They reached the town in 3 days as predicted—by the end of the 3rd day when night fell.
Sako stepped into the Adventurers’ Guild. Kiyomi followed. Unlike the previous Guild, this one wasn’t lighthearted at all. The place was empty, quiet, and dimly lit, a few small candles in the corners of the room. They walked right up in a straight line to the front counter where a professionally dressed woman sat behind it, her head down on the counter as if taking a nap.
“What. What do you want…” She mumbled. She had neatly combed-down, long, pale blue hair, very pale skin, and was in a tuxedo.
Sako started. “You remind me of a moody bartender. Can we call you Ms. Bartender?”
“No,” she replied.
“Aw. Please?”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Please?”
She grunted and lifted her head at last, her face sour. “Do whatever you want, girl.”
Sako jumped cheerily. “Yay!”
It actually worked?! Kiyomi was impressed at Sako’s persistence over the trivial matter.
“Now, what are you two here for?” Her eyes glistened with an intense, crimson light. She had bags under her eyes.
“To register with the Guild of course!” Sako replied. “And why do you look so tired?”
Ms. Bartender looked down to the empty space on the counter between them and two separate blue flames ignited. The flames vanished and left two paper forms for them to fill out, a quill by each one. “I’ve been overworked because we’re understaffed. The Guildmaster is not exactly friendly, so it’s been…” She let out a long yawn “…impossible to keep new staff members.”
“That must be rough. I wish I could help,” Sako said as she and Kiyomi filled them out and handed the papers to her.
“It’s… whatever…” Her face was bored as ever. As she took them into her gloved hands, they went up in flames. Not even ashes remained. She saw the look of concern on Sako’s face. “No, I haven’t destroyed them. They are being safely kept in a vault upstairs.
Sako’s look changed to one of satisfaction.
Kiyomi had her doubts.
“I have two options for you now. You may either start at F rank and climb your way up the ladder, or you may partake in a practical examination to determine where each of you should start.”
Kiyomi looked to Sako. “Practical?”
Sako nodded. That would be quicker.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Kiyomi looked back to Ms. Bartender. “Practical.”
“Good choice. It’s better.” A standard bunny girl was sipping wine from a wine glass next to her, visibly older. Maybe 25-ish. Her eyes were carefree and content. Her bust was modest, and her loose, blonde hair stopped at her ass. She hadn’t been there a second ago.
Kiyomi’s heart nearly fell out of her chest.
Ms. Bartender was unfazed as if she was used to random girls popping up.
When Kiyomi shifted her eyes from her to the bunny girl again, the girl was eating a carrot. What had she done with the glass? Where had she gotten the carrot?
The bunny girl swallowed her food. “Don’t mind me.”
Ms. Bartender resumed. “I’ll inform the Guildmaster upstairs.” She vanished in a sharp, blue flame.
Sako and Kiyomi remained alone in the room.
Kiyomi looked to Sako quizzically.
Sako shrugged with her typical, simple smile.
After about a minute, the same blue flame ignited at her spot behind the counter, and she reappeared. “He will be down shortly.”
“Thank you!” Sako bowed.
Ms. Bartender took up a book and started reading as she sat on the stool at her spot.
“So, uh…who was that lady?” Kiyomi asked Ms. Bartender.
“A woman in a bunny suit.” She didn’t lift her eyes from her book.
No shit. “Obviously.”
“If it’s so obvious, why did you ask?” She continued reading.
“I meant her name at least.”
“Good question.” Her eyes continued along the page.
Ugh.
Eventually, an elf came down the stairs beside the counter. He was dressed like a noble—fancy, gold-trimmed clothes and a gold hair ornament attached to one side of his head. His smile was faked, eyes bloodshot and weary. “Welcome to the guild!” He opened his arms.
Sako turned to him and bowed. “Thank you so much for having us! You can call me Sako!”
“Uh-huh,” Kiyomi replied. Why those clothes?
“I heard from Elora here that you wanted a practical, is that right?” He gestured to Ms. Bartender.
“That’s right!” Sako replied.
“I’ll be your opponent then. 1 on 1 or 2?”
Sako looked to Kiyomi.
“1,” Kiyomi replied.
Sako turned her head to him again. “1 on 1 it is then.”
“Alright. Follow me.” He turned and walked to a door by the stairs.
“Wait. You never told us your name.” Sako replied.
True. It was bad manners, but Kiyomi couldn’t care less. If she wanted, she could just pull up his stats, but Sako cared for the traditional courtesy apparently.
He froze as if he was caught in the middle of a criminal act. Slowly, he half turned to them with a sheepish smile. “Ah… yes, that… I’m… Guildmaster Folduin…”
Elora turned her page.
Kiyomi looked at him carefully, focusing. His info came up before her eyes. No one else could see it but her when she brought it up mentally like this.
?
Level ?
Info 🛈
Strength
?
Affects physical power; attack damage, lifting ability against Weight, and Carry Weight.
Vitality
?
Affects HP and Defense.
Intellect
?
Affects damage of magic attacks, MP capacity, and MP regen. rate. Also affects overall wisdom.
Agility
?
Affects physical speed and perceptive speed.
Dexterity
?
Affects deftness in minor tasks and movements, especially with the hands. Also affects accuracy of projectiles.
Endurance
?
Affects stamina and stamina regen.
Resistance
?
Affects resistance to status ailments and elemental damage.
Charisma
?
Affects charm, leadership, and persuasive skills.
Luck
?
Affects drop rate by a small amount and crit chance.
Class: ?
Fucking useless. He hid everything on purpose. She didn’t know how he did it.
“Nice to meet you, Guildmaster Folduin!” Sako bowed again.
He forced a chuckle. “Wonderful. Let’s get going.”
They followed him through the door and ended up in a massive, empty arena.
He turned to them. “You’ll each be fighting me here. Whoever passes out or forfeits wins.”
“Sounds simple enough. I’ll go first!” Sako said.