∗ ∗ ∗
“Yes, it’s fine with me. You’re referring to registering us with the adventurer’s guild and having them issue us status cards, correct?” I repeated the main points of Greg’s explanation for good measure.
From what he’d said, that was the easiest legitimate method of getting identification in this city. Naturally, there were other possible methods if we invoked the Marquess of Trahn’s power. He’d explained these as well, but each one had some kind of drawback. The most problematic were the ones that weren’t in the realm of Katarina’s own authority. What was within her power was speaking to one of her allies on the city council—namely, the adventurer’s guild leader—and getting him to issue us status cards quicker than it would normally take.
Well, it was the safe choice. Status cards were the most common form of identification, but there were a limited number of organizations which issued them. The adventurer’s guild was one of these, and unlike the Church, it mainly used status cards to manage its adventurers. The entry categories and design also had various differences from the Church-issued ones. The cards from the adventurer’s guild themselves represented an adventurer’s rank, the measure of their expertise. Of course, the rank was listed as well, so it wasn’t strictly necessary to have distinct designs. It was just for decoration. It probably made it easier to tell at a glance too. They were basically split by color and material.
Status cards needed to have circuits for mana to flow through, due to their nature as magic tools, but they didn’t always have to be made of mythril. Plain iron would work too, depending on how it was processed. In exchange for convenience, they were less durable and had more limited functionality. They were different than the status cards which the Church issued to nobility, but they were good enough for general use. In other words, you could call the Church-issued cards a complete version, and the adventurer’s guild-issued ones a simplified or limited-functionality version. Apparently high-ranking adventurers had status cards that were more complete, but the ones that we were to be issued would undoubtedly be for the very lowest rank: iron.
“Indeed. Mr. Fresco Main is the leader of the adventurer’s guild, and he dotes on Lady Katarina like a little sister. I’m certain that if we explain the situation to him, he will gladly cooperate. We will give you a letter of introduction. Simply present it to the staff there and they should accommodate you,” Greg said with full confidence.
But I wondered if things would really go so well. It might be suspicious if a guy like me showed up out of the blue one day and handed him a letter like that. Well, if he was on good terms with Katarina, he’d have plenty of ways to verify the story, so he might come around pretty quickly...
I decided to voice my concerns anyway. “Even with such a letter, would he really believe a person like myself?”
Katarina answered this. “Indubitably. Lord Fresco is a man of very firm character, but he is as kind as can be toward those who have won his trust. He has helped me on many occasions. So I am quite certain.”
“I see. If you say so, then.”
The mention of “firm character” made me feel a bit intimidated. I used to know someone like that. Specifically, my old home’s captain of knights. He was an obstinate and stern man. And he’d always end up saying to me, “prove it with your sword” or “show me your skills.”
But I definitely couldn’t complain about that to Katarina and Greg. I just knew I needed to have a line of support ready in case there were issues.
So I asked, “If some manner of misunderstanding occurs, can I contact you?”
Katarina made a puzzled face, but Greg seemed to understand where I was coming from. “That is a valid point. You may visit here again if that happens. I’ll have a word with the gatekeeper.”
His reply set me at ease. Usually you wouldn’t be able to make repeated calls upon a noble house that easily. It was good enough to get permission to contact them, I thought.
But then, Katarina tilted her head to the side. “Hm? Lord Noah, why not stay at this manor for the time being? You have no lodgings, correct?”
Greg’s expression turned to one of alarm. Apparently he and his mistress weren’t on the same page about this. This was a major oversight for a steward of his caliber. Actually, perhaps he’d expected from the start that Katarina would say this, even without talking to her about it.
I was thinking that we would figure out our lodging situation on our own, and Greg seemed to be inclined toward that as well, so I’d thought we’d had an understanding without really needing to broach the matter.
There were a lot of us, besides. Just me and Cath would’ve been one thing, but there were also the kobolds, who were currently eating in a different room. This was by my request, not because of any prejudice. Since they didn’t know table manners, I’d decided that it could be risky to have them eat in Katarina’s presence. One could never tell what might offend a noble.
As it turned out, Greg was about to get a blemish on his career as a steward. I felt sorry for him.
Katarina continued. “Please feel free to stay here at your leisure until your affairs are sorted. Greg, see to it.”
Greg’s eyes darted around, but he ultimately appeared to give in. “As you wish.”
Somehow or another, we’d just gotten a free ticket for lodgings for a while.