting a dangerous request simply because it offered better payment would be foolish.
Gareth noticed him examining the papers.
"Have you found something you're interested in?"
"Not yet. I'm just looking."
"That's fine. There's no need to rush. Take your time choosing your first assignment."
Ray stepped away from the board.
"Thank you for explaining everything."
"No problem. That's what I'm here for."
Gareth returned to his desk.
Ray glanced once more at his identification card.
He was officially an F-rank adventurer now.
It was a small achievement, but it represented something important.
He had taken his first step toward becoming financially independent in this unfamiliar world.
After leaving the guild, Ray walked through the marketplace.
He wasn't planning to accept a request immediately. He wanted to think about his circumstances first.
There were several things he needed to consider.
His current money was limited.
His mana control was practically nonexistent.
His newly discovered ability remained unexplained.
And, most importantly, he was still a child.
He couldn't afford to behave carelessly.
I should probably start with simple gathering or delivery requests.
They would allow him to earn some money without putting himself in unnecessary danger.
He could also become more familiar with the town and its surroundings.
As for his mana, he would continue practicing gradually.
He wanted to understand how much he could control and whether his strange observation ability was connected to it.
There was also the matter of swordsmanship.
If he intended to remain an adventurer, learning how to defend himself would eventually become necessary.
He didn't need to become an exceptional swordsman.
Simply knowing enough to protect himself would be useful.
Ray stopped near a shop and looked at the people passing by.
For a brief moment, he focused on them.
The ability responded.
Small details became easier to notice, and he found himself gathering information without much effort.
It's still working.
He watched for a few seconds before looking away.
He would continue testing it over the coming days.
Perhaps repeated observation would improve its effectiveness.
Perhaps he would eventually discover something more about its nature.
For now, he had a theory and a way to test it.
That was enough.
Ray continued walking toward home.
The future remained uncertain, but at least he had begun establishing a routine.
He would practice mana control, observe the people around him, accept manageable guild requests, and gradually learn more about the world.
Nothing particularly ambitious.
Just a reasonable way to live.
As he passed beneath the afternoon sunlight, he glanced at the small identification card in his hand.
F-rank Adventurer [Ray.]
He placed it safely in his pocket.
"...I suppose this is a start."