After resting for an entire day, Li Xiuman suddenly remembered—He was supposed to meet with Elu.
Having just settled into his new home, the comfort had made him forget such an important promise!Li Xiuman slapped his skull in frustration and began patting himself down.
Elu had written the address for him, hadn't she?Left pocket.Right pocket.Upper.Lower.Nothing.
Nothing!
Li Xiuman frantically searched again—inside his skull, between his ribs, within his pelvis, and even down his leg bones.Still nothing!
Wait… think carefully. Where had he put it last?Yes, think carefully. Trust your memory.
Li Xiuman frowned in concentration."Oh! In the inner pocket I sewed into my jacket!""Good thing I remembered!"
He patted his skull again and went to look for that old, torn jacket.Right, the torn jacket—
…Damn it. He'd thrown it away!
Li Xiuman's expression froze. He grabbed the cloak hanging on the rack and rushed out of the house toward the trash bin in the yard.He flipped the lid open—
Empty.
Just like his head—empty.
"Damn it! Does the magical world's sanitation have to be this efficient?!"Li Xiuman cursed inwardly.
Now he was in trouble.What was that address again?Ma… something street?Wen… something street?Ma Wen… something street?
No use. He couldn't remember a thing—certainly not the detailed address.
Well then.Guess he'd have to stand her up.Totally an act of God, he decided.
Still, he couldn't just stay home all day. He needed to get out for a walk.
Returning inside, Li Xiuman hung his cloak back up, took off his shirt, and headed to the bathroom.A soak before going out sounded nice.
"Water. Fire."
Red and blue magic circles bloomed in his palms, water and flame intertwining as they flowed into the bathtub.The tub itself had been shaped by his earth magic.
Testing the temperature, he found it perfect and slipped into the water.
"Ahhh~"
He could feel the current rushing over his ribs, pelvis, and spine.When he ducked his head beneath the surface, water instantly filled his skull and streamed out through the eye sockets.
The flames burning in his chest cavity and eye sockets flickered lazily beneath the water, unaffected.After all, it was soul fire—it had no physical form, and no mere water could extinguish it.
After soaking for a while, Li Xiuman rose from the tub.A red-and-indigo magic circle appeared above his head.Hot wind, infused with fire magic, blew downward and dried every droplet clinging to his bones.
He dressed—shirt, leather armor, light armor, cloak.Fastened the long staff across his back.Then stepped out the door, leaving the small home of the skeleton behind.
Today, he was heading to the White Bear City Adventurers' Guild.
The Adventurers' Guild primarily handled the coordination of adventurers—Dungeon expeditions, monster extermination, wild beast defense, even wartime deployments.They operated on a commission-and-reward system, ranking tasks by difficulty to maintain order among adventurers.
In White Bear City, there were three main forces exploring the dungeons:The Nobles, the Adventurers' Guild, and the Merchants' Guild.
Li Xiuman intended to apply for an adventurer's license.
He had no chance of acquiring normal identification—residence permits, lord certifications, or kingdom citizenship.But an adventurer's license might be within reach.
Such a document would help him pass as human and blend into their society.He couldn't remain in White Bear City forever. To travel elsewhere, he would need proper identification.
The rented house, in fact, was for this very purpose.To obtain an adventurer's license, one needed proof of residence.But to get a residence certificate, one first needed an ID.
Thus, a perfect bureaucratic loop—To get a license, he needed a residence card.To get a residence card, he needed an ID.He needed the license to have an ID.
A vicious circle indeed.
So, Li Xiuman decided to use his rental contract as proof of residence.With that, he would apply for the adventurer's license and secure legitimate identification.
He arrived at the guild and pushed open the door.
In an instant, the lively hall—filled with clinking mugs, sizzling meat, and loud chatter—fell silent.
"Hey, that's a skeleton, right?""The one who cleared over twenty dungeon floors alone and came back alive?""Don't stare! They say if you do, he'll dig your eyes out.""What's he doing here at the guild?""…"
The rumors in this magical world spread far too fast.Li Xiuman couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Still, this might work in his favor.Their familiarity with him—this "skeleton" identity—was already serving as a kind of proof.
He stepped forward, each echoing footstep silencing the hall even more.This guild branch was small—more tavern and grill than official office.The hush that followed made his approach seem all the more commanding—like a gunslinger entering a saloon in an old western showdown.
When he stopped before the counter, the young receptionist swallowed nervously.She felt a wave of pressure—the kind only monsters or those who fought them could emanate.
Forcing a shaky smile, she spoke."M-Mr. Skeleton, sir… how may I help you?"
All around, adventurers perked up their ears.To later brag about being there when the Skeleton came to the guild—what a story that would be.
"I'm here…""…to apply for an adventurer's license."
A chorus of sharp intakes followed.
The skeleton who'd soloed over twenty dungeon floors—wasn't even a registered adventurer?!
"You… you wish to apply for a license?"The receptionist almost thought she'd misheard.
"That's right."Li Xiuman nodded calmly.
"Ah… then, may I see your identification?" she asked carefully.
Li Xiuman drew out the rental contract and slid it across the counter."This should suffice to prove my residence."
"Uh… yes, it does, but…"
"But?"
His calm tone made her legs tremble.What had she done to deserve being put in this position today?
"N-nothing! Nothing at all! I'll begin processing it right away!"
Flustered, she grabbed a form and placed it before him.Seeing the registration sheet, Li Xiuman knew he had succeeded.Rumor had, for once, paved the way for him.
When writing his name, he noticed the form carried a magical seal—it could only display one's true name.
So he wrote it: Li Xiuman Pound.Occupation: Elemental Mage.
Once complete, he handed it back.The receptionist checked it, then took out a metal card and placed it over the form.
"In the name of adventure, we hereby recognize this adventurer.""Manifest!"
The parchment and card rose slowly into the air.Then, the form ignited, wrapping the card in flames.
When the fire faded, the sheet drifted down again, now etched with glowing runes.The card bore the markings of flame around its edge and engraved letters within—Name, Occupation, Adventurer Rank.
On the reverse side, the emblem of the Adventurer's Guild shimmered—A sword encircled by a feather, symbol of freedom and eternal adventure.The legendary Eternal Blade.