Thirty days after leaving my home fishing village, the Royal Capital finally came into view.

Having spent my life helping with the family business, I was confident in my stamina, but this was my first solo journey. Navigating unknown roads and territories while staying constantly alert for monsters and bandits had been an exhausting ordeal.

Had I only possessed the skills of a [Swordsman], I likely wouldn't have reached the Royal Capital in thirty days. At worst, I might have lost my life along the way.

Though I couldn't tell a soul, I had been saved by the various skills I’d accumulated across my history of thirteen jobs.

The most beneficial were [Night Vision], which I’d earned during my time as a [Miner], and [Storage Space] from my days as a [Merchant]. Because I didn't need to haul heavy camping gear and could keep walking through the night, I was able to cut my travel time significantly.

As I walked and reflected on the journey, the ramparts surrounding the Royal Capital loomed over me. They were taller than anything I had ever seen—I wondered how many men you’d have to stack to reach the top.

Overwhelmed by their majesty, I passed through the gates and stepped into what felt like another world. Massive stone buildings, far grander than anything in my village, lined the streets. The people were dressed in flashy, sophisticated clothes, and horse-drawn carriages rattled past in a never-ending stream.

"Incredible..."

The murmur escaped my lips before I could stop it. The sheer noise and energy of the place were almost too much for someone who had only known life in a small fishing village.

"Hey! Watch out!"

I was standing there like a tourist with my mouth agape when I was nearly trampled by a carriage coming up from behind. I jumped out of the way, took a deep breath, and forced myself to focus.

I hadn't come here to gawk. I had come to find a profession.

My father had said, "You could aim for the Knight Order, or even become an adventurer." Realistically, I didn't think a fisherman’s son stood a chance of joining the Knight Order. For the time being, I’d have to make my living as an adventurer.

To do that, I needed to join one of the many adventurer guilds scattered throughout the city. Now, how to start...

Scanning my surroundings, I spotted a friendly-looking Gatekeeper who seemed to be idle. I decided to try my luck with him.

"Um, excuse me. Could you tell me where the adventurer guilds are?"

The Gatekeeper gave me a knowing grin.

"I figured you’d be asking that. Most of the country kids who come here wanting to be adventurers ask me the exact same thing."

I felt a flush of embarrassment. "...I suppose they do."

"Yeah. And my answer is always the same: head to the Guild Information Center. Just follow this main street straight down, and you’ll see a sign on your left. They’ll tell you which guilds are currently looking for new members."

"An information center?"

"That’s right. There are countless guilds in this city, big and small. Every year, kids swarm the capital hoping to make it big. The center’s job is to connect the two."

That made sense. It sounded much more efficient than wandering around trying to find one on my own.

I thanked him and set off as instructed. The sheer size of the crowd nearly discouraged me, but I managed to shoulder my way through.

After a while, I spotted a sign for the "Adventurer's Guild Information Center" on the left. I practically swam through the sea of people to reach the door and finally ducked inside.

The interior was calm, featuring polished wood paneling. A single Receptionist sat behind the counter. Unlike the women back home, she was sophisticated and undeniably cute.

Feeling my face heat up, I approached the counter.

"U-Um, I’d like to join an Adventurer's Guild! I was told I could find guidance here!"

The Receptionist pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle. She was laughing at me.

"There’s no need to be so nervous," she said kindly. "Please tell me your age and your job."

"Walt, eighteen. My job is [Swordsman]."

I did my best to sound composed.

"[Swordsman], I see. We’re currently seeing a high demand for vanguard roles. I’d recommend 'Shield of the Sky.' It’s an S-rank guild, so the competition is fierce, but if you get in, you’ll have the best treatment and the best possible environment to grow."

S-rank. The best treatment and environment. Maybe it was for the best that I never received the [Fisherman] job after all.

"Could you tell me where 'Shield of the Sky' is located?"

"Of course."

The Receptionist pulled out a map and a slip of paper, quickly sketching the route.

"Good luck."

Feeling my spirits soar, I took the map and headed straight for the "Shield of the Sky" headquarters.

The "Shield of the Sky" headquarters looked more like a palace of white marble than a guild hall. Even the guards at the gate were heavily armored like knights. If I could secure a spot here, my future would be set.

After a nervous check-in at the front desk, I was heading down the hall toward the interview room when I suddenly stopped in my tracks.

A woman walking from the opposite direction had completely stolen my attention.

She was clad in silver-white armor with a beautifully crafted rapier at her hip. Her hair was a shimmering, translucent silver that caught the light, and her jade-colored eyes looked as though they held the very sky of the Royal Capital within them.

When she noticed me, she paused and offered a small, graceful smile.

"Are you here for an interview?"

"Y-Yes! My name is Walt!"

"Good luck then."

Still smiling, she continued on her way.

She was stunning. My heart wouldn't stop pounding after just one look. She had to be one of their adventurers. If I joined, would I get to see her every day?

This was incredible. I was more motivated than I’d ever been in my life. Back in the village, I’d always thought I wasn't the type to be interested in women, but it turned out I was wrong.

I was going to succeed as an adventurer in the capital and get to know someone like her. Today was the first step.

With a surge of resolve, I entered the interview room. Across from me sat an Interviewer, a stern man with a shield emblem pinned to his shoulder.

"Name, age, and job."

"Walt, eighteen. My job is [Swordsman]."

The man leveled an appraising, clinical gaze at me.

"Let’s see your resume, Walt."

I pulled the folded document from my belt pouch and handed it over. It was an official record provided by the priest of the Karia Church. There shouldn't have been any issues.

The moment the Interviewer opened the paper, however, his expression shifted. A deep scowl formed between his brows.

"...It says here you’ve changed jobs twelve times in three years?"

"Y-Yes. Well, I was trying to find my true aptitude..."

The Interviewer let out a heavy sigh and looked at me with cold, dismissive eyes.

"You’re rejected, Walt."

"Wait... what?"

"This guild has no place for frivolous people who switch jobs on a whim. We value consistent, dedicated effort in a specialized field. Your history is the exact opposite of that. You’ve only just become a [Swordsman]; you likely haven't even mastered any skills yet. If you want to join us, go gain at least three years of experience in your current role and then come back."

"That’s..."

He handed the resume back to me as if it were a piece of trash.

"To be blunt, a 'job-hopper' like you would probably just quit the guild and run away to another job the moment things got difficult."

My face burned. Without even testing my abilities, he had written me off based on a single sheet of paper.

"...I understand. Excuse me."

Unable to find a retort, I turned and left the room.

Despite the crushing rejection from the S-rank "Shield of the Sky," I wasn't ready to give up. I spent the rest of the day visiting other guilds, but the result was always the same. From A-rank to B-rank, and even down to a newly formed E-rank guild—no one would take me.

"I’ve never seen a record with this many job changes."

"We’re looking for people who will stay with us long-term."

"Your resume is... well, it’s unprecedented. It would be difficult to justify hiring you."

Every guild prioritized the same thing: the fact that I had held twelve different jobs in three years.

I had no idea that my history of job-hopping would be such a massive liability for an adventurer.

As I walked back onto the main thoroughfare, the reality of the situation finally sank in.

"I can't even get my foot in the door..."

The strength left my limbs. The glittering, vibrant sights of the capital now felt like a distant world that had nothing to do with me.

I wandered aimlessly through the city, my sense of direction long gone.

By the time I looked up, the sky had turned a deep madder red. Without a job, I couldn't afford a proper inn—I simply didn't have the coin to spare. But after today, I couldn't bear the thought of sleeping on the ground. I just wanted a bed.

I turned down a quiet side street and eventually found myself in a dim, gritty neighborhood on the outskirts of the city.

The charm of the capital had vanished, replaced by stagnant air and the wary gazes of drunks and criminals. But beggars couldn't be choosers.

"Um, excuse me. Where’s the cheapest inn around here?" I asked an old man sitting on the ground, leaning against a wall.

"Mm? Inn? Lizard’s Tail. It’s cheap," he grunted, pointing toward a dilapidated brick building in the distance.

"Thank you."

"Yeah..."

Leaving the old man behind, I headed for the building known as the "Lizard’s Tail." It had no sign, only a heavy, rusted iron door.

I tentatively turned the handle and stepped inside.

A flickering magic lamp, its stone nearly exhausted, cast a dim glow over the counter. Sitting there was a man with a shaved head and an eyepatch over one eye. He looked like someone you didn't want to mess with.

The man fixed me with his one good eye and spoke with a gravelly voice.

"A room or work? Which is it?"

A room or work? Did this place double as a labor broker?

"Both," I replied.

The man gave a sharp grin and beckoned me closer. That was the moment everything truly began.