Ch 2-2

[However, if you wish to employ our services continuously, it's not within our policy. That'd be a different story if you'd like to become our party member. In return, tell us your skills.]

That's the subtitles I read from Jung's hand gestures. That's why instead of looking at him straight in the eye, I was just looking at the nothingness on the bottom center. Might seem loco but nobody seems to nitpick.

His disjointed appearance between a samurai and ninja weren't especially pleasing to look at either.

"Hmm..."

Well, it's not like I was short on money but I guess they're not that kind of people. If they're good enough and especially trustworthy, I'd prefer to be adventuring with them.

"....oh right, sire. If I remember correctly, that lass Fiona, she--"

"Shh! You nerd dwarf, we agreed not to talk about this, alright!"

Fiona herself made an absentminded expression as she put her fingers atop her lips and tilting her head. There was a bit of an awkward silence before she continued on.

"Takeshi...well, you see...you might seem like a normal guy but you actually had pretty amazing qualities, ain'tcha?"

"Ah."

"Lassy finally popped out."

"Err...why do you guys believe that?"

[If it weren't for the 5 gold you gave her, we also wouldn't believe it. We thought you're some rich nobleman from somewhere, but due to your lack of eloquence, this was the most sound reasoning we could come up.]

"What if I'm just that good at acting?"

[Didn't seem to be that way for me. If that's the case, for what reason you have to put up such pretense?]

"Maybe I just don't want to tell you."

[No reason then.]

"Listen to me..."

[You overestimate yourself, brother glasses. I can read people well and your intentions are as clear as an open book—not that it's a bad thing. Well, in any case, you appear to be quite trustworthy...and so, I approve of you.]

"Ugh..."

"Congratulations, Takeshi. Jung doesn't easily approve of people joining our party." Fiona let out a silly smile.

Hold up, so it's not just me who saw the subtitles?

I had a feeling, deep inside she's placing me as her equal, but maybe I was just overthinking.

Reading those subtitle-generating hand gestures, I wonder if I should break the fourth wall and point that to him—maybe when I knew him better. At least he was quite patient to know when I had finished reading and already understood the contents before moving on.

It would make things awkward if he already knew it—at least on my side.

In any case, the beans had been spilled.

Meanwhile, the dwarf coughed lightly and gave his nod to me while extending his thick and muscular gloved arms.

Handing my guild card, the dwarf's expression let out a sigh, wearing a not-amused face.

"No can do, sire. Even if you' had great abilities of a support, we have no room for those who couldn't protect themselves."

As a man, I too, still had a bit of shame to not hide behind someone's back forever.

"So, what can I do to prove you wrong?"

"Well, your levels are still too low and we don't want to risk getting our comrades killed from protecting you. At least try to raise your level to 15. Anyone interested can accompany him--"

Fiona raised her hand awkwardly.

"I will do my best, so Takeshi, go get strong fast!"

...we're going to grind so that goes without saying.

"I'll help as well, uh...as thanks for looking after her." the cleric girl turned her face away and sighed few times.

What? Was leveling to 15 that difficult?

...and why did you girls even bother volunteering if it's a pain in the ass? Ah, I just couldn't fathom it.

Meanwhile, there's the quest window popping out. When I checked the window for a bit, time seems to be stopping for the others.

[Main Quest 2

Raise your Level up to 15!

Reward: officially joins the party.]

It's kind of weird. Why didn't the first quest had its own window though? Probably because I skipped the opening. My memories from that time were also fuzzy though. I wonder what kind of stuff made me forget somehow?

It's right after I closed the window via some hand swipe (sometimes a thought's also fine), the time resumed again.

...

In the end, Fiona and Liese tagged along for the quest.

We went back to the Monkey Island Cymbals and sat together to discuss things.

The party decided to go into the nearby [Cave of Trials] to level me up. Fiona and Liese came with me to assess my abilities in general, since they're the only ones free enough. The others got some other things to do.

Since I wasn't an official member of the party, I got to submit a request into the guild. The subject was [Powerlevel Quest] and the duration was around three to five days. The reward would be around two gold coins, in which I gladly took from my inventory.

Horace said, this quest issuing was just a formality, but it's necessary to produce a  [Permit]. Otherwise, people couldn't freely travel between places, whether in groups or solo. Other places to get a permit was in the Commerce Guild in the [Docks District] but I wasn't especially a merchant.

That's also why the cost was also low since I would be joining the party after the quest. Not exactly cheap for the others though.

So what if one wanted to travel but not a merchant or adventurer? Liese told me there were merchants who offer travel services with adventurer escort, in collaboration with both Commerce and Adventurer's guild. Nobles also got a special privilege to travel without permits. Though in place, they gotta flash their family emblem.

People without a permit, and want to enter the city. They end up for questioning by the Holy Order members, before getting their own permit issued. Liese told me, Fiona wasn't explaining how the organization works correctly.

Holy Order was not the Adventurer's Guild for Paladins, Clerics or Priests. Otherwise, why there'd be those classes run and about even among the Adventurers?

The thing that signifies the Holy Order were their trademark silver armor and their orderly way of acting.

They're the military police force of this Holy Empire.

The reason why such things were left unclear to Fiona was:

"She wasn't a good student during her time at Paladin school. Often dozing off and sometimes droll---"

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"...Liese, you bully!"

Hmm...how did the explanation became so different? If I, who was just an outsider could roughly guess it, why did Fiona who's been there, supposedly for a long time, failed to give a clear explanation?

"Why did you say it's like an Adventurer Guild in the first place?" I asked Fiona.

"...it's an organization where a select few class the Holy Order want could join. There you can take on their own Quests and stuff...there's also stipends, although it's not that much. Different from the guild, we have specialized training, the dorms and also free food...I didn't like how it got stricter in recent years though."

"I see--how about why you didn't dismantle the monsters when we just slew it?"

"Because you already did your part, hehe."

"Oh right."

I totally forgot about it, even if it's just yesterday.

It was followed by chuckles resounding from these guys.

Well, so far it's not like they spilled the beans by disclosing in detail what I was capable of doing. Just that I have nice skills.

"How's it like—adventuring, I mean--when you're not with me?"

"I won't tell, haha."

To be said, Fiona still managed to become a full-fledged Paladin because of her battle and support talents, even if her head wasn't the brightest.

"In other words, our lass Fiona is a gori---"

"Shut up, you gun-freak!" shouted Liese.

Hey, why're you the one who got angry?

Nevertheless, I heard the sound of something breaking.

I didn't want to narrate this.

Later on, I heard, the reason why I could be accepted to this town, was due to me going in with a member of Holy Order. I saw her talking to this guard for a bit before going inside the gates in a hurry.

If I were to go alone, I don't feel like getting interrogated either.

You may have a good question: why must waste time going to new places just to power level? Can't you just use your JRPG logic and spam battles in the city's outskirts?

Well, Liese and Fiona hadn't joined my party yet. I don't think, with me being this weak, I could handle grinding on my own until I was level 15.

If the leveling's with Horace and Jung, however, I will just find another way than going to the trip with only men present.

...

Horace, Jung, and Felix would be doing some small quests and odd-jobs to regain back the money.

Even as for now, Felix was probably still doing dishes; they didn't say where they did eat and run. Most likely not here lest they got scoffed off by the Pops; I didn't see that here.

They also prepared themselves for the [Colloseum Event]--some kind of fighting event.  

It's mostly for the money prize and chance to gain rare items. The event would be held exactly seven days from now. I wouldn't take part in that tournament kinda thing since I was too weak. It might be nice to see battles that didn't consist of just moving in JRPG style.

The left the Inn first, leaving me with two cute girls.

As for Liese and Fiona, they're not really interested in joining—one of the reasons was, they didn't want to meet up with the Holy Order members, in which a lot of them will be participating. Now I understand why they opt to go with me.

After a short meeting, the party members went to prepare things for the trip. I myself was free to explore on my own. We stood up together and just as when we're about to part ways, Fiona lent me another one of those communication tool slabs, somewhat like a smartphone.

"Don't break it! Cost me a good fortune just to buy."

"I can just buy another one."

"Uuuu!"

"Now let's see, what if you have a porn folder—math folder, new folder, no—nothing like that?"

As I teasingly scrolled down the all normal folders, I swear I unconsciously pushed up my glasses a bit.

Wow, there's a lewd Yuri manga.

"Why do you assume me to be a pervert in the first place?" Fiona yelled on top of her lungs; her face flushed red.

Heh, touche.

Before she got any further, however, Liese wedged herself between me and Fiona and embraced her. As Fiona was taller and more well-built, it's like a little sister wanting the big sister's love.

The next moment—Liese patted Fiona's head, followed by rubbing her cheeks together with the ex-paladin while she stood in Tiptoe.

"Good girl, good girl..."

It immediately followed with turning her head and giving me a playful gaze; her eyes closed like those anime characters.

"Please do not tease her too much like this, okay? She's mine."

Oh? That's interesting.

"I support you guys."

"You're really are a strange person." Liese sighed a few more times before leaving with Fiona, "Let's go on our date."

"H-hey! Liese! We're not like that, in the first place..."

"Cute."

"Y-you're much cuter..."

"Your boobs are also very soft."

"C-come on, Liese, get going, you don't want the perverted glasses brother to enjoy it."

"Finally you made sense for the first time."

"Enough! Please go, I beg of you... lets go...uuuu..."

...and they left before Fiona broke to tears; thanks for the treat anyway.

NTR isn't my thing either, especially between such cute and young girls. That's a blasphemy which definitely will get me cursed by the Yuri goddess for all eternity, even if it's in a different world.

I had no intention on tailing them on their date either.

Even if I wanted to, I couldn't.

When I opened the Inn doors after they just went out, they immediately disappeared out of nowhere.

When, if this world was a reality, they'd just be a bit further along the roads, at the pace they're walking.

The world sure was mysterious.

"Ah."

I forgot to ask them about the Library.

I took out the smartphone and tried finding their call number.

[Contacts: Empty]

...err...what the hell?

Okay I understand, you pair of girlfriends don't want me to interrupt your lovey-dovey time. You'll just call me whenever you want instead. Otherwise, I might go bug you right while you girls are having sex.

Thanks for the stash of Yuri manga and stuff though, however...there's more important issue at hand.

I'll just relax in the park and eat the snack I brought while gathering my thoughts once more, for the time being.