Chapter 111: Guild Upgrade [ D ]

The next day dawned quietly, a pale line of gold creeping over the eastern horizon. It slipped through the narrow gap between rooftops and poured into Greyvale City like a secret meant only for early risers.

For once, Sage was among them. His eyes snapped open before his body fully registered what was happening, his heart racing just a bit faster than usual.

In a brief moment of disorientation, he lay there staring at the ceiling, mind blank and body still heavy with sleep. Then it hit him all at once.

Today.

The corners of his lips twitched upward before he could stop them.

“Today,” he muttered again, this time with conviction.

He pushed himself upright and swung his legs off the bed, rubbing his face as he stood.

The system had initiated the Guild upgrade at midnight, he remembered that much clearly, but he had been out cold by then, utterly exhausted after weeks of relentless work.

Normally, waking up early would have required divine intervention or some natural disaster. Instead, it took something far rarer: anticipation.

Sage moved quickly, splashing water on his face; the chill shocked the last remnants of sleep from his system. He dried off swiftly and donned a fresh set of clothes: a crisp white shirt tucked neatly into dark trousers, a tailored black vest that fit him perfectly, and a long coat adorned with subtle silver embroidery along the cuffs and collar. It wasn’t flashy but sharp, professional and unmistakably Guildmaster-like.

As he adjusted his coat and ran a hand through his hair, he caught sight of himself in the small mirror by the door.

“…Not bad,” he said to himself with an approving nod.

Then he was out the door.

He took the stairs two at a time, boots thudding against each step as excitement coursed through him. The second-floor corridor felt longer than usual; each second stretched thin as he raced toward the main hall.

The moment his foot hit the final step and he entered the Guild Hall…

“WOW!”

The word burst from him, loud, unfiltered, completely undignified. Sage froze mid-step.

His breath caught; his mind went blank. For several heartbeats, he stood there wide-eyed and slack-jawed as if stepping into an entirely different world.

“…What on earth…” he whispered.

This wasn’t the Guild Hall he knew; it was something else entirely. The first thing that struck him was its sheer scale.

The hall, once modestly cramped and barely able to accommodate a hundred people, had expanded more than threefold. The ceiling now soared high above him in elegant curves supported by massive stone pillars carved with intricate patterns that caught morning light and reflected it softly across the space.

Sunlight streamed in through newly installed high windows, casting long golden beams across the floor.

Sage’s gaze dropped, and he nearly screamed again as he looked at the floor. Polished marble stretched from the entrance to the far end of the hall, gleaming like a mirror. The surface was flawless, cool, and pristine, etched with subtle geometric designs that naturally guided the eye toward the heart of the Guild.

Each step echoed faintly, crisp and authoritative, a stark contrast to the dull wooden creaks he was accustomed to from countless tables and chairs.

Where there had once been barely enough seating for a small crowd, now more than two hundred chairs were arranged neatly throughout the hall, paired with sturdy tables spaced evenly for free movement.

The layout was intentional, open yet organized, bustling yet controlled.

“This…” Sage finally breathed, snapping out of his trance. “System. What on earth did you do to this place?”

A familiar voice answered him, smooth and unmistakably smug.

[What do you think? Cool, right?]

Sage rolled his eyes instinctively. “You could’ve warned me. I almost had a heart attack.”

[Oh please. You’ve survived worse. Besides, isn’t shock part of the fun?] The system shot back.

Sage snorted but couldn’t deny the grin tugging at his lips as he began walking forward slowly, absorbing every detail. At the far end of the hall, his eyes locked onto the Mission Board.

And his jaw dropped. The old wooden board was gone, completely replaced by a massive metallic structure that spanned nearly the entire wall. Its surface shimmered with a faint steel-blue sheen, polished to perfection with runes faintly etched along the edges.

The board had tripled in size; it towered overhead so imposingly that a ladder stood beside it for Adventurers to reach higher-ranked postings.

“That’s excessive,” Sage muttered, but he loved it.

“WAIT.”

His head snapped toward the wall near the entrance. In a blur of motion, Sage sprinted across the hall, boots skidding slightly on the marble as he barreled toward his destination.

“I’m gonna be rich; I’m really,really rich,” he muttered as drool appeared at the corner of his mouth.

A bar counter had appeared,…yes, a bar counter! Dark polished wood curved elegantly along one wall, its surface gleaming under sunlight.

Sturdy stools lined up in front were evenly spaced; their metal legs reinforced and leather seats plush and inviting. Shelves rose behind it, empty for now but clearly designed to display bottles, glassware, and trophies of indulgence.

Sage reached out tentatively; fingertips trembling slightly as they brushed against the counter’s smooth surface.

He whistled softly before reverently running his palm along it while half-closing his eyes as if savoring every moment.

“This is it,” he murmured. “This is my retirement plan.”

He circled the counter, stepping behind it like a man entering sacred ground. As he admired it from every angle, his gaze was drawn to something else, a small doorway discreetly hidden behind a heavy curtain.

Curiosity piqued, he pulled the curtain aside and froze. Beyond lay a fully equipped brewing workshop. Copper vats gleamed, distillation coils shimmered, and barrels were neatly stacked along the walls. Shelves brimmed with glass bottles, racks of tools lined the space, and temperature-controlled storage hummed softly with magical reinforcement, all brand new and pristine.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Sage breathed in disbelief.

The system’s voice resonated with unmistakable pride:

[State-of-the-art. Fully functional. Optimized for long-term production.]

Sage laughed heartily, throwing his head back as he took in the setup.

“You’re amazing,” he said without hesitation. “I take back half the insults I’ve ever thrown at you.”

[Only half?] The system replied dryly.

“Don’t push it.”

Still grinning, Sage stepped back into the hall.

[Go check your desk.] The system suggested suddenly.

Sage raised an eyebrow. “Why do I feel like I’m about to scream again?”

[Because you are.]

He spun around immediately and let out a shout. His old, pitiful wooden desk had vanished, replaced by a massive black reception counter polished to a mirror finish that stretched nearly five times its original length, elegant and imposing.

Six tall chairs stood ready for visitors in front of it, while four magnificent wooden chairs carved with intricate patterns awaited staff behind it.

Beyond the desk lay a lounge area. Sage approached slowly, as if afraid this illusion might vanish at any moment.

Soft sofas formed an inviting arrangement around a low coffee table, their rich fabric beckoning him to sit down. Two carefully placed bonsai plants flanked the space, adding calmness and refinement. A small bookshelf stood nearby, already stocked with neatly arranged volumes.

The lighting here was warm and gentle, perfect for rest, conversation, and quiet authority.

“You really outdid yourself,” Sage murmured as he took it all in.

Then his gaze fell on the wall, the Guild Archive Wall, which had expanded dramatically since he last saw it. Luxurious materials replaced its old framework, dark stone mingled with reinforced metal accented by subtle golden inlays. The upper shelves now housed neatly categorized ledgers divided by rank: Iron, Copper, Silver, Gold.

Below them were expanded storage compartments, sealed and labeled, each significantly larger than before. And behind it all lay the treasury: hidden yet expansive and organized.

Sage’s chest tightened with excitement; he hadn’t anticipated such earth-shattering changes during this upgrade of the Guild.

Just then, he heard some noises from outside. Frowning slightly, he turned toward the entrance and crossed the hall. The doors, now larger, reinforced, and quite imposing, swung open with a heavy pull.

Sunlight flooded in immediately.

And then he heard a familiar voice call out.

“Petty Uncle Sage, what have you done to the Guild?!”

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