Daily Commissions

The morning air was crisp as Itsuki and Olivia descended toward the Windspire Guild Hall, a different branch from the one he'd visited previously. The structure was built into the side of a massive floating mountain, with landing platforms carved directly from the stone.

"So this is part of your daily routine?" Olivia asked, adjusting her grip on her broomstick as they approached the landing area.

"I've never missed a day," Itsuki replied, touching down on the crystal platform. "Consistency builds up over time."

The guild hall buzzed with morning activity. Adventurers of various ranks clustered around quest boards, studying available commissions and forming parties. The atmosphere was more business-like than the previous guild, with less socializing and more focus on efficient mission distribution.

Itsuki approached the reception desk, where a stern-looking woman with silver hair reviewed a stack of documents.

"Welcome to Windspire Guild," she said, looking up. "How can we assist you today?"

"Daily commission request," Itsuki said simply.

The receptionist's expression shifted to surprise as she studied something above his head. "Monochrome Knight... let me check your records."

She consulted a crystal display that flickered to life at her touch. Her eyebrows rose steadily as she scrolled through the information.

"Over one thousand completed missions," she said, genuine admiration in her voice. "Perfect completion rate, zero failures, consistent daily activity spanning..." She paused, recalculating. "Three years without a single missed day?"

Olivia turned to stare at Itsuki in shock. "One thousand missions? How is that even possible?"

Playing every day without missing a day for three years tends to have that happen, Itsuki thought. Out loud, he simply said, "Routine and dedication."

"Remarkable," the receptionist continued. "Given your record, I have something appropriate for your caliber." She produced a scroll sealed with dark wax. "Shadow Drake Elimination in the Crimson Peaks. Threat level: Extreme. Standard reward plus performance bonus."

A group of adventurers at a nearby table had been listening to the exchange. One of them, a burly man with scarred arms and cheap armor, stood up abruptly.

"Hold on a minute," he said, his voice carrying across the hall. "That's the hardest commission available today. I've been coming to this guild for months, and some outsider just waltzes in and gets handed our best paying job?"

His companions nodded in agreement, clearly agitated by what they saw as unfair treatment.

"Sir," the receptionist said firmly, "commission assignments are based on capability and record. The Monochrome Knight has earned his access to high-level missions."

"Monochrome Knight, my ass," the scarred man spat. "Anyone can fake a title display. I've never even seen this guy before."

Olivia, who had been quietly observing the situation, suddenly stepped forward. Her staff began to glow with a soft light as she fixed the complaining adventurer with an intense stare.

"Divination: True Sight," she announced, magical energy swirling around her as she gazed at the man.

After a moment, she lowered her staff with a dismissive expression. "He's nothing remarkable. Not even worth talking to."

The scarred adventurer's face turned red with rage. "What did you just say?"

"I said you're unremarkable," Olivia replied calmly, as if discussing the weather. "Your magical potential is below average, your combat technique is sloppy, and your equipment suggests you rarely complete missions above basic difficulty. Statistically speaking, you're not worth the effort of conversation."

She's being deliberately provocative, Itsuki realized. But why?

"You little witch!" the man snarled, his hand moving to his weapon. "I challenge you to prove your words outside!"

"I decline," Olivia said simply. "I don't fight people beneath my notice."

The man's face turned an even deeper shade of red. "Then your partner can answer for your insults! Unless the great Monochrome Knight is too scared to face a real challenge!"

The guild hall had gone quiet, with all eyes on the developing confrontation. Itsuki sighed internally. Classic light novel setup. Arrogant challenger, public humiliation incoming.

"Fine," he said. "But let's make this quick. I have actual work to do today."

◇◇◇

The guild's practice area was a circular platform suspended over empty sky, with magical barriers to prevent anyone from falling to their death. The scarred adventurer, who'd introduced himself as Gareth the Iron Fist, stood across from Itsuki with obvious confidence.

A small crowd had gathered to watch, including Olivia, who observed with the detached interest of someone studying an experiment.

"This'll teach you outsiders some respect," Gareth declared, drawing a massive two-handed sword that looked like it had seen better days. "I've been fighting in these parts for five years!"

"Impressive," Itsuki replied, not bothering to draw his weapon.

Gareth charged forward with a overhead slash, putting his full weight behind the attack. It was a powerful strike, but telegraphed and predictable. The kind of technique that would work against weaker opponents but had obvious flaws against anyone with real experience.

Itsuki stepped slightly to the side and executed a perfect parry with just his bare hand, redirecting the force of Gareth's swing while simultaneously striking a pressure point on the man's wrist.

Gareth's sword flew from his nerveless fingers, clattering across the platform. The big man stared at his empty hands in confusion, then at Itsuki, who hadn't even moved from his original position.

"What just happened?" Gareth demanded.

"You attacked poorly," Itsuki replied matter-of-factly. "Your form was sloppy, your timing was predictable, and you committed too fully to a single strike. Against someone with actual training, that approach will fail every time."

He turned and walked back toward the guild hall. "The match is over."

"Wait!" Gareth called out, flexing his fingers as feeling slowly returned. "That's it? You're just going to humiliate me and walk away?"

"I demonstrated the difference in our skill levels," Itsuki said without turning around. "What more did you expect?"

As they re-entered the guild hall, the other adventurers quickly made way, their expressions ranging from amazement to wariness. The receptionist simply nodded approvingly and handed Itsuki the Shadow Drake commission.

"Efficient as always, Monochrome Knight," she said.

Olivia fell into step beside him as they headed for the exit. "You know," she said thoughtfully, "you could have just ignored his challenge entirely."

"True," Itsuki agreed. "But dealing with it quickly prevents future problems. Word will spread that I'm not worth challenging casually."

"Practical," Olivia noted. "Though I'm curious why you didn't use a weapon. Was that for dramatic effect?"

"No," Itsuki replied. "Using a weapon would have been overkill."

As they prepared to depart for the Crimson Peaks, Itsuki noticed several adventurers giving them respectful nods. The brief demonstration had served its purpose, establishing his reputation at this particular guild.

Word will spread that I'm not worth challenging casually.

"Ready for a Shadow Drake hunt?" he asked Olivia.

"After that performance?" she replied with a grin. "I'm very curious to see how you handle an actual challenge."

◇◇◇

The Crimson Peaks lived up to their name. Jagged red mountains jutted from the clouds like ancient spears, their surfaces scarred by centuries of drake activity. The air shimmered with heat distortion, and Itsuki could feel the oppressive magical energy radiating from the peaks.

"There," Olivia pointed toward a cave entrance halfway up the largest mountain. "Shadow Drake lairs always face north to avoid direct sunlight. The magical readings are unmistakable."

Itsuki studied the cave mouth, mentally cataloging his approach options. Standard strategy would be to set elemental traps at the entrance, force it outside where I have mobility advantage, then exploit its predictable attack patterns.

"How do you usually handle drakes?" Olivia asked, landing her broomstick on a nearby ledge.

"Elemental traps, forced engagement in open terrain, pattern exploitation," Itsuki replied. "Shadow Drakes have three main attack sequences with specific recovery windows."

"Hmm." Olivia tilted her head, studying the cave entrance with a different kind of intensity. "That's certainly one approach."

She began pulling items from various pouches on her belt. Crystal vials, dried herbs, and what looked like chunks of raw meat.

"What are you doing?" Itsuki asked.

"Environmental manipulation," Olivia replied, beginning to mix ingredients in a small bowl. "Shadow Drakes are territorial, yes, but they're also creatures with biological needs. They hunt at dusk, rest during peak daylight hours, and have a weakness most people overlook."

She held up one of the crystal vials, which contained a swirling purple liquid. "Concentrated nightshade essence. Highly toxic to dragons, completely harmless to humans. But here's the interesting part."

Olivia soaked the chunks of meat in the essence, then scattered them along the mountain ledges leading away from the cave.

"Shadow Drakes are scavengers when food is scarce. They'll investigate any potential meal source, especially if it carries the scent of something already dead."

She's... baiting it? That's not how dragon fights work in the game. You engage them directly in their lair.

"The nightshade won't kill it immediately," Olivia continued, "but it will severely weaken its magical defenses and make it sluggish. Meanwhile..."

She began drawing runic symbols on the rocky ground with a piece of white chalk.

"Sensory dampening circles," Olivia said as she worked. "Shadow Drakes rely heavily on echolocation and magical sensing. Disrupt those, and they become much more manageable."

Itsuki watched with growing amazement as Olivia transformed the entire mountainside into an elaborate trap. Not the direct, confrontational approach he was used to, but something far more sophisticated.

She's thinking about this like it's a real creature with real behaviors, not just a collection of attack patterns and health points.

"Won't this take too long?" he asked. "The traditional method is more efficient."

"Is it though?" Olivia replied, finishing her preparations. "Your 'traditional method' relies on overpowering the creature through superior combat skill. Which works, certainly, but it's also risky and energy-intensive."

She gestured to her setup. "This approach exploits the creature's natural instincts and biological weaknesses. Less risk, less energy expenditure, higher success probability."

As if summoned by their conversation, a low rumbling echoed from the cave. The Shadow Drake emerged slowly, its massive form rippling with dark energy. But instead of the aggressive charge Itsuki expected, it began investigating the scented meat scattered across the ledges.

"It's working," he murmured, watching the drake methodically consume the poisoned bait.

Within minutes, the creature's movements became noticeably sluggish. Its usually pristine black scales took on a dull sheen, and the magical aura surrounding it flickered weakly.

"Now it enters the dampening field," Olivia said softly.

The drake stepped into the center of her runic circle and immediately became disoriented. Its head swayed back and forth as it lost track of their location, the sensory dampening effects taking hold.

"Your turn," Olivia said to Itsuki. "One clean strike while it's vulnerable."

Itsuki descended toward the confused drake, his blade materializing in his grip. The creature that should have been a fierce opponent barely reacted to his approach. A single Void Cutter to its exposed neck ended the fight instantly.

As the drake's body began dissolving into experience essence, Itsuki looked back at Olivia with newfound respect.

"I've never seen anything like that," he admitted. "Where did you learn to approach monster hunting that way?"

"Field research," Olivia replied, gathering her equipment. "When you study creatures as living beings rather than just obstacles to overcome, you discover they have exploitable behaviors beyond combat patterns."

She's right, Itsuki realized. I was thinking about it like a game encounter. She approached it like hunting an actual animal.

"The game perspective," he said, more to himself than to her.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing," Itsuki replied quickly. "Just thinking about different approaches to problem-solving."

Olivia smiled knowingly. "That's the difference between academic study and practical application. Books teach you to fight dragons. Experience teaches you that dragons are just very large, very magical animals with predictable needs and behaviors."

As they flew back toward the guild to report their success, Itsuki found himself reconsidering many of his assumptions about this world. If Olivia could revolutionize something as basic as monster hunting, what other "game mechanics" might actually be oversimplified representations of more complex realities?

"You know," Olivia said, glancing over at him with a satisfied smile, "I'm not just book smart. I've studied these beasts up close as well. There's a difference between reading about dragon behavior and actually observing them in their natural habitat."

I might have more to learn here than I thought.