The golden sun hung high above the clouds, bathing Greyvale City in a warm, golden light. However, its intense heat bore down on the city's less fortunate residents.

Greyvale City buzzed with activity as usual, a cacophony of sounds filling every street. Hawkers and merchants shouted for customers, creating an atmosphere thick with busyness.

Everyone hustled through their daily routines; life in Greyvale moved at a relentless pace. Time waited for no one,slow down even slightly, and you risked being left behind. In this city, no one wanted to be overtaken; everyone worked hard to keep up.

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Gryphon District — Adventurer Guild

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Inside the Adventurer Guild, it was as quiet as ever. Elegant chairs and tables were sparsely arranged throughout the Guild Hall, while banners swayed gently in the faint breeze.

Golden sunlight streamed through the massive doors, casting a serene glow across the hall.

At the receptionist desk sat Sage, dressed in baggy pants and an oversized long-sleeve shirt. He lounged back in his chair with his legs propped up on the desk, eyes closed and a bag of chips open in hand. Occasionally, he would reach into the bag for another chip, savoring each satisfying crunch.

Sage wore a content expression; he exuded a lazy vibe that seemed to envelop him like a warm blanket. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as system notifications chimed pleasantly in his mind.

[ Ding! Congratulations Host! You have received RP +3 ]

[ Ding! Congratulations Host! You have received RP +4 ]

[ Ding! Congratulations Host! You have received RP +2 ]

These notifications had been ringing in his mind for two days now. The first time he heard one, he realized Gregor had begun distributing flyers, and it was working.

Though the amount of RP he earned was pitifully low, Sage understood that not everyone would immediately show interest in joining the Guild. Some might glance at a flyer only to toss it aside without giving it a second thought, much like how people often dismiss flyers back on Earth as scams before forgetting about them entirely.

No matter where you are or which reality you inhabit, people's reactions to the unknown tend to be similar: they overlook anything that doesn't seem beneficial to them.

Despite most people ignoring the flyers entirely, Sage knew that even if only ten out of every hundred held onto some curiosity about something unique or unfamiliar, it was enough to keep those notifications coming, even if they were sparse.

With a satisfied sigh, Sage tossed another handful of chips into his mouth. "This is the kind of life I want," he mused aloud. "Just relaxing without having to deal with bothersome work. I wish this could go on forever."

As if responding to his wish, an unexpectedly tender voice broke through his thoughts right beside him.

"Hey Uncle! Why are you talking to yourself?"

"What the…?!"

Sage nearly toppled from his chair, his heart racing as he turned pale, choking on the chips he had been munching.

"Cough! Cough!"

He coughed violently, pressing a hand against his chest while hastily gulping down a cup of water. His face flushed a deep red as he struggled to catch his breath, gripping the edge of the desk for support.

"Dammit! Who the hell is it? Who wants to kill me?" Sage shouted, his voice echoing through the empty Guild Hall.

"Whoever you are, don't blame me if I teach you a lesson....!"

His words were abruptly cut off as he froze in shock. Confusion washed over him as he processed what stood before him.

"Ehhh… who are you?" Sage stammered, staring at the little porcelain doll-like figure in front of him.

Across the desk stood a girl who couldn't be more than ten years old. Her round, chubby face was adorned with rosy cheeks and framed by golden hair tied into twin ponytails. Her large golden eyes sparkled with curiosity, and her small nose twitched adorably.

What left Sage speechless was her attire,a battle maid armor that looked incredibly cute on her petite frame. To top it off, she carried a giant scutum-like shield that dwarfed her entire body, making her resemble a turtle.

"Hey uncle! Stop staring at me like that!" The little girl took a step back, covering her chest with tiny hands and shouting fearlessly at Sage. Her clear and cute voice only added to the absurdity of the situation.

"Ahem…!" Sage cleared his throat and snapped back to reality, focusing on this bold little girl glaring at him defiantly.

He shook his head in disbelief and replied with disdain, "What are you covering up for? I'm not interested in little girls like you, especially not one who looks like a flatboard princess."

"Bang!"

The massive shield landed heavily on the floor with such force that it made Sage jump slightly as the ground trembled beneath him.

"What a heavy shield! This little girl must have some serious strength," he thought inwardly while eyeing her tiny frame.

"Who are you calling flatboard princess?" The girl put one hand on her hip and pointed an accusatory finger at Sage. "My elder sister says all men prey on little girls when they look at them like you just did!"

Sage facepalmed in utter disbelief at her audacity. "Look here, flatboard princess: not only did you barge into my shop and nearly choke me to death, but now you're spouting nonsense?"

"Hmph," she huffed proudly, raising her chin defiantly. "You must feel guilty; my elder sister is right about you."

"What the hell…!" Sage was utterly speechless, his anger bubbling beneath the surface. Not only had this little girl nearly given him a heart attack, but now she was accusing him of something ridiculous. If this were Earth, he'd probably be on his way to jail by now.

Rubbing his temples in frustration, Sage waved dismissively at her. "Alright, kiddo, go back to your mother and drink some milk."

The girl's eyes widened as if someone had stepped on her tail. She jumped up and pointed an accusing finger at him. "I'm not a little girl! I'm a fully grown young lady!"

"Says who?" Sage shot back, glaring at her with a mix of disdain and disbelief.

"My elder sister said so!" she huffed defiantly.

"Well, then your elder sister must be an idiot," Sage retorted, rubbing his chest as he walked back to the chair behind his desk and sat down.

The girl stood there in shock, staring at Sage as if he were some kind of dead meat. It made him feel slightly uncomfortable.

"Hey! What's with that look? Hurry up and go home; this place isn't meant for little girls like you," he said while rubbing his nose.

The girl snapped back to reality. "If my elder sister hears you called her an idiot, you're dead!"

"And who is this all-knowing elder sister of yours?" Sage asked in frustration.

The little replied in a boastful tone. "You'll found out when she breaks down your door."

"Yeah… yeah, whatever. For the last time, get out of here and go back to that sister of yours," Sage replied nonchalantly with a shrug. He was already tired of this little girl.

Her face flushed red with indignation as stubbornness set in; she climbed onto a tall chair and crossed her arms defiantly.

"Isn't that sign at the entrance saying this place is looking for people to complete tasks for money?" she asked with puffed-up cheeks. "Well, I'm here to do just that!"

Sage's eyes went wide open; his lips twitched uncontrollably. "Y… you… want to become an Adventurer?"

At that moment, he couldn't contain himself any longer and burst into loud laughter. His laughter echoed through the empty Guild Hall as tears streamed down his face from how hard he was laughing, his stomach hurt from it all.

The girl's face turned even redder as she raised her tiny fist and slammed it heavily on the desk.

Bang!

A massive crack appeared on the surface of the desk as it splintered under the force.

Sage abruptly stopped laughing, mouth agape in shock. He stared at the splintered wood, the first casualty of his new "peaceful" life.

"What in the actual hell…!"

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