Chapter 3
WITH MY ADVENTURER registration complete, Ashley and I headed to the adjacent Comprehensive Guild annex. We had done the registration at the main building, but there were various other guild buildings on the premises, including artisan workshops, a commercial guild hall, a magic guild hall, a library, a training center, a mercenary branch, and an administration building, among others. It felt like a comprehensive government complex.
As we entered the annex, I saw that the interior was laid out similarly to the main building, with a reception counter up front. The space was divided into exhibit areas that displayed gathered materials and proofs of extermination from various regions. It was also sectioned by tables. This part served both as waiting areas and spots for receiving your rewards.
“You submit the proof of extermination over there,” Ashley said.
She led me to the counter where an old man sat behind the window. With slicked-back hair, a thin mustache, and a monocle, he looked like an elderly gentleman.
“Welcome. I am Lesmond, the appraisal officer. Please present your guild card and the proof of extermination.”
“Here you go.”
I handed Lesmond the guild card and the mage goblin’s sash. Lesmond set the guild card on a crystal pedestal behind the counter. He spread the sash out on the table, lightly touching it, as if discerning something.
Ashley explained Lesmond’s actions: “Lesmond possesses the Appraisal Skill. He’s a level three, and it’s expected he’ll manifest the Analysis Skill soon.”
“Appraisal” was one of those skills they mentioned earlier. It sounded like it had many levels, which, when increased, granted higher skills. So was this how this world worked? Could I manifest something too?
These skills were special abilities inherent in people, but they were ranked by a system like you would find in a game. These were acquired by this world’s inhabitants to fight magical beasts and demi-humans and to survive in the world. Yet, to me, they seemed like a game system, leading to the illusion that this other world I fell into might also be a game world.
“This is a splendid sash,” Lesmond said. “I can give you fifty-five silver coins, or fifty-five thousand Orls for it. Additionally, a mage goblin extermination nets you three hundred points. Congratulations, Schwarz, you’ve been promoted from G-rank to E-rank.”
“E? Not F?”
“Correct. You need twenty-five points to advance from G to F, and two hundred and fifty points from F to E.”
Ah, then with a total of two hundred and seventy-five points, and having earned three hundred, that meant I earned E-rank with twenty-five points left-over going toward D-rank.
“Thank you.”
“I think you’ll surpass E-rank in no time, Schwarz,” said Ashley. “But please don’t overdo it.”
“Okay. Thank you, Ashley.”
Lesmond paid me and returned my guild card. I checked out my new stats.
Adventurer Registration Card
Name: Schwarz Powder
Age: 24
Place of Origin: VMB
Main Weapon: None
Main Magic Attribute: None
Skills: None
Abilities: None
Tax Payment Method: From Adventurer Income
Rank: E (25/500)
Oh, I actually need a total of five hundred points to reach D-rank. I wonder how much is earned per request? I’ll check tomorrow.
“Let’s get back to the inn, Schwarz. The sun has already set outside. Remi must be getting impatient.”
“Come back anytime, Schwarz,” Lesmond said.
With that, we left the annex and went to the inn that Remi recommended we dine at.
✦ ✦ ✦
Knock, knock!
“Door’s open.”
“Excuse me,” I said, walking in. “I’m Comprehensive Guild investigator Remi. I have a report on the stray goblin extermination post-investigation near Myral Village.”
After parting ways with Ashley and Schwarz, I immediately headed to the Comprehensive Guild’s administrative building and arrived at the office of the general manager of the Balga branch. It was a simple office, only furnished with a desk and some bookshelves. A large spear—a memento of the general manager’s adventurer days—hung on the wall as the room’s sole decoration.
“Right. I’ll dispatch an investigation team to Myral Village right away. Depending on the situation, I may also deploy the knights. A newly born dungeon is valuable prey if it’s conquered quickly while still in its lower layers.”
The laughing general manager was Count Galbas Bjuritz. He was a beastman, with brown hair and pale, yellow eyes. He was over fifty, but even so, his large frame showed no signs of weakness—only strength.
He urged me to continue. “So, is there something bothering you about this man, Schwarz?”
“Yes. His unfamiliar armor, unknown magic, and lack of general knowledge of not only the kingdom, but all-around common sense, all suggest that he might be a fallen noble from another country.”
“Be direct—which country?”
“Apologies. Judging by the performance of his magical weapon, I suspect the Baishburn Empire.”
“The cold-blooded Ice Wolf Emperor, huh? I’ve heard he’s crushed more than half of the nobles since he took the throne. To think someone would flee all the way here. Well, I’d leave it be.”
“Really?”
“The Ice Wolf Emperor wouldn’t interfere here for the sake of one runaway noble boy. Focus on Myral Village instead. Assemble an investigation team immediately and locate that dungeon!”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Is this it?” I asked Ashley.
“Yes, it’s the White Flower Pavilion of the Labyrinth. Let’s go in.”
The inn was a white stone, three-storied building. You could see the front desk right away upon entering. Sitting behind a simple wooden reception desk was a cheerful and pleasantly plump lady.
“Welcome, are you here for a meal or lodging?”
“Good evening, Mirana.”
“Why, if it isn’t Miss Ashley! Welcome. Are you dining in?”
“Please, don’t call me ‘Miss.’ We’ll have a meal, but he also needs a room.”
“Very well. Lodging with breakfast and dinner is fifteen hundred Orls per night. I can discount that to ten thousand Orls if you stay a week, and forty thousand Orls for the month.”
While the month offer was the best deal, I only had fifty-five thousand Orls.
“A week, please.”
“All right, your room is number 203. Please keep in mind that breakfast is served from 6 to 9 a.m., when the morning bell rings. Dinner is served from 6 to 9 p.m., when the evening bell rings. Also, wash water will be brought to your room at 7 a.m. and again at 7 p.m. when you’ve returned from your outings.”
“Great. Thank you.”
Ashley paid Mirana, and the innkeeper gave me my room key. Ashley gently pushed me towards the dining room on the first floor.
“Let’s have a meal,” she said. “The food here is delicious.”
Ashley wasn’t kidding. The meals served in the dining room were scrumptious. While the buildings and culture in this other world were reminiscent of medieval Europe, the spices that were precious back then were plentiful here.
I tasted many spices, including pepper and sugar, in the dishes. Perhaps the inn’s culinary level was quite high. I looked forward to future meals here.
We hadn’t eaten since we left Myral Village early this morning. So, Ashley and I ate our meals quickly and quietly. Ashley didn’t like to talk much during meals, anyway. I entertained myself by watching her smile and make other pleasurable expressions while she silently munched her meal. It was all rather enjoyable.
“Oh no! It looks like I’m late!” It was Remi.
“Remi! Thanks for all your hard work. Sorry, but Schwarz and I just finished eating.”
“Good evening,” I said.
“No worries, I can eat alone. But first, I need you to return to the dormitory, Ashley. I’ll check tomorrow’s schedule later.”
“Tomorrow’s schedule? Is it the dungeon again? The general manager’s just as decisive as usual.”
“You know it. Schwarz, I apologize for inviting you to dinner. You must be exhausted, what from the journey from Myral Village and then going through the hassle of adventurer registration. Go rest up tonight. We can pick back up tomorrow.”
“Thank you. I think I’ll do that.”
Remi and Ashley would resume their guild investigator work tomorrow. As for me, I should take requests to raise my guild rank and earn money. I would need to take some time to check my equipment and VMB system first. Since arriving in this other world, I hadn’t had a chance to relax.