*'Doki'*

... I hate crowds. There's just something about them that, when big enough, absorbs and rejects all sound. All with different reasons for being there. It's disorientating, to say the least. But a must is a must. I'll put up with it for now then.

We went to the meeting at the town hall, only to find out that Mr. Simpson was not there.

"Quiet, quiet," said a man in a suit. Repeating himself until the others finally realized him.

"Okay. Before we start, Mr. Simpson had a surprise meeting in Skimmington, so I, Mr. Smith, will be your guide. The purpose of today is tutorship since we're pretty sure that you 'visitors' don't know much about this world. We offer a variety of jobs, so listen carefully."

It made sense that we, who just suddenly appeared in their world, would be clueless to how their systems worked, but that could just as easily be taken as an insult. Also, lumping multiple people together in a group, with a common name and generalizing feature, is the best way to make friends... As if! It's just rude and leads to prejudices and unnecessary bother... I refuse to be a part of that.

As I thought about it, Mr. Simpson... No, wait, Mr. Smith was talking about the crafting guilds and the ways by which crafters get experience and an ID.

"Okay, I need to explain something in detail. So if those of you currently ignoring me could actually bother listening to this part. I would greatly appreciate this,” he said. Waiting for my attention especially before continuing, "Okay, Let me explain the id system in this world. An 'id' is something given to all people over a certain margin. It allows for things like bank accounts, guild membership and so on, so it's pretty important. There is one item needed to get it, and two ways to get it. Well, there are three, but the third one is risky."

I admit, my ears perked up at the word 'risky', but for all I know, that would just be a hassle like PKing for this item.

"Okay, method one is for the people who aren't considering adventuring."

There were 16 people here, well, someone was probably late, dead or got a life already, so it's not a big concern.

My concern was with the disappearance of Jeehan. Actually, thinking about things logically, this does make sense. Of course, I don’t need to tell myself this simple conclusion.

‘No shit, Sherlock.’ I thought, attempting to insult myself for not realizing it sooner.

My ears perked up again as Mr. Smith began introducing the method I’d suggest all adventurer wannabes should use.

"Okay, the method adventurers would use is joining the guild 'Fourth_Islanders'. Yeah, the founder was ridiculously patriotic, so its name is really this uninspired. But that’s not important. In this group, you would be put into groups by the officials, based on efficiency and fighting style. So your first dungeon becomes so much easier." He stopped, probably seeing if he should go on to say the third method.

He sighed deeply and said. "There is another method, the risky one. It's where you don't join the Forth_Islanders guild, and make a party yourself. You beat a dungeon in the same way, and then go to Skimmington after filling it out, and you'll get an id. Now, if you’re blind and can’t see the risk, allow me to fill you in. This method has no backup, or opportunity to converse with others who know this world way better than you. I profusely suggest going for the other method, and just join the goddamn Forth_Islander’s.”

I nodded, reaching the obvious conclusion, ‘Hm, sounds interesting. Of course, Nio and the others may want to do the other method, but doing it this way seems like a challenge.’

Mr. Smith continued again, finally ending this lengthy lecture, "Okay, we'll give you until five to make your choices. If you're planning to do the third method, not caring about the risk and hassle it will cause, then you don't need to come. It will be a line up of guilds and initiation to the Forth_Islanders and the other relevant newbie guilds."

Mr. Smith came down from his little stage, soon followed by everyone else leaving. Before he left, Mr. Smith turned to me and said, "I'm not one to judge life choices, but please think it over before following you little idea of soloing a dungeon. I noticed you perking up at the sense of freedom, but freedom has its cost. Just remember that."

So I thought about it, I really did... For a second before going with the third method again. Mr. Smith seems to want me to be safe, and I can appreciate that much at least. I just don't care about being safe. I just want a challenge. Well, let's see if the others will join me.

-

Me, LOD, Titanious and Jeehan all met up at the same cafe later. We'd somewhat bonded over the few hours we'd known each other, so I at least was curious as to their decisions.

"So guys, what do you guys want to do now?" I asked, following my curiosity.

"Well, I know your answer already. As for me… Um..." LOD was still thinking. He knew I'd go clan-free, but I'm me, not him. "You know what. Fuck it! I'd be lying if I said I didn't have fun today. I'll join you.."

"So you've realized if you're in a clan, it'd be harder to become noticeable in girl's views." I retorted. I knew he hadn't thought of it, I just wanted to tease him.

"Wait... I hadn't thought of tha-- I mean, what are you talking about. I obviously want to spend time with you guys..." So, it was as I thought.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

As LOD replied his face went red out of embarrassment. Noticing Nio's glares, and Jeehan's fading interest, he scowled at the two. "What are you looking at! Go ahead, say your plans then, ‘saints’!"

"Um. Well, I don't mind going with you. Doki seems calm and collective. And you... Don't seem that bad I guess. I mean, we got off to a bad start, but that's water under the bridge now. Yeah..." Titanious took a while to think about it but continued. "I think it could be fun. Also, Jeehan will obviously go with me" Jeehan nodded with agreement. "So yeah, let's destroy a dungeon together!"

"Now then, for a guide. Let's ask Jeehan." I asked. But he seemed scared to answer me.

"EH?! w-why me? Couldn't you just ask some NPC?" He panicked.

"I could. So I am. You are an NPC, correct? That's why you weren't in the meeting, and why you and Nio seemed so nervous when Nio introduced you by the name 'Jeehan' right?" As I said that Titanious put his hand to his face.

Jeehan gave a slap to both of his cheeks, before responding with. "Argh! Fine! I am an NPC, my actual name is Jeehan Han. I’m a local noble who doesn’t like being just a ‘puppet of the state’. The reason I wanted to join you was to go with the chaos and fight-”

I interrupted, making my own point brimming with sarcasm, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Shut up already. I don't need your life story. I just don't want to go around chasing random NPC's for directions, considering the 'madness' behind the idea of not joining the clan. Let's put it like this, You're an NPC, so you should know this area well. That's the only reason I give a damn about you being one. I'm not going to kick you out or anything, I just don't want to have an annoying experience before getting to the raid location."

I assumed Jeehan genuinely thought the two groups, NPC’s and Visitors, were actually isolated. Maybe because of the seemingly common segregation between the two groups. My own hatred of these situations bubbled up, as I finally looked around.

Jeehan and Titanious looked thankful. I turned my head, and immediately barked a list of orders, "Okay, Jeehan will guide us, but before this. Let's do some shopping before heading out. We did get some of the money from earlier after all. Wait, how much did you guys get? I got about 2800 coins for it."

"I surprisingly got 900 coins exactly. Considering I died... I must have killed a lot." Answered LOD.

"I probably got 1200 coins, actually I still had some change, so the amount I got isn’t exactly that, but in that ballpark at least," replied a preoccupied Titanious.

"I got 1440 coins exactly, by the way, now that you know I'm an NPC, I might as well say I have about 50k coins on me. It's my savings, but I don't mind sharing it with you guys since we’re bound to get way more money later anyway," explained Jeehan.

"Okay, well, do you guys think we should improve our equipment right now? I mean, LOD's healer idea makes me want to get a healer’s robe or something. And you guys can probably upgrade your swords and such." I said.

"I don't mind going with what we have now. I think getting a place to sleep is more important. We need potions and food too since we didn’t buy some before ." Said Titanious. It was a good point, as we had no information on how far away, or big the closest dungeon we could viably explore was, so making plans for a short journey would be pointless.

He continued. "Sorry Doki, I mean, we chose you to be the brains for a reason. However, I personally think we should find a place to sleep, then continue practicing. Who knows, we could level up and get more skills to make killing the dungeon mobs easier."

"Well, I was going to state a similar plan... However, where we can stay is the question. Let's ask around whilst shopping." As I said that, Jeehan started looking around nervous. He froze, focusing on a place where two posh-looking people had just walked in. I felt vomit rise up from the back of my neck. I assumed the identities from their age and Jeehan’s glare, and oh boy was it annoying.

"Oh, there you are Jeehan." one of the people said. She seemed like a senior female, with the higher power level. "I've been looking for you." She then looked around towards us and sighed. "Really? You're trusting these 'Visitors' over us..."

"Howdy, such a nice introductory speech, but I believe we've all heard it before." I interrupted, knowing where this situation was going.

Hearing my comment, she scowled. "And you are?" Jeehan was trying to play dead, and even LOD and Titanious weren't moving at this point.

Bah, I've done worse things based on my hatred of shallowness. I mean, I haven't even told her to kill herself yet.

"I'm Doki. A so-called 'Visitor', so I'm new to this world. And since I'm new, I'm about to lead these three and myself to go to the closest feasible dungeon to clearly conquer it with just the four of us. You don't have to worry about Jeehan, he only has a strong possibility of dying in this dungeon..."

Without lying, I looked her straight in the eyes and just told her my plans. The worst that could happen is that she disagrees and scolds Jeehan a bit before we just walk away. I gather this is Jeehan's mother, and the man next to her is his father. I mean, it makes sense contextually.

"Yeah, we know..." said the man. "Jeehan's always been obsessed with dungeons, but since the clan we belong to didn't accept him, because of his sub-classes, he pretty much attached himself to you people. Sorry, my sister didn't mean offense when she said 'Visitors'. We just wanted Jeehan to make the right choice, so it's pretty hard for us to hear this."

I looked at Jeehan. Oh, I get it... "So basically the reason you're hiding from them wasn't because you were related to them, and you had a falling out. It's because they were about to say that you're not a complete stranger and that this fact is somehow embarrassing to you."

Still shaking, he tried to "Um... You're wrong... T-the reason was you Doki. These are my brother and sister, and they have certain mannerisms, which you seem to despise with a passion. I mean, they managed to annoy Nio in their first conversation. I just didn't want you hating them instantly and causing unnecessary drama since I know how easy a grudge is to get."

"Huh." I didn't even think about that. It seems to these guys, I'm an apathetic jackass, which is true, who actively goes into fights based on single meetings, which is false... "You seem to not get me Jeehan. I can't get angry enough at people to have grudges."

"Eh, I gathered you'd get angry at the mere mention of 'group' names and such."

"Yeah... That's wrong. I'd have to actually care to get angry, which I don't. Also, you are forgetting, I despise hassle, so why would I go out of my way to pick a fight that I could see coming. That would be more hassling than not." I replied.

It's true, I've never really gotten annoyed at people. Even IRL, I didn't have enough conversations to actually get annoyed. I do hate things like indefinite questions that just have series of parroting phrases until they get grating to me, and that takes a lot of parroting. I find the idea of an original view on such topics quite funny considering that THEY AREN'T ORIGINAL AT ALL.

But that's my gripe, not other's. I just leave conversations at that point anyway. Also, at this point, I was a hypocrite, so I had no right to preach and hate them just because they were shallow.

"Well then, why don't we introduce ourselves properly then."

So we met Jeehan's brother and sister and began talking about a place to rest. It turns out that their house was pretty big and close, so we could stay there for a while. So we decided to stay there until we'd beaten the dungeon, which should be a week based on the information shared.

With the issue of a place to stay sorted out, we went shopping for consumables, tools for our sub-classes and basic ingredients. We did some practicing without much avail and then retired for a night.

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OldBegginings: [Sorry that this chapter took a long time to release. It just took long to write. With the other chapters I had sparks of inspiration, so most of the writing was done in the same day. But this one dragged on for almost a week of writing.]