The city was encircled by an imposing stone wall roughly ten meters tall. A large, open gate served as its entrance, and a steady stream of people flowed in and out without any apparent regulation.
Their appearances varied wildly—some were dressed in simple peasant garments, while others wore robes or armor that suggested nobility or mercantile wealth. Several caravans drawn by horses rumbled along the path, reinforcing the medieval atmosphere of the place.
Despite the open entry, the city wasn't undefended. Guards were stationed at intervals along the top of the wall and a few more stood idly near the gate.
'The guards don't seem to be checking people. That means there's likely no entry fee.'
'Good,' Mikael thought with relief. 'I have zero money in this world… if they asked for payment, I would've had to steal some. Next time I jump worlds, I'm buying the Money System. It'll save me a lot of trouble.'
Blending into the crowd, Mikael joined the steady stream of people heading toward the city gates. A few curious glances were thrown his way—likely because of his unusual clothing—but no one stopped him. He passed through the open gate without resistance.
The moment he stepped into the city, Mikael paused briefly, momentarily taken aback by what he saw. Contrary to the grimy, unsanitary image he had always mentally associated with medieval towns, this place was surprisingly clean and well-maintained. The buildings, made of a mix of wood and stone, weren't just functional—they were genuinely beautiful, displaying an attention to aesthetics he hadn't expected.
Yet what truly reminded him he was in a fantasy world wasn't the architecture—it was the people. All around him walked individuals of different races: tall, elegant elves with sharp ears; demi-humans with fox tails, canine ears, or feline eyes; and other strange but intriguing variations. The diversity was something Earth could never replicate.
Keeping his expression neutral, Mikael scanned the crowd with practiced subtlety until he spotted a distracted man dressed in rich, embroidered garments. Without missing a beat, he brushed past him, smoothly snatching the leather pouch attached to his belt. It was done so fluidly that it looked like nothing more than an accidental bump.
He continued walking calmly, eventually turning into a quiet alley where he could check the contents without drawing attention.
'One gold coin, twenty-two silver coins, and twenty-five bronze coins… I don't know the exact value, but this should be enough for now.'
He slipped the coins into the pocket of his pants, then casually discarded the empty pouch on the ground.
Just as he was about to head back out, he noticed a poor-looking boy lingering nearby. Mikael called out, "Hey, do you know where the library is?"
The boy looked wary at first but responded, "Yeah. Just follow the main road for about two hundred meters, then turn right."
"Alright, thanks," Mikael replied, handing him a silver coin before walking off.
The boy gave a small nod in appreciation, clutching the coin tightly.
Following the directions, Mikael returned to the bustling main road. After a short walk, he arrived in front of a modest two-story building. A wooden sign above the entrance clearly read "Library".
As he stepped inside, he noticed the space was nearly empty, with only a faint echo of activity in the distance. The air smelled of old parchment and ink. Mikael glanced around before selecting a book titled The Luminous Kingdom and Its Legacy.
He sat down and began to read.
The book recounted the creation myth of the world, attributed to divine goddesses. It echoed the story Mikael had seen in the world description, but this version offered more detail—and a noticeable bias. The narrative cast the Night Goddess and the monsters in a dark, negative light, painting them as malevolent forces opposing order.
He learned that the kingdom of the light races was officially called the Luminous Kingdom. It was governed by a powerful S Rank ruler, a king revered for his strength and authority.
Beneath the king were the dukes, who were typically A rank powerhouses. Following them were the marquises, and then the counts, most of whom held B rank strength. Political influence in the kingdom didn't rest solely in nobility, however. The Hunter Guild also held considerable weight within the Luminous Kingdom. Their current guild master was an S rank individual, which granted the organization immense respect and autonomy.
To join the Hunter Guild, one had to pay a registration fee of 1 silver coin. Newcomers usually began as F rank hunters by default, but those with enough skill had the option to undergo an examination to start as high as D rank.
Past D rank, advancement wasn't achieved through tests. Instead, it depended on accumulating contributions, which could be earned by completing quests issued by the guild. The more difficult the quest, the greater the contribution rewards. These contributions could then be exchanged not only for money and gear but also for something far more valuable—body refining techniques of increasing potency and rarity.
The kingdom's currency system was based on coins, divided into four main tiers: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Each higher-tier coin was worth one hundred of the previous one. In simple terms, 100 bronze coins equaled 1 silver coin, 100 silver equaled 1 gold, and so on.
The book also mentioned that a single bronze coin was generally sufficient to buy a loaf of bread. Comparing that to the price of bread on Earth—roughly $2 in the U.S.—Mikael made a mental conversion. A bronze coin would be around $2, a silver coin $200, a gold coin $20,000, and a platinum coin an astounding $2,000,000.
'If I go by that comparison… I just stole twenty-five thousand dollars from that guy. Seriously, what kind of idiot walks around with $25K in his pouch?'
'Whatever. First, I should rent a room at an inn so I have a place to sleep. After that, I'll register with the Hunter Guild.'
"System, if I register as a hunter and pass the exam to immediately become a D rank hunter, will I still get the rewards for the F and E rank hunter quests?"
[Yes. The hunter ranking process is categorized as a chain quest. Completing the D rank registration will automatically fulfill the F and E rank stages as well.]
Right after hearing the system's reply, Mikael glanced at a large map of the city pinned to the library wall. The city was labeled as Onissa City. He scanned it until he located two useful landmarks: the nearest inn and the local branch of the Hunter Guild.
Without wasting time, he made his way to the inn, a modest establishment named Moonlight Inn. He paid one silver coin for a room that included meals and lodging for ten days.
After securing accommodations, he headed to a nearby building that resembled a tavern at first glance. But this wasn't just any tavern—it was the branch of the Hunter Guild.
As he pushed open the door, the interior confirmed the initial impression: it looked like a tavern, yet with several clear differences. A large quest board dominated one side of the room, and the air was thick with noise and laughter. Dozens of burly men clad in leather armor filled the space, their weapons either strapped to their backs or propped up beside their seats as they drank heavily and bantered boisterously. The atmosphere was chaotic but vibrant, a place where danger and camaraderie mixed freely.
Several curious gazes turned toward Mikael as he entered, but none lingered for long. His calm, composed presence and the sword hanging at his waist were enough to dissuade any thoughts of treating him like a newcomer.
Without acknowledging the attention, Mikael walked directly to the counter, where a few attractive young women were stationed, acting as receptionists. He stopped in front of a demi-human girl with fiery red hair, amber eyes that sparkled with mischief, and distinct fox features—two twitching ears atop her head and a fluffy tail swaying lazily behind her.
The fox girl leaned forward slightly, flashing a playful smile. "With what can I help you today?"
"I would like to register as a hunter," Mikael replied plainly.
Her eyebrows arched in surprise. "Oh? You're not already one? I figured you were a hunter from another branch, given the gear you're wearing."
"Oh, you mean my sword?" he said, glancing briefly at the weapon. "I've done a bit of solo training and hunting with it, but I figured it was time to become an official hunter."
"You'll need to pay a silver coin to register. That's the standard fee," she explained.
Mikael reached into his pouch and handed her a silver coin. "I'd also like to take the examination to begin directly as a D rank hunter."
"Alright, follow me. We'll head to the D rank examination room," the fox girl said, stepping out from behind the counter.
Before leaving, she turned to one of the other girls and called out, "Liana, can you take over for me? I need to conduct an examination."
"Sure, Ruby. It was almost my shift anyway," Liana replied cheerfully.
"Thanks."
Ruby led Mikael down a hallway until they reached a spacious room with an open floor plan. Various pieces of equipment lined the walls, most of them designed for training or strength testing.
She came to a stop and turned to face him. "This is the examination room. As you can see, there's not much here, but it gets the job done.
"We'll be evaluating your physical parameters, and if they meet the required standards, you'll qualify as a D rank hunter. If not, you'll be assigned to either E rank or F rank, depending on your performance.
"The two most easily measurable stats are strength and speed, so that's what we'll focus on today. If you're not satisfied with the result, we can arrange a more detailed assessment covering your other physical attributes."
She tilted her head slightly, her fox ears flicking with the motion. "Shall we begin with the speed test? Are you okay with that?"
Mikael gave a casual nod. "Yeah, sure."
Ruby looked visibly relieved. "Finally, someone who doesn't whine about the exam. It's rare to get a client who isn't a complete asshole about it. You'd be surprised how many think I personally came up with the test."
Realizing what she'd just said, she quickly raised a hand to her mouth. "Oops. I mean… unpleasant customers."
Trying to brush it off, she moved on quickly. "Anyway, the speed test! It's simple—you just need to run from one end of the room to the other ten times. The room is fifty meters long, so that makes it five hundred meters total.
"I'll track your time and assign you a rank based on your performance."
Mikael stepped up to the wall and readied himself, his stance relaxed yet focused.
"Ready? 3... 2... 1—GO!"
The moment the word left her mouth, Mikael launched forward like a bullet. With his agility nearing 50 and his footwork skill active, he reached speeds close to 120 kilometers per hour. Of course, he couldn't maintain that maximum velocity indefinitely—he still needed time to accelerate and slow down between turns.
What would have taken an average jogger almost three minutes, Mikael completed in under twenty seconds.
As he came to a halt, Ruby let out a stunned exclamation. "Damn, that's fast! You've hit C rank speed. If your strength is even half as good as that, you'll definitely pass."
She pointed toward the section of the room filled with weightlifting equipment. "Alright, now for the strength test. You'll need to bench press a bar. The heavier the weight you manage, the higher your rank."
She added with a slight grin, "And don't worry—if the bar falls on you, it won't hurt. It's made from a special metal that nullifies the impact. Safety first, after all."
"Can I attempt it multiple times and increase the weight gradually?" Mikael asked.
"Of course. You can try as many times as you want. Only your best attempt will count."
Mikael took his place at the bench and started with 100 kilograms. He lifted it with such ease it was almost comical—it felt lighter than expected, like he was pushing air.
'Before I got the system, benching 100 kg was my personal record… But now, just two days after the Akashic Records appeared, it feels like lifting a feather.'
Next, he moved to 200 kg and handled it effortlessly. Then 300 kg—still manageable. At 400 kg, he began to feel the strain, but he managed to complete the lift with solid control.
'I'll try 500 next. It's going to be tough,' Mikael thought, steeling himself.
He lay down again, hands gripping the bar firmly. The descent was controlled and smooth, but the moment he began pushing back up, the bar stalled.
'Fuck… I can do it.'
Bit by bit, centimeter by centimeter, he forced the bar upward. His muscles screamed under the weight, but he refused to stop. After a final surge of strength, the bar locked out above him—he had done it.
Ruby noticed the fatigue in his expression and asked, "Do you want to try going higher, or will that be your final score?"
Mikael took a moment to catch his breath before responding, "500 kg will be my score. I'm not capable of doing better than that—for now."
"Alright then," she replied with a nod. "That means your strength is equivalent to that of an average D rank hunter. Given your speed and strength together, you officially qualify as D rank."
Then, almost sheepishly, Ruby rubbed the back of her neck and added, "Oh yeah, I completely forgot to ask—what's your name? I'll need it to make your hunter card."
"Mikael Angelini."
"Perfect. Let's make your hunter card. With that, you'll officially become a registered hunter," she said, turning toward a strange-looking machine. A moment later, it spat out a small card, which she retrieved and handed to him.
Mikael took the card and examined it. His name was printed clearly along with the emblem of the Hunter's Guild and a big D Rank beneath it. Below that was a simple line: Contributions: 0.
Suddenly, three notifications appeared in front of his eyes.
[Quest: F Rank Hunter completed.
Reward: 200 LP]
[Quest: E Rank Hunter completed.
Reward: 500 LP]
[Quest: D Rank Hunter completed.
Reward: 1,000 LP]
'Nice. 1,700 LP for practically nothing. These quests were way too easy—not that I'm complaining. If more of them were like this, I'd be more than happy.'
'The next one is the C rank hunter quest… That one's likely to be a lot harder.'
With that, the two of them made their way back to the front reception. Once there, Ruby began speaking in a more formal tone, taking on the role of a proper guild representative.
"Now that you're officially a D rank hunter, I'll explain some basic things about the job."
"First and foremost, your hunter card is essential. You'll need it to take on quests and access certain facilities within the guild. If you happen to lose it, you'll have to pay a fee of 10 silver coins to get a replacement—so be careful not to misplace it."
"Second, we have the quest board. That's where you'll find all the available quests. When you choose one, you just need to take the paper from the board and bring it to the counter. We'll register the quest under your name, and it will officially be assigned to you."
"Some quests can be repeated—like the ones that involve hunting goblins in the surroundings of Onissa City. These will be marked with a RE symbol, meaning repeatable. Other quests are unique, like capturing a specific thief or protecting a certain caravan."
She paused briefly before continuing, "Quests are categorized by rank based on their difficulty. They range from F to S. As a D rank hunter, you're allowed to take on quests up to C rank, but I wouldn't recommend it. Those can be extremely dangerous."
"Now, let's talk about something just as important—rewards. When you complete a quest, you earn contribution points. These points can be exchanged for money, equipment, and most importantly—the reason why many people join the Hunter Guild in the first place—access to body refining techniques."
She spoke with growing enthusiasm. "Body refining techniques ranging from F to S rank are available through the Hunter Guild. Unlike noble families who require you to pledge loyalty in exchange for such techniques, the guild offers them without any binding obligations."
Ruby then asked, "Do you have any questions?"
"Yeah, just one—what are the opening hours of the Hunter Guild?"
"The guild remains open at all times," she replied simply.
"Alright, thanks. I don't have any other inquiries."
"That's good to hear. So, would you like to take on a quest now?"
"No, I think I'll get some sleep. It's already pretty late. I'll come back tomorrow to take one," Mikael replied.
'Yeah, I'll go rest. This day's been long, and taking a quest while not at 100% would just be reckless.'
"Okay, good night."
"Bye," Mikael said, then turned and headed straight to the room he had rented at the inn.
"System, Aedris time, please."
[Aedris Local Time: Day 38 of the Lunar Calendar, Year 1252, 23:11:08]
'It's already 11 p.m. in this world. Perfect—while it looks like I'm sleeping in the inn, I'll actually be back in my apartment inside the Records.'
'It's a lot safer to sleep there than here in an unfamiliar world where I can't be sure of anything, especially security.'
"System, I want to leave this world."
Five minutes later, he was teleported out of Aedris and reappeared in the Hub.