Chapter Thirteen: Career Planning

“Ice Arrow (Beginner): Proficiency: 24/75”

The witch was an extraordinary being of at least the third tier, her power undeniable. She contributed a full 15 points to the Ice Arrow’s proficiency!

This battle left Ethan gravely wounded. When Miss Chloe carried him back to the town, the witch’s curse had already taken effect upon him.

He had caught a cold.

It turned out that getting drenched in the rain would indeed cause one to fall ill, especially after casting an Ice Arrow spell, which greatly increased the risk of catching a chill.

He left the town guards behind and returned to his room. After hanging his soaked clothes to dry and wiping his hair and body, he lay down on the bed, wrapping himself entirely in the blanket. Medical care was limited in this era, and being in a remote town, the best remedy was simply to endure it with sleep.

His sleep was deep and dream-filled, fraught with bizarre images.

He dreamt of Wealthy gracefully strolling through the town streets. The white cat was unaware of his presence, turning and slipping into an alley. When Ethan followed her, he witnessed an astonishing scene.

The white cat leapt down from the wall and, right before his eyes, transformed into a silver-haired maiden.

And then Ethan awoke.

First and foremost, he was not a furry—a point that needed clarification.

He gazed at the unfamiliar ceiling, feeling the warmth and comfort of the mattress. A faint scent lingered on the pillow. Soon, the aroma of meat broth wafted in.

“Drink it while it’s hot.”

Ethan turned toward the voice. The silver-haired maiden from his dream had become Ivy, with a tuft of hair sticking up atop her head. She held a steaming bowl of broth in her hands, a cookbook open on her lap, detailing the recipe.

She wore a loose violet silk robe, softening her entire demeanor considerably.

Ivy remarked, “Though it’s my first time making it, the steps were much simpler than the guild’s experimental classes. I’ve tasted it; the flavor’s just fine.”

Only then did Ethan realize he was in the young lady’s boudoir. The white lace canopy overhead was imbued with romantic charm, and the decorations made him feel as if he had stepped from a primitive wilderness into a civilized society. All the furniture was made of oak, ornately carved with artistic motifs.

A large bed, a wardrobe, a dressing table, and a mirror—conservatively, Ivy’s room was about half the floor space of the guild’s meeting hall.

He awkwardly accepted the bowl. Ivy had added plenty of seasonings; he even detected the scent of pepper, a rare luxury in Creekwood Town. To obtain it required going to the large town merchant guild, and supplies were scarce, not always available. For a laborer like him, it was an extravagance beyond reach.

Ivy truly came from a wealthy household.

Before he could say a word, a warm, smooth hand rested on his head, gently stroking before moving to his chin.

“What are you doing?”

“The book says this helps you relax.”

“Which book?”

“The ‘Large Animal Care Guide.’ It’s the only book on my shelf. I’ve never cared for anyone before, so I brushed up on some theory.”

Ethan’s eyelid twitched. “Do I look like a large animal to you?”

“No,” Ivy said. “Based on your build, you’re a medium-small animal, but the care techniques should be universal.”

“Is there another possibility? That I’m human.”

“Are you uncomfortable?”

Ivy withdrew her hand in confusion and lightly scratched her chin. She remained expressionless, while her golden hair curled contentedly. “I think it’s fine.”

It seemed she had diligently practiced the chin-scratching technique before he woke.

“This isn’t about comfort.”

Ethan now sensed a conspiracy filling the room. As Ivy said, she was a noble lady who had always been cared for by servants. When had she ever made broth for someone else? Something was amiss, and his own situation was abnormal—he had appeared shirtless in Ivy’s private chamber.

Could it be that he was about to be accused of impropriety toward a noble lady and dragged off by the guards?

Until he could discern Ivy’s intentions, he absolutely could not drink the broth. “You might as well be straightforward.”

“This incident made me realize a person’s strength is limited. I need an assistant.”

Ivy said, “All the detectives I know have assistants. You’re the best candidate. Do you have any plans to leave the Hunters’ Guild soon?”

“Why me?”

“Because you didn’t run off with my gun. That showed courage. Besides, you’re smarter than most people in town.” She thought for a moment, then added, “Wolf-Chicken indicated you met the witch’s followers halfway, fought alongside her, and barely escaped.”

This was the explanation Ethan had given to Miss Chloe to allay Ivy’s suspicions.

Ivy continued, “If you join me, I can offer you far better treatment than the Hunters’ Guild.”

“Sounds tempting, but sorry, that’s not my career plan.”

Ethan admitted the grand house and generous pay were enticing. However, reason held him back. Getting involved with a great noble family was never a wise choice. He knew nothing of Ivy’s lineage. Today, he was a detective’s assistant; tomorrow, who knew if he’d be caught up in family intrigues?

“Can you tell me your career plan?”

“To become a formal employee of the Containment Bureau.”

This was Ethan’s long-term goal. For it, he had gathered extensive information on the Bureau and sent three self-recommendation letters to the Containment Bureau in Gear City over the past two years. Yet, like the resumes he sent fresh out of university, all had vanished without response.

Taking the Hunters’ Guild clerk position was a compromise. While it afforded occasional involvement in occult cases, most of the time was spent on trivial, meaningless tasks.

The Containment Bureau was the ideal workplace—an institution closely tied to mystical cases across the empire, independent from noble or ecclesiastical control. Becoming an administrative staff member there meant access to cases from all over the empire without leaving one’s desk.

Ethan had studied the Bureau thoroughly. It had a dedicated intelligence division stationed at the rear, with job duties similar to a clerk’s. That was his ultimate destination.

Well-informed, leisurely work, and safety.

An imperial civil servant with a secure job.

The bad news was that the nobles of the imperial capital also coveted these positions.

From his past life’s experience, such roles were heavily nepotistic. It was difficult for someone from the lower classes like him to get in.

Ethan had considered trying his luck in Gear City, but poverty deterred him. He hadn’t saved enough for life in a big city. A rash move would mean becoming a vagrant or forced to work in a factory just to survive.

He would have to wait a while longer.

While practicing fireball magic, he had also accumulated two years of clerical experience. Once he saved enough for a start in the city, he planned to ask the guild leader for a recommendation letter.

Whether in magic or profession, he was steadily progressing.

“You want to become a formal employee of the Containment Bureau?”

“Though it may sound presumptuous to you, I am working toward that goal.”

“I’m not mocking you.”

Ivy paused before saying, “I just want to tell you, I know the current director of the Containment Bureau.”