An outer disciple could participate in the Inner Sect Trial once they reached the Apprentice Mage rank. By completing the trial, they could officially become Inner Disciples.

The difference between the two was enormous.

The resources available to Inner Disciples were of considerably higher quality than anything offered to the outer disciples.

Better spells, better instructors, better facilities, and most importantly, better opportunities.

To merely participate in the trial, an outer disciple first had to prove themselves by taking missions outside the sect. That was why these three women had climbed down from Azure Lotus Peak.

They weren’t here for money, nor for the credits.

They just needed an experience certificate proving they had completed outside missions. The MSFRM credits were practically useless to them because the Azure Lotus Sect already provided resources superior to most of what the rogue society could offer.

When Kai explained this, Rhys couldn’t help feeling a little jealous. Here he was feeling excited just because he could finally rent a spell.

Meanwhile, these three women considered most of those spells beneath their interest. The difference in starting points was ridiculous.

Then again...

Thinking about Crown of Force improved his mood considerably. Once he got that spell, things would be different. Thinking about the sheer potential of that legendary, evolving spell, Rhys’s mood improved a bit, and the frustration in his chest faded away.

Still, there was one thing bothering him. The librarian. Rhys couldn’t shake the feeling that the old man had specifically expected him to take this mission. Almost as if he had been waiting for him.

"We were searching for a Mind Mage. Do you know how difficult it was to find one?" Yuki suddenly exclaimed.

Rhys nearly jumped. For a second, he genuinely thought she had read his thoughts. Unfortunately, her answer didn’t satisfy him.

He wasn’t stupid.

The Azure Lotus Sect definitely had Apprentice Mind Mages. A sect with thousands of disciples couldn’t possibly be lacking them.

"We sadly only have three people in our group..." Yuki pursed her lips. She genuinely looked disappointed.

Rhys immediately felt a little guilty. Maybe he was overthinking things. Maybe they really had been struggling to find a fourth member.

[Ahem.]

’Fuck.’

[Do you notice it?]

[’Yeah.’]

Rhys kept his expression neutral. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

’It’s like her presence is involuntarily lowering my guard.’

The system became silent for a moment. Then its text slowly appeared.

[She possesses an Innate Trait.]

’Innate Trait?’

It was the first time Rhys had heard that term.

[When a mage becomes exceptionally proficient in a particular spell category, they can develop a unique property related to that category. These properties are called Innate Traits.]

Rhys became interested immediately.

’So they’re like passive abilities?’

[Something similar. Butsignificantly rarer. Many mages never develop one. during their entire lives. This girl has already developed an Innate Traitr elated to the Mind category.]

The system paused.

[And it is a powerful one. Be careful around her.]

Rhys resisted the urge to stare at Yuki. The silver-haired girl was currently smiling brightly while swinging her legs beneath the chair. She looked harmless. Almost too harmless. Which somehow made the warning even more concerning.

"By the way," Yuki suddenly said, pointing toward the eerie-looking girl beside her. "This is Selena. A Curse Mage."

Selena gave a small nod. The glowing blue veins beneath her skin pulsed faintly. Rhys immediately understood why ordinary people would avoid her. She looked like someone capable of putting curses in your food because you forgot to say good morning.

"And Kai is an Enhancement Mage." Kai merely crossed her arms. Unlike Yuki, she didn’t seem interested in making friends.

"And I am..." Yuki placed both hands on her hips. Her chest puffed out proudly. "I am an Ice Mage!"

The declaration sounded so triumphant that Rhys almost laughed. "Congratulations?"

Yuki’s eyes brightened. "Thank you."

"..."

"..."

The silence became awkward. Even Kai rubbed her forehead.

After introducing themselves, the three women looked directly at Rhys. Almost as if they were waiting for something.

"Oh." Rhys finally understood. "I am a Mind Mage."

"Wow!" Yuki’s eyes sparkled.

[If she′s acting, she deserves an award.]

’Yeah, yeah.’

The system wasn’t wrong. The reaction looked absurdly genuine. Rhys had a strange feeling that if he told her he could breathe air, she would still look impressed.

The conversation slowly shifted toward the mission itself. Whispering Ravine connected Azure Lotus Peak Territory to Grand Anchor Bay. Azure Lotus Peak was famous for producing spirit silks and medicinal herbs.

Most of their exports were sold to the scattered island territories throughout the Atlantis Ocean. As a result, Grand Anchor Bay was extremely important. Without the bay, the sect would lose a massive portion of its trade routes.

The problem was that Whispering Ravine was infested with monsters. Iron-Claw Baboons and Stone Monsters. Neither species was particularly powerful individually. But they were durable. Extremely durable.

The Iron-Claw Baboons possessed thick hides and terrifying physical strength. Meanwhile, the Stone Monsters practically looked like walking boulders.

Both species were infamous for their defensive abilities.

Rhys silently evaluated the group. Kai specialized in physical enhancement. Selena specialized in curses.

Yuki controlled ice.

Honestly, it seemed like a fairly balanced team. In fact, they didn’t even need him. Ice magic was effective for slowing enemies. Curse magic could weaken them.

Enhancement magic could finish them. Everything seemed covered.

’Maybe the mission just requires four people.’

Sure enough, "You don’t have to do anything." Kai’s cold voice interrupted his thoughts. She looked directly at him. "You can simply fill the empty slot."

The condescension wasn’t even hidden. Rhys merely shrugged. Honestly, he didn’t mind. Not even a little.

If they wanted to carry him through the mission, he would gladly accept. He could earn credits, observe real combat, and avoid danger. That sounded wonderful.

Until now, he had never actually fought a monster. The insects he killed didn’t count. Even if Iron-Claw Baboons and Stone Monsters only possessed mortal bloodlines, they were still monsters.

Ferocious monsters. Rhys genuinely didn’t know how his body would react upon seeing one. After all, before arriving in this world, he had been completely ordinary.

Not some battle-hardened veteran. Even if he got a system, he was still just an ordinary guy with limitless potential. It never hurt to be cautious.

"Then when are we starting?" Rhys asked.

The three women exchanged glances.

"The caravan departs tomorrow morning. It will reach Whispering Ravine around noon. Our mission is complete once the caravan safely crosses the ravine. Afterward, we report completion at the MSFRM branch in Grand Anchor Bay," Kai answered. "Then we simply take the next caravan back."

Rhys nodded. Simple and straightforward. "Sounds good."

He stood from his chair and cupped his hands politely. "Then I’ll see everyone tomorrow."

He still needed to arrange his work shift. And more importantly, deploy more hummingbirds. Just in case. The more lifespan he accumulated beforehand, the safer he would feel.

However, before he could take more than two steps away from the table, a soft hand suddenly grabbed his forearm. Rhys froze.

Yuki was looking up at him. "Where are you staying?"

"The stable."

"...The what?"

[Ahem...]

’Fuck..’

"I mean near a stable..." Rhys shivered inwardly. So close.

"Ohh..." she nodded her head slowly.

[She’s not a human..don’t leave her touch. Let me analyse.]

The words came absurdly, Rhys almost pulled his hands away.

’What?’

The system didn’t answer immediately. Which was never a good sign. Several long seconds passed. When it finally spoke again, its tone had completely changed.

Gone was the usual teasing. Gone was the playful banter. For the first time since Rhys had met it, the system sounded disturbed.

Deeply disturbed.

[She...She isn′t even a monster.]

Rhys’s heartbeat slowed.

’What do you mean?’

[She lacks everything a living being should possess.]

The system’s voice became increasingly uncertain.

[No proper soul. No normal life signature. No monster core.No mana circulation. Nothing.]

Rhys stared at the smiling silver-haired girl. She looked completely normal. More than normal. And she looked alive. Vibrantly alive.

’Then..what the hell is she?’ Rhys asked inwardly.

[Host...Even in the vast Systemverse... Even among the countless races, monsters, gods, and demons I had witnessed...I had never seen anything like she...]