The Adventurers Guild was alive as ever.

  Steel clinked against stone, voices overlapped in excited chatter, and the scent of parchment and metal hung thick in the air. But the moment Yukio, Michibiki, and Kaede stepped through the doors.

  The room shifted.

  Conversations dulled.

  Eyes turned.

  Some gazes burned with admiration. Others lingered with envy. A few sharpened with quiet resentment.

  Yukio felt it immediately.

  “…Yeah, this is awkward,”

  He muttered.

  Kaede grinned, hands clasped behind her head.

  “Get used to it, hero.”

  Michibiki walked calmly, unfazed, her presence alone commanding space as they approached the front counter.

  Emera spotted them instantly.

  Her face lit up.

  “Morning, you three!”

  “Morning!”

  Kaede replied cheerfully.

  “So, what do you’ve got for us today?”

  Emera smiled but there was something different behind it. Something formal.

  She reached beneath the counter and pulled out two gleaming metal plates, their surfaces polished to a brilliant shine.

  Yukio blinked.

  “…Those look expensive.”

  Emera straightened.

  “Yukio. Michibiki,”

  She said clearly.

  “Based on your performance in the recent incident involving the Nutrivora Blossom, your elimination of a town-level threat, your combat efficiency, and your overall contribution to Primordia’s safety.”

  She slid the two plates forward.

  “You are hereby promoted to A-Rank Adventurers.”

  The guild went silent.

  Kaede’s jaw dropped.

  “…No way.”

  Yukio stared at the cards.

  They were gold.

  Not plated. Not enchanted imitation.

  Gold.

  He picked one up slowly, turned it in his fingers… then bit it.

  Clink.

  “…Oh,”

  He said quietly.

  “That’s real gold.”

  Kaede burst out laughing.

  “Of course it is! What did you expect, painted brass?”

  Michibiki frowned slightly, eyes narrowing as she studied Emera.

  “…Isn’t this a bit drastic?”

  She asked.

  “We’ve been here less than a month.”

  Emera nodded calmly.

  “You’re right. Normally, this would take years.”

  She glanced toward the Guildmaster’s office before continuing.

  “But Guildmaster Stormrend felt it was appropriate. Your strength isn’t theoretical anymore. You’ve proven it publicly.”

  Yukio swallowed.

  A-Rank.

  That meant nationwide recognition.

  Travel permissions.

  High-risk missions.

  Political attention.

  “…Equal footing,”

  He murmured.

  Emera smiled gently.

  “You’ll be able to accept A-Rank quests starting immediately. Even those outside Primordia.”

  Kaede crossed her arms, smirking.

  “Told you we were climbing fast.”

  Michibiki studied Yukio quietly.

  “…This changes things.”

  Vaelora’s voice echoed softly in his mind, pleased.

  A higher board means bigger bets, Yuki.

  Yukio exhaled slowly.

  “Guess there’s no going back now.”

  Emera reached beneath the counter again, pulling out a neatly rolled parchment tied with crimson string.

  “This quest just came in. It's for you Kaede. It should suit your new rank.”

  She hesitated just slightly.

  “…I pray you make it out alive.”

  Yukio raised an eyebrow.

  “That ominous, huh?”

  Kaede snatched the parchment.

  “Let’s see it.”

  She unrolled it.

  And whistled.

  “…A-Rank Subjugation Request. Borderlands.”

  Michibiki leaned in.

  “Location?”

  “Far west,”

  Kaede read.

  “Past the Silver Basin.”

  Yukio frowned.

  “That’s demon-adjacent territory right?”

  Emera nodded.

  “Which is why it hasn’t been assigned yet.”

  Kaede grinned sharply.

  “Perfect.”

  Michibiki glanced at Yukio.

  “Your call.”

  He looked at the gold card in his hand.

  The weight of it.

  The responsibility.

  Then he smiled, slow and steady.

  “We’ll take it.”

  Emera’s expression softened with relief.

  “I’ll finalize the paperwork.”

  As she turned away, the murmurs in the guild resumed, louder this time.

  A-Rank.

  Some stared in disbelief.

  Others clenched their fists.

  Yukio tucked the card into his coat, feeling its cold edge against his chest.

  “…We’re really doing this,”

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  He muttered.

  Kaede clapped him on the back.

  “Relax. What’s the worst that could happen?”

  Michibiki shot her a look.

  “Don’t say that.”

  Yukio chuckled softly.

  Whatever waited beyond Primordia.

  Whatever watched from the shadows.

  He could feel it now.

  The threads were pulling tighter.

  And the world was finally starting to move.

  Across town, inside one of Primordia’s largest trading firms, the atmosphere was anything but calm.

  A man with neatly styled blond hair sat behind an expansive mahogany desk, veins bulging slightly at his temple as he stared down at a single sheet of paper.

  The silence shattered.

  SLAM!

  His fist crashed into the desk, rattling ink bottles and sending documents sliding.

  “What is this supposed to be?”

  He barked, eyes burning as he shoved the paper forward.

  “A lighter? A tool that doesn’t need magic, flint, or maintenance? Who is selling this?"

  The assistant standing across from him nearly jumped out of their skin.

  “I-I’m sorry, sir!”

  They stammered, clutching their clipboard.

  “The item is being sold under Luminelle Trading’s name. Distribution began this morning. First shipment sold out within hours.”

  The man stood abruptly, sending his chair scraping backward.

  “Luminelle…”

  He repeated, jaw tightening.

  “Candessa Luminelle doesn’t make mistakes. Which means she didn’t make this.”

  He snatched the paper and crushed it in his grip.

  “Who’s the inventor?”

  He demanded.

  The assistant swallowed hard.

  “Unknown. The investment records list a private partner. No public name.”

  The man turned sharply, eyes sharp as glass.

  “Then I want everything. Production methods. Materials. Contracts. Anyone who’s even heard a rumor.”

  He slammed the desk again.

  “I don’t care if you have to dig through sewer guilds or bribe half the city.”

  The assistant nodded frantically.

  “Y-Yes sir!”

  As they rushed out of the office, the blond man walked toward the tall windows overlooking the city, watching smoke curl up from chimneys and crowds bustle below.

  A slow, dangerous smile crept onto his face.

  “A device that undermines magic markets…”

  He chuckled softly.

  “…Now that’s interesting.”

  Somewhere in Primordia, fate had spun.

  And someone powerful had just noticed.

  The wind rushed past them as the world unfolded below.

  Kaede moved effortlessly through the sky, her feet landing on invisible platforms of compressed air as she sprinted forward. Her black hair whipped wildly behind her, eyes sharp as she looked out over the vast landscape stretching beyond the horizon.

  Beside her, Michibiki floated calmly, blue mana spiraling beneath her feet as she carried Yukio in her arms like it was the most natural thing in the world.

  Yukio squinted down at the land below.

  Endless forests gave way to rivers that shimmered like silver veins. Plains rolled outward into distant mountain ranges, their peaks kissed by clouds. Cities dotted the land like gems, some shining bright… others scarred and silent.

  “…This place is huge,”

  Yukio muttered.

  Kaede glanced back at him, slowing her pace so they could fly side by side.

  “Huge doesn’t even begin to cover it,”

  She said,

  “This is Gaelora. A supercontinent.”

  Yukio blinked.

  “A what?”

  “Supercontinent,”

  She repeated.

  “Fifty kingdoms and empires. Big ones. Small ones. Everything in between.”

  She gestured forward, the wind parting as her hand moved.

  “And almost half of it?”

  She grimaced.

  “Demon territory.”

  Michibiki’s expression darkened slightly.

  “Forty percent,”

  She said,

  “Uninhabitable. Corrupted. Claimed.”

  Yukio stiffened.

  “That much…?”

  Kaede nodded.

  “Yeah. Used to be less. A lot less.”

  Her voice softened as she continued.

  “Centuries ago, most of Gaelora was united by trade routes, shared borders, alliances. Then the Demon Surge happened. Entire kingdoms fell in months. Cities wiped off maps. Empires that once ruled for generations collapsed into ruins.”

  Below them, Yukio spotted the faint outlines of ancient walls swallowed by forest growth. Crumbled towers half-buried in moss.

  “…Those places?”

  He asked quietly.

  Kaede followed his gaze.

  “Some of them,”

  She said,

  “Graveyards of nations.”

  The wind carried them higher.

  “Now there are ten major kingdoms and empires left standing at the front lines,”

  Kaede continued.

  “They’re the ones holding the demons back. Constant war and pressure.”

  She let out a breath.

  “Every year, the demon territory pushes. Every year, those nations bleed to keep the line from breaking.”

  Yukio swallowed.

  “And… we’re in one of those kingdoms?”

  Kaede smiled faintly.

  “Yeah.”

  She spread her arms wide as if presenting the land itself.

  “Luminara Aeternis,”

  She said proudly.

  “The Kingdom of Everlasting Light.”

  Michibiki nodded.

  “A fortress nation,”

  She added.

  “Built on layered defenses, ancient wards, and generations of anti-demonic warfare doctrine.”

  Kaede smirked.

  “In simpler terms? We don’t fall easily.”

  Below them, the kingdom sprawled in brilliant contrast to the darker lands beyond. Gleaming walls, watchtowers placed with military precision, roads lined with glowing sigils. Even from the air, Yukio could feel the difference.

  The land felt… protected.

  “Luminara’s been holding the western front for over two hundred years,”

  Kaede said.

  “A lot of people owe their lives to that.”

  Yukio looked at the horizon.

  Beyond the safe borders, the land darkened subtly. Colors dulled. Forests thinned. Mountains twisted unnaturally.

  “…And if this kingdom falls?”

  He asked quietly.

  Kaede didn’t answer right away.

  Michibiki spoke instead.

  “Then the light recedes,”

  She said evenly.

  “And Gaelora loses another piece of itself.”

  The wind surged again, carrying them forward.

  Yukio clenched his fists.

  “…Guess that means we’re in the middle of something big, huh?”

  Kaede glanced back at him, grin returning.

  “Congratulations, Yuki-boy,”

  She said.

  “You rolled into one of the most important battlegrounds on the continent.”

  Michibiki adjusted her grip on him slightly.

  “And fate,”

  She added, eyes glowing faintly,

  “has already noticed you.”

  The sky stretched endlessly ahead.

  And far beyond it, war waited.

  The wind howled around them as Kaede surged ahead, her boots striking invisible platforms of compressed air with practiced ease. Below them, the land stretched outward in a vast scar across the earth, trenches, broken terrain, scorched soil, and layers of fortifications cutting through the plains like jagged lines on a war map.

  Kaede slowed just enough to point forward.

  “There,”

  She said, eyes bright with excitement.

  Ahead of them rose a colossal structure, stone and steel fused into one unyielding wall that stretched as far as the eye could see in both directions. Towers jutted upward at regular intervals, bristling with ballistae, magic cannons, and watch posts. Banners fluttered violently in the wind, emblazoned with the sigil of the kingdom.

  A radiant crest of light surrounded by flame.

  “This is the Outer Fortress,”

  Kaede continued, grinning.

  “Last defensive line before demon territory.”

  Yukio craned his neck, staring.

  “…You call that the outer line?”

  He muttered.

  “That’s not a fortress, that’s a continent-sized wall.”

  Michibiki smiled faintly, adjusting her grip on him as the wind buffeted harder.

  “Hold on tight, Yukio.”

  She surged forward, mana pulsing beneath her feet as she matched Kaede’s speed with ease.

  Kaede laughed, boosting herself higher.

  “Race you to the gate!”

  She kicked off, becoming a red blur slicing through the sky.

  Michibiki shook her head fondly and followed, the wind roaring around them as the fortress grew closer and closer, its scale becoming overwhelming. The gates alone were massive, reinforced slabs of blackened metal engraved with anti-demonic runes and layered enchantments. Soldiers lined the walls, watching their approach with alert eyes and readied weapons.

  As Kaede touched down in front of the gate, the guards relaxed instantly.

  One of them leaned on his spear, grinning.

  “Back again, huh, Miss Kaede?”

  He called.

  “Not afraid of demons yet?”

  Kaede planted her hands on her hips.

  “Afraid?”

  She scoffed.

  “I love putting those freaks into the dirt. No one attacks my home and walks free.”

  A few of the nearby guards chuckled.

  Another called out,

  “Still as scary as ever!”

  Michibiki landed gracefully beside Kaede, gently setting Yukio down. He wobbled for a moment before catching his balance, still staring up at the towering walls.

  The first guard waved his hand.

  “Open the gates!”

  With a deep, resonant groan, the massive reinforced doors began to part. Gears turned. Chains rattled. The fortress welcomed them inside.

  Yukio exhaled slowly.

  “…Okay. I officially understand why demons haven’t wiped this place out.”

  Inside, the fortress was alive with movement. Soldiers marched in organized formations, engineers hauled supplies, mages reinforced runic arrays carved directly into the stone floors. The air smelled of metal, oil, and ozone from lingering magic.

  They ascended a wide staircase leading to the second level, where the atmosphere shifted noticeably.

  Here, adventurers and mercenaries stood along the walls, weapons at the ready, eyes sharp and suspicious. Conversations hushed as the trio passed. Some recognized Kaede immediately.

  Others didn’t.

  Several pairs of eyes lingered on Yukio, appraising him.

  Kaede noticed.

  She glanced back once.

  And released her aura.

  It rolled outward like a pressure wave, sharp and overwhelming. The air seemed to thicken. Several mercenaries stiffened, hands instinctively going to their weapons before stopping themselves. Faces paled. A few took half-steps back without even realizing it.

  Yukio blinked.

  “…Woah.”

  Michibiki immediately smacked Kaede on the head.

  “OW!”

  “Stop intimidating the people we’ll be exterminating monsters with,”

  Michibiki snapped.

  “Please.”

  Kaede rubbed the side of her head, scowling.

  “They started it.”

  “No, they were observing,”

  Michibiki corrected flatly.

  Yukio coughed.

  “…Pretty sure they were imagining how to rob me.”

  Kaede smirked.

  “See?”

  They continued up the stairs, leaving behind a group of very shaken mercenaries.

  The Guard Captain’s office sat near the center of the second level, reinforced doors bearing the emblem of a blazing shield. Two elite guards stood at attention and immediately stepped aside as Kaede approached.

  Inside, the room was clean, efficient, and unmistakably military. Maps covered the walls, each marked with shifting magical symbols denoting troop movements, demon activity, and danger zones. A massive desk dominated the room, stacked with reports and sealed documents.

  Behind it stood the Guard Captain.

  He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with iron-gray hair and eyes like burning embers. His armor was etched with runes of protection, and a faint heat shimmered around him, subtle but constant.

  “Good day to you all,”

  He said, voice steady and authoritative.

  He turned to Kaede, a rare smile breaking through his stern demeanor.

  “Kaede. I see you’ve returned again.”

  She grinned.

  “Captain Ignivar Wardflame. Couldn’t stay away.”

  “With you here,”

  Ignivar said calmly,

  “We have little to worry about.”

  Yukio blinked at the name.

  …Burning protection. Yeah, that tracks.

  Ignivar turned his gaze to Michibiki and Yukio next, giving them a measured nod.

  “You must be her companions.”

  Michibiki inclined her head politely.

  “Michibiki.”

  Yukio followed suit, a bit awkward.

  “Yukio.”

  Ignivar gestured for them to sit and moved behind his desk, pulling out several documents and spreading them across the surface.

  “A large pack of corrupted monsters has breached past the first, second, and third defensive lines,”

  He said, his tone shifting to business.

  “They’re moving erratically, but their trajectory suggests they’ll threaten nearby settlements if left unchecked.”

  Kaede leaned forward, interest gleaming in her eyes.

  “My soldiers must remain stationed here,”

  Ignivar continued.

  “If the line breaks, the consequences would be… severe.”

  He met Kaede’s gaze directly.

  “So I’m requesting your assistance. Exterminate the threat before it becomes something worse.”

  Kaede cracked her knuckles.

  “Sounds good,”

  She said cheerfully.

  “And I still get my paycheck since you personally called me, right?”

  Ignivar allowed himself a small smile.

  “Of course. Hazard pay included.”

  Kaede pumped a fist.

  “Perfect.”

  Ignivar’s eyes flicked briefly to Yukio.

  “And you,”

  He said thoughtfully.

  “You’re new to the front.”

  Yukio nodded.

  “First time this close, yeah.”

  “Then understand this,”

  Ignivar said, voice firm but not unkind.

  “This line exists so the rest of the world can sleep peacefully. Every step beyond these walls is soaked in blood, sacrifice, and vigilance.”

  Yukio swallowed.

  “…Understood.”

  Ignivar gathered the documents and slid them across the desk.

  “Coordinates. Estimated numbers. Known corruption types. Avoid prolonged engagements if possible. These things adapt.”

  Kaede took the papers eagerly.

  “Got it.”

  As they turned to leave, Ignivar added one final remark, eyes narrowing just slightly.

  “And Kaede…”

  She paused, looking back.

  “Please try not to fight with your team this time.”

  She flashed a grin over her shoulder.

  “No promises.”

  Michibiki sighed.

  Yukio groaned quietly.

  Outside the office, the fortress seemed to loom even larger than before. Beyond its walls lay a land forever scarred by war.

  Kaede stretched, wind already gathering at her feet.

  “Alright,”

  She said brightly.

  “Time to remind the demons why they stay on their side of the wall.”

  Michibiki stepped beside Yukio, expression calm but focused.

  “Stay close. Things will get ugly out there.”

  Yukio looked past the fortress walls, toward the horizon where the land darkened unnaturally.

  The Threads of Fate stirred faintly.

  “…Yeah,”

  He murmured.

  “I figured.”

  And together, they prepared to step beyond the last line of safety.