“What’s this?” Ketal muttered to himself. 0

The surface of the orb was smooth to the touch. Upon closer inspection, it was a perfect sphere. This was a fantasy world, devoid of machinery. Even shaping an orb into such a flawless sphere would require considerable skill.0

Yet, here it was, lying on the ground.0

Could it be a gemstone? he thought.0

It didn’t quite seem like one Ketal stared at the orb curiously. Inside the sphere, something seemed to ripple—a dense, black substance swirling within.0

“Hm…”0

After examining it for a moment, Ketal slipped the orb into his pocket. He then made his way to the guildhall, where Rosa greeted him with exciting news. “Ketal, congratulations! You’ve been promoted from F-Rank mercenary to E-Rank mercenary.”4

“Oh? Really?” Ketal’s face lit up with joy, his emotions clear for all to see. 0

Rosa couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. “Yes, congratulations.”0

“So, what changes now?” Ketal asked eagerly.0

“I’ll explain everything, but first, here’s your new mercenary badge,” Rosa said, handing him the upgraded badge. It was far more intricately designed and polished than the previous one. 0

With a serious expression, she began her explanation. “Becoming...0