Just as his journey barely began, he stumbled upon a deadly hidden boss and was instantly defeated. The story could have ended right there, but Rentt was given a second chance when he resurrected as a skeleton. From that crazy moment, his true adventure officially started.
The narrative then rewinds to an ordinary morning when Rentt was still a regular human. Born in a tiny, unmapped village, he woke up early to grab the best guild quests before the competition. These commissions varied wildly, ranging from slaying magical beasts and gathering herbs to mundane chores like sweeping streets.
For a struggling adventurer like Rentt, the Water Moon Labyrinth was the ideal place to grind for resources. While most people formed parties for safety, he usually went solo. The harsh reality was that even after ten years of training, he was still stuck at the second-lowest Bronze rank. Because he was so weak, no team wanted him around as dead weight.
Despite the risks, his genuine passion for the job and the need to survive by selling magic stones kept him going every morning. Fully aware of his limitations, he lived frugally and strictly stuck to peaceful, low-level zones. However, on this fateful day, Rentt abandoned his usual caution. Upon discovering a secret passage in the labyrinth, he was overjoyed, believing he had finally found the perfect opportunity to change his life forever.
Knowing a guild report would yield a massive reward, Rentt let curiosity win and explored the vast, hidden space himself, convinced he had struck gold. Moments later, he faced a bizarre monster. Its terrifying roar confirmed it was a dragon, and his instincts screamed that a weakling like him was doomed. He was instantly devoured, believing his life was over.
Yet, Rentt woke up. He was shocked to be alive and even more horrified to realize he was now a conscious skeleton. Seeing his reflection, he knew he had become an undead—a creature defying the gods that a single purification spell could obliterate. Desperate to return to the human world but terrified of being hunted as a monster, he fell into confusion. However, drawing on his veteran adventurer experience, he steadied his nerves, picked up his sword, and analyzed his surroundings.
Rentt remembered that the continent’s labyrinths were mysterious, dangerous, and scientifically unexplained. The Water Moon Labyrinth was mostly deserted, as adventurers preferred the New Moon Labyrinth for profit. He hoped someone might find and help him, until he realized he lacked vocal cords to speak.
Suddenly, another skeleton appeared, and they clashed. Rentt had a sword, but swinging it without muscles was incredibly clumsy. His opponent was just as pathetic, snapping its own leg off by tripping and desperately trying to reattach it. Watching this pitiful display, Rentt realized his bleak future required a new approach. He ultimately decided to channel his aura to enhance his physical abilities, successfully enveloping his bony frame in energy.
Thanks to his aura, Rentt‘s strength dramatically increased, allowing him to easily defeat his opponent. Upon the enemy’s fall, its energy automatically transferred to him and aided his recovery. He recalled a friend’s research on “entity evolution,” which theorized that monsters could evolve into higher forms by accumulating experience or simply surviving. While skeletons usually stayed skeletons, there were rare precedents of them evolving into ghouls. This gave Rentt hope. Despite its extreme rarity, the slight chance of regaining his flesh motivated him to start grinding levels.
Meanwhile, since Rentt hadn’t returned, his friend decided to cook dinner alone. Back in the labyrinth, Rentt began hunting stronger monsters, noticing that each battle boosted his power and granted him regeneration. Facing slimes immune to physical damage required him to carefully destroy their cores or slash them to pieces, which was risky since he could only use his aura once a day. Luckily, he managed to shatter a slime’s core and took its magic stone. Dead slimes lose their acid, and their fluids—often used as a raw ingredient in cosmetics—leave the skin silky smooth. Rentt figured this area would sustain him for a few days.
At the same time, the adventurer’s guild grew worried about Rentt‘s disappearance. A staff member named Jenna warned a new recruit exploring the labyrinth not to be reckless.
Though saddened by his skeletal inability to eat or drink, Rentt kept fighting. He gradually grew stronger, learning to wield basic magic and a weak holy aura, driven entirely by his ultimate goal to become human again. Over time, he became capable of taking on multiple skeletons at once. After slaying countless monsters, he finally evolved, regaining his hair and flesh. His new appearance was still grotesque, but it was a massive improvement over being just bones, filling him with hope that continued leveling would eventually fully restore his humanity.
With his vocal cords recovered, albeit sounding strange, Rentt began practicing speaking again. His evolution massively buffed all his stats to an entirely new level, causing his mana, aura, and holy energy to skyrocket. He was no longer a weakling; he could easily overpower goblins in a fair fight. Rentt also learned to channel mana into his blade, adding a magical effect to every slash that cut down charging goblins like fruit. He was stunned, never imagining that essentially starting over from scratch would yield power far surpassing his years of human grinding. He was honestly having the time of his life with this newfound strength.
While farming, Rentt encountered Rina, a fresh recruit recently introduced to the labyrinth. Delighted to see another human after so long, he only dared to watch from a distance due to his undead appearance. With years of experience, Rentt recognized almost every local adventurer and instantly knew Rina was a total rookie. Knowing the profession’s high mortality rate, he decided to follow along and act as her secret bodyguard.
Sure enough, trouble struck when a monster ambushed her. Though Rina had solid swordsmanship, the surprise attack and her lack of stamina quickly left her cornered against a wall. Seeing the dire situation, Rentt leaped out, shouted to draw the monster’s attention, and casually sliced it in half. However, when he walked over to greet her, Rina was terrified by the sight of a talking skeleton, wondering since when monsters held conversations. Seeing her panic, Rentt played innocent and insisted he was completely harmless.
Initially in full panic mode, Rina gradually calmed down when Rentt introduced himself as the adventurer she had heard about previously. After hearing a brief rundown of his story, she slowly started to believe him, though she remained guarded. She thanked him for the rescue and asked if she could leave. Rentt explained the misunderstanding and simply asked her to buy him a cloak so he could return to the human world, offering to pay her. Rina agreed, promising to repay his help as befitted a knight’s daughter, though she remained wary until she exited the labyrinth.
Rentt knew she might report him to the guild, but his experienced eye told him a kind-hearted girl like her wouldn’t betray him. While waiting, Rentt farmed monsters day and night. He developed sharper eyesight and precise new combat instincts—the exact abilities he had always yearned for as a human.
Surprisingly, Rina returned right on schedule. She brought the clothes, returned his change, and thoughtfully included shoes, gloves, and bandages to cover his exposed flesh. Deeply moved by her care, Rentt tried on the outfit. He looked so neat and presentable that Rina‘s fear practically melted away. She complimented his appearance, handed him a mirror, and recognized that his face would still cause trouble in the city. Thankfully, the perfectly prepared Rina had conveniently picked up a mask as well.
However, the moment Rentt put it on, the mask bizarrely latched onto his face and couldn’t be removed. Startled, Rina suddenly recalled being inexplicably drawn to that very mask while passing by a general store.
The shop wasn’t recommended by the guild, and its suspiciously cheap prices were a clear red flag. Since the mask had shown no reaction when she touched it earlier, Rentt theorized it was cursed and only reacted to his unique, monster-like nature. He tried using holy energy to remove it to no avail, leaving Rina astonished. She apologized profusely for buying a cursed item, but Rentt reassured her; once he grew stronger, he could easily break the spell, and wearing it permanently was actually quite convenient for now.
Hearing this, Rina took his hand, stating she fully believed he was a good person and would no longer be afraid. Surprised, Rentt noticed her slight trembling and gently told her not to force herself. She happily agreed and invited him to head back to the city together. She explained she had moved from the capital because the local dungeons were perfect for quickly training to become a model adventurer. Rentt understood but advised her that true adventurers must know when to retreat, as recklessness costs lives. She admitted this was solid advice.
At the city gate, guards demanded a routine face check. Seeing Rentt hesitate, Rina suggested a detour, but he declined. He didn’t want her stripped of her license for smuggling a monster into the city and prepared to enter alone. However, Rina insisted she wouldn’t even be alive without him, making her status trivial in comparison. Rentt ultimately let her lead the way.
When the soldiers demanded he remove the mask despite his ID, Rina spun a sympathetic tale about his face being ravaged by a monster and the mask being permanently cursed. After failing to pull it off themselves, the pitying guards let them through. Rentt thanked her, but before Rina could say it was just returning the favor, he vanished completely from her sight.
Rentt believed she would undoubtedly become a talented adventurer who would soon surpass him, so he wanted to evolve into a more human form before they met again. While she was wonderful, he currently needed an ally with a slightly darker edge to help conceal his identity.
He decided to crash at the home of his close friend, Lorraine. Finding the door unlocked and getting no answer, he let himself in. Lorraine was fast asleep in the dead of night, so Rentt had to tap her head to wake her up. Opening her eyes to see a masked figure with the unmistakable marks of the undead, Lorraine jolted awake in absolute shock, frantically asking what on earth had happened.
A few minutes before Rentt arrived, Lorraine was visibly anxious. He had been out exploring for a long time, leaving her deeply uneasy. When Rentt finally knocked instead of just letting himself in as usual, she breathed a sigh of relief. Trying to act indifferent, Lorraine sprawled on the sofa, but seeing his current state completely stunned her.
As a magic and monster researcher, she had never heard of someone surviving being swallowed by a dragon in such a form. When she asked if the dragon was still there, Rentt shook his head. Though absurd, the living proof was impossible to deny. Lorraine showed zero fear, making Rentt realize what an incredible friend she was—though he still wondered if she just saw him as a fascinating research subject. When she seriously asked if he was certain he was still the same Rentt she knew, he admitted he had been doubting himself too, despite retaining his human memories.
Setting the complicated identity issue aside, Lorraine asked about his future. Rentt declared his passion was unchanged; he was determined to remain an adventurer and climb the ranks. However, his appearance meant he couldn’t publicly accept quests or return to his old lodging. Lorraine offered to take on commissions in his place and let him stay at her home. Knowing he hated depending on others, she proposed he pay for his stay by letting her study his unique undead body. Rentt agreed on the strict condition of no dissections, and took it upon himself to clean the house.
Lorraine also bought his magic cores and slime fluid at above-market rates, saving herself middleman fees while giving Rentt a solid sum of money. Cash in hand, Rentt headed straight to the blacksmith for a new weapon. Despite his frightening appearance, the shop owner welcomed him warmly. Inspecting Rentt‘s old, well-maintained sword, she noted it simply couldn’t withstand his intense channeling of mana, aura, and holy energy. She was utterly astonished, as Rentt was only the second customer she’d ever met capable of wielding all three. With his payment ready, they committed to forging him a high-quality sword.
Though the sword’s completion date was uncertain due to her perfectionist husband, Rentt accepted the terms and asked the blacksmith to contact the scholar Lorraine when it was ready.
Meanwhile, Lorraine was researching the undead to understand Rentt‘s condition, though a definitive conclusion eluded her. Literature stated that the undead could survive decapitation, possessed enhanced physical strength, and instinctively craved human flesh. While most spawned in dungeons, high-level entities sometimes created them from corpses as mindless minions who lost their humanity and memories. Ultimately, Lorraine tentatively concluded that the Rentt standing before her was indeed the same friend she had always known.
This led her to reminisce about their first meeting. She had taken a forest quest to search for herbs—mostly to kill time in a world that felt dull and colorless—and someone had recommended Rentt as her porter. Back then, Rentt was only an Iron-ranked adventurer, whereas Lorraine was the kingdom’s youngest scholar and had instantly achieved Silver rank upon registering.
When Lorraine finally found her target herb, she dug it up with absolute precision to preserve its medicinal roots. To her utter amazement, she noticed Rentt had already effortlessly gathered a large quantity of the exact same plant, showcasing his incredible observational and survival skills.
Suddenly, a goblin ambushed them. Without hesitation, Rentt shielded her and instructed her to cast a fire spell. Though frightened, Lorraine unleashed a fireball that incinerated both the goblin and a chunk of the surrounding forest, prompting Rentt to acknowledge the terrifying power of a Silver-ranked adventurer. Since she usually relied on bodyguards, this was her first real fight, making her realize Rentt was there to protect her, not just carry bags. She was even more surprised by his rich, practical knowledge of herbs, combat, and forest survival, which stemmed from a lesson he once learned: if something is worth learning, learn it at all costs.
Taking the initiative, Lorraine asked him to teach her more. Rentt agreed, sparking a ten-year friendship. As she continued her research and watched him grow, she finally understood why her own caretakers had worried so much when she became an adventurer.
Meanwhile, the blacksmith couple promised to craft the finest sword within Rentt‘s budget, lending him a temporary blade capable of withstanding his mana and aura in the meantime. Though they noticed he was cursed, they stayed silent, guessing he didn’t want to cause trouble and believing he would eventually open up. Rentt thanked them and left.
That evening, Lorraine was thrilled to eat Rentt‘s cooking for the first time in ages, though she noticed his sadness at being unable to taste the food. She explained her research showed he was different from ordinary undead and expressed curiosity about his next evolutionary form. Rentt replied that his ultimate goal was to regain a human-like body, so he planned to focus entirely on grinding in the labyrinth.
The next day, Rentt returned to the labyrinth and saved a rookie adventurer from a slime. Wary of fake emergencies used for robberies, he immediately walked away, but the man persistently followed and begged to tag along. He was a failed baker drowning in debt, forced to risk his life as an adventurer to find fifteen gold coins within a week.
Though moved, Rentt initially refused due to his own urgent goals. However, considering potential treasures, he allowed the man to join as a porter. They headed to the secret area Rentt had discovered earlier. The dragon was nowhere to be seen, and they found nothing valuable until the baker discovered a small passage. Rentt decided to let him report it to the guild to collect the reward, focusing instead on exploring inside.
Inside the empty room, Rentt felt deeply uneasy, while the baker was far too relaxed. A red teleportation magic circle suddenly appeared, but Rentt couldn’t stop the man from stepping into it. Realizing only he could see the magic, Rentt guessed it led to a deeper floor filled with incredibly powerful monsters. Though logic dictated he should save himself, he ultimately chose to jump in after him.
They instantly teleported into a boss room face-to-face with a colossal skeleton. Rentt immediately drew his sword and charged head-on, but the sheer recoil of his attacks knocked him back. Even when he swung with all his might using his aura, the giant monster only suffered a minor scratch. Switching to mana yielded no better results.
With the boss room sealed shut, their only escape was to defeat the monster, making the situation increasingly desperate. In a brief moment of hesitation, Rentt recalled an admired adventurer’s words: only those who refuse to give up until the very end are worthy of the title. Backed into a corner, he decided to go all-in.
Infusing holy energy into his sword, Rentt poured every ounce of his strength into a thrust. Miraculously, the blade pierced the monster’s defenses and destroyed its leg. Seizing the opening, he charged forward and delivered the finishing blow, plunging the holy energy concentrated at his sword’s tip straight into the skeleton’s skull and shattering it to pieces.
Thanks to this holy energy, Rentt healed Loris just in time, pulling him from the brink of death. Waking up to see the colossal skeleton defeated, Loris was absolutely stunned. The massive creature dropped an enormously valuable magic stone. Since Rentt didn’t need the money, he gave it to Loris to rebuild his life. Loris hesitated, feeling he had contributed nothing. However, Rentt showed his undead arms, explaining he couldn’t deal directly with the guild or shops and needed a middleman. He also playfully requested free food at the bakery whenever he wanted. Deeply moved, Loris agreed, determined to start fresh.
The bakery, named the Red Dragon Pavilion, surprised Rentt with its pristine condition. Loris‘s wife, Isabelle, rushed out to greet her husband, having been worried sick. Hearing about the magic stone and the mysterious benefactor, she was suspicious and feared another scam, but Loris insisted he trusted Rentt. The couple bowed in gratitude, but the uncomfortable Rentt quickly excused himself. Before leaving, he revealed his name, which Loris promised to remember forever.
However, on his way home, Rentt realized something terrifying: his undead instinct to crave human flesh was awakening, triggered earlier by seeing Loris‘s wounds. He fought to suppress it as he returned to Lorraine‘s house, but seeing her brought the craving back with a vengeance. Rentt stared so intensely that Lorraine grew uneasy. Finally losing control, he threw his arms around her and blurted out incoherent words. Thinking he was confessing his feelings, Lorraine was instead entirely horrified when Rentt asked to bite her shoulder.
Lorraine immediately shoved him away, knocking him unconscious with a light spell and following up with a sleep spell for good measure. When Rentt awoke, he profusely apologized for the attack. Sympathetic to the natural undead instinct to crave human flesh, Lorraine forgave him and assured him it was just an accident. Rentt then recounted everything that had happened, from the labyrinth and Loris to the sudden, overwhelming hunger he had felt. While examining the bite, Rentt used his surprisingly proficient holy energy to heal her, leaving Lorraine with a comforting, warm sensation.
As her wound closed, Rentt noticed his body was looking much more human, retaining only a slight pallor. However, his mask had partially chipped away, which worried him about how he could appear in public without raising suspicion. Lorraine quickly discovered that the mask could actually transform, covering just his eyes or mouth depending on his will. She theorized it was an ancient artifact responding to the wearer’s spirit, rather than a simple cursed item. Despite focusing his willpower and with Lorraine‘s help, the mask still refused to come off completely. They ultimately decided to accept it for now, as it conveniently concealed his lingering unusual features.
At the same time, Rentt realized his vocal cords had fully recovered; defeating the colossal skeleton had triggered yet another evolution. Lorraine jokingly suggested that biting her shoulder might have been the true trigger, leaving Rentt unsure whether to laugh or cry since it was a genuine possibility. She concluded his current form was a ghoul—a lesser kin of vampires, ranked above ordinary skeletons. When Rentt asked why he didn’t skip straight to a more human-like vampire, Lorraine explained that monsters must climb the evolutionary ladder one step at a time, much like the adventurer ranking system. She shared a scholarly hypothesis that monsters evolve based on their environment and willpower, adapting traits like fire in volcanic areas or water in aquatic regions.
In Rentt‘s case, his burning desire to regain his human form had guided his evolution to become more human-like. If correct, this hypothesis would be a major breakthrough in labyrinth biology. Rentt wondered if evolving into a vampire might eventually allow him to use sheer willpower to reverse-evolve back into a human. Lorraine immediately shut down this overly optimistic idea, but predicted his next evolution would require undiscovered special conditions rather than just monster hunting. She promised to support Rentt throughout the process, deeply moving him. However, her scholarly nature quickly took over as she proposed a comprehensive physical examination, including tissue sampling and drug testing. Hearing this, Rentt promptly excused himself to bed, leaving the research for the next day.
The next morning, while Lorraine slept, Rentt woke up early to train. His old sword was severely damaged from the combined strain of aura, mana, and holy energy. When he brought it to the blacksmith, Clope scolded him for treating the weapon so recklessly. Rentt explained that the metal simply couldn’t handle the holy energy. Clope was utterly astonished to learn that Rentt had discovered an uncharted area in the Water Moon Labyrinth and defeated a colossal skeleton. Eager to continue exploring this new zone, Rentt requested his new sword be forged quickly. Since it wasn’t ready, Clope lent him a better temporary blade. Though the blacksmiths noticed something unusual about Rentt, they chose not to mention it.
On his way out, Rentt spotted Loris and his wife preparing to reopen their shop. Seeing them so busy and full of hope warmed his heart more than it had in a long time. Feeling lighter, he headed toward the labyrinth, determined to keep grinding his way back to a normal appearance.
The world contained countless toxins ranging from mild digestive irritants to instantly lethal drops, as well as harmless substances that became incredibly potent when combined. While Lorraine passionately lectured on toxicology theory, Rentt listened with chills running down his spine. To test her hypotheses, Lorraine had Rentt ingest several toxins lethal enough to kill an ordinary person. The results utterly astonished her: not only was Rentt largely unaffected, but he simply complained that they tasted terrible. Lorraine concluded that Rentt possessed an extraordinarily strong poison resistance, could still use recovery potions without side effects, and suffered no disruptions to his sleep patterns.
The only issue left was Rentt‘s occasional craving for human flesh—a natural ghoul instinct. To help him suppress it, Lorraine handed him a vial of her own blood. Just a sniff sharpened his senses and sent a rush of excitement through his body. She warned that completely suppressing his urges wasn’t healthy, offering the blood as a substitute whenever he felt overwhelmed. Tasting a single drop significantly diminished his cravings, and Rentt sincerely thanked Lorraine, promising to treasure the vial.
When he decided to head to the guild for new quests, Lorraine objected. She revealed that despite his Bronze rank, his past contributions were so valued that the guild was rumored to be considering him for a full-time staff position. While touched, Rentt had no intention of becoming an administrative employee; he wanted to climb the ranks and evolve. Lorraine explained that earning personal achievements required him to take on quests, but doing so under his original identity would expose him as a monster. She proposed he register under a new name and start over from the lowest rank.
Rentt initially hesitated since duplicate registration broke guild rules. However, Lorraine argued that a minor administrative violation was far less severe than being hunted as a monster, convincing him to accept the plan. At the registration counter, Rentt was pleasantly surprised that Sheila didn’t recognize him as she advised him to list his skills. Taking in the familiar scenery from ten years ago, he felt a wave of nostalgia.
He registered using his own first name combined with Lorraine‘s surname. Seeing the name, Sheila was taken aback, recalling the missing adventurer. Rentt quickly played it off, claiming to be a relative of Lorraine who had also heard of the missing man. When Sheila learned they lived together, her suspicions deepened, knowing the “old” Rentt had also been very close to Lorraine. Realizing he could easily spark unfavorable rumors, Rentt made a mental note to be more careful. After receiving his new Iron rank badge, he immediately entered the labyrinth to start grinding. Along the way, he spotted two newcomer adventurers struggling against a goblin and a slime.
Seeing the newcomers had the situation under control, Rentt didn’t intervene and continued toward the uncharted zone—a major achievement for an Iron-ranked adventurer. Teleporting from the boss room, he arrived in a dilapidated chamber filled with old objects and ordinary, non-undead skeletons, proving people had once lived there.
Suddenly, a voice from behind made Rentt flinch. A hooded woman appeared, radiating a dangerous aura as she demanded his purpose. Rentt explained he was just a wandering adventurer, but she argued that adventurers were simply thieves and attacked before he could defend himself. Despite wrapping himself in his aura, Rentt was blasted into a wall. The strike burned away his clothes, revealing his undead body. Finally understanding how he had managed to reach this place, the woman immediately stopped, apologized for the misunderstanding, and offered her own cloak as compensation.
The mysterious woman explained that the area held special meaning to her and asked Rentt not to report it to the guild. In exchange, she offered a valuable map that automatically recorded and reproduced any traversed labyrinth or space. Recognizing it as a truly rare artifact, Rentt accepted the deal, and the woman promptly teleported him out of the labyrinth.
Back home, Rentt recounted the entire incident. Given his recent streak of bizarre encounters, Lorraine worried he might be under the influence of some curse. However, they inspected the map and confirmed it was entirely curse-free and safe to use. When Rentt channeled mana into it, the artifact instantly displayed the layout of the Water Moon Labyrinth, even pinpointing the real-time positions of the two newcomers exploring inside. This left Lorraine absolutely stunned, as an artifact capable of tracking explorers was easily of national-level significance.
Rentt then asked Lorraine to examine his new cloak. She determined it wasn’t cursed either, but rather a high-grade piece of equipment with excellent anti-penetration and magic resistance properties, leaving Rentt feeling that this trip had been incredibly rewarding.
However, Lorraine stressed that the mysterious woman’s identity was the real issue. Her power was at least Gold rank, and she had intended to kill Rentt on sight. Even so, Rentt planned to return the next day out of curiosity and a desire to learn more about her.
On his way back to the labyrinth, Rentt mused that if people knew a dragon had eaten him alive, they would see him as a pitiful victim. Instead, discovering hidden zones and battling powerful enemies made it feel like a true adventure. However, upon arriving, Rentt found the hidden area’s entrance sealed off. Guessing the woman didn’t want him back, he reluctantly left.
Meanwhile, at the Adventurer’s Guild, everyone was worried about the original Rentt since he had been missing for so long. He had helped many people in the past and even played a role in training Sheila into the professional staff member she was today. Just as they were discussing him, the disguised Rentt suddenly appeared behind them, startling everyone. He requested a quest to eliminate three orcs and collect their meat—a mission requiring at least a mid-tier Bronze rank.
Sheila expressed concern and advised against it, but Rentt assured her he had faced orcs before and would be careful. Still, she reminded him to retreat immediately if things got dangerous, as everyone only gets one life. Rentt agreed, understanding that truth better than anyone; he highly doubted he could “roll a new account” and start over a third time.
Rentt completed the quest in an absurdly short amount of time, leaving Sheila and the bystanders utterly astonished. He carefully retrieved the blocks of monster meat from his magic bag—an essential adventurer’s tool he had spent ages saving up for in his past life, silently thanking his past self for his perseverance. Seeing the meat, Sheila immediately confirmed the commission was fulfilled.
Witnessing him take down three orcs so quickly, everyone in the guild marveled at his true strength. Sheila asked Rentt to wait and went inside to report to her superiors. A short while later, she returned with a serious expression, announcing that the higher-ups had officially approved Rentt to take the Bronze rank promotion exam.
The news sent shockwaves through the guild, as it was incredibly rare for a new adventurer to be granted a special exam so soon. Rentt was overjoyed, his heart swelling with excitement that his efforts had been recognized. Lorraine agreed that with his abilities, the promotion was entirely deserved. However, when she asked about his registered name, Rentt revealed he had taken the surname Vivie. Shocked, she choked on her water and pointed out that this might make people suspect he was her old, missing friend. Rentt explained he wanted to pose as a distant relative to quell the local rumors about a mysterious man living with her, hoping to avoid causing her any further trouble.
Secretly touched by his concern, Lorraine admitted she no longer cared about gossip, having grown used to prying eyes since leaving the capital. She argued she was actually the one indebted to him for handling the housework, but Rentt insisted it was thanks to her that he had retained his humanity. Joking that their back-and-forth debts made them even, Lorraine told him that since he now bore her surname, he should consider her home his family and drop the formalities. Rentt happily agreed.
Although the promotion exam was scheduled months away to allow for preparation, Rentt decided to take it the very next day, trusting his ten years of experience over studying. The exam consisted of theory and practical portions. The theory test involved processing monster materials, offered in written or oral formats depending on literacy. Rentt noticed Laura, the pink-haired girl from the labyrinth, was also participating. Taking the exam for only the second time, he leisurely observed the others and easily secured the top spot with a perfect score.
For the practical portion, candidates had to form teams to complete a mission. Sheila paired Rentt with two rookies: Raiz, a frontline swordsman, and Laura, a rear-line support healer. Their objective was to reach a marked point in the New Moon Labyrinth within two days, with the first arriving team claiming the grand prize.
While the other teams rushed in, Rentt noticed the provided map was an outdated version from fifteen years ago. Suspecting a deliberate trap to evaluate the candidates, he suggested buying a new one. Thanks to his market knowledge, they secured an updated map for half the price. Comparing the two revealed hidden collapsed areas and traps, deeply impressing Raiz and Laura with Rentt‘s experience. Rentt also pointed out the trailing horse-drawn carriages, explaining they were used by examiners who often created deliberate obstacles.
Inside the labyrinth, the two newcomers showed solid coordination, but the overwhelming number of monsters forced them to rely on Rentt. Sensing something was off, he found a monster-luring scent pouch planted at the entrance, confirming the guild was intentionally testing their problem-solving skills under pressure.
Shortly after dealing with the pouch, Rentt detected a faint human presence ahead, signaling a potential ambush. He immediately moved to the front to scout, warning Raiz and Laura to stay on high alert. His prediction came true when another team attacked from the shadows. Because they were prepared, Rentt swiftly assigned roles: Raiz engaged the close-combat fighter, while Rentt rapidly dodged attacks to neutralize the enemy archer and mage. Raiz initially struggled against his stronger opponent, but Laura‘s timely healing allowed him to hold his ground and secure the win. This skirmish taught the newcomers a profound lesson: labyrinth dangers come from humans just as much as from monsters and traps.
As Rentt‘s group departed, a guild examiner emerged, revealing that the attacking team was actually another guild plant meant to test their ambush reactions.
Meanwhile, the guild master summoned Sheila to report on Rentt. Reassured she wouldn’t be punished, she answered their questions honestly. The guild master was highly suspicious of Rentt due to his veteran demeanor and mysterious nature, speculating a connection to a past incident, and ordered Sheila to report any future suspicious behavior immediately.
Back in the labyrinth, Rentt and his teammates followed their updated map, pressing forward until they finally reached the door to the boss room.
To reach the rendezvous point, they had to pass through this area. Since Raiz and Laura had never faced a boss, Rentt reassured them that knowing when to retreat was crucial for an adventurer, and preserving their lives was nothing to be ashamed of.
While preparing, an annoyed rival team approached, hurling provocations and disrespecting Laura. Rentt immediately fired back with a firm attitude, forcing the group to yield the way. Surprisingly, Rentt then voluntarily let them enter the boss room first. Though Raiz grew impatient, Rentt intended to use them as guinea pigs to observe the boss’s fighting patterns. The rival team was quickly crushed and had to be rescued by guild personnel, leaving Raiz and Laura deeply shaken.
Rentt eased their anxiety by pointing out that even if they failed, they would be rescued, reiterating that retreating wasn’t shameful. However, Raiz declared his desire to become a true adventurer and refused to shy away from the challenge. Laura steeled herself to fight alongside him. Reminded of his own past ambitions, Rentt realized that facing hardship was an adventurer’s most important quality. With their wills aligned, the trio stepped into the boss room.
Inside, they faced a giant slime, its semi-transparent body rippling constantly. Despite its simple form, Raiz and Laura were determined to defeat it. Rentt‘s original exam hadn’t required a boss fight, but he knew this hardship was essential for their growth.
Raiz charged first, dodging fluid streams to attack, but the slime’s elastic body bounced his strike right back. Rentt had previously advised them that slimes heavily resisted physical attacks, meaning victory depended on magic. Fortunately, Laura knew a powerful fire spell, though it required a long casting time. Rentt initially planned to buy her time, but Raiz bravely stepped up for the role.
Holding his own remarkably well, Raiz gave it everything he had. Confident in their abilities, Rentt instructed Laura to focus on gathering mana, only stepping in with precise sword strikes to bail Raiz out when things got too tough. Moments later, Laura unleashed a full-power fireball that completely melted the slime. Rentt swiftly slashed its magic core, ending the battle. He quickly reminded them to harvest the highly valuable slime fluid. As they collected their spoils, the teams behind them rushed to catch up.
However, Rentt remained perfectly composed. Laura realized he had anticipated this all along, as the trailing groups triggered a knockout gas trap right outside the boss room. People often drop their guard when closest to victory, and letting others trip the trap kept their group entirely safe. Seeing that Raiz still didn’t understand, Laura explained that the guild deliberately made candidates race to the finish, even though simply arriving within the time limit was enough to pass. Rentt added that Raiz would only become a true adventurer once he could figure such things out on his own.
Guild personnel waited at the checkpoint behind the boss room. As the first to arrive, Rentt, Raiz, and Laura received their completion badges alongside bonus defensive poison vials and a potion belt. After resting, Rentt invited them to the second floor, revealing a stunning, sunlit ecological forest. Though eager to explore, Rentt advised turning back, warning that the return path likely held more guild traps since the exam wasn’t technically over. After returning and submitting their badges to Sheila, they officially passed. Sheila initially had doubts, but her colleagues confirmed the trio’s qualifications. Examiners had monitored their character throughout, knowing ability means nothing without the right qualities. Ultimately, the council promoted all three to Bronze rank.
Ecstatic, Raiz and Laura expressed how glad they were to leave their village to become adventurers—a comment that made Sheila silently question the council’s character assessment criteria. The pair thanked Rentt for his invaluable lessons. Though Laura wanted to invite him to their party, she understood he taught them so thoroughly so they could stand independently. After saying goodbye to the duo, Sheila asked to speak with Rentt privately in a serious tone, guessing he already knew what she wanted to ask.
Assuming she had discovered his true identity, Rentt offered to leave and never return if the guild intended to punish him. However, Sheila stopped him, clarifying it was pure personal curiosity about what had happened to his body. She revealed she had never reported her suspicions and that the examiner monitoring him today was actually her younger brother. To prove her trustworthiness, she presented a magical contract: if she ever revealed his secret, she would be forced to leave the guild and become his slave. Stunned that she would go to such extremes, Rentt felt deeply uneasy. He asked Sheila why she would willingly bind herself to such enormous risk.
Sheila simply smiled, expressing her deep gratitude. His past help had allowed her to become an exemplary guild staff member, and offering this contract was her way of demonstrating absolute trust. With no way to decline, Rentt signed the contract. Not knowing where to start, he simply removed his hood and plainly stated that he had evolved into a non-human entity.
Stunned and slightly frightened, Sheila didn’t back away. Instead, she looked upset that her friend had endured this burden in silence. Rentt urged her to think carefully about helping him, emphasizing he meant no harm, and turned to leave so he wouldn’t put her in a difficult position.
Regaining her composure quickly, Sheila declared that she still believed in him. Because he was a good person who had helped so many people, she took his hand and vowed to support him to the best of her ability, asking him to come to her with any guild issues. Her words moved Rentt deeply.
Sheila then suggested heading directly to Lorraine‘s home to discuss everything openly. When they arrived, a surprised Lorraine bluntly asked if Rentt had done anything to the girl. Sheila clarified he hadn’t, but explained she now knew his secrets and wanted to speak directly with Lorraine. Cutting to the chase, Lorraine was taken aback to learn Rentt had told her everything. She asked Sheila if she wasn’t afraid to visit a mysterious scholar living with a non-human entity where she could be devoured at any moment, even joking that she went out every night to snatch innocent girls for food.
Sheila smiled at the dark humor, but Lorraine‘s expression turned grave as she revealed that the one actually going out every night was Rentt. Caught off guard, Sheila realized Lorraine was testing her as a potential threat. Nevertheless, Sheila stated she understood and accepted the risk. Satisfied, Lorraine relaxed and warmly invited her to stay for dinner.
During the meal, Sheila was amazed by Rentt‘s cooking. Lorraine generously praised him, joking that whoever married him would be incredibly lucky since he handled every household chore. As a reward, she allowed Rentt to drink a drop of her blood, which shocked Sheila. With just a glance, Lorraine had also correctly deduced that the two had formed a magical contract.
As they talked, Sheila mentioned that newly registered adventurers across the kingdom were mysteriously disappearing. The guild suspected an organized kidnapping ring, and because Rentt was both powerful and enigmatic, he was among the suspects. Finding this somewhat amusing, Rentt never imagined his abilities would draw such suspicion.
Given the tense situation, Lorraine and Sheila suggested Rentt temporarily limit his dungeon explorations to avoid drawing further suspicion. The next day, with her concerns resolved, Sheila cheerfully reported to the guild master that Rentt was an outstanding and completely trustworthy adventurer.
Despite the advice to lay low, Rentt naturally couldn’t stay home for long and left early that very morning. He had an appointment to finally pick up his custom-forged sword from Clope. Based on long observations of Rentt‘s fighting habits, Clope had crafted a blade perfectly suited to his combat style, designed to withstand all three energy types simultaneously.
Rentt took a test swing, channeling mana for an incredibly smooth feel. Coating the blade with aura scorched the target on contact. When he tested his holy energy, the log he slashed was not only cut cleanly but bizarrely sprouted new branches. Standing beside him, Clope was astonished three times over. When asked how he could use holy energy, Rentt guessed he might have received divine favor after accidentally repairing an abandoned, unnamed shrine.
Not stopping there, Rentt proposed a highly dangerous technique: fusing aura, mana, and holy energy into a single attack to reach an entirely new level of power. Clope knew this was reserved for elite warriors and urged him to reconsider, warning of a high chance of explosion upon failure. However, determined to grow stronger and confident his undead body could withstand the blast, Rentt insisted. Relenting, Clope made him use a cheap sword to avoid ruining the new one.
Attempting to fuse just mana and aura created tremendous pressure. Forcing the swing anyway resulted in a massive explosion that ground the test log into dust. Undeterred, he tried a larger log and channeled all three energies at once. His body radiated brilliant light, causing Clope to frantically yell for him to stop. Rentt swung anyway; the cheap sword disintegrated into dust, but the log was flawlessly carved into a perfect sphere.
Rentt apologized for the destroyed sword, which Clope simply charged him for. The blacksmith theorized that the holy energy’s purifying nature had caused the disintegration by returning the weapon’s matter to its original state. Clope assessed that while the new sword could withstand holy energy and a two-energy fusion, fusing all three required far more advanced equipment. This reminded Rentt of the mysterious woman in the labyrinth. Convinced his current strength still couldn’t match hers, he resolved to keep earning money and upgrading his gear.
Heading home through an alley, Rentt overheard a young man begging a reluctant adventurer to accept a private commission outside the guild. Sensing an opportunity, Rentt paid the adventurer a silver coin to take over the job and brought the young man to Lorraine‘s home to discuss the details.
The young man, Ryuntus, hailed from a distant village that held an ancient festival. According to legend, sacrificing a beautiful maiden to the Lord of the Lake would bless the village with protection. While previously just a ceremonial performance, the Lord of the Lake had recently appeared, actually devouring the sacrifices and demanding more. The next chosen victim was Ryuntus‘s own sister.
Breaking down in tears, Ryuntus begged Rentt to save her. Rentt immediately agreed, vowing to confront the monster himself if necessary. Ryuntus explained that since the monster’s appearance, a dark atmosphere had plagued their once-prosperous village. Households receiving a specific mark knew their daughter was next. Though no one had seen the Lord of the Lake, Ryuntus suspected its subordinate Kelpies marked the homes at night. Hearing this made Rentt suspicious, as Kelpies were already quite powerful monsters.
Upon arriving at the village, Ryuntus‘s sister, Amiris, opened the door and quickly pulled her brother inside to talk privately. However, Rentt‘s sharp undead hearing easily picked up their argument. Amiris deeply distrusted Rentt‘s suspicious appearance and the sudden arrival of a stranger during such a critical time. Despite a long argument, Ryuntus couldn’t change her mind.
Amiris stepped out, thanked Rentt for traveling so far, but stated she believed in the village’s legend. Refusing to selfishly abandon her community, she had accepted her role as a sacrifice to ensure the village’s peace and politely asked Rentt to leave.
Rentt refused, pointing out that only his client, Ryuntus, could cancel the commission. Since Ryuntus firmly refused to withdraw the request, Amiris had no choice but to invite them inside, though she pleaded with Rentt not to interfere with the upcoming ritual. Ryuntus apologized for his sister’s stubbornness, promising to pay any price to save her. The next morning, Rentt began his investigation around the village.
Near the village, Rentt met a group of frequent merchant traders. A friendly one offered him pastries, complaining that business had declined since the Lord of the Lake appeared. Learning Rentt came to watch the festival, many villagers advised him to leave to avoid trouble. Ryuntus noted that the villagers implicitly trusted these regular merchants.
That afternoon, the village atmosphere grew unbearably heavy as they prepared for the ceremony. One of Amiris‘s relatives tearfully apologized for backing out of a plan to help Ryuntus smuggle her away. Amiris was shocked to learn her brother had unsuccessfully begged every family to abandon the festival. Moved by his efforts, she still believed it was too late.
That night, Rentt encouraged Amiris, urging her to fight to keep living because there is always a solution. When she asked how she could possibly fight the Lord of the Lake, Rentt replied that he would handle the hard parts. He reminded her not to break her brother’s heart since they were each other’s only family; as long as a single ray of hope existed, she had to push forward. His words finally ignited a spark of hope within her.
At midnight, the ceremony began with villagers releasing prayer lanterns. The elder apologized to Amiris as she was placed on a boat, where Rentt and Ryuntus were already waiting. They rowed into the lake’s thick fog. The lantern in Amiris‘s hands glowed, attracting a dangerous red beam. A purple aura materialized, revealing the terrifying Lord of the Lake. Amiris begged the creature to take her and spare the village.
Realizing the lantern was a homing device, Rentt hurled it into the water and leapt off the boat. Thanks to Lorraine‘s magic, he could stand on the water’s surface. The monster launched a fireball, but as Rentt dodged, he realized a water creature using fire made no sense. He charged and slashed through its body, discovering it was merely a magical illusion projected onto the fog.
The real culprits were the merchant group. Standing on their own boat, they used magic to create the fake monster and threatened Rentt to retreat if he valued his life. Refusing, Rentt charged in, destroyed their vessel, and defeated them all. The truth was exposed: the merchants had exploited village superstitions to kidnap and sell young women. The previous “sacrifices” were all still alive, imprisoned in a house across the lake. With the girls rescued and the commission complete, Rentt immediately set off.
The villagers planned to reorganize the festival into a new celebration of gratitude. Amiris tried to persuade Rentt to stay, but he declined, explaining that someone was waiting for him at home. The siblings promised they would never forget their savior, and before he parted, Amiris gave Rentt a gentle kiss on the cheek. She insisted it was a token of pure thanks, which Rentt graciously accepted.
When he arrived home, Lorraine expressed regret for missing the trip due to her obligations. However, one glance was enough for her to immediately notice that Rentt had been kissed by a pretty girl.
At dawn, Rentt visited the guild to find a new commission. He noticed the infamous “pro bono” quests that paid only a single copper coin—tasks usually taken for honor or personal interest. As he sat deep in thought, Sheila took the initiative to help him pick a light mission. Rentt pointed to a one-coin quest, and Sheila explained it involved collecting a Dragon Blood Flower. Legend claimed these deep crimson flowers bloomed where a dragon’s blood fell after falling in love with a human, and receiving one meant being loved for a lifetime.
While the story sounded like a bloody romance, Sheila was thrilled by it. She mentioned the requester needed the flower as medicine to save someone important, prompting Rentt to accept on the spot. He traveled to the listed address and found a run-down orphanage. A girl named Elias initially mistook him for a debt collector and claimed the director was out. Once Rentt explained he was an adventurer, she apologized profusely and invited him inside. The orphanage children immediately swarmed Rentt, full of excitement and curiosity without a trace of fear.
Elias accidentally blurted out a warning to the younger kids that adventurers were dangerous, then frantically apologized to Rentt. Rentt just laughed, admitting she wasn’t entirely wrong since not all adventurers were good people. Seeing how carefree the children were, he realized they were living a happy life. Elias explained that Director Lillian was incredibly kind. When Rentt introduced himself as a Bronze-ranked adventurer, the girl was surprised, as she assumed a quest for a Dragon Blood Flower would only attract Iron-ranked adventurers at best. Knowing the flower was both rare and expensive, Elias asked Rentt to keep the mission a secret before leading him to the director.
It turned into a misunderstanding where Lillian thought Rentt had only come to clear monsters from the basement. Rentt agreed to help, then spoke privately with Elias. The girl revealed that Lillian suffered from a disease caused by accumulated dark energy, which could only be cured by a holy practitioner or medicine made from the Dragon Blood Flower. Fearing Lillian would step down if she knew the truth, Elias had kept the illness hidden and was prepared to search for the flower alone. After hearing this, Rentt resolved to take full responsibility.
He headed to the basement to clear out a pack of monster rats. The leader signaled its underlings to flee before charging, but Rentt easily slammed it into a wall. Because the rat had bitten his hand, it suddenly transformed, turning pitch black as if affected by his internal power. To Rentt‘s surprise, the rat obeyed his commands, accidentally gaining him a little errand runner. The rat followed Rentt home, much to Lorraine‘s astonishment. She joked that if he kept it, the rat would have to serve as a test subject. The rat even seemed to share its master’s taste for sipping Lorraine‘s blood.
Rentt wanted to name it Blackie, but both Lorraine and the rat violently objected. Lorraine suggested the name Edel, meaning “noble” in the old tongue, which the rat found very pleasing. Though Rentt couldn’t speak to it, he sensed Edel was fiercely loyal. Lorraine casually declared herself the adoptive mother, and Edel accepted it naturally as if finding a new family.
Since becoming undead, Rentt had lost the ability to sleep and spent his nights overthinking how far he had strayed from humanity. The next morning, he was shocked to see Lorraine—who usually slept until noon—awake early and cooking breakfast. It turned out she had guessed he was heading to the Tarasque Swamp to find the flower and was too worried to sleep.
Rentt laughed, admitting his best friend knew him perfectly. He told her not to worry because of his high poison resistance, but Lorraine was concerned about a far greater threat. A Tarasque, a ferocious dragon-kin inhabiting swamps, was theoretically impossible for a Bronze-ranked adventurer to solo. Rentt simply replied that he had no intention of a head-on fight and had even bought a bargain bottle of holy water for defense. Confident he could manage, he promised to finish the breakfast she cooked before leaving.
It had been a long time since Rentt could truly taste anything, but he found the meal surprisingly delicious. It turned out Lorraine had secretly added a drop of her own blood to stimulate his senses. Both Rentt and Edel ate until they were stuffed before setting out for the Tarasque Swamp. The area was perpetually shrouded in toxins but produced many rare herbs, with bridges built across the muck for convenience. The monsters here were significantly stronger than those in the labyrinth, often hunting in armed packs. However, with Rentt‘s current physique, it only took a few strikes to wipe out a group of swamp goblins. He mused that his undead body was incredibly durable and strong, only regretting that he wasn’t as handsome as his human self—otherwise, he might have been married by now. While daydreaming, he slipped on a rotting wooden bridge and nearly tumbled into the toxic mud.
Back home, Lorraine leisurely ate pastries while monitoring him through surveillance magic. Sheila visited and was shocked by how good the cooking was. When Lorraine bragged about the “secret ingredient” she added to Rentt‘s portion, Sheila flinched, fearing she had consumed it too, but Lorraine quickly clarified it was only for him.
News of the water monster incident had reached the guild, though the hero’s identity remained a mystery. Sheila suspected Rentt and came to confirm. Lorraine noted that Rentt was thorough and avoided meaningless risks. Surprised by their deep bond, Sheila asked why Rentt wanted to become a legendary-ranked adventurer. Lorraine admitted she didn’t actually know his full past, as adventurers rarely pried into personal histories. Sheila then asked if Lorraine was worried about him facing a Tarasque.
Lorraine replied that if the guild trusted Rentt enough to assign the quest, she trusted he could handle it. At that very moment, Rentt was being chased to a cliff’s edge by a Tarasque. With no room to retreat, he went all-in, attacking with a mana-coated sword, but it only briefly staggered the beast. Even combining his aura barely scratched its iron-hard scales.
Unexpectedly, Edel borrowed holy energy from Rentt and launched itself into the monster’s mouth. The discomfort forced the Tarasque to spit the rat out, creating the perfect opening. Rentt coated his blade in holy energy, dodged a blast of toxic breath, and delivered a full-powered leap and slash. The monster’s head flew off, crashing into the swamp like a collapsing building. After storing the carcass in his magic bag, Rentt pressed deeper into the fog.
He eventually found a clearing blanketed in Dragon Blood Flowers, where the blossoms themselves seemed to neutralize the surrounding toxins. As he prepared to harvest them, a white-haired young elf named Isaac appeared. Rentt was taken aback that anyone else could reach such a dangerous area alone. Isaac explained that his journey was smooth thanks to antitoxin artifacts, holy water, and a detailed map.
Since the flowers were plentiful, Isaac asked to harvest alongside him. While Rentt filled an entire basket, Isaac took only a single bloom, explaining it was for his master and difficult to preserve. Rentt wished his master a swift recovery, and Isaac expressed interest in hiring Rentt for long-term commissions since he could clearly navigate the swamp solo. They agreed to discuss details back in the city.
On the return trip, the carriage driver was stunned to see Rentt without a single scratch; Rentt simply claimed his mask had a stealth function. When he finally reached the guild, Sheila nearly screamed at the sight of the Tarasque carcass, forcing Rentt to quietly remind her to stay calm before the entire room noticed.
A monster carcass of that size held many valuable parts beyond the magic stone, but a complex specimen like a Tarasque required a specialist. Sheila took Rentt to Dario, a veteran butcher who immediately praised the rare find. Dario noted the shell was nearly undamaged, deducing Rentt had finished it with a single blow—a fact that left Sheila even more shocked. Dario promised it would sell for a high price and told Rentt to wait for good news.
Since it was late, Rentt planned to visit the orphanage the next day. Sheila congratulated him on his clear growth, noting that soloing a Tarasque was theoretically a Silver-rank feat. While Rentt knew he had improved, he remained humble; seeing someone like Isaac reach near Gold-level strength without being an adventurer kept him grounded. He even began to waver about returning to human form, wondering if he would still have the willpower to reach Legendary rank if he had to start his training from scratch.
The next morning, Rentt delivered the Dragon Blood Flower, leaving Elias stunned by his speed. He had already invited a healer and a pharmacist, both of whom were impressed by Rentt’s expert herb processing which kept the flowers’ quality intact. Norman was confident he could cure Lillian and requested extra flowers for other patients. Though Rentt had joked about stir-frying the leftovers with garlic, he donated his entire stock instead. Deeply moved, Norman noted that many lives would be saved, while Umberto offered Rentt his future assistance.
Elias now looked at Rentt as a hero, resolving to become an adventurer like him. Rentt told her that one day she would be able to return the favor by helping others. He also commanded his rat underlings to stop causing trouble and instead serve as bodyguards for the orphanage, moving Elias to tears. Rentt advised her to start learning magic since she already possessed mana.
When Elias worried about her lack of money and equipment, Rentt offered to train her personally and mentioned a friend with plenty of free time who could teach her. When she hesitated to rely on his generosity, Rentt shifted his approach, telling her to view his help as an investment loan instead.
Once she became an adventurer and started earning money, she could pay him back. Elias was overjoyed, thanking him profusely and promising to repay every last coin with interest. When Lorraine heard about the magic tutoring, she seemed willing, but Rentt accidentally stepped on a nerve by remarking that someone who sleeps past noon must have plenty of free time. After he hurried to apologize, Lorraine warned him not to use such phrasing with young women. Rentt took the advice to heart but then honestly noted that he hadn’t met any “young beauties” lately.
That comment infuriated Lorraine, who retorted that he saw one every single day without realizing it. When Rentt still looked clueless, she used a new technique to discipline him, prompting him to hastily shower her with compliments about her long hair, fair skin, and tall figure. He concluded that she was the very standard of beauty in his eyes. Though she acted annoyed, Lorraine‘s face turned red at his earnestness, and she grew noticeably softer as she went to get him more food. Rentt couldn’t figure out her quick change in mood, while Lorraine realized she was being ruled by her emotions.
The next morning, Sheila asked Rentt if he knew the Latuule family. He had no idea who they were, but Sheila handed him a commission letter addressed specifically to him. Recognizing the signature, he realized it was from Isaac. Sheila explained that while the Latuule family weren’t traditional nobility, they were a secretive, long-standing power involved in governing the region. Even the guild master avoided crossing them, so she advised Rentt not to refuse the quest if he wanted a peaceful life.
Rentt accepted, believing that since Isaac didn’t pay much attention to his appearance, the risk of being exposed as a monster was low. Sheila told him to report to her immediately if anything went wrong. Meanwhile, at the orphanage, Sister Lillian finally learned of her condition. Initially wanting to leave, she was so moved by Elias‘s efforts and Rentt‘s bravery in retrieving the medicine that she decided to stay and continue caring for the children. Rentt then made his way to the Latuule estate, where he had to navigate a labyrinth guarded by high-level magical artifacts capable of altering their own layout.
The gatekeeper warned Rentt to be careful, noting that clearing the labyrinth would earn him a magical artifact reward—an opportunity not granted to every visitor. He offered one cryptic piece of advice: “Don’t trust the sun.” After thanking him, Rentt entered, noting that he’d need to save for more artifacts as he ranked up.
Even with his Akasha Map, the labyrinth’s structure remained unmapped, forcing Rentt to rely on instinct. Though he initially underestimated the challenge, by noon he realized the layout was far more complex than imagined. Recalling the warning about the sun, he deduced the structure mirrored underground labyrinths where sunlight doesn’t exist. Despite his excellent memory, he found himself wandering in circles without a single familiar landmark.
Just as he was on the verge of being completely lost, Rentt stumbled into the center of the labyrinth. There, he found a girl leisurely enjoying tea and pastries, looking entirely unbothered by her surroundings. She asked if he was ready to give up, but Rentt honestly replied he wanted to keep trying. The girl smiled, offering him a seat and a break if he wasn’t ready to head back into the maze just yet.
Rentt sat and watched as she brewed tea, only to be caught off guard when she poured plain water into the pot yet served fragrant, aromatic tea. When he asked if it was an illusion, she explained the teapot was a 200-year-old magical artifact that could infinitely reproduce any tea once brewed. She added that it was worth up to 300 platinum coins—a staggering figure, considering a single platinum coin would allow Rentt to live comfortably for life. Rentt shifted his mask to take a sip, finding the flavor truly exquisite.
The girl flinched slightly when she caught a glimpse of his face, but she quickly regained her cheerful composure, noting that the tea they were sharing was the finest she had ever tasted. Her interest peaked when she realized Rentt’s mask was also a magical artifact, and she became curious about its origins. Rentt mentioned a friend had bought it by chance, conveniently omitting that it only cost him three copper coins. The girl was so intrigued she offered to buy it at a premium price, but since the mask was both stuck to his face and his only way to hide his identity, Rentt had to decline. Assuming it held deep sentimental value, she didn’t press him further.
After his rest, Rentt thanked her and prepared to tackle the labyrinth again. She wished him luck, offering one final reminder not to look at the sun. However, curiosity got the better of him; he couldn’t resist glancing up at the fake sun while walking. To his astonishment, the sun vanished, and he realized he had been spatially displaced—the very mechanism that had kept him trapped all day. Frustrated, he slumped to the ground but eventually managed to retrace his steps, finally escaping the maze by late afternoon.
To his surprise, the girl was already waiting for him at the exit. She introduced herself as Laura of the Latuule family and congratulated him on conquering the labyrinth. Rentt introduced himself and brought up the matter of his reward. Laura led him to collect it, though when Rentt half-jokingly asked for the artifact that powered the labyrinth itself, she apologized, saying it wasn’t for sale—leaving him feeling a bit bitter after his long day.
She then led him deep underground to a massive vault where humans had attempted to replicate labyrinth artifacts. While they had only mastered simple things like sensor lights, the true nature of the labyrinths remained a mystery. Surrounded by endless shelves of bizarre magical objects, Rentt was overwhelmed. Laura asked if he was having fun, and he admitted the collection was fascinating. While the “child” in him wanted to take everything, his reason held him back, as many of the items looked more like strange toys than useful tools.
When he focused on a model airship, Rentt discovered he could see through its perspective, an ability that astounded him. He realized modern airships were modeled after this very structure, though they relied on steam because humans couldn’t yet grasp the magical intricacies. While the artifact was perfect for reconnaissance, Rentt’s mana reserves were limited, so he continued exploring the vault. Laura encouraged him to explore freely, showing off curiosities like glowing crystals.
However, the tour took a chaotic turn. Rentt pressed a button on a painting that released a monster, and while startled, he accidentally touched another object that drained his mana to activate a dangerous golem. Laura panicked, and Isaac fumbled to find the remote controller he had hidden too well. Forced to hold off the golem, Rentt realized the machine was absorbing ambient mana to stay powered. With no other choice, he received permission to damage it in self-defense. He tried to disable its joints as Lorraine had taught him, but the high-end model was remotely operated, rendering that tactic useless. Just as Rentt prepared to risk his triple-energy fusion technique, Laura found the controller and deactivated the golem.
Both parties apologized for the chaos, and Laura insisted Rentt continue choosing his rewards. On a shelf of monster materials, a vial of vampire blood powerfully drew him in. Laura warned that while many craved the immortality it promised, most who drank it died or became crippled, and true vampires were hunted without mercy. Despite the risk, Rentt decided to take it. To compensate for the golem incident, Laura also gifted him the airship artifact, a display of generosity surpassing even royalty.
Thanks to his regular trips to the swamp for Dragon Blood Flowers, Rentt became a contracted supplier for the family, earning generous compensation. This allowed Isaac more time to care for the ailing Laura, whom Lorraine also advised to rest more.
Back home, Rentt felt torn between his desire for the blood and the fear of the unknown. Lorraine was equally worried, knowing even his unique body might not withstand the transformation. In a moment of vulnerability, she confessed her wish for him to stay by her side forever, yet she understood his burning ambition. Ultimately, she stopped holding him back, urging him not to hesitate because this was the dream he had always chased.
Hearing that, Rentt admitted his lifelong dream of becoming a Mithril-rank adventurer. His answer piqued Lorraine‘s curiosity, though she initially tried to brush it off. Her evasive attitude only made Rentt more concerned, leading him to ask her directly what was on her mind. He teased that he wasn’t prying and smoothly flattered her by noting she already knew almost everything about him anyway.
Lorraine countered that there were still many gaps in what she knew. When he encouraged her to ask anything, she seriously asked for the true reason behind his burning desire for the Mithril rank. Rentt was surprised, assuming he had already shared this, but a slightly sulky Lorraine explained she had only ever been able to guess bits and pieces. She reminded him of the unwritten rule he had taught her: never intrude on another adventurer’s private life. Out of respect, she had never dared to ask.
Realizing he had never found the right moment to share his past, Rentt sat down to reminisce. He revealed that the core of his effort was a single word: vengeance. More specifically, he wanted to be strong enough to prevent a tragedy like the one that had destroyed his homeland, a small mountain village.
His father had handled the village’s commerce. At age five, Rentt visited the city for the first time with his friend Jinllin. While she was bold and teased him for being timid, she shared her dreams of seeing waterfalls from the sky and promised to grow strong enough to protect him. However, on their return trip, bandits attacked. Jinllin’s grandmother and Rentt’s parents were killed.
Jinllin forced the grieving Rentt to flee as a wolf-type monster pursued them. When the beast caught up, she decisively pushed Rentt aside, taking a fatal blow to save him. As she lay dying, she told him he had to become strong. Just then, an adventurer named Lucker arrived and drove the wolf away. When a heartbroken Rentt demanded to know why he hadn’t arrived sooner, Lucker could only bow his head in apology.
After the funeral, Rentt began his training. Lucker told him he’d have to wait ten years to register as an adventurer. In the meantime, he laid out a rigorous path: the boy needed to master martial arts, academics, magic, herbology, and survival skills. Rather than offering empty comfort, Lucker made it clear that everything was just the beginning—and success depended entirely on Rentt‘s own effort.
Lucker introduced himself as a Mithril-rank adventurer and told Rentt that if he followed the same path, their trails would eventually cross again. His parting words were a stern command: “Don’t die before achieving your dream.”
After hearing the story, Lorraine finally understood the weight Rentt carried. She realized that encountering a Mithril-ranker was nearly as rare as seeing a dragon, and for Rentt, that goal was his sole reason for living. Without it, he likely would have given up on life long ago. He felt a deep debt of gratitude to Lucker for giving him a clear purpose: to slay the beast that took everything and to reach the highest rank. Yet, despite twenty years of effort, he had remained stuck at Bronze.
Rentt confessed that if he stopped growing, his existence would be no different from a walking corpse. He made Lorraine promise that if he ever lost control and became a danger, she would not hesitate to kill him. Lorraine agreed, though she silently prayed that day would never come.
Finally, Rentt opened the vial of vampire blood and drank it in one decisive gulp. At first, nothing happened, and Lorraine felt a wave of relief. But moments later, a searing agony crashed over him. Rentt screamed, vomiting blood as his entire body began an unpredictable, violent evolution. His greatest fear—becoming a mindless monster—threatened to consume his consciousness.
In the depths of his pain, Lorraine’s voice acted as an anchor. She cried out, reminding him of his dream and his reason to live, begging him to come back to her. Her words gave him the strength to fight back, guiding the transformation in a new direction.
As a new day dawned elsewhere, the lives Rentt touched continued to move forward:
- Clope and his family struggled to find the rare materials needed to finish Rentt’s ultimate sword.
- Elias continued to nurture her dream of becoming an adventurer.
- Raiz and Laura formed a party with Ryina to explore, while Sheila watched over them with a mix of pride and worry.
Deep in his subconscious, Rentt found himself standing in a tranquil ocean. For the first time since becoming undead, the hollow emptiness in his heart felt filled. His relentless willpower had carried him through the agony of evolution and the fear of losing his soul. He smiled without a trace of regret.
When he finally awoke, the ominous red haze that had clouded his vision was gone. Lorraine sat beside him, researching vampire subspecies. She smiled and congratulated him on a successful evolution. Examining himself, Rentt was astonished: he looked almost entirely human again. He now possessed retractable wings, crimson pupils, and fangs, but his familiar face had returned. Lorraine couldn’t pinpoint his exact classification, speculating he had crossed an exceptionally rare evolutionary threshold.
With a voice full of relief, she simply said, “Welcome back.” Rentt knew then that he had truly returned from the brink.
The next day, Rentt took Lorraine out to gather herbs, finally sharing his intention to find Lucker. He confessed that spending twenty years stuck at Bronze rank was a humiliation almost too painful to put into words. But now, with his new form and strength, he finally had something to show for himself—enough to set out with true confidence.
Lorraine fully supported his decision, adding that next time, she wanted to go with him. Hearing that, Rentt smiled and nodded. The road ahead was long and uncertain, but it was a journey he no longer wanted to walk alone.
