7 - Adventurer's Guild
Darion is a town located near the royal capital.
In recent years, it has apparently become famous for its overflowing vitality and growing scale.
It is smaller than the cities in the territory of my family home, House Walt, but the miscellaneous vitality, which is not found in well-ordered streetscapes, felt fresh.
"Two days' distance from the royal capital via the post town... As I thought, it's good that the roads are well-maintained. Travel is fast."
As I stretched and looked around upon arriving in Darion, Novem turned her eyes toward a nearby signpost.
"There is a simple map. The names of the shops are written here as well."
Thinking it convenient, I looked at the signpost with Novem. Among the entries was the location of a building labeled as the Adventurer's Guild.
Judging by the layout of the map—.
"Riel-sama, is that not the building visible over there?"
The building visible even from the entrance of Darion was taller than the surrounding two- and three-story buildings.
It was likely the largest building in the area.
The Adventurer's Guild in Darion seems to be earning quite a bit.
"It's larger than the branch in my family... no, in House Walt's territory."
Seeing me correct myself, Novem looked as if she wanted to say something. Because of that, I forced a smile.
"Well, we have time. Shall we register at the Adventurer's Guild?"
"Yes, Riel-sama."
Carrying Novem's travel bag as she smiled at me, I walked ahead.
(Even so, Zel and Novem both mentioned it... but money really does disappear quickly.)
My wallet had become considerably lighter.
Naturally, I had purchased various things before coming to Darion. The most expensive was likely the sword. I bought a saber, but perhaps because there wasn't much demand, even a mass-produced one was priced high.
(I seriously need to think about saving. But the ancestors basically have different values...)
Their values differ by generation, and that includes their sense of money.
Perhaps because they became wealthier with each passing generation, my grandfather, the Seventh, as well as the Sixth and Fifth, basically have a rich man's mindset, apparently.
The First, for instance, said a man's weapon should be an axe or a blunt instrument, and complained that something like a saber was useless.
'You can just hit them with a piece of wood or a stone lying around, right? If there's none, wouldn't bare hands be fine?'
—He truly possesses a mindset overflowing with wildness.
As I walked toward the prominent building, people who looked like adventurers were walking in the same direction around me.
Their attire varied, but among them were some who looked like nothing more than a gang of thugs.
With knives hanging from their waists, they walked as if to intimidate the passersby.
Adventurers usually walk around carrying weapons. They are managed by the guild, but that doesn't necessarily mean the crime rate is low.
After all, many adventurers are thugs or mercenaries.
In some cases, criminals who aren't wanted by the law blend in. The guild seems to be careful, but it doesn't look like it's working well.
In reality, it would be a good day if thirty to forty percent were decent adventurers. Most of the others are people doing adventuring as a side job.
(Well... this is knowledge I heard from my ancestors, though.)
It's not my own knowledge.
I had only a vague understanding of adventurers. However, once I learned the inside story, I started to feel foolish for having admired them.
The reality is that those who are like the adventurers children admire make up less than ten percent of the total.
"We have arrived, Riel-sama."
"Huh? Why is the first floor of the guild running a market?"
The first floor of the building, which clearly displayed "Adventurer's Guild" on a large sign, was supported by pillars and looked like a warehouse.
Horse-drawn carriages, adventurers, and merchants were coming and going.
There, adventurers, merchants, and people who looked like ordinary citizens were shopping.
"Riel-sama, that is a place for buying and selling. They use the first floor to buy and sell monster materials brought back by adventurers."
"Eh? Is that so? Don't you hand over the things you obtain to the guild?"
When I said that, Novem made a troubled face.
"I am not an expert myself, but when you go outside, deal with monsters, and bring things back, they... get very dirty, right? It would be difficult to enter the interior just like that. Look, there is a public bathhouse next door. If they absolutely have business with the guild reception, they wash off the dirt over there."
Indeed, thinking about it, it would be strange to hand over monster materials at a counter. It would smell of blood and be terribly dirty.
Since they likely fill out documents at the reception, it would be normal to provide separate locations.
"I-I see. Aha, ahahaha."
Despite deciding to do my best, I've already revealed my ignorance of the world. I wonder how many times this has been now?
(I wonder if I'll be able to get along well from here on?)
While harboring anxiety, Novem and I headed to the second floor where the guild reception was located. We climbed the stairs and headed for the reception following the guidance of the signs.
The second floor of the Adventurer's Guild served as the reception, and the counter was wide.
And several staff members were dealing with adventurers forming lines.
"There are quite a lot of them."
"Indeed. I have never registered myself, so I am anxious."
As she said that, the voice of the Second, not the First, came from the Jewel Orb.
'That old geezer is sulking, so I'll teach you instead. Or rather, there's no need to worry about guild registration. They're probably used to dealing with rookies like that.'
(It would have been better to have the Second from the start.)
I touched the Jewel Orb once to signal that I understood. Then, while listening to the Second's voice, I thought about which line to stand in.
Looking at them, the difference between the lines was clear.
Young, and perhaps rookie adventurers? Such adventurers were lining up at a counter with a beautiful staff member.
A woman with a lovely smile was dealing with the adventurers with a smile.
Elsewhere, a middle-aged woman was handling the line of adventurers who were in a hurry with a practiced air.
There were relatively many female staff. Male staff were few.
I started to step forward to line up in the middle-aged woman's line. However, the Second called a halt here.
'Riel, let's line up in that line with the fewest people.'
(Eh? The fewest, you say...)
When I looked at the end of the line the Second pointed to, there was a male staff member with brown skin, a muscular build, and a shaved red head.
Given his appearance, he was quite scary.
As I hesitated, the Second spoke.
'It's fine. He's the most decent one among them.'
(His appearance is not decent.)
He had taken off his suit jacket, but I could tell there were muscles like steel beneath his shirt. If I angered him, wouldn't a fist fly my way?
He made me think so.
'Hurry up! Don't keep Novem-chan waiting!'
(Why are the First through the Fourth all pushing Novem? I mean, I understand she's the daughter of the house that took care of them, but still...)
Reluctantly, I lined up in the staff member's line as told. Then, Novem let out a surprised voice.
"You chose that staff member? I thought Riel-sama would choose a staff member who processes things quickly."
"Yeah, I would have."
I couldn't say that I actually would have preferred the other one. However, Novem looked relieved.
"I was intending to recommend that staff member as well, so this is perfect."
"Eh, really?"
It seemed Novem shared the same opinion as the Second.
"Yes. His work was thorough, and for those of us wishing to register, a thorough person is better."
Hearing that, the Second also seemed convinced.
'Nice. Exactly. Rather than a beauty who just spreads smiles and is sloppy with her work, or a staff member who is fast but doesn't understand things that those who aren't used to it wouldn't know, one should choose a staff member who is kind and thorough even if they look scary. Or rather, that beauty is just no good.'
Since the Second said she was no good, I looked at the beauty's line.
"Ehh, I'll be troubled about meals and such~"
"Come on. Let's go eat together once work is finished."
"But~"
She was responding with a smile, but when it came to the next person—.
"Yes, here is your reward."
"U-Um..."
"Next person, please."
The attitude toward adventurers with good looks and good equipment was clearly different from the attitude toward adventurers with good equipment but ordinary looks.
Furthermore, the ordinary-looking adventurer was troubled.
"Wait! The reward amount is different! The client's evaluation was..."
"Even if you say such things~"
While she made a troubled face, an adventurer lining up behind him spoke up.
"Hey! I'm in a hurry too. Don't grumble over a small amount!"
Seeing that, I decided in my heart that I would not line up in that person's line.
'That's just wrong. Or rather, she's a staff member who should be removed from reception despite her looks. With that attitude, I feel like she wouldn't do her work behind the scenes either.'
The Second's evaluation was harsh.
The beautiful reception staff member seemed to be popular with rookies and adventurers aiming to pick up girls. However, her work performance was terrible.
(I'm glad I didn't choose her.)
While I was thinking that, Novem called out to me.
"Riel-sama, it's your turn."
"Oops."
And then, my turn came.
The opponent had more presence when seen up close than from afar. Part of it was his large build, but he had an aura.
He was like a warrior.
'This person might have been an adventurer originally. If he retired from being an adventurer and is working as a staff member at the guild, he's probably quite capable and well-behaved. Riel, do your reception work with this person from now on.'
While the Second decided on his own, I asked the staff member for adventurer registration.
"I'd like to register as an adventurer. Um, for two people."
When I said that, the other party seemed to understand and prepared the forms.
"Registration, is it? Nice to meet you, my name is Hawkins. Please feel free to ask if there is anything you do not understand. Also, if it is for two people, shall we do the party registration as well?"
Party registration? While I tilted my head wondering about it, Novem reacted faster than the Second.
"Please do."
Hawkins-san had a very polite tone of voice, contrary to his appearance. Then, he proceeded with the procedures.
"After adventurer registration, your home guild will be this Darion branch. When you change your base of activity, please submit a transfer notice at the guild. Furthermore, you will need to submit a move-in notice at the destination and complete the procedures to act as your home there. Otherwise, while you may be able to sell monster materials to the guild, you will not be able to accept requests, so please be careful."
I wrote my name on the form, and Hawkins-san checked if there were any deficiencies in the documents. Both Novem and I were used to filling out such documents.
It was because we were drilled into it at the family home, and above all, there were many documents to sign.
"That is sufficient. Now, could you please put blood on these two plates? Please use this needle. Ah, it's properly sterilized, so it's fine. Now, you too, young lady."
"Yes."
"Thank you."
I pricked my fingertip, and it hurt slightly. When the blood formed a small bead, I put the blood on the silver plate.
"That is sufficient. This is medicine, so please wipe off the blood before using it. Now, I will engrave your names on these two. One will be kept at the guild."
The silver plate is a card that serves as an identification card issued by the Adventurer's Guild. Commonly known as a Guild Card.
It is apparently a mysterious plate where the engraved name disappears if the owner dies. Other than that, it seems that records so far are written into it, and the guild can read that information whenever they like.
Hearing that explanation, the Second—.
'...Things certainly become convenient once this much time has passed. There were no such tools in my time. Or rather, isn't it an expensive item?'
It was as the Second said.
"For the first time, the fee will be five silver coins. However, if payment is impossible, we can deduct it little by little from future rewards... ten to twenty percent of the rewards will be deducted and applied to the payment. Is that acceptable?"
Then, Novem produced a gold coin.
"No, I will pay."
"Understood. Then, I will prepare the Guild Cards, so please wait while sitting on the sofa."
Hawkins-san headed toward the door behind the counter and took the Guild Cards with him. After a while, he returned and went back to his reception work.
When Novem and I headed to the sofa and sat next to each other, we drew the attention of those around us.
Tsking and gazes filled with jealousy were directed at us. The reason was obvious.
It was because Novem, sitting next to me, was a beauty.
"He was a polite and kind person, just as I thought, Riel-sama."
"Y-Yeah."
Novem didn't seem to mind. Then, the voice of the First, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
'You blockheads! Don't direct your lewd gazes at Novem-chan, you bastards!!'
And the Second followed.
'If you do anything to Novem-chan, Riel will beat you to a pulp!'
Finally, even the Fourth came out.
'Well, basically we can't lay a hand on them directly... but don't you both feel pathetic saying that? Or rather, please don't go wild. Riel will collapse.'
While emitting an aura of a long-suffering person, the Fourth calmed the other two. The act of letting emotions run high and delivering a voice to me consumes my magic power just by itself.
(Getting tired without doing anything... it makes me look weak.)
I didn't think my own magic power was low. However, from the perspective of the ancestors, it seems to be quite low.
"Now, here are the Guild Cards for the two of you. Since you have already registered as a party, the other person's name is engraved on each other's Guild Cards."
On the Guild Card handed over by Hawkins-san, my name was engraved largely. And Novem's name was also engraved small.
"Then, this is a booklet containing the guild regulations. We are not holding any lectures today, but tomorrow morning, a lecture for rookie adventurers is held in the conference room on the third floor, so please take a look if you have time."
Hawkins-san told us that we should take it.
"Thank you for the thorough explanation."
When Novem gave her thanks, Hawkins-san looked at us and thought for a moment.
"Is something wrong?"
When I asked wondering what happened, Hawkins-san gave a wry smile.
"No, it's just that rookie adventurers who aren't very surprised by me are rare, so I just... Also, this is my personal opinion, but—if you both have financial leeway, why not hire an instructor?"
"An instructor?"
When Novem asked back, Hawkins-san explained.
"Yes. You hire an excellent adventurer guaranteed by the guild for a few months—usually a period of three months. You hire them as an instructor for that period. There are various contracting methods, such as paying from rewards or paying in a lump sum in advance."
The difference in payment methods apparently affects the quality of the adventurer you can hire.
With the method of paying from rewards, an adventurer around the lower-middle range at best becomes the instructor. However, if you pay in a lump sum, a mid-tier adventurer—an upper-middle class adventurer—will serve as the instructor.
In exchange, it is necessary to pay ten gold coins in a lump sum.
(No, I don't have that kind of amount.)
As I thought that and was about to ask Novem if we should hire an instructor with reward installments—.
"Then, a lump sum, please."
"...Eh? A lump sum?"
Novem paid ten gold coins from her wallet. Hawkins-san, who received it, had a quite panicked face.
He probably thought that after saying it himself, she would choose the installment plan.
"Wait, Novem!?"
When I tried to stop her, Novem explained with a serious expression.
"Riel-sama, we can be taught by a capable adventurer guaranteed by the Adventurer's Guild. We should cherish this opportunity. Especially since we do not understand much about what an adventurer is."
I think Novem's opinion is reasonable, but more than that, I was surprised by Novem, who paid ten gold coins.
It is a great difference from me, who was kicked out of my family home penniless and is borrowing money from a servant.
Hawkins-san confirmed once more.
"Then, is it acceptable to pay in a lump sum?"
"Yes, please. Please provide an excellent instructor."
"Of course. If there is any failure, I will return the money I received."
Hawkins-san was confident, but the situation was such that the conversation was progressing without me saying any opinion. Then—.
'Somehow... from the outside, current Riel looks like a useless man, doesn't he?'
The Second's words weighed quite heavily on my heart.