Viers and Boram were standing side by side. They were looking at a pile of rocks two meters tall. After their visit to the port, Viers bought various rocks and ores from merchants that he saw along the way and put them out on the house’s lawn. Viers had got a magic item to create barriers from the Marakkus family’s vault and he made use of it here to guard their privacy.

“Boram, eat it!” Viers said enthusiastically.

“Yes, Sir!” Boram replied with the same enthusiasm.

The boy touched the pile of rocks with both palms and shouted.

“Earthborn Amalgam!”

Boram glowed with grey light and the pile of rocks was engulfed with the same grey light.

The Profound Codex’s effect was starting. Viers let loose a wide grin. Boram grunted but kept persisting, determined to give it his all.

The earthly minerals slowly disintegrated, erased from existence as their atoms changed into energy which then went inside Boram. It took Boram 15 minutes to completely absorb the two meters pile of materials. He made ugly faces as time went on until the pile was gone.

Viers was watching closely with Euryale Sight, examining every aspect of it.

“How do you feel?” Viers asked.

“...My cultivation has increased but just a tiny bit. The real effect is on my body. I feel… strong!” Boram clenched and unclenched his palm; eyes bright and tone high. “My skin, my bones, my muscles, all are feeling better. This is just like you say, master, a form of body-refining technique.”

“Takju gave you a great gift,” Viers patted Boram’s head. “Make sure you don’t waste it.”

“I won’t,” Boram said resolutely.

“Good,” a hand on his chin while Viers was thinking. “I didn't see any drawbacks. Do you feel anything uncomfortable?”

“Well…” Boram looked embarrassed. “It tasted quite bad, like, really, really, bad,” putting his index fingers together. “It’s like eating porridge made of mud.”

“In other words, it’s like eating shit,” Viers said frankly.

“...Yes,” Boram extended his tongue.

Before leaving, Takju imparted the knowledge of the Profound Codex Earthborn Amalgam to Boram.

It was a Level 5 Codex, meaning it was able to raise a Pathseeker to Level 5; a top-tier Profound Codex. It was a simple PC but very resource-heavy. To practice it, the user must ‘absorb’ all kinds of rocks, metals, gems, or any kind of minerals. The more precious the mineral, the better.

Viers liked the main benefit of the PC. It also automatically strengthened the physique of the user. Even without using any Victa or Arte, the practitioner of this PC would be able to go toe to toe with fearsome monsters and their no less monstrous body using only their bare hands.

In hindsight, it was similar to Viers’ Myriad Souls in One Arte. However, Earthborn Amalgam was able to create Unreality Field while Myriad Souls in One could not so the body technique was more high level.

The PC was easy to practice but it demanded a gargantuan amount of resources. The two meters pile of rock was far from enough. Boram would need to absorb a hill to reach the small accomplishment stage. The higher one went, the higher quantity and quality of the minerals that the body demanded.

At first, absorbing normal rocks would not be an issue but to reach a higher level of mastery, more precious earthly products would be required, such as gold ores or mana-laced materials.

“Also, gems and shinies tasted better, huh?” Viers shook his head. “Boram, you might be a bigger glutton than I am.”

Boram shrunk hearing Viers’ jest.

But despite such a price, would Viers tell Boram not to practice Earthborn Amalgam? Impossible, it was still the best PC for Boram, where would he get anything better? Making Boram cultivate second-rate Codex was unacceptable either. Viers could only grit his teeth and go forward with this.

“I don't have a mountain of gold inside my purse to feed you,” Viers grimaced, thinking how much the little boy in front of him would be sucking his money. “You also need to pull your weight for this.”

“I understand,” Boram acquiesced. “Umm, is your PC not using this much resource, Master?”

“No. I might as well tell you, my PC is called Serpentes Renovamen. I might be the only practitioner of this PC in the world right now. The Profound Practice -how one trains their PCs- is quite simple. You’re already familiar with it. Every morning after I awaken and every night before I sleep you see me meditating, right? That is me practicing on my PC. I can only do so at sunrise and after sundown.”

“Seems so much simpler than mine,” Boram commented.

Oh, the drawback is no less huge, I assure you… Viers disagreed inside his head, determined to hide this fatal weakness as much as possible.

“Well, this is actually pretty normal. A Pathseeker needs resources to grow, which means valuables and money. No money, no resources, no cultivation. Alright then. You’ve become a Level 2 and have a PC. Shall we get back to work?”

“Adventurer’s Guild, Master?” Boram asked.

“Where else for adventurers like us?” Viers asked back.

***

Wearing their standard gear, Viers and Boram entered the building where the quest giver and quest taker come and go.

“Next.” The voice traveled with the boredom and lifelessness of a fed-up office worker.

In the nice and modern -to this world’s standard- building Viers did not expect to be pleasantly surprised but he sure glad he did.

“Peanut!” Viers greeted, much to the young woman’s shock. “You’re still alive! And you’re in Regidana now! I thought we’d never meet again but I’m so glad to see your face again here.”

“Hm? You’re that newbie from Marakkus… Ironhead?” The guild staff answered after a short period of remembering. “And who gave you permission to give me nicknames?”

“Well, Peanut, you never told me your name so I made one up,” Viers tsk-tsked with his finger. “So the fault is entirely yours.”

“...Whatever,” she rolled her eyes with unhidden annoyance. “What can I do for you, adventurer Ironhead?”

“Oh no no no, that’s not fair. I already told you my name. It’s you who didn't even bother to remember. No nicknames from you, peanut butter. But Ironhead? It’s about the helmet, isn't it? You shouldn't make fun of someone’s face,” Viers said playfully.

“Since when did that rule exist? Sigh, just tell me what’s your business here, honored adventurer...” Peanut really didn't want to say that word to Viers.

“Ahem!”

Before Viers could answer, a pissed-off-looking middle-aged man cleared his throat and took Peanut’s place after shoving her out.

“Honored adventurer, please refrain from flirting with our guild staff in broad daylight.”

The man had similarities with Peanut so Viers guessed he must be a relative. The man’s smile didn't fall off but he was not fooling anyone with the bulging veins in his face and tone.

“Guildmaster,” Peanut showed not an inch of gratitude but irritation instead. “Instead of loitering around here, please get back to your paperwork. There are still three stacks waiting in your office.”

Guildmaster, eh? Fancy that.

“Bah! What are mere papers compared to my cute little niece?”

“Uncle...” Peanut growled with the ferocity of a kitten.

“You!” Uncle of Peanut pointed his finger at Viers. “We’re very busy today so state your business!”

Viers turned around to take in the sight. There were less than ten adventurers in the guild at the current time. With a place this big, it should handle fifty adventurers with no problem. The other guild girls who were doing nothing but acted all pretty behind their counter, held back their smiles professionally when Viers’ gaze went towards them.

“Right…” Viers replied. “Ehem, forgive me, sir. I’m just happy to be able to meet my favorite guild girl once more.”

“Oh? You've got a good eye. I praise you, youngster. If you understand the beauty of my niece then you shouldn't be a bad person.”

Unexpectedly, the Guildmaster’s friendliness went up.

“UNCLE!!”

“But!” The Guildmaster disregarded Peanut’s outburst. “I shan't allow my niece to be approached by bad stocks. To receive my permission to even glance at her, you must first prove your worth. Until then, I won't even bother to remember your helmet!”

Wow… How similar. Like uncle, like niece I suppose.

The fit and robust man took up three quest papers from the archive and put them on the table. A monster-slaying quest, a criminal-capturing quest, and a rare ingredient-gathering quest.

“Choose, youngster,” the Guildmaster sneered with a challenge.

Viers’ guild tag was at Obsidian, the quests were all Iron-ranked, a tier higher than Viers’ rank. Since Viers was only showing the aura of a Level 1, either this Guildmaster wanted to see him fail or he had seen through Viers’ actual Level and gave suitable quests as a test. Viers was inclined to the latter.

“Got it,” Viers took the criminal capturing quest in the middle. The target was a Level 2. “Peanut, Uncle Peanut,” Viers dipped his head to both before leaving. Boram also bowed his head to both before chasing after his master.

After Viers went through the door, the Guildmaster spoke. “Answer me honestly, how long have you two been dating?” He said in all seriousness.

“Back to work, you lazy bum!” Peanut kicked him on the butt.

***

A few hours later, when the guild was filled with adventurers eating supper after a hard day of questing, a person walked in as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

An adventurer caught a peek of him from the corner of his eye and spat out the beer he was drinking, showering the person next to him before getting a punch to the face. Another adventurer choked on the steak he ate until his tablemate helped him. One waitress was paralyzed as she was pouring ale, a dwarf adventurer shoved the mug out of the way and put his mouth below the bottle.

There were other reactions as well. Those that fainted, those that ran away screaming, and those who pulled out their weapon.

The man was wearing a metal helmet with a similar design to a knight from the neighboring country. Dark brown leather armor under his dark green long cape. An uncommon sword was resting on his waist. He did not look like it under all that gear but he seemed a bit plump to the trained eye.

The people were not in awe of his appearance but of the thing that he carried.

Viers approached the counter where Peanut was writing a report and put a bloody head on the table.

“Here’s your criminal.”