The night had fully deepened by the time Rena finally got what she wanted.
Magic lamps hung in front of the door, emitting warm light that still contrasted with the cold atmosphere hanging in the air.
The receptionist adjusted her glasses again, then took a piece of paper from under her desk using her right hand. She directed her gaze toward Rena.
Alright, Rena… On this paper I'm holding, answer whatever is in your head honestly. I'll check the boxes on this paper, no matter what your answers are.
Rena just clenched her fists, staring sharply at the receptionist with steady, ready breath, and spoke firmly.
Alright, Miss Receptionist. I'm ready.
Seeing Rena was ready, the receptionist took a stable breath, exhaled normally, and finally began.
A few short questions, basic inquiries, and assessing looks from the receptionist… Rena answered everything honestly.
Until finally, the receptionist, who had been evaluating, fixed her short hair—which had actually started sweating—and concluded.
Alright, Rena… here is your adventurer's badge.
A small badge was placed on the table.
A simple Iron badge, engraved with the letter F.
Rena looked at it, a little confused, just staring at the badge with both hands for a few moments. Then she tucked one hand into her oversized robe pocket, swallowed hard as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
My rank is F?
The receptionist immediately interrupted, clapping both hands together once, raising her voice while smiling and squinting her eyes.
That's right, Rank F. Welcome to the guild, Rena!!!
Rena fell silent for a moment, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, but on the other hand, her eyes were sharp as if she couldn't accept it. Then Rena remembered the Headmaster's words.
As a knight, first regulate your breathing, because that is part of mastering calmness and also putting your enemy in your grasp.
Recalling the Headmaster's words, Rena's eyes sparkled. One of her hands came out of her robe pocket and clenched just as tightly as the other hand that had already been clenched. But on the other side, her lips trembled as she said in her heart.
Just wait, Headmaster. I will find you wherever you are!!
The receptionist saw Rena standing there silently, unable to react at all, thinking Rena looked gloomy. She tried to adjust her glasses as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing, then panicked slightly.
Eh, Rena…!! The reason is—
Before the receptionist could explain, Rena suddenly spun around to face the other direction. She stood in front of the quest board.
Her eyes scanned the available list.
No big monsters.
No expeditions outside the city.
No grand adventures like she had imagined.
Only simple quests based on her current rank:
· Clean the guild's storage room
· Deliver packages within the city
· Catch small pests in the residential area
Having seen enough, Rena returned to the reception desk with a look demanding clarification.
Can a quest not on this board be added if someone requests it, Miss Receptionist?
The receptionist understood what Rena meant. With a wide smile, she nodded slowly while fixing her short hair.
Of course it can. It's just that they need to come to the guild to register the quest!!
Rena paused for a moment, then with blazing eyes and extremely clenched fists, her hands moved quickly, grabbing several quest sheets at once. She dashed off.
Alright! I'll finish them and rank up tonight!!!
That night, Rena didn't delay.
In the back room of the guild, she started with the cleaning task.
Dust flew as she moved her broom; old crates were neatly rearranged. Sweat began to appear on her forehead, but her movements remained fast and efficient. All her training had made her body used to working without complaint.
Without much talking, without long breaks.
One quest done.
The receptionist, seeing Rena's hard work, wanted to praise her, but before she could speak, Rena suddenly ran out of the guild. Seeing that, the receptionist reflexively shouted.
Eh, Rena! I haven't given you your reward yet!!
And the evaluation… how much longer until you rank up?
Rena heard from a distance and called back with a light, carefree laugh.
Just hold onto it for now, Miss Receptionist! Because I'm ranking up tonight!!!
The receptionist was a little shocked, even reflexively adjusting her glasses even though it was her ears that should have been checked to see if what Rena said was true. She thought to herself.
I thought she was just motivating herself earlier… but this is more than I imagined.
Rena, already outside the guild, still saw the same atmosphere. She walked through the increasingly quiet city streets, accompanied only by the lamp lights and building shadows. Some residents still gave her the same strange looks as before, which actually gave Rena chills.
But Rena didn't stop.
Not tonight.
Rena headed straight to a delivery shop.
She knocked on the door, handed over the package—somehow already stacked on her when she entered—received a completion slip with little interaction.
The last quest on the board: catch pests.
A small creature ran through a narrow alley, fast and slippery. But Rena was faster.
With one swift motion, she caught it.
Her breath was slightly ragged, but her eyes blazed as she said.
Done!!
But this isn't over!!!!
Rena completed several more city quests. She was so enthusiastic that even the residents who had been resting or sitting silently just watched her dash back and forth, finishing quests quickly. Some residents were slightly entertained, showing small smiles, and others whispered.
So even in this current situation—full of sadness and loss of direction—there's still someone who keeps living their life.
Eventually, the entertained residents also started giving Rena quests, until Rena became known as the "Problem Solver of the Residents."
The receptionist, still not recovered from what she had witnessed of Rena's explosive determination, suddenly heard several knocks on the guild door. It wasn't politeness—the room inside was already packed with residents reporting that several quests had been completed.
The receptionist could only panic. Even trying to stay professional felt difficult given the crowd. She thought to herself.
So it's true. Rena, the one raised by the Headmaster, is really like this—extremely ambitious, wanting to finish everything!!
Finally, the night began to turn to morning. Morning dew and the first light of dawn appeared.
Rena arrived at the guild and knocked on the door gently.
Her steps were a little heavy, her clothes dirty, her body tired.
But in her hands—
several proofs of completed quests that were on the board earlier. Rena placed them on the table.
But the receptionist was nowhere to be seen. Rena looked around, a little confused.
Eh? Where's Miss Receptionist?
Still not finding the receptionist, Rena saw how messy the guild room had become. She swallowed hard, entering combat mode, and reached for her sword.
What happened??
Was there a robbery???
Rena spun around in the reception area and accidentally bumped into something.
Eh???
Miss Receptionist fell asleep?
Turns out the receptionist was sleeping on the floor right behind the desk. Startled, she woke up, adjusted her glasses, slowly opened her eyes, and mumbled.
Please… I'm sick. Consult with someone else later, okay… hoamm!!!
Then, realizing it was Rena, she tried to stand up, a little unsteady.
Eh?? Rena??
Sorry, sorry!!
Seeing the receptionist awake, Rena stepped back and returned to the front of the desk, then without further ado asked.
So? Miss Receptionist?
The receptionist fixed her glasses again, focused on the results, and calculated Rena's rewards.
She looked at them, a little surprised but also not, given what she had gone through earlier.
Sigh… This is incredible, Rena…!!
You're amazing!! That's what I should be saying enthusiastically…
But look at me now, Rena. Even just being professional has exhausted me.
Still trying to stay upright, the receptionist gave Rena the results.
Here it is, Rena.
She took out a badge made of brass, engraved with the letter E, along with the rewards from the completed quests.
Before Rena could speak, the receptionist continued, firmly fixing her messy hair.
With this badge, you can now go to the outskirts of the city. And if you get the chance, connections, or something else, you might be brought along by higher-ranked adventurers. Of course, the rewards will still be adjusted to your rank.
Rena only nodded quietly.
No big smile.
No words of pride.
But inside her—
something had changed.
She stared at the small badge on the desk.
Rank E
A small beginning.
But Rena had proven one thing.
She didn't come here and do all this for fun.
She came… to get answers.
Then Rena took out the love letter tucked in her bag strap.
And she said in her heart.
Wait for me, my secret admirer… and also you, Headmaster!!!
I'm coming!!!