*Creak*
The loud sound of door opening could be heard from me opening it. Glances could be felt from in front of me as the door behind me closing. The loud chatters dimmed a bit before it got loud again.
I arrived at the register counter with a bountiful lady as its receptionist.
[Welcome to the south branch adventurer headquarter. May I help you?] (Receptionist Lady)
South branch headquarter!? So there are another 8 more?
Puzzled, I tried to clear my doubt.
[South branch? Isn't this city where the headquarter supposed to be?]
[This is the south branch adventurer headquarter. We deal with a lot of thing and we got north, west and east branch adventurer headquarters located in correspondent location along with the Main Headquarter located right in the center of the city. Only invited A ranks above are reporting there. Are you here to register as an adventurer or to register a request?] (Receptionist Lady)
The lady gave me a warm smile after she done her explanation and question.
Recovered from the unexpected shock, I told her my business.
[Yeah, I am here to register as an adventurer]
[It's 6000 Noms for registration. If you have not enough Nom then you can take a special test to register first, the fee will be deducted while you get used to environment.] (Receptionist Lady)
[Special test?] I confusedly asked the lady.
She brought out a strange device with a circular hole on the center. After placing the device on the counter, she pressed something on the device before a bubble formed from the device's hole.
[Any registrant that could break this bubble would be allowed to register without paying the registration fee upfront. So, would you take the test or pay the registration fee? Just saying, we take no mortgage and any equipment would worth a tenth of the value decided by the guild.] (Receptionist Lady)
The first part incited my interest while the last part shook me to my core. My face was like "How did she know that I got nothing and thought of doing that?"
Taking a perfect 10 seconds to recover, I cough twice to break the awkwardness.
[I will take the test. So, how do I supposed to break the bubble?]
[You only need to try crushing the bubble with all your might.] (Receptionist Lady)
Nodded at lady, I placed my palm on top of the clear bubble over the device. The bubble felt squishy yet didn't break upon contact. Without further delay, I clenched my palm into a fist and broke the bubble just right before halfway from forming a fist.
[Congratulations on passing the test. I am Catarina. Please provide your body liquid on top of this placate and call your name when the placate glow] (Catarina)
Taking out my knife, I stabbed my index finger enough to let it bleed a bit before stamping my bloody finger on the placate. The placate glowed. With the thought of the possibility of me being a fugitive on the wanted list, I called out an alias.
[Nekad.] The glow of the placate faded as the bright light moved to my back of my left hand and faded, leaving the adventurer mark on it.
[New adventurer usually starts at F rank. But, since you passed the test I can let you start as an E rank or take another test for a trial rank. Will you start as E rank or take my test?] (Catarina)
She extended her hand and a water sphere big enough to cover her torso was formed in front of her.
The sight stunned me and the loud chatter behind me somehow stopped and I could feel glares from behind me.
I was stunned because because the water in front of her is a magic called water shield. The magic ranked as level 3 magic defensive in the minimum and require its caster to chant if the caster is a beginner. To be able to cast it in an instant and without a single chant or a keyword indicate she at least an experienced mage. From the looks of it, the spell at least on par with level 5 and she seemed to have a lot to spare as well.
[There it is!!! Catarina's test that yet to break until now.] (Hoarse Man Voice)
His announcement rallied the horde of audience behind me. The cheers was so loud that my ears twitched upon hearing them.
[Nekad, this is water shield and i set its defence to level 7 for you to test. Hit this and I will give your trial rank based on your hit.] (Catarina)
[Level 7! Is he that good? The highest level she made so far was level 6 wasn't it?] (Cheerful Woman Voice)
A heated discussion over me was booming behind me. Their murmurs kept on continue. Catarina seemed popular between both genders. Should I move on from Shiva and take a chance with Catarina?
[So, I only need to hit it? What if i break it?]
My statement rallied an even hotter discussions from the horde.
[If you are able to break this water shield on this level then, I will pay for your registration fee.] (Catarina)
[It is not your best, right? If I can break your best water shield, would you be my girlfriend?]
Her face twitched in shock and confusion while the heated horde went on riot over my challenge.
*BAM*
A loud thud voice could be heard from the second floor. I turned my head over to check. Everyone from the horde gave the standing man a really quick glance before quickly turning their head to glare at me. Some murmurs could be heard.
[He is so dead, trying to hit the Water fortress, Catarina-sama as a newbie.] (Cheerful Woman Voice)
[He is just a toad drooling over a swan. He really is a toad inside a ball, thinking he is the best. Raul-sama will definitely put him in his place.] (High Pitched Woman Voice)
The man who was standing should be Raul. Red hair, red eyes and sharp face with a medium weight armor, he must be the leader of his unit. Ah yeah, everyone in the building are all adventurers so, it should be called as party.
His party seemed to be only those two ladies that were holding a plate and a mug in both of their hands. From the two ladies' attires, they should be a mage and a healer.
O, they put down the plates n mugs back to the table. That table seemed well made, hit with a big bam sound but showed not even a single crack.
[Enough, Raul! Let me do my job.] (Catarina)
[Catarina! He was too arrogant!] (Raul)
[Well then. Nekad. I can bring my water shield up to level A5. Do you understand that?] (Catarina)
Ignoring Raul's little act even with him calling her name brought no result. Finally, he gave up and sat down on his seat.
Level A5! That's the level of my troops requirement back then. I was strong enough to break the peak of water shield, level C7 with my sword, Eidenhezar, without breaking a sweat. Eidenhezar had been stolen from me. With my fist and all enchantments i got, I should be enough to break level B10 water shield. If she focused the whole A5 worth of water shield to that sphere then, it would be on par with a full level B9 water shield even B10 could be done. So, no holding back even in the slightest.
[Let's try it out. If it didn't break, I will give an extra registration fee for you as a gift.]
[I don't need them. We will discuss it after the result. Ready?] (Catarina)
[Ready]
Silence. No sound could be heard. Just right after a fluctuation of magic power could be felt...
[Haaa.....! Water Shield!!] (Catarina)
The previous canceled water shield of hers reappeared in front of her torso. This time the size was a little bit smaller than before.
Preparing my own preparation, i warned her
[Get ready.]
I empowered myself my enchantment as I stood on punching stance, left leg front and right hand back. I moved my right leg to the front along with my right fist toward the floating water.
*BOOM* A loud voice could be heard.
*Splash* The water shield broke and sent Catarina down along with the ball of water to the floor.
[Kyaaaa!!!] (Catarina)
Her scream alerted everyone and i could felt itchy killing intents on my back.
Ignoring those itchy killing intents, I try to check Catarina over the counter. Couldn't have a girlfriend candidate leave me just like that, could I?
[Miss Catarina, are you okay?]
I stepped forward before leaned forward over the counter to check her wellbeing.
I could see her tied turquoise hair loose from being wet and covering her wet face. As I completed my lean, I could feel my nose getting hot and about to burst. Witnessing a lady got wet from our little bet getting up to continue her job, I tried to warn but failed to do so because from the anxiety. I stuttered her name as she got up.
Shocked and nervous, I turned around and close my eyes to calm my raging hot body by scream,
[Miss Catarina! Please cover yourself!]
As the raging hot storm in me subsiding after the warning shout, I opened my eyes and found Raul got a nose bleed with his eyes covered by his companions who were covering his eyes with their hands while shooting their sharp glares at me.
Catarina who finally found out her wet shirt became see through, screamed.
[Nnnn... Nooooo.....!!!] (Catarina)
I jumped to my front while doing a full turn saw Catarina screamed before squatting to hide behind the counter.
The horde's men all excitedly screamed out their excitement.