I pushed open the heavy double doors and stepped into the guild hall.
Damn. It's bigger on the inside than it looked from the street: three stories of wooden beams, floating crystal lanterns, a massive quest board that takes up an entire wall, and easily a hundred adventurers milling around. Humans, elves, beastfolk, a couple of hooded dark-elf types, even a seven-foot ogre nursing a tankard the size of my head.
Floating above every single one of them: gray question marks.
Except the newbies near the door; those show Level 1–3.
So the system hides info from anyone ten levels above me or something. Neat little intimidation mechanic.
I weave through the crowd, scanning faces with that old gut feeling I carried from my previous life (and apparently kept after the void). Good people glow warm, assholes glow cold. Never failed me once.
I spot a chill-looking guy in worn leather armor leaning against a pillar: warm glow. Perfect.
"Excuse me, man. Where's the receptionist desk?"
He glances over, grins. "First day? Straight ahead, past the quest board, big counter on the right. Look for the girl who looks like she's already done with your entire bloodline."
"Thanks, legend."
"No problem, kid. Good luck."
I reach the counter.
Behind it sits a woman who's stupidly beautiful (long black hair, crimson eyes, figure that could make a saint reconsider celibacy), except her face is 100 % pure deadpan. Like someone pressed the "emotion" button and it just never came back.
She slides a palm-sized crystal orb across the counter without a word.
"Fingerprint here, iris scan here, one strand of hair in the slot."
I raise an eyebrow. "DNA test for criminals?"
"Exactly. If the orb turns red, security drags you out back and beats the location of your stash out of you. Green means welcome aboard."
The orb glows bright emerald. Clean.
She pulls out a registration slate.
"Name."
"Kai Ashford."
"Age."
"20."
"Occupation."
"Mage."
"Current level."
"Zero."
She scribbles it all down, then adds without looking up:
"You can update your level here anytime. We forward it to the Information Guild. Nobles, royal factions, mercenary companies, even our own raid teams scout from there. Want to stay a free bird and hide your growth? Don't update. Your call."
I nod. "What about ranks? F through S, that stuff?"
She finally looks up, expression still flat.
"There are no ranks. Take whatever quest you want: gather ten herbs or solo the ancient red dragon, we don't care. The board is first-come, first-served."
I tilt my head. "So if two people want the same quest…?"
Her eyes narrow. A thin wave of killing intent rolls off her like cold fog.
"The stronger one takes it. The weaker one either backs off… or doesn't. Your choice."
The pressure vanishes as fast as it came.
I swallow once, keep the smirk plastered on. "Cool, cool. Very civilized system. I love it."
She slides a bronze tag across the counter (my official guild ID).
"Welcome to the Guild, rookie. Try not to die on your first day. Paperwork's a pain."
I pick up the tag, give her a lazy salute, and walk away like I didn't just feel death breathe on my neck.
I lean against a pillar, arms crossed, scanning the hall like I'm just chilling, but really I'm hunting.
Solo leveling is Sung Jin-Woo's thing.
I'm not trying to aura-farm my way through life; I need meat shields, healers, and preferably someone who can cook.
Tiny inner-me pops up on my shoulder like a devilish conscience:
"Plan A through E ready. Escape route mapped. Don't fuck this up."
"Bro, why are you acting like I'm the idiot here?"
"Because you are. Move."
I spot them instantly.
Corner table, acting like they own the guild (they very much do not).
Silver-haired elf archer, ears twitching every time someone laughs too loud.
Golden-eyed catgirl thief, tail swishing, feet on the table, licking pastry cream off her fingers like it's a damn show.
Floating above both heads: big fat Level 0.
Jackpot.
I stroll over, hands in pockets, Sung Jin-Woo walk on max.
Catgirl notices first, ears perking.
Elf glances up mid-sip of tea.
I stop at their table, flash the laziest smirk I can manage.
"Yo.
The catgirl leans back, tail curling like a question mark, golden eyes sizing me up from sandals to smirk.
The elf sets her teacup down with deliberate grace, violet eyes doing the same scan but slower, colder, like she's pricing my soul.
Ten silent seconds. Feels like ten years.
Catgirl breaks first, flashing fang.
"Nya~ Not bad. Walk's decent, face doesn't scream 'serial killer,' and you didn't open with 'will you join my harem.' Points for style."
Elf gives the tiniest nod, almost imperceptible.
"Posture relaxed, eyes calm, zero desperation scent. Acceptable."
I pull out a chair, spin it, sit backward like I own the place.
"Cool. I'm Kai. Mage. Level zero with a fireball and five escape plans. You two?"
Catgirl kicks her feet off the table, leans forward.
"Luna. Rogue. I steal things and look adorable doing it."
Elf inclines her head, silver bangs sliding like silk.
"Sylvara. Archer. I put arrows exactly where I want them and nowhere else."
Luna grins. "We've been here three days, still a party of two because every guy who walks up either drools or tries to be the leader on day one."
Sylvara sips her tea. "You haven't done either yet."
I shrug. "I just need people who won't die to the first goblin and preferably won't stab me in the back for coppers. Leadership, loot split, whatever; we vote like adults."
Luna's tail flicks excitedly. "Ooh, democracy. Sexy."
Sylvara actually smirks; tiny, but it's there. "Trial run. One quest. If you keep up and don't annoy us, we make it official."
I extend a fist across the table.
"Deal. First round of drinks after we cash in is on me."
Luna bumps it instantly.
Sylvara eyes my fist like it's a foreign custom, then delicately taps it with two knuckles.
Luna: "Welcome to the party, cool guy."
Sylvara: "Don't make us regret this, Kai Ashford."
Sylvara tilts her head, curious.
"By the way, what skill do you actually have? Fireball, right? Those crystals go for a thousand gold easy. Your family must be loaded."
The word family hits like a brick.
Inner me, already three steps ahead:
"Bro, tragic orphan backstory locked and loaded. Go."
I let my gaze drift to the table, voice dropping just enough to sound real.
"Nah… no family. Orphan. Grew up in a little church orphanage on the edge of nowhere. The director, Sister Marianne, she was the kindest woman alive. Saved every copper for years to buy me that crystal the day I turned sixteen. Told me to 'go light up the world.'"
I give a soft, sad chuckle. "That's the only thing I've got left of home."
Luna's ears flatten instantly. Her tail stops swishing.
Sylvara's teacup freezes halfway to her lips.
Luna, voice small: "Kai… we're so sorry. That was rude of us."
Sylvara actually looks guilty, violet eyes softening. "We didn't know. Forgive us."
Inner me, doing a victory dance on my shoulder:
"Emotional sympathy secured. +50 favorability with both. We are unstoppable."
I just give them a gentle, lopsided smile and shrug.
"It's fine. Honestly? Having you two apologize makes me feel like I've already got something better than family."
Luna's eyes go sparkly. Sylvara hides a tiny blush behind her teacup.
Luna slaps the quest sheet on the table like she just drew a royal flush.
"Behold! Our first official party quest!"
I lean in. The parchment is pink. Actually pink. With little paw-print borders.
Quest: Find Missing Pet
Client: Madam Fluffington
Details: My precious Mr. Sprinkles has escaped again.
Big orange tabby, extremely fat, zero manners, answers only to food.
Last seen heading toward the eastern wheat fields.
Reward: 100 copper coins + unlimited cuddles (mandatory).
Sylvara reads it aloud in her deadpan archer voice, then nods once.
"Perfect. Low danger, decent starter pay, and if we fail we only traumatize one rich lady and her overweight cat."
Luna's tail is vibrating. "It's literally a fat cat with an attitude problem. This is destiny."
I flick the paper with a finger. "100 coppers splits to about 33 each, plus lunch money. Good enough for day one."
Luna pumps a fist. "Operation Rescue Mr. Sprinkles is a go!"
Sylvara stands, already stringing her bow. "Let's move before some other Level 0 trio snags our destiny cat."
I push up from the chair, smirking.
"Lead the way, cat whisperer."
Luna sticks her tongue out, then bolts for the door with the quest sheet held high like a battle flag.