"Now, listen up. This copper coin here is the lowest currency you'll find in the market," Soma explained, gesturing towards the small, dull coin resting on the table. Across from him, Mrit leaned in, curious as he continued hearing Soma.

"Next up is the silver coin." Soma placed a gleaming silver coin next to the copper one, then stacked ten copper coins on top of each other carefully. "If you've got ten of these copper coins, that's equivalent to this shiny silver one. And then..."

With a flourish, Soma picked up the gold coin Mrit had given him and placed it beside the silver one. He then gathered the scattered silver coins and piled them on top of each other, creating a precarious tower. "These are a hundred silver coins, and this tower matches the value of this single gold coin you handed me. And now, behold..."

From a ring on his hand, Soma retrieved a wooden box of beautiful carvings and nice polishing and carefully set it on the table so as not to damage the contents inside, opening it to reveal the coveted platinum coin within. "This, my friend, is the cream of the crop in the currency market: the platinum coin."

The coin gleamed with a lustrous shine, its size dwarfing even the gold coin. "Take a look," Soma urged, handing the hefty coin to Mrit. As Mrit carefully held the coin and examined it, he noticed intricate engravings of the moon and the Goddess adorning its surfaces. The coin, with its shine and gleam was breath taking as slowly looked at it from both sides.

"Are these handmade?" Mrit inquired, impressed by the craftsmanship.

"Indeed, they're crafted in the holy kingdom by mysterious craftsmen. Quite rare for the common folk to come across, both the coin and the craftsmen."

"And where did you manage to get your hands on this?" Mrit asked, returning the coin to its box.

"From a merchant, believe it or not. Luck was on our side that day. His caravan was going to the holy kingdom and got attacked by the monsters. At that time, my guild somehow felled the fowl beasts," Soma chuckled, stowing the coin away.

"Now, do you grasp the basics of our currency?" Soma queried, gathering the coins back into their storage.

"Absolutely," Mrit nodded, taking it all in.

"And as for the value of that 'platinum' coin, well, that's a surprise," Soma grinned mischievously, closing the drawer.

With the currency lesson concluded, Soma shifted his focus to the contract papers in his hands, offering them to Mrit. "So, for freelance adventurers, it's 75 silver coins to sign up, whereas for guild contracts, it's 45 silvers."

Mrit furrowed his brow in thought. "Why the difference?"

"Well," Soma began, leaning in, "for one, there's no guarantee with freelancers. They're on their own when it comes to bounties, and if something goes wrong, the guild has to cover the costs."

"And secondly," Soma continued, "if a freelancer decides to join a guild later on, the extra 30 silvers they paid will go towards their registration fee, reducing it to just 15 silvers."

"Ah, I see," Mrit nodded, considering his options. "In that case, I'll go with...this one," he decided, pointing to the contract of his choice.

"Are you sure?!" Soma said after seeing Mrit’s decision.

***

"Are you really sure about this, Saur?" Soma's voice carried a tone of concern as he watched Mrit choose the freelancer adventurer contract. It wasn't surprising, but what caught him off guard was Soma's evident discontent with Mrit's decision.

Mrit nodded firmly. "Yes."

Soma couldn't help but sigh deeply. He looked at Mrit, his expression a mix of understanding and reluctance. "Fine... I understand why you chose this path, but still..."

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With a hint of suspicion, Mrit accepted the contract from Soma. However, instead of just handing it over, Soma surprised him by also giving him the guild contract. Mrit arched an eyebrow in surprise at the gesture.

"Keep this," Soma insisted, his tone earnest. "I know you're wary, maybe even distrustful, but after you've settled in... you'll always have a place here in the guild."

Mrit couldn't shake off his past experiences on Earth, the scars of war and betrayal making him perpetually skeptical. Despite Soma's genuine kindness, Mrit struggled to fully trust him.

"Maybe this guy is genuinely good," Mrit mused internally, battling his own suspicions. "Maybe it's just me being overly cautious."

Resigned, Mrit filled out the contract and handed it back to Soma, along with a gold coin as payment.

Once Soma had verified the details, he retrieved a flat stone and two gleaming needles from a drawer. Mrit eyed them warily, unsure of what was to come.

"What are those for?" Mrit asked, his curiosity tinged with apprehension.

"This contract requires your blood," Soma explained calmly. "It's a bonding ritual. Only with our blood will the contract be established."

Mrit hesitated, weighing the risks and benefits. He knew that integrating into this society and becoming stronger for his cause required some level of trust, but the idea of giving his blood still made him uneasy.

"Fine, let's do this," Mrit finally relented, his resolve firm despite his lingering doubts.

As they both pricked their thumbs, the blood oozed out slowly. Soma directed Mrit to press his thumb onto a designated spot on the contract, mirroring his own actions. With a shared moment of crimson, the contract glowed briefly before returning to normal.

"With this, you're officially registered as a freelancer adventurer. Congratulations!" Soma congratulated Mrit warmly, extending his hand for a handshake.

Mrit shook Soma's hand, feeling a flicker of warmth despite his reservations. Soma's words echoed an old memory, reminding him of a long-lost camaraderie.

"Saur, remember, even if you haven't fully joined us, you can still count on us," Soma reassured him earnestly. "We may be a small guild, but I'll do my best to support you. Don't hesitate to come to us for help."

Mrit softened slightly, his suspicions tempered by Soma's sincerity. Though he couldn't shake off all his doubts, he found himself nodding in acknowledgment.

"I will," he promised quietly, a trace of gratitude in his voice as he recalled past bonds that had once felt unbreakable.

***

As the discussion wrapped up smoothly, Mrit couldn't shake off his curiosity about the platinum coin's worth, so he turned to Soma with the question. However, Soma's answer left him utterly speechless.

"It's worth 10,000 gold coins."

"What in the...?" Mrit was dumbfounded by the revelation. He had anticipated maybe ten or a hundred gold coins for one platinum, but the reality was staggering.

"That's the truth. This little coin is so valuable it gives me nightmares," Soma admitted with a wry smile.

"Right! So, what could we possibly buy with just one platinum coin?" Mrit's intrigue got the better of him, prompting him to ask.

"Quite a few things, actually. Starting with magical items," Soma replied, piquing Mrit's interest further.

"Magical items?" Mrit echoed in surprise.

"Yes, like this," Soma produced a sword from another ring on his hand. At first glance, it seemed like any ordinary sword, but there was something distinctly different about it.

"What's this, Soma?" Mrit inquired, his eyes drawn to the intricate symbols etched on both sides of the blade. They seemed oddly familiar to him, stirring his curiosity.

"These symbols are called runes. Legend has it that the Goddess herself carved the first runes onto the sword of the very first hero who wielded it against the demon king. She then passed down the knowledge of runes to that hero, who in turn shared it with humanity, giving rise to rune swords," Soma explained.

"What do they do?" Mrit asked, intrigued by the sword's mystical properties.

"See for yourself," Soma replied with a grin. He held the sword reverently, touching his forehead to the runes with closed eyes.

Observing Soma's gesture, Mrit realized the solemnity with which Soma treated the sword and its runes. After a moment, Soma concentrated, and a white aura enveloped the sword, causing the runes to glow brightly.

"See? Isn't it magnificent?" Soma exclaimed, excitement evident in his voice as he opened his eyes, expecting Mrit to share in his enthusiasm. However, what he heard was unexpected.

"Is that Uurja?" Mrit's words caught Soma off guard, his surprise evident.

***