Only a week had passed since I first joined the Adventurers Guild, yet the whispers about me were already spreading like wildfire.
Every day, I took on quests—never glamorous ones, just the usual low-rank jobs: clearing goblin nests, escorting caravans on short routes, retrieving rare herbs from the forest. To most guild rookies, these were dangerous, exhausting tasks. For me, they were warm-up exercises.
The difference was obvious. Others often returned bruised, bloodied, or sometimes not at all. I, on the other hand, always came back unscathed—and with results that surpassed expectations.
When goblins numbered three, I brought down ten. When bandits harassed a merchant caravan, I had them bound and gagged before they could even threaten the merchants. Even my herb-gathering quests yielded twice the expected amount, the plants perfectly preserved as if picked by an expert botanist.
At first, the guild assumed it was luck. Then skill. But by the end of the week, even the skeptical adventurers had no choice but to admit—this boy was different.
The Promotion
One evening, I returned from a wolf subjugation quest with a neat sack containing proof of kill from an entire pack. The receptionist, the same auburn-haired woman who had doubted me at first, just stared at the paperwork, lips slightly parted.
"Adrian Valcrest… seven years old… solo… returned safely… again."
She stood, walked toward the guild master's chamber, and after a hushed discussion behind closed doors, she came back with a slightly shaken smile.
"By decision of the Guild master, Adventurer Adrian Valcrest is hereby promoted from Rank F to Rank D… in just one week."
The room fell utterly silent. Then, murmurs rose like sparks from a fire.
"No way—F to D in a week?"
"Ridiculous… I barely survived F-rank for two months…"
"He's not human. He can't be."
The scarred adventurer who had once mocked me stared, half in disbelief, half in fear.
I accepted the new badge—a higher-grade bronze medallion engraved with a bold D—and clipped it beside my cloak. I bowed slightly in thanks, my expression calm, but inwardly I was satisfied.
It wasn't about bragging. It wasn't even about rising ranks quickly. It was proof that my decision to join the guild was the right one. Here, strength meant freedom. Not bloodline, not wealth—just power and results.
As I made my way toward the doors, a few older adventurers approached. Their leader, a tall man with a claymore on his back, gave me a half-grin.
"Hey, kid. You're strong for your age, but don't push it too far. Why not join up with us? It'll 'help you survive,'" he said with a chuckle.
I met his gaze and smiled faintly. Help me survive…? More like the other way around.
Still, I politely nodded. "I'll think about it."
The truth was simple: I worked alone because hiding my true power in a party would be far more difficult. But sooner or later, I knew I'd have to show a glimpse of it.
For now… Rank D was just the beginning.
I stepped out into the cool night air, the badge gleaming softly under the moonlight.
"From F to D in a week… at this rate, I'll surpass even the so-called heroes of this kingdom."
And I meant every word.
The carriage ride through the capital's streets was quiet, the rhythmic clatter of hooves echoing faintly against the stone roads. I sat with my back straight, the new Rank D badge gleaming at my chest.
It had only been a week since I stepped foot into the Adventurers Guild, yet this tiny piece of bronze carried a weight most adventurers struggled years to earn. And tonight, for the first time, I would present it to the man who had shaped so much of my new life—my father, Duke Reinhardt Valcrest.
In the Duke's Study
The study door creaked open, revealing my father at his desk, surrounded by stacks of parchment and maps. His golden eyes lifted from the documents, sharp and commanding as ever.
My footsteps barely echoed as I approached his desk. I stood tall—well, as tall as a seven-year-old could—and placed the medallion down before him.
"Father," I said evenly, "I've been promoted. Rank D—within one week."
For a moment, silence filled the room. My father's gaze lingered on the badge, his expression unreadable. Finally, he leaned back in his chair, folding his arms.
"…Rank D. In a week." His voice was low but laced with disbelief.
I nodded. "Yes. I accepted only simple quests. Wolf subjugations, goblins, caravan escorts. Nothing beyond the scope of my rank."
That wasn't entirely true, of course—I'd deliberately hidden half my strength in every encounter. But even suppressed, my results stood out.
Father's eyes narrowed, studying me carefully. The ticking of the clock on the wall filled the silence. Then, to my surprise… he laughed. A deep, rumbling laugh that rarely left his lips.
"Remarkable… utterly remarkable. Do you have any idea how long it takes a grown warrior to rise from F to D? Months at the very least, if not years. And you—my seven-year-old son—achieved it in days while holding back."
His gaze sharpened, pride mixing with something heavier, almost like concern.
"Adrian… do you understand what your achievements mean? Nobles, knights, even the royal family—they will watch you closely. Power of your scale is not easily hidden forever."
I met his gaze without wavering. "I know. That's why I'm hiding most of it for now. I want to grow at my own pace, under my own name. As an adventurer… not as the Duke's son."
Father went silent again, staring at me as if weighing every word. Then, slowly, he nodded.
"…Very well. I will not stop you. But remember, Adrian—strength this great invites both awe and fear. Heroes admired by the people… are also the ones enemies aim for first."
He handed the badge back to me, his large hand briefly resting on my shoulder.
"Still… as your father, I am proud. Do not falter, Adrian. If this is the path you've chosen, then carve it with your own hands."
A subtle warmth spread in my chest. Rarely did Father ever express such direct pride.
I bowed deeply. "Thank you, Father."
As I left the study, the badge pressed against my chest, I couldn't suppress the grin tugging at my lips. His acknowledgment meant more than I'd expected.
And yet… this was still only the beginning. If Rank D had shaken even my father, then what would happen when I reached the true pinnacle of the guild?
The thought made my heart race.