Six months have elapsed since I signed the contract, and within this time, my life has seen remarkable changes.
First and foremost, my financial fortune has taken a significant upturn. I've relocated my parents to a high-end, secure building where the affluent reside, ensuring their well-being.
My collection of weaponry has grown substantially, with over 100 swords in my possession. These blades include 20 of C grade, 5 of B grade, 2 of A grade, and the rest falling into the E grade category, which I've retained for emergency use.
In addition to my weapons, I've acquired numerous artifacts. I now own five C grade item storage rings, each capable of holding up to 150 items. I've also obtained two mana recovery rings, providing a substantial 20 mana per minute each. To further enhance my capabilities, I've invested in a black suit that not only acts as a shield but also boosts my speed.
On the path of personal growth, I've acquired new skills, skill books, and substantially increased my stats, which now stand at 5-7 times their previous levels. To gauge my standing, I wield an SSS grade sword, possess A grade artifacts, and maintain B grade stats.
During this six-month period, technological advancements have been remarkable, largely owing to the utilization of mana stones. These stones are now instrumental in power generation and have proven eco-friendly. Some nations have even managed to produce artifacts using mana stones. However, concerns have arisen about our growing dependence on these stones and what would happen if they were to deplete.
The world of adventurers has seen a clear division into two categories: 'hunters,' who engage in monster hunting, and 'collectors,' responsible for gathering mana stones. Hunters themselves are further subdivided into various classes such as swordsman, martial artist, mage, archer, healer, and tanks. Notably, adventurers of 'A' grade or higher are referred to as 'graders,' a term coined by authorities to distinguish the most powerful hunters. Every hunter aspires to become a grader, seeking to amass wealth and, perhaps, save the world from a long-forgotten apocalypse.
The one drawback in my life is the impending expiration of my contract, which is just a few days away. In the initial three months, I successfully cleared numerous dungeons and amassed considerable wealth. Subsequently, several prominent guilds emerged, including 'The Perfectionists,' 'The Royal Tigers,' and 'The Queens,' all led by S grade hunters and accompanied by 10-15 A grade hunters each.
These guilds have created a system where the government offers dungeon rights to them based on their grading, and they acquire these dungeons for various purposes, such as training new hunters. This arrangement proves far more lucrative than my contract, prompting the government to cease issuing new contracts to me, causing a sense of unease within me.
The last two weeks have passed without a contract offer, despite having amassed enough wealth to last a lifetime. Nevertheless, an inexplicable heaviness lingers in my heart as the contract's expiration date approaches.
In anticipation of the contract's conclusion, I visited the government building and met with the head officer who had originally signed the contract. While I had hoped to encounter the attractive lady once more, it was not to be. The head officer conveyed the government's decision to discontinue the contract and advised me to consider starting or joining a guild. However, founding a guild at this point presents financial challenges and risks that I am not yet prepared to undertake. Only time will reveal what the future holds.