The guild hall was already really loud when Rin walked in the morning.
Hunters were arguing over quests, someone was loudly complaining about a sword and a group in the corner looked like they hadn't slept all night.
Rin stepped inside quietly.
Then someone noticed him.
"Hey, it's the wolf killer," they said.
Several hunters turned to look at Rin.
Rin immediately regretted coming
One big hunter with a scar across his nose laughed.
The hunter said " tell us F-rank did the wolf trip and break its neck?"
More laughter spread through the room.
Rin rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
He said "I just got lucky."
Another hunter said "Yeah hunter alive" and raised his drink.
Rin walked past them. Headed toward the guild desk.
The same clerk from yesterday was waiting there.
His name was Marek though most hunters just called him the paperwork guy.
Marek adjusted his glasses. Looked at Rin carefully.
Marek said "You came."
Rin said "You told me to."
Marek said "Correct."
Marek reached under the desk. Pulled out a small metal plate.
He said "Rank evaluation."
Rin sighed.
He said "Again?"
Hunter ranks were tested using mana plates.
A hunter would place their hand on the plate. It would measure their power.
The problem was that Rin had taken this test three times before.
Every time the result was the same: F-rank.
The hunters nearby noticed what was happening and quickly gathered around.
One of them said "Oh this is going to be good."
Another hunter said "Place your bets."
Someone said "Ten coins says F-rank again."
Rin groaned.
He said "Can we do this quieter?"
Marek said calmly "No transparency is important."
Rin slowly placed his hand on the metal plate.
For a moment nothing happened.
Then the plate began to glow
The room grew quiet.
A seconds later glowing letters appeared above the plate.
It said RANK: F.
The entire room burst into laughter.
The hunters said "I told you" and "Pay up" and "Luckiest F-rank alive."
Rin removed his hand. Sighed.
He said "See nothing changed."
Marek wasn't laughing.
He leaned closer to the plate frowning slightly.
Marek said "That's strange."
Rin said "What is?"
Marek tapped the side of the device.
He said "This plate measures mana capacity."
Rin said "
Marek said "You have more than yesterday."
Rins stomach dropped.
He said "Oh."
Marek continued ". Not enough to move you out of F-rank."
The surrounding hunters didn't care about the details.
They were still laughing.
One of them clapped Rin on the shoulder.
The hunter said "Don't worry kid maybe time you'll get lucky again."
Rin forced a smile.
He said "Maybe."
Inside his mind was racing.
The system had increased his strength and speed.
Yet the rank plate didn't show it.
Which meant the system was hiding something.
A hours later Rin sat outside the guild building eating cheap noodles from a small street stall.
The old vendor watched him curiously.
The vendor said "You look troubled."
Rin slurped his noodles.
He said " thinking."
The vendor nodded.
He said "Thinking is dangerous."
Rin asked "Why?"
The vendor said "You start realizing things."
Rin laughed slightly.
He said "That sounds about right."
Just as he finished his meal a loud voice shouted from the guild entrance.
The voice said "Party members needed for a dungeon run."
Several hunters turned to look.
A thin hunter with hair was holding a quest paper.
The man continued "Low-rank dungeon, split rewards."
Most hunters ignored him.
Low-rank dungeons didn't pay much.
The man sighed.
He said "Anyone?"
Then his eyes landed on Rin.
The man said "You."
Rin pointed at himself.
He said "Me?"
The man said "You're F-rank right?"
Rin hesitated.
He said "Yes."
The man said "Perfect."
The man walked over quickly.
He said "We need one member."
Rin frowned.
He said "Why me?"
The man grinned.
He said "Because you're cheap."
The noodle vendor burst out laughing.
Rin sighed.
He said "Great."
The system suddenly appeared again.
It said New Quest Available:
Enter a dungeon and defeat 5 monsters.
Rin stared at the screen.
He muttered "Well I guess I'm going."
The thin hunter held out his hand.
"Name's Lyle."
Rin shook it.
He said "Rin."
Lyle said "Good meet the rest of the team."
They walked toward the guild entrance.
Inside two hunters were waiting.
A tall woman with a spear.
A large man holding a shield.
Lyle pointed at Rin.
He said "This is our member."
The tall woman raised an eyebrow.
She said "An F-rank?"
The shield man frowned.
He said "You couldn't find anyone "
Lyle shrugged.
He said "He'll do."
Rin suddenly had a feeling about this.
Before he could say anything the system message appeared again.
It said Quest Accepted.
Rin sighed.
He said " late now."
That evening the four hunters stood at the entrance of a small dungeon cave outside the forest.
Darkness stretched inside like a waiting mouth.
The shield man cracked his knuckles.
He said " job."
The spear woman nodded.
She said "Clear the monsters collect the cores go home."
Lyle grinned.
He said "Exactly."
Then he glanced at Rin.
He said " stay behind us."
Rin nodded.
He said "Got it."
As they stepped into the dungeon none of them noticed the strange purple glow deeper inside.
Something was waiting there.
Something that definitely wasn't supposed to be in a low-rank dungeon.
Rin was about to find out that this team had a very different plan, for him.