Ichirou slowly opened his eyes, his heart pounding as he stared into an unfamiliar ceiling. Was it all just a dream? It felt so vivid, so real—what was happening? Confusion swirled in his mind as he took in his surroundings; everything looked different, as if he’d been transported to another world entirely.

  Before he could gather his thoughts, a gentle voice broke through the haze. "Are you finally recovered?" asked a man approaching him. Ichirou managed a weak reply, "I... I’m okay..." After a brief pause, he mustered enough courage to ask, "Wait, where am I?"

  The man smiled kindly. "You’re in a recovery room—a hospital, to be precise. And you can call me Dr. Union."

  "Wait, what happened?" Ichirou pressed, his voice trembling with uncertainty.

  Dr. Union leaned forward, his tone matter-of-fact yet gentle. "To put it simply, you were leaving the adventurers' guild when you suddenly fainted. That's the story as I know it."

  Ichirou’s mind raced. He couldn’t believe it—he truly had seen Beyor’s assistant at the guild, and now, here he was. The doctor explained further that during the fight, the void elemental users had released a mysterious gas, one that might have clouded your senses and made you see illusions.

  "Well, that explains a lot," Ichirou murmured, a mixture of relief and disbelief washing over him.

  Dr. Union’s eyes narrowed with a hint of concern. "Please, be more careful around these gases in the future. You were lucky to wake up in just two days!"

  "WHAT!" Ichirou exploded in shock. "I was asleep for two whole days—this has to be some kind of joke, right?"

  Dr. Union chuckled, his mirth lightening the mood. "No joke, my friend. This is very real." His laugh was warm and infectious, and soon Ichirou couldn’t help but join in.

  After being dismissed from the hospital, Ichirou felt an odd mix of relief and determination. He was eager to get back into the fray, but first, he decided to take a refreshing bath—an indulgence at the castle’s onsen, a place of warm, soothing water and quiet solitude.

  Clean and rejuvenated, Ichirou then turned his attention to the adventurers' guild. He eagerly scrolled through the quest board and discovered a variety of challenges. One mission caught his eye: "Fight a Goblin." Unfortunately, it was designated for Rank D adventurers, while he was still only ranked E. There was a small loophole, however—a quest above one’s rank could be attempted if one’s party had at least one member meeting the required level. Since he was on his own, that option was out of reach.

  Determined to prove himself and climb the ranks, Ichirou resolved to collect rare medicinal plants from the wild. With every herb he gathered, he inched closer to reaching Rank D, setting the stage for his next adventure.

  30 Days Later

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  After countless days of waking up before dawn and tirelessly collecting plants and herbs in the wilderness, Ichirou had finally climbed up to Rank D. He had imagined that reaching this rank would be a breeze, but the reality of grueling mornings and endless work proved otherwise.

  Now, with a mixture of exhaustion and triumph on his face, Ichirou walked into the adventurer’s guild, eager to obtain his new card. At the reception desk, Olivia, the ever-cheerful guild receptionist, smiled as she greeted him.

  "Let me see your card," she said kindly.

  Ichirou handed over his worn but cherished card. Olivia gently caressed it with her fingertips as she murmured an incantation under her breath:

  Kaeru Namae o: Accend

  As she spoke, the card began to shimmer with delicate sparkles that danced across its surface. In a flash of light, his rank was confirmed to be D. With a satisfied nod, Olivia returned the card to him.

  "Congratulations—you're finally Rank D! You may now start any mission you desire," she announced, her voice brimming with genuine warmth.

  Overcome with joy, Ichirou almost lost himself in the moment. "No way!" he exclaimed, his excitement radiating like that of a child on his first big adventure. The thought of finally facing off against goblins filled him with an exhilarating thrill.

  Olivia chuckled at his enthusiasm. "Honestly, we already have too many adventurers hunting goblins. I recommend you try this mission instead." She reached behind the desk and pulled out a neat piece of paper.

  Ichirou scanned the quest details:

  Description: Kill Aqua Octopus

  Reward: 20 BC per octopus

  "That sounds even scarier than a goblin," he muttered. "What exactly is an Aqua Octopus?"

  Olivia explained, "They feed by draining water from trees and plants. It’s really harmful to the environment since it stunts plant growth, and they've become a significant threat in our region."

  Ichirou furrowed his brow. "Why don’t they just go to the ocean then?"

  "Simple," Olivia replied with a knowing smile. "Plants purify and sometimes even improve the water. The Aqua Octopuses are attracted to these fresh, vibrant areas, not the salty, polluted ocean."

  With a nod of understanding, Ichirou accepted the mission as Olivia stamped the paper and handed him a copy.

  Just as he was about to set off, a gentle voice called out, "Hey!"

  Startled, Ichirou stopped in his tracks and turned around. Standing a few paces away was a girl—not just any girl, but an elf. Her delicate features and luminous, pointed ears immediately caught his attention; he had only ever seen elves in the fantastical video games of his past. She appeared to be about his age, and there was a hint of vulnerability in her eyes.

  "Can I help you defeat the Aqua Octopus? I need to ascend faster, but I rely solely on my magic to survive," she asked timidly.

  Ichirou was taken aback. It was his first encounter with an elf, and he almost didn’t respond, mistakenly thinking she was being ignored. "Uh—sorry!" he stammered, forcing himself to speak. "I really can’t help you." He hesitated, choosing his words carefully; his element was weak, and revealing that would only lower his prospects.

  But the elf’s pleading was earnest. "Please, I really need your help. No one wants to party with me, and I just want to become stronger. Please?" Tears welled in her eyes as she bowed her head in sincere supplication. Her soft voice and the glistening tear captured the attention of nearby adventurers, and whispers spread through the crowd.

  Embarrassed by the sudden attention and her heartfelt plea, Ichirou blushed deeply. He gently took her hand and led her to a quieter corner outside the bustling guild hall.

  "Listen," he said softly, his tone a mixture of resolve and apprehension. "Let's party up—but promise me you'll never beg like that again!"

  She looked up in surprise. "What do you mean, 'never beg like that'?" she asked, her voice quivering slightly.

  He chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, of course, you can ask for help, but maybe not in such a dramatic way. First off, what's your name?"

  "My name is Selussa Rolamin. Nice to meet you—what’s yours?" she replied, her eyes now shining with a cautious hope.

  "Ichirou," he answered simply, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the chaos in his thoughts.

  "Then shall we get going?" Selussa asked, extending her hand once more.

  Ichirou hesitated for just a moment as he muttered under his breath, "What have I gotten myself into?" before he squeezed her hand reassuringly.

  "Huh?" she replied, her tone a mix of confusion and curiosity.

  And with that, the two new companions embarked on their journey—each step taking them deeper into the unknown, yet together facing whatever challenges awaited them.