The next morning, Kaito didn't come down for breakfast. Rose, the manager, found this strange. The day before, he had seemed so exhausted that she thought a good meal would do him good.
Noon passed, then the afternoon. Still no sign of the young man. Rose, always considerate, went up to knock on his bedroom door.
"Kyle? Are you okay?" she called softly.
No answer.
At first, she assumed he had slipped out quietly early in the morning, but a guest later pointed out,
"I've been in the hallway all morning... He never left that room."
Rose's worry turned to alarm. She ran up the stairs and, without bothering to knock this time, opened the door.
The scene froze her.
Kaito—or rather, Kyle—was lying on the bed, trembling, his face sweating, his breath shallow. His complexion was pale, almost gray. As she approached, she saw that his body was covered in poorly healed wounds, some infected, and that his chest seemed swollen in places. He had several broken ribs.
Fortunately, Rose wasn't just a simple innkeeper. In her youth, she had been an adventurer... and still possessed her Healer class.
She reached over the boy's body and whispered,
"Diagnosis."
A gray glow crossed Kaito's face. The results briefly flashed in his mind: internal infections, broken bones, extreme fatigue.
Without waiting, she continued,
"Heal."
A soft green light, typical of a void magic ability reserved for healers, surrounded the young man's body. The wounds slowly healed, the bruises disappeared, and his breathing became more stable. But it wasn't an all-powerful spell: it only accelerated healing. The pain remained.
A few minutes later, Kaito finally opened his eyes, confused. He saw Rose leaning over him.
"Kyle... are you better?" she said gently.
He nodded weakly.
"You've been hurt since you arrived, haven't you? And you haven't said anything..."
He didn't respond. Perhaps out of weakness. Perhaps out of habit.
Seeing that he was struggling to speak, she went downstairs to make him some hot soup and returned immediately.
"You haven't eaten anything since yesterday. Come on, sit down, I'll help you." »
She insisted, and he finally agreed. Gently, with a spoon, she fed him to the last drop.
For two days, Rose took care of him with patience and kindness. Care, meals, clean laundry. At each visit, she reassured him with a sincere smile, a soothing word.
And, by the end of the third day, Kaito was back on his feet.
He appeared in the lobby, slightly hunched over, his eyes tired, but standing.
"Thank you..." he breathed, then took another gold coin from his purse and handed it to Rose.
"For everything you've done. I owe you my life."
But Rose shook her head with a smile.
"I'm the manager here. And it's my duty to take care of my customers. Especially stubborn boys who keep quiet when they're about to die."
They both laughed. For the first time, Kaito felt that this woman, who had nothing to do with him, was sincerely concerned about his well-being.
This event created a bond between them.
They were no longer simply an innkeeper and a customer.
They had become friends.
Once fully recovered, Kaito—still using the name Kyle—approached Rose, the innkeeper.
"Tell me, Rose... How do you become an adventurer?"
She looked up from her counter, surprised by the question, then smiled.
"Easy. You have to join the city's Adventurers' Guild. But entry isn't automatic. You have to pass an exam, and it's only given twice a year."
She paused, then added,
"The next one is in two weeks."
Kyle nodded.
"An exam? What kind?" »
"A written test, and a physical test. I'm not worried about the physical part. I've seen how you move." She stared at him curiously. "Besides, have you ever fought monsters before?"
Kaito hesitated for a second. He decided to lie a little so as not to arouse suspicion.
"Nothing crazy... just a treant."
Rose's eyes widened.
"Just a treant?" She gave a small, impressed laugh. "It's an E-rank monster. Not bad, for a 'newbie.'"
Kyle looked away, a little embarrassed.
"I think I got lucky..."
Rose stood up, went to get something from the back, then came back with four books, which she placed in front of him.
"For the written test, you're going to have to brace yourself. Take these books." If you start now, you'll be ready in two weeks."
"Thanks, Rose. Really."
He took the books and went up to his room. An hour later, he came back downstairs.
"Already?" Rose said, surprised.
"I'm just going to walk a little. No problem, I'll study seriously."
She smiled.
"I'm counting on it."
This was the first time Kaito had truly gone out to explore the city. He discovered a setting worthy of a classic RPG: cobblestone streets, bustling markets, blacksmiths hard at work, potion sellers, beggars, and an armored knight. Children ran around, bards played on street corners.
He strolled for a while, then his gaze was caught by a blacksmith's shop. A sign in the shape of a sword stuck in an anvil hung above the door.
His equipment, worn from the forest adventure, deserved a replacement.
He entered.
Inside, a massive man, his bare chest covered in soot, was striking metal with impressive precision. An aura of strength and wisdom emanated from him.
Kyle placed a gold coin on the counter.
"I'm looking for a sword. The strongest one you've ever forged."
The blacksmith stared at him for a moment.
"A gold coin? Are you noble or something?"
Kyle's only response was a smile.
"Hm. If you give me four, I'll forge you a custom piece of equipment. Solid. Reliable."
"Deal."
The blacksmith nodded.
"Come back in ten days."
As Kyle prepared to leave, an adventurer entered. He looked like one of those heroes you see in all the manga: a large sword, flashy armor, a pure and direct gaze, and an air of unwavering belief in justice.
Their eyes met, coldly. No words. Just a brief exchange of silent tension.
When Kyle had left, the adventurer asked the blacksmith:
"Who was that kid?"
"Just a young nobleman. Wants to become an adventurer."
The man sneered.
"I doubt he'll go very far. These offspring of the nobility are all seeking recognition, without ever wanting to make the slightest effort. They covet glory, but are unaware of the sacrifices it requires. Most perish on their first adventure."
Back at the inn, Kaito reflected on his past battles.
"Thanks to this walk in the forest, I've improved," he murmured, smiling.
He didn't have a magical interface like in the games, but he noticed that the more he trained, the more natural and powerful his incantations became. Magic in this world responded to the will, intention, and understanding of its user.
He spent the next few days practicing in the forest. He learned:
Lightning:
Lightning Aura: A cloak of electricity that enhanced his reflexes and attacks.
Thunder: A fast-moving and destructive lightning spell.
Darkness:
Black Veil: Plunged enemies into total darkness, nullifying their perception. An evolution of Eclipse.
Light:
Flash: A flash of light capable of blinding multiple enemies at once. An enhancement of Lumen.
Void Magic:
Detection: A supernatural sense that allowed him to sense everything around him within a given radius.
Slash: A wave of pure energy, used as a ranged attack by swordsmen.
Every morning, he rose before dawn, secluded himself in a remote corner of the forest, and trained to the point of exhaustion.
As the days passed, he noticed more and more young people in the town. The atmosphere was changing.
"They're coming for the exam, aren't they?" he asked Rose one evening.
She nodded.
"Yes. Many leave their villages to try their luck here. Some are farmers' sons, others nobles... looking for recognition."
She looked at him.
"A bit like you."
"I'm not noble."
Rose looked surprised.
"Really? Considering how you pay in gold pieces, I thought you were the son of a baron or something."
Kyle shrugged.
"My parents are just wealthy merchants."
She laughed softly.
"I should have known."
The tenth day arrived.
Kyle returned to the forge. The blacksmith was waiting for him, a discreet smile playing on the corner of his lips.
"Here's your order."
The equipment gleamed in the light: lightweight armor, flexible yet sturdy, designed for someone who moves a lot. And a black sword with silver highlights, engraved with mysterious symbols.
Kyle ran his hand over the blade, impressed.
"It's perfect."
The blacksmith crossed his arms.
"Good luck on the exam, noble or not."
The day of the exam arrived.
For Kyle, it was a formality. The written test included a few questions about monsters, guild rules, and equipment usage. The physical test, meanwhile, consisted of facing an enchanted dummy with a weapon, dodging a few magical attacks, and demonstrating a minimum of coordination.
He completed the test without breaking a sweat. In fact, he'd gotten more tired reading the books than he had during the test.
Later that day, the list of successful candidates was posted.
Out of a hundred or so registered, only ten had passed.
He was summoned to the guild for the next part of the process. When he entered the great hall, he joined the other recruits—nervous young men, some overexcited, others exhausted by the trials. A receptionist with bright red hair, dressed in an elegant uniform in the guild's colors, greeted them with a well-practiced smile.
"Congratulations to you, new adventurers. You have passed the exam."
She unrolled a scroll, her tone suddenly solemn.
"You are now rank G, the lowest. By completing quests, you will gradually rise to the higher ranks: F, E, D, C, B, A... Then finally, rank S, reserved for the elites."
She paused, her eyes shining.
"In this guild, only five adventurers are rank S. And our guild master is one of them."
Murmurs raged among the recruits.
"There is also an SS rank, awarded to Heroes... and an SSS rank, reserved for legendary figures. In the entire history of the country, only one adventurer has achieved it: the first founding king."
Kyle half-listened. His gaze drifted, and he internally fought the urge to yawn.
"Blah blah blah... SSS rank, legendary king, powerful guild... Seriously, why do NPCs talk so much in RPGs? I've always skipped the dialogue. Why don't I have a 'Skip Cutscene' button here?"
The receptionist finally concluded.
"You can now come and collect your membership card. It's personal and enchanted to match your status."
Kyle stood up and retrieved his card. He glanced at it curiously... and frowned.
"Class: Swordsman?"
He blinked in surprise.
"But I only used magic during the exam... ah."
He remembered. To avoid suspicion, he had taken the physical test with a sword. No spells. No wonder the guild system had classified him as a warrior.
He sighed.
"Well, too bad. We'll make do. I'm a mage-swordsman or a magic swordsman, right?"
As he was about to leave to choose his first quest, his gaze met that of a young woman.
She was gorgeous. Blonde, long silky hair, white priestess attire, a crystal-adorned staff in her hand. The perfect embodiment of the pretty healer in love with the hero in any good RPG.
Kyle smirked.
"Oh, well. The author decided to introduce a little romance, huh? This sounds like a secondary heroine. I just hope she doesn't die at the end of volume 2."
But immediately, the young woman glared at him with contempt. Her eyes shone with a mixture of disgust and rage.
Kyle raised an eyebrow, taken aback.
"Huh?"
She turned on her heel, furious.
"Oh... She thought I was a nobleman. Of course."
In this world, nobles had a bad reputation, especially towards women. And Kyle, with his neat attire and detached air, came across as very "casual nobleman."
"No wonder she hates me so much."
He decided to ignore that and headed to the quest board.
He picked up all the available G-rank quests.
Kill slimes in the fields to the north.
Gather medicinal herbs near the river.
Eliminate giant rats in the sewers and the garbage dump.
He returned to the counter.
The receptionist looked at him seriously.
"If you fail to complete these quests, a penalty will be placed on your record. If you fail twice, you could be kicked out of the guild."
Silence fell around him. All the other newbies turned to look at him.
Mutters of derision could be heard.
"Kicked out on the first day?"
"That guy's too confident."
"He'll cry when he sees the size of the rats."
Kyle rolled his eyes.
"Always that moment in games where you're surrounded by jealous NPCs."
He smiled at the receptionist.
"No worries. It'll be over before evening."
It was a long day. But Kyle, true to his gamer instincts, charged ahead. He crushed slimes, gathered herbs, tracked rats in the sewers, avoided traps, and cleaned up the depot in record time.
He didn't return to the guild until nightfall. Covered in dust and dried blood, he calmly laid out the evidence of his accomplishments: slime cores, bags of herbs, and giant rat tails.
The receptionist, speechless, checked each item.
"You're... done with everything?"
"Yes."
She looked at him in surprise, then jotted something down in an enchanted ledger. A green light appeared on his membership card.
"Congratulations. For efficiently completing multiple quests at once, you've been promoted to Rank F."
Kyle watched his card glow for a moment.
"Speedrunner in games, speedrunner in real life. Rank F, check."
He thanked him politely, then left the guild under the stunned gaze of his comrades. Some stared at him like a monster. Others like a rival.
Kyle, for his part, stretched nonchalantly.
"So... We're unlocking the world at full speed, eh? What's next? A tsundere princess? A secret guild? Or maybe... a dragon?"
After his first day at the guild, Kyle was walking quietly back to the inn when he ran into the young blonde priestess again. She recognized him immediately... and remained as cold as ice. To everyone's surprise, they were taking the same route. They both headed for Rose's Inn.
Upon their arrival, a surprise awaited them: Rose had organized a small party to celebrate her new guests' successful completion of the adventurer's exam. Kyle could have done without it, but it wasn't unpleasant.
What he didn't yet know was that the priestess... was actually Rose's niece.
Kyle's eyes widened. As for Lys—that was her name—she was also surprised to see how close Kyle and her aunt were.
Lys then asked suspiciously, "Aunt Rose... How can you be so close to a noble, after everything they've done?"
(Reminder: Lys's parents had been killed by corrupt nobles.)
Rose replied calmly, "Not all nobles are monsters. And besides, Kyle isn't one. He's a commoner. A merchant's son, from what he told me."
Rose then introduced Lys to Kyle.
"This is my niece, Lys."
"Pleased to meet you," Kyle said, without much enthusiasm.
"Excuse me for judging you too quickly," Lys replied, a little ashamed.
Rose explained that Lys had grown up here, but had gone to the capital to study the sacred arts after awakening the priestess class. Now she was back to become an adventurer herself.
"I see," Kyle replied with a shrug.
"Don't you want to know more about her parents?" Rose asked, a little surprised.
"No. It's none of my business," Kyle replied with a casual smile.
"No way this is going to turn into a drama. This isn't that kind of story, thank you," he thought wryly.
The party continued in good spirits.
Rose congratulated them both on their successful exams, but warned them,
"The hard part starts now. You're going to have to work hard if you want to move up in rank."
"Too late," Kyle replied. "I'm already an F-rank."
A shocked silence fell.
"WHAT?!" Rose exclaimed. "But it took me a whole month to get out of G-rank!"
"I've always been fast," Kyle replied with a mocking smile.
Lys, however, seemed increasingly intrigued by Kyle. She looked at him with a glint of admiration in her eyes.
The party continued for a while longer, then Kyle casually went to bed.
During the night, Rose and Lys chatted at length.
They talked about the convent, life in the capital, magic, and childhood memories. Finally, Lys returned to Kyle's case.
"What do you know about him, Auntie?"
"Not much... He comes from a wealthy merchant family in the kingdom of Asterion. And apparently, he defeated a Treant before arriving here."
"A Treant?!" Lys repeated, shocked. "But... he's a rank E monster, sometimes even a rank D!"
She frowned thoughtfully.
"What if... what if he's one of the summoned?"
"Impossible," replied Rose. "The summoned are in the capital. And they have incredible classes, not just 'swordsman'."
"You're right," admitted Lys, even though she wasn't entirely convinced.
The next day, Kyle went to the guild as if nothing had happened. Yet, he had become the center of attention.
After all, he was the first to advance to rank F on his first day.
A feat that no one missed... much to his regret.
"Tch. I never asked to be a celebrity..." he thought, maintaining a neutral expression. He hated attracting attention, especially in a world that wasn't his own.
He approached the quest board and selected two F-rank missions:
Eliminate wolves reported near the forest roads.
Fend off goblins attacking travelers in the same area.
Walking toward the reception desk, he handed the papers to a young woman with brown hair tied back in a ponytail. She looked up at him.
"Your name?" she asked simply.
"Kyle." And you?"
"Eris," she answered bluntly.
But seeing the two quests he'd chosen, his expression changed.
"You're planning on doing this... alone?!"
"Yeah. Is that a problem?" he replied with a small smile.
"It's dangerous. Even for a skilled adventurer." These kinds of missions... we usually do them in groups."
"Don't worry, it's not a problem," he said with a smile.
She frowned, visibly worried. But he persisted, paid for some healing and mana potions with the money he'd earned the day before, and left the guild without waiting for a reply.
Some time later, Lys arrived at the guild to accept her first mission.
She didn't have time to approach the board before a group of suspicious-looking adventurers intercepted her.
"Hey, you. Priestess, huh? We're actually looking for a healer to 'collaborate' with."
The tone and looks in their eyes left no doubt: they had bad intentions.
But before they could press the issue, a calm and confident voice spoke up:
"Aren't you ashamed of scaring new recruits?"
It was Tristan, the C-rank adventurer Kyle had met at the blacksmith's. He was accompanied by three women: an elf archer, a mage in a purple robe, and a spearwoman in light armor.
With a single glance, he sent the guys running.
"Are you okay?" he asked Lys. "We're looking for a priestess in our group. If you want to join us, you're welcome."
Grateful, Lys accepted.
"A team of heroes... almost too perfect to be true," she thought as she followed them.
Meanwhile, in the forest, Kyle entered the infested area.
Using [Detection], he spotted a dozen magical signatures. Six goblins were riding wolves, the others on foot were trying to surround him.
"They're organized, those bastards."
He immediately activated [Lightning Aura] to create a defensive field around himself. Then he cast [Dark Veil] over his blade, darkening his form.
"And now... the show."
He cast [Black Lightning]. The impact, combined with the reinforced veil, pulverized half the group in a thunderous explosion.
"Wow. This is a bit of a cheat, isn't it? I've become too cheated," he mocked inwardly.
The survivors tried to flee. Too late.
He activated [Void Veil]—his perception of time slowed, the enemies seemed to move in slow motion.
Kyle charged forward and cast [Slice] combined with [White Lightning]. In a flash, all were eliminated... except one.
A goblin had fallen to its knees, holding out its arms as if begging for mercy.
Kyle stared at it for a long time... then smiled coldly.
"You picked the wrong guy to beg."
And he cut off its head.
He wiped his forehead, sighed, and said ironically:
"Honestly... I'm the monster, aren't I?"
After downing a healing potion and a mana potion, he set off again, heading for the area where the wolf attacks had been spotted.
Kyle headed deeper into the woods, where the trees were so dense that the light struggled to penetrate. The wolf tracks were fresh, and it wasn't long before he came across the first group.
[Detection] activated... "Five signatures. That should do it."
Fast and precise, he took them out one by one without difficulty.
But just when he thought it was over...
A hoarse howl rang out. A cold shiver ran down Kyle's spine.
"...This isn't a normal wolf."
Heavy footsteps shook the ground. Then it emerged from the shadows.
A wolf, but as big as a horse. Its fur was abysmal black, and its eyes glowed an unearthly red. Purple veins pulsed across its body, and black mist oozed from its mouth.
[Demon Wolf – Class D+/C]
This monster was born from the magical corruption of the forest. Faster, smarter, and a thousand times more vicious than its kin.
Kyle narrowed his eyes.
"Finally, a real fight," he said with a smirk.
The Wolf charged without warning.
Kyle barely had time to activate [Dark Veil] before the beast pounced. He narrowly parried, but the force of the impact sent him flying against a tree.
CRACK!
"Ugh... This is starting well."
The monster was already on him. Kyle rolled to the ground, narrowly dodging the demonic fangs. He launched [Black Lightning], but the wolf sidestepped it with a sideways leap, its movements strangely human.
"Tsk... It's not just instinct. It's analyzing my attacks."
Kyle used [Lightning Aura] to push the beast back, then attempted [Slice]. But the Demon Wolf took the full force of the attack... and didn't even flinch.
Then, with a swift movement, he swept the air with his paw. A wave of dark energy shot out, hitting Kyle head-on.
BOOM!
He rolled several meters, his leather armor half-scorched.
He coughed, spat out blood. He wasn't smiling anymore.
"Okay... I admit it... You're a boss."
He hastily downed a healing potion. The monster was approaching, slowly, sure of its superiority.
But Kyle closed his eyes. He concentrated.
"If raw magic isn't enough... then we'll cheat a little."
He combined [Nether Veil] and [Acute Detection] to anticipate the Wolf's movements. The world seemed to slow down... But this time, it didn't charge.
He waited.
The Wolf pounced, ready to rip his head off. Kyle pivoted at the last second and plunged his blade, wrapped in [White Lightning], under the monster's jaw.
The beast howled, but it wasn't over.
[Dark Assault]! he shouted.
A black bolt erupted from his body, piercing the already wounded monster's side. The Wolf recoiled, growling, one leg half destroyed.
But he wouldn't give up.
He attempted one last charge... and Kyle leaped back. The moment was critical.
"Die, monster!"
He brought down his blade with a final [Night Edge], a mixture of lightning and shadow, concentrated in a single strike.
SLASHHH!
The Wolf froze, then collapsed with a final death rattle. A heavy silence fell over the forest.
Kyle fell to his knees, panting, covered in sweat and blood.
"Pff... It's okay... I've had my 'real fight'..."
He laughed softly, tiredly, looking up at the sky between the branches.
This world is really not a game.