The sharp, aic st of the infirmary stuhan's nostrils, dragging up an unwele sense of déjà vu. His gaze drifted to the sterile white walls, the dim, flickering lights, and the soft hum of medical devices, a setting he had always despised. In his previous world as a saryman ba Japan, trips to the hospital were a bitter reminder of his overworked existence. He had once been so ed by his job that he'd ighe warning signs of burnout until he nearly colpsed at his desk.

  "This isn't so different," he muttered under his breath, though his situation now couldn't have been more removed from the dreary cubicles of Tokyo.

  The med-tech, a stout man with a no-nonsense demeanor, ran a ser over Ethan's shoulder, the device emitting a soft blue glow. Ethan winced slightly as it passed over the bruised tissue, remnants of his st battle still fresh.

  "You're lucky," the med-tech grunted, his voice gruff but not unkind. "A few more timeters, and that ser bolt would've done more than just singe you. You o take better care of yourself, Walker. You're no use to anyone if you keep pushing yourself like this."

  Ethan nodded absently, his mind wandering. In his past life, this would have been the part where a doctor would sternly lecture him about work-life bance, advising him to rest and take things slow. The irony wasn't lost on him that even in this new world, rest seemed like a distant luxury.

  "Ethan Walker, the indomitable D-Rank merary," came a familiar voice from the doorway. Kael ehe infirmary, his stride steady despite the weight of years evident in his graying hair and scarred hands. He o the med-tech before pulling a chair over to sit beside Ethan.

  "How's the shoulder?" Kael asked, his sharp eyes assessihan as if gauging more than just his physical state.

  "It'll hold," Ethan replied, rotating his arm gingerly. "Not the worst I've had."

  Kael chuckled dryly. "That's the problem with you young ones, always brushing things off. You've e a long way, Walker. Not many rise through the ranks this quickly. The way you handled Ve's operation and previous missions after being promoted is impressive."

  Ethan's expression darkened. "The st operation came at a cost. We lost good people out there."

  Kael's tone softened. "We always do. This line of work isn't about avoiding loss; it's about making sure those losses mean something. Learn from it. Carry it with you. That's what separates the seasoned from the reckless."

  Ethan nodded slowly. Despite his gruff demeanor, Kael always had a way of cutting through the noise and perspective.

  The guild hall was alive with activity whehan stepped out of the infirmary. Holographic mission boards hummed with light, dispying lists of tracts and bounties, while the chatter of meraries filled the air. Some were veterans, sharing drinks and sing war stories against the Syndicate and bandits, while others were younger, nervously huddled in groups as they prepared for their first missions.

  Ethan walked through the bustling hall, drawing subtle nods and murmurs from those whnized him. A group of E-Rank meraries caught his attention, their versation halting as he approached.

  "That's him, isn't it?" one of them whispered, a wiry young man with fiery red hair.

  The man stepped forward, his voicertain but filled with admiration. "Walker, right? The one who took down Ve's supply lines?"

  Ethan paused, his gaze steady. "That's me."

  The group exged gnces, awe evident in their expressions. "Man, that was incredible," the red-haired merary said. "You've been taking on Syndicate operations like it's sed nature."

  Ethan shook his head, his tone humble. "It's never just one person. It's a team effort, and it always es with a price. Don't fet that."

  The young meraries nodded, chastened but inspired. Ethan offered a faint smile before tinuing toward the exit, their admiration a reminder of how far he'd e.

  Nara's was a haven of warmth and familiarity, its soft lighting and rustic decor a reprieve from the cold steel of the guild hall. The smell of spiced meats and freshly baked bread filled the air, mingling with the murmur of versation and the occasional k of gsses.

  Ethan slid into a er booth, a simple meal and a drink. As he waited, a familiar figure approached. Kara, a merary he hadn't seen since his early days as an F-Rank.

  "Well, if it isn't the rising star of Valeris," Kara teased, dropping into the seat across from him without waiting for an invitation. Her short bck hair framed a face that still carried the same fidend poise he remembered.

  "Kara," Ethan said, a genuine smile breaking through his usual stoicism. "It's been a while."

  She smiled back. "Yeah, it has. D-Rank now, huh? Not bad for the rookie who almost got killed at Ridgefall Outpost."

  Ethan chuckled despite himself, the memory of their chaotic first mission together fshing through his mind. "I like to think I've improved sihen."

  They spent the few minutes reminisg, their ughter cutting through the tina's ambient noise. But as the versation shifted to more ret events, Kara's tone grew somber.

  "You've ged," she said, her gaze steady. "Back then, you were nervous, unsure despite the calm facade. Now, it's like you're carrying the weight of the world."

  Ethan didn't respond immediately, his eyes distant. "A lot's happened. It's not just about surviving anymore. It's about making sure this p has a future."

  Kara nodded, raising her gss. "To the fighters who make it happen."

  They ked gsses, a quiet camaraderie settliween them.

  As the night wore on, Nara herself approached Ethan's booth. The tina owner's kind eyes and warm smile carried a maternal quality that put everyo ease. She pced a fresh drink oable, her tole.

  "You've worked hard, Ethan," she said. "You're one of the few active D-Ranks around here who is making a differenany look up to your as and words now."

  "Thanks, Nara," Ethan replied, though his voice cked enthusiasm. "Doesn't feel like i have made much of a differehough."

  Nara sat down across from him, her gaze warm. " But you did, many people in my tina and oreets speak highly of your as against the Bck Sun Syndicate. You and the guild give us hope, which makes a whole lot of a differehan before."

  Ethan listened quietly, her words striking a chord.

  "You've e a long way, Ethan," Nara tinued. "Don't lose sight of why you started. The work you're doing matters, more than you might realize."

  Her words settled over him like a b, f but heavy with responsibility. "Thanks, Nara," he said softly.

  As Ethan stepped into the cool night air of Valeris, the city's lights cast a faint glow against the dark sky. He took a deep breath, his thoughts driftiween the past and the battles yet to e.

  In his previous life, he'd worked himself to exhaustion for a pany that saw him as expendable, just so he make a living. Here, he strives for something far greater than just money, for the lives of people who depended on him, for a future worth believing in.

  He ched his fists, his resolve solidifying. The Bck Sun Syndicate's days were numbered.