Before Kaito could even open his mouth, his eldest and second grandfathers spoke up. Both had already made their decision—they would not be taking to the frontlines. Age was catching up with them, and they felt it was better to leave the fighting to the younger generation. Instead, they would pursue life skill professions. Saying so, the two of them laughed heartily and made their way toward their cabins.
Before leaving, Kaito handed them the guides he had prepared. His eldest grandfather had chosen to pursue the path of a blacksmith, while his second grandfather had settled on becoming a merchant, much like Kaito's second uncle who favored management. Kaito fully supported their choices. In fact, he had long believed that having someone reliable in the merchant profession would give them access to opportunities for earning money and credits that otherwise would be impossible.
To give them a head start, he even provided them with hidden quest guides tailored to their professions. He also suggested that, instead of spawning in the Astralis City region, they should select the Royal Capital of the Solaris Kingdom as their birthplace. That way, they could establish a foundation in the capital early on and support Genesis when the guild eventually expanded its reach there.
Once his grandfathers had departed, the rest of the older generation also excused themselves. His own grandfather, grandmother, and even his other two grandmothers had all chosen to stick to life skill professions as well. One after another, they left the training hall, logging into Glory to begin their chosen paths.
Now, only his uncles, aunts, and cousins remained. Even then, most of the aunts had already expressed their preference for life skill professions, especially after hearing about the experiences of Kaito's mother and his first and second aunts. Inspired by their words, many of the aunts decided to follow a similar path and had already gone to log in, guided under the care of Kaito's mother and two elder aunts.
Kaito did not interfere with their choices—after all, life skill players were just as essential as combat players. In fact, the more they had, the better it would be for Genesis in the long run.
Still, not all of them had chosen that route. A few, like his fourth aunt, had a strong desire to experience battle firsthand and preferred pursuing the warrior's path. Meanwhile, his cousins, brimming with excitement and impatience, lingered behind in the hall. They had already completed their training and were eager to log back into Glory, but they stayed because Kaito had told them earlier that he had something important to share.
When Kaito hesitated for a moment, his cousin Marcus broke the silence with a grin.
"Cousin, why are you just standing there? Speak already! We want to get into the game!"
Kaito chuckled at Marcus's impatience. "Alright, alright. I don't have much to say—it's just some precautions I want you all to keep in mind."
He then distributed the special guides he had prepared for them. Each was tailored according to their chosen classes and contained detailed notes on hidden quests, leveling routes, and even the locations of hidden areas. Some guides also pointed toward potential hidden classes that could significantly increase their strength if pursued carefully.
Finally, Kaito repeated the same advice he had given his grandfathers: instead of rushing to join Genesis in the Astralis City region, it would be far more beneficial for them to start out in the Royal Capital, Solaris City. That way, when Genesis eventually expanded its forces into the capital—as it inevitably would—they would already be in place to provide vital support.
As he handed over the guides, Kaito watched the faces of his cousins light up with excitement. They were eager to explore, eager to grow stronger, and now, thanks to the knowledge he had shared, they would not have to stumble blindly as ordinary players did.
.....
After watching his cousins head into their cabins one by one, Kaito also returned to his RV and re-entered Glory. The moment he logged back in, the golden light of dawn greeted him. It was already daybreak within the game world, and the streets of South Glade were filled with activity. Players bustled about, forming parties and preparing to head out toward the surrounding monster farming areas. Most of them had already reached Level 15, their chatter and excitement echoing through the lively town.
Kaito, however, had a different priority. He knew that before anyone else, he needed to unlock the hidden Level 15 team dungeon. In his previous life, players had struggled for nearly two weeks before anyone even discovered its existence. This time, he wanted to fast-track that process. The sooner he cleared the dungeon, the sooner he could make his way toward Astralis City. Still, there was one matter he had to take care of before heading out.
Opening his chat interface, Kaito quickly contacted his second uncle, who was already inside the game.
"Second Uncle, are you at the town square?"
A reply came almost immediately.
"Yes, Kaito. I'm here already. The square is packed—plenty of people have gathered, all waiting for the auction to begin. When will you arrive?"
"Don't worry, Uncle. I'm on my way," Kaito replied with a faint smile.
The auction he referred to was the one he had announced earlier—the event where he would sell off the equipment obtained from his battle with Everhold Dominion. Word had already spread among players, and curiosity alone was enough to draw a large crowd.
Not wanting to attract unnecessary attention or risk being recognized, Kaito retrieved the Mask of Nocturnis from his inventory. Placing it on, his youthful features blurred and shifted, transforming into the weathered face of a middle-aged man. His name was concealed, and his true identity safely hidden.
With his disguise secured, Kaito left the safety of the inn and made his way through the busy streets toward the town square, where the first major auction of his reborn journey was about to begin.
At this time, the town square of South Glade was unusually crowded. Normally, by daybreak, the place would start to thin out as players left for the surrounding monster farming zones. The square would usually look half-empty, with only a handful of merchants and late risers hanging about. But today was different.
Over a thousand players filled the central square, their voices rising in heated discussion. The reason was simple—everyone was waiting for the promised auction of equipment taken from the fallen Everhold Dominion members.
"Do you think Master Raen will really sell the equipment for five silver coins a piece?" one player whispered, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Another snorted. "Why wouldn't he? He wiped out hundreds of Everhold Dominion members by himself. He should have at least four hundred pieces. If he sells them cheap, he'll flood the market."
A third player shook his head. "Flood the market? He'd be losing money! Five silver coins per piece might sound cheap, but remember—it's still a fortune to most of us. If he puts up too many items, the price will crash. I doubt he'll sell everything. Maybe a hundred pieces at most."
Yet another voice cut in mockingly. "Losing money? Please. He found the equipment for free. Even if he sells it for one copper, it's still profit."
The arguments went on, some speaking in awe of Raen, others in jealousy and bitterness. The tension in the air was almost tangible.
As Kaito made his way toward the square, his communication lit up with a message from his cousin, Kaede.
"How's it going? Is anyone trying to muddy the waters?" Kaito asked, his tone carrying a faint edge.
Before heading out, Kaito had instructed Kaede to dispatch a few trusted people to blend into the crowd and keep an ear open. After all, a scene like this was the perfect chance for enemies to stir trouble.
Kaede's reply confirmed it. "Brother, you wouldn't believe it. Some people are already spreading nonsense. They're saying the equipment was picked up for free, so you should hand it out for free. Others claim if you don't produce at least four hundred pieces, it means you lied and broke your promise."