I looked up at Rosalia with a hopeful expression. "Rosalia, can you take a rest for a while? I've been thinking... I want to learn how to cook delicious food just like you."
Rosalia smiled warmly at me, her eyes softening. "Oh, Kazu, you don't have to trouble yourself. But if you're eager to learn, I'd be happy to teach you. Would you like to start now?"
"Yes, please, Rosalia! The sooner I learn, the better," I replied, my eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Alright then," she said, leading me into the kitchen. "Just follow my instructions, and you'll get the hang of it in no time."
I followed her lead carefully, chopping and mixing ingredients exactly as she instructed. "Is this how you do it, Rosalia?" I asked, stirring the heavy pot with intense concentration. "There, I think it's done."
Rosalia took a wooden spoon and scooped a tiny taste of my cooking. Her face went through a rapid series of complicated expressions before settling on a strained, overly bright smile. "Let me see how good of a cook you are... hmm... not bad for your first try!" she said, though her voice squeaked a little at the end. I could tell she was trying to hide a grimace.
"Really, Rosalia?" I beamed, my chest puffing out with pride.
Suddenly, a translucent blue screen flashed across my vision:
[Notification: New Unique Skill Acquired: Cooking] [Your Cooking skill is now Level 8]
My thoughts raced. Huh? Cooking skill acquired... Does this mean the taste of my food will magically enhance? Wait, does this mean I have everyday skills that can be leveled up alongside Exploration and Assassin? Hmm, let's check my status.
STATUS > Level: 4 Name: Kazu Gonomiya Age: 12 Job Class: God
Passive Skills: > * DIVINE KNOWLEDGE
INFINITE MANA
MAXIMIZED SELF-HEALING
Active Skills: > * Dash
Bloodthirst
Unique Skills: > * Exploration (Level 12)
Assassin (Level 12)
Cooking (Level 8)
"Rosalia, I'm done cooking. Shall I call everyone to eat together?" I asked, my excitement barely contained.
"Yes, please, Kazu. Call the others so we can all eat together. I'll just... adjust the seasoning a tiny bit to make it even tastier," Rosalia said. I heard her mutter under her breath as she reached for the water pitcher, "It's just a bit too salty, my dear..."
"Okay, Rosalia! Nozue, call everyone for dinner!" I shouted cheerfully toward the hallway.
Nozue poked his head out from the other room. "O-okay, Kazu... they're coming!"
As we all sat down at the long wooden table to eat, I couldn't help but feel a massive swell of pride. "Rosalia, isn't my cooking delicious?"
"Yes, Kazu, it's quite good. I just added a little extra broth to balance it," she replied with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, Rosalia. And thank you for teaching me magic earlier," I said gratefully.
Nozue's eyes widened with interest across the table. "Wow, Rosalia taught you magic today, Kazu?"
"Yes, Nozue! Rosalia is amazing! You should have seen the huge spell she cast!" I exclaimed, my voice filled with genuine admiration.
Nozue looked at Rosalia with newfound respect. "Really, Rosalia? You're incredible!"
As the others chatted, my thoughts drifted back to my newly acquired system windows. Exploration, Assassin, Cooking... I have so much to improve. I need to train harder to protect Rosalia, Nozue, and everyone else in this house.
Four Months Later
Every day for the last four months, I stuck to a strict routine. I jogged around the city perimeter to boost my Exploration, and I took F-rank job quests from the Adventurer's Guild, focusing entirely on low-level slimes and goblins.
Today, I had just finished my daily quota of defeating five goblins. I wiped the sweat from my brow and mentally opened my system interface.
Status.
STATUS > Level: 38 Name: Kazu Gonomiya Age: 12 Job Class: God
Passive Skills: > * DIVINE KNOWLEDGE
INFINITE MANA
MAXIMIZED SELF-HEALING
Active Skills: > * Dash
Explosive Blink
Bloodthirst
Magic Spells: > * Fire Pierce
Fire Spirit Flare
Unique Skills: > * Exploration (Level 48)
Assassin (Level 35)
Cooking (Level 8)
My Cooking is still Level 8... I guess I don't need it much right now anyway. I'll keep focusing on Exploration and Assassin. My Assassin skill naturally leveled up through my daily goblin hunts, making my movements sharper and deadlier.
I think it's time to finally increase my rank at the Guild. Yes. I need to reach S-Rank. I need to become strong enough to protect my new family.
As I pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the Guild hall, Missy, the receptionist, greeted me with a warm, familiar smile. "Oh, Kazu! You've grown so much in just four months! You look like a proper young man now."
I blushed slightly, feeling a mix of pride and nervousness. "Um, Missy, I'd like to rank up in the Guild. How do I do that?"
"Normally, you take a passing exam to move from F to E-Rank," she explained, her gaze thoughtful. "However, there is also a 'Leap Exam' that can speed up your progression. If you pass with high marks, you could jump straight to C-Rank without taking the exams for D and E. But remember, if you fail, you'll have to wait six whole months to retake any exam."
"I understand, Missy. I want to take the Leap Exam," I said with unwavering determination.
Missy looked at me with concern, her brow furrowing. "Remember, Kazu, it's not easy. Because the crystal meter still can't measure your mana capacity, you'll need to physically show us your skills and abilities in the field. Are you ready?"
"Yes, Missy," I nodded firmly.
"Alright, let's start with agility," Missy said, pulling out a clipboard.
I nodded and dropped into a low stance. "Dash." I vanished, appearing a dozen feet away. A brief pause. "Dash." I vanished again. "Dash."
Missy dropped her pen, her jaw practically hitting the floor. "D-d-d-dash?! An assassin skill with only a three-second cooldown between uses? Most seasoned assassins have a twenty-second cooldown! You're showing the mobility of a B-Rank adventurer already. You'd pass the C-Rank test on this alone!"
I hesitated, scratching my cheek. "Missy, there's another skill I want to show you, but it's dangerous here in the hall. Can we go somewhere with more space?"
Missy's curiosity was piqued, though she looked slightly apprehensive. "Alright, Kazu. Show me what you've got."
We walked out to a wide-open, empty field a safe distance from the city walls. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and focused my infinite energy just like Rosalia had taught me.
"I, the mighty God..."
Instantly, the sky above us darkened ominously. The air grew impossibly heavy, crackling with a terrifying, apocalyptic pressure that sent tremors through the distant city walls.
Missy stared up at the swirling vortex of fire forming in the clouds, her voice trembling with absolute terror. "He... he doesn't even use the full incantation... Kazu, this is—"
The heat spiked to unbearable levels.
"Kazu, open your eyes!" Missy shrieked, waving her arms frantically. "Stop! Don't continue that spell, or you'll destroy the entire country!"
I snapped my eyes open, instantly cutting the flow of mana. The massive fireball fizzled out, the dark clouds parting to reveal the sunny sky once more. I let out a nervous breath. "That was close... I keep forgetting how powerful that spell is."
Missy collapsed onto her knees, sighing with profound relief as the color slowly returned to her face. "Let's... let's head back to the Guild. I'll prepare your new Guild Card. And Kazu? Never use that spell again unless the world is ending!"
"Okay, Missy," I agreed sheepishly.
Back at the bustling Guild hall, an imposing A-Rank adventurer named Kazike spotted us. He wore heavy armor and had a teasing grin plastered across his scarred face. "Hey, Kazu! How was your date with Missy?" he boomed, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Missy turned beet red. "It wasn't a date, you idiot! Kazu was taking his practical skill test out by the foothills."
Kazike laughed heartily, crossing his massive arms. "So? How did the kid do?"
I watched as Missy leaned closer to Kazike, whispering something I couldn't quite catch.
Suddenly, Kazike's eyes widened in comical, bulging surprise. "S-RANK?!!!" he roared, his voice echoing off the rafters.
Missy frantically shushed him, smacking his arm. "Shhh! Don't be so loud! We haven't even told him yet! I'm worried about the kind of dangerous quests he'll be forced to face with an S-Rank status."
Kazike placed a massive, reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Missy, if the kid is S-Rank, he deserves to know." He turned to me with a wide, toothy grin. "Congrats, Kazu! You're officially the highest rank in this entire Guild!"
The loud chatter of the Guild hall fell into a stunned, absolute silence. Every single adventurer slowly turned their gaze toward me.
"M-me? How?" I stammered, my mind completely reeling.
Kazike laughed, stepping forward to clap me hard on the back. "You'll understand soon enough, kid. For now, just wait for your new card."
An hour later, Missy returned from the back office and handed me a heavy, gold-trimmed Guild Card. "Here it is, Kazu."
I looked down at the engraved metal and gasped. "S-Rank... Job Class: Assassin, Fire Magic Caster, and... Healer? Three job classes?"
Missy nodded, a proud but worried smile on her face. "Yes. Because of your extraordinary, rule-breaking Dash skill and the apocalyptic magic spell you almost cast, the Guild Master confirmed you as an immediate S-Rank anomaly. Also, being able to cast high-tier healing magic is an incredibly rare and valuable backup skill for a vanguard fighter."
Kazike clapped my back again, nearly knocking the wind out of me. "Amazing, Kazu! No wonder Missy was sweating so much when you two walked back in."
Missy glared at him, her cheeks flushing again. "I wasn't sweating! I was just... terrified for my life!"
I couldn't stop grinning. "S-Rank... I can't believe it... Thank you, Missy! I need to tell Rosalia! She'll be so proud!" I threw my arms around Missy in a tight hug, then bolted out the door toward the orphanage.
Missy watched me go, her heart swelling with a mix of pride and deep, lingering concern. "Take care, Kazu," she whispered into the empty air.
Kazike chuckled, resting his hands on his hips. "That kid is something else. I can't wait to see how incredibly strong he'll become."
Missy turned her glare back to the towering warrior. "Don't you dare take him to dangerous places, Kazike! Remember what happened with the goblin swarm?"
Kazike raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, don't worry, Missy. I'll take good care of him. Heheh."
Missy frowned, crossing her arms. "I certainly hope so..."