Mornings in Millhaven were always bustling. The main street filled with merchants setting up their stalls, the aroma of fresh bread, and children shouting as they ran around carrying small pouches of copper coins. The sun had just risen, its rays hitting the simple wooden rooftops.
Adam walked through the crowd, a simple leather bag hanging from his shoulder. Inside were several glass bottles containing Slime mucus, Giant Rat tails he'd cut the night before, and bundles of green herbs.
His hand gripped the bag's strap tightly. Today I have to exchange these for money. If I don't, I won't even be able to eat dinner.
He approached a simple stall where a middle-aged merchant was arranging potion bottles, his round face sporting a thick mustache.
"Morning," Adam greeted briefly. He placed a bottle containing Slime mucus on the counter. The greenish clear liquid wiggled slightly, then stopped.
The merchant raised an eyebrow. "Slime mucus? Where did you get this?"
"From the small forest east of town."
The merchant looked Adam up and down. His clothes were shabby, his shoes worn, and his face unshaven. Not the appearance of a hunter or warrior student who usually sold hunting spoils.
"A kid... Jobless... bringing materials like this?" he muttered quietly, but loud enough for two customers near the stall to turn their heads.
Adam didn't react. He just waited.
The merchant sighed, then held the bottle up to the light. "Quality's decent. Not mixed with dirt. Do you know the market price?"
"No."
"For one bottle of Slime mucus, I'll pay 5 copper. If you had ten bottles, that'd be 50 copper. That's already generous."
Adam nodded. "I have five bottles."
The merchant counted quickly, then handed over 25 small copper coins. They were round, dull in color, with simple sun engravings.
The currency system in this world consisted of several tiers:
Copper: the smallest denomination, used daily. 100 copper = 1 silver. Silver: more valuable, used for larger transactions. 100 silver = 1 gold. Gold: rarely used except by nobles, large guilds, or wealthy merchants. 100 gold = 1 platinum. Platinum: almost purely a symbol of wealth; even in Millhaven, people rarely saw it.
Manual laborers typically earned 20-30 copper per day. Regular bread cost 5 copper, meat soup 15 copper, and renting an inn room for one night could reach 40 copper.
Adam stared at the copper coins in his hand. "At least enough to eat for two days," he murmured quietly.
He continued to the next stall, where an elderly woman sold herbs. Her hair was silvery white, her hands deftly arranging dried roots and small bottles of powder.
Adam pulled out bundles of green herbs from his bag. "White Leaves. Fresh, picked yesterday evening."
The woman stared at him sharply. "Do you know their value?"
Adam shook his head.
"One bundle, 2 copper. I'll take your three bundles, so 6 copper."
Adam accepted without much talk.
The woman continued staring at him curiously. "You're that Jobless kid, aren't you?" she asked suddenly.
Several people selecting herbs turned to look. A young man whispered, "Really? So he can hunt too?"
Adam just bowed his head slightly, then walked away.
The market crowd grew busier. Adam heard whispers from various directions.
"Isn't that Adam Luck? The one who failed the Moon Ritual last month?" "Jobless can't level up. So how can he bring forest materials?" "Maybe he just takes scraps from other people's hunts." "Or steals."
Adam kept walking. His face remained flat.
Let them be. As long as they pay me, their talk doesn't matter.
While walking, Adam recalled this world's time system.
According to Marcus's records, one year consisted of 12 months, each with 30 days. There was no concept of a seven-day week like in his previous life; there were only six working days and one ritual day at month's end.
Month names were based on sky signs and seasons:
-Fire Month - beginning of year, spring starts. Warm days.
-Wind Month - strong winds carrying seeds.
-Rain Month - first harvest of fast-growing vegetables.
-Star Month - long nights, stars clearly visible.
-Light Month - brightest full moon; Moon Ritual performed here.
-Earth Month - major harvest season.
-Sea Month - maritime trade bustles.
-Second Fire Month - scorching weather, dry season.
-Shadow Month - days grow short, cold nights.
-Snow Month - first snow falls.
-Dark Month - full winter, harshest days.
-Dawn Month - snow melts, sign of new year.
Each month held ritual significance, every sky sign believed to be the gods' blessing.
The Moon Ritual was performed only once a year, on the full moon night of Light Month. That's when children's fates were determined: those who succeeded received official Jobs; those who failed... were forever marked as cursed.
He stopped at a meat stall, pulling out two Giant Rats he'd tied with rope. The scent of blood still faintly lingered.
The meat merchant, a tall man in a leather apron, frowned. "Boy, where did you get these?"
"In the forest. I killed them myself."
The merchant stared intently. "With a skinny body like that? Don't joke around."
Adam didn't answer. He just stared back with his calm golden eyes.
Finally the merchant snorted, then weighed the meat. "Fine, I'll value one at 10 copper. Two means 20 copper. But don't expect me to buy again if the quality's poor."
"Agreed."
Copper coins changed hands again.
Adam stepped out of the crowd. The coin pouch in his pocket now felt heavy. Total was over 50 copper - more than enough to live for several days.
But the whispers behind him didn't stop.
"It doesn't make sense. Jobless shouldn't be able to..." "Is someone helping him?" "Maybe someone's breaking Ritual rules..."
Adam took a deep breath. The market sounds remained lively, but the tone of conversations about him made the air feel slightly heavier.
Besides the money system, this world also had a different time system from his previous life.
One year consisted of 12 months, each containing 30 days. Each month was named based on sky signs: Fire Month, Wind Month, Star Month, and so on. Weeks were divided into 6 days, not 7. The Sixth Day was usually used for rituals and small celebrations.
The Moon Ritual itself was performed only once a year, on the full moon night of Light Month. All 15-year-old children would be tested. Those who failed... like Adam... would be marked forever.
Adam sighed, then stepped out of the market. The copper coins in his pocket clinked with each step. The day had just begun, but gossip was already following his footsteps.
Market sounds filled with more whispers. Citizens' conversations grew sharper.
"The Moon Ritual is never wrong," said a pot-bellied man while sipping beer. "If someone's marked Jobless, it means the gods reject them. They can't level up, can't collect EXP. Whatever he's doing in the market is just lies."
"Right," his companion agreed. "Jobless is a curse. EXP they get from killing monsters immediately disappears, leaks into the air. It's meaningless. While we-" he patted his chest proudly "-those of us with official Jobs, every drop of our sweat is counted and stored."
Adam heard clearly, but kept walking. His mind raced.
The concept of EXP in this world was different from mere numbers. EXP was life energy released whenever creatures died, especially monsters. That energy flowed to whoever dealt the killing blow, then was translated by the Job System into growth: status numbers rose, basic skills unlocked, bodies became stronger.
Each Job had its own growth path. Warriors gained STR and VIT faster. Mages got INT and WIS. Hunters focused on DEX and LUK. Clerics, high INT and WIS with some LUK.
All of this was regulated by the Job they received during the Moon Ritual.
But Jobless?
They had no path. No vessel to contain EXP. Energy they gained from killing monsters immediately evaporated, lost to the air. That's why Jobless never leveled up.
Except Adam.
"Last month, my neighbor's child got the Mage Job," another voice came from a hooded woman. "Now he can light small fires in his palm. People are already calling him a future noble. And this boy... Adam Luck... just Jobless. He should be nothing more than a scavenger."
"Yes," her friend replied. "Jobless are despicable. They're just family burdens. Can't do anything except be servants or manual laborers."
Adam heard everything. If only they knew. That EXP they say leaks... flows into me. Chronicle Sync is the vessel. That's a secret I'll never share with anyone.
On the other side of the market, other conversations continued circulating.
"The Moon Ritual is held during Light Month's full moon. Blue fire burns at the altar, marking our children's Jobs. That's the gods' blessing. It can't be wrong." "If a child fails, it means they're truly unworthy. Either due to parental sins, or their souls aren't pure." "Yes, that's natural law."
Adam sighed quietly. Rituals, gods, curses... all their reasons just cover reality: this system isn't perfect. I'm proof of that.
His steps took him away from the market center. But the sound of gossip still followed him.
He felt the coins in his pocket. Enough to eat for several days. But along with those coins, he also carried growing attention.
If gossip keeps spreading, sooner or later I'll attract trouble. But... trouble can also be opportunity. I just have to be more careful.
Adam's steps stopped at a corner when he saw a figure standing by a wooden fence. Ryle. With two friends, he waited as if intentionally.
"Look who we found. The Jobless," he said loudly, a mocking smile spreading.
His friends chuckled softly.
"So the rumors are true. You brought Slime mucus and rats from the forest? Who do you think will believe that?" Ryle approached, his eyes narrowing.
Adam didn't stop. "I don't need you to believe."
Those words made Ryle laugh harder. "You hear that? This kid dares talk back!"
Several passersby stopped to watch. Small arguments were always entertainment at the market.
Ryle moved closer. "You're cursed. Jobless will never be able to level up, can't fight, can't live. All the materials you brought must be stolen."
Adam stared flatly. "If that's what you think, whatever."
Ryle's face hardened. "Watch yourself. Someday, your curse will be exposed, and when that happens I'll laugh the loudest."
Adam didn't respond. He walked away, letting Ryle's laughter echo behind him.
Dusk fell slowly when Adam arrived at the small house his parents left him. He placed his bag on the table, then sat tiredly. His coin pouch was pulled out, placed on the wooden table.
Around 50 copper. Not much, but enough to survive several days.
But more than coins, what kept echoing in his head were the market whispers, citizens' gossip, and Ryle's stare.
Gossip could be a threat. People will get suspicious. If they keep watching, my secret could be exposed.
Adam closed his eyes briefly. But gossip can also be protection. If everyone believes I'm just stealing or getting lucky, they'll never suspect Chronicle Sync's truth.
He opened his eyes again, staring at the coins on the table. The last sunlight faintly reflected off the copper surfaces.
"Tomorrow I return to the forest," he murmured quietly. "More materials, more EXP. No matter what they say, I'll keep moving forward."
That night, Adam lay on his simple wooden bed. Night wind entered through window gaps, bringing piercing cold.
He stared at the ceiling, his mind wandering. I have to be careful. Can't be too conspicuous. But I also can't stop. This path has just begun.
Outside, a thin moon hung in the sky. Tree shadows swayed slowly.
With his mind made up, Adam closed his eyes. Tomorrow would come, and with it, new opportunities to grow.