Dawgian's party followed me to the Valuation Room, curiosity written across their faces.

  "So what are you selling, Yuki? It's unusual for beginner coming to this room." Myrian asked.

  "Creatures I hunted on the way to this city. I don't know all their names yet."

  "Are you sure about that?" Seilyn leaned closer with a teasing smile. "Or are you just being shy? Come on, tell this big sister~"

  "It's the truth."

  "Ladies, we'll see for ourselves soon enough." Ranngarf chuckled. "Faster we get there, faster we know."

  "Perhaps we'll witness another breathtaking scene," Dawgian added quietly.

  Emily stopped before massive double doors. "If you have trauma against blood, stay outside~"

  She pushed them open.

  The room beyond wasn't a room at all—it was an entire warehouse. Staff members worked at various stations, shouting over the organized chaos.

  "Hey! Give me a hand over here!"

  "What's the market value on Drooling Weed talons?"

  "About one silver, last I checked!"

  "This meat's too thick—anyone have a Teeth Cleaver?"

  The noise level was incredible.

  "Sorry for the chaos—we've had several monster outbreaks recently." Emily pointed to an empty area in the corner. "You can put your materials there, Mr. Yuki."

  "Madam Emily!" Staff members noticed her presence. The noise died to murmurs.

  An older man with a weathered face approached. "Madam, what brings you here? Does this young man need assistance?"

  "I'm accompanying this new adventurer. He's selling materials."

  "A newbie?" The man—Reniem, according to his nameplate—looked skeptical. "Surely you have more important duties, Madam. I can handle this."

  The temperature dropped.

  Emily's smile never wavered, but pressure radiated from her like heat from a forge. "Are you suggesting I'm not welcome here, Mr. Reniem? Are you my supervisor now?"

  Even I felt the weight of it. Behind me, Dawgian's party trembled.

  "No! Never, Madam! Please forgive my impudence!" Reniem bent into a perfect ninety-degree bow.

  "Then there's no problem." Emily's cheerful demeanor returned instantly. "This way, Mr. Yuki."

  "Make way! Madam Emily and her guests coming through!" Reniem shouted.

  "Yes, sir! Welcome, Madam!" The staff chorused.

  "Good work, everyone. Please continue~" Emily waved pleasantly.

  "Yes, Madam!"

  We reached the empty corner. Emily turned to me expectantly. "You can place your materials here. But don't you have storage?"

  I moved closer, lowering my voice. "I have space magic, but I'm hesitant to use it publicly. Is that acceptable?"

  Staff members had returned to work, but I felt their attention on us.

  "I understand your concern." Emily matched my quiet tone. "I'll handle any complications as supervisor."

  "Thank you."

  I focused, channeling mana into the familiar spell structure.

  ZOOM!

  "Space Magic: Spatial Storage, release."

  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

  Monster corpses materialized and crashed to the floor. Blood splattered. The metallic scent of death filled the air.

  Silence.

  I glanced at Dawgian's party.

  Ranngarf stood frozen, mouth agape. Seilyn's eyes were wide as dinner plates. Myrian had gone pale.

  Dawgian's knees buckled. He collapsed.

  "Leader! Wake up, man! You're supposed to be the strong one!" Ranngarf's dramatic cry echoed through the warehouse.

  "Hooeekk!" Myrian doubled over, retching.

  "That's what you get for overeating." Seilyn patted her back, though her own hands shook. "Not very ladylike."

  Reniem rushed forward as Emily swayed. "Madam! Are you—"

  "I'm fine, Mr. Reniem. Give me space, please." Emily caught herself on one leg, remarkably graceful. "Mr. Yuki, help me stand."

  Reniem's face darkened as I steadied her.

  "You certainly know how to surprise me, Yuki," Emily whispered. "Bad for my heart."

  "Sorry if it pains you, Miss. I thought you said it was acceptable."

  "Oh, it's not pain—it's excitement." Her smile turned almost predatory.

  I stepped back carefully. That expression would give people the wrong idea.

  "What the hell is that?!"

  "How did a newbie harvest all those monsters?!"

  "Where did they come from? He wasn't carrying storage!"

  SSSHHH.

  Emily's aura expanded again—darker this time, more focused. Even Reniem froze.

  "Before we continue this valuation," Emily said softly, "remember this: anything you see here besides the materials stays with you until your grave." Her smile was bright and terrifying. "Understood?"

  "UNDERSTOOD!" The roar shook the rafters.

  "Wonderful! Now, someone help us valuate this batch~"

  Reniem called over a young staff member. "You there! You have B-grade certification?"

  "Yes, sir!"

  "Then do your job, boy!"

  "Thank you, sir!"

  After Reniem departed, Emily gestured to the young man. "Please proceed, Mr. Walos."

  "Yes, Madam. I'm Walos—I'll be your valuation assistant today." He bowed to me.

  "Pleased to meet you."

  Walos circled the pile, making notes. "Let's see... five Lizardmen, three Bladegator, seven Madkong including one boss variant, ten Mouthvine, three Entrent, ten Wolfiend, and five Windhawk."

  He consulted a ledger. "For monster rankings: Lizardmen are C-rank, Bladegator C-rank, Madkong C-rank with the boss at B-rank, Mouthvine C-rank, Entrent B-rank, Wolfiend D-rank, and Windhawk B-rank." He examined the corpses more closely. "Though based on size, these Bladegator qualify as B-rank, while the Windhawk are undersized C-rank."

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "All B-rank monsters?!" Ranngarf had recovered enough to speak. "That's..."

  "What is it?" I asked.

  "The level difference is enormous for us, Yuki." Seilyn's admiration was evident. "Despite being new, you're truly amazing. This big sister is very proud~"

  "I almost fainted like Dawgian hearing those ranks," Ranngarf admitted. "Well done, boy."

  "Please continue, Mr. Walos."

  "These materials complete several active quests." Walos tallied quickly. "Three Bladegator quests, two Madkong, one Mouthvine, three Entrent, and five Windhawk quests—all finished. You have partial progress on Lizardmen and Wolfiend quests, with excess Madkong materials."

  "Quite the haul, Mr. Yuki," Emily said. "I believe we made the right choice with your rank."

  "For dismantling services," Walos continued, "costs are fifty copper for small monsters, five silver for medium, three gold for large, and one platinum for huge specimens. Anything smaller than a dog we can't process."

  "Thank you, Mr. Walos." Emily turned to me. "You have two options, Mr. Yuki. First: leave everything as-is, take your payment, and we'll record the completed quests. Second: finish the incomplete quests today, and I'll record everything together."

  "I'll finish the incomplete ones."

  "Yuki, are you certain?" Seilyn's concern was genuine. "Even our full party couldn't complete those in one day."

  "It's still morning. I can finish by evening."

  "Confidence is good, but rationality is important." Ranngarf frowned. "You should consider her warning."

  "Now, now—it's Mr. Yuki's decision." Emily's tone brooked no argument. "Don't make him hesitate."

  "Just be careful, Yuki," Seilyn said quietly.

  "I will. Thank you, Miss Emily."

  After I left, Ranngarf voiced what they were all thinking. "Are you sure about this, Madam? From experience, that's an incredibly difficult task."

  "I'm certain, Mr. Ranngarf." Emily watched the door. "Look how many monsters he gathered just passing through. Now imagine if he actively hunted. How many could he collect? How fast?"

  "We can't help him anyway," Seilyn said. "Not at our current level."

  "Then we prepare for our next quest and train harder." Ranngarf's jaw set with determination. "So we can actually be useful to him."

  "Good luck with your unconscious friends." Emily smiled. "I need to prepare Mr. Yuki's documents."

  Two hours later, at Spawnhall's gate.

  "Hey, Briant. What do you think about that boy from before? The beginner adventurer?"

  Felix leaned against the guard post, idly watching the forest road.

  "Still wondering if he's really Huberg's adopted son." Briant didn't look up from his logbook.

  "You're still thinking about that?"

  "Of course. It'll be clear once he finishes today's hunt."

  "Haha..."

  "But I hope he's at least safe, even if he fails."

  "Ha... hahaha..."

  "Are you listening to me?" Briant finally looked up.

  "I don't think you need to worry at all." Felix pointed down the road.

  Briant followed his gesture. His pen clattered to the ground.

  "W-what is that?"

  "Your answer, I'd say."

  "But it's only been two hours?!"

  "And he looks completely uninjured."

  "I should report to the guild." Briant was already moving.

  "You do that. I'll talk to him."

  Briant sprinted toward the guild. Pedestrians stepped aside automatically—apparently this happened often during emergencies.

  Felix approached me with a friendly smile. "Hey, boy! How was your first hunt?"

  "Hmm? This is my eighth and ninth, sir."

  "...What?"

  "Didn't you say this was your first time entering the city?"

  "Yes, so?"

  "So it's your first hunt as an adventurer, right? Unless you were already claiming hunts while staying with Huberg?"

  "No, sir. When my father was alive, he didn't allow me to hunt alone."

  Felix's confusion deepened. "Then what do you mean by eighth and ninth?"

  "The guild hasn't informed you? I assumed they told you my circumstances when they let me hunt alone."

  "What circumstances?"

  "I hunted on my way to the city. Just now I finished two more quests."

  "You're joking." Felix stared. "I thought you were doing low-rank beginner quests."

  "You can confirm with the guild."

  "We already called them—that's why Briant ran off. But..." Felix studied me. "We're just surprised you returned from the forest in two hours. Usually takes a full day, and adventurers come back covered in scars."

  I realized my mistake. No injuries, impossibly fast—of course they'd be suspicious.

  "Unless you failed and gave up," Felix continued, "but that doesn't fit Huberg's son, does it?"

  "I understand your concerns, Mr. Felix. I'll wait here."

  "What a polite boy. If all adventurers were like you, we'd have no problems." Felix grinned. "How long can you wait? Got somewhere to be?"

  "I promised someone lunch this afternoon."

  "Busy for a newbie! What's the occasion?"

  "Just relaxation, sir."

  "Call me Felix. So, how was your guild test? Tiring?"

  "Not particularly, Mr. Felix. Just touching a pedestal and filling documents. I expected something more complicated."

  "More complicated?" Felix laughed. "Those contracts were exhausting for me! Reading all that fine print—you don't want to be deceived. Most adventurers feel the same."

  "You're quite thorough. Did you become an adventurer before joining the guard, Mr. Felix?"

  "Nope, not that talented. The kingdom's military test is quite difficult, even for border posts. I need more experience first."

  "The military test is different from the guild test?"

  "At higher levels, they're similar—both have combat tests. But at basic levels, it's strict. Low-rank adventurers help civilians with daily needs. Guards handle criminals. So even low-rank guards have combat testing. Too much for me!" Felix chuckled.

  Interesting system design.

  "When do adventurers usually take combat tests, Mr. Felix?"

  "Around C to B rank, I think?"

  That was different from my situation.

  "Why do you ask, ki—"

  "Call me Yuki, Mr. Felix."

  "Hehe, alright, Yuki."

  "Felix! Are you alright?!" Briant's shout carried from down the street.

  Behind him came a group of adventurers and a guild staff member.

  "Here comes my worrywart partner." Felix smiled. "Looks like our talk's ending for today, Yuki."

  "Glad talking with you, Mr. Felix."

  "How's the situation, Felix? Anything strange?" Briant was panting heavily from just fetching people.

  "You worry too much. After talking with him, he's actually quite polite. So different from rude adventurers."

  "Huh?!" Briant looked shocked.

  Behind them, I noticed Dawgian's party—and they looked upset about Felix's comment.

  "What are y—" Ranngarf started forward angrily.

  Dawgian stopped him with one hand.

  "Ohoho, thank you for the compliment, Mr. Felix." Emily's voice was sugar-sweet. "I'll be sure to confirm your statement with our adventurers and retrain them accordingly."

  Felix shuddered. "Uh... Madam Emily...?"

  "Of course it's me." Her bright smile was terrifying.

  "Why come personally, Madam? For a newbie?"

  "After I called for a staff member to verify something," Briant explained, "Madam Emily rushed over immediately and insisted on coming herself."

  "I have my own reasons to supervise Mr. Yuki here."

  "That's rare. Makes us more curious about this kid, Madam." Felix's tone turned serious. "You know our duty is examining city safety, right?"

  "I'm well aware, Mr. Felix. That's precisely why I must come personally."

  "I was thoughtless. Sorry, Madam."

  "Does the Guild Master know about this?" Briant still looked skeptical.

  "Actually, it's the Guild Master's direct order. Mr. Yuki works in this city as an adventurer, and I personally supervise his rank growth."

  Briant's face fell.

  "This is suspicious, Madam." Felix's guard training showed. "Can you start the valuation here, with both of us as witnesses?"

  "Oh my, thank you! I couldn't wish for better. How about it, Mr. Yuki?"

  "Telling two more people doesn't matter. But..." I paused. "Everyone here must keep this to themselves. If you need details, ask me or the Guild Master directly."

  "How about it, everyone?" Emily looked around.

  "We agree." Dawgian spoke for his party.

  "We just want to see another astonishing scene." Ranngarf grinned.

  "We'll keep it secret as well." Briant's stubborn expression had softened.

  I bet it's just ordinary anyway. That'll prove he's a faker.

  I could read his thoughts on his face.

  "If my partner agrees, so do I," Felix added.

  "Alright. I'll release them."

  What's he going to release? Both guards thought simultaneously. Briant shifted into a combat stance. Felix stayed relaxed, trusting the adventurers' casual attitudes.

  ZOOM.

  BOOM BOOM BOOM.

  Monster corpses materialized and hit the ground.

  "Wh-what is that?!" Briant's stance faltered.

  "Ha... hahaha... That clears up all misunderstandings, I guess." Felix's laugh was slightly hysterical.

  "Thank you for understanding, Mr. Felix." Emily clearly knew how unbelievable this was.

  CRASH.

  "Ra... Ranngarf! Are you alright?!" Dawgian caught his collapsed companion.

  "So this is what I missed?!" Myrian had developed some immunity to bloody scenes.

  "Fufu, I'm falling more in love with you, Yuki~" Seilyn wandered in her own world.

  "Exactly as the quest requires, Miss Emily." Ten Wolfiend and five Lizardmen lay before us.

  "May I ask how many monsters you encountered?" Emily couldn't hold back her curiosity. "Normally, adventurers spend hours just reaching monster nests, then searching, killing, and exiting the forest."

  "Actually, there were around thirty Wolfiend in a pack. But I don't want to make them extinct. So I killed ten and chased away the rest."

  "?!!" Everyone except me looked astonished.

  "The Lizardmen took longer to find. Eventually I discovered an area with fifteen scattered around. Easy to hunt them one by one. I left the rest and headed back."

  "You must be lying!" Briant exploded. "Just reaching the Wolfiend nest takes forty-five minutes! That's ninety minutes travel time total! You're saying you defeated them all in thirty minutes? Not counting search time?!"

  "I ran fast."

  "Don't ki—"

  "I believe in you, Mr. Yuki." Emily's firm statement cut Briant off.

  "What?! Madam?!"

  "Is there a problem? This is within guild authority."

  "But what if he stole them from other adventurers? Or passing warriors?"

  "No adventurers took these quests today. And passing warriors?" Emily's smile turned sharp. "Are you referring to Mr. Yuki himself?"

  Briant realized he'd just admitted Yuki's feat.

  "Um, if it's not enough, I can hunt more?" I offered, confused by the tension.

  "Ohoho, that's not necessary, Mr. Yuki. Since we're done here, can you bring them to the guild like before? We'll record your accomplishments for today."

  "Alright, Miss."

  "Hey, don't ignore me, Madam! Don't you three have objections?" Briant looked desperately at Dawgian's party.

  "Nope, we're totally fine with it," Dawgian said.

  "If Madam Emily says so, what can we do?" Myrian shrugged.

  "We witnessed him from the start. We've accepted the facts." Seilyn's tone was final.

  "Tch..."

  "It's not our authority, Briant," Felix said quietly.

  "I know."

  "If you have questions, ask the Guild Master yourself. Perhaps he can arrange something."

  Briant said nothing.

  "Tonight we can drink at that inn," Felix offered.

  "...Fine."

  "We'll finish this immediately, Mr. Yuki. Let's go." Emily was already organizing the transport.

  By the time we returned to the guild, afternoon had arrived. The documents were filed, my quest completions recorded, and payment arranged for pickup tomorrow.

  I was officially an active adventurer now.

  As I left the guild, my mind was already elsewhere. Manna would be waiting at the inn, probably pacing with excitement about our promised trip to the farm.

  I smiled despite my exhaustion. After a morning of shocking everyone with monster corpses and impossible completion times, an afternoon of simple relaxation sounded perfect.

  The flower beds were supposedly beautiful this time of year. And Manna's enthusiasm was infectious—it would be nice to see the farm through fresh eyes instead of just another work site.

  I quickened my pace toward the inn.

  Some promises were worth keeping.

  [Second Objective - Daydream Walk: In Progress]