"The food was great." As I sang the praises for my luxurious lunch, I relaxed in my room.
"I'm sure the chef would be delighted hearing your praises" Said Mai.
"Hmm say, why haven't I met the chef yet?"
"Well…. She is a bit shy, I am sure she will be ready in some time to meet you."
As Mai explained that the chef was awkward around new people, I understood she must be very talented to still be the best chef in the country and still be awkward. Being this good at cooking should have more than enough to make her confident in my books.
"I want to go somewhere."
"Where would it be, young master?"
"I heard from Granny that there was a place called the adventurers guild, I want to go there."
Mai thought for a moment, I wanted to go alone. I was pretty sure I could find it but she said if I wanted to sell my stuff, I should bring someone who could do arithmetic too.
Oiii! you guys really think I can't do that? For you guys' information, I was a good math student. Well I can't tell you that huuuh...
As I sighed to myself, I nodded as Mai said she will bring someone for the right job.
A few minutes later, she came with Systy the maid I got acquainted with in the morning. It was great, as I remembered the heavenly time. I saw them coming and greeted me.
"Young Master, I heard you want to go to the adventurers guild?"
"Yeah So you are an adventurer too?" I asked Systy because she looked perfect for a maid. I never thought she would be an adventurer.
"I… am .. or was but not full time for now. So you want to go to the guild? Do you want to sign up there?" She had started a little meekly. Something must have troubled her in the guild, for now I didn't ask anything but if in the future she tells me about it I will work to see what's troubling her. But wonder, as young as she was, what complicated stuff happened to make her look this meek?
"That's the plan, will you come with me?" I asked
"Certainly, do you want to go right now?" I didn't realize it but Systy was hiding her true feelings quite well.
"Yes, let's head there right now." I didn't want to waste time. It was already nearly afternoon.
"Okay let me prepare a Carriage then."
"No no, we will walk there. I want to see the town too. besides Granny told me it isn't that far."
"Alright if that's what you want."
As she started to go, I also started behind her, but I think she was going to go to the guild in maid clothes.
Hell nooo! That's not happening. A hot maid and the adventurers guild really don't mix together.
"Umm.. Systy you're not going to go like that are you?" As I gestured to her dress. She nodded with a slight pride.
"Of Course, right now I am in your service."
"NO, that's not gonna happen, I am not gonna let a cute girl walk in the adventurers guild in a maid costume. Go and change"
"huh...No master, this is my battle cloth too, I can't change and just go out?" She was flustered at my words but the latter half of the argument made more impression on her. As we stood silently seeing each other eye to eye, Neither of us was getting back on our word.
"Sorry about this Systy…"
"Wha…!" I activated Amanori's Miasma and it covered the whole body of Systy. I was using a material conversion technique that I had devised some time ago. With this, I could make many temporary materials, even dresses.
I remembered my old life and made her wear a long coat over white shirt and a skirt. It was designed so that the dress could be used by a swordsman and also by a magician type adventurer. The coat was black, it covered her whole body like a mantle and I also made a high boot in exchange for the stockings she had in her maid outfit.
With that done, she started to touch around her body to see just what happened.
"Young master! What did you do!" She asked me with an unbelievable expression.
"No worries, I just got you a well dressed look. I am also changing, so we can match the same style."
I also changed into a matte black coat. Only the collar of the shirt was white, violet streaks were running through my whole outfit like veins. I copied this from a game I played. Amanori was hanging at my back.
"Wow Systy you look great !" I got excited over her changed look, her polite maid vibe was no more and the outfit presented a dominating aura. It was probably because of the miasma. The outfit looked like it came to live with the dominating beauty that Systy exuded.
"Wha wha what are you saying Young master!" She got flustered. What can I say praise has to be said when it is the fact. But with her fluster, her dominating presence also faded… ha ha ha..
The coat hid her curves but in particular places it heightened her figure too. In a way it was alluring more than charming.
"Okay, now call me Rekka, not young master anymore. You got that? outside home you're just a girl and I am just a boy. We are gonna work together there, not under anyone."
"But that's inappropriate." She refused as if to say that will never happen. she was really hung up on some things huh...
"So I guess you're just doing this for your work... huh…. I thought we were friends but I guess that's not going to happen hah!..." I acted a little. She wasn't that much older than me either. I heard from Mai that Systy was 14. her growth was this fast and looked much older because her body went through much training and it helped her growth, still, I could tell she was very naïve.
Well the thing is I used my kid behaviour to blackmail her. My façade had worked and she got flustered again.
"No No ! Young master I didn't say that! I would love to be your friend too…" She was going to give out some excuse but I interjected again with some water showing in my eyes. When you attack you don't let up until the enemy is down for the count after all.
"You say that! But but you are still calling me Young master. Granny told me real friends called each other by their names." Wow, my acting skills are really good for some reason. The exaggerated way I said with the body movement that said I really had been hurt, I was guessing I had turned into quite the little boy teasing this older girl.
I pushed her to a state of bewilderment. I could tell she was out of Ideas but her thought of responsibility got in the way of her judgement, so I said in a last ditch effort this time in a far more grown up way than I did before.
"Don't worry Systy I.. understand but I will always think of you as a friend who I started My first day as an adventurer with." It was like the last strings were cut. She at last made her choice out of much desperation. I felt a little bad that I did this but I was feeling oddly satisfied messing with her. it felt like we had just gotten much closer. On the other hand Mai was impressed. I guess she was much less naive and said "as expected of our young master!"
"All right Re...e.kka...cough..cough Rekka yes I am delighted to be your friend." As if she had got a new resolution she got her smile back and for the first time, I saw a smile that really did make my heart beat. Man… girls can make so many cute expressions... she looked so cute as she spoke my name, I felt as if I was melting in a puddle.
Man, I think I just got paid back for the black mail….
[Khu khu khu khu].....
As Amanori laughed from the battle ending in a tie, I went out with Systy leaving Mai and the mansion.
"Okay Rekka… we are going to the guild. It's a big 3 story building near the center of town so that both the higher and lower class people can get there easily enough okay?" She was still getting a little embarrassed saying my name. She should get used to it soon enough. As she moved and showed me around, the place seemed so peaceful… I felt myself letting my guard down. but wow, there was unsually a lot of Miasma around the town.
"Hmm okay!" I answered excitedly looking at the human town, ignoring the Miasma. It looked dazzling. The streets were filled with many types of people near the merchant district. I saw many fenders followed by some street restaurants too. A really yummy smell was wafting around and alcohol's scent was also in the mix. The whole thing made me remember my 2nd life for some reason.
How nostalgic haaa! I hope I can find some good companions here too.
"We are here." As Systy said so, she gestured to a big building, 'Adventurer's guild' was written on it. It looked quite grand from the outside and I could see many adventurers coming and going through there.
"Okay! Let's go."
As Systy nodded, we moved inside the guild. inside I saw that it was much larger than I thought from the outside. I could see the counters straight ahead, and many lovely looking ladies were attending the counter, just like my 2nd life.
As Systy showed me to a counter, it looked like it was specified for new adventurers. I went to that counter. Systy still followed me closely as if she didn't want to get left behind. It kind of reminded me of a little kitten who followed behind the herd of her siblings. Wasn't I the younger one here?
After we were inside, as usual many people looked at who was getting in. Many looked at our unusual clothes, since I had made them myself, this type of clothes were probably not local here. Then came Systy, I could tell many people knew her, I saw many get happy expressions while they greeted her with a hand gesture as to see their friend get back after some time.
Then in one corner I saw 3 people snickering, one of them started to sneak away from the back door.
I am having a bad gut feeling….
[At last we can slaughter humans. I am ready to let them come. It's been so long since I harvested souls.]
Please don't do that, it's my first day okay…
As I went through a chilly conversation, I got to the counter and the lady present there looked at me then to Systy.
"Nice to meet you sir, I am Pamela, I presume you are here to sign up as a new adventurer?" She said with a perfect smile. She was professional through and through. I could tell she wanted to talk to Systy too but she waited her time. Although, I can't believe she could ignore the terrifying sword that was at my back.
Maybe since I masked Amanori's presence, but this clears it. If I use this technique then it won't be a problem to take her around everywhere.
"Yes ma'am, I would like to sign up. How will you evaluate my skills?"
"My how Polite.. Hmm, we can determine one's skill if they want to get checked. A guild official will spar with you. even if you get a high evaluation, you won't be getting a higher rank, it's just that the guild will know what you are capable of either way, it is mandatory to start from the bottom ranks"
"Hmm well that's fine, Systy, what rank are you then?"
"Hmm.. Me, I am .. B-rank." she answered Shyly with a small smile... how cute.
"Wow that is really high, I can tell, Granny told me only the worthy can get there."
"That's right, there is more to rank than strength, you have to be judged even by the people. Your family reputation will be invalid but the more the guild sees your adventuring achievements, the more easy it will be for you to advance in ranks, our Systy was judged as very highly in the guild. everyone of her clients gave 5 star ratings. She is an awesome adventurer who has earned trust from everyone she was accounted for.." The receptionist praised Systy, I didn't know that she was such a superstar. I know there are many requirements to advance from C-Rank, that's why many stay stuck at the C-rank.
"Wow! Systy, I can't believe someone with a reputation like yours is helping me. Maybe I can also get some friends here because of you?" I praised her from my heart. At her age, her achievements were truly great.
"Come on Don't tease me... Pam, and Rekka you should know I am nothing compared to them…"
She was talking about my Grandparents.
"Come on, Gramps and Granny had so much time to get where they are, by that comparison, with your limited time you did great. Okay I won't praise you too much." She wasn't very comfortable getting praised too much. So I stopped and we proceeded to my signing up.
"Can you write sir?" Pamela asked
"Yes I can and just call me Rekka. I am much younger than Miss Pamela."
"Well I'll take you on that offer. Well then Rekka just call me Pamela okay?"
"Hmm okay!" I accepted her offer. As I filled up my data on the form, I filled up my name, my family, my origin, my race, my age, what type of adventurer I wanted to be and many more things you would need. Mainly of how I would handle situations. I guess they wanted to know where my ethics stood...
"Here, is that all?" I said as I gave my form.
"Hmm yes wow, your writing is very organized, you don't see much of that in adventurers, who taught you Rekka?" Being able to read and write was not that high in this world, so It was a valid question when someone is skilled in it.
"My Granny showed me how to write." Granny did teach me how to write. Other than that I was meticulous in writing, maybe since my first life I was a student for the majority of it.
"So you're a Swordsman huh… and a magician but you don't use much magic right now hmmm."
"Yes I am still learning how to use magic, I can only use beginner magic but I can also use Storage magic that's all." The guild Receptionist was able to keep much information so there wasn't much problem in giving her my information. Maybe she would also become my manager in the future when I can get a little higher ranked. She does look cute. But more than that, having someone professional like her as a secretary felt quite intriguing. I am sure, Granny asked me to get myself a good looking manager.
"Alright put your hands in here, it will take some of your blood and create your id card since you are an acquaintance of Systy, you wouldn't need to be verified okay?"
"Ha ha.. hehe, I think it would be better to verify him Pa-me-la!" For some reason Systy laughed a little and said I should get verified.
"NO Systy, I Think you will be enough for this situation.." I said that to her and while we waited at the counter for the guild card to be made, I asked some questions to Pamela.
"Ummm , Pamela, can I sell any monster materials even if I am a F-rank?"
"Hmm , Yes you can sell not only monster parts, weapons, potions, Gears and many other things adventurers use. I see that you have fine gear, so I guess you don't need a beginners discount?"
"Hmm that's great, so how much can I sell then?" I just heard the monster selling part of it, my main business now involved monsters after all.
"Ehh.. how much? What do you mean?"
"I mean, can I sell all I want in one day and wouldn't the economy suffer if many monster parts suddenly fill out the market?" I asked the question. I know I had a boat load of monsters in my storage. I wonder if I really could sell all those.
"Hmm, no this is an express town, you can say that we can trade no matter how much there is. We can quickly distribute it so the economy wouldn't get pressured no matter how much there is?...Umm why are you asking this?" She got to the real question when the guild card arrived and she gave me the guild card that looked like a credit card and it had my name and the rank I had. It was black, the lowest rank, Rank-F.
"Is the guild Master in right now? Could you please tell her I'd like to meet with her?"
"Huh…. What do you mean? Are you joking? you're just a low rank why would the guild master accept your request." She did say the obvious but Granny told me my name would be enough to meet with anyone in the country.
"Hmm I think this will get me a meeting?" I gave her a coin that had the mark of my family, the Wolford family carved in it. Pamela took it while still being confused and when she looked at the card she took a moment to understand the situation. She looked at my card and read my name.
"You…!"
Like that I got into the guild. Although, I can't say why I get so satisfied looking at girls who get over excited from finding out the truth… I don't remember having a desire to tease girls this much…