“Requirements to reach Emerald rank?”

  I couldn’t help but feel excited when I heard those words—never had I considered ranking up before the six-month mark.

  “Look at that smile on your face, Maki. You seem very happy about ranking up soon,” my mother teased. I tried to change my expression to a more serious one.

  “Don’t change that look, son. It’s refreshing to see you look like a child,” she continued with her little jokes. I couldn’t help but laugh—she was funny, after all.

  “Yes, Father. I do want to know the requirements to rank up.”

  “They’re not that complicated,” he replied. “They’re conditions that anyone in this world eventually fulfills with time.” He paused dramatically before continuing. “The first requirement is to have at least two skills at rank (III).”

  I’m already close to that, and it doesn’t sound too hard.

  “The second and final requirement is to have all your other skills at rank (II). Simple, right?” My father gave a thumbs up, his face full of pride.

  Honestly, those requirements really are simple. I could fulfill them anytime—it's just a matter of training and getting stronger.

  “Father, aren’t those requirements too easy?” He did mention that everyone eventually fulfills them, but still—it seemed overly simple.

  My mother spoke up first. “Yes, Maki, they are. Every human in this world is destined to reach Emerald rank at some point. That’s why it’s the least significant transformation your body will undergo.”

  “The least significant?”

  “Yes. Normally, ranking up changes your body, your magic, and your imra. It gives you an evolution in your ability to use them. Reaching Emerald rank is where you get the fewest changes and evolutions. That’s why the requirements are so simple.”

  Her words made sense. It wouldn’t be fair to have difficult requirements if everyone was meant to reach it—and it would be unfair to have a massive power boost if everyone got it for free. Something still didn’t quite add up, though.

  “Is that all? There must be some catch or another point…”

  Neither of them looked surprised—instead, they looked slightly relieved, like they had been waiting for me to ask that question.

  “There is, son. While those are the minimum requirements, that doesn’t mean they’re the ideal ones. Otherwise, everyone would end up equally strong in the future. The more skills you have at rank (III), the stronger your foundation, and the more benefits you’ll receive.”

  That’s what I had been expecting. So, to have a strong foundation, it’s better to bring all my skills to rank (III).

  “If you only meet the bare minimum when ranking up, your potential will plateau at Sapphire rank. Your internal consciousness within your cube won’t be strong enough to ascend to Ruby or higher.”

  “Son, your mother and I brought three skills to rank (III) before ranking up. We hope you’ll do the same at the very least—we don’t want to see your potential limited by rushing things.”

  “I understand, Father. And thank you both for the explanation. I won’t let you down—I’ll try to bring all my skills to rank (III) before I attempt to ascend.”

  Seeing them so happy makes me feel loved. My heart feels small and warm just watching their joy, just feeling the love of parents.

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  My mother glanced at the clock and grimaced. “Son, we’d love to keep talking with you for hours, but we can’t stay any longer. We’re so glad to know you’re in good health.”

  “Honey, don’t forget to congratulate him for defeating a second-grade monster.”

  “I didn’t beat it at full strength… I don’t know how it would’ve gone if I had fought it at its best.” I’m still unsure if I could’ve taken on a grade-two monster in a head-on fight.

  “You would’ve won either way. What really injured that hobgoblin was your ice spell. In the end, you would’ve defeated it regardless.”

  My father’s words made me rethink that encounter. They make sense—but I still can’t imagine how hard it would’ve been to conjure a concentrated sphere while fighting.

  “We’ll find an appropriate gift for you and deliver it sometime soon, son.”

  My mother stood up to say goodbye but seemed to remember something. “By the way, no monster fighting for the next three days—you need to let your body recover properly. And we need to explore and clear some areas near the village to prevent this kind of situation in the future.”

  They walked toward the exit, and before closing the door, my father added, “Your grandmother’s very worried too. She couldn’t come, so you’ll need to explain things to her tomorrow.”

  They left with an “I love you,” and I was alone in the room.

  My arm no longer hurt after using the medicine my grandmother gave me, though I’m still tired from what happened—more mentally than physically.

  These kinds of unexpected situations are always a headache. If I hadn’t reacted at the right moment to launch those concentrated spheres, things could’ve gotten complicated. If I hadn’t arrived in time with Rendo, I might’ve gotten hurt. There are so many “what ifs” where everything could’ve changed. I’m grateful I got the best possible outcome.

  If I want to avoid problems like this in the future, I need to keep getting stronger. I now have two short-term goals.

  The first is to bring all my skills to rank (III) to build the best foundation possible for the future—that’s the first step to ascending to Emerald rank.

  The second is to acquire a defensive skill. I’m still toying with the idea of using ice mana as armor. It’s time to get to work.

  I leave the room, say goodbye to the guard, and head toward Talar. It’s hard not to stop and admire the beauty of the path—so many well-tended trees, and a road straight out of a fairy tale.

  I reach home and, as usual, head to the kitchen for something to eat before bed. I need to rest my mind, and a good nap always cures any headache.

  After a peaceful sleep, I wake up feeling like most of my energy has returned.

  “It’s pretty late…” I say, glancing at the clock. I decide to sleep a little longer.

  I wake up almost an hour earlier than usual and head to the training room. As I suspected, Grandma hasn’t arrived yet. I’ll use this time to practice my defensive skill.

  I start the constructions—it’s still hard as hell. I can cover five fingers of my hand if I stay fully focused, but only two if I try to use my brain for anything else.

  I keep trying and trying. I need to train my brain for this new type of mana construction. I’ve only memorized the spheres—that form is deeply ingrained in my mind.

  For nearly an hour, I keep at it. I haven’t improved in coverage, but I’ve halved the time it takes to materialize the construction—from four seconds to about two.

  Another piece of good news is that I can sense a new skill nearby—my mind can feel it, and it’s not far off. I’m pulled out of my world by a presence at the door—my grandmother.

  “You’re a bit late today, Grandma.” That’s a lie—she arrived right on time. Just a little joke.

  She completely ignores it. “You’re really motivated today. What happened? I didn’t know you were so fragile in these kinds of situations.” Not only did she ignore my joke—she countered with one of her own.

  “I just want to be stronger. Yesterday, I felt fear when facing higher-grade monsters. Without my Cold Mind skill, I would’ve been in a terribly uncomfortable situation.” I’m completely honest—my grandma is sharp. She knows when I’m joking.

  “I’m glad you got through it without serious injury. That shows how strong you are, little one. Very few people have the strength to fight monsters stronger than themselves.”

  Her words are like a splash of cold water—refreshing and grounding.

  “I imagine what you’re aiming for now: ranking up or getting a defensive skill. Which one is it?”

  “Both. I want to achieve both at the same time. I won’t always have as much free time as I do now to practice my skills.”

  Next week, I’ll be spending time with the baron’s children, and who knows what kind of situations may come up in the future—or what it’ll be like when I have to attend a school.

  “Always dreaming big, little one. I like seeing you work hard. Just don’t forget—you’re still a child. You should look for fun too.” Her eyes are serious. Maybe I should find a hobby…

  “It’s time to train. Let your grandma teach you a couple of new tricks.”