The dawn broke over the city of Millhaven, sending golden rays piercing through the thin fog that enveloped the cobbled streets. The creaking sound of wooden carts echoed in the distance, mingling with the shouts of vendors starting to open their stalls. Amidst the bustling city coming to life, a fourteen-year-old youth stood silently before a cracked mirror in the corner of his small room.
Adam Luck observed his reflection with sharp golden eyes—an odd inheritance from his rebirth in this world. His messy sea-blue hair fell over part of his thin yet sharply contoured face. A prominent nose and a jaw that was beginning to harden gave an impression of maturity that was not in line with his age. But what was most striking was the look in his eyes—too old for a teenager, too weary for someone who should still be full of dreams.
"Today," he murmured quietly, his voice deep and calm. "The Job Awakening Ritual."
Thirteen years had passed since he was reborn in a world called Eryndor. Thirteen years of memories from his previous life mingled with new experiences as an orphan in a small town at the edge of the Australian continent. Thirteen years of understanding that this world operated under a system vastly different from Earth—a system where everyone was born with an inherent profession known as a "Job."
Adam walked to the window of his room overlooking the city center. From here, he could see the towering Adventurer's Guild with its gleaming copper, silver, and gold insignias under the sunlight. Beside it stood the Awakening Temple with its white dome radiating a sacred aura—the place where today his fate would be determined.
Millhaven was not a large city. With a population of about fifty thousand souls, it was more accurately described as a strategically located medium-sized trading city at the crossroads of major kingdom caravan routes. Classical stone buildings lined the main street, while simpler wooden houses were scattered throughout the residential areas. The central market was always bustling with local vendors and travelers from various regions, bringing goods and stories from distant lands.
What made Millhaven special was not its grandeur, but its dungeons. Three different dungeons were scattered around the city—Goblin Warren (Rank F), Orc Stronghold (Rank E), and the most dangerous, Crystal Cavern (Rank D). The existence of these dungeons kept the city filled with adventurers from across the continent, seeking fortune and experience.
Adam closed the window and walked toward his simple wooden wardrobe. Inside hung the only decent clothing he owned—a slightly worn white shirt and brown pants that had been patched several times. This was the last legacy from his adoptive parents who had passed away a year ago.
Memories of them still felt fresh. His adoptive father, a mid-ranking adventurer named Marcus, was a spirited man with a loud laugh and unwavering optimism. He always returned with fascinating stories about dungeons and monsters, his eyes sparkling with pride as he recounted how his team defeated the Orc Chieftain or discovered rare mana crystals.
His adoptive mother, Elena, was a gentle woman who always welcomed her husband home with a warm smile and steaming food. She was not an adventurer, only possessing the job of a "Homekeeper"—a common profession that allowed her to manage the household with supernatural efficiency. The food she cooked always tasted better, the house was always clean without excessive effort, and there was a special warmth radiating from every corner of the home.
But that happiness ended when Adam turned thirteen. A Dungeon Break occurred in the Crystal Cavern—a rare phenomenon where dungeon monsters emerged and attacked the surrounding area. Marcus joined the emergency team sent to handle the crisis. He never returned. All that was left was his old sword, returned by his teammates, stained with dried blood and deep cracks.
Elena could not withstand the blow. The woman who had always been strong collapsed within a week. She fell ill, refused to eat, and seemed to lose her job's ability. The home that had once been warm became cold and chaotic. Within a month, she followed her husband to the afterlife, leaving Adam with a small savings and a simple house on the outskirts of town.
Adam buttoned his shirt while staring at Marcus's old sword hanging on the wall. The only valuable item left from his adoptive family. The sword was rusty and cracked, unfit for battle, but Adam had never intended to sell it. To the world, it was just a pile of old iron. To Adam, it was the last reminder of the family he once had.
"They hoped I would get a good job," Adam murmured as he fixed his hair. "But they didn't know who I really am."
The job system in Eryndor was the foundation of the entire civilization. Every child reaching the age of fourteen would undergo the Job Awakening Ritual at the local temple. This ritual would determine their inherent profession—warrior, mage, archer, healer, or hundreds of other variations. Jobs not only determined a person's abilities but also their place in society.
People with combat jobs like Warrior or Mage usually became adventurers, joining guilds and challenging dungeons to gain experience and level up. Non-combat jobs like Blacksmith, Merchant, or Farmer formed the backbone of the city's economy. The rarer or stronger a person's job, the higher their social status.
What complicated this system was the tiering of jobs themselves. Jobs were divided into several categories: Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, and Mythical, which were almost like legends. Most people received common jobs and lived normal lives. Those fortunate enough to receive rare jobs could become successful adventurers. Those who received epic jobs or higher usually became important figures whose names were recorded in history.
But there was one status considered worse than all: Jobless.
Adam knew for certain that he would receive that status. Somehow, memories from his previous life told him that he was different. He was not bound by this world's system like others. And in a world where a person's identity was defined by their job, being Jobless meant being nonexistent.
People in town had already started to whisper. Adam often heard their conversations as he passed through the market.
"That orphan boy... he's fourteen now, right?"
"Poor thing. Marcus and Elena were good people, but that boy... there's something strange about him."
"He always stays quiet, never plays with kids his age. Like... he's not alive."
"Hopefully, he gets a decent job. If not, what will happen to him?"
Adam never responded to those comments. He had long learned that reacting would only make things worse. Besides, they weren't entirely wrong. He was indeed different. Memories and experiences from his previous life made him mature beyond his years, causing him to view the world with a perspective that other teenagers did not possess.
On Earth, he was just an ordinary student who died in a silly accident—hit by a truck while crossing the street because he was too focused on a game on his phone. A mundane life, without significant achievements, without a trace left behind. When he awoke in the body of a baby in this new world, he thought this was a second chance. An opportunity to become someone meaningful.
But the more he understood this world, the more he realized how cruel the prevailing system was. Power determined everything. Status determined fate. And for those born without the system's blessing, life was nothing more than a struggle for survival.
A soft knock on the door brought him back from his reverie. Adam walked to the door and opened it, finding a middle-aged man with silver-brown hair and warm green eyes. Father Benedict, the leader of the local temple and the one who would lead his ritual today.
"Good morning, Adam," the man greeted with a gentle smile. "Are you ready?"
Adam nodded slowly. "Yes, Father."
Father Benedict was one of the few people in town who never looked at him with pity or suspicion. The man held the job of "High Priest"—a rare job that allowed him to communicate with the divine and lead important rituals. He had served the city of Millhaven for over twenty years, and everyone respected him.
"The ritual will begin in one hour," Father Benedict said, observing Adam's face. "Usually, family members attend, but..."
"I don't mind going alone," Adam cut in calmly. "They are no longer here."
Father Benedict fell silent for a moment, his expression turning sad. "I still remember the day when Marcus and Elena brought you to the temple for the first time. They were so happy to have you."
"They were good people," Adam replied flatly, not wanting to delve further. Memories of happiness only made him ache.
"I'm sure they would be proud of whoever you become," Father Benedict said, placing a hand on Adam's shoulder. "Jobs do not define who you are as a person, Adam. Remember that."
Adam almost smiled at those words. If only the world thought like Father Benedict. But he knew that the reality was far different. In this world, jobs were everything. Jobs determined the future, determined friends, determined life partners, even determined whether someone was worthy of living.
"Thank you, Father," Adam replied politely.
They walked together toward the temple in comfortable silence. The morning streets of Millhaven began to buzz with activity. Vendors were opening their stalls, children were running to school, and adventurers fully equipped were heading toward the guild or the nearest dungeon. A normal sight of a living and thriving city.
But Adam felt the gazes directed at him. Some people nodded respectfully to Father Benedict, then cast curious or pitying glances at Adam. He was the only teenager undergoing the ritual today—usually, the ritual was conducted in groups, but Adam was late because he had to wait for money for the ceremony.
The Awakening Temple stood majestically in the city center, built from white stone that always looked clean without the need for manual cleaning—an effect of a sacred enchantment that had lasted for hundreds of years. Its large dome was adorned with intricate carvings depicting the history of the first jobs bestowed by the gods. Wide marble stairs led to the main entrance, where two giant guardian statues stood watch.
Inside the temple, the air felt different. There was a vibration of energy that was subtle yet powerful, as if this place was directly connected to a higher force. The tall walls were decorated with paintings of various heroic jobs: a Paladin defeating a black dragon, an Archmage stopping a meteor, a Saint healing a plague, and various other epic scenes.
In the center of the main room stood a ritual circle made of shimmering white crystals. The circle was surrounded by ancient symbols that emitted a soft light. This was the place where thousands of teenagers before him had learned their destinies.
"Stand in the center of the circle," Father Benedict instructed while walking toward the altar at the end of the room. "And clear your mind. Let the divine energy flow and reveal your true job."
Adam stepped into the crystal circle. As soon as his feet touched the cold surface, he felt a gentle vibration coursing through his body. The surrounding crystals began to glow brighter, and the ancient symbols slowly rotated in the air.
Father Benedict began to chant incantations in an ancient language, his voice echoing throughout the room. The energy in the air thickened, and Adam felt something strange happening within him—as if a foreign power was trying to penetrate his mental defenses.
White light began to surround him, growing brighter with each passing second. Adam closed his eyes, concentrating on the sensation of energy flowing through every fiber of his being. He knew that soon the results would be revealed. Soon the world would see who he truly was.
And in his heart, he was prepared to face the disappointment in everyone's eyes.
But what he did not expect was the sudden foreign voice whispering in his head, a voice that did not belong to Father Benedict or anyone else in the room. A voice that sounded like it came from another dimension, with a tone that was familiar yet foreign.
"Chronicle Sync" Initiated..
System awakening detected...
Scanning for compatible host...
Host confirmed: Adam Luck
Jobless status detected...
Perfect compatibility achieved...
Welcome to Chronicle Sync, User...
Your true journey begins now...
Adam opened his eyes in surprise, but the white light had faded and the crystal circle returned to normal. Father Benedict approached him with an unreadable expression.
"The result is out," the man said softly, his gaze shifting between Adam and the glowing crystal orb in his hand displaying shining text.
Adam swallowed hard. This was it. The moment the world would know he was Jobless—society's trash without a place or future.
"The job you received is..." Father Benedict paused for a moment, as if unable to believe what he was reading. "Jobless."
An oppressive silence enveloped the temple room. Adam had expected this outcome, but hearing it officially still brought an odd sensation to his chest. It was not sadness, nor relief. More like... anticipation.
Father Benedict looked at him with a sympathetic gaze. "Adam, I... I'm sorry. This is very rare. There might have been a mistake in the ritual—"
"There was no mistake," Adam interrupted calmly, his voice steady without showing any emotion. "This is indeed the result."
"But this means..." Father Benedict did not finish his sentence. They both knew what this meant.
Jobless meant having no clear growth path. Unable to level up normally. Unable to join adventurer guilds. No place in society. In a world where power was everything, being Jobless was equivalent to having no future.
"Maybe you can still work as a manual laborer," Father Benedict said, trying to console him. "Or learn a craft. There are some Jobless people in other towns who have succeeded—"
"Thank you for the suggestion, Father," Adam replied while bowing politely. "But I already know what I must do."
And he did know. The strange voice he heard earlier was not a hallucination. Something had just awakened within him, something called Chronicle Sync. He did not fully understand what it was, but his instincts told him that this was the answer. This was why he was reborn in this world.
Adam walked out of the temple with calm and controlled steps. Outside, some people waiting for the results of his ritual immediately looked at him with curious eyes. But once they saw the flat expression on his face and the absence of a job aura around him, whispers began to spread.
"Jobless..."
"How pitiful..."
"What will he do now?"
"Maybe he should leave the city..."
Adam heard all those whispers, but he did not react at all. He had spent thirteen years learning to control his emotions, learning not to show weakness in front of others. A skill he had learned from his previous life as an introvert who was often bullied.
He walked home along the same path, but this time the world felt different. People looked at him with different gazes—not as the poor orphan boy anymore, but as society's trash with no place. Some vendors who usually greeted him now averted their eyes. Children playing in the street pointed at him while whispering.
But Adam did not care. He had something more important to think about.
Once he arrived home, he immediately locked the door and sat on a wooden chair by the window. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the strange sensation still lingering in his head.
"Chronicle Sync", he thought. *What exactly are you?*
As if responding to his thoughts, the voice emerged again, clearer this time.
"Chronicle Sync" is a cross-dimensional system that allows synchronization with legendary characters from various chronicles - history, games, movies, animations.
As a Jobless, you are not bound by this world's limitations. You have unlimited potential.
Your first synchronization roulette is now available. Would you like to proceed?
Adam opened his eyes, his heart beating a little faster. This was not a hallucination. This was real. And if what it said was true...
"I can be anyone," he whispered softly.
For the first time since the ritual that morning, a faint smile appeared on Adam's face. Not a smile of happiness, but a smile of someone who had just discovered a secret weapon.
The world saw him as Jobless—useless trash. But he would prove them wrong. He would show that not having a job did not mean lacking power.
They called him Jobless. He would call himself Freelancer.
And the true journey had just begun.