Morning came quietly.
---
The sky was pale.
The air still.
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Shiro stood in front of a building.
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Not broken.
Not abandoned.
Not forgotten.
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Different.
---
"…So this is it."
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Above the entrance—
A sign.
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Adventurers Guild
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People moved in and out constantly.
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Armed.
Confident.
Loud.
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Nothing like him.
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"…Irrational noise."
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He stepped forward.
---
---
The moment he entered—
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Voices filled the space.
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"Oi! Another drink!"
"Did you hear about the goblin nest?"
"I'm telling you, that was a B-rank mission!"
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Laughter.
Arguments.
Boasting.
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Chaos.
---
"…Unorganized."
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But beneath the noise—
There was structure.
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A system.
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Requests posted on a large board.
Ranks marked clearly.
People grouped based on strength.
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Efficient.
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"…Acceptable."
---
---
A few eyes turned toward him.
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A thin boy.
Simple clothes.
No weapon.
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"…A kid?"
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"Did he get lost?"
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"…Ignore them."
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He walked toward the counter.
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A woman stood there.
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Calm.
Sharp eyes.
Used to this environment.
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"…What do you need?"
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"…Registration."
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She looked him up and down.
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"…You?"
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"…Correct."
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"…This isn't a place for children."
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"…Define child."
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She paused.
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"…Someone who can't survive."
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"…Then test me."
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Silence.
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The people nearby began to pay attention.
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"…Confident."
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"…Efficient."
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"…Annoying."
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The woman sighed.
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"…Fine."
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She pulled out a form.
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"Name."
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"…Shiro Ophernel."
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"Age."
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"…Fifteen."
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She raised an eyebrow.
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"…You don't look it."
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"…Irrelevant."
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"…Tch."
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She continued writing.
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"Reason for joining?"
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"…Work."
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"…That's it?"
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"…Yes."
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She stared at him for a moment.
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Then—
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"…Alright."
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She placed the form aside.
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"Your test is simple."
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"…Explain."
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"There's a garden behind this building."
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"…Garden?"
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"Filled with goblins."
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"…Continue."
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"If you survive—E Rank."
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"…And if I don't?"
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"…Then you weren't fit for this anyway."
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Silence.
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"…Acceptable."
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She leaned slightly forward.
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"…If you kill all ten within thirty minutes…"
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"…Then?"
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"…E+ Rank."
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"…Understood."
---
---
The door behind the guild led outside.
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To a contained area.
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Walls surrounding it.
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And inside—
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Movement.
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Small.
Ugly.
Green.
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Goblins.
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Ten of them.
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Watching.
Waiting.
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"…Primitive creatures."
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The gate opened.
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"…Begin."
---
---
The moment he stepped in—
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They moved.
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Fast.
Aggressive.
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Weapons raised.
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Crude.
But dangerous.
---
---
Shiro didn't move.
---
Not immediately.
---
His eyes observed.
---
Movement patterns.
Coordination.
Intent.
---
"…Disorganized."
---
Then—
---
He stepped forward.
---
---
One goblin lunged.
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He sidestepped.
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No wasted motion.
---
A single strike—
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Crack.
---
It fell instantly.
---
---
Another came from behind—
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Without turning—
He shifted slightly—
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And struck.
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Thud.
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Down.
---
---
The rest rushed together.
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Faster.
Angrier.
---
---
Shiro exhaled slowly.
---
"…Too many."
---
Then—
---
His eyes changed.
---
Slightly.
---
Invisible.
But present.
---
---
A subtle pressure spread.
---
Not overwhelming.
Not destructive.
---
Controlled.
---
---
The goblins—
Paused.
---
For a fraction of a second.
---
---
Then—
---
They turned.
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On each other.
---
---
Confusion.
Rage.
Instinct.
---
They attacked.
---
Not him—
---
Each other.
---
---
Claws.
Teeth.
Weapons.
---
Chaos.
---
---
Shiro stepped back.
---
Watching.
---
"…Efficient."
---
---
Within moments—
Only one remained.
---
Breathing heavily.
Wounded.
---
It looked at him.
---
Fear.
---
Real.
---
---
"…You're the last."
---
He stepped forward.
---
No hesitation.
---
One clean strike.
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Ten goblins.
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Gone.
---
---
Time—
---
Less than a minute.
---
---
---
The gate opened again.
---
He walked out.
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Unharmed.
---
Unbothered.
---
---
Silence filled the guild.
---
"…What?"
---
"…Already?"
---
"…Impossible…"
---
---
The woman at the counter stared at him.
---
"…Time?"
---
"…Under one minute."
---
"…That's not funny."
---
"…I don't joke."
---
---
A man rushed out to check.
---
Moments later—
---
"…They're all dead."
---
---
Murmurs spread instantly.
---
"…Who is this kid?"
---
"…That's not normal…"
---
---
The woman looked back at him.
---
Long.
Careful.
---
"…You're E+ Rank."
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"…Understood."
---
"…And you'll start with basic missions."
---
"…Acceptable."
---
She handed him a small tag.
---
His first identity.
---
As an adventurer.
---
---
"…Welcome to the guild."
---
---
Shiro took it.
---
Without emotion.
---
Without pride.
---
---
But as he turned to leave—
---
A thought crossed his mind.
---
---
"…This is the beginning."
---
---
Not of power.
---
Not of dominance.
---
---
But of something else.
---
---
Something—
---
He still didn't fully understand.
---
---
And yet—
---
He continued forward.
---
Step by step.
---
---
The world didn't know it yet.
---
But a being—
Who once stood above everything—
---
Had just entered the system—
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From the very bottom.