Before nightfall, we managed to reach the town with no difficulties. The queue for entering was almost non-existent, so it didn’t take long to be granted entrance.
The town’s style is pretty much the same as the last town I visited, which is now rubble because of my fight with Kuhaal. It wasn’t as big as the last town though.
“Now then, since Eulia has still been unconscious the whole trip, we will be going to an inn now to rest. I wish you good luck on your troubles sir.”
Chen who was carrying the still unconscious Eulia, raised his voice in order to say his farewells.
“I bid you farewell.”
“Bye bye mister!!!”
“See ya!”
As though a ripple has been made, his teammates followed suit. I then separated with the demihuman party, with them heading the opposite direction. Even without guides, I can see where my next destination is using the map function of my skill. It was opposite the direction where the demihuman party left for. I could also guess the inn where they will be staying.
I turned around and headed towards my destination, which is the Adventurers Guild of this town. As what I need right now is information, and also some quests to raise my guild rank. While me and the demihuman party were still on our way to the town, I asked them the minimum requirements to cross continents. They said that the requirements are a ton of money, which can be easily solved by taking quests and the cheat skill [Creation], and also a minimum of B-rank guild card of any guild.
My mind was calm when hearing about this information as I expected much. Before, when I asked Cordo on how to travel between continents, he said that to travel, you need to go through dangerous waters. At least, the minimum days to travel between the Demihuman Continent and the Human Continent are about two weeks, and while travelling, dangerous monsters may pop out so the rank was reasonable. But the most problematic one is a travel pass. To travel from this continent to the Human Continent would require a pass approved by at least three nobles, or the king. Since, right now, there is tension between the races, they can’t just travel freely between continents.
Haah… What a troublesome world…
While letting out a mental sigh, I finally reached my destination. The guild was pretty much the same as the last guild, but this one was better for me as there was no pervert receptionist. Actually, I heard that the elf was imprisoned after me almost getting raped. Serves him right!!!
Next time, I’m never holding back again against perverts like him…
While making a promise to myself, I opened the door and headed inside the guild. What greeted me was an unusual scene of a giant bear’s full moon (butthole).
!? What the!?
Why must this happen to me whenever I enter an Adventurers Guild!? Am I that unlucky!? Although I have that luck stat of 10, this is seriously gross!! Even when I was back in the Human Continent, whenever I entered the Adventurers Guild, most of the time--- no, all of the time, something weird happens, and this is one of them.
Gah!? This stinks!!!
While making my complaints inside my head, I circled around the bear, and at the counter, I saw a tall elf talking to the receptionist. The elf had greenish-blonde hair and was dressed in clothes you wouldn’t think of a commoner to wear.
Somehow, my image of elves being isolated in the forest and having no aristocracy is falling apart in my mind.
Of course, I also thought about this back in the first town I entered along with the three royal guard elves, but this time, this really made an impact in my mind.
“Yes… That will be about 16 gold coins in total…”
The female elf receptionist handed out a bag to the noble elf. The bag made a ka-chink sound, making it obvious that it was filled with coins.
“Then, I bid you farewell. Come on let’s go…”
The noble elf turned heel and headed towards the door, behind the subjugated bear monster. Two more others followed suit and followed the noble elf. They were a dwarf and a human shaped mass of rocks, probably a rock golem.
The dwarf was wearing iron armor that looked heavy enough that even body builders back on Earth would have a hard time lifting it up. On his back, a large hammer was strapped. I’m sure that if a monster was hit with that at full force, the monster would probably go splat.
When the three odd fellows left the guild, the surrounding adventurers went back to their own business and a couple of guild workers came and carried the bear to the back. The image of men lifting a large bear was burned in my memory.
Anyway, back on topic, I took a look at the request board to try and find a suitable quest.
Subjugation… Subjugation… Gathering… Escorting… Ah! Here’s one!
While skimming through the board, I found a relatively easy, yet rewarding request on the board. Also, they are accepting any adventurer even if the rank is low. The request was to investigate a particular ruin to the east of this town. That said, if I take this request, I would be accompanied by other parties as the employer is hiring several parties to join the investigation.
I say easy because the goal of the investigation is to just guard the employers and scholars while they investigate some stuff about the ruins. And with my map function, I can keep track of them even if I am away, but it should be better to be with them.
I stood in line to the reception table to inquire more about the request. Some moments later, it was already my turn.
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“Yes, what can I do for you?”
“Yes, I would like to inquire about the request about an investigation of a ruin east of here.”
When I said that, the receptionist had a cramped smile.
“Y-Yes… Would you like to accept the request?”
Putting back on his business smile, he asked if I wanted to accept the request.
Eh…? Shouldn’t he explain some details regarding the request?
“U-Umm… Could I hear some details regarding the request?”
“I’m very sorry, but you will only receive an explanation from the employer himself. We have been told that the request detail is confidential from the guild master, so the only information you can get is from the request paper on the request board.”
“Is that so…?”
While contemplating on what to do, the line behind me is starting to get noisy, so I asked one last question.
“Then, is there any party who has accepted this request?”
“Yes. Two parties have been confirmed to accept the request. One is a party of different demihumans, another is a party of an elf, a dwarf, and a golem.”
Somehow, the party of different demihumans might be Eulia’s party, while the other must be the noble elf party earlier. Wait, if he is a noble, then…
“Okay, I accept this request.”
“Yes… Please sign this here…”
With quick and refined movements, the receptionist took out a parchment, a quill, and ink. I signed the contract and the receptionist then gave me details about the time of departure.
“Then, please head to the east gate two days from now.”
I thanked the receptionist and went out of the guild.
Now to find a place to rest…
I asked some locals to direct me to a cheap inn where I can stay for the night. Following their directions, I arrived at an inn called [The Dancing Bird]. The exterior seemed pleasant and inside, the atmosphere felt normal. There were no adventurers or people that would pick a fight, just peace and tranquility.
There were a few guests eating and chatting about inside, and behind the counter was an auntie about 30 years old. I walked towards the counter and asked for how much will it cost to stay for the night.
“A night is 3 silver coins, 50 additional copper coins to order breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and another 10 additional copper coins for a wet towel to wipe your body.”
“Then, for two nights please, and also, lunch.”
I hand over 6 silver coins and 50 copper coins and received a key from the auntie.
“Your room is the last room on the third floor. There is a bell inside each room. When the bell rings, please come down to receive your food.”
With a smile, I went upstairs to check on the room. A bed that was not too soft, nor too hard. a desk and a stool beside the bed, and a window, and beside the door, there was a bell. I hopped on the bed to check its comfortableness, and surprisingly, it was. Not too bad for three silver coins a night. After resting for about 20 minutes, the bell rang and I headed back downstairs.
I picked a table and an uncle came serving food to the table. With a greetings and a smile, he went back to the kitchen to resume his duties.
The food served was stew with 2 loaves of bread as the side. I picked up the spoon and scooped some soup and brought it to my mouth. The taste was good for a regular inn. No wonder the locals recommended me this inn. The bread was a little disappointing though. To describe it in one word, it was ‘hard’.
After having my lunch, I went back to the counter to give back the key as I was heading out. My destination was an armor shop and a clothing shop. Looking at my appearance, you would think that I am just like a bandit. Worn out clothes, rugged leather armor, dirty trousers, that was pretty much what I am wearing right now.
After again asking a few locals, this time, adventurers who seemed skilled for the armor shop, I arrived at one of my destination, the clothing shop. Entering the building, I was greeted by a beautiful girl--- not. Instead of beautiful girl, I was greeted by a man full of testosterone, but he was wearing a dress for ladies. Looking at me like I was a new toy to play with, I quietly tried to retreat, but was caught by the man.
The next hour was hell for me, but at least, I was able to get some good clothes on. My shirt was brand new, and over my shirt was a leather vest. On my lower body, I wore new trousers and brand new boots. The fabric was good and the tailoring was so well-made that it kind of felt like I was wearing modern clothes back on Earth.
Next is the armor shop. Opening the door, inside were rows of armor being on display. From leather to iron, you could see a lot of different type of armor inside. Behind the counter was a slender man. His race was of the dwarfs. Finding an appropriate set of armor, and once again using [Creation] to cover the cost, I went out and headed towards the guild in hopes of finding a request that can be done today.
The set of armor I bought was just leather armor made from wolf’s pelt. Its defense was moderate, perfect for impersonating a new adventurer.
…
~ Third Person POV ~
“Where am I…?”
Inside a dim room, a silhouette emerged from the earth. Its form was that of a skeleton, literally. Two red dots glowed from inside its eyes, and the bone-chilling aura it emitted was that of a dangerous monster. It wasn’t wearing anything, nor was it holding any weapons. It stood for about the human’s height.
In front of it was a body. It was clad in dirty leather armor. Looking at the body closely, the skeleton’s memory surfaced.
“Aaahh… AARRGGHHH!!!”
The battles it fought, the countless deaths around him, the taste of despair, and the loss of hope.
“W- What… Happened… To… Me…”
Remembering whose body was lying on the ground, it stood, frozen on the spot. The identity of the corpse in front of it… Wasn’t anyone other than it…
“AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!”
Upon remembering the events that happened, confusion, anger, and regret consumed its mind and its consciousness was forever lost in the void…
…
In the adventurers guild, a day before Kouta arrived…
“… So you’re saying that a monster with overwhelming strength was born in the ruins east of here? And you want to hire adventurers to help subjugate it?”
“Correct.”
On the second floor, where the office of the guildmaster can be found, two people were discussing an urgent discussion.
“But, could I ask of you to not reveal the details of the request, and instead turn it into investigation of the ruins? Also, please make it so that adventurers of any rank can accept the request.”
“Now why would I do that? Are you telling me to select adventurers wet behind the ears to die an early death? Are you mad?”
“No no no… I am merely stating this so that I can train them. The monster that we had discovered was just a skeleton, a skeleton with a human frame, wielding nothing but its own bare, bony hands. And if all of us cooperate, then we can easily subjugate that monster. I am not an A-rank adventurer in name only.”
“Hahaha… You might be right. However, please issue a suitable reward for the danger and risk. Also, your first priority is the safety of adventurers. If things get dicey, you know what to do.”
“Of course, Gerald. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to start preparing.”
“Take care Reed.”
Reed, the A-rank adventurer stood up and headed towards the, before looking back and waving his hand. Gerald, the guildmaster responded by waving his hand back, and Reed then opened the door and left.
“… You better not mess this up, Reed.”
While mumbling to himself, Gerald went back to his desk to finish the unfinished paperwork.
…
~ Kouta POV ~
Two days later, I am now waiting at the east gate where the departure will take place, along with the noble elf party composed of a the elf himself, a dwarf, and a golem, the demihuman party, Eulia, Yami, Kalgo, Chiemi, and Chen, and another party which I haven’t met yet, consisting of only E-rank adventurers. The E-rank adventurer party numbered three, with a warrior as a vanguard, a mage as a rearguard, and a scout as a support.
While I and the demihuman party were chatting about some small things, the employer greeted us and all of the parties joining, except for me, were shocked beyond belief.
“““““A-rank adventurer, Reed the Swift!?”””””
… Eh…?