The stack of quest papers was thicker than Arelion expected.
No—thicker than it had any right to be.
He stared at the seven neatly stamped sheets in his hands while walking away from the guild hall, his expression slowly stiffening.
"…Why does it feel like I just volunteered for unpaid labor?"
Iris peeked over his shoulder. "Because you did."
Elayne, ever composed, adjusted her grip on her sword. "Completing multiple low-rank quests efficiently is the fastest way to build credibility."
Arelion sighed inwardly.
Inner thought:I was ruling a kingdom a week ago. Now I'm an intern.
Quest 1 — Herb Gathering
They headed toward the outskirts of the city first.
The moment they stepped into the shallow forest, Arelion felt it.
That familiar, subtle pressure.
The invisible crown stirred.
His vision shifted—not dramatically, not violently—but meaning bled into the world.
Roots. Leaves. Soil.
Some plants felt… heavier.
More valuable.
"…So that's how you look when you're zoning out," Iris commented.
Arelion crouched, plucking a cluster of herbs with practiced care.
"Just appreciating nature," he replied calmly.
Inner thought:Value Sight makes this unfair. I love it.
Within an hour, they had gathered herbs far exceeding the quest's requirement—every single one high-grade, untouched by disease or mana rot.
Elayne noticed.
"These are… exceptional."
Arelion smiled faintly. "Lucky day."
Quest 2 — Village Delivery
The second quest was simple: deliver supplies to a nearby farming hamlet.
The villagers welcomed them warmly, relief clear on their faces when the goods arrived intact.
An elderly woman clasped Arelion's hands.
"Thank you. This will last us through winter."
Something shifted.
Not power.
Not mana.
Weight.
Inner thought:So this counts too…
The crown remained silent—but attentive.
Quest 3 — Minor Subjugation
The third quest barely slowed them down.
A low-ranked monster lurked near a trade path—more nuisance than threat.
Elayne handled it cleanly.
One step. One strike.
The creature dissolved into mana dust.
Iris yawned. "That was it?"
Arelion nodded. "Reminds me of Frieren's stories. The kind of fight that doesn't even deserve a panel."
"…I don't know who that is," Iris replied.
"Good," he said. "That means you're still dangerous."
Quest 4 — Instrument Delivery
The fourth quest took an unexpected turn.
They were to deliver a string instrument—an early guitar, carefully preserved—to a pair waiting near the river.
They found them exactly where described.
A young man stood beneath a tree, silver hair catching the light, calm eyes watching the water.
Beside him sat a small girl, her feet dangling above the riverbank, humming softly.
Arelion felt it immediately.
Something was wrong.
Not hostile.
But hidden.
"This is for you," Arelion said, handing over the case.
The girl's eyes lit up as she opened it. "Pretty."
The man smiled. "You have our thanks."
As Arelion met his gaze, Value Sight flickered—
—and failed to resolve.
No clarity.
Only resistance.
Before Arelion could speak, the man slipped a bracelet into his hand.
An intricate band, faintly warm.
"A token," the man said. "For your journey."
"…Thank you," Arelion replied carefully.
When he turned to show Elayne and Iris—
They were gone.
No footsteps.
No sound.
Just empty shade.
"…Suspicious," Arelion muttered.
Iris grinned. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
Inner thought:That bracelet carries weight. I just don't know why yet.
Quest 5 — Route Clearing
The fifth quest involved clearing a safe route between the village and nearby fields.
Minor threats. Broken terrain.
Arelion didn't fight.
He observed.
Every action—Elayne's precision, Iris's impatience, the villagers' relief—fed quietly into the crown's awareness.
Inner thought:I'm not strong. But the world keeps responding anyway.
By sunset, five quests were complete.
Five papers stamped.
Two remaining.
As they walked back toward the city, Arelion exhaled slowly.
Seven quests.
Five done.
And yet—
He glanced at the bracelet on his wrist.
He felt no satisfaction.
Only anticipation.
Inner thought:Whatever comes next… won't be small.
And somewhere ahead—
Opportunity was waiting.