Yukio leaned back against the headboard, staring up at the ceiling.

  His stomach still ached where Kaede had punched him.

  His pride hurt worse.

  Kaede sat on the opposite side of the room, face bright red, staring at literally anything that wasn’t Yukio.

  Michibiki, meanwhile, logged at the edge of the bed, far too amused by the whole situation.

  Yukio pushed himself upright with a groan.

  “That's it. I'm getting a separate room,”

  He muttered.

  “My body can't take this kind of torture.”

  He rubbed his side and added.

  “And if I wake up with two girls on me again, I'm unleashing hell.”

  Michibiki burst out laughing.

  “You can try,”

  She said cheerfully.

  “Honestly, I was thinking of renting a whole house instead. We've got a small fortune from those last two quests, after all.”

  Kaede finally spoke, still refusing to look at him.

  “...Ungrateful brat.”

  Yukio snorted.

  “Says the one who punched a recovering patient.”

  Michibiki stood and clapped her hands together.

  “Alright, jokes aside,”

  She said,

  “Candessa's waiting. You still need to sign that contract.”

  Yukio's expression shifted slightly at the reminder.

  The contract.

  Riches. Authority. Influence. And more than anything, responsibility.

  He exhaled slowly, then nodded.

  “Right. The contract.”

  After gathering their gear and making sure everything was in order, the three of them left the inn together, stepping into the busy morning streets of Primordia.

  ---

  Candessa's shop was as lively as ever.

  The moment they entered her office, Yukio was greeted by absolute chaos.

  Documents were stacked everywhere.

  Assistants moved in and out at a rapid pace, arms full of paperwork. Ink pens scratched nonstop. Stamps slammed down in rhythmic thuds.

  Allen stood in the corner, calm as ever, sorting papers with surgical precision.

  At the center of it all sat Candessa herself.

  The moment her eyes landed on Yukio, her lips curved into a sharp, satisfied smile.

  “Morning, Yukio,”

  She said smoothly.

  “Glad you finally woke up. I was starting to think I’d lost the business deal of a lifetime.”

  She tapped the desk lightly.

  “But I suppose we could’ve always let your ghost sign instead.”

  Yukio chuckled softly.

  “Morning. Glad to be back. I almost died… again.”

  Candessa slid a thick document across the desk toward him.

  “Well, here it is. All terms as negotiated.”

  She leaned back slightly, crossing her legs.

  “And I even sweetened the deal. Seventy–thirty revenue split. Seventy for you.”

  Kaede let out a low whistle.

  “That’s insane.”

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  Candessa glanced at Yukio again, a faint hint of red touching her cheeks.

  “He’s worth it,”

  She said calmly.

  “After what you told me.”

  Yukio scanned the pages carefully.

  The numbers.

  The clauses.

  The authority it granted.

  Everything was exactly as he wanted.

  …No.

  Better.

  A slow smile spread across his face.

  “This is fair,”

  He said.

  “And exactly what I was looking for.”

  Without hesitation, he signed his name.

  The moment the pen lifted from the paper, something shifted.

  Not magically.

  But meaningfully.

  Candessa gathered the documents, satisfied.

  “Well then,”

  She said,

  “Welcome to the next stage of your life, Yukio.”

  Yukio leaned back slightly, exhaling.

  The contract was signed.

  The path was chosen.

  And from this point on,

  There was no turning back.

  ---

  Across town, deep within a massive workshop filled with the clang of metal and the scent of oil, Yukio stood surrounded by craftsmen.

  Sheets of parchment covered a long table, simple sketches, clean lines, and carefully noted measurements.

  The men leaned in closer as Yukio finished explaining.

  “…And when you strike it like this,”

  Yukio said, tapping the diagram,

  “The spark ignites the fuel. Controlled. Repeatable.”

  There was a brief silence.

  Then,

  One craftsman let out a low whistle.

  “…It’s so simple,”

  He muttered.

  “So obvious.”

  Another scratched his beard, eyes gleaming.

  “Simple doesn’t mean easy. This is genius. How did you even think of something like this?”

  Yukio smiled lightly.

  “That’s a secret,”

  He said.

  “Let’s just say it’s from my homeland.”

  The craftsmen exchanged looks, equal parts excitement and disbelief.

  The moment Yukio stepped back from the table, they sprang into action, tools already in hand. Metal rang. Flames flared. Production began immediately.

  Allen remained behind, arms crossed, overseeing everything with a sharp, professional eye.

  Yukio stepped outside the workshop and inhaled deeply.

  Kaede and Michibiki were waiting for him.

  Michibiki tilted her head toward the street.

  “Come on,”

  She said,

  “Let’s head to the guild.”

  ---

  The moment they entered the Adventurers’ Guild, It exploded.

  “HEY! That’s them!”

  “The party that took down the plant monster!”

  “Did you see that crater?!”

  “They took on a monster that size and lived?!”

  “Yukio took it down in one attack!”

  Cheers. Shouts. Praise from every direction.

  Yukio flinched.

  “…Why do people know my name now?”

  Kaede smirked.

  “Too late. You’re famous.”

  Michibiki sighed.

  “I warned you.”

  They barely managed to escape the swarm and reach the front counter.

  Emira was already there.

  The elfin receptionist looked up and the moment she saw them, her eyes filled with tears.

  “You’re okay…”

  She whispered.

  She rushed forward, hands clasped together, voice trembling.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay. I couldn’t lose another group… You three are the only ones I have left right now.”

  She wiped her tears quickly, trying to compose herself.

  “P-Please,”

  She said softly.

  “Follow me. The Guildmaster would like to speak with you.”

  Yukio exchanged a glance with Kaede and Michibiki.

  Whatever was coming next,

  It wasn’t just about a quest anymore.

  They followed Emira toward the inner chambers, leaving the noise behind as the weight of their growing influence settled in.

  ---

  The Guildmaster’s office was large, sturdy, and carried the weight of authority. Dark wood lined the walls, decorated with trophies from past hunts and maps etched with the scars of past disasters.

  Zarukatsu Stormrend stood behind his desk as they entered, his sharp eyes locking onto the trio immediately.

  “Oh,”

  He said, voice deep and steady,

  “Our saviors. Please, sit. We have much to discuss.”

  Yukio, Kaede, and Michibiki took their seats.

  Without another word, Zarukatsu reached beneath his desk and placed two massive sacks onto the table.

  THUD. THUD.

  The sound alone made Yukio jump.

  He stared.

  Then stared harder.

  “…Is that…?”

  Zarukatsu nodded.

  “Six thousand gold,”

  He said calmly.

  “Your official reward for the elimination of the monster and the protection of Primordia.”

  Kaede’s jaw dropped.

  “S-SIX THOUSAND?!”

  Yukio’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again.

  “I… this… are you sure you didn’t add an extra zero by accident?”

  Michibiki, on the other hand, didn’t even blink.

  “Seems reasonable,”

  She said casually.

  Kaede whipped her head toward her.

  “REASONABLE?!”

  Zarukatsu raised a hand, silencing them.

  His expression shifted, lighter humor replaced by something grim.

  “That monster was not normal,”

  He said.

  “Our investigation confirmed it.”

  He leaned forward, fingers steepled.

  “The Nutrivora Blossom was artificially created. Summoned. And guided.”

  Yukio stiffened.

  “…Guided?”

  Zarukatsu nodded.

  “We found traces of demonic energy at the site. Not residue from the monster itself, but control marks. Command imprints.”

  Kaede swallowed.

  “You’re saying… someone sent it here?”

  “Yes,”

  Zarukatsu said.

  “Or something.”

  He exhaled slowly.

  “Our scholars believe it was directed toward Primordia deliberately. This wasn’t a random disaster.”

  Michibiki’s eyes narrowed.

  “And the demon?”

  Zarukatsu met her gaze.

  “Whatever entity was involved… it wasn’t acting alone.”

  The room fell silent.

  Yukio’s fingers curled slightly against his knee.

  So it really was connected.

  Oculora Verdantia.

  A chill ran down his spine, not fear, but something sharper.

  Anticipation.

  Kaede swallowed.

  “So someone sent it here?”

  “Yes,”

  Zarukatsu said.

  “Intentionally.”

  Michibiki crossed her arms.

  “And the demon behind it?”

  “Unidentified,”

  Zarukatsu replied.

  “But the method was deliberate. Skilled.”

  Silence settled in the room.

  Yukio exhaled slowly.

  “So we were targeted.”

  Zarukatsu met his gaze.

  “Most likely.”

  He straightened, then continued.

  “Which is why I called you here. Not to lecture you… and certainly not to shield you.”

  Kaede frowned.

  “…Then what?”

  Zarukatsu smiled faintly.

  “Recognition.”

  He slid a document across the desk.

  “You’ve proven yourselves capable beyond your ranks. Strong enough that whatever’s lurking in the shadows noticed.”

  Yukio glanced at the paper, then back up.

  “…And?”

  “And the guild wants to stay informed,”

  Zarukatsu said plainly.

  “Not because you need protection but because if something big moves again, we want to be ready alongside you.”

  Michibiki nodded once.

  “That’s reasonable.”

  Kaede smirked.

  “So basically, we’re too dangerous to ignore now.”

  Zarukatsu chuckled.

  “That’s one way to put it.”

  His gaze sharpened again.

  “Just be aware this wasn’t a random attack. And things like that don’t stop after one failure.”

  Yukio’s lips curved into a confident smile.

  “Then they should try harder next time.”

  Zarukatsu laughed quietly.

  “…I figured you’d say that.”

  Outside the office, the guild buzzed with excitement.

  Inside,

  the rules had shifted.

  And somewhere far beyond Primordia…

  something was already watching.