My D Rank Skill is Actually SSS-Rank

Chapter 4: The Guild's First Task and the Case of the Over-Optimized Rat

Alaric stared at the new System Notification, his eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and utter exasperation. Special Provisional SSS-Tier? Guild Asset Optimization? This wasn't just a forced side quest; this was a full-blown, mandatory, potentially endless grind, complete with a terrifyingly enthusiastic NPC Guild Registrar. He just wanted to register, find some low-tier loot to refine, and maybe scope out the local bathhouses. Not become the kingdom's glorified janitor.

"Get to work, boy!" Agnes cackled, her smile unsettlingly wide as she stamped his new card with a flourish that seemed to vibrate the very air. "The Guild has been in disarray for years! Suboptimal equipment, inefficient facilities! But no more! With your D-Rank skill, we shall achieve peak operational efficiency!"

Alaric sighed, looking at the gleaming counter. It was truly a masterpiece of accidental refinement, reflecting Agnes's maniacal grin with perfect clarity. She probably needs some 'refinement' too. Maybe I can refine her 'enthusiasm' into 'mild apathy'. That would be a truly SSS-tier exploit for my own sanity.

The transparent slime, still jiggling happily beside him, seemed to emit a faint, purring hum. Alaric swore it was laughing. Traitor. You're enjoying this, aren't you? Just wait until I refine your 'purring' into 'excruciatingly loud opera singing'.

His first official task, as dictated by Agnes, was to "optimize the basement storage." She handed him a dusty, brittle parchment. "The storage area has seen better days. Pests, dampness, structural weaknesses. A perfect challenge for a Master Optimizer!"

Alaric trudged down a flight of creaking wooden stairs, the air growing heavier with the scent of mildew and something vaguely rodent-like. The basement was a nightmare. Piles of rusty swords, splintered shields, tattered cloaks, and discarded monster parts lay haphazardly. Dust motes danced in the single shaft of light filtering from a high window. And then there were the rats. Dozens of them, scurrying, squeaking, and gnawing on everything.

Oh, for the love of all that's holy. This isn't optimization; this is a biohazard. And a D-Rank one at that. Perfect. Alaric's cynical brain immediately shifted into problem-solving mode. He needed to clear the rats first. But how? He couldn't just refine them away; they weren't 'materials' in the same sense. He needed a D-Rank solution that could be... over-optimized.

He spotted a small, mangled rat trap in a corner. It was bent, rusty, and clearly hadn't caught anything in years. D-Rank. Perfect. He picked it up, focusing his skill. The familiar warmth spread.

System Notification: [Basic Material Refinement] activated. Material: Broken Rat Trap (Common Iron). Result: Perfected 'Rodent Relocator' (SSS-Tier Artifact). Condition: Unbreakable, Self-Resetting, Attracts Rodents (irresistibly), Teleports Captured Rodents to a Random, Harmless Location (within 100km radius).

Alaric stared at the now gleaming, perfectly functional trap. "Teleports captured rodents? To a random, harmless location?" He blinked. "That's... surprisingly humane. And ridiculously overpowered for a rat trap. No more dead rats, just... displaced rats." He imagined a horde of Silverhaven's rats suddenly appearing in a distant, unsuspecting farmer's field. Chaos. Beautiful, D-Rank chaos.

He set the trap down, baiting it with a small, stale piece of cheese he found in his pocket. Almost instantly, a particularly plump rat, bold as brass, scurried towards it. It sniffed, then confidently stepped onto the trigger plate. SNAP! The trap sprung, but instead of crushing the rat, a faint golden glow enveloped it. Poof! The rat vanished. The trap immediately reset itself with a soft click.

Alaric grinned. "Excellent. Now, for the mass extermination... or rather, mass relocation." He spent the next hour strategically placing the 'Rodent Relocator' around the basement. The rats, drawn by an irresistible urge (a refined pheromone, perhaps?), practically lined up to be teleported. This is more efficient than any pest control I've ever seen. And so much less messy.

As the last rat poofed away, leaving behind only a faint, bewildered squeak, Alaric surveyed his work. The basement was still dusty, but at least it wasn't moving. He then turned his attention to the piles of discarded gear.

He picked up a rusty, dented sword. D-Rank. So much potential. He focused. The rust melted away, the dents smoothed, the dull steel gleamed with the impossible perfection of Adamantine.

System Notification: [Basic Material Refinement] activated. Material: Rusty Iron Broadsword. Result: Perfected 'Blade of Unwavering Sharpness' (SSS-Tier Artifact). Condition: Indestructible, Edge Never Dulls, Minor Aura of 'Intimidating Gleam'.

"Intimidating Gleam? Seriously?" Alaric muttered, holding up the sword. It hummed faintly, reflecting his face with a blinding intensity. It looked less like a weapon and more like a highly polished, deadly mirror. Someone's going to trip over their own reflection trying to fight this thing.

He continued, working through the piles. A splintered wooden shield became an "Invincible Shield of Perfect Defense" that was also surprisingly lightweight and emitted a faint, comforting warmth. A tattered leather tunic became "Armor of Unseen Resilience," perfectly form-fitting and seemingly immune to damage, yet felt as soft as silk. And it's not transparent. Good. Learning from my mistakes.

Hours passed. Alaric worked with a focused intensity, his gamer brain in full flow, optimizing every D-Rank piece of junk into SSS-tier glory. The basement slowly transformed from a hazardous dump into a pristine armory, filled with impossibly perfect, gleaming equipment.

A voice suddenly broke his concentration. "What in the blazes...?"

Alaric looked up. Standing at the top of the stairs was a tall, lean man with sharp, intelligent eyes and a perpetually annoyed expression. He wore simple, dark robes, but they clearly spoke of magical prowess. This wasn't a hero; this was a mage.

System Notification: Adventurer Detected: [Master Elara, Arcane Analyst - A-Rank]. Skills: Mana Sense (A), Spell Dissection (B), Grumpy Observation (C).

Grumpy Observation? Seriously? This System has a sense of humor, Alaric thought, a small smirk playing on his lips. And an A-Rank mage. Probably thinks all D-Rank skills are beneath him. Perfect.

"Who are you, boy?!" Master Elara demanded, her eyes scanning the impossibly clean and gleaming basement. "And what have you done to the Guild's storage?! Where are all the rats? And why does this place smell faintly of... perfection?"

"Just doing my job, Master Elara," Alaric replied, affecting a bored tone. "Guild Asset Optimization. My D-Rank skill. You know, Basic Material Refinement." He gestured vaguely at a stack of perfectly folded, indestructible cloaks.

Master Elara's eyes narrowed. She walked down the stairs, her gaze sweeping over the SSS-tier artifacts. She picked up the "Blade of Unwavering Sharpness," her fingers brushing its impossibly keen edge. "This... this is Adamantine-grade! And this shield... it feels like nothing, yet my Mana Sense tells me its structural integrity is absolute! How did you do this with a D-Rank skill?! It defies all known magical principles!"

"Well, perhaps your 'known magical principles' are suboptimal," Alaric deadpanned. "It's all about the fundamentals. You wouldn't believe how much potential is hidden in common impurities. Just gotta... refine them out." He winked.

Master Elara stared at him, then at the sword, then back at him. Her "Grumpy Observation" skill seemed to be working overtime. "You... you're mocking me, boy! This is impossible! A D-Rank skill cannot achieve this! Are you using some forbidden artifact? A demon's pact?"

"Nope. Just me. And my D-Rank skill," Alaric said, shrugging. He then added, with a subtle glance at Master Elara's robes, which looked quite comfortable, if a bit plain. "Though, I must say, your robes look like they could use some refinement. For optimal mana flow, of course. And perhaps a bit of... flexibility."

Master Elara's eyes widened, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. "What did you just say?!"

Alaric smirked. Got her. Even grumpy mages aren't immune to the allure of 'optimization'. "Just thinking about material properties. For peak performance. You know, for a mage, comfort and flexibility are key. Wouldn't want any unnecessary chafing during a high-tier spell, would we?"

Master Elara sputtered, her face now a deeper shade of red. "You... you insolent little pervert! Are you suggesting I need my robes... refined for comfort?!"

"Purely professional observation," Alaric insisted, trying to look innocent. "Optimal material usage. It's my D-Rank calling."

Before Master Elara could unleash a magical barrage (or perhaps just a very grumpy lecture), Agnes appeared at the top of the stairs, her terrifying smile still in place. "Ah, Master Elara! Just in time! Our Master Optimizer here has already begun his work! Look at this magnificent counter! And the storage! All thanks to his D-Rank skill!"

Master Elara looked from Alaric to Agnes, then back to the perfectly refined basement. Her expression was a complex mix of fury, disbelief, and a grudging hint of awe. "This boy... he's a menace! And a pervert! But... the quality of this work... it's undeniable!"

Agnes beamed. "Precisely! Now, Alaric, for your next task! We have a rampant rat problem in the Guild kitchen. They're too fast for the guards, too clever for the traps. Can you... optimize them?"

Alaric's eyes lit up. Rats? And I just refined a Rodent Relocator? This is too easy. And a kitchen? Potential for food refinement. And maybe, just maybe, I can 'optimize' the kitchen staff's uniforms. For 'flexibility' and 'breathability,' of course. He grinned. "Consider it done, Agnes. Just a bit of basic material refinement. For optimal rodent management."

The transparent slime jiggled beside him, its faint hum now sounding suspiciously like a suppressed chuckle. Alaric shot it a warning glare. Don't you dare. Or I'll refine your 'transparency' into 'blinding neon green'.