The moment I tapped [Yes], the system responded with a soft chime. A new menu unfolded before me, flickering with faint golden light as if the interface itself was holding its breath.
[Job Advancement System]
Randomization in progress...
Randomization? I frowned. I'd expected to choose—or at least have some say in the matter. But the system had other plans.
The loading bar pulsed steadily, my heart syncing with its rhythm. For someone 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 chime, the selection was complete.
[Job Acquired: Firefighter (C-Rank)]
Before I had a chance to understand it, the changes overwhelmed me 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 something new.
I felt... attuned. Not just to the world around me, 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 me.
Then came 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 emergencies.
Heat Resistance (Lv. 3): Significantly reduces the impact of extreme temperatures on performance.
The moment 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 emergencies rooted itself within me. It was like a muscle memory I'd never earned but suddenly possessed.
Before I could fully wrap my head around it, the system delivered one final message.
[System Notification]
The next job will be available once Firefighter reaches A-Rank.
And just like that, the rush faded, leaving me standing alone behind the storage container, my mind racing.
This was... a problem.
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 me 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 someone scanned me, 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.
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 meant performance had to be flawless.
I squared my shoulders, shoved my new worries into a mental 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 measurement was precise, every beam slotted into place without a hitch.
It wasn't just me. The workers moved with an energy I hadn't seen before—faster, sharper, more confident. It felt like something 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 me saving the district and their intense determination caused enough emotional impact that their skills all went up by one level.
By the time I checked the clock, we'd finished the day's workload two hours ahead of schedule.
That kind of efficiency was unheard of in this line of work.
I called everyone together, standing atop a steel beam like some kind of foreman king. "That's it for today!" I announced. "Go home early. You've earned it."
The cheer that erupted this time 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.
The word echoed in my head, and with it came the mental image of my current apartment—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 me already?"
I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. "I've got a question."
"I want to switch apartments," I said, getting straight to the point. "Preferably something in a B-Rank establishment."
There was a silence on the other end. Then, without hesitation, she said, "Why don't you simply move in with me?"
My brain short-circuited for a solid three seconds before I managed to stammer 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 memo.
"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 moment, then tucked it back into my pocket, my face still burning.
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 Reinforcement (Lv. 7)
Precision Engineering (Lv. 6)
Fast Assembly (Lv. 2)
On-Sight Adaptability (Lv. 2)
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 emergencies
Heat Resistance (Lv. 3) – Significantly reduces the impact of extreme temperatures on performance
Construction Worker (A-Rank) — Active in Portfolio
Scan, Absorb, Destroy