kscans

Chapter 2 - Reunion

In the end, I couldn't get back to sleep. I had passed out from drinking and slept too much during the day. So, I used my phone to research what it takes to be an Adventurer.

To become an Adventurer, you need a license. For that, you apparently have to attend a training course. I immediately signed up for one.

The course was held once a week, so I decided to go in a few days. It seemed there was no exam, but the tuition fee was a steep 150,000 yen. I thought it was a major ripoff, but I suppose it's better than having an exam.

I mean, I'd never pass. If I were that smart, I would have gone to a better university and wouldn't have ended up at a toxic company.

A few days later, I went to the training venue, completed the check-in, and attended the course. They hold these courses in various places, but since this one was on a weekday afternoon, it wasn't very crowded. Still, everyone taking it was young. Some looked like students.

I waited, telling myself I was young too, until the instructor arrived. He handed us a booklet and went through various explanations. I'm not that bright, so I just jotted down the important parts. Mostly, it was common sense stuff, like not going outside designated areas and obeying the law.

After the course, I received a certificate of completion and left the venue. Then I took a train to the Adventurer Guild.

The Adventurer Guild is the facility where the Gates are located. That's where you register, go to the Frontier, and have adventures.

When I arrived at my destination, Ikebukuro Station, I used the map on my phone to find my way to the Adventurer Guild Ikebukuro Branch. I reached a building with a huge sign that read "Adventurer Guild Ikebukuro Branch" and went right inside. The interior of the guild was a lobby, and there weren't many people around. Despite that, there were eight reception desks, which seemed unbalanced.

I scanned the eight desks.

Man, man, woman, woman… That one.

I compared the receptionists and headed straight for the one who looked the youngest and cutest.

When I reached the seated receptionist, I gave a slight bow and presented the certificate I had received at the training course. But the receptionist didn't take the certificate. She just stared intently at my face.

"Uh, um… is something wrong?"

Having a girl this cute stare at me is making me nervous…

"You're Okita-senpai, right?"

the cute girl asked, tilting her head.

"Yes, but…"

"I knew it! It's been a while!"

The cute girl's face bloomed into a radiant smile.

Um… who? Do I know her? She guessed my name without looking at the certificate, so she must be an acquaintance. But who?

"L, long time no see."

I chose to play along. My plan was to figure it out as we talked.

"Huh? You don't remember me?"

My plan ended before it even began…

"Of course I remember…"

As I said that, I glanced at the cute girl's reasonably sized chest. Not for any lecherous reason, of course, but to read her name tag.

But she quickly covered it with her hand.

"You don't remember, do you?"

The cute girl gave me a deadpan look.

"Hmm, just a second."

I said, carefully observing the cute girl.

Her face is cute. Hair is medium-length brown. I can't tell her height since she's sitting. Chest size is decent.

Yep, a fine woman.

What else… she called me senpai? That means she's my junior.

Work, college, or high school… I never had any female juniors at work, and I can't remember back to middle school. So, college or high school… A junior from the kendo club in high school? No, that's not it.

College… Ah! The girl from my seminar!

"Of course I remember. You're Asakura Kaede-chan, right?"

"That took you twenty seconds."

Don't count.

"...Just give me a moment."

"You're a terrible senpai."

"Hey now, Asakura-san, you dyed your hair, didn't you? It used to be black."

How am I supposed to recognize you if you change your hair color?

"I changed it for a change of pace. But isn't it awful that you can't recognize me just because of my hair color?"

"Sorry, sorry. But we weren't that close, were we?"

"What! We went out to eat sometimes, and you even walked me home!"

…Oh, crap. I remember eating together, but I have no memory of walking her home.

"I'm sorry…"

"He doesn't even remember that…"

She saw right through me?!

"Let's go get something to eat sometime. I'll treat you when I make some money…"

"Wow! So forward for you, senpai!"

What's with the "for you" part? Oh, but I just asked a girl out, though I didn't call it a date. I'm amazing!

"When I make some money, okay?"

"Oh, right. Senpai, are you becoming an Adventurer?"

Asakura-san finally started reading the certificate I had handed her.

"Yep. So, when I make some money."

"Senpai, you're two years older than me, so you're twenty six, right? Starting now? What about your job?"

"I had a sudden revelation."

"You got fired? The world is a cruel place."

Hey, now. Don't just say things like that. Though it's sad because you're right.

"That's why I said, when I make some money."

"I see. Yeah, an unemployed guy shouldn't be asking girls out to eat. But it's okay. I'll treat you when the time comes."

Wh, what a nice girl!

"If I fail, I'll become your freeloader. You can count on it."

I was being pretty serious.

"Absolutely not. At the very least, if you succeed, make me a housewife. I'll be your parasite."

"Well, jokes aside, can you get to work? I've got less than 300,000 yen left."

"That's a terrible amount of savings."

You're the terrible one.

"Can't be helped. The training fee was way too expensive."

"Yeah, we get a lot of complaints about that. But that's just how it is. Please direct any complaints to a different counter."

From her reaction, it seems the guild is tired of hearing complaints… But 150,000 yen for a one hour course is steep.

"It's not a complaint."

"Right. Okay, um, let's proceed. Just to confirm, you understand that you are solely responsible for anything that happens in the Frontier, correct?"

They explained that at the training course.

"Yep, all good."

"You're so casual about it. Well, okay. Next, you must agree to submit everything you obtain in the Frontier to the guild."

Huh? Was that a thing?

"I thought we could take things home?"

I did do some research, you know.

"Ah… even if you take items home, you're obligated to submit them once first. We can't have people bringing back dangerous, unknown objects, you see. So, you submit everything once, and then you can either cash it in or take it home. However, please note that some items cannot be taken home."

Is it because of things like bombs?

"Got it. That's fine by me."

"Okay. It would be nice if everyone was as cooperative as you, senpai."

Man, she must have it rough.

"Sounds tough."

"It really is. So you'll have to listen to me vent. My treat."

So she just wants someone to complain to… What about our long-awaited romantic reunion?

"Sure, sure. Is that it?"

"Not yet. I'll now explain the process for going to the Frontier. First, you absolutely must check in at reception. Going on your own is a serious offense, so please be careful. This will be your designated counter."

"Huh? It's decided?"

"You've become my exclusive Adventurer, senpai."

Since when…

"What's 'exclusive'?"

"It means you must absolutely check in at my counter and bring back materials to my counter. That way, my performance review will be better."

"Is that a real system?"

"I just made it up."

Hey!

"Well, I guess it's fine…"

It's probably better to deal with someone I know… She's my junior, I should help her out.

"Thanks a bunch."

"I don't know if I'll make any money, though."

"It'll be fine. You're a master swordsman, right, senpai?"

Hm?

"How do you know that?"

I'm pretty sure I never mentioned it in college. In high school, some people knew because I was in the kendo club. Yes, that's me bragging.

"See, you don't remember. You used to brag about it all the time whenever you drank, senpai. Eventually, you even came into my house after walking me home and boasted that you'd show me how you could slice a table with a kitchen knife."

That guy sounds dangerous.

"You shouldn't let a guy like that into your house, you know?"

"That was you."

"My bad."

"Channel that feeling and do your best."

Alright! I'll be Asakura-san's exclusive Adventurer!

"Okay."

"Next. The job of an Adventurer is to go to the Frontier and collect various materials."

"I know."

And you make money by selling those materials.

"You can just gather materials, but the best way is to defeat monsters and get drops from them."

There are monsters in the Frontier. And when you defeat them, they vanish like smoke, leaving behind various items.

"I don't really get it, but I know about it."

"I don't get it either. Some monsters are strong, and some are weak. Please be careful. If you think it's impossible, run away immediately."

"Of course."

I'll go with a 'safety first' mindset.

"Next is an explanation of levels, jobs, and skills."

"I've looked that up too, but I'll listen. Oh, I'll take notes."

I took out my phone from my pocket.

"Senpai, you still have the same old phone."

She remembers that well.

"Never got around to changing it."

I was busy, and it was a hassle.

"I see… Well, I'll explain it now."

"Please do."

I opened the notepad app on my phone to get ready.

"First, when you go to the Frontier, a card called a Status Card will appear. Do not lose this under any circumstances. It serves as your proof of being an Adventurer. Also, the guild manages it, so please bring it back and submit it."

"Got it."

"That Status Card has your level, job, and skills written on it, as I mentioned. It's better not to show it to others, but the guild manages it, so please report them. Well, we can tell by looking at the Status Card anyway."

This is because if they don't know the skill information of Adventurers, it becomes a problem if those skills are used for crimes. For example, if there's a skill for invisibility, knowing what that skill does and who has it makes a huge difference if an incident occurs. And that also helps deter crime.

"Roger."

"Well, that concludes the explanation."

"Wasn't that a bit short?"

"Normally, I'd explain more thoroughly, and there are still things I need to tell you, but I'll save them for later. You wouldn't be able to remember it all, senpai."

She's totally making fun of me.

"Aren't you a bit harsh on your senpai?"

"Says the person who forgot his junior?"

She has a point.

"Well then, I guess I'll go earn some money to treat my junior."

"Please get a weapon first. Are you planning to go in unarmed?"

…Right.

"Can I use any weapon?"

"Weapons are sold on the second floor of this building. By the way, the third floor is for armor. You probably don't have much money, senpai, so a weapon should be enough for now."

"Are weapons expensive too?"

"They range in price. With only 300,000 yen, you should buy a cheap sword. It's 50,000 yen."

50,000 yen… That's expensive.

"By the way, do you have any katanas?"

"We do. The cheapest one is 500,000 yen. Get lost."

Asakura-san smiled sweetly.

"That's expensive."

"The materials aren't just ordinary iron, you know. They're from the Frontier. Hurry up and earn some money to buy a katana."

I'll do that.

"I'll do my best."

"Well then, after you buy a weapon, proceed to the back. There's a Gate at the end of that hallway."

"Alright!"

"One last thing… Please come back alive. The Frontier is a world of dreams, but many people have also lost their lives there."

I know that, of course. A not insignificant number of people die every year.

"Like I'd ever die."

"Right. Good luck, senpai."

"Leave it to me."

"...By the way, the most common casualties are people who got fired or quit their jobs, like you, senpai."

Don't say such depressing things…