I took flight and flew up, it was my first time flying. I've never thought being one with the winds could be this relaxing, and pleasant. I flew overhead the clouds and dived down after gaining a good height, aiming in the Capital's direction. As I flew, a flight flock of birds I have not seen before flew alongside me as if I was one of them, I did not feel lonely at all as they accompanied me to the capital. What normally takes a whole month of journey by carriage took me twenty minutes by flight to reach the capital. After reaching my destination, I then gave my farewells to my flying friends hoping I can see them again. They were pretty speedy birds, they were.
The capital seemed to be a rather important place as it was surrounded by a hundred meters tall wall, the capital's gates had a long line, I landed in front of the city gates and mistakenly caught people's attention. That was rather foolish of me to make such an entrance. And now the knights are walking to my direction with their spears at hand.
Gate Guard: "Hey you, strange clothed man with black hair."
Clodwal: "I don't see value in describing someone how they look like when they are obviously the owners themselves..."
Gate Guard 2: "Please show some respect. We're knights here and you're just a civilian."
Clodwal: "I don't see value in your unnecessary flexing..."
Gate Guard 2: "Sir, you're becoming very annoying."
The knight emitted killing intent to intimidate me which was later stopped by the other knight who accompanied him by thrusting his hand forward in the knight's front.
Gate Guard: "I sincerely apologise for his behavior, he's new to the job."
Gate Guard 2: "But cap--"
The guard that seemed to be of a superior rank urged the other to refrain from saying any more and whispered to him while I silently listened.
Gate Guard: "Don't be a fool, you don't know who he is yet, look at his clothes. He seems like he came from a wealthy family, a nobleman. What if he executes you right this instant?"
Gate Guard 2: "Y-yes sir!"
Gate Guard: "Now then, back to the question. Kind sir, what brings you here? and may I know your name?"
Clodwal: "Okamura Clodwal..."
Gate Guard: (Clodwal Family? I don't know of such a noble family in Arkheist, is he perhaps just a commoner?)
Clodwal: "I'm currently broke beyond compare... I would like to enter the capital to register in the guild as an adventurer to earn a living..."
Gate Guard 2: "You're broke aren't you? Then we can't let you in, we have entrance fees here. Get lost."
Clodwal: "I did indeed mention I was broke but I did not say I had no money at all, yes..?"
Gate Guard 2: "You should have said that at first then."
Gate Guard: "We'll first need to ask you some questions before you're allowed to enter. Please follow me."
The gate guards then accompanied me to their office and asked me several questions such as where I came from, my age and what reason I came to the capital for which they shrugged off as something common, it may have been often that people come to the capital to register as adventurers. I thus paid 5 silvers to them as entrance fees. By the way, the currency in this world goes like this.
5 Copper Coins is enough to buy bread
1 Silver Coin = 100 Copper Coins
1 Gold Coin = 100 Silver Coins
1 Platinum Coin = 100 Gold Coins
They let me pass and enter the gates, and in my entrance was the scenery of what I hoped for. The streets was filled with stalls at the sidelines selling many things I have never seen or heard of before including those I know of. Books, herbs, potions, scrolls and many other items were lined up in the stalls. I was suddenly filled with the feeling of satisfaction for being summoned in such a world.
I explored and analyzed the capital as well as the items being sold, as everything in this world attained my interest and was new to me.
I then proceeded on looking for the Guild building and resorted to asking the townspeople of it's exact location, by doing so I came to know that it was close by.
I am about to enter the building with the intent to register as an adventurer for now. Living and travelling in the capital wasn't free. I had to save up money one way or another. Moneywise, I have 3 silvers left kept in my God's Dimension as a reward for saving Lilileen as she noticed that I had no money on me to start with, resulting in my inescapable fate of being scolded by a woman.
When I arrived, the interior was rather crowded. Sturdy guys, likely adventurers line up in front of various counters while the others sat in tables holding conversations.
The nearest counter had a sign above it saying Register Application which I approached. On my way, an adventurer tried to make me slip and fall by getting his leg in my way. Unfortunately for him, my balance and strength wasn't low quality and thus dragged his feet along making him fall off his chair instead. I looked at him remorsefully, pretending I did not know of anything that just happened and lent him a hand.
Clodwal: "Are you alright..?"
Adventurer: "I don't need your help, noble jerk."
Clodwal: (Jerk he says..? Was he not the one who tried to make me fall down and embarrass myself..?)
He briskly stood up and turned around. Immediately he tried to attack my head with a turning kick which my body reacted to and avoided by bending my body backwards, after that attack was continuous ones that suddenly increase in speed that were as fast as a professional kickboxer's. It seemed impossible to dodge it if I was a normal human but was still able to because of my ๐๐ช๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ skill, the scene was gaining attention. I came to realize how powerful people in this world are.
๐๐ค๐ค๐ค๐!
After minutes of fighting the unnecessary noises he made attracted people's attentions, the sounds of other adventurers' excitement as well as their gazes was making me feel uncomfortable. By reading the atmosphere, I can tell this is a regular event for them, it may not be rare for someone in another world to start fighting, afterall.
Adventurer: "Impossible! How can you dodge my [๐๐ณ๐ช๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ ๐๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ด] despite being a newbie?!"
Clodwal: "Are you done with this valueless act..? Can you cease this at once..?"
After thinking that this was a waste of time since he will never be able to harm me even if he stopped time, I decided to end it quickly without gaining more attention. And thus I uttered in my thoughts.
Clodwal: ([๐๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ช๐ฑ๐ถ๐ญ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ])
A few seconds later the adventurer got a whiff of something burning. And felt hot underneath his underwear which he then noticed and immediately stopped his assaults to put out the fire on his ass while howling in pain.
Someone suddenly spoke to me who sat at the same table as that adventurer. I looked and saw a mustached old man smiling slightly at me with a well built physique. Observing his get up, he seemed like a swordsman which made it more obvious as he had a large sword the size of a man lying next to his chair.
Orcan: "Me name is Orcan, nice to meet ya. That hot headed guy right there's name is Arsol. Sorry for the inconvenience he caused, he hates nobles ya see."
Clodwal: "I see... Don't sweat it..."
Orcan: "Kahahaha! Yer really interesting there, lad. Ya used to fighting? What rank are ya in? And seeing as ye had the strength to pull Arsol's foot so easily, ya must be quite the fighter."
Orcan laughed merrily, analyzed my physique and looked at me wearing a comfortable smile with great interest.
Clodwal: "My name is Clodwal Okamura... A pleasure to make your acquaintance..."
I felt as if I had to get along with this fellow for some reason. And I trust my instincts.
Orcan: "What brings ye here, lad?"
Clodwal: "I'm here to register as an adventurer..."
Orcan: "An adventurer eh, the counter is right over there, the registration fee is 3 Silver Coins, ya got that? Call me anytime when ya need some help"
Clodwal: "Yeah... Thanks for the assistance..."
I approached the lady receptionist responsible for adventurer registration. She doesn't seem to have a customer right now. She warmly smiled at me after I talked to her. She was a beauty with short black hair to other men without a doubt, strangely enough, I don't feel anything special. That's how it should be.
Receptionist: "You're here to register, aren't you? Is this your first time in the capital?"
Clodwal: "It is..."
Receptionist: "Then I'll have to explain the rules from the start."
โข Adventurers are not allowed to take requests of a higher rank than their current rank. However, the request can be taken if the majority of the adventurers' group members are the same rank or higher than the request's rank.
โข When the requests are confirmed to be completed, the adventurer will receive their reward/s, but failing to do so causes the adventurer to be charged with a breach of contract, penalizing them. This may lead to loss of guild points.
โข There are rankings within the guild from F to S. One's rank can be increased by numerous feats and achievements which gives adventurers guild points used to raise their rank. When the amount of guild points are met, rank can be increased.
โข Failing requests multiple times in a row and malicious behavior will cause the guild registration to be revoked, and the subject will not be able to register at any adventurer guild everywhere in the current nation.
โข Each independent adventurer or group can not take more than five requests at one time. It's highly recommended to only take one request at a time.
โข The maximum duration of an inactive adventurer's guild registration is 3 months. After this time limit, the guild registration will expire and their guild card will shatter.
โข The Guild will not interfere in any fights between adventurers unless it might damage the guild and it's properties.
The rules were normal and somethings I could easily avoid even without trying to. I listened to her perfectly, nevertheless.
Receptionist: "Is that good enough of an introduction for the guild's system and regulations?"
Clodwal: "Yeah..."
Receptionist: "A gloomy one, aren't you? Let's start with making your guild card then. I will have to ask you some things, fret not as they won't be too much of a hassle, we value our adventurers' comfortability and privacy so it's okay if you give us an alias too. But there can't be more than one person with the same name in the guild!"
I nodded my head to let her proceed with the guild card topic. I had no plans to hide my identity anyway.
Receptionist: "The Guild Card functions as a device to let us know whether you're an adventurer or not. It also records small details such as your adventurer name and rank as well as your job. Having an adventurer's guild card can slightly improve your lifestyle since adventurers are either treated negatively or positively by the citizens."
After she had finished questioning me then finally making my guild card, I paid the registration fee of 3 silver coins. I was asked simple questions such as my name and birthday, after that I finally received my guild card:
Name: Clodwal Okamura
Age: 16
Class: Elementalist
Guild: Arkheist
Rank: F
Points: 0/1000
It's appearance was not something I could say as plain since it had a black color and golden borders while it's right side next to the adventurer details was decorated with two phoenixes facing each other drawn with silvery ink. I went to one of the Quest Boards suitable for my rank which was filled with numerous quests, there were seven Quest Boards aligned by rank. It was troublesome since I had to push my way through a fair bit.
The F rank Quest Board was filled with simple tasks such as collection of herbs, weak monster extermination, cleaning and investigations etc.
After some time of deciding which to do, I asked Orcan as he seemed to be a rather experienced adventurer.
Orcan: "Having some trouble with picking quests eh. Now which should we choose."
He ruffled and read the quest papers looking for a suitable job I could take, I was grateful for his generous help, ofcourse.
Arsol: "Oiiii! Orcan! What are you doing? We have a bandit extermination quest to do, remember?"
Orcan: "Oh crap, I forgot! Wait up will ya?! I'm try'na find a quest for Clodwal!"
Arsol: "Hah?! Just bring him along! He doesn't seem weak anyway!"
Orcan: "Ohh! Good idea! Let's go Clodwal!"
And so, that problem was easily solved by Arsol. He didn't look very pleased though. While I was busy with registering, it looks like a mage put out the fire I caused and avoided causing too much damage to Arsol's clothes and butt.
I was unannouncedly grabbed by Orcan by the hand and dragged along, thinking if it's really alright for me to tag along despite having the lowest rank in the guild.
Clodwal: "Hey, Orcan... Is it really alright for me to come..?"
Orcan: "It's fine it's fine! We're here for ye. The guild doesn't allow low rankers to go out and do them quests higher for their rank because they're afraid the newbies might get buried 6 feet under despite being bean sprouts. But for that problem theres a simple solution. The guild doesn't allow officially joining quests that are too high for yer rank but it doesn't say we can't give out our rewards to others. So what we'll do is split the rewards evenly after the quest."
Clodwal: "I see..."
By the time Orcan finished explaining to me, we've reached the wagon we were tasked to protect, he then discussed about the quest to the client. And I was introduced to his party. His party consisted of 1 fighter, 1 swordsman, 2 mages and 1 priest. Arsol and Orcan are the vanguards of the group while the mages do most of the damage and the healer supports from the rear.
After Orcan finished his talk with the client and the preparations were finished, we then set off to my very first quest.
๐ค๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ
Looking for a properly organized
party to protect our supplies
from bandits and monsters during
our 4 day travel from the Capital city to
the Jura Village.
Required Rank
B
Reward:
39 ๐๐ช๐ญ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐ฐ๐ช๐ฏ๐ด
Guild Points:
920