Sunlight streamed through the high windows of the Adventurer Guild Hall, casting broad, golden bands across the polished marble floors and creating long shadows from the stone pillars that lined the hall.

Dust motes floated lazily in the air, sparkling like fragments of a dream as the low hum of voices grew louder with each passing moment, welcoming Adventurers trickling in from the streets outside.

Even after witnessing the transformation firsthand, Sage felt a lingering disbelief every time he gazed at the hall. This place had evolved beyond a mere shop; it now stood as an institution.

Shaking his head slightly, Sage positioned himself a few meters away from Boren, who stood nervously in front of the reception desk.

For several minutes, Sage had been trying to explain Boren's upcoming responsibilities, but it was clear he was struggling to grasp them.

Behind the sleek black receptionist desk, so polished it reflected the ceiling lights, Boren sat awkwardly. His large frame barely fit into noble robes that seemed one hearty meal away from bursting at the seams.

Beads of nervous sweat glistened on his round face as he stared at the ledgers before him as if they were ancient tomes filled with forbidden knowledge.

His chubby fingers hovered uncertainly above the desk while his tiny legs shifted back and forth, betraying his anxiety.

Sage approached quietly from the side, hands clasped behind his back and golden-rimmed glasses perched neatly on his nose. He remained silent for now, simply observing.

Boren swallowed hard and leaned closer to the open Registration Ledger. His brow furrowed deeply as if he were attempting to solve some cosmic mystery armed only with a pen and sheer determination. His lips moved soundlessly as he re-read column headings:

Name.

Age.

Race.

Class.

Rank.

Simple words yet laden with terrifying responsibility. On the other side of the desk stood two Adventurers waiting patiently; one, a lean man with scarred arms and an impatient demeanor, tapped his foot rhythmically against the floor.

The other was a younger woman with braided hair and sharp eyes who leaned casually against the counter, studying Boren with an amused smile.

Clearing his throat, a sound more akin to a cough than anything authoritative, Boren stammered out, "S-So… um… your name?"

The scarred man frowned in response. "Didn't I already tell you?"

Boren froze instantly, unsure how to proceed.

Sage sighed inwardly but chose not to intervene just yet.

The scarred man leaned forward slightly, adopting a subtly aggressive posture that made him appear intimidating. "The Guildmaster never had us repeat ourselves."

Boren's face flushed crimson. He opened his mouth but closed it again quickly before glancing down at the ledger as if seeking guidance from its pages.

That's when Sage finally spoke up.

"Stop."

The single word sliced through the air like a knife.

Boren nearly jumped out of his skin.

Both Adventurers straightened at once.

Sage stepped forward, placing a hand on the desk. His tone was calm but carried an undeniable weight. "Pause everything. Boren, step back from the desk."

Boren complied immediately, shuffling aside with the speed of someone conditioned to react rather than initiate.

Sage turned his attention to the Adventurers, his expression polite yet firm. "Thank you for your patience. We'll resume shortly."

The scarred man clicked his tongue but nodded in acknowledgment. The woman offered a faint smile, her interest piqued.

Once they had taken a step back, Sage focused on Boren.

"Now," he said quietly, "this is your first lesson."

Boren nodded quickly. "Y-Yes, Boss."

Sage adjusted his glasses and leaned in slightly closer, lowering his voice, not to conceal it but to draw attention.

"Behind this desk, your questions aren't born from uncertainty," he began. "You're asking because the Guild demands answers. Do you see the difference?"

Boren hesitated before nodding slowly. "I… I think so?"

Sage gestured toward the scarred Adventurer. "Look at him, not at his face but at his posture."

Boren followed the instruction, his gaze flickering nervously.

"What do you observe?" Sage prompted.

Boren squinted as he concentrated. "He's… leaning forward? Like he's ready for a fight?"

"Exactly," Sage affirmed. "That indicates he expects resistance. Those who anticipate pushback prepare for it, which means he's testing you."

Boren blinked in surprise. "T..Testing me?"

"Yes," Sage replied evenly. "Not out of malice or cruelty, but because strength respects structure. If this desk bends, so does the Guild, and if the Guild bends, everyone eats less."

He tapped lightly on the desk with his knuckles.

"This isn't just furniture; it represents authority."

Boren swallowed hard.

Sage continued, "When you ask for a name, you're not merely seeking information; you're enforcing a process. If someone pushes back, don't retreat, repeat your request."

Turning slightly toward the Adventurers again, he raised his voice just enough to include them once more.

"Now," Sage said calmly, "let's continue." He motioned for Boren to return.

With trembling shoulders yet improved posture, Boren stepped back behind the desk.

Sage leaned in and murmured softly, "Remember: clear, calm and firm."

Taking a deep breath, Boren declared with newfound depth in his voice: "Name,..for official registration."

The scarred man stared for a moment before snorting dismissively. "Harlan."

Boren carefully noted it down while concentrating intensely.

Sage nodded approvingly as they moved through the process together in silence, standing by like a shadow as Boren fumbled and recovered repeatedly.

He observed every pause, every unnecessary apology, and each moment when Boren's kindness seemed poised to undermine his authority.

When the Adventurers finally moved on, Sage dropped several thick documents onto the desk with a heavy thud.

Boren stared at them in disbelief.

"These," Sage said, "are your weapons." He opened the first document. "This is the Registration Ledger. Every Adventurer who joins the Guild is recorded in this book, names, ranks, classes, specialties. No exceptions. If they refuse to sign in, they do not exist to us."

He flipped to the second document. "Mission Dockets. This is where commissioners post their requests. Your job isn't to judge what's feasible; it's to record the details. The Guild decides what can be done, not you."

Then he revealed the third document. "Completion Records, proof of work and proof of reward."

Boren gazed at the papers as if he were being handed a kingdom he never sought.

Sage's tone softened just a bit. "This role isn't just about writing; it's about determining who gets a chance."

Slowly, Boren looked up.

Sage met his gaze squarely. "Every Adventurer here relies on what happens at this desk. Every commissioner sleeps easier because of your records. This desk decides who eats and who starves."

He paused for effect, allowing those words to sink in. "Never forget that."

Boren nodded, his eyes shining, not with fear but with a deeper understanding.

For the first time, as Adventurers continued to line up before him, the desk transformed from mere furniture into something far more significant.

It became a battlefield.

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