chapter 32 phantom Lotus

Kaelith stood in the dimly lit courtyard, his arms crossed as he regarded Lady Lara with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. She was unlike any noble he had encountered before—dominant, commanding, and completely unbothered by the idea of forcing her will upon others.

"I am but a commoner with no skills, my lady," he said smoothly, bowing just enough to show respect but not submission.

Lara raised an eyebrow, then let out an amused scoff. "No skills?" Her golden eyes gleamed with something unreadable as she reached into her velvet pouch. "Then I shall give you some."

Without another word, she flicked her wrist and tossed five glowing stones toward him. Kaelith caught them on instinct, his fingers curling around the smooth, pulsating surfaces. Skill Stones.

One alone was enough to awaken or enhance a skill. But five? That was absurd.

He barely had time to react before Lara stepped closer, the sharp click of her heels echoing through the empty courtyard. "Consider it a gift," she said, her smirk widening. "Or payment. Whichever helps you sleep at night."

Kaelith's grip tightened around the stones. "And what exactly am I supposed to do with these, my lady?"

Lara tilted her head, amusement dancing in her gaze. "You claimed to have no skills. Now you do. I suggest you make use of them."

Kaelith studied her for a long moment. He had obtained one Skill Stone before—by bowing to a noble in a moment of strategic submission. And now, she had given him five without hesitation.

His mind raced. This wasn't generosity. This was a test.

With a slow smile, he tucked the stones away and bowed slightly—just enough to acknowledge her authority without truly bending to it. "Then I suppose I owe you, my lady."

Lara chuckled. "Oh, you do."

Then, without another word, she turned and strode away, leaving Kaelith standing there, the weight of the Skill Stones heavy in his palm.

As the cool night air settled over the now-empty auction house, Kaelith stood in the dimly lit courtyard, idly rolling the glowing Skill Stones between his fingers. The weight of them was heavier than it should have been—not physically, but because of what they represented.

Lady Lara was no ordinary noble. She was a woman who commanded power effortlessly, one who treated people not as equals, but as tools, as means to an end. And tonight, she had decided he was useful.

She stood before him, her golden eyes gleaming with something unreadable. The deep crimson of her dress, lined with golden embroidery, seemed to shimmer under the flickering lantern light.

"I need you to retrieve something for me," she said, her voice smooth, confident—like a queen giving an order, not a request.

Kaelith tilted his head slightly, feigning curiosity. "Oh? And what might that be, my lady?"

She took a step forward, her presence alone enough to command attention. "The Phantom Flower."

Kaelith's smirk faltered just a fraction before he controlled himself. So that's what she wants…

The Phantom Flower wasn't just rare—it was dangerous to obtain. A mystical bloom that only grew in cursed lands, thriving in the presence of lingering death. And if that wasn't bad enough, she continued,

"It's located in Bandit Occupation—a Level 3 territory."

Kaelith exhaled softly, though he kept his expression calm. Bandit Occupation. That was not a place for an unarmed commoner. A lawless zone controlled by deserters, mercenaries, and outlaws who answered to no kingdom.

And she expected him to just walk in and take it?

Before he could speak, Lara's smirk widened. She stepped even closer, her voice dropping just slightly—a whisper laced with amusement.

"If you bring it to me…" She paused, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make him wonder. Then, with a slow, deliberate smirk, she finished—

"I will satisfy you."

Kaelith's grip on the Skill Stones tightened.

Her words were deliberate. Teasing? Maybe. A power play? Definitely. But the real question was—what kind of satisfaction was she offering?

Gold? Status? A favor? Something else?

The way she looked at him made it clear—she enjoyed watching him think about it.

Kaelith chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Satisfy me, my lady? That is quite the promise."

Lara tilted her head, amusement dancing in her gaze. "Oh? Does that tempt you?"

Kaelith exhaled through his nose, smiling just enough to keep up the game. "Tempt? No. Intrigue? Perhaps."

Lara chuckled—a rich, velvety sound. "Good. You have one week. Do not disappoint me."

Then, without another word, she turned, her crimson dress flowing behind her like a trail of blood. The sound of her heels clicking against the stone echoed through the silent courtyard as she strode away—not looking back even once.

Kaelith watched her go, his fingers slowly closing around the Skill Stones.

A rare flower. A deadly zone. A noble with dangerous expectations.

One week, huh?

His lips curled into a grin.

This was going to be fun.

As the final echoes of Lady Lara's footsteps faded into the night, Kaelith exhaled slowly, gripping the Skill Stones in his palm.

Before he could fully process her offer, a sharp chime rang in his ears.

Ding!

A translucent blue system window flickered into existence before him, casting a faint glow in the dimly lit courtyard.

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[System Message]

You have accepted a Unique Quest!

Quest: Bring the Phantom Flower

Difficulty: ???

Location: Bandit Occupation (Level 3 Territory)

Failure Condition:

Will face the anger of nobles.

Rewards:

???? (Unknown)

---

Kaelith's smirk tightened. Facing the anger of nobles… That wasn't just a warning—it was a death sentence for someone like him.

Because right now, Kaelith was nothing more than a Third-Class Citizen.

The lowest rank in society.

No land, no rights, no legal protection.

Guards could arrest or beat him for no reason.

Nobles could enslave him if they wanted.

He was one step above a criminal, and two steps below a dog.

If he failed, Lara wouldn't have to punish him herself—the world would do it for her.

Just as he was about to dismiss the system message, the sound of deliberate footsteps stopped him.

Click. Click. Click.

Kaelith turned his gaze back toward Lady Lara, who stood just a few feet away. Her golden eyes gleamed in the lantern light, her crimson dress flowing like spilled wine.

He raised a brow. "Did I forget something, my lady?"

Lara chuckled, shaking her head. "No, peasant." She said the word with amusement, but also as a reminder.

She tilted her head, watching him with the confidence of someone who owned everything in sight—including him.

"But before you run off to whatever gutter you call home, I have an incentive for you."

Kaelith folded his arms. "Oh?"

Lara took a slow step forward, her voice dropping just slightly. "If you bring me the Phantom Flower within three days…" She paused, letting the words hang in the air before continuing with a smirk.

"I will make you a Second-Class Citizen."

Kaelith's breath hitched.

A Second-Class Citizen.

That wasn't just a reward—that was a lifeline.

Right now, as a Third-Class Citizen, he had nothing. No home, no rights, no future. One wrong move, and he could be thrown into slavery or executed for sport.

In third class citizen

Only auction entry free rest no use.

But Second-Class Citizens?

They could get discount in repair

They could learn magic and restricted combat skills. If they find hidden mentor

They were protected by law—even against nobles. ( Few loop holes/

Kaelith knew what this meant. If he succeeded, he wouldn't just be some lowborn errand boy. He would have power.

Lara watched his reaction with amusement. "Interested now, aren't you?"

Kaelith let out a slow breath, forcing a smirk. "You certainly know how to make an offer, my lady."

Lara's smirk widened. "Good. Then don't disappoint me."

With that, she turned and walked away, her crimson dress sweeping behind her, the sound of her heels clicking against the stone fading into the darkness.

Kaelith exhaled, staring at the system message still floating before him.

---

[System Update]

Quest Update: Bring the Phantom Flower (Optional Time Limit Added)

Complete within 3 Days: Become a Second-Class Citizen.

---

Kaelith clenched his fist around the Skill Stones.

One week was dangerous.

Three days? That was madness.

But…

His smirk deepened.

For someone like him, madness was the only way up.