The mont I tapped [Yes], the system responded with a soft chi. A new nu unfolded before , flickering with faint golden light as if the interface itself was holding its breath.
[Job Advancent System]
Selecting new job...
Randomization in progress...
Randomization? I frowned. I'd expected to choose—or at least have so say in the matter. But the system had other plans.
The loading bar pulsed steadily, my heart syncing with its rhythm. For soone who could face down collapsing scaffolds and irate supervisors without flinching, I was surprisingly tense. Maybe it was because this wasn't just another task. This was my future shifting under my feet.
Then, with a final chi, the selection was complete.
[Job Acquired: Firefighter (C-Rank)]
Firefighter?
Before I had a chance to understand it, the changes overwheld like a tidal wave. An unexpected warmth coursed through my veins—not scorching, but revitalizing, akin to being close to a blazing fire on a chilly day. The strength and precision from my Construction Worker A-Rank were still there, solid and familiar. But layered over that foundation was sothing new.
I felt... attuned. Not just to the world around , but to the subtle shifts in temperature, the faintest currents of air. My senses sharpened in ways I didn't expect. I could almost hear the heat, feel the invisible dance of thermal currents around .
Then ca the notifications.
[Bonus Skills Acquired for Firefighter Job]
Fire Suppression (Lv. 3): Enhances effectiveness in controlling and extinguishing fires.
Rescue Operations (Lv. 3): Improves efficiency in locating and saving individuals in ergencies.
Heat Resistance (Lv. 3): Significantly reduces the impact of extre temperatures on performance.
The mont the skills locked in, I felt the difference. My body adjusted instinctively—my skin more resilient, my reflexes quicker, and a deep, innate understanding of how to handle ergencies rooted itself within . It was like a muscle mory I'd never earned but suddenly possessed.
Before I could fully wrap my head around it, the system delivered one final ssage.
[System Notification]
The next job will be available once Firefighter reaches A-Rank.
And just like that, the rush faded, leaving standing alone behind the storage container, my mind racing.
This was... a problem.
No—several problems.
First, I couldn't abandon the construction site. Not now, not when we were under the Evaluation Center's watch. If I disappeared to chase this new job, I would be the most suspicious individual in the world.
Second—and far worse—if an evaluator showed up right now, I'd be caught. My records listed as a B-Rank Construction Worker, but I was standing here with three Firefighter skills and a C-Rank Firefighter job glowing like neon signs. If soone scanned , the discrepancies would trigger alarms faster than I could say "It's not what it looks like."
And to top it all off, I had no way to improve my Firefighter rank here. This wasn't exactly a place where fires broke out regularly—at least, not if I was doing my job right.
Damn it.
I exhaled sharply, stuffing the panic down where it belonged. The solution was clear: focus on what I could control. For now, I'd shelve the Firefighter job, keep grinding my Construction Worker rank, I knew from my job title after all that the S, SS and SSS rank existed, and most importantly, make sure Evelyn had zero reasons to visit.
That ant performance had to be flawless.
I squared my shoulders, shoved my new worries into a ntal box, and headed back to the site.
The rest of the day unfolded with almost eerie perfection.
Maybe it was the surge of power from my new rank and skills. Maybe it was the team's renewed determination after Nathan's departure. Whatever it was, we operated like a well-oiled machine. Every asurent was precise, every beam slotted into place without a hitch.
It wasn't just . The workers moved with an energy I hadn't seen before—faster, sharper, more confident. It felt like sothing had shifted in them too, like my fight to remove Nathan had lit a fire under all of us. In fact little did I know, but saving the district and their intense determination caused enough emotional impact that their skills all went up by one level.
By the ti I checked the clock, we'd finished the day's workload two hours ahead of schedule.
Two hours.
That kind of efficiency was unheard of in this line of work.
I called everyone together, standing atop a steel beam like so kind of foreman king. "That's it for today!" I announced. "Go ho early. You've earned it."
The cheer that erupted this ti wasn't the frantic relief from before—it was pride. Real, solid pride. They didn't just feel free; they felt capable.
As the crowd dispersed, laughter and conversations fading into the distance, I found myself lingering.
Ho.
The word echoed in my head, and with it ca the ntal image of my current apartnt—a crumbling shoebox barely big enough to breathe in. It was standard F-Rank housing, the kind designed to remind you of exactly where you stood in the world.
But I wasn't F-Rank anymore.
I pulled out my sleek new phone, hesitating only a second before dialing Sienna's number.
She answered on the second ring. "Reynard? That was fast. Miss already?"
I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. "I've got a question."
"Shoot."
"I want to switch apartnts," I said, getting straight to the point. "Preferably sothing in a B-Rank establishnt."
There was a silence on the other end. Then, without hesitation, she said, "Why don't you simply move in with ?"
I froze.
What.
My brain short-circuited for a solid three seconds before I managed to stamr out, "W-What?"
She laughed—a warm, teasing sound that made my face heat up despite myself. "Relax, Reynard. B-Rank places are huge, way too big for one person. I've got more space than I know what to do with. Besides, it'd be practical."
Practical. Sure. That's all it was.
My heart, apparently, didn't get the mo.
"I'll... think about it," I managed to mumble, which only made her laugh harder before she hung up.
I stared at the phone for a long mont, then tucked it back into my pocket, my face still burning.
[SYSTEM INTERFACE]
Na: Reynard Vale
Job Title: Jobmaster (Rank SSS)
Active Portfolio:Construction Worker Portfolio (A-Rank)
Endurance Boost (Lv. 9)
Heavy Lifting (Lv. 8)
Material Efficiency (Lv. 5)
Team Coordination (Lv. 6)
Structural Reinforcent (Lv. 7)
Precision Engineering (Lv. 6)
Fast Assembly (Lv. 2)
On-Sight Adaptability (Lv. 2)
Visible Job Skills:
Strategist (Lv. 4) – Improves planning and problem-solving abilities
Fire Suppression (Lv. 3) – Enhances effectiveness in controlling and extinguishing fires
Rescue Operations (Lv. 3) – Improves efficiency in locating and saving individuals in ergencies
Heat Resistance (Lv. 3) – Significantly reduces the impact of extre temperatures on performance
Jobs:
Construction Worker (A-Rank) — Active in Portfolio
Firefighter (C-Rank)
Special Skill:
Scan, Absorb, Destroy
Cooldown:
Skill Copy (18h 31m)
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