Chereads / Tales of Aeolus the Outrageous / Chapter 11 - And So, I Was Swindled

Chapter 11 - And So, I Was Swindled

I stare at my floating castle as I look for a place to crash for the night. A little while earlier I watched a group of adventurers attempt to raid my castle- now a dungeon. Of course most of them couldn't get past the barrier. And the few adamantium class adventurers that passed through got cut down by the seraphim. Basically all eight of them died.

I kind of feel bad. They graded my castle wrong. The knights labeled it an SS grade dungeon but the tato system says it's SSSS grade. If they think it's just an SS grade dungeon then it's no wonder they're allowing platinum and lower level adamantium adventurers take a crack at it. But with an SSSS grade, they'd need something equivalent to the 'Legendary Level Players'. It was a term used to categorize the top 10 players of Kingdom Crawlers. Each player had passed level 170. And of course, I stood at the top of them at number 1.

I think the equivalent of us in Elrev would be 'The Seven Kings'. A group of really strong NPC's that defended the balance of the world and repelled darkness. If I remember correctly, they were introduced as a special limited time quest. I remember it was pretty large scale, and a few of us top 10 actually participated. The quest entailed the players to fight alongside them to stop the Hell King. I heard it was pretty fun, but I didn't participate since the main reward was the title 'Demon King' and I already had something better than that. The 'Demon Lord' title was a special title that could only be wielded by three players at a time, and the title could not be transferred. But the special quest allowed a player to gain most of the benefits of the 'Demon Lord' title through a lesser title called 'Demon King'.

If the Seven Kings actually exist in Elrev, then they'd probably the only people I'd have to look out for during my conquest. But so far, I haven't seen any NPC's that were present in the game.

I leave my thoughts once I stumble upon a quaint inn called 'The lovely duck'. I go push the doors open and trudge in. I can feel stares following me as I walk up to the counter. I guess outsiders are easily recognizable. That and I'm wearing modern clothes from Earth- a plain black t-shirt, hoodie, jeans, and converse. They must think I'm some jester or something.

"Got any free rooms?" I ask, avoiding the gaze of the drunkards sipping on full glasses of bear beside me.

"Two silver a night," He retorts with a glare, after eying me up and down.

He must think I'm a poor homeless idiot. Well I'm two of those things but his glare is pissing me off a little. I managed to get two gold coins for the herbs I sold the shopkeeper earlier. When I asked him about regular inn prices, he said an average inn around this area would only cost me about seven coppers. This guy is swindling me isn't he. I had the shopkeeper explain their currency to me too. He looked at me weirdly but still later explained it properly.

I admit this place is a bit nicer than the rest but one silver should be enough.

"You must think money grows on trees," I mutter, digging through my pockets for a silver coin. "I'm not paying double for this dump."

"What did you say?! Either you pay two silvers or you leave!"

This piece of- Whatever, I'm only staying for a night anyway. The old me would have destroyed this place and gone to find a cheaper inn but now, even my annoyance is fading away.

I drop two silver coins on the counter then he hands me a key.

"Last door on the second floor."

A group of drunk men by the corner snicker as I leave to find my room. I hope you can still laugh like that in a year or two. For now, I have to focus on the closest stepping stones to my goal since I can't even stay pissed for long.

The room is tidy, and the floor boards don't look as old as the furniture. One cupboard, one desk and chair, and one single bed. This wasn't worth two silvers but oh well. I can make triple that much in less than three hours. Now that I've procured shelter, I suppose I should go ahead with other things. Namely, selling all these monster carcasses.

It's still very bright out so I set off again in search of a material shop when I stumble upon the guild. A couple of adventurers enter and leave, so I know it's the guild. Plus it says so on the big sign above. I can sell them here. But first, I need new clothes. I don't mind being gawked at when I walk in but I'm not going to be as lenient if I'm being swindled again.

Not so far from off from the guild I find a small equipment shop run by a retired adventurer.

"I'll take this one," I say after picking random articles of clothing and dropping them on the counter for purchase. They look closer to my style than the rest.

"You aiming to be an adventurer?" He asks, after scanning me.

"Huh? Hm... I'm not sure yet, maybe"

"Haha, maybe wait a few years kid,"

Oh right. I forgot I have the appearance of a seventeen year old now.

"Yeah probably not. I have to get into that school first,"

"School? You don't mean the Magic school right?"

"Hm? Yeah that one,"

He stares at me in awe before attempting to profile me. Even without reading his mind I can tell he's thinking something along the lines of "There's no way he's getting in," by the expression on his face.

"Kid, that exam is bloodier than war. And, they'll never agree to accept someone like you,"

"Like me?"

"Someone who's not of noble blood. Even more so of a wanderer"

Oh, so this school is like one of those huh? But besides that, so this guy thinks I'm a wanderer? Well, I suppose I get why he thought that. I wouldn't visit a new town, buy new equipment, and procure a room at an inn if I wasn't one.

"It's fine. I'm pretty strong,"

"Cheeky one, aren't you? Better be careful. Those aristocrats hate commoners like us attempting to enroll,"

"I bet they are,"

"So, all this new equipment is for tomorrow? Won't you need chain mail?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah. The exam?"

"It was tomorrow?"

"What? So you want to enroll into the most respectable magic school and you didn't even know tomorrow was the entrance exam?"

That shopkeeper told me it was in a few days!

"It doesn't matter when, I'll pass anyways," I reply as I change into the clothes I picked out.

"This cheeky brat! Whatever, good luck. I guess you'll give up becoming an adventurer then."

"Huh? Why?"

"I guess I can't expect you to know. It's a rule by the magic school. Once you graduate you become a tower mage. There's no reason to become an adventurer."

Hm... That might be a problem.

"Can I still enter if I'm already an adventurer?"

"Eh? Well, I've never heard of that being an issue. But what are you planning to do. It's not like you can become an adventurer right now with that wussy body."

And with that I pay for the clothes and leave. Again, I'm being underestimated. That shopkeeper's level was 27. I wonder how he'd react if he found out my level was twice that of his.

So it's actually tomorrow huh? Well, I guess I'll sign up to be an adventurer today then. Should be fun.