Oh, that's right, I never did mention the secondary function of my weapon, huh? The stone at the top was for a secondary mode which was for long range combat. During this mode, the tool opened up and the lower sections formed the hilt. The stone inside the jaws of the vise grip morphed into the trigger and created a magic circuit that connected it to the upper stone to fire an almost bullet like projectile when mana was channeled through it from the user. In essence, I had created this world's first magical gun. The weapon's function was also influenced heavily by a certain giant white and blue robot with the designation of 00.
Tatsu's mother: "I've lost, damn, I guess my skills have dulled with my old age. Oh well. Congratulations, Tatsu, now that you've bested me in combat, I give you full permission to register with the adventurers guild."
Tatsu: "wait, 'now that I've bested you', is that implying that if I hadn't, then you wouldn't have let me become an adventurer?"
Tatsu's mother: "Yup, but if I'd told you that, it'd probably have scared you out of fighting me in the first place. By the way, what the hell did you hit me with at the end there?"
Tatsu held up his weapon: "This thing can shift from a blade mode to a ranged mode, when it's in the long range mode, I can channel mana from myself and through the neutral magic stones to maximize their speed and potency. The lightning and shock based spells are especially quick, so I could hit you with a paralysis spell before you even knew what hit you."
Tatsu's mother: "huh, that's pretty impressive there, kiddo, something tells me you'll do just fine as an adventurer."
Tatsu: "Thank you, mother."
Tatsu's mother: "Heh."
???: "Whatever, just give me my money already. C'mon, hurry up old man!"
Off to the side, Tatsu saw Kori talking with the man from earlier who was taking bets. He saw him hand her a sack of coins and pieced together what was going on. He decided to confront her.
Tatsu: "you were the one who bet on me?"
Kori: "I only bet on you because I knew you had some underhanded trick to beat her."
Tatsu: "Wow, you really are the worst, but at least you're honest about it."
Kori hesitated, but proceeded to speak: "Hey, listen. If it isn't too much trouble, could I travel with you when we become adventurers? Just for a little bit, I promise. I heard you were planning to travel to the Ankoku empire, which is where I was planning on heading to as well, and I figured it would look weird if we left at different times, y'know?"
Tatsu thought about it for a minute: "alright, that's fine. But only for a little bit. But why do you want to go there?"
Kori: "That's none of your business! But I mean… if you want to know, it's because…"
Tatsu: "because?"
Kori: "It's a secret."
Tatsu: "I see. Well, I won't press you too much."
Kori: "y-yeah."
△▼△▼△▼△▼△
Finally, I started walking to the adventurers guild. This morning's been hectic, to put it mildly. But, the rest of the day should go fairly smoothly…
Or so I thought…
Guild clerk: "Sorry, we can't admit you here."
Tatsu: "pardon?"
Guild clerk: "yeah… we don't allow people like you to apply here."
Tatsu: "People like me? Like humans?"
Guld clerk: "what? No, you dipshit, we don't admit those who bear thief class markings."
Tatsu: "Eh?"
The guild clerk sighed: "That stupid mark on your face! It's told that anyone born with it is fated to become a crook."
The demi-human clerk pointed to the discolored scar that ran down the side of Tatsu's left cheek.
Okay, this one's a bit odd, but there's this idea that anyone with discolored facial markings is a criminal. The concept goes way back to one of the biggest crime lords in this world's history, who apparently led a band of thugs that all had facial irregularities. In my opinion, it's gotten way too out of hand, seriously, I've seen people forced out of their villages because of it.
Guild clerk: "Go apply at the mercenary guild or something. They're always happy to receive a new crook or… Two… Oh no."
The clerk's voice faltered as the door opened behind us. Shortly following was the obnoxiously loud clanging of metal, like a toddler that had just gotten into their parents' pots and pans and discovered how to use them as drums.
???: "I couldn't help but overhear the conversation. Is this ruffian bothering you, *Mademoiselle*?"
II
[Heya, Zuriel here. For future reference, when something is written with ** around it, this means that the character is speaking english, or another earth language.]
>
The guild clerk rolled her eyes: "Oh joy, now there's another idiot. Look, rich boy, go spout nonsensical words somewhere else, hmm? As in anywhere but in my vicinity!"
Jim: "Oh? What *brrrravery* have thee to insult Jim, herald of the gods?"
With the most irritating alveolar trill I'd ever heard in my life, I have come to the instant realization that I do not like this guy.
Guild clerk: "look bud, if gods did exist, mistakes like you wouldn't. And someone like me wouldn't be stuck working this dead end job dealing with morons like you. Now, go play 'stupid-face' somewhere else please. Why are you still here?!"
Tatsu: "Eep."
With the last remark, the guild clerk snapped back at me with an immensely displeased expression.
Tatsu: "Look, this isn't a birthmark, it's just a scar. Besides, aren't I pre-registered here? Under the last name 'Gildaroux'?"
At birth, it's customary for a child to be registered with the guild that their parents were registered with. Kinda like a pre-enrollment to the career your parents had. The clerk bumbled through some papers and pulled out one with Tatsu's name on it.
Guild Clerk: "Well I'll be damned. Tatsu Gildaroux, huh? Right then, place your hand here, please."
The guild clerk pulled out a stone roughly the size of a college textbook and dropped it onto the table. It was cold to the touch, and quite smooth. The one irregularity with it though, was that after a few seconds, it started to make my hand go numb.
Guild clerk: "alright, take your guild card and get! Your time here is done. Have a nice day!"
△▼△▼△▼△▼△
Upon exiting the guild, I was greeted by an irritating presence.
Jim: "Halt there, rookie adventurer!
Tatsu: "Wow, you really just appear and disappear whenever you feel like it, huh?"
Jim: "Nonsense comrade! I go where I am needed! As the *true hero* of this world, such is my divine duty!"
Tatsu: "Enough with the language blending. Though you speak in English, it isn't like anyone here is going to understand it but me."
Jim: "Wait, you know english? Don't tell me… are you… from earth?"
Tatsu: "Hit the nail right on the head there. Now please leave me alo--"
Jim: "That's great! We can be *otherworldly buddies*! We can get matching outfits and everything!"
Tatsu: "Yeah, I don't think so."
Jim: "Egad! You would refuse to travel with the richest, handsomest, and greatest swordsman in the land, Jim? I am indeed flabbergasted! May he know as to why?"
Tatsu: "Everything you just said within the past six seconds is why. Besides, i'm heading to the Ankoku empire. It's a two month journey, and something tells me you'd only be a hindrance."
Jim: "That's perfect! I can totally be your guide! *Rest Assured*, the noble Jim shall assist you in your travels and… and… where'd you go?"
△▼△▼△▼△▼△
That was genuinely the worst. No matter, I doubt I'll see him again.
Kori: "c'mon tatsu, we're burning daylight! There are places to go! Things to do! And plenty of money to be made!"
Tatsu sighed: "Is there no concept of patience in this world or what?"
Standing at the edge of the village, Kori impatiently bounced around, eager to start the journey to the Ankoku empire.
Oh, right! Maybe before we start, I ought to tell you a bit about the empire, hmm? Well, once upon a time, there was a dude, his name was Aku Ankoku, and he was the embodiment of evil. He got up one day and decided "Damn, I kinda feel like conquering the world today" and so he did. He took over about a fourth of the Milinaean continent, y'know, the one I live on. So anyway, he got real bored, real fast, so he decided that he had enough land and decided to focus on internal affairs. For being such a bad dude, he sure was a good ruler. His people prospered and his kingdom flourished and all that jazz. One day, the ruler of an empire right next to his sent some adventurers to kill him. You see where this is going right? Naturally, all of the adventurers were caught, tortured, and killed. Now, Aku knew who sent them and took a trip over to his empire incognito style. And then, when he got to this guy's castle, he slaughtered everyone in it except for the emperor's wife, who he then married. Did I mention that she aided Aku with the emperor's death? So, he then merged the two kingdoms into one and called it the Great Ankoku Empire. Ever since, it's been, well, the greatest. As I said earlier, this dude was an amazing diplomat, he gained the favor of just about every other nation on the map and became a central trading hub for the entire continent. And It's been nothing short of prosperous ever since.
Tatsu: "Alright, let's get going then. But first, I think we should--"
???: "*Howdy there, partner!* it's your favorite isekai hero here to save the day! No need to thank me, but I've taken the liberty of traveling alongside you for our wonderful journey to the Ankoku empire!"
I recognize that impudent voice… I don't believe it. I don't want to believe it. Please, no. If I turn around, please let it be anyone but him. I beg of you, please don't let it be…
Jim: "It'll be fun to finally get to know someone who's originally from the same world as I am! I hope our adventure together strengthens our bonds of *friendship and brotherhood*!"