(Yozora’s POV)

She nodded to what I said. After all, I don’t need that much money right now, and I also just arrived in this town. I want a place to stay that I can put “security” without problem, as well some advantages on this city.

A connection with a duchess is already something to be aware of, but it won’t put food on my table, only save me in emergencies. Then, I start the negotiations.

(Yozora): “Before putting my price out, I would like to know if Your Majesty can help me with the ranks in the adventurer’s guild.”

She looks at me surprised, asking:

(Laura): “Oh my, that is unexpected. I can, with a recommendation, you can make a trial by fire to enter in a higher rank, although it won’t be easy. But why the guild?”

She asked, curious. As she is my contractor, and it seems that our business relationship will last, I don’t mind revealing some non-critical information for her.

(Yozora): “I was trained far from here, and recently left my village to make a living of my abilities. I need a stable source of income where I can make full use of my abilities. The guild seems a good place to start.”

(Laura): “In that case, I can help you to jump directly to the B rank with a recommendation letter for a trial. However, that is still just enough as a reward for the rescue.”

She said. I nodded, saying:

(Yozora): “My second condition… I would like a residence.”

She rose her eyebrows, surprised again.

(Laura): “that’s easy to provide, there are many vacant houses in the city. Which district you would like?”

(Yozora): “The closes to the Guild, if possible, as long it matches my exigences.”

(Laura): “On the middle district then. What are you exigences for a house?”

(Yozora): “It doesn’t have to be a big house, it need a courtyard where I can plant and facilities for metal working, as well having walls for safety.”

(Laura): “A garden and a forge then… yes, there is one in the street behind the guild.”

It was my turn to be surprised.

(Yozora): “Houses like that are common?”

(Laura): “Yes. this city is a commercial spot after all, many craftsmen came here to build their homes, so many houses have crafting facilities. The house that I have in mind has sewage, a bath, and seven rooms, four in the lower floor and three in the second. There is a garden in front of the house, and there is a wall in front of the property.”

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I nodded, satisfied. It’s a free house, so I can’t complain. And with that, I’m done with my wishes.

(Yozora): “And that is what I want as payment.”

I said. She looed at me and said with a light smile.

(Laura): “Fine! Also, for the sake of good relations, I will add a bonus of twenty gold coins to your payment.”

I smiled, saying:

(Yozora): “As you wish.”

We talked a bit more, planning a bit more our moves. After we wee finally done, in one hour, she wrote the letter of recommendation. As she gave it to me, she said:

(Laura): “You don’ have to worry about furniture. The house was confiscated with everything inside from it’s corrupted previous owner. We didn’t remove anything, so it may be a bit dusty. A knight will guide you to the Royal State for the key, and then to the house.”

I thanked and was escorted outside. From here, I’ll go to my new home, and sleep in a real bed after a long time!

(Laura’s POV)

I sighed when Shadow went to his new home. The price for his services was extremely cheap, even though he got out with a house. In the end, I couldn’t help but feel guilty, so I added some gold.

After all, the introduction letter is quite a common custom, although rare for the rank he requested, and won’t cost me anything. Even the house, it was confiscated, and we were just about to sell it to anyone willing to buy. Because of that, we didn’t spend a copper coin, and it was just giving him something that we got for free.

Well, for now, I’ll go to sleep, and then work on weeding out my adversaries inside the fortress.

(Yozora’s POV)

I entered the house and immediately went to sleep, ignoring the dust. The next day, I changed to casual clothes and spent half of the day cleaning, getting rid of all the dust. I also cleaned the forge, and surprisingly, it still has all the tools.

Great, I can immediately start working in some equipment before going to the guild. I go out of the house after changing my appearance and hair color, since I prefer to keep myself hidden from most eyes. Of course, I go out by transforming into a bird, and transform back into human at a random alley.

I go around the marked and buy twenty iron ingots. I also buy poisonous plants and more gunpower ingredients. Later, I will try to digest some healing plants, and see if I can make a healing salve or maybe even a potion.

I heard that they instantly regenerate wounds, and even replenish lost blood when they are high quality. Well, first, I just buy some medicinal herbs that I know for what I can use. Even some for poison antidote.

I go back to my house after buying some coal and immediately start to work. I cut five of the heated ingots in a total of almost a hundred finger-sized thick “nails”, the original shuriken. The famous star format isn’t the real shuriken. Originally, they were hidden weapons that ninjas used to throw, so they had numerous formats.

I go to the grindstone and start to make the point sharper. I put on my armor and absorb the shurikens, putting them into my stomach, I take them out from my wrist, grabbing them with my hand. After all, the gloves are separated from the rest of the armor, so I can slip a shuriken from between my armor and glove from my wrist area.

Good. I go outside and plant some bamboo sprouts that I bought earlier, but I only plant near the entrance of the house. Soon, the house will mostly be hidden by the bamboo, giving me a cover. On the left from those entering, I plant some poisonous plants that I bought. Good. I look up, to the dark sky.

I should go to the guild tomorrow, but for now, I’ll take another good night of sleep, and after I register on the guild and make the test for ranking up, I’ll start gathering information. I return to my room to sleep.

(the next day)

Completely gearing up myself, I go out of the house and go to the guild while looking at my stats.

Status Name:Akatsuki YozoraLevel:30Race:Human Title:AssassinJob:None Parameters Strength:345Agility:580 Intelligence:710Endurance:800

I guess that I’m good for registering now. Well, I didn’t level much, considering the number of bandits that I killed. I guess that they weren’t much of threat anyway. I enter the guild, two stories building made of stone.

To my left, the counters display cute receptionists, and to my right, several tables serv as a bar for several adventurer’s. There’s an air of liveliness around, and laugher can be heard all the time together with the sound of chatter and drinking.

I attract very few eyes, and since I’m also covering my face with my mask and my head with the hood, they lose interest quickly. I also notice something that I notice since I arrived in this city as I approach the counter with the red-haired receptionist. She has cat ears on the top of her head. Yes, there are beast people in this world.