One of the trade and commerce hubs of the Pylfur Kingdom, Peryer City, also serving as the kingdom’s bridge to both the Aeryn and Kalizar Kingdom. A great city built like a seven-pointed star, surrounded by tall magnificent walls made of gray limestone.
Thanks to Glen’s assistance, we managed to enter Peryer with ease, and my disguise seemed to be working perfectly. I was an orphan boy named Albert, whom Glen decided to take in and train to become an adventurer. My acting skills shall be put to practice from here on forward.
It was pretty exciting, more so once I lay sight on the dozens of stone cottages and stores within Peryer. Their walls painted white and their blue rooftops seemed to mirror the bright sky above, as people walked upon or rode carriages through the colorful mosaic roads.
Interestingly enough, they had street lamps lined along the streets, except they didn’t seem to be oil-based. There was a box attached below the cage, probably a sort of lighting mechanism which automatically activated when night came.
Additionally, there also seemed to be a sewer system with all the manholes on the roads, as well as mechanical birds flying all over carrying letters and packages. It was quite surreal to see automated mechanisms in a medieval era.
“See that tower over there?” Glen pointed to the lone tower ahead, which I’d only seen vaguely outside the walls, but clearer now that I was inside. Apart from its distinct location being in the center of the city, there were many tiny objects flying around it in a slow-moving vortex all the way to the top, breaching the clouds, where the tower’s pointed blue rooftop was at.
“Apart from Peryer being a trading hub, it’s also the location of one of the seven mage towers,” he explained. “here being the Kyanos Tower famed for their artistry and technological innovation, as well as the most peaceful of the seven towers. It’s the best place to find a tutor willing to teach you about magic, since they’re very open to the public.”
“So, it’s like a private school,” I said. “But how do I find a teacher? Is there a form to sign or something?”
“No need to worry about that. I know someone who’ll be an excellent teacher for you, albeit a little weird.”
“Glen-san seems to be well-connected. I thought you were just an ordinary farmer, who just so happened to be a swordsman.”
“That was the intention, but your situation is something I cannot completely ignore.”
“What does that supposed to mean?”
Glen didn’t answer. Instead, he continued talking about the general layout of the city alongside the type of people I should avoid. Standard stuff basically. He kind of reminded me of a flight attendant stating what to do in case of emergencies.
We then came up to a three-floored building with a sign of two swords clashing. Many came in and out of the open entrance, equipped with armor both leather and metal, brandishing their weapons out ranging from steel swords to great axes. Warriors of great stature bearing scars of their untold battles.
And aside from them were priests and mages, who wore robes both simple and elaborate-looking in a myriad of colors. They were in the minority, but those colors as well as the staffs they held made them stand out among the rest of the group, with the priests’ staffs in particular having these pointed stars at the end.
I can’t wait to get one! I thought, as we both entered the place and passed through those sitting on the chairs and tables, and those looking at the giant wallboard filled with so many papers stuck onto it.
Glen guided me to one of the counters, which had a clear glass top with a small square on the right side. It was manned by a nice-looking lady with brown hair, sporting black cap lined with gold and a badge of the same twin clashing swords symbol pinned to her green and gold vest.
“Hello, sir. Welcome to the—,” the lady suddenly stopped talking. Her eyes fixated upon Glen as if she was entranced, until a smile then appeared on her face. “Welcome back, Sir Glen. I never thought I’d see you again.”
“Who said that I was going to leave forever?” his brows raised.
“I remember you returning your adventurer badge after five splendid years of service,” she said. “Seeing as you’re here, do you wish for a reinstatement? I still have it in my person somewhere.”
“Why would you keep something so useless?”
“A memento, of course, for showing me a good time. Still,” her gaze shifted toward me. “it saddens me to see that you’ve gone depraved.”
I tilted my head, with Glen then replying, “I don’t know what you’re thinking of, but I assure you that my mind remains sane. This foreign boy is simply someone I’ve decided to look after.”
“A boy you say?” she shot an observant glance and winked at me.
Shoot! How did she know? I panicked for a moment, but seeing as she knew Glen, the secret must still be in safe hands.
“A complicated past, I assume?” she asked.
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“You could say that,” he answered vaguely. “His name’s Albert and he wishes to register into the guild.”
“And what about you, sir?”
“No need. I’m only here as a caretaker.”
Curiously, I asked, “Was Glen-san an adventurer before?”
Before he could answer, the lady cut him off. “Why, he was quite famous back in the day. Completed every single request no matter the danger and suffered little to no injuries. A couple more months and he should’ve reached the emerald rank, but alas, he quitted before that could happen.
“Oh, and emerald is one of the rankings we have in the guild. You first start off with iron then slowly move your way up to bronze, silver, gold, ruby, sapphire, amethyst, emerald, opal, and lastly, the pinnacle of every single adventurer, the diamond rank. Only four people in history have ever achieved this rank and it’s not something you could attain willy-nilly.”
“Hold on a second. Are you saying that Glen-san is actually super powerful?”
“I’m no more powerful than your standard adventurer,” he said.
“Says the guy who struck down a scarlet dragon,” the lady added, to which Glen sighed in response as if it was no big deal. I had no idea what this ‘dragon’ creature was, but it sounded like a very dangerous monster. “Anyway, my name is Lucia. And as for your name, why don’t you write it down on this registration form.”
Glen then added quietly, “Your real name.”
Lucia handed me a piece of paper containing various things I needed to write and sign. Fortunately, [Translator EX] allowed me to read them and, surprisingly, write too. Once the pencil touched the paper’s surface, my right hand began to move cursively, writing my name down in the language of this world as if it was on instinct.
“Thank you,” Lucia took back the form. “Now, please place your hand on this square over here.”
I did as she said and upon placing my hand on the square, an almost identical holographic panel appeared on the left side, detailing my name, class, and all of my stats in one go. Except for a few details which seemed to be left out.
=====================================
Name : Akari Takebayashi
Age : 15
Race : Human
Class : [Mage]
HP : 52
MP : 84
STR : 6
DEF : 5
AGI : 12
INT : 25
WIS : 6
CHA : 7
LCK : 10
=====================================
Titles, skills, and SP points were not revealed, which was probably for the best considering I still hadn't figured out what the [Hero] title was supposed to mean. I once asked Glen about titles, and he told me to keep it hidden even from himself. Said that it would only bring misfortune. Now knowing a little from his past, could he be speaking from experience? He didn’t seem too keen on being called an adventurer.
“Quite a unique name you have over here,” Lucia remarked, while fiddling something below the counter. A badge out of iron bearing the same twin sword clashing insignia appeared on her palm, which she then gave me.
“Welcome to the adventurer’s guild, Albert,” she said, kindly. “You may now go to the board over there to take a commission from a client. Commissions range from gathering items, exploring ancient ruins, escorting travelers, and, most popularly, subjugating monsters. Once you’ve selected one, you can bring it back here so that the guild can confirm your eligibility.
“You can take a commission of your rank and one rank above or below you. Since you’ve just started, you could only take iron-rank and bronze-rank commissions. You can also rank up by maintaining a consistent success rate of your iron-rank commissions, or take the shorter route by completing three bronze-rank commissions back to back.
“This also applies to other ranks, except for emerald, opal, and diamond rank which require meeting specific requirements determined by the guild. And that’s all there is to it. Do you understand, little adventurer?”
“Got it! Thank you, Lucia-san,” I tried to pin the badge on my vest, only to find out that it was less of a badge and more so a token you carry around in your pocket. Regardless, I marched my way toward the large board to take my first commission, only to be stopped halfway by Glen’s tall stature.
“Unfortunately, you won’t be doing any commissions,” he said, arms crossed.
“But why? Isn’t that the reason for why we came here?”
“We came here to sort out of your identity. That badge is now the proof of your existence and no one will be able to take that away from you,” Glen then patted my head, giving it a light brush.
“Hey!” I backed away.
“Sorry about that,” he smiled unapologetically. “Anyway, I promise you that you can go on adventures of your own, but only once you’re prepared enough to do so.”
“But I’ve already slayed a lot of goblins.”
“Then what should you do if you ever encounter an orc twice your size or find yourself trapped by a horde of undead skeletons?” —I had no idea what either of them were— “As I thought, your knowledge is still lacking. So, we better get you trained as a mage as well as getting used to life here. Only then, will I allow you complete commissions and stuff.”
“Alright …,” I replied, begrudgingly, wondering if Glen had a ‘father-figure’ skill capable of rendering any child obedient. My father would probably possess the same skill if he was the one transported into another world, though I wasn’t sure if that would be a good thing or not.
Regardless, it really did appear that my life of adventuring came to an indefinite halt, but I would lie if I said I wasn’t excited about learning magic. What other wonders could I make by learning about this illustrious power that could seemingly come out of nowhere, unbound by the rules of facts and logic.
Better be ready to crank up my head, I thought to myself. Because unlike the often listless school life, this new one had already brimmed with untold mysteries and secrets. And I reckon it would be a heck of a rollercoaster.