I didn't bother looking back. I exited and returned to the Capital as fast as I could and headed to the Adventurer's Guild Headquarters. I breathed a sigh of relief when the Blue Sky guild stopped following me. After a while, I scanned the interior of the Adventurer's Guild Headquarters. There weren't any other players in sight; it seemed like they hadn't checked this place yet. Since they hadn't, my secret method for opening a dungeon would remain safe. But I don't want to be too complacent as well.
As soon as a chair became available, I moved to it and sat down in front of Simona.
"You're back already? How did it go? Did you encounter any problems?" Simona inquired, with a smirk.
"No, I didn't encounter any major issues. Just a few hiccups, but nothing too serious. I managed to complete the quest you assigned to me."
Simona looked surprised for a moment, but then she quickly regained her composure and smiled. For a receptionist, having a positive vibe is necessary.
"Show me the materials you've gathered," Simona said, reaching under the table for a box she used to sort and store items. "I need to make sure you've got what I asked for and see if you'll need that permit for your solo raid. I still have reservations about your approach."
I began placing the three items, dropped by the bosses, into the box one by one. Simona watched closely, inspecting each piece meticulously. Her brow furrowed with every examination, focusing on every detail. She nodded at times, as if finding something valuable in the materials, though I couldn't quite grasp her purpose, maybe just for safekeeping.
After some time, she returned the materials to the box, finally satisfied. She smiled, closed the lid, and turned to me. "It seems you've been truthful. All the materials are genuine and don't appear to be from the market. They're fresh drops from the bosses you were assigned to defeat. Well done. I commend your ability to obtain them independently."
"I don't really need commendation," I replied. "I just want access to the dungeon."
"In that case, you'll receive the key to the Dungeon of the Purgatorium, the first dungeon in the Capital and one of the easier ones. You can choose the difficulty level, but I'd recommend starting with the lowest to get familiar with the environment and foes. Dying inside a dungeon can be costly, causing you to lose your progress for the day and some of your equipment."
"I understand. I'll keep that in mind."
"I've marked the dungeon's location. You can enter whenever you like, but please be cautious," Simona said, her expression serious.
"Don't worry," I replied, well aware of my limitations and capabilities.
Simona then disappeared to the back of the office for a moment, returning with a small badge. She handed it to me, and its design resembled what could be an Adventurer's Guild logo, although it was only partially visible. I'd never seen this item before, but after reading the description, it became clear. This was the dungeon key permit, granting me the ability to raid dungeons solo.
"Thank you for the access. I'll head out now."
"Hold on, kid. The reward we're offering might not be sufficient, or do you really want it that much?" Simona asked with a smile.
"A reward? I thought access was the reward. Is there more?"
"Of course, we wouldn't make such an unfair trade. Please accept the reward; it's yours."
Suddenly, an interface appeared in my vision.
--------
-Proving Strength quest complete!
-Got 100 gold
-Got 5 bottles of Red potions of Elixir
-Got Raderay Ore x10
-Got Smelting Manuals Chapter I-IV
-10000 EXP acquired(Title Effects activated, 10000 Exp received)
-50 AP received.
------
I couldn't believe how many rewards were waiting for me! This quest is incredibly generous. The Red Elixir Potion can fully restore your HP and cure special conditions like paralysis and poison. And there are 5 of them – talk about luck! The other rewards are great too. Raderay ore is one of the toughest materials in the game, perfect for crafting armor. Not only are they sturdy and long-lasting, but they're also lightweight, making it a quick trip to the blacksmith for anyone who gets their hands on one.
The final one is the "Smelting Book: Chapters I-IV." It's particularly valuable for players with a blacksmith Ex-Job, as it enhances their knowledge of smelting. The better you understand the book, the more skills you can acquire from it. Plus, after you've used it, you can sell it to other aspiring blacksmiths. This aligns perfectly with my plan to gain blacksmithing expertise quickly.
The experience points and gold rewards are generous, and I've gained a significant amount of ability points (AP) as well. This means this is a great opportunity for me to earn money that I can exchange for real yen. My efforts haven't been in vain; hard work pays off for those who put in the effort. I expressed my gratitude to Simona and stashed away all the rewards. My inventory was filled with various items, most of which were just useless junk. These items would later be consumed by my sword to enhance its power. Additionally, I still have some unspent skill points (SP) and ability points (AP), which I plan to use soon.
I'm planning to head to the auction house soon. I want to sell off my Guild Tokens as quickly as I can to make some money. If I play my cards right, I'll earn a good amount. If not, it could become a problem. But I'm not worried. I have an NPC companion and a new Pet to help me in battles. Even though they're not as strong as me, I can handle it. I'll guide them to victory and become even stronger in a world where strength is everything.
"Are you happy with this? I've made sure the reward matches your efforts. What do you think?" Simona asked.
"Thank you so much. It's really amazing that you're giving me these things without charge."
"What do you mean 'free'? You worked hard for it, and you've earned it. That alone shows we appreciate your dedication. It may not be the most exciting task, but your commitment to making a difference makes me happy. Now, go and get some rest. You look tired, and I suggest you take it easy for a while."