The morning sun barely touched the rooftops when Ren arrived at the Adventurer's Guild. A few adventurers were already there — groups of three or four, some laughing over early ale, others checking their equipment. He, however, stood alone.
His simple shirt clung to his shoulders, his belt carrying only a knife, a coiled rope, and the wooden-handled hatchet he'd bought the day before. His boots, worn and cracked, made dull thuds as he stepped across the polished floor toward the quest board.
Kara, the receptionist from yesterday, caught his eye and smiled faintly. "Back again already?" she said, amused. "You must be eager."
Ren nodded once. "Something like that."
The guild board towered over him — dozens of parchment slips pinned in messy rows. He scanned each carefully, his soldier's habit of assessing details returning automatically. Most were too risky — wild wolves, goblin scouting bands, escort missions.
Then two caught his attention.
[Quest: Gather Healing Herbs]
Objective: Collect 20 bundles of Greenveil Herb from the northern forest glade.
Reward: 30 Bronze Coins
Rank: E
[Quest: Subjugate Lesser Hornboar]
Objective: Hunt and deliver one Hornboar tusk as proof.
Reward: 50 Bronze Coins
Rank: D
Ren pulled both from the board. "These two," he said to Kara.
She blinked. "Two quests on your first day? You sure you're not overestimating yourself?"
Ren shook his head. "Not confidence. Just planning."
Kara gave a light laugh and stamped both sheets with the guild's crimson seal. "Alright then, Mr. Planning. Remember to come back before sunset — we don't want to file a missing person report for a rookie."
He smirked faintly, turning to leave.
The moment sunlight hit his face outside the guild doors, the BROTHER System hummed alive.
[System Notification: Mission Sync Detected]
[Guild Quest: Gather Healing Herbs]
[Guild Quest: Subjugate Lesser Hornboar]
BROTHER Auto-Tracking Enabled
Hidden Metric Unlocked: Efficiency Evaluation
Measures speed, strategy, and resource conservation.
Efficiency Rank: S / A / B / C / D
"Bonus rewards will be issued based on Efficiency Rank."
Ren stared at the faint blue letters. "Efficiency… just like field assessments."
He rolled his shoulders, a calm focus settling in. This wasn't just a new world — it was another form of mission, another field test.
The forest canopy was thick and green, sunlight breaking through in warm, dappled rays. Insects hummed faintly in the distance, and the smell of moss and damp leaves filled the air.
Ren knelt beside a cluster of shrubs, his eyes narrowing as he used Forestry Lv.5. The skill made faint green threads of light dance across his vision — a subtle overlay guiding him toward safe paths, edible plants, and magical flora.
[Target Identified: Greenveil Herb – Medium Grade]
The plant was bright green, its leaves soft and glowing faintly when touched. Ren unsheathed his knife and carefully cut each stem at its root base — not ripping, not damaging the growth node. His movements were methodical, almost surgical.
[Forestry Skill EXP +5]
[Collected: Greenveil Herb x3]
He tied the herbs in small bundles using forest vines, storing them neatly in his bag.
Minutes turned into hours. Ren moved from one section of the glade to another, following the natural rhythm of the forest — observe, gather, preserve. Occasionally, he paused to scan for beast tracks or listen to the wind for movement.
By noon, sweat dampened his brow, but his bag was half full.
He stopped to rest near a fallen log, sipping from his canteen.
[Forestry Skill EXP +8]
[Forestry Lv.5 Progress: 70% → 85%]
He exhaled softly. "Almost there."
Another hour passed before he completed the collection. He placed the final bundle in the bag and looked at the neat rows of herbs wrapped in leaves.
[Quest Objective Complete: Gather Healing Herbs – 20/20]
[Efficiency Score: A-Rank (Time, Preservation, Quantity)]
"Good," Ren muttered. "Halfway done."
He turned north, toward the deeper part of the forest.
The ground shifted subtly as Ren entered the Hornboar's territory. He recognized the signs — uprooted shrubs, clawed tree trunks, and mud churned into deep furrows.
"Same type as last time," he murmured, crouching to examine a hoofprint. It was fresh — only minutes old.
This Sharpened his senses, overlaying faint trails of blue light where the beast's scent lingered. Ren followed them quietly, keeping his breathing steady.
After several minutes, he spotted it — a Lesser Hornboar, its hide thick and dark, small sparks of mana crackling near its tusks. Level 8, same as before.
Ren's eyes flicked over the terrain — uneven ground, a cluster of roots near a shallow pit, and a fallen log to the right. He quickly formed a plan.
He gathered a few Root Bulbs from his pouch — strong-smelling bait with mild sedative properties — and placed them near the pit. Then, using a sharpened branch, he camouflaged the edge with leaves and mud.
"Bait set. Position clear."
He climbed up behind the fallen log, crouching low, hand gripping his knife.
Minutes passed before the low rumble came.
The Hornboar's growl vibrated through the earth. It approached cautiously, nostrils flaring at the scent of the bulbs.
One step. Two. Then it lunged forward to eat.
Its front hoof sank deep into the pit. The beast roared, twisting in panic.
Ren leaped forward — knife flashing in a precise arc. He aimed for the side of the neck, where the skin was thinner. The blade sank in, blood spraying across the dirt. The Hornboar thrashed, throwing him off balance.
Ren rolled, grabbed a rock, and slammed it against the creature's skull twice until it stopped moving.
Panting, he crouched beside it. His arms trembled slightly, not from fear — but from the sheer strain of the fight.
[Enemy Defeated: Lesser Hornboar – Level 8]
[EXP Gained: 210]
[Level Up!]
[New Skill Unlocked: Tracking Lv.1]
[Efficiency Rank: S]
[BROTHER Bonus Reward Processing…]
A warm pulse spread through his limbs as his body recovered from the fatigue.
[Bonus Granted: +25 Bronze Coins, Minor Recovery Boost]
[Tracking EXP +10]
Ren smirked faintly. "So even the system approves of good planning."
He drew his knife again, beginning the extraction. His movements were patient, careful — cutting along the bone to free the tusk, skinning the hide cleanly for later trade.
[Skinning Skill EXP +15]
[Collected: Hornboar Tusk x1, Hide x1, Magic Core (Faint) x1]
Once finished, he wiped the blood off his knife and packed everything into his bag, covering it with forest leaves to prevent scent trails.
Then, for a moment, he stood still — eyes scanning the treetops, feeling the soft hum of power from the BROTHER System still lingering.
[Mission Progress: 2/2 Completed]
[Efficiency Rank: S]
[Pending Report Turn-In: Adventurer's Guild]
The sound of the forest returned around him — birds, wind, the faint rustle of small critters.
Ren smiled faintly, whispering to himself, "First mission… done."
As he walked back toward the village, the setting sun painted the forest in gold and amber. His bag was heavy, but his steps were light.
For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt something new — momentum.
The BROTHER system pulsed faintly once more.
[Mission Tracking Complete. Awaiting Turn-In for Bonus Calculation.]
[Note: Consistency Enhances Efficiency Rewards.]
Ren smirked. "Noted."
The village walls came into view in the distance, smoke from chimneys curling into the sky. Somewhere in that direction, seven small faces would be waiting for him — hungry, hopeful, and unaware that their big brother had just begun carving a path toward something greater.
He tightened his grip on the bag. "Let's feed them first… then, the world."
The forest wind whispered behind him — the silent applause of nature itself for the boy who had once saved strangers… and was now saving his family.
The fading light of dusk spilled across the dirt path as Ren trudged back toward the village, the faint weight of the hides on his shoulder and the cool core in his palm serving as quiet reminders of a long, fruitful day. His breath came steady, not ragged; his muscles no longer screamed in exhaustion like before. Somewhere between the rhythm of his steps and the soft rustle of the forest, a familiar chime echoed within his mind.
[Level Up: 5 → Reached]
[You have grown stronger through perseverance and balanced execution of survival and combat tasks.]
Updated Attributes:
Name: Ren
Level: 5
EXP: 10 / 800
Strength: 12 (+2)
Endurance: 12 (+2)
Agility: 10 (+1)
Intelligence: 7 (+1)
Vitality: 13 (+2)
New Skill Unlocked:
Tracking Lv.1
Instinctively improves perception of recent movement trails, scent patterns, and environmental disturbance.
Skill Proficiency Updated:
Forestry Lv.5
Skinning Lv.1
Tracking Lv.1
Ren paused mid-path, clenching his fists. Every step forward feels heavier—but also clearer. The forest around him was no longer just trees and shadows; it was a network of patterns, life, and hints of motion. The Tracking skill pulsed faintly in his vision as faint blue lines flickered along the dirt—a trail of a boar that had passed hours ago, invisible to the naked eye before.
He smiled faintly. "Guess I'm getting used to this world."
By the time he reached the Adventurer's Guild, night had crept in, lanterns casting orange hues over the wooden beams. The lively hum of adventurers filled the air—boots clattering, laughter echoing, and the scent of roasted meat swirling near the hearth. Ren stepped inside quietly, approaching the counter where Kara stood, sorting through reports and sealing them with wax.
She looked up with her usual half-smile. "Back already, Ren? You don't waste time, do you?"
Ren gave a small nod and placed the quest slips and herb bundles onto the counter, followed by the hides and the faintly glowing magic core."Two quests completed. And I wanted to know if the Guild buys hides too."
Kara inspected the hides—cleanly skinned, the cuts even. She raised an eyebrow."Forest Tusker and boar hides, well-prepared. You've got skill."She weighed them quickly, scribbling on a parchment. "I'll buy these for 36 bronze coins. As for the quests, you get another 40 bronze total. That's 76 coins in all."
Ren accepted the pouch she slid across the counter, then held out the faint core. "This one... any use for someone like me?"
Kara leaned forward, tapping the crystal with her finger. "A low-grade Faint Magic Core. Barely reacts to mana. You could sell it for a few bronze, but…" Her gaze softened slightly. "If you keep it and let it rest near your body while sleeping, it might slightly expand your mana pool. Not by much—but it helps over time."
Ren tucked it into his inner pouch. "Then I'll keep it."
Just as Kara marked his completion on the Guild ledger, a sharp tone vibrated through Ren's mind.
[Brother Mission Tracker Activated!]
[Detected: Two concurrent quest completions under Guild Verification.]
[Evaluating Efficiency Metric…]
[Overall Efficiency: 87% → Rank: S]
[Mission Rewards Granted:]
Skill Upgrade Token (Rare): Instantly increases the level of one existing skill by +1.
Adaptability Boost: +1 to all base attributes.
A faint golden shimmer circled his vision before fading into his skin. His body subtly tingled—his muscles tightened, his breath deepened, and clarity sharpened in his mind.
Updated Attributes after Bonus:
Strength: 13
Endurance: 13
Agility: 11
Intelligence: 8
Vitality: 14
Ren's eyes widened slightly as he flexed his hand. He could feel it—the faint vibration of strength humming beneath his skin.
He mentally selected Skinning Lv.1 for the upgrade.
[Skill Upgrade Token Applied.]
[Skinning Lv.1 → Lv.2]
Improves the efficiency of extraction, reducing waste by 15% and unlocking rare material recognition chance.
Kara tilted her head. "You alright? You looked like you just swallowed lightning."
Ren exhaled quietly, smiling faintly. "Just… feeling the satisfaction of finishing a day right."
She chuckled, stamping the completion seal on his quest slip. "You've got that strange calm about you, Ren. Most new adventurers come back with trembling hands. Keep that up—you might actually last long in this business."
Ren gave a nod of thanks, tying his pouch at his belt before heading toward the exit. The night air brushed cool against his skin as he stepped outside. Stars dotted the sky above the guild roof, and for a brief moment, he stood still—breathing in the calm.
Every swing of his blade, every herb plucked, every beast slain—it was building toward something. His siblings waiting back home, their laughter echoing faintly in his mind, kept that fire burning.
"Step by step," he murmured. "We'll climb out of this hole."
And with that, Ren turned back toward the dirt road leading to his small hut—unaware that the faint shimmer of the Brother System's emblem was still glowing softly behind his eyes, silently tracking his growing potential.