Ding!
[Guild Creation System Online]
[Updating Host Status]
[Update Complete]
[Welcome, Host, to the Guild Creation System!]
[Main Objective: Establish the First Adventurer Guild in the world of Aetherion.]
"Huh!" Sage gasped, startled as an emotionless voice echoed in his mind. His heart raced with anticipation as he scanned his surroundings.
Realizing no one was watching, he darted into a secluded corner of the street and leaned against a wall, adrenaline coursing through him. This was it, this was the moment he'd read about in a hundred different novels and watched in hundreds of animes.
"System, is that you?!" Sage whispered excitedly, his eyes sparkling with hope.
[Yes, Host.]
"Yes!" He clenched his fists in exhilaration; tears of joy threatened to spill from his eyes. This was the miracle he had yearned for ever since he could remember.
Back on Earth, life had been monotonous and dull. While all he desired was an ordinary existence, drifting through whatever challenges came his way—Earth offered nothing but boredom: no dragons, no magic, just plain old reality.
The only way he felt alive was by immersing himself in games, anime, manga, novels, and movies, a desperate escape from a mundane life.
In fact, Earth seemed like a never-ending cycle of scrolling through TikTok videos, watching videos full of sigma and alpha male motivational quotes or watching news about wars and rich guys selling dubious courses.
Nothing exciting ever happened there, not even aliens invading to spark an intergalactic war!
But now… now something extraordinary had happened! Just like in those isekai anime and novels he adored,though admittedly with a twist since he'd been killed by a mysterious stranger, it fit neatly into the narrative of being reborn in another world.
And here it was, the quintessential package every isekai protagonist dreams of:the system! How could he not be thrilled?
"Looks like my boring life is finally coming to an end! I can't wait to explore this world, going on adventures, embarking on quests, slaying dragons!" Sage's imagination soared as visions of grandeur filled his mind.
"Maybe I'll form an adventurer party or join a hero's quest to defeat the Demon King! And maybe finding one or two wives... Should they be elven baddies? Demon baddies? Beastkin baddies?Ughhhh so many choices!"
Just then, the system's emotionless voice interrupted his daydreaming.
[Host, please refrain from daydreaming. You have a mission to complete.]
"Oh right! Sorry about that," Sage chuckled sheepishly while scratching his head. "So what kind of system are you? Level-up type? Harem type? Mission type?"
[Host, I am the Guild Creation System; my sole purpose is to assist you in establishing the first Adventurer Guild in this world.]
"Eh?" Sage blinked in disbelief, his mind struggling to process what he had just heard. "System, could you repeat that? Run that by me again. You're a what system?"
[ The Guild Creation System. My objective is to help you establish the first Adventurer Guild in this world.]
The system's voice echoed with an unwavering calmness.
"Wait… wait a minute!" Shock washed over Sage's face, a mix of surprise and incredulity. "You mean to tell me there's no Adventurer Guild in this world?"
[Affirmative, Host.]
"Are you kidding me? What kind of fantasy world doesn't have Adventurer Guilds? This is a scam" Sage's disbelief was palpable.
As an original otaku, he had consumed countless anime, manga, and novels,all featuring Adventurer Guilds as crucial stepping stones for protagonists on their journeys to greatness.
Regaining his composure, he pressed on with another question.
"So, if there are no Adventurer Guilds here… does this world at least have dungeons or something?"
[ Yes, Host. There are dungeons in this world.]
"Then why on earth aren't there any Adventurer Guilds? Dungeons and guilds go hand-in-hand like butter and bread! It just doesn't make sense!"
Frustration seeped into Sage's voice as he rubbed his temples. "This place is starting to feel as boring as Earth!"
The system remained silent.
"So let me get this straight: I'm supposed to establish the first Adventurer Guild here? Is that correct?" Sage asked again.
[ Yes, Host. Aetherion is a world filled with dungeons; however, the concept of adventuring does not exist here yet.]
"Wait...if there are dungeons, then surely people must be exploring them! Someone or some kind of genius guy must have thought about adventuring by now!" Sage exclaimed.
[ Host, I cannot provide all the details at once; it is best for you to first understand the current situation of this world. ]
"Hmmm…" Suspicion flickered in Sage's eyes as he pondered the implications of the system's words.
Something felt off about Aetherion, a hidden truth lurking beneath its surface.
After several moments lost in thought, he snapped back into focus. "Alright then! Let's gather some information about this world!" He muttered under his breath before grimacing slightly.
"If only I wasn't reborn in this ignorant body… This body has never even left this city! How can I navigate a new world when I barely know anything about it?"
With a heavy sigh weighing on him like lead, Sage stepped out onto the bustling streets once more, his mind set on finding answers among the throngs of people around him.
If Sage wanted to uncover the secrets of this world, he knew he had to venture into the heart of the action,places where chatter filled the air and crowds thrived.
There were two prime spots for this: the bustling market district, always teeming with merchants and customers from all walks of life, and the lively taverns, where drunken patrons often spilled their thoughts like their ale.
While taverns might seem chaotic, they offered a unique advantage; most sober folk would grow suspicious if questioned too closely about sensitive matters.
So, it was clear,Sage needed to find a tavern and charm a few inebriated souls into sharing what they knew.
But first things first,he needed some coin. After all, it wouldn't do to approach someone without offering a drink or two!
With that thought in mind, Sage found himself standing before an eerie cluster of crumbling buildings.
The silence was almost deafening, broken only by birds chirping and the occasional rustle of stones underfoot.
A musty scent hung in the air,a mix of damp earth and something far less pleasant that made him feel lightheaded.
Ugh! He was all too familiar with that smell.
"Seriously? This is where you hide your stolen loot? Not cool at all!"
Sage pinched his nose as his brows knitted together in distaste while he navigated through the dilapidated structures.
Moments later, he stumbled upon an abandoned courtyard that looked like it had seen better days.
Half the walls had collapsed; gaping holes marred the roof; weeds grew wildly as tall as a person.
"Well, at least it smells better here!" Sage muttered with a hint of relief before scanning his surroundings.
He noticed a small room on his left that seemed somewhat intact.
His eyes immediately lit up as a wide grin formed on his face,"This is it!".
He stepped inside.
The room held nothing but a rickety wooden bed, no blankets or pillows in sight. "Poor soul must have endured years sleeping here," he whispered sympathetically, feeling a twinge of pity for this body.
Shaking off his melancholy thoughts, Sage lifted up the bed and began digging into the ground beneath it.
After several minutes of searching, his fingers brushed against something soft. His eyes widened with excitement as he pulled out an object from its hiding place.
"Jackpot!" Sage grinned broadly at the pouch now resting in his palm.
As he opened it up, gold coins gleamed back at him like stars shining in darkness, shiny coins stacked neatly together!
He couldn't help but lick his lips in anticipation as he counted them out loud:
"One… two… three… 360 Gold Coins! Wow!" He chuckled to himself and said aloud, "Sorry buddy...I'm borrowing your hard-earned stash! But don't worry; I'll return it tenfold... no wait...a millionfold!"
Feeling triumphant yet slightly guilty, Sage stepped out of the small room and paused at the door, he scanned his surroundings and felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him.
"From this moment on, I am the new Sage of Aetherion!" he said quietly, casting his gaze skyward with a knowing smile. "Rest well wherever you are, and thank you for this incredible body!"
With those words echoing in the air, he turned away from the courtyard, his shadow trailing behind him like a loyal companion.