Monster Evolution System: I became a Rat-Chapter 87: Adventuring Man

On his way out, Rosacer glanced toward Eren for a split second. He was still too absorbed in his book to notice at first.

Eren did notice it, however, and with a small movement of his hand, offered a brief farewell salute.

Rosacer smiled faintly at the gesture. Shaking his head in quiet amusement, he stepped outside. As he passed through the hall, he encountered the librarian, as stern as ever, seated silently behind the counter, fatigue evident on his face.

Rosacer’s footsteps clattered loudly against the floor as he exited the building.

He called the system inwardly, checking the remaining time before he could reenter the Nightmare Realm.

[Time Limit: 20 Days]

"Twenty more days," he muttered, the translucent screen reflecting faintly in his eyes.

With nothing else pressing, he decided to visit the Adventurer Guild. Retracing his steps through the streets, he soon found himself standing before the massive structure. He lingered for a moment, pacing back and forth, before finally stepping onto the guild premises.

An instructor stood before a gathered group of adventurers, all of them newly recruited. Among them, Rosacer spotted the assassin who had claimed to be trained by the Head Hunter.

Michael began calling out the names of the most outstanding newcomers.

"Mikhail Tal, the Mad Genius. Gringha Feverette, disciple of the Slayer. Karoh Kholai, Miracle Spawner."

One by one, those whose names were called stepped forward, chests held high. Pride burned clearly in each of their eyes.

Gringha turned his gaze toward Rosacer. With his assassin’s instincts, he identified him effortlessly amid the crowd. His eyes narrowed slightly, the look unmistakable, a silent declaration that he was watching.

Rosacer offered no response.

Michael continued, his voice carrying across the hall. "I would like to inform the Adventurer Guild that these gentlemen have achieved something extraordinary. They have bypassed the trials entirely and entered directly into the ranks of adventurers. Though they currently hold Bronze rank, I do not believe they will remain there for long. Perhaps, after decades, our guild may finally see another Platinum-ranked adventurer."

The crowd erupted into applause, voices echoing throughout the hall as they celebrated the three adventurers.

Rosacer clapped his hands a few times before quietly fading back into the crowd. When the commotion finally settled, he made his way toward Michael.

"When will the third phase begin?" he asked, his voice stripped of any emotion.

Michael replied, his tone weary. He looked exhausted, as though his worries had finally caught up to him. There was something else in his eyes as well, perhaps regret.

"No need," Michael said. "I already know you are strong enough. You can collect your badge from the counter and ask the receptionist about the quest and rank system. That will be all. Good luck to you. You may need it."

Rosacer sensed the heaviness in Michael’s heart, but he offered no words of comfort.

Turning away, he headed straight for the counter.

Gringha and the others had already received their badges personally from Michael, in front of everyone. That left only Rosacer, retrieving his alone from the receptionist.

This time, the receptionist was a woman with blonde hair and pink eyes. It was an unusual combination, yet it suited her. Her appearance was average compared to the striking figures Rosacer had seen in the market, but there was a quiet charm to her.

"Rosacer, right?" she spoke before he even reached the counter.

Rosacer nodded as he stepped closer.

"Here." She smiled and quickly handed him the badge.

As he accepted it, his eyes briefly flicked to the nameplate on the counter.

Bri Jask.

Bri leaned slightly against the counter, her smile softening as she folded her hands together.

"Alright, I will keep this simple," she said. "The guild works on a rank system. Everyone starts at the bottom and moves up as they prove themselves."

She tapped the badge he was holding.

"Bronze is where all new adventurers begin. From there, it goes Silver, Gold, Platinum, and above that... well, those are rare enough that most people never see them. Rank determines what kind of quests you can take and how much trust the guild places in you."

Her fingers moved to a board behind her, marked with notices and colored seals.

"Quests tend to follow a similar structure. Bronze quests are straightforward—escort missions, deliveries, and basic monster clearing. Silver quests start to bring real danger, like assassinations of important figures. Gold quests mean you’re expected to survive without supervision or guild backup, often in places few dare to go, such as dungeons. Platinum quests are reserved for those who have already conquered a dungeon."

She paused, giving Rosacer a quick glance, as if trying to tell if he was actually listening or just putting up with the explanation.

She sighed inwardly as she judged him.

"Payment scales with risk, but so do penalties. Failing a quest too many times can get your rank frozen. Abandoning one without reason can get you fined or worse."

"Worse?" Rosacer muttered.

The receptionist replied in a monotone voice, "Blacklisted."

Bri straightened, her tone growing more practical.

"You pick quests from the board or request one directly if your rank allows it. Bring back proof, report completion, get paid. If you are injured, report that too. The guild prefers living adventurers."

A brief smile flickered across her face.

"And one more thing," she said. "Don’t falsify reports. The guild doesn’t forget."

She slid a thin booklet across the counter toward him.

"That covers the basics. If you survive your first few jobs, the rest comes naturally."

Her pink eyes met his, open and sincere, without a hint of judgment.

"Any questions?"

Rosacer shook his head, taking the pamphlet from the counter before turning away. He offered the woman a brief smile.

"Good luck to you, then, adventurer," she said to his retreating back.

He gave a small nod in response.

His footsteps echoed as he turned to the right.

Rosacer made his way toward the quest board. His gaze moved quickly across the posted notices, filtering through them with practiced focus. He was not looking for glory or experience. He needed money, and he needed it fast.

That made his criteria simple.

Among the Bronze-ranked quests, he searched for the one that paid the most.

"Ah... there she is," he murmured as he pulled a brown pamphlet from the board.

[Quest: Monster Clear x10]

[The farmers of the poppy fields are facing a tremendous pest outbreak caused by the monster known as the Nasreen Stinger. The poppy plants are being demolished by this horde of creatures. Eliminate the queen nesting within the Basilka Tree.]

[Minimum Requirement: Bronze Rank]

Rosacer examined the contents carefully. The wording was clear, the conditions straightforward. Most importantly, the payment was written correctly, with no signs of misprint or hidden clauses.

[Payment: 70 Ernest Coins]

From his time in the markets, Rosacer knew that a laborer earned around seven to ten Ernest Coins a day. By comparison, this single quest paid the equivalent of a full week’s wages.

For a Bronze-ranked adventurer, it was hard to ignore.

This was also the maximum reward he could obtain at Bronze rank for now.

With the decision made, Rosacer turned toward the receptionist to register the quest. Just as he moved, someone stepped into his path.

"Where did you get the knife from, Mr. Rosacer?" Gringha asked, his voice sharp and cutting.

"It is none of your business," Rosacer replied, his tone calm and even.

He shifted to the side to pass.

Gringha mirrored the movement, blocking him once more.

Rosacer stopped, his gaze lifting to meet Gringha’s.

"You are standing in the way," he said quietly.

Gringha smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "Anybody that is carrying a blade like that. Makes people curious."

"Curiosity gets people hurt," Rosacer replied, already turning past him.

He stepped to the counter.

"I would like to take this quest," Rosacer said, placing the brown pamphlet down.

Bri glanced at it, then at him. "Monster Clear. Nasreen Stinger," she said, already reaching for the registry.

Gringha leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "That knife. It’s not for sale."

Rosacer did not look back. "Then do not look at it."

Bri hesitated for half a breath, her eyes flicking between the two men before she stamped the pamphlet.

"Quest registered," she said, pushing it back to Rosacer. "Return with proof of the queen’s death."

Gringha let out a soft scoff. "Yeah, go ahead and make that return..."

Rosacer took the pamphlet and turned at last, his eyes meeting Gringha’s.

He stepped away from the counter, leaving Gringha standing there, watching.

"Rosacer..." Gringha whispered. Turning toward Bri, he studied her intently and offered a sly, glinting smile before turning away, his footsteps fading into the distance.

"What’s wrong with him?" Bri muttered under her breath as she watched Gringha leave the guild.

Outside, Rosacer slipped into the crowd, vanishing among the throng as he sensed someone closing in.

Suddenly, someone showed up in the spot where he had just been.

"You cannot hide from me," Gringha said with a sly grin, running his tongue along the edge of his blade.

Passersby cast uneasy glances in his direction before quickly moving away, leaving a thin pocket of space around him.