The noise of the guild faded behind him.
---
Outside—
The world felt quieter.
---
Less chaotic.
Less… inefficient.
---
Shiro looked at the small metal tag in his hand.
---
E+ Rank.
---
"…A label."
---
Nothing more.
---
No real value.
---
But—
---
"…Necessary."
---
---
He returned inside.
---
Not for conversation.
Not for attention.
---
For work.
---
---
The request board stood tall against the wall.
---
Filled with papers.
---
Each one—
A task.
---
Each one—
A price.
---
---
His eyes moved across them.
---
"Goblin Hunt – D Rank"
"Escort Mission – C Rank"
"Orc Subjugation – B Rank"
---
"…Irrelevant."
---
Too early.
---
Too inefficient.
---
---
Then—
---
He stopped.
---
"Herb Collection – E Rank
Location: Mountain outskirts
Requirement: 10 herbs per day
Reward: 10 silver coins"
---
Silence.
---
"…Low risk."
---
"…Consistent."
---
"…Efficient."
---
---
He took it.
---
---
"…You again."
---
The woman at the counter looked at him.
---
"…Explain the task."
---
"…Simple. Go to the mountains, collect ten herbs, bring them back."
---
"…Any restrictions?"
---
"…Just don't die."
---
"…Unlikely."
---
She paused.
---
"…You're either confident or stupid."
---
"…Neither."
---
"…Tch."
---
---
He left.
---
---
The path to the mountains was quiet.
---
Dirt roads.
Few travelers.
---
Wind brushing through trees.
---
---
No danger.
---
No pressure.
---
---
"…Peaceful."
---
---
When he arrived—
---
The environment changed.
---
Dense greenery.
Uneven terrain.
Wild growth.
---
---
He crouched slightly.
---
Observing.
---
"…Herbs."
---
Small.
Scattered.
---
Barely noticeable.
---
---
For others—
This would take time.
---
Searching.
Moving.
Collecting slowly.
---
---
But for him—
---
"…Inefficient."
---
---
He closed his eyes briefly.
---
Focused.
---
---
Then—
---
A faint pulse spread outward.
---
Not power.
---
Not force.
---
---
Awareness.
---
---
Every small detail—
Every movement—
Every presence—
---
Registered.
---
---
"…Found them."
---
---
He moved.
---
Fast.
Precise.
---
No wasted steps.
---
---
One.
Two.
Ten.
---
---
He stopped.
---
"…Complete."
---
---
Then—
He looked around again.
---
More herbs.
---
Hundreds.
---
---
"…Unused resources."
---
---
He didn't stop.
---
---
Time passed.
---
But he didn't feel it.
---
---
By the time he stood again—
---
He held a bundle.
---
Large.
Heavy.
---
Far beyond ten.
---
---
"…Enough."
---
---
---
Back at the guild—
---
The noise returned.
---
But this time—
---
It stopped.
---
---
"…He's back already?"
---
"…That was fast…"
---
---
Shiro walked to the counter.
---
Placed the herbs down.
---
---
The woman looked.
---
Then froze.
---
"…What is this?"
---
"…Herbs."
---
"…I can see that."
---
"…Then your question is inefficient."
---
"…This is not ten."
---
"…Correct."
---
"…This is—"
---
She stopped.
---
Counted again.
---
---
"…One thousand?"
---
---
Silence spread.
---
---
"…Did you steal these?"
---
"…No."
---
"…Did you raid the entire mountain?"
---
"…No."
---
"…Then how?"
---
"…Collected."
---
---
She stared at him.
---
Long.
---
"…You're annoying."
---
"…You've said that before."
---
"…You're getting promoted."
---
"…Explain."
---
"…This output is not E Rank level."
---
"…Then adjust it."
---
"…I just did."
---
---
She placed something on the counter.
---
A new tag.
---
D- Rank.
---
---
"…Understood."
---
---
She handed him a pouch.
---
"…Payment."
---
---
He opened it slightly.
---
Coins.
---
Shiny.
---
Silver.
---
---
"…Ten silver per ten herbs."
---
"…Correct."
---
"…Then this is inefficient."
---
"…Why?"
---
"…I brought more."
---
"…And you got more."
---
---
He paused.
---
Counted briefly.
---
---
"…One thousand silver."
---
"…Exactly."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
"…So this is money."
---
"…You've never seen it before?"
---
"…Not like this."
---
---
He closed the pouch.
---
---
"…Useful."
---
---
As he turned—
---
Voices followed.
---
"…Who is that guy?"
---
"…He's not normal…"
---
"…D- in one day?"
---
---
He ignored them.
---
---
Outside—
---
The sun was beginning to set.
---
The sky painted in orange again.
---
---
For a moment—
---
He stopped.
---
---
That color—
---
Felt familiar.
---
---
"…River."
---
---
A memory surfaced.
---
A girl.
---
A promise.
---
---
"…10 years remaining."
---
---
He looked at the pouch again.
---
Then at the sky.
---
---
"…I need more."
---
---
Not money.
---
Not power.
---
---
Something else.
---
---
But for now—
---
He continued forward.
---
Step by step.
---
---
From nothing—
---
He had begun to build.
---
---
Not an empire.
---
Not an army.
---
---
But a path.
---
---
And this time—
---
He wasn't above the world.
---
---
He was walking through it.