Kazuki squinted up at the faded wooden sign hanging above the double doors: "New Dawn Guild – Beginners Welcome!"
"Alright," he whispered. "This time I play it safe. No tea. No relics. No time magic. Just find a quest, pet a cat, collect five mushrooms, and call it a day."
Smile jiggled beside him in a satchel labeled NOT A DANGEROUS SLIME. Tala had stitched it.
A moment later, the doors creaked open and a breeze swept his hair back like an anime protagonist having a destiny moment.
"Oh no," he muttered.
✦
The inside of the New Dawn Guild was buzzing.
Rookie adventurers in mismatched armor lounged at tables, bragging about killing horned rabbits or delivering lost soup. A giant board displayed dozens of beginner quests.
Kazuki's eyes sparkled. "This is my level. Finally!"
He strode up to the receptionist—a perky woman with pink twin-tails and a clipboard.
"Hi!" Kazuki beamed. "I'd like to register for a basic quest!"
She blinked. "Name?"
"Kazuki."
Her smile faded slightly. "Like… the Kazuki?"
"Um. Probably not?"
She looked over her clipboard. Her pupils dilated. "S-sir, this can't be right. You're listed under… emergency class."
"Huh?"
She turned the clipboard to him.
[Emergency Classification: KAZUKI – Tier ?
Threat Level: ???]
DO NOT AGITATE. DO NOT ASSUME HE'S WEAK. HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING. TREAT WITH KINDNESS AND CAUTION. Also: bring snacks.
Kazuki scratched his cheek. "That… feels about right."
"Sir, we can't give you beginner quests," she whispered. "You've already saved the capital twice and shattered a dungeon gate with a sneeze."
"I just want to find a missing cat."
"Last time you found a cat, it turned out to be the reincarnation of an emperor."
"That's not my fault!"
Suddenly, a commotion broke out behind them.
A rugged man in a green scarf burst in, panting. "Forest titan—approaching—North Gate! No time—any Rank S adventurer nearby?!"
The receptionist pointed at Kazuki before she could stop herself. "Uh… him?"
Kazuki blinked. "Me?"
✦
Ten minutes later, Kazuki stood awkwardly on a grassy hill while guild officers handed him an emergency cloak and a glowing sword that hummed with divine intent.
"I—I just wanted mushrooms," he mumbled.
Tala galloped in on Getsuryu. "What did you do?!"
"I didn't do anything! I just stood here and a titan showed up!"
In the distance, a hulking forest titan—thirty meters tall, covered in moss and tree roots—roared and smashed a boulder in half.
Kazuki sighed. "Well… guess I'll go talk to it?"
"Don't—wait, what?"
But he was already walking.
✦
As the titan raised its arm to crush a nearby village, Kazuki yelled, "Hey!"
The titan paused.
It squinted down at the boy waving up at it.
"I, uh… come in peace?" Kazuki offered.
The titan blinked. Then sneezed.
A wind gust sent Kazuki tumbling backward into a rock.
The rock cracked.
And from inside it, a glowing orb rolled out and bonked Kazuki on the nose.
[You have acquired: Forest Heart Core (Mythic Tier)]
A dormant relic of the ancient Verdant Guardian.
Auto-binds to nearest wielder.
Kazuki stood.
He glowed green.
The titan stopped roaring.
Then it knelt.
A long silence followed.
Kazuki turned to Tala and shouted, "Did I win!?"
She just stared.
Smile jiggled with excitement.
✦
Three Hours Later – Back at the Guild
A massive crowd cheered as Kazuki returned, muddy, glowing, and utterly confused.
The guild master clapped him on the shoulder. "Son, you don't belong in beginner ranks."
"I know," Kazuki groaned. "But I wanted to."
"Well, too bad. Congratulations—effective immediately, we're assigning you S-Rank certification."
"I don't even know what that means."
"It means you're allowed to slay dragons, lead war efforts, and give motivational speeches at galas."
Kazuki whimpered. "What if I want to collect herbs and nap?"
"Not anymore."
Smile jiggled solemnly in mourning.
Aurelis entered the guild, saw the commotion, and walked straight into a support beam.
✦
Later That Night
Kazuki flopped onto his bed, new cloak tangled around his face.
"I don't even know how to use a sword," he moaned.
"You still beat a titan by tripping into a relic," Tala pointed out.
"Lucky accident!"
Smile hopped onto his chest.
Tala narrowed her eyes. "Or fate."
Kazuki groaned. "If fate wants me to save the world, it should give me a tutorial first."
A scroll appeared at the foot of his bed.
[Tutorial Unlocked: World-Saving for Accident-Prone Idiots]
Kazuki stared.
Smile made a sound that could only be interpreted as smug.
✦
Meanwhile, in a Dark Chamber
Aurelis's rival mentor, General Rakuin, slammed a fist on the table.
"He's been promoted again?!"
"Yes, sir," his attendant replied. "S-Rank."
"Impossible! He's a walking disaster!"
The crystal orb shimmered to show Kazuki peacefully watering a cactus with mana-infused water.
The cactus grew legs and began dancing.
The general screamed into his scarf.