My D Rank Skill is Actually SSS-Rank

Chapter 3: The Guild's Grand Welcome and the Case of the Over-Optimized Rat

The rest of the journey to Silverhaven was, to Alaric's endless frustration, exactly as inefficient as he'd predicted. Sir Grady, bless his resolute heart, seemed to possess an SSS-tier skill in 'Unwavering Optimism' and a D-Rank in 'Situational Awareness'. He boomed about the kingdom's glory, the inevitable defeat of the Shadow Blight, and the sheer nobility of walking for days. Alaric, meanwhile, was silently cataloging every loose stone, every dusty leaf, and every slightly-too-firm patch of ground, wondering if he could somehow 'refine' the very concept of 'walking' into 'instantaneous teleportation'. His stamina bar, which he could practically feel blinking red, was a constant source of irritation.

"Are we there yet?" Alaric finally whined, a question he hadn't uttered since he was five. His new body, it seemed, came with a built-in 'teenager' debuff.

"Almost, young one! Just over that rise!" Sir Grady declared, his voice echoing off the trees. The transparent slime, still jiggling happily behind them, seemed to emit a faint, contented hum, as if enjoying Alaric's suffering. Traitorous blob. I refined you, and this is how you repay me? You better not be judging my stamina stats.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of dusty roads and Sir Grady's incessant heroic monologues, the capital city of Silverhaven appeared on the horizon. It was a sprawling metropolis, its walls of grey stone rising impressively against the sky. Even from this distance, Alaric could tell it was a hub of activity. And, more importantly, a potential goldmine of D-Rank materials.

"Behold, young man! Silverhaven! The heart of the kingdom!" Sir Grady announced, striking a dramatic pose that probably had its own C-Rank skill notification.

Alaric, however, was already mentally dissecting the city. Walls look sturdy, but probably made of suboptimal stone. Towers are tall, but likely inefficiently designed for wind resistance. And the sheer amount of foot traffic means endless discarded materials. This place is a craftsman's paradise. Or rather, a refiner's paradise. He could practically feel his skill itching.

As they approached the main gate, the sheer inefficiency of the entry process became apparent. A long, winding queue of merchants, travelers, and a few weary-looking adventurers snaked towards a series of checkpoints. Guards, looking bored and overworked, were meticulously inspecting every cart and person.

"This is going to take forever," Alaric muttered, already feeling his patience fraying. "Don't these people understand queue management? This is like trying to log into a server on patch day."

Sir Grady, however, simply strode to the front of the line, pulling Alaric along. "Sir Grady, The Resolute, escorting a promising new talent to the Adventurer's Guild!" he announced to a guard, puffing out his chest.

The guard, a burly man with a perpetually tired expression, barely glanced up. "Name, rank, business. Next."

"But I am Sir Grady!"

"And I'm Guard Captain Borin. I've got a line of fifty merchants trying to declare their fermented cabbage. State your business, Sir Grady, or get in line like everyone else." Borin didn't even look at his System screen, probably because it was constantly flashing 'Fatigue: Critical' or 'Patience: Zero'.

Alaric smirked. Heh. Even A-Rank heroes get treated like D-Rank commoners by the bureaucracy. Excellent. This world has potential for chaos. He leaned in to Grady. "See? Inefficiency. If only I could refine his 'Patience' skill into 'Infinite Tolerance'."

Sir Grady, surprisingly, deflated slightly. "Very well, Borin. This young man possesses an extraordinary skill. We require immediate passage to the Guild."

Borin finally looked at Alaric, then at the transparent slime still jiggling obediently beside him. His eyes widened slightly. "A transparent slime? What in the blazes...?"

"Just a pet," Alaric said quickly, trying to sound innocent. "Very... clean. And bounces."

Borin, clearly too tired to question the existence of a perfectly clear, jiggling blob, just waved them through. "Fine, fine. Just try not to cause too much trouble, 'young talent.' And keep your... pet on a leash."

They finally reached the Adventurer's Guild, a massive, imposing stone building that somehow still managed to look like a glorified tavern. Inside, it was a cacophony of shouting adventurers, clanking armor, and the faint smell of stale ale and unwashed bodies. A long line stretched towards a counter where a perpetually exasperated woman with a towering stack of paperwork was processing registrations.

"This is it, young man! The heart of adventure!" Sir Grady declared, gesturing grandly.

Alaric just stared at the line. "This is the heart of bureaucracy. Do they not have a 'Fast Pass' option for SSS-tier talents?"

They eventually made it to the front, after Sir Grady used his 'Chivalrous Pose' skill to subtly (and awkwardly) cut in front of a few bewildered low-rank adventurers. The woman at the counter, a stern-faced individual with spectacles perched on her nose, looked up, her expression a perfect blend of boredom and disdain.

"Name. Rank. Purpose," she rattled off, not even making eye contact.

"Alaric. D-Rank. Registration," Alaric replied, trying to sound confident. He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his back. This was worse than a final exam.

The woman, whose nameplate read 'Agnes - Guild Registrar', finally looked up, her eyes scanning his generic face, then flickering to his D-Rank status on her own System screen. She snorted. "D-Rank, huh? Another one. What's your skill, boy? 'Basic Foraging'? 'Minor Laundry'? 'Enthusiastic Pebble Collecting'?"

Alaric bristled. "It's Basic Material Refinement."

Agnes actually laughed, a dry, humorless sound. "Oh, a refiner! We get dozens of you. Think you're going to turn lead into gold, do you? You'll be lucky to make a decent cooking pot. Next!" She waved him away.

"Wait!" Alaric protested. "But my skill is—"

"Your skill is D-Rank, boy. It's on your record. Now move along, I have real adventurers to register."

Oh, she wants to play hardball, does she? Fine. Let's show her what 'Basic Material Refinement' can really do. Alaric's perverted mind immediately supplied a few ideas, but he quickly reined them in. No, not yet. Too public. Need to establish dominance first. Then, maybe, I can 'refine' her spectacles into a 'Scrying Lens of See-Through Clothing'. For tactical advantage, obviously.

He looked around. The counter was made of old, worn wood, scarred with countless nicks and scratches. Perfect. He subtly placed his hand on the counter, focusing his skill. The wood beneath his palm began to hum, almost imperceptibly. The nicks smoothed out, the scratches vanished, and the dull, worn surface began to gleam. It wasn't just clean; it was polished to an impossible sheen, reflecting Agnes's stern face with perfect clarity. The wood itself seemed to harden, its grain becoming impossibly tight and beautiful.

System Notification: [Basic Material Refinement] activated. Material: Worn Guild Counter (Common Wood). Result: Perfected Enchanted Oak Counter (SSS-Tier Artifact). Condition: Indestructible, Self-Polishing, Minor Aura of 'Bureaucratic Efficiency'.

Agnes, mid-scoff, paused. Her eyes slowly widened as she looked down at her counter. She ran a hand over it, then quickly snatched it back as if burned. "What... what did you do?!"

"Just a bit of basic material refinement," Alaric said, affecting a bored tone. "Your counter was looking a bit... suboptimal. Thought I'd give it a quick polish. For optimal bureaucratic efficiency, of course." He winked.

Agnes stared at him, then at the counter. She tried to scratch it with her fingernail. Nothing. She tried to slam her fist down in frustration. Her fist bounced off with a dull thud, sending a shockwave up her arm. She yelped.

"It's... indestructible?" she whispered, her voice laced with disbelief.

"And self-polishing," Alaric added helpfully. "You'll never have to worry about dust or grime again. Think of the time savings. The increased productivity." He leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "I also gave it a minor aura of 'Bureaucratic Efficiency.' Should speed things up. You're welcome."

Agnes looked from the counter to Alaric, her face a mixture of awe, fear, and utter confusion. "You... you did this with a D-Rank skill?!"

"Yep. Just basic refinement," Alaric confirmed, shrugging. "Turns out, most people just don't know how to properly optimize their D-Rank skills. It's all about the hidden potential, you know?"

Sir Grady, who had been watching the entire exchange with his mouth agape, finally found his voice. "By the Holy Light! He speaks the truth, Agnes! This young man is a miracle worker! He turned a common slime into an indestructible, transparent orb! And now, the counter! Imagine the possibilities!"

Agnes, however, was still fixated on Alaric. Her eyes, behind her spectacles, seemed to gleam with a new, terrifying light. "You... you can do this to anything?"

Alaric suddenly felt a chill. That wasn't awe. That was greed. And possibly exploitation. "Uh, well, anything D-Rank or below, mostly. And it takes time. And concentration. And, you know, a lot of... effort." He tried to back away, but Sir Grady's hand was still firmly on his arm.

"Nonsense!" Agnes declared, a terrifying smile spreading across her face. "You, boy, are not going anywhere! Not until you've refined every single piece of furniture in this Guild! And then, perhaps, the entire city! We shall call you... The Grand Refiner! No, wait, The Master Optimizer! Yes! That has a ring to it!" She pulled out a new form, her movements suddenly much faster. "New Registration! Alaric! Skill: Basic Material Refinement! Rank: Special Provisional SSS-Tier! Purpose: Guild Asset Optimization! Get to work!"

Alaric stared at the new System Notification that popped up, confirming his forced 'promotion'. Special Provisional SSS-Tier? Guild Asset Optimization? This is worse than a forced side quest! I just wanted to register and find some loot. This is going to be a long, long grind. And I bet she won't even pay me properly. Probably in D-Rank copper coins.

He sighed, looking at the gleaming counter. His pervy thoughts, however, were already back in full swing. Well, if I'm stuck here, maybe I can 'optimize' the Guild's uniform materials. For 'flexibility' and 'breathability,' of course. And perhaps a 'self-adjusting' feature for optimal... comfort. He glanced at Agnes, who was now cackling maniacally as she stamped his new 'Special Provisional SSS-Tier' guild card. She probably needs some 'refinement' too. Maybe I can refine her 'cynicism' into 'unbridled joy.' That would be a truly SSS-tier exploit.

The transparent slime jiggled beside him, a faint, purring hum. Alaric swore it was laughing.