The sun rose gently over the adventurers' guild, casting soft gold across the polished floors. The morning air was fresh, and everything smelled like soap and mint.
Jinn stepped through the front doors, humming, cheeks bright.
"No more worries now about hygiene," she whispered, slipping a hand into her pouch. "It's not just deopowder. I even made a tooth pa—no, tooth powder." She chuckled.
Then paused.
A flash of memory hit—a scene from a manga where some transmigrated genius invented soap and made a fortune.
> "Why not me? If I sell this to my friends, it could hit."
But her smile faded.
> "It's just made of things anyone can find..."
Then again—
> "Wait. No one knows how it's made. So definitely..."
She stopped walking, then frowned.
> "...Definitely they'll ask for an appraiser. Damn it. In this world, appraisers exist. That's what Father told me. Rare, but real. Some even work for royalty. I can't risk it. I worked hard for this. But I still want to earn..."
"Oh, Miss Jinn!" a cheerful voice called. Bella, the guild receptionist, peeked over the counter. "Why the long face?"
Jinn forced a smile. "Uhm, nothing serious. I'll tell you at lunch."
---
Lunch Hour
The guild cafeteria bustled with chatter. Jinn sat across from Bella, pulling a small pouch from her satchel.
"Tooth powder," she whispered. "Smells like mint, right? I made it. And deodorant powder too. My plan was to sell them. But then I realized the second it's appraised, the recipe's exposed. Plan dead before it begins."
Bella pouted. "That's tough. Don't worry. We'll buy it."
Jinn sighed, resting her cheek on the table.
> "...But still. I'm so close to earning something. Just one damn skill is all it takes to ruin it."
"Hey, Bella!" another receptionist shouted from across the room. "Did you see Miss Jinn?"
"I'm here!" Jinn stood up. "What is it?"
"Miss Lavirra wants you in her office. Right away."
Jinn climbed the stairs, her thoughts still stuck on the appraisal problem.
> The powders were ready. The idea had promise. But the world wasn't kind to invention.
> She reached the officer's hall — stopped outside Lavirra's door.
Knock knock.
Lavirra's voice came from inside. "Come in."
Jinn entered, still wearing a half-frown. "You called for me?"
Lavirra didn't look up. She held out a sealed envelope. "Urgent delivery to the Merchant's Guild. Trade permit for potion ingredients. We need their seal today. If I send a rookie, they'll stall. But if you show up, they shut up and stamp. Got it?"
Jinn blinked. "Uh... alright."
"And what's with the sad face? You got a complaint?"
"No, just... thinking."
"Then think faster. The Guild doesn't run on daydreams."
---
At the festival at Streets of the Merchant Quarter area.
The midday sun bore down at Flags and colored tarps flapped from every merchant stall. Some were already set up. Others barely half-built. The smell of wood polish, spices, and dust filled the air.
Jinn moved through it all, still stewing in thoughts.
> "I made something good. But the second someone peeks inside with appraisal, it's over. Damn it. Damn it!"
A modest stall near the end of the street caught her eye—neatly arranged but unattended.
Just beside it, standing under a tree, a man watched quietly. He wasn't shouting. Not directing. Just... watching.
> "That's odd. He looks like he owns the stall, but he's just standing there."
She turned her head at the last second—
Too late.
Bump.
A soft thud. Her shoulder collided with his.
"Ah—sorry," Jinn muttered.
The man blinked, then gave a slight nod. "My fault. Wasn't looking."
Their eyes met—only for a second.
Then he looked down.
Two pouches lay near his feet.
He crouched and picked them up.
His eyes narrowed. He turned the pouch in his hand. The scent hit him first—not perfume. Not alchemy. Something cleaner. Natural.
Then he spotted the Adventurers' Guild crest.
> "So she dropped this. And she's from the guild."
He hesitated.
Then curiosity won.
He pulled the string slightly. Peeked.
> "A powder... and a letter?"
He closed it. Lips pressed in thought.
> "I know noble powders. And this... this isn't one of them. This scent... this blend... Where did she get this?"
He turned to his workers. "Handle the stall for a while. I have something to check."
"Got it, Ven."
And with that, he made his way toward the Guild—
hoping this unknown girl,
this unknown powder,
might just be the start of something big.
> To Be Continued