A bright light filled my vision the moment I accepted the prompt. Instinctively, I closed my eyes and raised a hand to shield them from the overwhelming brightness.
When the light finally faded, I slowly opened my eyes.
A completely different world greeted me.
Everything around me was white.
Not the dull white of painted walls, but a pure and endless white that seemed to stretch in every direction. The space was brightly illuminated despite there being no visible source of light. There were no windows, no ceiling lamps, and no sun overhead, yet the entire area was perfectly visible.
"So this is the Astral World."
My voice echoed softly throughout the empty space.
"It appears so."
Travy's calm voice answered immediately.
I looked around carefully.
The place felt strange, yet oddly peaceful. There was no wind. No noise. No distractions.
The first thing that caught my attention was a large container-like structure standing a short distance away.
Curious, I walked toward it and activated Appraisal.
"Mana Storage Container"
"A storage device capable of storing mana."
"Stored mana may be used outside Astral World even after the duration expires."
"Current Transfer Rate: 10% of the owner's maximum mana per Astral World usage."
I blinked several times.
"So I can store extra mana here?"
"That is correct."
"And I can use it later during emergencies?"
"Correct."
My eyes immediately lit up.
That was incredibly useful.
Mana was one of the most important resources a mage possessed. Running out of mana during battle could easily become the difference between life and death.
Being able to keep a reserve that I could access later was practically a second lifeline.
"The transfer rate is only ten percent for now, but even that is valuable."
"A reasonable assessment."
Without hesitation, I placed my hand on the container.
A portion of my mana immediately flowed out of my body and entered the structure.
The process felt strange, like water being slowly poured from one container into another.
Once it was finished, I checked the container again.
A faint glow could now be seen inside.
"Not bad."
I stepped back and looked around once more.
"What else can I do here?"
"The available functions will increase as your proficiency with Astral World grows."
"I see."
"For now, the available functions are the Mana Storage Container and the Creator Tool."
"The Creator Tool?"
My interest immediately rose.
A strange device resembling a floating magical console stood near the center of the room.
I approached it and activated Appraisal.
"Creator Tool"
"A function capable of creating materials through mana consumption."
"Weapon maintenance is also possible."
"Additional recipes will unlock as proficiency increases."
I opened the menu.
Several options appeared.
Iron Ingot
Potion Vials
Honeydew
Coal
Ironthorn Weed
Slime Core
Magic Crystal
"There are quite a few choices already."
"Indeed."
I examined the list carefully.
The implications of this function were incredible.
Instead of spending time searching for materials, I could potentially create them directly using mana.
Of course, there had to be a cost.
I selected Potion Vials and Honeydew.
Immediately, a notification appeared.
"Mana Cost: 1000"
"..."
I stared at the number.
"That's expensive."
"Creating matter from mana is not a simple process."
"Fair point."
Even so, I proceeded.
A surge of mana left my body.
Moments later, several potion vials and fresh Honeydews materialized before me.
I crouched down and picked one up.
It felt completely real.
The texture.
The weight.
Even the scent.
Everything was identical to the genuine material.
"That's amazing."
"A useful function, is it not?"
"More than useful."
I couldn't help smiling.
If I used this properly, I could improve both my alchemy and mana capacity at the same time.
Every creation consumed mana.
Every recovery cycle strengthened my mana pool.
In a way, this function was another training method.
"Your thought process is becoming increasingly efficient."
"Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment."
"It was intended as one."
I chuckled.
For someone who supposedly had no emotions, Travy had become surprisingly good company.
With the remaining time available, I decided to brew a potion using the materials I had just created.
The process went smoothly.
Before I realized it, ten minutes had already passed.
A countdown appeared before me.
"Remaining Time: 00:00:30"
"So that's the limit for now."
"Daily usage will gradually increase both duration and proficiency."
"Then coming here every day is definitely worth it."
"Correct."
I nodded.
The more I used Astral World, the larger it would become and the longer I could stay inside.
That alone was enough motivation.
The countdown finally reached zero.
A flash of light enveloped me.
The next moment, I found myself back inside my room at the inn.
I immediately checked the time.
Not even a second had passed.
"The time really does stop."
"A useful advantage."
"It definitely is."
Training without consuming real-world time was practically cheating.
Not that I was complaining.
Since I still had free time, I decided to continue studying material from my homeworld.
If I neglected my studies completely, my return to school would become a nightmare.
Three hours passed quietly.
I was reviewing lessons when suddenly a notification appeared.
"Adventure Level Up!"
"Reward: Unique Skill: Fear"
"Fear"
"Show fear to those who have never known it."
"Effect: 10% decrease to target's overall stats if successful."
"Mana Cost: 50"
"New Title Acquired!"
"Show Em Who's The Boss!"
I blinked.
"A new skill and a title?"
"It appears your performance during the stampede has been properly evaluated."
I opened the skill description first.
"Fear"
"Show fear to those who have never known it."
"Effect: 10% decrease to target's overall stats if successful."
"Mana Cost: 50"
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.
"This skill sounds stronger than it looks."
"Explain."
"The mana cost is fixed."
"Correct."
"Which means it doesn't matter how strong the target is."
"Correct."
"The only question is whether the effect succeeds."
"That is also correct."
I nodded.
Against mentally strong opponents, it might fail.
But against enemies with weak mental resistance?
A ten percent reduction in all stats was massive.
Even a small decrease could completely change a battle.
I then opened the title.
"Title: Show Em Who's The Boss!"
"Effect: Increases damage and effectiveness against boss-type monsters by 15%."
I stared at the title.
"...The name sounds ridiculous."
"Yet the effect is quite practical."
"I can't argue with that."
A fifteen percent increase against boss monsters was an incredible bonus.
Considering how dangerous boss monsters were, this title could save my life someday.
"That would be a logical conclusion."
I smiled.
Then I continued studying.
Three more hours passed before my stomach finally growled.
"I guess that's my cue."
"Your body appears to agree."
"Let's go get something to eat."
I left the inn and headed toward my usual eatery.
The owner greeted me immediately.
"Welcome back, young lad."
"Your daily special, please."
"Coming right up."
I sat at the counter and waited.
Soon, a steaming bowl of noodle soup was placed in front of me.
The aroma alone was enough to make my stomach growl again.
I took a sip.
The rich broth immediately spread across my tongue.
The savory flavor from the beef blended perfectly with the vegetables and noodles.
It was simple food.
But sometimes simple food was the most comforting.
I finished the bowl quickly.
"One refill, please."
The owner laughed.
"Hungry today, aren't you?"
"A little."
A few minutes later, a second bowl arrived.
By the time I finished eating, I felt completely satisfied.
"That'll be one copper."
I paid and thanked him before leaving.
As soon as I stepped outside, another notification appeared.
"Rank Promotion Available!"
"Adventurer's Guild"
"Mage's Guild"
"Oh."
It seemed both guilds had finally finished evaluating my performance.
I decided to visit the Adventurer's Guild first.
The moment I entered, Sistina greeted me with a bright smile.
"Welcome back, Sir Artorius."
"I'd like to check if I'm eligible for promotion."
"Of course. May I see your guild card?"
I handed it over.
After checking the records, she nodded.
"Congratulations. You're eligible for promotion."
"Already?"
"You've completed more than enough requests and contributed significantly during the stampede."
That made sense.
Fortunately, E-rank promotions didn't require an examination.
Only the major rank thresholds required tests.
A few minutes later, Sistina returned.
"Congratulations. You are now officially an E-rank Adventurer."
"Thank you."
"I'll be looking forward to seeing what requests you take next."
"I'll do my best."
After leaving the Adventurer's Guild, I headed straight toward the Mage's Guild.
Rian greeted me the moment I entered.
"Sir Artorius, perfect timing."
"Hm?"
"You're eligible for promotion as well."
"Already?"
"Yes."
I handed over my guild card.
The process was completed quickly.
When she returned, she handed the card back with a smile.
"Congratulations. You're now officially E-rank within the Mage's Guild."
"Thank you very much."
"Oh, and one more thing."
"Yes?"
"We'll be conducting a Magic Aptitude Test next week."
"Aptitude Test?"
I tilted my head.
Rian nodded.
"Specialists from the capital will be visiting. They'll use advanced equipment to evaluate a mage's overall talent and recommend an appropriate rank."
That immediately caught my attention.
"When will it be held?"
"The third day of next week."
"I'll make sure to keep that day free."
"Wonderful."
After thanking her once more, I left the guild.
The evening breeze felt pleasant against my face.
I looked down at both guild cards in my hands.
An E-rank Adventurer.
An E-rank Mage.
Just a few weeks ago, I had arrived in this world with almost nothing.
Now, little by little, I was finally moving forward.
"I suppose tomorrow will be my last day here for now."
"That seems likely."
I smiled.
Most of my schoolwork back home was already finished.
For the first time in a while, I felt like I could relax.
At least until the next adventure found me.