"A child? …What are you doing here?"
The handsome man's brows drew together as he stared at Blake.
Blake immediately lowered his head, posture shrinking just enough to look harmless.
"I am a janitor, sir."
"A janitor… hmm… alright. You may go now. Clean other places—just not here today."
The man's voice softened slightly. He knew very well that most of the children working in Baron Red's mansion were orphans who had lost everything.
"Yes, sir."
Blake bowed again, hiding the sharp glint in his eyes, and walked away toward the dormitory area without hesitation.
Let's not attract unnecessary attention.
I'm not one of those transmigrators who start acting arrogant the moment they arrive.
Those protagonists had heaven-defying luck. Destiny bent around them.
Blake wasn't sure if fate favored him at all.
And he certainly wasn't going to gamble his life to find out.
With that thought, he deliberately increased his pace, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the garden.
Just like that, two days passed.
Today marked the fifth day since Blake had transmigrated into this world.
"Phew… the feeling of cultivation is truly intoxicating."
Blake slowly opened his eyes, a faint smile curling at his lips as the last thread of mana settled into his core.
The air around him felt clearer.
Sharper.
"Not only that… I've cultivated the Water Sutra I obtained yesterday to mid-grade."
A translucent panel materialized before him.
***
Host: Blake
Rank: 1st Rank (Mid-grade)
Mana Core Affinity: Fire, Water
Sutras:
• Silent Sutra (5th Rank-100%)
• Fire Sutra (1st Rank Mid-grade – 100%)
• Water Sutra (1st Rank Mid-grade – 100%)
Storage:
• Golden Shield Talisman
***
"Haha… who would dare compare themselves to me?"
Blake laughed quietly, though he quickly covered his mouth out of habit.
"Reaching 1st Rank mid-grade at the age of fifteen… where in the entire empire can someone like me be found?"
"And I've completely cultivated two Sutras in just five days."
He licked his lips unconsciously, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"It's all thanks to that Silver Enlightenment Fruit I obtained yesterday. Without it, there's no way I could have reached mid-grade in just two days of practicing a new Sutra."
"If only I could get a few more of those…"
The Water Sutra had been his reward on the third day of sign-in.
On the fourth day, he obtained the Silver Enlightenment Fruit — a second-rank spiritual fruit that directly forced him into a state of enlightenment.
That single fruit had allowed him to push both Sutras to 100% completion.
"Oh right… I haven't signed in today."
Blake closed his eyes slightly.
"System, sign-in."
A mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
"Sign-in confirmed. Congratulations, Host, for obtaining: Berserker's Wraith Sutra (3rd Rank, Early-grade)."
A new panel appeared.
Berserker's Wraith Sutra (3rd Rank, Early-grade):
A berserker is one who fears nothing, no matter the opponent.
Walk the path of fearlessness.
After mastering this warrior Sutra, the Host will gain the passive skill: Berserker's Heart.
Blake stared at the panel.
One second.
Ten seconds.
A full minute passed.
"…Holy moly."
His voice trembled slightly.
"Is this real? Or am I dreaming?"
He pinched himself hard.
"Ouch."
Pain.
Very real pain.
"It's real…"
A 3rd Rank Sutra.
On the fifth day.
Before he could calm down, another notification sounded.
A new panel surfaced.
"Congratulations to the Host for surviving five days. The longer the Host continues signing in, the better the rewards will become."
Blake's smile froze.
"Eh?"
"What do you mean… surviving?"
His heartbeat quickened.
A thin layer of cold sweat formed on his back.
"Was I supposed to die during these five days?"
The room suddenly felt colder.
Blake replayed everything in his mind — every encounter, every action, every place he had stepped foot in.
Five full minutes passed.
No answer.
No hint.
No explanation.
He exhaled slowly.
"…Whatever."
"I'm alive. That's what matters."
But the excitement from earlier had dimmed slightly.
Surviving…
That word lingered like a shadow.
"For now, I need to stay hidden until I have enough power to protect myself."
He glanced once more at the Berserker's Wraith Sutra.
"Fearless, huh…"
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"Maybe one day."
He got out of bed and prepared for morning work. He didn't attempt to practice the new Sutra — the sun had already risen, and people would wake up soon.
He couldn't afford to expose anything.
After breakfast, Blake headed toward the sheds.
It was time for the once-every-five-days cleaning.
While he was sweeping inside the same shed where he had once been kicked by a horse, the door suddenly burst open.
Bang!
Old Stan rushed in, panting heavily.
"Huff… huff… Clean this shed and also the stable where the horses are kept."
"Many young masters of the house will arrive this afternoon — along with guests from other noble houses."
"I need to inform the others. Clean everything quickly!"
Before Blake could even respond, Old Stan had already rushed off.
Blake blinked.
"Young masters… and guests from other noble houses?"
His eyes flickered.
"Well… this is a rare opportunity."
"To see the prodigies of the major houses of the Silverwing Empire."
"And compare myself to them."
With renewed energy, he began cleaning even faster.
Two hours after noon, while Blake was stacking hay inside the shed, voices drifted in from outside.
"This is where they keep their finest horses. You've all heard of the fire-lined horses of the great Rodrick House, right?"
"Haha! Who hasn't? They say when those horses run, all you can see is a streak of red fire!"
"Indeed. Their legends are so famous that even children across the empire know of them."
"Exactly."
Blake stepped outside quietly.
Before him stood a group of boys and girls dressed in luxurious noble attire, around eighteen to twenty years old.
Their clothes shimmered faintly with enchantments.
Their posture radiated confidence.
The moment Blake appeared, countless gazes landed on him.
Some held pity.
Some showed faint disdain.
Others were simply indifferent.
Blake immediately bowed and stepped aside, lowering his head.
Lowering his presence.
Almost erasing himself.
Better to stay away.
I don't want to be challenged by some random guy trying to impress others.
Don't transmigrators always get challenged for no reason?
He had no interest in exposing himself — or worse, getting beaten — just to protect a secret.
If these young masters could hear his thoughts, they would probably laugh.
Why would the top prodigies of the empire challenge a mere janitor with no visible cultivation?
Blake observed quietly.
So these are the noble prodigies…
His cultivation was too low to sense most of their strength.
But a few younger ones…
They felt similar to him.
That meant—
"There are definitely 2nd Rank cultivators here."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Pressure.
Opportunity.
Danger.
All at once.
"But by the time I reach their age…"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I might already be at the 5th Rank."
His gaze sharpened.
"Heh… how could their talent — or anyone's — compare to my system?"
"In front of me… all these so-called prodigies are just…"
He lowered his head again.
"…so-so."